A self-adjusting wheel speed sensor assembly including a magnetic sensor and a rotor on a vehicle axle and wheel. The sensor and rotor are automatically adjusted to a predetermined relationship as the wheel is mounted on the axle and are maintained in that relationship during operation of the vehicle. The sensor is manufactured as a self-contained modular unit and the rotor is formed by a metal stamping operation.
The present invention is based on the objective of disclosing a rotary sensor arrangement in which the sensor is accessible without having to remove any assemblies, wherein said sensor arrangement also allows an economical integration into existing assemblies. According to the invention, this objective is attained with a rotary sensor arrangement for elements that can be turned relative to surrounding elements, in particular, for shafts, which consists of at least two sensor units that can be mounted separately from one another, wherein one sensor unit is arranged on the rotatable element and at least one second sensor unit is arranged on an element that is stationary relative to the rotatable element, and wherein at least the second sensor unit can be accessed and removed independently of the state of installation of the rotatable element.
An automatic speed sensor positioner for use on a wheel of an automotive vehicle where a speed sensor device is located in the brake drum of each wheel of an automotive vehicle and cooperates with a slotted rotor rotating with the wheel to sense the speed thereof. This device includes a housing mounted in the brake drum and a magnetic sensor positioned in the housing; the housing and sensor having complementary tapered surfaces which are urged together by a spring, so that the sensor will move into proper position determined by an ablative plate on the sensor when it is engaged by the rotor as the wheel is assembled on the axle.
A magnetic field source is mounted on one race of a two-race radial or thrust bearing. The race with the magnetic field source rotates. The other race does not rotate. A magnetic field sensor is mounted on a flexible arm of a rigid arm support. The arm support with its flexible arm does not rotate but the flexible arm may flex in response to movement of either of the races or the flexible arm support member so that the magnetic field sensor is always kept a constant predetermined distance from the magnetic field source. The number of times alternate magnetic poles on the rotating race is sensed by the sensor per unit of time indicates the speed of the rotating race.
An electronic sensor apparatus for determining motion of a movable element has a sensor housing for accurately positioning the sensor at a preselected distance from the movable element in response to contact with the movable element. A holding means maintains the sensor housing at the desired position. Heretofore, similar sensing systems have employed the use of customized sensor bodies or manually inserted shims to establish the sensing system at its required location.
Exciter rings, wheel assemblies and methods of assembling. In some aspects, a wheel assembly includes a brake rotor including a barrel section having an interior surface defining a barrel cavity, and a projection extending from the interior surface of the barrel section into the barrel cavity. The wheel assembly also includes an exciter ring formed separately from the brake rotor and engagable with the projection within the barrel cavity to removably connect the exciter ring to the brake rotor. In other aspects, an exciter ring is formed separately from and removably connectable to a brake rotor and includes a body portion having an outer surface, the body portion including a detent protruding outwardly from the outer surface and extending around the outer surface of the body portion. The exciter ring also includes a flange extending radially outwardly from the body portion and having a plurality of apertures.