A Sensor Holder And A Wheel Bearing Apparatus Incorporated With A Wheel Speed Detecting Apparatus

• US 20090251133A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Norimatsu, Takayuki, Ono, Yujiro, Suzuki, Syougo, Kawamura, Hiroshi, Fukada, Kikuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,054,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/174
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/186 with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7886 mounted outside the gap between the inner and outer races, e.g. sealing rings mounted to an end face or outer surface of a race
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/026 for speed measuring devices, e.g. pulse generator
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C

Abstract

A sensor holder has an encoder and a wheel speed sensor arranged opposite to the encoder, via a predetermined air gap. An annular fitting member is formed by pressing an anti-corrosive steel plate. A holding portion is formed of injection moldable synthetic resin and is integrally formed with the annular fitting member. The wheel speed sensor is embedded in the holding portion. At least a surface of the annular fitting member contacting the holding portion is roughened by shot blasting to have a surface roughness Ra of 0.8 or more.

Claims

1. A sensor holder comprising:

an encoder and a wheel speed sensor arranged opposite to the encoder via a predetermined air gap;

an annular fitting member formed by pressing an anti-corrosive steel plate;

a holding portion formed from injection moldable synthetic resin integrally formed with the annular fitting member, said wheel speed sensor is embedded in the holding portion; and

at least a surface of the annular fitting member contacting the holding portion is roughened by shot blasting to have a surface roughness Ra of 0.8 or more.

2. The sensor holder of claim 1, wherein said encoder comprises a rubber magnet formed of elastomer material mingled with magnetic powder, it is constructed as a rotary encoder to detect the wheel speed and it has N and S poles alternately arranged along its circumference, said wheel speed sensor has a magnetic detecting element varying its characteristics in accordance with the magnetic flux.

3. The sensor holder of claim 1, wherein a step is formed between the outer circumference of the holding portion and the outer circumference of the annular fitting member.

4. The sensor holder of claim 3 wherein said step has an annular configuration having a constant width along the circumference of the holding portion.

5. A wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus comprising:

an outer member integrally formed on its outer circumference, with a body mounting flange, said body mounting flange to be mounted on a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, said outer member inner circumference including double row outer raceway surfaces;

an inner member includes a wheel hub and at least one inner ring, said wheel hub integrally formed at one end with a wheel mounting flange, a cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange, the inner ring is press fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, the wheel hub and the inner ring are formed, on their outer circumferences, with double row inner raceway surfaces opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces;

double row rolling elements are contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner and outer members; and

a wheel speed detecting apparatus for detecting a wheel rotation speed of a vehicle including an encoder fit onto the outer circumference of the inner ring, an annular fitting member of a sensor holder is press fit onto the end of the outer member, and that a seal is arranged at the inner side of the encoder, via a holding portion, of the sensor holder; and

at least a surface of the annular fitting member contacting the holding portion is roughened by shot blasting to have a surface roughness Ra of 0.8 or more.

6. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein said annular fitting member comprises a fitting portion press fit onto the circumference of an end of the outer member, a flange portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion and a cylindrical portion axially extends from the flange portion, and said seal is mounted in an annular opening formed between the cylindrical portion and the inner ring.

7. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein said seal comprises an annular sealing plate and a slinger, each formed with an L-shaped cross-section and are arranged in an annular opening formed between the cylindrical portion of the annular fitting member and the inner ring so that they oppose each other, and said sealing plate comprises a metal core fit into the cylindrical portion of the annular fitting member, and a sealing member integrally bonded to the metal core, via vulcanized adhesion, and having a side lip slidably contacting the slinger.

8. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein a step is formed between the outer circumference of the holding portion and the outer circumference of the annular fitting member.

9. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 8, wherein said step has an annular configuration with a constant width along the circumference of the holding portion.