Ntn Corporation

Ayumi Akiyama

Toru Takahashi

Takayuki Norimatsu

Kentarou Nishikawa

Provided is a sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a wheel, including a sensor unit associated with one of outer and inner members that serve as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a strain generator member that has at least three fixation contact segments fixedly in contact with the stationary member and at least two strain sensors mounted on the strain generator member. A first load estimator is provided to estimate load acting on the bearing assembly, using an average value of output signals of the sensors. A second load estimator is provided to estimate load acting on the bearing assembly, using the average value and an amplitude value of output signals of the sensors. An estimated load provider is provided to sum these outputs from the load estimators in a ratio that depends on wheel rotation speed, for outputting an estimated load.

Wheel bearing with sensor

A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a continuous estimated load can be obtained depending on various inputted load conditions is provided. The sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit provided in a stationary member, and a load estimating unit. The load estimating unit includes a load estimation calculating section for calculating the load using an estimation calculating equation, an evaluation value calculation section for calculating an evaluation value, which provides a parameter switching index in the estimation calculating equation, from sensor output signals, and a parameter switching section for switching the parameter based on a comparison result of the evaluation value with a threshold value. The load estimation calculating section includes a calculation correcting block for correcting the calculation result on both sides of the threshold value within a predetermined evaluation value region containing the threshold value.

A wheel support bearing assembly, including rolling elements interposed between raceway surfaces of an outer member and an inner member, one of the members serving as a stationary member, a plurality of sensor units, each including a strain generator member having at least two fixation contact segments and at least two sensors mounted on the strain generator member to sense strain in the strain generator member. The strain generator members are formed of a single band-shaped strain generator body continuously joining the plurality of sensor units. The at least two fixation contact segments are arranged at the same axial positions and spaced from each other along a circumferential direction of an outer diametric surface of the stationary member. Load on the wheel support bearing assembly is estimated by an estimator based on output signals of the at least two sensors.

Growing community of inventors

Iwata, Japan

Ayumi Akiyama