Wheel-speed sensor

A wheel-speed sensor for generating signals representative of the wheel-speed of an individual wheel on a vehicle. Unlike known wheel-speed sensors, the wheel-speed sensor in accordance with the present invention is readily serviceable without disassembly of major components of the wheel assemblies and is relatively simple, and thus less expensive to manufacture, than known wheel-speed sensors. Two embodiments of the wheel-speed sensor in accordance with the present invention are disclosed. One embodiment relates to a "between-the-rows" wheel-speed sensor which includes a magnetic exciter ring that is adapted to be affixed to a rotating axle between rolling element rows of a wheel bearing. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the wheel-speed sensor is configured to form a grease seal which typically inserts into the end of an axle tube. A wheel-speed sensor utilizes a multiple pole magnetic exciter ring that is adapted to be attached to a rotating axle shaft. The wheel-speed sensor includes a two-piece stator which also functions as a grease seal which concentrates flux from a rotating multiple pole exciter ring. A coil of magnet wire or, alternatively, an active Hall effect device is used as the sensor and connects the two stator pieces, forming a flux bridge.

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What is claimed and desired to be covered by a Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A wheel-speed sensor comprising: a magnetic exciter ring having multiple North and South magnetic pole pairs spacedaround the ring, the magnetic exciter ring configured to be carried by a rotating axle portion of a vehicle; and a probe disposed in proximity to an outer peripheral surface of said magnetic exciter ring, said probe including a magnetic flux responsiveelement, said wheel speed sensor configured to enable said probe to be removed.

2. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic exciter ring is configured to be disposed within a wheel bearing housing between adjacent rolling element rows.

3. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein said magnetic flux responsive element includes an active device.

4. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 3, wherein said active device is a Hall effect device.

5. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 4, further including a first pole piece coupled to one side of said Hall effect device and adapted to be disposed adjacent said outer peripheral surface of said magnetic exciter ring and a secondpole piece disposed adjacent an opposing side of said Hall effect device.

6. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 5, wherein said probe is configured to be received in a hole in said wheel bearing housing adjacent said magnetic exciter ring and wherein said second pole piece acts as a magnetic shunt to form amagnetic circuit between said first pole piece and said wheel bearing housing when said probe is assembled thereto.

7. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic exciter ring is formed with a flat cross section.

8. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic exciter ring is formed with a U-shaped cross section.

9. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic exciter ring is formed with a L-shaped cross section.

10. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic exciter ring is formed with a C-shaped cross section.

11. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said probe is formed with a cylindrical portion, a flange portion and a terminal portion.

12. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein said cylindrical portion includes an annular notch for receiving an O-ring.

13. The wheel-speed sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein said cylindrical portion is formed in two sections, a first section, formed separately from the rest of said probe, which includes a Hall effect device molded into a molded cylindricalhousing with a pole piece extending outwardly form one end and leads from the hall effect device extending outwardly from an opposing end and a section portion formed as a hollow cylinder for receiving said extending leads and coupling to said firstportion.