System and method for detecting overloading, wear and/or failure of a ball joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10119894-B2
Application number	US-201615053090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for detecting wear and/or failure of a ball joint. The system having a ball housing which retains a ball head of the ball joint therein. A ball race is received within the ball housing and receives the ball head of the ball joint. An inwardly facing surface of the ball race engages the ball head such that the ball head can pivot in relation to the ball housing. A detection component is supported by the ball race and is spaced from an exterior surface of the ball head by a set distance. The detection component issues an indicator signal to alert a driver when the detection component detects at least one of a worn or a failure condition of the ball joint.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for detecting at least one of possible failure or sufficient wear of a ball joint, the system comprising:
a ball housing;
a ball race being received within the ball housing;
a ball head being integrally fixed to an end of a ball stud, and the ball stud defining an axis;
the ball head of the ball stud being received and retained within the ball housing with the ball race separating the ball head from the ball housing, and an inwardly facing surface of the ball race engaging with the ball head so that the ball head is movable relative to the ball housing;
a detection component being supported by the ball race such that the detection component is initially spaced at a desired distance away from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race, and the detection component continuously extending over a majority of either an axial height or a lateral width of the ball head; and
upon either failure or sufficient wear of the ball race, the detection component generates an indicator signal alerting a driver indicating that servicing of the ball joint is required, and the indicator signal only being generated when the detection component engages with an exterior surface of the ball head and there is relative movement between the ball head and the detection component.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection component is at least one metallic component which, upon either failure or sufficient wear of the ball race, contacts the exterior surface of the ball head to generate the indicator signal alerting the driver that servicing of the ball joint is required when there is relative movement between the detection component and the ball head.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the ball race is formed from a different material than the metallic component which forms the detection component and the material forming the ball race is less resilient than the metal forming the detection component, and the metallic component being a ring arranged in an exterior surface of the ball race and having a plurality of teeth which extend from the ring radially inwardly toward the exterior surface of the ball head.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the detection component comprises a framework which has a plurality of ribs that are each supported, in an initially installed condition of the ball race, at a distance of between 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm away from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race, and the framework substantially surrounds a perimeter of the ball head.

5. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the detection component generates at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator signal, when the detection component rubs against the exterior surface of the ball head during relative movement between the detection component and the ball head, which alerts the driver indicating that servicing of the ball joint is required.

6. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the detection component comprises an annular ring that is supported by the ball race and spaced from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race, the annular ring surrounds a perimeter of the ball head, and the annular ring is arranged adjacent an end of the ball race having an opening through which the ball stud extends.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein an exterior surface of the ball race has a channel which receives the annular ring such that inwardly facing surfaces of the annular ring are spaced, in an initially installed condition of the ball race, between 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race.

8. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the annular ring generates at least one of an audible and a tactile indicator signal which identifies, when the annular ring rubs against the exterior surface of the ball head, which alerts the driver indicating that servicing of the ball joint is required.

9. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the detection component comprises a framework which has a plurality of ribs that are accommodated within the ball race and the plurality of ribs continuously extending circumferentially around an outer surface of the ball head over a majority of either the axial height or the lateral width of the ball head, and each one of the plurality of ribs, in an initially installed condition of the ball race, is spaced away from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race.

10. A system for detecting at least one of possible failure or sufficient wear of a ball joint, the system comprising:
a ball housing having an interior surface;
a ball race having an inwardly facing surface and an exterior surface, the ball race being received within the ball housing such that the exterior surface of the ball race mates with the interior surface of ball housing, and the ball race being formed from a first material;
a ball stud having a ball head being integrally fixed to an end of the ball stud, and the ball stud defining an axis;
the ball head of the ball stud being received and retained within the ball housing with the ball race separating the ball head from the ball housing, and the inwardly facing surface of the ball race engaging with the ball head such that the ball head is movable relative to the ball race and the ball housing;
a detection component being supported by the ball race such that the detection component is initially spaced at a desired distance away from the inwardly facing surface of the ball race, the detection component be formed from a second material that is either relatively harder or more resilient than the first material that forms the ball race, and the detection component continuously extending over a majority of at least one of an axial height of the ball head and a lateral width of the ball head; and
upon either failure or sufficient wear of the ball race, the detection component mechanically generating an indicator signal by contact between the detection component and the exterior surface of the ball head and movement of the ball head relative to the detection component, and the mechanically generated indicator signal alerting a driver indicating that servicing of the ball joint is required.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Holmes Eric
• LaBUDA Timothy
• LAUTERMILCH Joel

Classifications

• F16C41/008

  Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means · CPC title

• F16C11/0628

  with linings · CPC title

• G01N3/56 Primary

  Investigating resistance to wear or abrasion · CPC title

• F16C11/0647 Primary

  Special features relating to adjustment for wear or play; Wear indicators · CPC title

• F16C2233/00

  Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration · CPC title