High-resolution wheel speed sensor for a vehicle
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsRandall Thompson, Cleatis Elisha Cutshall, Michael Tholan Crosby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor for a vehicle includes a motor housing, a motor shaft, a hub, and a wheel speed sensor assembly. The motor shaft is disposed at least partially within the motor housing. The hub is configured to be coupled to the motor shaft and to be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The wheel speed sensor assembly includes a first end that is coupled to the motor housing and a second end that is rotatably coupled to the hub. The wheel speed sensor assembly is configured to generate a wheel speed signal that facilitates determination of a speed and direction of rotation of the wheel.
Claims20
A motor for a vehicle, the motor comprising:
- a motor housing;
- a motor shaft disposed at least partially within the motor housing;
- a hub, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle;
- and
- a wheel speed sensor assembly having a first end coupled to the motor housing and a second end rotatably coupled to the hub via an idler gear having teeth meshing with respective teeth of a gear coupled to the hub, wherein the wheel speed sensor assembly is configured to generate a wheel speed signal that facilitates determination of a speed and direction of rotation of the wheel.
A vehicle comprising:
- a motor that includes:
- a motor housing;
- a motor shaft disposed at least partially within the motor housing;
- a hub, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle;
- and
- a wheel speed sensor assembly having a first end coupled to the motor housing and a second end rotatably coupled to the hub, wherein the wheel speed sensor assembly is configured to generate a wheel speed signal that facilitates determination of a speed and direction of rotation of the wheel;
- and
- a controller, in communication with the wheel speed sensor assembly, configured to operate the motor responsive to the wheel speed signal generated by the wheel speed sensor assembly.
A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, a wheel speed signal from a wheel speed sensor assembly coupled to both a motor housing and a wheel hub of the vehicle, wherein the wheel speed signal generated by the wheel speed sensor assembly facilitates measuring an angle of rotation of a wheel coupled to the wheel hub to within less than 1°;
- determining, by the controller, a speed and direction of rotation of the wheel based on the wheel speed signal;
- and
- operating, by the controller, the motor of the vehicle responsive to the wheel speed signal to increase power to the motor when the determined speed falls below a target speed, and to decrease power to the motor when the determined speed is above the target speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.