Abstract: An acoustic signal unit comprises a signal generation unit to generate a first electrical signal, a first transducer to generate an acoustic signal in response to the first electrical signal, and a second transducer to generate a second electrical signal in response to the received acoustic signal. A calculation unit is provided to compare the first and second electrical signals to determine the time of flight of the acoustic signal, wherein the time of flight corresponds to the stress in the rolling element bearing. The stress may be calculated according to a formula or by multiplying an acoustic time constant for the rolling element bearing by the distance traveled by the acoustic signal across the rolling element bearing, and by the time of flight determined by said comparison unit.

Abstract: A strip of metal is wrapped into a ring configuration such that ends of the strip are positioned in a predetermined relationship to each other. The ends of the strip are attached together by a temporary weld joining the two ends of the strip, thereby forming a temporary continuous ring. After heat treating the temporary continuous ring, the ring is separated at the temporary weld to provide a heat treated split bearing ring with a controlled clearance at the split.

Abstract: A device for measuring torsional couple on a mechanical element, which includes two magnetic field generators attached in a first plane of the mechanical element and two magnetic field detectors arranged in a second parallel plane offset with respect to the first plane. The magnetic field detectors are attached on a support having two housings facing the magnetic field generators and which receive sensor elements on which the magnetic field detectors are attached. The shape of the housings is suited so as to allow movement of the sensor elements in such a way as to make possible an adjustment of an initial position of a sensitive element of each magnetic field detector on the support.

Abstract: Two external rings and an internal ring form an assembly that is connected to a column so it rotates with it, to which column the torque to be measured is applied. Elastically deformable members connect the internal ring to one external ring, and the other external ring remaining essentially unstressed. A measurement device, such as, for example, a probe having at least one with Hall effect device, measures relative displacement of the two external rings to determine the torque applied. The invention also concerns the steering devices equipped with such torque sensors, for example, for power or assisted steering.

Abstract: A housing encloses at least a portion of a steering shaft, and a preloaded ball bearing mounted within the housing supports the steering shaft. The preloaded ball bearing has loaded balls that are preloaded and unloaded balls that are free floating, an unloaded ball being positioned between each loaded ball. A split raceway provides two angular contact raceways that are preloaded axially against the loaded balls.

Abstract: A needle bearing cup includes an inner bearing cup having an inner surface which forms a rolling element raceway and an outer bearing cup disposed about the periphery of the inner bearing cup having a length greater than a length of the inner bearing cup to form a lip. The lip of the outer bearing cup is then formed to retain rolling elements within the inner bearing cup. Preferably, the rolling elements are needle rollers and the inner bearing cup is secured to an outer bearing cup by mechanical lock in the form of a protruding portion extending from the outer bearing cup. The bearing cup may be double drawn with first and second sheet metal blanks forming the inner and outer bearing cups.

Abstract: A drawn cup wheel bearing is mounted within an axle tube and supports an axle shaft mounted in the drawn cup wheel bearing with a vehicle mounting flange of the axle shaft positioned axially outwardly of the axle tube. An annular target is supported from the vehicle mounting flange of the axle shaft such that the target is positioned axially inwardly of the vehicle mounting flange and is positioned over the axle tube. A sensor is supported from the axle tube over the annular target for sensing rotation of the annular target.

Abstract: A torque sensor to determine the torque exerted on an assembly comprising a component generating magnetic impulses, with this sensor comprising a number of aligned sensor components divided into two subassemblies, the signals emitted by such subassemblies being processed by an electronic circuit capable of delivering an analog signal as a function of the torque exerted. The invention also proposes a process for processing the signals emitted by such a sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital sensor of relative position, which has a circular multipolar magnetic ring which is mobile in rotation opposite a stationary magnetic sensor comprised of at least two sensitive elements, respectively positioned facing a main track and a “revolution tick” reference track, and a device for processing of the output signals, such that on the magnetic ring, a magnetic pattern is produced from a pair of north and south poles whose transition is different from the transition between the other north and south poles of the magnetic ring, and of which the angular width of the north pole is different at the site of the “revolution tick” reference track. The sensitive elements can be three in number, the first of which faces reference track and of which the other two face the main track, or they can be produced in the form of two parallel bars.

Abstract: Inner and outer thrust washers are separated by rollers in rolling contact with the inner and outer thrust washers. Two tabs extend radially from the raceway of one of the inner and outer thrust washers. The two tabs have different configurations and are distributed circumferentially at less than 180 degrees separation.

Abstract: A spider for use in a compact universal joint, includes a spider body having a hollow cylindrical portion and two opposed tenons projecting radially outward from the hollow cylindrical portion along a common axis. The hollow cylindrical portion is adapted for installation of bearings therein for pivotal support of the cross body on a pin mounted in a first yoke of the universal joint, and the tenons are adapted for mounting within bearings in a second yoke thereof.

Abstract: Bearing (1) with a built-in encoder (22) that comprises a fixed ring (2), a rotating ring (3) designed to be mounted on a rotating body (5), and rolling components (4) between them. A frame (13) forms, on the one hand, support for an annular encoder (22) to generate electromagnetic impulses and, on the other hand, a device for rigidly connecting the rotating body (5) and the rotating ring (3). The rotating ring (3) fits onto the connection device, which is designed to be inserted between the rotating body (5) and the rotating ring (3). Sensor (29) and steering system components may be added.

Abstract: A shaft depressor is used for seating a shaft against a closed, usually curved, portion between first and second sides of a U-shaped socket in a slap yoke of a steering shaft assembly. It is used together with a clamp bolt which extends through a hole in the first side of the socket and fastens to threads at a second parallel side thereof. The shaft depressor consists of a cylindrical body having an inside diameter sized to fit over the clamp bolt, an outside diameter sized to pass through the hole in the first side of the U-shaped socket, and projecting members for pressing the shaft into the closed portion of the socket. The shaft depressor has a tapered lead at one end for easy insertion through the hole in the first parallel side and a plurality of fins projecting radially outwardly from the surface of the cylindrical bushing. The radially projecting fins may be axially extending ridges, circumferential ridges, cones, or a single helical ridge on the surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A method for determining position and/or direction of a target, where the target has a series of magnetic poles with a magnetic pole spacing d.

Abstract: A device for measuring the rotation of a rotating element which contains a magnetic encoder which turns with the rotating element and a sensor integrated with a support which is immobilized in terms of rotation. The magnetic encoder is maintained in close proximity to the sensor by the application of magnetic attraction forces between the magnetic encoder and the support, which is produced, at least partially, out of magnetic material.

Abstract: A moving target opposite a stationary analog sensor has two sensitive elements delivering two sinusoidal output signals, of equal maximum amplitudes, centered on the same average value, in quadrature and with a period equal to one revolution of the target. A device for processing the two output signals, generates n output signals in-parallel, where n is a positive whole number greater than or equal to 2, for providing the position of a rotating component, connected to the moving target, with a resolution equal to 2n. The processing device includes a generator device, a detection device, a multiplexing device and an interpolation device.

Abstract: A rocker arm, for operating a valve in a machine such as an internal combustion engine, has a stamped body with a push rod socket at a first end, a valve pallet at a second end, and two lateral walls extending between the first and second ends, each of the lateral walls having a bearing support aligned on a common axis. A stiffener strap extends from one bearing support over the lateral walls to the other bearing support, the stiffener strap having a bearing housing at each end for engagement with the bearing supports of the stamped body. The stiffener strap may also include stabilizer features for clamping the lateral walls of the stamped body to resist inward buckling in service.

Abstract: A bearing housing includes a mounting for securing a bearing housing to a support surface and a bore adapted for receiving a bearing. An intermediate ring having a mechanical interlock and configured to mount over the bearing housing is positioned adjacent the bearing housing bore. An adhesive connection between the bearing housing and the intermediate ring connects the intermediate ring to the bearing housing. A bearing cover is positioned over the housing bore and engages the intermediate ring such that the mechanical interlock retains the bearing cover.

Abstract: A clamp for securing a torque transmitting coupling between an intermediate shaft and a drive tube in a vehicle steering column consists of a strap wrapped upon itself in a substantially circular form with its ends overlapping, the strap having a radial hole formed through the overlapping ends, and a bolt inserted through the radial hole and threadably engageable with a threaded nut within the circular form of the strap. The bolt preferably has a flared tip for trapping the bolt within the nut and for extending into and through a hole in a wall of the drive tube to engage a recess in the intermediate shaft. It also has an undercut portion above the flared tip for disengaging from threads of the nut when the flared tip is retracted into the wall of the drive tube. Until the shaft is properly positioned in the tube, the threads of the bolt and nut are prevented from engaging to tighten the clamp. The flared tip may have threads to permit easy assembly with the nut and the strap.

Abstract: A bearing having a spherically convex radially outer surface is pivotably mounted in a spherically concave bore of a bearing housing. An annular housing cap is mounted against an axial end of the bearing housing, the housing cap having a radially inwardly directed annular groove and providing clearance with respect to the rotatable shaft such that pivoting of the bearing within the housing is permitted. At least two split laminar rings located within the annular groove of the housing cap are spring-loaded radially inwardly for biased engagement with the rotatable shaft.