Sensor-integrated wheel support bearing assembly

A sensor-integrated wheel support bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body structure, which assembly comprises:

• an outer member having an inner peripheral surface formed with a plurality of raceway surfaces;
• an inner member having an outer peripheral surface formed with raceway surfaces in alignment with the raceway surfaces in the outer member;
• a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the raceway surfaces in the outer member and the raceway surfaces in the inner member, respectively;
• and
• and a torque sensor,
• wherein the torque sensor includes a to-be-detected element disposed in one of the outer and inner members, which forms a rotatable member, and made of a magnetostrictive material, and a torque detecting element provided in the other of the outer and inner members, which forms a stationary member, for detecting a change in magnetic characteristic of the to-be-detected element to detect a working torque, and
• wherein the to-be-detected element is positioned intermediate between the raceway surfaces.