US 5,085,519 A · Bearing assembly with speed sensor and process for assembling the same

Abstract

A double row tapered roller bearing, which has the capacity to produce a pulsating electrical signal, the frequency of which reflects angular velocity, includes an outer race having a pair of tapered raceways that are presented inwardly, two cones, each having a tapered raceway that is presented outwardly toward a different raceway of the outer race, and tapered rollers arranged in two rows between the raceways of the outer race and the cones, with the small ends of the tapered rollers in each row being presented toward space between the two rows. The outer race has an oblique bore which opens into the space, whereas one of the cones has an axially directed seat which extends into the space. The oblique bore contains a sensor while the axially directed seat has a target wheel fitted over it, and the target wheel has an oblique operative surface that is presented opposite the inner end of the sensor, there being a slight gap between the two. The size of the gap depends on the axial position of the target wheel. During assembly, the target wheel is forced over the axially directed seat of the one cone, while that cone and its row of tapered rollers are in the outer race, and the advance of the target wheel is monitored by a gage in the oblique bore. When the gage registers a prescribed distance between the operative surface and a reference surface on the outer race, the advance is terminated, the gage is withdrawn, and the sensor is installed. This ensures that the gap between the inner end of the sensor and the operative surface of the sensor will be the proper size.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A bearing assembly having an axis of rotation, said bearing assembly comprising:

an outer race having a pair of raceways presented inwardly toward the axis of rotation and a bore which is offset from the raceways and lies at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of rotation;
a pair of inner races located within the outer race and each having a raceway that is presented outwardly toward a raceway of the outer race, so that the one raceway of the outer race encircles the raceway of one of the inner races and the other raceway of the outer race encircles the raceway of the other inner race, one of the inner races having an axially directed seat;
rolling elements arranged in two rows between the raceways of the outer and inner races;
seals located between the outer race and the two inner races to isolate the region in which the raceways and the two rows of rolling elements are located and into which the inner end of the oblique bore opens;
a sensor located in the oblique bore and having an inner end which is in the region isolated by the seals;
and a target wheel located on the axially directed seat of the one inner race such that it can be moved axially on the seat, the target wheel having an operative surface which is oblique to the axis of rotation and is presented toward the inner end of the sensor such that a gap exists between the operative surface and the inner end of the sensor, with the size of the gap being dependent on the position of the target wheel along the axially directed seat, the target wheel along its operative surface cooperating with the sensor to produce a pulsating signal when inner races rotate within the outer race, with the frequency of the signal reflecting the angular velocity.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bearing assembly with speed sensor and process for assembling the same

Life of this patent

Bearing assembly with speed sensor and process for assembling the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12