Bearing seal for sensing angular velocity

A fluid seal located around an axis of rotation and comprising:

• a rigid outer case having a first axial wall and a radial wall connected to the axial wall, with the radial wall being directed inwardly toward the axis from the axial wall;
• a rigid inner case having a first axial wall which is located within the axial and radial walls of the outer case, and a radial wall which is connected to and extends outwardly from the first axial wall, with the radial wall of the inner case being spaced from the radial wall of the outer case so that an annular chamber exists between the two radial walls, the inner case also having a second axial wall which is connected to the radial wall of that case;
• a first flexible seal element connected to the radial wall of the outer case and establishing a fluid barrier along the first axial wall of the inner case;
• a second flexible seal element connected to the second axial wall of the inner case and establishing a fluid barrier along the axial wall of the outer case;
• a sensor carried by the inner case and having a head located within the chamber, the sensor being capable, when excited, of generating a signal having a frequency;
• and means on the radial wall of the outer case for exciting the sensor when the outer case rotates relatively to the inner case about the axis, with the frequency of the signal reflecting the angular velocity.

A fluid seal located around an axis of rotation and comprising:

• a rigid outer case having a first axial wall and a radial wall connected to the axial wall, with the radial wall being directed inwardly toward the axis from the axial wall;
• an inner case which is rigid and has a first axial wall, which is located within the axial and radial walls of the outer case, and a radial wall, which is connected to and extends outwardly from the first axial wall, with the radial wall of the inner case being spaced from the radial wall of the outer case so that a chamber exists between the two radial walls, the inner case also having a second axial wall which is connected to the radial wall of that case and is located radially outwardly from the first axial wall of the outer case;
• a first flexible seal element connected to the radial wall of the outer case and establishing a fluid barrier along the first axial wall of the inner case;
• a second flexible seal element connected to the second axial wall of the inner case and establishing a fluid barrier along the axial wall of the outer case;
• a sensor carried by the inner case and having a head located within the chamber, the sensor being capable, when excited, of generating a signal having a frequency;
• and means on the radial wall of the outer case for exciting the sensor when the outer case rotates relative to the inner case about the axis, with the frequency of the signal reflecting the angular velocity.

A seal for closing the end of an annular space between an outer member which rotates around an inner member about an axis of rotation, said seal comprising:

• an outer case configured to fit on the outer member and having an axial wall and a radial wall, the axial wall providing a sealing surface, the radial wall having discontinuities arranged circumferentially around the axis;
• an inner case configured to fit along the inner member and having an axial wall and a radial wall, the axial wall of the inner case providing a sealing surface and the radial wall of the inner case being presented opposite the radial wall of the outer case such that an annular chamber exists between the two radial walls;
• a first seal element mounted on the inner case and establishing a dynamic fluid barrier along the sealing surface of the outer case;
• a second seal element carried by the outer case and establishing a dynamic fluid barrier along the sealing surface of the inner case, all such that the seal elements isolate the chamber, and a sensor carried by the inner case and projecting through the radial wall thereof and into the chamber such that it can be easily removed from the inner case, the sensor being presented toward the radial wall of the outer case such that the discontinuities pass by the sensor when the outer case rotates, the sensor having the capacity to detect the movement of the discontinuities past it and to produce an electrical signal which reflects the angular velocity.

A seal for closing the end of an annular space between an outer member and an inner member, one of which rotates relative to the other about an axis of rotation, said seal comprising:

• a sealing surface carried by the member which rotates;
• a case configured to fit on the member which does not rotate and having integral axially and radially directed walls of substantially the same thickness;
• a flexible seal element on the case and establishing a dynamic fluid barrier along the sealing surface;
• a sensor secured to and carried by the case and being capable of detecting the movement of discontinuities around the axis and producing a signal that reflects the angular velocity of those discontinuities, the sensor having a head which projects through one of the walls of the case but is substantially longer than the walls are thick so that the head projects beyond that one wall, the head being retractable from the case;
• and fasteners releasably attaching the sensor to the case so that it can be removed from the case and replaced.