Wheel speed sensor for drive axle

A wheel speed sensor for a wheel mounted on an end of an axle shaft of a drive axle for a vehicle, said drive axle including a differential mechanism for operationally rotating said axle shaft of said wheel, said sensor comprising:

• an electromagnetic sensing device capable of being mounted on a housing of said drive axle in general alignment with a portion of said axle shaft inwardly of said wheel;
• an excitor rotor capable of being mounted generally about said portion of said axle shaft in alignment with said sensing device mounted on said housing for rotation about an axis which is disposed with respect to said sensing device to maintain a distance between said sensing device and said rotor within a predetermined limit without allowing contact therebetween;
• and
• a drive means mounted relative to said rotor and for making contact with said portion of said axle shaft to cause said rotor to rotate in response to rotary movement of said axle shaft.

A wheel speed sensor assembly for a wheel mounted on an end of an axle shaft of a vehicle for rotation therewith, said sensor system comprising:

• an electromagnetic sensing device mounted on said housing adjacent said axle shaft in general alignment with a portion of said axle shaft inwardly of said wheel;
• an excitor rotor mounted generally about said portion of said axle shaft in alignment with said sensing device for rotation about an axis which is disposed with respect to said sensing device to maintain a distance between said sensing device and said rotor within a predetermined limit without allowing contact therebetween;
• and
• a drive means mounted relative to said rotor for making contact with said portion of said axle shaft to cause said rotor to rotate in response to rotary movement of said axle shaft.

A wheel speed sensor assembly for a wheel mounted on an end of an axle shaft of a drive axle for a vehicle, said drive axle including a differential mechanism for operationally rotating said axle shaft of said wheel, said sensor system comprising:

• an electromagnetic sensing device mounted on said housing of said drive axle in general alignment with a portion of said axle shaft inwardly of said wheel;
• an excitor rotor mounted generally about said portion of said axle shaft in alignment with said sensing device for rotation about an axis which is disposed with respect to said sensing device to maintain a distance between said sensing device and said rotor within a predetermined limit without allowing contact therebetween;
• and
• a drive means mounted relative to said rotor for making contact with said portion of said axle shaft to cause said rotor to rotate in response to rotary movement of said axle shaft.