Patent ID: 8800387

Claim:
A method of evaluating the play between two threaded components, a first component comprising an internal thread, and a second component comprising an external thread that corresponds to the internal thread of the first component, the components are engaged with each other, the method comprising the steps of: applying a torque from a motor to said components such that a first side of the internal thread is in contact with an opposing first side of the external thread wherein the two components are mutually rotated, which mutual rotation yields a mutual translational movement of the two threaded components; fixing the components with respect to each other, such that no mutual translational movement is allowed, whereas mutual rotation is still allowed; withholding a torque to said components, until a second side of the internal thread reaches contact with an opposing second side of the external thread, monitoring the applied torque during the above steps by determining the power input to the motor and the rotational speed of the motor in order to identify a first point in time t 1 when the first side of the internal thread loses contact with the opposing first side of the external thread and a second point in time t 2 when the second side of the internal thread meets the opposing second side of the external thread, calculating from the identification of the first and second points in time a play (a) between the internal thread and the external thread evaluating the play (a) by comparing the play (a) with a reference play.