Patent ID: 6688165
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: F16C,G01N

Abstract:
A ball-and-socket joint preferably for connection to a vehicle suspension or the steering mechanism motor vehicle part, said ball-and-socket joint comprising:a joint housing; a one-part or multipart bearing shell with a spherical bearing surface, said bearing shell being fixed in said joint housing; a pivot pin with a spherical bearing surface mounted rotatably and deflectably in said bearing shell spherical bearing surface, said spherical bearing surface of said pivot pin being electrically insulated with respect to said spherical bearing surface in said joint housing with said bearing surface of said pivot pin having an electrically non-conductive coating, said joint housing or said pivot pin being fixed against the vehicle suspension or the steering mechanism in an electrically insulated; a joint housing electrical contact connected to said joint housing; a pivot pin electrical contact connected to said pivot pin; and a potential difference-measuring means, said joint housing being connected to said potential difference-measuring means by said joint housing electrical contact and said pivot pin being connected to said potential difference-measuring means by said pivot pin electrical contact.