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:
Jul. 27, 2010
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2006
Metin Ersoy, Walluf, DE;
Joachim Spratte, Osnabrück, DE;
Michael Klank, Osnabrück, DE;
Peter Hofmann, Gauting, DE;
Metin Ersoy, Walluf, DE;
Joachim Spratte, Osnabrück, DE;
Michael Klank, Osnabrück, DE;
Peter Hofmann, Gauting, DE;
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen, DE;
Abstract
A ball and socket joint is provided for a motor vehicle that has a joint housing (), in the interior space of which a ball shell () is arranged. The ball () of a ball pivot () is accommodated in the ball shell (). A sensor device (), for measuring forces and loads, is arranged on a flexurally elastic printed circuit board (). The printed circuit board is fastened in the joint housing () in a flexurally mobile manner. The sensor device () measures deflections and mechanical stresses of the sensor printed circuit board (). A transmission device introduces forces or a bending moments into the sensor printed circuit board () in case of a deformation of the ball shell (). The process makes possible the permanent determination of the state of wear of the ball and socket joint via measurement of the prestressing force of the ball shell.