Device for detecting the rotation speed of a rotating element

• US 7,033,080 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Landrieve, Franck, Verbe, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Footland, Lenard A.
• Application Number:
  US10/467,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040141669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 384/448, 384/484, 384/543, 324/174
• US Class Current: 384/448
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 13/006 Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2316/30 Articles for sports, games and amusement, e.g. roller skates, toys
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/446 mounted between two axially spaced rows of rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for detecting the rotation speed of a rotating element supported by at least one external rotating ring with at least one roller bearing. At least one internal non-rotating ring of the roller bearing is solidly connected to a shaft mounted on a support. The inventive device includes a non-rotating sensor adjacent to the roller bearing and a rotating encoder. The encoder is at least partially fixed by magnetization to a flange which is integral to the rotating ring and which is made from a magnetizable material.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the rotation speed of a rotating element wherein the rotating element is supported by at least one rotating outer ring, at least one roller bearing, and at least one non-rotating inner ring, wherein at least one non-rotating inner ring is fixed to a spindle installed on a support, the device comprising:

a non-rotating sensor positioned adjacent to the roller bearing; and

a rotating encoder, wherein the rotating encoder comprises magnetizable material and wherein the rotating encoder is partially fixed by magnetization to a side plate fixed to at least one rotating outer ring, wherein the side plate comprises an outside face, and wherein the encoder further comprises at least one magnet extending over part of the side plate located in a radial direction and a circumferential direction and arranged in the immediate vicinity of the outside face of the side plate oriented towards the sensor such that the attraction force between the magnet and the side plate participates in retaining the encoder in contact with the side plate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnet is in contact with the side plate.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnet is bonded to the side plate.

4. The device claim 1, wherein the magnet is embedded in an annular support.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the annular support is in contact with the side plate.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the annular support is bonded onto the side plate.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the annular support is centered on the wheel.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the annular support is centered on a portion of the side plate.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises an active encoding part and a magnetic part formed from the same material.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnet is housed in a compartment.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the compartment is made by insert moulding of a flexible material on the outside face of the side plate.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the compartment has a parallelepiped shape.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the walls of the compartment are approximately perpendicular to a radial plane.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the walls of the compartment comprise a part that flares outwards to form an entry chamfer, a central part acting essentially to retain the magnet, and a reverse tapered part near the bottom of the compartment.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the magnet is held in place in the compartment partly by a magnetic force and partly by a mechanical force due to clamping in the compartment.

16. The device claim 11 further comprising a disk-shaped element made from a flexible material with an approximately radial outside face of the encoder.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the magnet is flush with or set back from the outside face of the encoder.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the disk-shaped element is fixed in a groove in the rotating ring.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the disk-shaped element comprises an inside edge forming a dynamic seal between the disk-shaped element and the surface of the non-rotating ring, either in friction or with a narrow gap.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sealing lip formed from a flexible material.

21. An encoder for use on a device for detecting the rotation speed of a wheel wherein the wheel is supported by at least one rotating outer ring, at least one roller bearing, and at least one non-rotating inner ring, wherein at least one non-rotating inner ring is fixed to a spindle installed on a support, wherein the device comprises a non-rotating sensor positioned adjacent to the roller bearing, wherein the encoder is partly fixed by magnetization to a side plate comprising magnetizable material, wherein the side plate comprises an outside face, wherein the encoder further comprises at least one magnet extending over part of the side plate located in a radial direction and a circumferential direction and arranged in the immediate vicinity of the outside face of the side plate oriented towards the sensor, such that the attraction force between the magnet and the side plate participates in retaining the encoder in contact with the side plate.

22. The encoder of claim 21, further comprising one or more magnets.

23. A device with rotating wheels comprising:

a device for detecting the rotation speed of a rotating element wherein the rotating element is supported by at least one rotating outer ring, at least one roller bearing, and at least one non-rotating inner ring, wherein the non-rotating inner ring is fixed to a spindle installed on a support, the device comprising;

a non-rotating sensor positioned adjacent to the roller bearing;

and a rotating encoder, wherein the rotating encoder comprises magnetizable material and wherein the rotating encoder is partially fixed by magnetization to a side plate fixed to at least one rotating outer ring, wherein the side plate comprises an outside face, and wherein the encoder further comprises at least one magnet extending over part of the side plate located in a radial direction and a circumferential direction and arranged in the immediate vicinity of the outside face of the side plate oriented towards the sensor, such that the attraction force between the magnet and the side plate participates in retaining the encoder in contact with the side plate.

24. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, wherein the magnet is in contact with the side plate.

25. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, wherein the magnet is bonded to the side plate.

26. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, wherein the magnet is embedded in an annular support.

27. The device with rotating wheels of claim 26, wherein the annular support is in contact with the side plate.

28. The device with rotating wheels of claim 26, wherein the annular support is bonded onto the side plate.

29. The device with rotating wheels of claim 26, wherein the annular support is centered on the wheel.

30. The device with rotating wheels of claim 26, wherein the annular support is centered on a portion of the side plate.

31. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, wherein the encoder comprises an active encoding part and a magnetic part formed from the same material.

32. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, wherein the magnet is housed in a compartment.

33. The device with rotating wheels of claim 32, wherein the compartment is made by insert moulding of a flexible material on the outside face of the side plate.

34. The device with rotating wheels of claim 32, wherein the compartment has a parallelepiped shape.

35. The device with rotating wheels of claim 32, wherein the walls of the compartment are approximately perpendicular to a radial plane.

36. The device with rotating wheels of claim 32, wherein the walls of the compartment comprise a part that flares outwards to form an entry chamfer, a central part acting essentially to retain the magnet, and a reverse tapered part near the bottom of the compartment.

37. The device with rotating wheels of claim 32, wherein the magnet is held in place in the compartment partly by a magnetic force and partly by a mechanical force due to clamping in the compartment.

38. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, further comprising a disk-shaped element made from a flexible material with an approximately radial outside face of the encoder.

39. The device with rotating wheels of claim 38, wherein the magnet is flush with or set back from the outside face of the encoder.

40. The device with rotating wheels of claim 38, wherein the disk-shaped element is fixed in a groove in the rotating ring.

41. The device with rotating wheels of claim 38, wherein the disk-shaped element comprises an inside edge forming a dynamic seal between the disk-shaped element and the surface of the non-rotating ring, either in friction or with a narrow gap.

42. The device with rotating wheels of claim 23, further comprising a sealing lip formed from a flexible material.