The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting appliances/tools to a tool arm, wherein the apparatus includes: an upper fastening portion (10B) adapted to be supported by a tool arm (2) of a machine; a lower fastening portion (16A) arranged to support at least one appliance/tool (5) to be maneuvered by the machine, wherein the lower fastening portion (16A) has one or more recesses (40,41) arranged to receive corresponding fastening pins (30,31) of the appliance/tool (5) for engagement when connecting the appliance/tool to the apparatus; and at least one locking element (50) arranged to be in a locking position for locking the appliance/tool to the apparatus when the fastening pins are in engagement with the recesses (40,41); wherein the apparatus further includes: at least one first sensor (70) arranged to verify that the locking element (50) occupies a correct locking position; and at least one second sensor (80) arranged to verify correct engagement between the fastening pins (30,31) and the recesses (40,41). The invention also relates to a method.

An elastic alignment assembly includes a first component having a first engagement surface. Also included is a second component having a second engagement surface and is configured to be mated with the first component. Further included is a receiving feature formed in at least one of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. Yet further included is a protrusion comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the protrusion extending away from at least one of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, the protrusion formed of an elastically deformable material to elastically deform at a first interface and a second interface upon contact with the receiving feature, wherein the first interface is located proximate the first sidewall and the receiving feature, and wherein the second interface is located proximate the second sidewall and the receiving feature.

A ball joint for a vehicle, with a ball pin that has a joint ball, a joint housing that encloses the joint ball and is provided with a pin opening, in which the joint ball of the ball pin is fitted and able to move. The ball pin extends out of the joint housing through the pin opening. An actuator can press a pressure element, in an axial direction, against the joint housing in such a manner that pressure can be exerted by the joint housing and the pressure element onto the joint ball. The actuator acts upon a spring which acts upon the pressure element. The length of the spring can be measured by a displacement sensor.

A joint component includes a ball joint with a joint housing that defines a stud opening and a measurement port opposite the stud opening in an axial direction. A ball stud includes a joint ball movably fitted in the joint housing, where the joint ball faces toward the measurement port and the ball stud extends out of the housing through the stud opening. A component body includes a joint-holding housing that defines a joint opening and has a base opposite the joint opening in the axial direction. The joint housing is inserted into the component body with its measurement port facing toward the base. An angle measurement device has an angle sensor to capture a signal that characterizes an angular position of the ball stud relative to the joint housing. The angle measurement device can hold the angle sensor in a sensor holder between the base and the joint housing.

A socket joint includes a stud, a wear indicator configured to indicate a degree of wear relating to the stud or relating to a position of the stud, an elastomeric seal, and a Belleville washer. The elastomeric seal is located at least partially between the wear indicator and the Belleville washer. In some implementations, a domed cover plate is configured to help create a sealing engagement between the elastomeric seal, the wear indicator, and the Belleville washer when the cover plate is pressed into the internal bore of the housing of the socket joint.