Wheel bearing assembly with integral sensor element for detecting rotary or angular movements
AssigneeContinental Teves, Inc.
InventorRobert P. Carmichael
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel bearing assembly is provided that includes a tone wheel fixedly connected to a wheel axle so as to rotate with the wheel axle and a wheel bearing cap that is mounted over the end of the wheel axle such that the tone wheel freely rotates within a cavity defined by the wheel bearing cap. The wheel bearing cap further includes a sensor element that is molded to a mounting member that is integral with the wheel bearing cap. When the wheel bearing cap is connected to mating components of the wheel bearing assembly, the sensor element is positioned adjacent data generating sections that are disposed on the tone wheel to detect rotary and angular motions.
Claims18
A wheel bearing assembly having a sensor assembly for detecting wheel bearing angular velocity, comprising:
- a wheel bearing cap having, annular wall, a cover member, an integral mounting member and a terminal housing;
- a sensor assembly integrally connected to said mounting member;
- and
- a tone wheel that is fixedly connected to a wheel axle so as to rotate with said wheel axle when said wheel axle is in operation;
- wherein said wheel bearing cap connects to a mating component that houses said wheel axle such that said tone wheel is received in a cavity defined by said wheel bearing cap with said sensor assembly positioned adjacent to said tone wheel so as to collect and transmit data from data generating surfaces on said tone wheel when said tone wheel rotates to determine the wheel bearing angular velocity,
- wherein said sensor assembly is overmolded to said mounting member,
- wherein said sensor assembly includes a sensor element having a sensing face electrically connected to a circuit by electrical leads and electrical terminals that are integrally connected to connector pins,
- wherein said sensor element is positioned adjacent to said mounting member such that said sensing face is flush with an interior surface of said annular wall, wherein said circuit, electrical leads and electrical terminals being integrally connected to said mounting member,
- wherein said mounting member is positioned at approximately a 45° degree angle with respect to said annular wall.
A wheel bearing cap assembly having a sensor assembly for detecting wheel angular velocity, comprising:
- a wheel bearing cap having, annular wall, a cover member, an integral mounting member and a terminal housing;
- a sensor assembly integrally connected to said mounting member;
- and
- wherein said wheel bearing cap is adapted to connect to a mating component that houses a tone wheel, wherein said sensor assembly collects and transmits data from data generating surfaces on said tone wheel when said tone wheel rotates to determine the wheel angular velocity,
- wherein said sensor assembly is overmolded to said mounting member,
- wherein said sensor assembly includes a sensor element having a sensing face electrically connected to a circuit by electrical leads and electrical terminals that are integrally connected to connector pins,
- wherein said sensor element is positioned adjacent to said mounting member such that said sensing face is flush with an interior surface of said annular wall, wherein said circuit, electrical leads and electrical terminals being integrally connected to said mounting member,
- wherein said mounting member is positioned at approximately a 45° degree angle with respect to said annular wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.