Serviceable wheel speed sensor with magnet assisted retention

For use in a vehicle wheel bearing having a stationary bearing race and a coaxial rotating race forming an annular space therebetween, in which said rotating race has an exciter ring secured thereto including an axially extending cylindrical array of magnetic material teeth, an improved serviceable seal and speed sensor assembly, comprising,

• a stator subassembly including a seal portion fixed to said stationary bearing race and covering said annular space, said stator subassembly further including a magnetic clamping portion proximate said teeth and a permanent magnet secured thereto in axial abutment with said stator magnetic clamping portion, and,
• a sensor subassembly including a speed sensor and a speed sensor support adapted to interfit axially with said stator subassembly so as to locate said speed sensor proximate said exciter ring teeth, and also having a magnetic clamping portion axially abuttable with said stator subassembly clamping portion,
• whereby said sensor assembly is pulled axially toward said stator assembly by said magnet as said clamping portions move into abutment, which magnet is thereby located proximate to both said speed sensor and exciter ring teeth so as to efficiently provide magnetic flux therefor.

For use in a vehicle wheel bearing having a stationary bearing race and a coaxial rotating race forming an annular space therebetween, in which said rotating race has an exciter ring secured thereto including an axially extending cylindrical array of magnetic material teeth, an improved serviceable seal and speed sensor assembly, comprising,

• a stator subassembly including an end cap fixed to said stationary bearing race and covering said annular space, said end cap further including an annular magnetic material web integral thereto and proximate said teeth with a permanent magnet secured thereto behind said web, and,
• a sensor subassembly including a speed sensor coil and a coil support adapted to interfit axially with said stator subassembly so as to locate said speed sensor coil proximate said exciter ring teeth, and also having a magnetic plate axially abuttable with said stator subassembly web,
• whereby, as said sensor subassembly is interfitted with said stator subassembly said web and plate are pulled together by said magnet, which magnet is thereby located proximate to both said speed sensor coil and exciter ring teeth so as to efficiently provide magnetic flux therefor.