Sensor Or Inspection Features; Liquid Metal Or Shipping Protection Features; Bearing Member Integral With Seal Patents (Class 384/448)
  • Publication number: 20080118195
    Abstract: The rotation state of the bearing such as vibration is accurately sensed. A plural of rollers rollably retained with a retainer are accommodated between an inner ring and an outer ring, and a sensor for sensing the rotation state of the bearing is directly attached to the outer ring. More specifically, the outer ring, having a housing attached to its outside diameter upper part, includes a radially protruding projection in the outside diameter lower part, and the sensor is attached to the end surface of the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Shiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 7374344
    Abstract: To provide a wheel support bearing assembly designed to avoid an ingress of foreign matter from an area, where a sensor is fitted, into the inside of the bearing assembly. The wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member (1) adapted to be secured to a vehicle body structure, an inner member (2) adapted to support a vehicle wheel, and circular rows of rolling elements (3) interposed between the outer and inner members (1,2). A sensor cap (13) is provided for closing an inboard end of the outer member (1) and has an insert nut (15) embedded therein. The sensor cap (13) is also provided with a reduced diameter hole (23), in which an elastic sealing member (25) is interposed under interference fit between it and a deep end face of the insert nut (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Shigeoka, Katsumi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7374343
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic encoder which can be assembled having a thin-walled structure while securing an excellent detection sensitivity and which can provide an excellent moldability by suitably selecting materials, the magnetic encoder is provided which includes a multi-pole magnet 14 having a plurality of opposite magnetic poles alternating in a direction circumferentially thereof, and a core metal 11 for supporting the multi-pole magnet. The multi-pole magnet 14 contains a powdery magnetic material mixed in an amount within the range of 20 to 90 vol. % relative to the total volume of the multi-pole magnet 14. The multi-pole magnet 14 may be a sintered magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakajima, Kouya Oohira, Arito Matsui, Kazutoyo Murakami
  • Patent number: 7367714
    Abstract: Instrumented rolling bearing device of the type including a non-rotating race, a rotating race, at least one row of rolling elements arranged between two raceways of the rotating and non-rotating races, and an assembly for detecting rotation parameters including a non-rotating sensor assembly and a rotating encoder, and an elastic member intended for axially prestressing the rolling bearing, retained axially on the sensor, the elastic member being of annular shape and having a diameter smaller than or equal to that of the outer race of the bearing, the elastic member including a supporting surface designed to be in contact with an element outside the bearing device in order to exert, directly or indirectly, by reaction, an axial force on the non-rotating race in a direction opposite to the detection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: François Niarfeix, Sylvain Chaussat
  • Publication number: 20080101740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing apparatus with a sensor and a rolling bearing with a sensor used to movers such as automobiles or railway carriers, facility machines of equipment, or machine tools. One of the embodiments comprises a sensor detecting conditions of the rolling bearing, a ring-shaped sensor cover housing the sensor therein and secured to a stationary-side bearing ring, and a ring shaped presser member secured to a bearing housing provided outside in a radius direction of the sensor cover, or secured to a shaft, and an opening portion is provided at a decided portion of the sensor cover, and projections standing toward a side of the presser member are furnished in the circumference of the opening portion, the presser member is defined with cutouts for inserting the projections, and the cutouts are arranged with the projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Aoki, Ikunori Sakatani, Masamitsu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080091361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a computer program for determining operating parameters such as, in particular, the rotational speed, the rotational direction, the radial force, the axial force or of structural sound events of a rotating roller bearing to which a sensor arrangement is fixed which, on rotation of the roller bearing delivers a sinusoidal signal, depending on its rotational position, which is sampled at sampling points k, k+1, k+2, . . . To determine the rotational speed, the rotational direction, the radial force and/or the axial force, a mean value is determined by means of estimation and the operating parameters are determined on the basis of a corrected signal which does not obtain an offset by subtraction of the estimated mean value from the sensor signal. To determine structural sound events, the sensor signals are filtered in a high-pass filter and structural sound occurring is determined by estimating a statistical moment of at least the second order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventor: Alfred Pecher
  • Patent number: 7350976
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing has a sealing device (12) on an inboard side of the bearing with a first sealing plate (23) mounted on an inner ring (3), and a second sealing plate (24) mounted on an outer member (10), arranged opposite to the first sealing plate (23). The first sealing plate (23) has a radially extending portion arranged on the inboard side of the bearing. An encoder (25) is bonded on the radially extending portion. The encoder (25) is made of elastomer material which includes magnetic substance powder. The N and S poles are alternately magnetized along the circumferential direction. The second sealing plate (24) has a substantially “L”-shaped cross-section formed by a cylindrical portion and a radially extending portion. Integral side-lip(s) slidingly contact the radially extending portion of the first sealing plate (23). A protecting cover (27) is mounted on the first sealing plate (23) so that it intimately contacts with the encoder (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Koji Nishino
  • Publication number: 20080075399
    Abstract: An encoder 12 a characteristic of which is changed alternately at an equal interval in a circumferential direction is supported/fixed onto a hub 4 concentrically with the hub 4. A sensing portion of a sensor 13 supported on the outer ring 3 is positioned in close vicinity to a sensed surface of the encoder 12 to face thereto. Width dimensions of first and second sensed portions provided onto the sensed surface are changed continuously in a direction along which a to-be-sensed load is applied. Since a pattern according to which an output signal of the sensor 13 is changed is changed pursuant to a change of the load, the load is derived by observing this pattern. The output signal is also utilized to sense a rotation speed of the hub 4 in ABS or TCS control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Kenichi Shibasaki, Koichiro Ono, Kinji Yukawa, Mamoru Aoki, Junji Ono, Taketoshi Chifu
  • Patent number: 7345469
    Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft and a sensor. The axle housing has a tubular portion. A flat is formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion. A hole, which intersects the flat, is formed through the tubular portion. The axle shaft can have an integrally formed target portion that includes a plurality of teeth. The sensor is mounted in the hole and abuts the flat to space a tip of the sensor apart from the teeth of the target portion by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Blair J. Swansno
  • Publication number: 20080063330
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a bearing is disclosed. The method involves positioning a non-contacting bearing isolator adjacent a bearing on a piece of rotating equipment so that at least one operating parameter of said bearing is communicated to said bearing isolator; and, positioning an energy detector within range of said bearing isolator so that said energy detector is able to monitor said at least one operating parameter of said bearing by detecting at least one operating parameter of said bearing isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 7341257
    Abstract: A shaft seal/position sensor module assembly includes a carrier body that is mountable on a shaft housing about an opening through which a rotatable shaft extends. A sleeve is mountable on the shaft and carries a multi-pole encoder ring having a radially outwardly facing sensor surface. A magneto-resistive sensor is mounted on said carrier body in position to communicate with said sensor surface of said encoder ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc
    Inventors: David M. Toth, Richard E. Dewald, Bhawani Tripathy
  • Patent number: 7341321
    Abstract: A rotation detecting device that includes an electric power generator having a stator and a rotor, said rotor having a plurality of alternating opposite magnetic poles in a circumferential direction of the rotor, at least a first magnetic sensor mounted on either the stator or a support member for supporting the stator and operable to detect the alternating opposite magnetic poles in the rotor; and an electric power supply circuit for utilizing an electric power generated by the electric power generator as an electric power source for the at least first magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Koichi Okada, Kenichi Iwamoto, Hiroaki Ohba
  • Patent number: 7338211
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly including inner and outer bearing rings, one of which is intended to rotate and the other of which is intended to remain stationary. The assembly also includes two sets of rolling elements between the rings and in angular contact with tracks defined by the rings. Each set of rolling elements is spaced in the direction of the axis of rotation with each set of rolling elements retained by one of two cages. The assembly further includes a sensing arrangement having at least two annular encoders with alternate north and south magnetic poles and at least two sensors operably associated with the encoders and each serving to provide electrical signals generated by the passage of the poles of the arranged encoder. One of the encoders is mounted on the rotatable one of the bearing rings. The other encoder is mounted on one of the cages and each of the sensors and encoders is disposed axially, between the sets of rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Europe Ltd
    Inventors: Carlo Roberto Bianco, Ian Taylor Cook, Anthony Francois Patrick Gauthier
  • Patent number: 7336067
    Abstract: Balls are interposed between respective raceway surfaces of inner and outer ring members, and a seal apparatus is provided between shoulder portions of the inner and outer ring members. The seal apparatus comprises an outer ring-side seal ring fixed to the outer ring member, and an inner ring-side seal ring fixed to the inner ring member. A pulser ring is fixed to a ring-shaped core metal of the inner ring-side seal ring. In an outer diameter side of the ring-shaped core metal of the outer ring-side seal ring, a magnetic sensor is molded with resin by an external member to be integrated therein. A connector connected to the magnetic sensor is formed consecutive with the external member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Inoue, Shunichi Matsui, Yoshifumi Shige, Minoru Sentoku, Katsura Koyagi
  • Patent number: 7320258
    Abstract: An attaching structure of a rotation-detecting sensor comprises (a) a rotation-transferring medium, (b) a rotation-detecting sensor having (b1) a detection portion that detects a variation in magnetic field due to the rotation of the rotation-transferring medium to convert the variation into an electric signal and (b2) a main body having a plurality of side faces, (c) a flange that is provided at at least one side face of the main body of the rotation-detecting sensor, (d) an attaching member for the rotation-detecting sensor, the attaching member having an attaching hole into which the main body is inserted, concurrently with the flange being applied to the attaching member, and (e) a resin-molded body that (e1) covers by resin molding at least one part of the flange and a part of the attaching member to embed them in it and (e2) fixes the main body of the rotation-detecting sensor to the attaching member through the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sumiden Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Tawara
  • Patent number: 7318589
    Abstract: A pulser ring and a second seal ring are separately formed. When a multipolar magnetic rotor of the pulser ring is bonded to an outer circumferential face of an outer cylindrical portion of an annular core portion, the multipolar magnetic rotor is opposed to a magnetic sensor in the radial direction. Due to the above structure, the multipolar magnetic rotor can be strongly supported by an outer cylindrical portion of the annular core portion. Therefore, even when a rotary centrifugal force is given to the multipolar magnetic rotor, it can not be swung in the radial direction. Accordingly, an interval of the multipolar magnetic rotor and the magnetic sensor in the radial direction, which are opposed to each other, can be maintained constant irrespective of an intensity of the centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignees: Jtekt Corporation, Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kageyama, Katsura Koyagi, Masahiro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080008410
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped rolling bearing apparatus includes a hub spindle, an outer ring concentrically disposed around an outer periphery of the hub spindle, first and second inner rings fitted on the hub spindle to rotate together with the hub spindle, with ends of their smaller rib portions opposed to each other, two rows of tapered rollers disposed respectively between the outer ring and the first inner ring and between the outer ring and the second inner ring, and a sensor for detecting a rotating state of the hub spindle 11. A cylindrical portion is formed integrally at an end of the smaller rib portion of the first inner ring, and extends toward the end of the smaller rib portion of the second inner ring in an axial direction. A detection portion for enabling the sensor to detect the rotating state is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Adachi, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Seiji Yamamoto, Changxin Yu
  • Patent number: 7307414
    Abstract: To provide a bearing with integrated rotation sensor capable of detecting the rotational speed and the origin position without being affected by an external magnetic field, the bearing includes a rotating ring, a magnetic encoder 7 mounted on the rotating ring, and a stationary ring. The magnetic encoder 7 includes a ring shaped rotational speed to-be-detected member 7A having a plurality of magnetic poles alternating with each other, and a origin position to-be-detected element 7Ba arranged axially in a portion of the circumferential direction of the to-be-detected member 7A. Rotational speed and origin position magnetic sensors are mounted on the stationary ring so as to respectively confront the rotational speed and origin position to-be-detected elements. A magnetized restoration element 7Bb is disposed in a circumferential portion of the magnetic encoder 7, where it confronts the origin position magnetic sensor, and except the second to-be-detected member 7Ba.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7304471
    Abstract: A combined sensor and bearing assembly (1) of the present invention includes a rolling bearing unit (22) and a rotation sensor unit (23). The rolling bearing unit (22) includes a rotatable raceway member (2), a stationary raceway member (3) mounted around the rotatable raceway member (2) with an annular bearing space defined between it and the rotatable raceway member (2), and a circular row of rolling elements (4). The combined sensor and bearing assembly (1) also includes a to-be-detected member (7) including a magnet secured to the rotatable raceway member (2), and a magnetic detector (8) including a magnetic sensor of an analog output type disposed in face-to-face relation with the to-be-detected member (7). Only a range in which a magnetic characteristic of the to-be-detected member (7) relative to the magnetic detector (8) exhibits linearity is used for detection of rotation angle of the rotatable raceway member (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Tomomi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 7290938
    Abstract: A rolling bearing with sensor has an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling elements rollably disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, a sensor provided on one of the inner ring and the outer ring and a detection member provided on the other of the inner ring and the outer ring radially opposed to the sensor which is adapted to be sensed by the sensor. A first retaining member is fixed to the outer ring end surface of the outer ring and retains one of the sensor and the detection member. A second retaining member is fixed to the inner ring end surface of the inner ring and retains the other of the sensor and the detection member. At least one of the inner end surface and the outer end surface is arranged so as to be pressed axially without the sensor or the detection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Aoki, Hiroaki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7287908
    Abstract: An arrangement of a sensor on a wheel bearing unit, the sensor is fixed to an outer wheel bearing ring of the wheel bearing unit, and at the sensor is located opposite an encoder of the wheel bearing unit which encoder can rotate with respect to the sensor about an axis of rotation of the wheel bearing unit. The wheel bearing unit has at least a first row of roller bodies and has a second row of roller bodies which is adjacent to the first row in the axial direction of the axis of rotation. The bearing ring engages at the same time around at least one of the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Roland Langer
  • Patent number: 7281424
    Abstract: The outer race 2 is fixed to the support hole 29 in the knuckle 1, and the constant velocity joint 6 is connected to the hub 3. The first seal ring 9 is fitted into the outer race 2 to cover the opening on the end of the bearing space 26. The seal ring 28 is fitted into the support hole 29 to cover the opening on the end of the detection space 27. The encoder 7 is fitted onto the inner race 4, and the outer peripheral edge of the encoder 7 faces the inner peripheral surface on the outer race 2 in an adjacent arrangement relationship to form a labyrinth clearance 36, so that grease within the bearing space 26 is prevented from leaking toward the detection space 27, whereby the rotation resistance is small to improve parts of the automobile in acceleration and fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Junshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7282907
    Abstract: An outer ring is provided with the stator of a resolver, and a ring member with the rotor of the resolver. The stator comprises an annular core and a winding provided around the core. The ring member is provided at a position opposed to the stator with an eccentric cylindrical face serving as the rotor and eccentric with respect to other outer peripheral surface of the ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Inoue, Katsura Koyagi
  • Patent number: 7282908
    Abstract: Surveying device (1) for the running parameters of railway contact bearings (2) which is provided with a rotating race (3) and a non-rotating race (4) which are coaxial to a rotation axis (A) of the railway contact bearing (2) itself, the device (1) being provided with a sealing shield (5) which is mounted onto the non-rotating race (4); and which is also provided with a sealing lining/covering (7) which is integral with the shield (5), and which is in contact with a sliding surface (11s) which is in turn integral with the rotating race (3): the device also being provided with a signal generating element (15) which is integral with the sliding surfaces (3s) (11s) themselves and which is arranged inside the shield (5); and which is also provided with a sensor (16), which faces the generating element (15) in order to read the signal itself, and which is itself integral with the shield (5) in a position which is outside the railway bearing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: SKF Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Moretti, Matteo Genero
  • Patent number: 7270483
    Abstract: A rolling bearing unit has an inner shaft and an inner race that is fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft at one end side thereof. The inner race is fixed to the inner shaft by a clamping portion resulting from an end portion of the inner shaft. An annular stepped portion is formed on an outer end face of the inner race on a radially outward side thereof. A pulser ring is disposed within the stepped portion and is then held between the stepped portion and the clamping portion to thereby be fixed in place thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 7268451
    Abstract: A motor resolver assembly includes a resolver stator and a resolver rotor positioned radially inward of and rotatable with respect to the resolver stator. First and second relatively rotatable shield components generally surround the resolver stator and rotor to shield them from electromagnetic energy from a radially outward motor rotor and motor stator. A method of measuring speed and position of the motor rotor relative to the motor stator is also employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, DaimlerChrysler AG, DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Hertz, Christopher J. Bowes, Alan G. Holmes, James A. Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 7267486
    Abstract: To avoid an adherence of metallic particles from a knuckle to a magnetic encoder during coupling of a wheel support bearing assembly to the knuckle and/or transportation of the wheel support bearing assembly, a protective cap (18) is provided. The wheel support bearing assembly with which the protective cap (18) can be used is of a type including a magnetic encoder (10) provided in a sealing unit (5). This protective cap (18) includes an annular cover-up portion (18a) for enclosing an annular surface of the magnetic encoder (10) that is exposed bare to the outside, and an engagement wall (18b). The engagement wall (18b) is integral with the annular cover-up portion (18a) and of a cylindrical shape capable of being removably engaged in the wheel support bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Hideo Shinagawa, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 7249891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing apparatus with a sensor and a rolling bearing with a sensor used to movers such as automobiles or railway carriers, facility machines of equipment, or machine tools. One of the embodiments comprises a sensor detecting conditions of the rolling bearing, a ring-shaped sensor cover housing the sensor therein and secured to a stationary-side bearing ring, and a ring shaped presser member secured to a bearing housing provided outside in a radius direction of the sensor cover, or secured to a shaft, and an opening portion is provided at a decided portion of the sensor cover, and projections standing toward a side of the presser member are furnished in the circumference of the opening portion, the presser member is defined with cutouts for inserting the projections, and the cutouts are arranged with the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Aoki, Ikunori Sakatani, Masamitsu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20070172164
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rolling bearing device for vehicles capable of detecting a change in magnetism with high accuracy. A rolling bearing device H for vehicles in accordance with the present invention includes a rolling bearing 13 having an inner ring 11, which is a rotating ring, and an outer ring 12, which is a fixed ring, and rolling elements 3 and 4 interposed between both of the races 11 and 12; a magnetized element 14; a magnetic sensor 15; and a cover 16. The cover 16 is formed by demagnetizing a nonmagnetic material having being pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Yoshito Takada
  • Patent number: 7245123
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped hub unit comprises a hub unit 1 having a wheel-side raceway member 4, a body-side raceway member 5, and two rows of rolling bodies 6, and a sensor device 2 provided on the hub unit 1. The sensor device 2 has a magnetostrictive sensor 31 for detecting a reverse magnetostrictive effect of the raceway member 4 produced by a force exerted thereon by the rolling bodies 6. The sensor device 2 detects rotation from the number of repetitions of a variation in strain and also detects the force acting on the wheel-side raceway member 4 from the amplitude of strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Inoue, Kenji Sakamoto, Katsura Koyagi
  • Patent number: 7241052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitored roller bearing device, comprising a non-rotating race (10), a rotating race (12), at least one row of rolling elements (14) arranged between two rolling tracks (11, 13) on the rotating race (12) and non-rotating race (10) and an information detection module, which comprises a non-rotating sensor unit (29) and a rotating (12) encoder (28). Said device comprises a means for fixing the sensor unit (29) relative to a support (3), by generating an axial force between a support surface (34b) on the sensor unit (29) and a support surface (7) on the support (3), while permitting an axial displacement of the sensor unit (29) relative to the support (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignees: Technologies M4 Inc., SKF France
    Inventors: Olivier Message, Carole Girardin, Stephane Reiher, Alain Forcione
  • Patent number: 7241053
    Abstract: A four-row cylindrical roller bearing is incorporated into between the inner peripheral surface of a housing and the outer peripheral surface of a backup roller. A sensor unit 7 is held in a portion of a collar disposed in the axial-direction end portion of the four-row cylindrical roller bearing. The sensor unit comprises a detect part for detecting temperatures and vibrations and a transmitter device for transmitting signals, which are obtained after output signals taken out from the detect part are processed, as radio signals. On a portion of a hold cover which is a separate member from the collar, there is disposed a receive antenna which is part of a receiver apparatus for receiving the radio signals transmitted by the transmitter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Sato, Shigeru Endo
  • Patent number: 7237960
    Abstract: To substantially eliminate deficiencies such as portions of the resinous coating, where the film thickness is reduced considerably during the press-fitting, and to aim at providing a high productivity with a reduced cost and without the possibility of occurrence of rusting after a prolonged time of use under severe environmental conditions due to an excellent anticorrosive property, a magnetic encoder (10) includes a multipolar magnet (14) having a plurality of alternating magnetic poles alternating with each other in a direction circumferentially thereof, and a core metal (11) supporting the multipolar magnet (14). The multipolar magnet (14) is formed of a sintered element prepared by mixing and sintering a powdery mixture of a magnetic powder and a non-magnetic metallic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kouya Oohira, Tatsuo Nakajima, Arito Matsui, Kazutoyo Murakami
  • Patent number: 7233138
    Abstract: An exciter ring assembly to detect rotational parameters of an axle within a tube has an exciter ring attached to the axle by an elastomer insert. The insert provides a frictional interference fit with the axle. The insert affixes the exciter ring to rotate with the axle. The elastomer insert is supplied with radially-spaced axial channels to enable oil flow past the assembly. The outer member of the assembly is press fit into the axle tube. The outer member remains stationary with respect to the axle tube. The outer member restricts the axial movement of the exciter ring and enables rotation of the exciter ring and provides oil flow across the exciter ring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John S Michalek, Matthew P Brown
  • Patent number: 7229708
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder, which comprises a stainless steel sheet; and an under coat adhesive containing epoxy resin and organopolysiloxane, a top coat adhesive containing phenol resin, or phenol resin and epoxy resin, and a rubber magnet, as successively laid one upon another on the stainless steel sheet, has distinguished water resistance and saline water resistance, and thus can be effectively used particularly as a magnetic encoder in wheel speed sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Abe, Kiyofumi Fukasawa, Hironori Nishina
  • Patent number: 7225692
    Abstract: This invention concerns a system for the attachment of an information sensor opposite to, and at an air gap's distance from, the coder of a bearing, with the system including a cap to be associated with a ring that at least partly covers the coder, where, in combination, the cap includes at least one device for attachment of the sensor to the internal surface of the cap and one device for electrical connection of the sensor. The invention also concerns a sensor designed to be attached to such a system, an ensemble formed by the attachment system and the associated sensor, as well as a bearing equipped with such an ensemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Timken US Corporation
    Inventors: Christophe Ulrici, Cathy Noury, Fabien Corlet
  • Patent number: 7215110
    Abstract: A seal ring has an annular body which is constituted so that a disc section extended to a radially inward direction is overlapped with one end of a cylindrical section, and a sensor member for detecting rotation of an inner ring is provided to an outer periphery of the cylindrical section, and an outer case for covering the sensor member is provided by insert-forming. The outer case contracts after it is formed and is press-contact with the cylindrical section so that a gap is hardly generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignees: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd., Koyo Sealing Techno Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Toda, Minoru Sentoku, Hirokazu Arai, Fumiaki Kasahara, Shinichi Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7207723
    Abstract: To provide a wheel support bearing assembly capable of securing a satisfactory sealability and of accomplishing an assured press-fit of an magnetic encoder, the wheel support bearing assembly for supporting a vehicle wheel rotatably relative to a vehicle body structure includes an outer member 2, an inner member 1 positioned inside the outer member 2 with an annular bearing space delimited between it and the outer member 2, and rows of rolling elements 3 rollingly within the annular bearing space. At least one sealing unit 5 is provided for sealing one of opposite open ends of the annular bearing space. This sealing unit 5 is comprised in part of a magnetic encoder 10 including a multi-pole magnet member 14 having a plurality of opposite magnetic poles alternating in a direction circumferentially thereof and a first sealing plate 11 serving as a core metal. The first sealing plate 11 is press-fitted onto the inner member 1 with the amount of interference fit to be within the range of 5 to 230 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakajima, Kouya Oohira, Arito Matsui, Kazutoyo Murakami
  • Patent number: 7205760
    Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly having an axle housing, an axle shaft and a sensor. The axle housing has a tubular portion. A flat is formed on an annular wall of the tubular portion proximate a distal end of the tubular portion. A hole, which intersects the flat, is formed through the tubular portion. The axle shaft can have an integrally formed target portion that includes a plurality of teeth. The sensor is mounted in the hole and abuts the flat to space a tip of the sensor apart from the teeth of the target portion by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Blair J. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7198407
    Abstract: A bearing assembly carrying a rotational speed sensor unit is proposed. The sensor unit includes a sensor holder mounted on the outer member of the bearing assembly and having a pocket in which is received the sensor. The pocket has a clip portion which, with the sensor fully inserted in the pocket, elastically engages the sensor to press it against the end of the outer member. The pocket has a bottom frame at its bottom or a front wall having a bottom edge. With the sensor fully inserted in the pocket, the bottom frame or the bottom edge of the front wall is configured to abut the bottom end of the front side of the sensor, thereby keeping the sensor from inclining backward even if it is pushed backward at its upper portion. This prevents the sensor from disengaging from the pocket in a radial direction of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Iiya, Syougo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7184930
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis system for diagnosing a presence or absence of an abnormality of a bearing unit for a railway vehicle axle, comprises a sensing/processing portion for outputting a signal generated from the bearing unit as an electric signal, a calculating/processing portion for making an abnormality diagnosis of the bearing unit based on an output of the sensing/processing portion, a result outputting portion for outputting a decision result of the calculating/processing portion, and a controlling/processing portion for feeding back a control signal to a control system of the railway vehicle based on the decision result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Miyasaka, Hirotoshi Aramaki, Yasushi Mutou, Juntaro Sahara
  • Patent number: 7182519
    Abstract: A method for predicting bearing failure, wherein the bearing includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements between the inner and outer race. The method includes coupling a sensor assembly to the outer race, the sensor assembly including at least one temperature sensor and at least one acoustic sensor, generating a bearing performance model based on an initial signal received from the sensor assembly, receiving a second signal from the sensor assembly, and comparing the second signal to the bearing performance model to predict a bearing failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anant Pal Singh, Larry Jay Sexton
  • Patent number: 7164265
    Abstract: A bearing unit for a vehicle wheel hub is associated with a rotation sensing device and an electromagnetic inductive coupling. The rotation sensing device comprises an impulse ring (18) secured for rotation with the rotatable race (13) of the bearing unit by means of a rotatable annular carrier (19), and a magnetic/electric transducer (20) mounted to the stationary race (12) of the bearing unit by means of a stationary annular carrier (21) and operatively facing the impulse ring (18). The electromagnetic inductive coupling comprises a stationary coil (24) electrically connectable to a power supply (32) and carried by the stationary annular carrier (21), and a rotatable coil (25) electrically connectable (26) to an electric or electronic device mounted on the wheel. The rotatable coil (25) is carried by the rotatable annular carrier (19) and is electromagnetically linked to the stationary coil (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Bruno Giai, Alexander Molenaar, Simona Pilone, Simon Van Ballegooij
  • Patent number: 7155826
    Abstract: A motor spindle includes a spindle shaft for receiving a tool. The spindle shaft is accommodated in the housing of the motor spindle in a fixed bearing and a loose bearing. The received tool enters into contact with the machined workpiece in a tool interface when the spindle shaft is driven and the tool interface is displaced in an axial direction of the spindle shaft when a workpiece is machined. A displacement sensor is provided on the spindle bearing in order to determine the axial displacement of the tool interface. There is also a motor spindle including a spindle shaft for receiving a tool. The spindle shaft is accommodated in the housing of the motor spindle in a fixed bearing and in a loose bearing with an axially displaceable bearing bushing. The tool enters into contact with the machined workpiece at the tool interface when the spindle shaft is driven, and an adjusting element which is used to adjust the axial displacement of the bearing bushing of the motor spindle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Paul Müller GmbH & Co. KG Unternehmensbeteiligungen
    Inventor: Heinz Wehrfritz
  • Patent number: 7152484
    Abstract: A sensor element (5) detects a physical measurement variable such as a pressure, a temperature, a capacitance, or a gap width between two bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other during operation and experience high tribological stress. In certain areas between the surfaces of the bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other, in a surface region of at least one of the bodies (10), a sensitive layer (13, 30), in particular a sensor segment (13), is provided, which is separated from the body (10) by an insulation layer (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Meyer, Julius Nemzov, Ulrich Mueller
  • Patent number: 7153029
    Abstract: Sealing device (1) for a wheel hub unit (2) which is connected to a differential (3) of a vehicle, and which is provided with a contact rolling bearing (9), the sealing device (1) being mounted in order to protect the bearing (9) from a lubricating fluid which is used to lubricate the differential (3), and presenting a first shield (22) which is integral with an outer race (10) of the bearing (9), a second shield (23) which is arranged inside the first shield (22) and which is integral with an inner race (11) of the bearing (9) and which counter-faces the first shield (22) itself, and a dynamic sealing element (24) which is interposed between the first and the second shield (23); a first static sealing element (51) being associated with a terminal border (37) of the shrink-fit portion (33a), and being arranged inside an external relief (60) in order to create a static seal with a box (5) which extends from the differential (3) to the unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Alfredo Monetti, Angelo Vignotto, Claudio Savarese, Alberto Fea
  • Patent number: 7147379
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes inner and outer members (1 and 2) and at least one row of rolling elements (3) operatively interposed between the inner and outer members (1 and 2) and an annular sealing device (5) sealing an open end of an annular space defined between the inner and outer members (1 and 2). The sealing device (5) includes first and second annular sealing plates (11 and 12) fitted to different members out of the inner and outer members (1 and 2). Each of the first and second sealing plates (11 and 12) includes a generally cylindrical wall (11a or 12a) and a radial wall (11b or 12b) assembled together to represent a generally L-shaped section. The first sealing plate (11) is fitted to one of the inner and outer members (1 and 2) that serves as a rotating member. An elastic member (14) mixed with a powdered magnetic material is bonded by vulcanization to the radial wall (11b) of the first sealing plate (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 7140779
    Abstract: In a bearing constituted by a plural-layer slide member, the plural-layer slide member comprises a resin layer of polytetrafluoroethylene as a slide member and a backing strip to which the resin layer is bonded. A fitting hole having a depth exceeding the thickness of the resin layer is formed from the resin layer side. A temperature measuring metallic member formed of a white metal is fitted in the fitting hole. A temperature sensor is positioned within the temperature measuring metallic member. This bearing permits an accurate detection of its temperature. Further, in an oil cooled screw compressor having a bearing lubricating oil supply pipe, a slide surface of the bearing is covered with polyether ether ketone. Even if foaming occurs in the oil, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a mechanical trouble such as galling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshimura, Yasushi Amano, Takao Ohama
  • Patent number: 7140781
    Abstract: A sealing unit for a wheel bearing, including a cover cap of sheet metal on a rotationally fixed bearing ring. An elastic seal on the cover cap. A baffle plate which protrudes in a radial direction, displaced on a bearing ring which can rotate with respect to the rotationally fixed bearing ring. The cover cap has a rotationally symmetrical hollow shoulder which extends axially in the direction of roller bodies of the bearing. The seal is fixed with respect to the shoulder of the cover cap and at the same time the seal bears with at least one sealing lip, at least once in a radially sealing fashion against a hollow cylindrical section which is fixed with respect to the rotatable bearing ring and protrudes axially from the baffle plate in the direction of the bearing roller bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Roland Langer
  • Patent number: 7137740
    Abstract: Sensor-holding lid for a wheel hub bearing, the lid presenting a base wall which is externally delimited by a peripheral border, an axial ledge which is integral to the wall and which is provided with a passing hold for housing the sensor, and a cylindrical wall which is transverse to the base wall and which is arranged radially inside the peripheral wall in order to be fixed onto an external border of the bearing; at least two annular static sealing elements which are made of rubber and which are co-molded, respectively, into the peripheral border on the outside of the cylindrical wall and inside an entry border of the passing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: SKF Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Vignotto, Massimo Marivo