Shim measuring apparatus
First Claim
1. A shim measuring apparatus to determine the thickness of a shim while the measuring apparatus is engaged by a variable load device, with the shim used with a ball joint including a snap-ring in a control arm having a bore and a notch, the measuring apparatus comprising:
- an upper housing including a measuring device; and
, a lower housing coupled to the upper housing and configured to receive the ball joint and snap-ring and engage the notch in the bore, wherein the distance between the upper housing and the lower housing while an external, axial force is applied to the shim Measuring apparatus by the variable load device, as measured by the measuring device, represents the shim thickness.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shim measuring apparatus to determine the thickness of a shim, with the shim used with a ball joint including a snap-ring and a controlled arm having a bore and a notch. The measuring apparatus comprises an upper housing including a measuring device and a lower housing coupled to the upper housing. The lower housing is configured to receive the ball joint and to engage the notch in the bore. The distance between the upper housing and the lower housing while a load is applied is measured by the measuring device. Such distance between the upper housing and the lower housing represents the shim thickness.
75 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A shim measuring apparatus to determine the thickness of a shim while the measuring apparatus is engaged by a variable load device, with the shim used with a ball joint including a snap-ring in a control arm having a bore and a notch, the measuring apparatus comprising:
-
an upper housing including a measuring device; and
,a lower housing coupled to the upper housing and configured to receive the ball joint and snap-ring and engage the notch in the bore, wherein the distance between the upper housing and the lower housing while an external, axial force is applied to the shim Measuring apparatus by the variable load device, as measured by the measuring device, represents the shim thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A measuring apparatus to determine the thickness of a shim While the measuring apparatus is engaged by a variable load device, with the shim used with a ball joint including a snap-ring in a control arm having a bore and a notch, the measuring apparatus comprising:
-
an first means for housing including a means for measuring; and
,a second means for housing coupled to the first means for housing and configured to receive the ball joint and snap-ring and engage the notch in the bore, wherein the distance between the first means for housing and the second means for housing while an external axial force is applied to the measuring apparatus by the variable load device, as measured by the means for measuring, represents the shim thickness. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for determining the thickness of a shim used with a ball joint and snap-ting in a control arm, with the control arm having a bore and a notch, using a measuring apparatus having an upper housing including a measuring device and a lower housing including a collet ring having a plurality of collet fingers, a handle ring including a bearing ring retaining ball bearings and a taper ring, the method comprising the steps of:
-
installing the lower housing in the bore of the control arm;
installing the ball joint and snap-ring in the lower housing, with the ball joint positioned 180°
from its usual working position;
coupling the upper housing to the lower housing;
applying an external, axial force to the measuring apparatus;
turning the handle ring in a counter-clock-wise direction, wherein the collet fingers engage an upper plane of the notch; and
,reading the measuring device to obtain the distance between the upper housing and lower housing, while under load, which represents the as-built shim thickness. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
16. The method for determining the thickness of a shim of clam 15, wherein the measuring device is at least two dial indicators and the step of reading includes reading each dial indicator, and includes the step of averaging the readings of all the dial indicators to obtain the shim thickness.
Specification