US 5,922,953 AGranted

Sensor apparatus with self-adjusting mechanism for minimizing airgap

AssigneeMagnetic Sensors Corporation

InventorsDonald W. Payne, Seved Ahmad Mojahed Gomnam, Adam Whittingham, Joseph L. Jonke

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Abstract

An apparatus useful for detecting the speed and/or position of an object moving along a defined path and more particularly to such an apparatus configured to minimize the spacing between a sensing face of the apparatus and a target surface on the object. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for sensing the speed of a rotating member, e.g., a gear, by utilizing a sensor, such as a Hall-effect sensor, to detect the movement of each gear tooth past the sensor. An apparatus in accordance with the invention is configured to mount the sensor for adjustable positioning along a sensor path between an initial position and a final operational position. Movement of the sensor along the sensor path is restricted, e.g., by frictional engagement, but can be overcome by contact with the target surface so as to move the sensor to its final position with the spacing, i.e., airgap between the sensing face and the target surface, minimized.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A sensor apparatus, intended for mounting proximate to a target surface with minimal airgap therebetween, for sensing the speed of said target surface moving along a defined target path, said apparatus comprising:

a support structure defining a substantially closed guideway open at a first end;
a sensor housing in said guideway projecting out of said open first end and supported for linear movement along said guideway between an initial position, a coarse operational position, and a final operational position;
a sensor mounted in said sensor housing;
at least one friction element acting in said guideway to produce a friction force acting on said sensor housing to resist movement and maintain the position of said sensor housing along said guideway;
and
an adjustable fastener for rigidly mounting said support structure to locate said sensor housing proximate to said target path, said fastener configured to produce an axial installation force on said support structure substantially parallel to said guideway for forcing said sensor housing against said target surface to displace said sensor housing to said coarse operational position whereat runout of said target surface will produce an axial force on said sensor housing to overcome said friction force and displace said sensor housing to said final operational position.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.