The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1998
Glen C Parker, St. Peters, MO (US);
Moog Automotive Products, Inc., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
An assembly technique and device for enclosing an open end of a movable socket (10) comprised of fully hardened materials with an expanding cover-plate (66) and for positioning the cover-plate at a predetermined distance from an exposed pressure plate (62) of the movable socket so as to provide a reliable indicator of socket wear. During assembly, various internal components of the movable socket, including the pressure plate, are installed within a housing (12) through a posterior opening (16) with the cover-plate is positioned over the components. A two-stage ram (100) having first and second contact surfaces (142, 167) is brought into engagement with the cover-plate. Pressure exerted by the two-stage ram is transferred to the cover-plate through the first surface, expanding the cover-plate into a generally planar configuration and enclosing the internal components within the socket housing. A continued increase in pressure extends the second contact surface into engagement with the cover-plate, further deforming the cover-plate to a predetermined final position relative to an internal component for a consistent indication of wear on the socket components within the housing.