Wheel Bearing Apparatus Incorporated With A Wheel Speed Detecting Apparatus

• US 20090274404A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Torii, Akira, Norimatsu, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/448
• 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 33/78 with a diaphragm, disc, or ring, with or without resilient members F16C33/761 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/326 with means for detecting or measuring relative rotation of the two elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. Double row rolling elements freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in annular openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. A sensor holder is injection molded from synthetic resin with an embedded wheel speed detecting sensor. The holder is mounted on an inner side end of the outer member. The inner side seal of the seals includes a slinger mounted onto the outer circumference of the inner ring. A pulser ring has an encoder with circumferential characteristics that alternately and equidistantly change. A metal core is press formed from a steel plate and insert-molded into the sensor holder. A sealing member is integrally bonded to the metal core. A connector for electrically connecting the wheel speed detecting sensor to a harness, connected to an electronic circuit, is mounted at a predetermined position on the circumference of the sensor holder. The connector projects radially outward from the circumference at a predetermined inclined. A recess is formed in the connector. The recess is fit onto an inner side end of the outer member in a manner to cover the inner side end, via a predetermined interface.

Claims

1. A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating with a wheel speed detecting apparatus comprising:

an outer member integrally formed on its outer circumference with a 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 including a wheel hub and an inner ring, the wheel hub having at one end an integrally formed wheel mounting flange and on its outer circumference and an axially extending cylindrical portion, the inner ring is fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, the inner member is formed, on its outer circumference, with double row inner raceway surfaces that are arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces;

double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces, respectively, of the inner member and the outer member;

seals are mounted in annular openings formed between the outer member and the inner member; and

a sensor holder is formed by injection molding synthetic resin, a wheel speed detecting sensor is embedded in said resin, said sensor holder mounted on an inner side end of the outer member;

the inner side seal of the seals includes;

a slinger press formed from a steel plate into a substantially L-shaped cross-section, said slinger mounted onto the outer circumference of the inner ring;

a pulser ring has an encoder with circumferential characteristics that alternately and equidistantly change;

a metal core is press formed from a steel plate and insert-molded into the sensor holder; and

a sealing member is integrally bonded to the metal core;

a connector for electrically connecting the wheel speed detecting sensor to a harness, connected to an electronic circuit, is mounted at a predetermined position on the circumference of the sensor holder and projects radially outward from the circumference at a predetermined incline, and a recess is formed in the connector, the recess is fit onto an inner side end of the outer member in a manner covering via a predetermined interface.

2. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulser ring is fit onto the slinger and the encoder is integrally bonded on the outer circumference of the pulser ring.

3. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal member has a plurality of sealing lips and the sealing lips slidingly contact the slinger and/or the pulser ring.

4. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer circumference of the metal core is formed so that it is bent to surround the end of the outer member.

5. The wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal core includes a cylindrical portion press-fit into the inner circumference of the end of the outer member, an outer circumferential portion extending from the cylindrical portion radially outward along the end of the outer member and having a substantially L-shaped cross-section, and an inner circumferential portion extending from the cylindrical portion radially inward along an inner circumference of the connector and having a substantially L-shaped cross-section.