A bracket and washer combination providing secure holding and positioning of a magnetic sensor, wherein an optimal air gap is automatically set as the washer is brought into a slot of the bracket due to facial interaction therebetween. In one embodiment, the sidewalls of the slot have teeth of predetermined pitch, while the washer has smooth sidewalls. In a second embodiment, the sidewalls of the washer have teeth of a predetermined pitch angle, while the sidewalls of the slot are smooth. The member having toothed sidewalls is formed of a material harder than the member having smooth sidewalls. The washer and slot are dimensioned so that the sidewalls of the washer tightly abut the sidewalls of the slot, wherein the teeth of the toothed sidewalls inscribe corresponding grooves into the smooth sidewalls as the washer is pressed into the slot along a transverse axis. Consequently, as the corresponding grooves are inscribed, the washer sidewalls are caused to move in relation to the slot sidewalls in a direction parallel to the pitch of the teeth, resulting in a relative movement between the washer and the bracket along a longitudinal axis. However, since the washer is affixed by a bolt so that it is constrained from moving along the longitudinal axis, the relative movement is provided by the bracket moving along the longitudinal axis in relation to the washer.

A mounting assembly for adjustably attaching a first component, such as a wheel speed sensor, to a second component, such as a part of a wheel suspension, comprises a mounting device having first and second regions, and an intermediate region located between the first and second regions, the first component being mounted on the first region of the mounting device, and an attachment element, such as a screw, which connects the second region of the mounting device to the second component. The mounting device is shaped so that its intermediate region is spaced away from the second component. Upon tightening of the attachment element, the intermediate region of the mounting device is brought into contact with the second component by elastic or plastic deformation of the mounting device, whereby the position of the first component is fixed in relation to the second component.

A variable reluctance rotation sensor comprises a rotatable toothed wheel and a magnetic pickup assembly comprising a pair of permanent magnets each having a pair of poles with an opposite one of said poles adjacent the toothed wheel. The permanent magnets are separated from each other by an arc equal to the arc between two of the teeth and joined by a magnetic flux member with a multi-turn electrical coil wound thereon. The flux member establishes a common main flux loop through the first and second permament magnets but also extends close to the toothed wheel to further establish additional flux loops separately through each of the permanent magnets. Passage of alternating teeth and slots as the wheel rotates produces a spatial fluctuation in the additional flux loops between the magnets to vary the flux linkages with individual coil turns and increase the electrical signal in the coil over the signal level that would be produced by variations in air gap of the common flux loop alone. The sensor produces a rotational speed signal at very low rotational speeds of greater amplitude and/or with a larger minimum air gap than that of conventional variable reluctance sensors.

A speed sensor assembly is mounted to a steering knuckle with a threaded fastener. The fastener is initially hand tightened until it is axially obstructed by a spacer provided on the speed sensor assembly. A tool then is used to apply high torque to the fastener so as to deflect or break away the spacer so that the speed sensor assembly may be tightly clamped to the steering knuckle by the fastener. The spacer prevents hand tightened speed sensor assemblies from being properly aligned with a tone wheel. Unless a tool is used to fully seat the speed sensor assembly, the assembly will give a false test signal indicative of improper or incomplete mounting.

An electrical power device (30) for mounting on a vehicle includes a drive coupling (44, 100, 120) for rotationally coupling the rotor (46) of the power device to the axle and wheel assembly (12) of the vehicle. The drive coupling includes a drive shaft (60, 122) having a portion extending outwardly into proximity with a projection (48) on the vehicle axle. A crank arm (74, 128) extends from the drive shaft for engaging the projection so that when the axle is rotated, the projection engages the crank arm and thereby rotates the drive shaft of the power device.