Wheel speed sensor module assembly

Claim 2

A magnetic sensor module for a wheel speed sensor assembly which said assembly is capable of being installed in aSsociation with a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle and includes an annular rotor means adapted to be coaxially aligned with and connected to said wheel for rotation therewith, said magnetic sensor module comprising: magnetic sensor means alignable with a sector of said annular rotor means; a support frame adapted to be fixed on said axle in alignment with said annular rotor means and having post means extending therefrom toward said annular rotor means to be generally parallel with the axis of said axle when said support frame is fixed on said axle; said magnetic sensor means having means for receiving said post means therein; and friction means between said post means and said means for receiving said post means whereby said magnetic sensor means may when said posts means are received in said means for receiving said post means be moved axially by said annular rotor means during installation of said assembly to establish a predetermined axial signal distance therebetween and said friction means will maintain said magnetic sensor means within said predetermined signal distance in alignment with said annular rotor means throughout operation of said assembly.

Claim 3

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said friction means includes means for cushioning said magnetic sensor means to protect it from vibration during operation of said assembly.

Claim 4

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 2 wherein said post means includes a pair of parallel posts displaced one from the other and said means for receiving said post means includes a pair of openings extending into said magnetic sensor means.

Claim 5

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 3 wherein said posts and said openings have a circular cross-section.

Claim 6

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 3 wherein said friction and cushioning means includes a portion of resiliently compressible material which encircles each said post and must be compressed to allow said post to be received within its respective said opening of said magnetic sensor means.

Claim 7

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 5 wherein said posts and said openings have a circular cross-section.

Claim 8

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnetic sensor means includes a surface which faces said annular rotor means and against which contact is made during said installation to establish said predetermined axial signal distance, said surface being capable of being worn away during said operation of said assembly by said annular rotor means which is subjected to elastic deformation during said installation and until said annular rotor means returns to an undeformed state.

Claim 9

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 1 further including an additional friction member disposable between a pair of interior side walls of said support frame and a pair of outside walls of said magnetic sensor means during said installation to further insure said magnetic sensor means will be maintained within said predetermined signal distance throughout said operation of said assembly.

Claim 10

A magnetic sensor module for a wheel speed sensor assembly which said assembly is capable of being installed in association with a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle and includes an annular rotor means adapted to be coaxially aligned with and connected to said wheel for rotation therewith, said magnetic sensor module comprising: magnetic sensor means alignable with a sector of said annular rotor means and having a pair of generally parallel openings extending therein which are angularly displaced one from the other along said annular rotor means and generally perpendicular thereto when said magnetic sensor means is aligned with said annular rotor means; a support frame adapted to be fixed on said axle in alignment with said annular rotor means and having a generally U-shaped portion including a back wall and a pair of side walls with an opening therebetween facing said annular rotor means wheN said frame is installed in said assembly, said support frame having a pair of post members which are generally parallel with each other and with said axle and secured to said back wall and extend therefrom into said opening; a retaining member having a pair of side sections to retainably receive said magnetic sensor means therebetween, said side sections having outwardly biased spring portions; and said retaining member with said magnetic sensor means retained therein being capable of being received within said opening of said support frame as said spring portions apply frictional force to said side walls and said posts are respectively snugly received within said openings of magnetic sensor means, whereby said magnetic sensor means may be moved axially by said annular rotor means during installation of said assembly to establish a predetermined axial signal distance therebetween and said frictional contact of said retaining member and said magnetic sensor means with said support frame maintains said magnetic sensor means within said predetermined axial signal distance in alignment with said annular rotor means throughout normal operation of said assembly.

Claim 11

A magnetic sensor module for a wheel speed sensor assembly which said assembly is capable of being installed in association with a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle and includes an annular rotor means adapted to be coaxially aligned with and connected to said wheel for rotation therewith, said magnetic sensor module comprising: magnetic sensor means alignable with a sector of said annular rotor means and having a pair of generally parallel openings extending therein which are angularly displaced one from the other along said annular rotor means and generally perpendicular thereto when said magnetic sensor means is aligned with said annular rotor means; a support frame adapted to be fixed on said axle in alignment with said annular rotor means and having a generally U-shaped portion including a back wall and a pair of side walls with an opening therebetween facing said annular rotor means wheN said frame is installed in said assembly, said support frame having a pair of post members which are generally parallel with each other and with said axle and secured to said back wall and extend therefrom into said opening; a retaining member having a pair of side sections to retainably receive said magnetic sensor means therebetween, said side sections having outwardly biased spring portions; and said retaining member with said magnetic sensor means retained therein being capable of being received within said opening of said support frame as said spring portions apply frictional force to said side walls and said posts are respectively snugly received within said openings of magnetic sensor means, whereby said magnetic sensor means may be moved axially by said annular rotor means during installation of said assembly to establish a predetermined axial signal distance therebetween and said frictional contact of said retaining member and said magnetic sensor means with said support frame maintains said magnetic sensor means within said predetermined axial signal distance in alignment with said annular rotor means throughout normal operation of said assembly.

Claim 12

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 9 wherein at least one of said pair of said openings and said pair of said post members includes a portion of resiliently deformable material to cause said posts to be snugly received within said openings, said portion of resiliently deformable material providing cushioning for said magnetic sensor means to protect it from vibration during operation of said assembly.

Claim 13

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 10 wherein said portion of resiliently deformable material is an elastomer which is secured to and encircles each said post member and is compressed when said post members are received within said openings.

Claim 14

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 11 wherein a generally horizontal cross-sectional dimension of said opening is sufficiently greater than a corresponding horizontal cross-sectional dimension of said post members so that said compression of said portion is limited to a generally vertical direction.

Claim 15

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 12 wherein the cross-section of said post member is circular and the cross-section of said opening is elliptical with its major diameter being said generally horizontal cross-sectional dimension.

Claim 16

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 9 wherein said spring portion includes a plurality of outwardly extending fingers which terminate at and make gripping contact with said side wall of said support frame to apply said friction force.

Claim 17

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spring portion includes an inwardly curved local spring adjacent said fingers which makes contact with said magnetic sensor means to contribute to the outwardly directed biasing of said spring portion toward said side wall of said support frame.

Claim 18

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 15 wherein said spring portion includes a release tab against which outside force may be applied in opposition to said outwardly biased spring portion so that said frictional force to said side walls can be reduced to facilitate axial movement of said magnetic sensor means in a direction toward said wheel when said wheel is removed from said axle.

Claim 19

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said retaining member is stamped and formed or resiliently deflectable sheet metal.

Claim 20

A magnetic sensor module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said opening has a cross-sectional dimension which is aligned with said spring portions and is sufficiently larger than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of said post member to insure that the relative position of said magnetic sensor means between said side walls is governed by said spring portions.