Mechanical assemblies employing sensing means for sensing motion or position

In a bearing assembly comprising first and second relatively movable bearing races, rolling elements located between the races, means mounted for rotary movement with the first race to influence an electromagnetic field and sensing means for sensing the rotary movement of said influencing means, the improvement comprising:

• said sensing means being disposed wholly within a boundary defined by a lateral projection of the radially outermost surface of the bearing races and being mounted to a side face of the second bearing race, and wherein said sensing means comprises ocillator means for energizing an inductive sensor to produce said electromagnetic field which is subjected to said influence and means for producing a signal dependent on said influence and indicative of said movement of the first race.

In a bearing assembly comprising first and second relatively movable bearing races, rolling elements located between the races, toothed means mounted for rotary movement with the first race to influence an electromagnetic field and sensing means for sensing the movement of said toothed means, the improvement comprising:

• said sensing means comprising an inductive sensor composed of a ferrite rod carrying a coil, said ferrite rod extending closely adjacent the teeth of the toothed means and being disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the relative axis of rotation of said bearing races, oscillator means for energizing the inductive sensor to produce said electromagnetic field which is subjected to said influence, and means for producing a signal dependent on said influence and indicative of said movement of the first race.

In a bearing assembly comprising first and second relatively movable bearing races, means mounted for rotary movement with the first race and sensing means for sensing the rotary movement of said means, the improvement comprising:

• said sensing means comprises oscillator circuit means which directly and continuously energizes an inductive element thereof to produce an electromagnetic field which is influenced by the passage of said means mounted for movement with the first race, and means for producing a signal dependent on said influence and indicative of said rotary movement of the first race, said sensing means being supported by cylindrical carrier means arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of relative rotation between the bearing races.

In a bearing assembly comprising first and second relatively rotatable parts, means mounted for rotary movement with the first part and sensing means located to the second part for sensing the rotary movement of said means, the improvement comprising:

• said means mounted to the first part comprises a toothed disc member, and said sensing means is carried by a stationary cylindrical housing symmetrical with respect to the axis of relative rotation movement between the first and second parts, and said sensing means comprises oscillator circuit means comprising an inductive element composed of a coil on a ferrite rod which is disposed to extend substantially parallel to the axis of relative rotary movement between the first and second parts, said inductive element being directly energized to produce an electromagnetic field which is influenced by the passage of the teeth of the disc member, and means for producing a signal dependent on said influence and indicative of said rotary movement of the first part.