Electronic odometer integrated into vehicle axle and wheel hub

• US 6,646,432 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Malinowski, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US09/185,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.2, 324/207.21, 324/207.25, 324/174, 324/166, 324/171, 377/19-24, 734/90, 702/158
• US Class Current: 324/171
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2515 with magnetically controlled switches, e.g. by movement of a magnet

Abstract

An axle assembly includes an axle defining an axis, a wheel assembly rotatably supported on the axle for rotating relative to the axle axis, a magnet, a sensor responsive to the magnet for producing a count signal, and a microprocessor for receiving count signal data, calculating the distance the wheel assembly has traveled, and transmitting distance data to an output device. The sensor is mounted to rotate with the wheel assembly and the magnet is mounted to the axle, at a position eccentric to or radially offset from the axle axis. The sensor is mounted to the wheel assembly in radial alignment with the magnet such that rotation of the wheel assembly aligns the sensor for magnetic interaction with or responsiveness to the magnet once per revolution of the wheel assembly.

Claims

1. An axle assembly including an electronic odometer, the assembly comprising:

a non-rotating axle member having a spindle end defining an axis;

a rotating wheel assembly including a wheel hub supported on said spindle end for rotation about said axis;

a magnet;

a sensor responsive to said magnet for producing a count signal;

a microprocessor for receiving count signal data, calculating the distance said wheel assembly has traveled, and transmitting distance data to an output device; and

said sensor mounted to one of said wheel hub or said axle member and said magnet mounted to the other of said wheel hub or said axle member.

2. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wheel hub includes a hub cap mounted for rotation with said wheel assembly and wherein said sensor is mounted to said hub cap.

3. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said axle member includes a bracket extending from said axle member toward said hub cap with said magnet being mounted on said bracket adjacent said hub cap.

4. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bracket extends from said spindle end towards said hub cap.

5. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said axle member includes a jam nut for threaded attachment to said spindle end of said axle member with said bracket extending from said jam nut towards said hub cap.

6. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said magnet is mounted to said axle member eccentrically relative to said axis.

7. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sensor is mounted to said hub cap in radial alignment with said magnet such that rotation of said hub cap aligns said sensor for magnetic responsiveness to said magnet once per revolution of said hub cap.

8. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnet produces a magnetic field and said sensor includes a micro-miniature reed switch for detecting the magnetic field of said magnet and producing the count signal.

9. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor and said microprocessor are mounted in a button housing.

10. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said button housing contains an internal power source.

11. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnet and said sensor are mounted at approximately equal radial distances from said axis such that rotation of said wheel assembly relative to said axle member aligns said sensor and said magnet once per revolution of said wheel assembly.

12. An axle assembly including an electronic odometer, the assembly comprising:

a non-rotating axle member;

a wheel hub rotatably supported on said axle member for rotation about an axis;

a magnet;

a sensor for generating a count signal in response to interaction with said magnet;

a microprocessor for receiving said count signal, compiling distance data based on said count signal, and transmitting said distance data to an output device wherein said sensor is mounted to one of said wheel hub or said axle member and said magnet mounted to the other of said wheel hub or said axle member.

13. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said magnet is mounted to said non-rotating axle member and said sensor is mounted to said wheel hub.

14. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a hub cap mounted for rotation with said wheel hub, said sensor being mounted on an external face of said hub cap.

15. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 13 including dedicated power source for supplying power to said microprocessor.

16. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said sensor, said microprocessor and said dedicated power source are mounted within a common housing attached to said hub.

17. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said non-rotating axle member is a spindle.

18. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said non-rotating axle member is a jam nut threaded onto an axle spindle.

19. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said magnet is mounted to said hub and said sensor is mounted to said non-rotating axle member.

20. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 19 including a hub cap mounted to said hub and wherein said non-rotating axle member is a spindle.

21. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 20 including a dedicated power source for said microprocessor wherein said microprocessor, said sensor, and said dedicated power source are mounted within a common housing attached to said spindle.

22. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said magnet and said sensor are radially spaced from said axis.

23. An axle assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said magnet and said sensor are mounted at approximately equal radial distances from said axis such that rotation of said wheel hub relative to said non-rotating axle member aligns said sensor and said magnet once per revolution of said wheel hub.