Ntn Corporation

Kentarou Nishikawa

Toru Takahashi

Takayuki Norimatsu

Takayoshi Ozaki

Tomomi Ishikawa

Yujiro Ono

Kentaro Ikki

Hiroshi Isobe

Ayumi Akiyama

Kazuo Komori

Kazuhiro Baba

Hiroshi Kawamura

Kiyotake Shibata

Koji Kametaka

Makoto Okasaka

Wataru Hatakeyama

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.

At least one or more sensor for detecting a load acting on a wheel support bearing apparatus is provided in such bearing device, a signal processor for processing an output signal of those sensors to generate a signal vector and a load calculator for calculating the load, which acts on a vehicle wheel, from the signal vector, are provided. The load calculator has a function of determining the presence or absence of a predetermined state of a vehicle, which may affects a result of calculation of the load, and performing two types of calculation process appropriate to the presence or absence. The presence or absence of the predetermined state of the vehicle, which is determined by the load calculator is, for example, ON/OFF of a brake.

Wheel bearing apparatus with sensor

A wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members, and sensor units are fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which serves as a stationary member. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting strains occurring in the strain generating member. The two or more contact fixing members are arranged at the same axial positions of the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in a fashion spaced in a circumferential direction. A calculating section is provided for estimating the load acting in the wheel support bearing assembly by the sum of respective output signals of the sensors.

Sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly

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.

Sensor-equipped wheel bearing

A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly having good assemblability with a compact structure and capable of accurately detecting load acting on a bearing of a vehicle wheel is provided. One of an outer member and an inner member that serves as a stationary member has a vehicle body fitting flange to be fitted to a knuckle. One or more load detecting sensor unit is provided on the stationary member and includes a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and one or more sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain occurring in the strain generating member. A circuit fixing stay is provided on a side face of the vehicle body fitting flange and a calculation processing circuit is fitted to this stay for calculating and processing an output signal of the sensor.

A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting the load acting on the bearing assembly is provided. The sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit in an outer member that serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors for detecting strain in the strain generating member. The contact fixing segments are spaced from each other in a direction circumferentially of the stationary member at the same axial positions. An estimating section is provided in the bearing assembly for estimating load thereon based on the difference between respective output signals from the sensors by calculating amplitudes of the output signals or values corresponding to such amplitudes from the difference between the respective output signals.

A wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces of outer and inner members, which are opposed to each other. Electronic components including a plurality of the sensor units, a signal processing IC for processing respective sensor output signals thereof and a signal cable for transmitting the processed output signal to the outside of the bearing assembly are arranged inwardly of an annular protective covering to provide an annular sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is fitted to a peripheral surface of a stationary member in a fashion coaxial with the stationary member.

Sensor-equipped bearing for wheel

A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which the load imposed on the wheel support bearing assembly or a tire tread of a wheel tire can be accurately detected without being affected by the rolling elements, includes rolling elements interposed between plural opposed rolling surfaces defined in outer and inner members. One of the outer and inner members that serves as a stationary member is provided with one or more sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and a sensor for detecting such strain. The strain generating member in the sensor unit is arranged at a position departing from a line passing through a center of the rolling elements and extending in a direction defined by the rolling element contact angle.

A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces defined respectively in outer and inner members in face-to-face relation with each other. One of the inner and outer members, which serves as a stationary member, has an outer diametric surface provided with three or more sensor units. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments, fixed to the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in contact with therewith, and one or more strain sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain occurring in the strain generating member. A load estimating section is provided for estimating a radial load and an axial load in the wheel support bearing assembly, from respective output signals of the sensors.

A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit provided in an outer member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit has a strain generator and a sensor for detecting a strain occurring in the generator. A principal load estimator estimates the load acting on the wheel, with the use of an average value of a signal from the sensor, and an amplitude processed load estimator estimates the load, using amplitude of a signal wave outputted from the sensor, resulting from passage of rolling elements. A drift amount estimator estimates a drift amount of an estimated load output utilizing the average value and the amplitude, which is used to correct the estimated load.

A lubricant deterioration detecting device includes an arcuate optical fiber having one end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light emitting element and also having the opposite end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light receiving element, and a measuring gap for intervening a lubricating agent is provided in a portion of the arcuate optical fiber. In the vicinity of the measuring gap, a resistance element, the amount of deformation of which varies with change in state of lubrication performed with the lubricating agent, is provided for flowing of the lubricating agent within the measuring gap.

Lubricant deterioration detector and bearing assembly equipped with such detector

A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which detection error is relieved to accurately estimate load is provided. A vehicle body fitting flange of an outer member of the bearing assembly has a front elevational shape of line symmetry or of point symmetry. A sensor unit including a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments to be fixed to the outer member and a strain sensor is provided at an arcuately sectioned portion lying from the flange to the outer member, or an outer peripheral surface portion of the outer member adjoining to the outboard side thereof, or a position crossing a line segment passing through a center of a rolling element or a position adjoining thereto. Alternatively, a plurality of sensor units are provided on the outer periphery of the outer member in a fashion spaced circumferentially equidistantly.

In a wheel support bearing assembly including double row rolling elements between an outer member and an inner member, a sensor unit is fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit is made up of a sensor mounting member and at least one or more strain sensors fitted to the sensor mounting member. A sensor signal processing circuit to process an output signal from the strain sensor is provided in the sensor mounting member.

Wheel support bearing assembly equipped with sensor

A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting load acting on the vehicle wheel by reducing concentration of strain on a cutout portion corner area of a strain generating member in a sensor unit is provided. The wheel support bearing assembly having rolling elements interposed between rolling surfaces in outer and inner members, includes at least one sensor unit provided in a stationary member, which is one of the outer and inner members. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments secured to the stationary member in contact therewith, and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain in the strain generating member. The strain generating member has a cutout portion between the contact fixing segments, and corner area of such cutout portion is of an arcuately sectioned shape.

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Iwata, Japan

Kentarou Nishikawa