Hub and bearing assembly with integrated rotation sensor including a tone ring and annular transducer
First Claim
1. A bearing assembly comprising:
- an inner bearing race located radially within an outer bearing race having an axis of rotation,a plurality of rolling bearing elements located radially between said inner and outer bearing races permitting relative rotation between said races,a tone ring defining a face having regions of magnetic poles which alternate in polarity along said face, said tone ring being fixed relative to one of said bearing races,an annular transducer fixed to the other of said bearing races, said transducer having a case made of a ferromagnetic material defining a first set of teeth facing said tone ring face, and a second set of teeth facing said tone ring face, said transducer teeth being arranged relative to said tone ring magnetic pole regions such that said first set of teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining one magnetic pole while said second set of teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining the opposite magnetic pole, and said transducer teeth coupled to said tone ring such that said poles exposed to said first and second set of teeth alternate upon relative rotation between said tone ring and said transducer, anda conductor winding within said transducer whereby an alternating magnetic flux passing through said transducer in response to said relative rotation induces an alternating voltage in said winding.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A bearing assembly incorporating a speed and/or temperature sensor particularly adapted for motor vehicle wheel applications. The sensor incorporates a magnetized tone ring defining a radial or cylindrical face which interacts with an annular transducer. The transducer has a plurality of teeth facing the magnetized tone ring with separate first and second rows of teeth extending from the transducer frame. The first set of teeth engage one area of the tone ring defining one magnetic pole whereas the second series of teeth interact with regions of the tone ring defining the opposite magnetic pole. Relative rotation between the transducer and tone ring induces an alternating magnetic field through the transducer case which induces an alternating voltage in the winding coil. The transducer is efficiently packaged within the enclosed cavity of a bearing assembly. This invention further contemplates a means to allow transducer temperature to be evaluated by monitoring the DC resistance of the transducer winding.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A bearing assembly comprising:
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an inner bearing race located radially within an outer bearing race having an axis of rotation, a plurality of rolling bearing elements located radially between said inner and outer bearing races permitting relative rotation between said races, a tone ring defining a face having regions of magnetic poles which alternate in polarity along said face, said tone ring being fixed relative to one of said bearing races, an annular transducer fixed to the other of said bearing races, said transducer having a case made of a ferromagnetic material defining a first set of teeth facing said tone ring face, and a second set of teeth facing said tone ring face, said transducer teeth being arranged relative to said tone ring magnetic pole regions such that said first set of teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining one magnetic pole while said second set of teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining the opposite magnetic pole, and said transducer teeth coupled to said tone ring such that said poles exposed to said first and second set of teeth alternate upon relative rotation between said tone ring and said transducer, and a conductor winding within said transducer whereby an alternating magnetic flux passing through said transducer in response to said relative rotation induces an alternating voltage in said winding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle bearing assembly for a vehicle having a suspension component and a wheel comprising:
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an inner bearing race fixed relative to either said vehicle suspension component or said wheel, an outer bearing race which is rotatable with the other of said vehicle wheel or said vehicle suspension component, a plurality or rolling bearing elements between said bearing races permitting relative rotation between said races about an axis of rotation, a tone ring fixed to one of said races and disposed between said races, said tone ring in the form of a flat disk defining a radial face extending between said races with said radial face having regions of magnetic poles which alternate in polarity along said radial face, an annular transducer fixed to the other of said races and positioned within an annular space formed between said bearing races with said tone ring positioned between said rolling bearing elements and said transducer, said transducer defining a hollow case having a closed radial side joining an inner cylindrical wall defining a set of inner teeth facing said tone ring and joining an outer cylindrical wall defining a set of outer teeth facing said tone ring, both teeth formed of a material providing magnetic coupling with said regions of magnetic poles, said transducer teeth being arranged relative to said tone ring magnetic pole regions such that said inner teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining on magnetic pole while said outer teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining the opposite magnetic pole, and said transducer teeth coupled to said tone ring such that said poles exposed to said inner and outer teeth alternate upon relative rotation between said tone ring and said transducer, and a conductor winding within said transducer whereby an alternating magnetic flux passing through said transducer in response to said relative rotation induces an alternating voltage in said winding. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A bearing assembly for a vehicle having a suspension component and a wheel comprising:
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an inner bearing race fixed relative to either said vehicle suspension component or said wheel, an outer bearing race which is rotatable with the other of said vehicle wheel or said vehicle suspension component, a plurality or rolling bearing elements located radially between said inner and outer bearing races permitting relative rotation between said races, a tone ring fixed to one of said races and disposed between said races, said tone ring in the form of a cylinder defining a cylindrical face having regions of magnetic poles which alternate in polarity along said face, an annular transducer fixed to the other of said bearing races and positioned within an annular space formed between said bearing races and confronting said tone ring defining a radial gap therebetween, said transducer defining a hollow case having a cylindrical wall and first and second radial walls defining first and second sets of teeth respectively facing said tone ring, said transducer teeth, formed of a material providing magnetic coupling with said regions of magnetic poles, being arranged relative to said tone ring magnetic pole regions such that said first set of teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining one magnetic pole while said second set of teeth are magnetically coupled to regions of said tone ring defining the opposite magnetic pole, and said transducer teeth coupled to said tone ring such that said poles exposed to said first and second teeth alternate upon relative rotation between said tone ring and said transducer, and a conductor winding within said transducer whereby an alternating magnetic flux passing through said transducer in response to said relative rotation induces an alternating voltage in said winding. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification