Method and apparatus for determining seal failure in a ball joint
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn Matthew Ginder, William McMurray Stewart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of determining seal failure is implemented in a ball joint including a stud having a ball embedded in grease within a sealed socket assembly. A dielectric characteristic of the grease is measured to determined if the sealed socket assembly has failed based upon a substantial variation of the measured dielectric characteristic from a predetermined value.
Claims11
A method of determining seal failure in a ball joint including a stud having a ball embedded in grease within a sealed socket assembly, the method comprising:
- measuring a dielectric characteristic of the grease;
- determining that the sealed socket assembly has failed if the measured dielectric characteristic substantially varies from a predetermined value;
- wherein said step of measuring a dielectric characteristic comprises measuring capacitance of the grease;
- and
- wherein said step of measuring capacitance of the grease comprises connecting a capacitance gauge to the stud and to the socket assembly.
A method of sensing water leakage into a ball joint including a stud having a ball embedded in grease within a sealed socket assembly, the method comprising:
- measuring a dielectric characteristic of the grease;
- determining that water has leaked into the ball joint if the measured dielectric characteristic substantially varies from a predetermined value;
- wherein said step of measuring a dielectric characteristic comprises measuring capacitance of the grease;
- and
- wherein said step of measuring capacitance of the grease comprises connecting a capacitance gauge to the stud and to the socket assembly.
A ball joint assembly comprising:
- a stud having a ball at an end thereof;
- a socket having grease therein, within which the ball is embedded;
- a rubber boot sealing the socket;
- and
- a capacitance gauge operatively connected across the grease for determining capacitance changes of the grease indicative of water leakage into the socket;
- wherein the capacitance gauge is connected to the stud and to a clamping ring which secures the rubber boot over the socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.