Ntn Corporation

Yujiro Ono

Takayuki Norimatsu

Toru Takahashi

Hiroshi Kawamura

Kentarou Nishikawa

Kikuo Fukada

Syougo Suzuki

Kentaro Ikki

Takayoshi Ozaki

Akira Torii

Tomomi Ishikawa

Kazuo Komori

Kazunari Yamamoto

Kazuhisa Shigeoka

Koji Kametaka

Yasushi Shibata

Keizo Kobayashi

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 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 wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has a wheel bearing with an outer member and an inner member. A sensor holder is injection molded from synthetic resin and is embedded with a wheel speed detecting sensor. The sensor holder is mounted on an inner side end of the outer member. The inner side seal of the seals includes an annular sealing plate, a slinger and a pulser ring. An anchoring portion is formed integrally with the metal core. The sensor holder is being integrally molded with the metal core from synthetic resin that surrounds the anchoring portion.

Wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus

A wheel bearing apparatus with an incorporated wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member with double row outer raceway surfaces formed on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member includes a wheel hub with an integrally formed wheel mounting flange at one end. A cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange. An inner ring is fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. Double row inner raceway surfaces, opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces, are formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheel hub and inner ring, respectively. Double row rolling elements are arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. An encoder is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring. An annular sensor holder is arranged on the end of the outer member opposite to the encoder. A wheel rotation speed detecting sensor is integrally molded with the sensor holder and arranged opposite to the encoder, via a predetermined radial gap. The encoder has an annular ring configuration with its characteristics alternately and equidistantly varying along its circumferential direction. A seal is arranged at the inboard side of the encoder via the sensor holder. The seal includes a first annular sealing plate and a second annular sealing plate. The first and second annular plates are mounted on the sensor holder and the inner ring, respectively, and opposite toward each other.

A sensor holder has an encoder and a wheel speed sensor arranged opposite to the encoder, via a predetermined air gap. An annular fitting member is formed by pressing an anti-corrosive steel plate. A holding portion is formed of injection moldable synthetic resin and is integrally formed with the annular fitting member. The annular fitting member includes a cylindrical portion axially extending from an incline portion. A seal is arranged inboard of the sensor and fit between the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion of the annular fitting member and the outer circumference of the inner ring. The wheel speed sensor is embedded in the holding portion. At least a surface of the annular fitting member contacting the holding portion is roughened by shot blasting to have a surface roughness Ra of 0.8 or more.

Sensor holder with a wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with a wheel speed detecting apparatus including an annular fitting member in the sensor holder and a seal positioned between the annular fitting member and an outer circumference of an inner ring

A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, a sensor holder, and a pulser ring. The sensor holder cover has a cylindrical fitting portion press-fit onto the inner side end portion of the outer member. A flange portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion. The flange portion is in close contact with the end face of the outer member. A bottom portion extends further radially inward from the flange portion. The holding portion is integrally joined to the bottom portion. The flange portion is formed with a flat surface so that it forms an abutting width larger than 5 mm or more, against the end face of the outer member, or larger than 50% or more, relative to the flat width of the end face of the outer member.

There is provided a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly with rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members and with a strain sensor fixed to a stationary member served by one of the outer and inner members. The strain sensor includes a strain generating member and a sensor element secured thereto. The strain generating member has first and second contact fixing segments respectively associated with a flanged face provided in the outer member and a peripheral surface of the stationary member. These contact fixing segments have a joint region therebetween having a bent portion convexed toward the outer member. A location in the strain generating member where the sensor element is secured is on the first contact fixing segment side of the bent portion and yet in the vicinity of the bent portion.

To provide a sensor incorporated wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be compactly installed in an automotive vehicle, the load acting on the vehicle wheel can be detected with high sensitivity and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the bearing assembly having a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between an outer member and an inner member includes a sensor unit fitted to one of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member and a strain sensor fitted thereto. The sensor mounting member has two contact fixing portions fixed to the outer member and a first contact fixing portion is fixed to a flange surface of the outer member and a second contact fixing portion is fixed to a peripheral surface of the outer member.

Bearing for wheel with sensor

A wheel speed detecting apparatus incorporated with a wheel bearing apparatus. The wheel speed detecting apparatus has an encoder, and an annular sensor holder arranged opposite to the encoder. The sensor holder has an annular fitting member formed from a steel plate. A holding portion is integrally molded with the annular fitting member. A wheel speed sensor is arranged opposite to the encoder. Several substantially circular arc notches are formed on the outer circumference of the holding portion so that portions of the periphery of the annular fitting member are exposed from the holding portion.

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Iwata, Japan

Yujiro Ono