Bearing assembly with speed sensor and process for assembling the same

Abstract

A double row tapered roller bearing, which has the capacity to produce a pulsating electrical signal, the frequency of which reflects angular velocity, includes an outer race having a pair of tapered raceways that are presented inwardly, two cones, each having a tapered raceway that is presented outwardly toward a different raceway of the outer race, and tapered rollers arranged in two rows between the raceways of the outer race and the cones, with the small ends of the tapered rollers in each row being presented toward space between the two rows. The outer race has an oblique bore which opens into the space, whereas one of the cones has an axially directed seat which extends into the space. The oblique bore contains a sensor while the axially directed seat has a target wheel fitted over it, and the target wheel has an oblique operative surface that is presented opposite the inner end of the sensor, there being a slight gap between the two. The size of the gap depends on the axial position of the target wheel. During assembly, the target wheel is forced over the axially directed seat of the one cone, while that cone and its row of tapered rollers are in the outer race, and the advance of the target wheel is monitored by a gage in the oblique bore. When the gage registers a prescribed distance between the operative surface and a reference surface on the outer race, the advance is terminated, the gage is withdrawn, and the sensor is installed. This ensures that the gap between the inner end of the sensor and the operative surface of the sensor will be the proper size.