Rotary motion measuring device with a rotating signal generator ring and a stationary snugly fitted sensor with a protective housing around the generator ring

• US 5,642,042 A
• Filed: 06/24/1994
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: DeVolder, Edmond, Goossens, Andre F. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patidar, Jay M.
• Application Number:
  US08/256,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 324/173, 324/207.25, 324/174, 324/166, 324/207.14, 324/207.17, 384/624, 384/448, 384/486, 310/155, 310/168, 340/682
• US Class Current: 324/173
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/185 with two raceways provided integrally on a part other than a race ring, e.g. a shaft or housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/805 in addition to other sealings, e.g. dirt guards to protect sealings with sealing lips
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/00 Details of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C

Abstract

A device for measuring rotary motion, preferably the rotational speed of the vehicle wheels, has a signal generator ring mounted on a wheel bearing outer ring which rotates with the wheel. A protective housing is mounted to a stationary member and surrounds the signal generator ring. A sensor which is snug-fittingly accommodated in a holder is fixed onto the stationary member by way of a flange on the protective housing. The holder holds and retains the sensor in the predetermined position on the periphery of the signal generator ring.

Claims

1. A rotary motion measuring device comprising:

a stationary member,

a rotating member rotatably coupled to said stationary member wherein said rotating member includes a signal generator ring,

a protective housing attached to said stationary member, wherein said protective housing substantially surrounds said signal generator ring and includes an opening on an outer periphery of said protective housing;

a sensor holder coupled to said protective housing with a sensor head disposed in front of said generator ring to receive a signal from said generator ting through said opening of said protective housing,

a sensor disposed in said sensor holder opening, said sensor disposed proximate said signal generator ring such that it generates an electric signal representative of the rotary motion of the signal generator ring.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned and held within said sensor holder opening by at least one of a snug fit, press fit, click-in mechanism, and a plug connection.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said protective housing includes a lateral flange portion, wherein said sensor holder is coupled to said lateral flange portion of said protective housing.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said lateral flange portion includes positioning lips and wherein said stationary member includes recesses corresponding to said lips, wherein said lips and said corresponding recesses engage one another fixing an angular position of both the lateral flange and the sensor holder with respect to the stationary member.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is designed in the form of an oblong body having at least one of a round, an angular, and a rounded angular cross-section.

6. The device of claim 1, further including a latch and a stop spring fitted between said sensor and said sensor holder for positively fixing the sensor in the sensor holder.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said opening is a passageway through said protective housing.

8. A rotary motion measuring device comprising:

a stationary member;

a rotating member rotatably coupled to said stationary member wherein said rotating member includes a signal generator ring;

a sensor holder coupled to said stationary member including an opening therein;

a sensor disposed in said sensor holder opening, said sensor disposed proximate said signal generator ring such that it generates an electric signal representative of the rotary motion of the signal generator ring;

a protective housing attached to said stationary member, wherein said protective housing at least partially surrounds said signal generator ring and allows passage of a signal from said generator ring to said sensor;

wherein said protective housing includes a lateral flange portion, wherein said sensor holder is coupled to said lateral flange portion of said protective housing; and

wherein

said lateral flange portion includes positioning lips and said stationary member includes recesses corresponding to said lips, wherein said lips and said corresponding recesses engage one another fixing an angular position of both the lateral flange and the sensor holder with respect to the stationary member.

9. A rotary motion measuring device comprising:

a stationary member;

a rotating member rotatably coupled to said stationary member wherein said rotating member includes a signal generator ring;

a protective housing attached to said stationary member, wherein said protective housing at least partially surrounds said signal generator ring and allows passage of a signal from said generator ring to said sensor;

a sensor holder coupled to said stationary member including an opening therein;

a sensor disposed in said sensor holder opening, said sensor disposed proximate said signal generator ring such that it generates an electric signal representative of the rotary motion of the signal generator ring; and

a latch and a stop spring fitted between said sensor and said sensor holder for positively fixing the sensor in the sensor holder.