WO2010143021A1 - Rolling bearing assembly with a sensor and process for manufacturing such a bearing assembly - Google Patents

Rolling bearing assembly with a sensor and process for manufacturing such a bearing assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010143021A1
WO2010143021A1 PCT/IB2009/053234 IB2009053234W WO2010143021A1 WO 2010143021 A1 WO2010143021 A1 WO 2010143021A1 IB 2009053234 W IB2009053234 W IB 2009053234W WO 2010143021 A1 WO2010143021 A1 WO 2010143021A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
rolling bearing
sensor
support member
ring
housing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2009/053234
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Sylvain Chaussat
Original Assignee
Aktiebolaget Skf
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aktiebolaget Skf filed Critical Aktiebolaget Skf
Priority to PCT/IB2009/053234 priority Critical patent/WO2010143021A1/en
Publication of WO2010143021A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010143021A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D1/00—Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C41/00—Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
    • F16C41/007—Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C43/00—Assembling bearings
    • F16C43/04—Assembling rolling-contact bearings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D15/00—Component parts of recorders for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P1/00—Details of instruments
    • G01P1/02—Housings
    • G01P1/026—Housings for speed measuring devices, e.g. pulse generator
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01P—MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT
    • G01P3/00—Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds
    • G01P3/42—Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means
    • G01P3/44—Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means for measuring angular speed
    • G01P3/443—Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means for measuring angular speed mounted in bearings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C19/00—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement
    • F16C19/02—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing balls essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows
    • F16C19/04—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing balls essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows for radial load mainly
    • F16C19/06—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing balls essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows for radial load mainly with a single row or balls

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a rolling bearing assembly comprising, amongst others, a sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring of a rolling bearing with respect to a second ring of this rolling bearing.
  • the invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a rolling bearing assembly.
  • a rolling bearing generally comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and several rolling bodies installed between these two rings. These rolling bodies can be balls, rollers or needles.
  • a rolling bearing can be, for instance, a ball bearing, a roller bearing or a needle bearing.
  • a tachometer in order to determine the rotation speed of a member supported by a rolling bearing.
  • a sensor is generally mounted on a support member which has to be immobilized with respect to one of the rings of the rolling bearing, the so-called "fixed ring".
  • WO-A-2007/122303 discloses an instrumented roller bearing device including an encoder washer fixed on the inner ring of a rolling bearing and a sensor facing a magnetic part of this encoder washer. This sensor is mounted on an annular printed circuit board. Opposite the sensor with respect to a central axis of the bearing, the printed circuit board is crossed by three pins which extend parallel to the central axis of the bearing and form connection means for the printed circuit board.
  • the invention aims at improving the simplicity and compactness of a rolling bearing assembly while allowing efficient detection of a rotation parameter.
  • the invention concerns a rolling bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and several rolling bodies between the inner and outer rings, at least one sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring with respect to a second ring of the rolling bearing and a support member holding the sensor in position with respect to the rolling bearing.
  • the support member holds the sensor in a position such that at least one connecting pin of the sensor extends in a volume defined by the support member and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector. Thanks to the invention, one does not need a printed circuit board to support the sensor which can be directly connected to an external cable, via its respective pin or pins, in order to deliver an output signal to an external electronic control unit.
  • such a rolling bearing assembly can incorporate one or several of the following features:
  • the sensor is provided with several connecting pins, each of the pins extending in the volume adapted to accommodate an electrical connector, when the sensor is held by the support member.
  • the support member forms a housing for the reception of a body of the sensor in a position where the pin or pins extend within the volume defined by the support member and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector.
  • the body is immobilized in the housing by cooperation of shapes.
  • the support member is locally expanded by the introduction of the body within the housing.
  • the support member is immobilized on the rolling bearing by cooperation of shapes, in such a way that the housing is contracted around the body.
  • a part of the support member is partly engaged and contracted within an inner volume of the outer ring and the housing is partly defined by this part of the support member.
  • the housing communicates with the volume via an opening through which the pin or pins extends or extend.
  • the sensor is located radially outside or inside of the encoder washer and is oriented in such a way that its principal detection direction is radial with respect to the axis of rotation of the first ring.
  • the invention also concerns a process for manufacturing a rolling bearing as mentioned here-above and, more particularly, a process for manufacturing a rolling bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and several rolling bodies between the inner and outer rings, at least one sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring with respect to a second ring, and a support member holding the sensor in position with respect to the rolling bearing.
  • the process includes at least the steps of: a) inserting the sensor into a housing of the support member with at least one connecting pin of the sensor going through an opening contiguous to the housing, b) pushing the pin through the opening, so that it extends in a volume defined by the support member and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector, and c) mounting the support member equipped with the sensor onto one ring of the rolling bearing.
  • the support member is partly introduced within an inner volume of the outer ring and the housing is contracted around a body of the sensor.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rolling bearing assembly according to the invention.
  • figure 2 is a perspective view similar to figure 1 when the rolling bearing assembly is connected to an electrical cable;
  • figure 3 is a partial cut view along plane III on figure 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the rolling bearing assembly and cable represented on figures 2 and 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view, from a different angle, of the elements represented on figure 4.
  • the rolling bearing assembly 2 represented on figure 1 to 5 includes a rolling bearing 4 which comprises an outer ring 6, an inner ring 8 and seven balls 10 held in position by a cage 12 in an annular chamber 14 defined between the inner radial surface of outer ring 6 and the outer radial surface of inner ring 8.
  • Ring 8 is supposed to rotate with respect to ring 6, around a central axis X 2 of rolling bearing assembly 2.
  • axial when it is parallel to this axis and “radial” when it is perpendicular and secant with this axis.
  • a surface is radial when it is perpendicular to a set of straight lines which are radial with respect to axis X 2 .
  • a sealing device 16 extends between rings 6 and 8 on one side of rolling bearing 4. This sealing device isolates annular chamber 14 from the outside atmosphere.
  • An encoder washer 20 is fixedly mounted on inner ring 6 by cooperation of shapes and/or by magnetic effect. Encoder washer 20 has at least two magnetic poles and rotates with ring 8 around axis X 2 .
  • a sensor 30 is held by a support member 40 with respect to outer ring 6.
  • Sensor 30 includes a Hall effect cell and it is adapted to detect the variation of the electromagnetic field induced by the rotation of encoder washer 20.
  • sensor 30 is adapted to detect a rotation parameter of ring 8 with respect to ring 6.
  • Rolling bearing assembly 2 includes rolling bearing 4 and items 20, 30 and 40.
  • a rotation parameter of one ring with respect to the other is a parameter which is representative of a pivoting movement of these rings, one with respect to the other.
  • a parameter can be an angle measuring the angular position of one of the rings with respect to the other, around axis X 2 .
  • Such a parameter can also be a speed, a displacement, an acceleration or a vibration.
  • encoder washer 20 and sensor 30 could be mounted so that they allow to detect the rotation of outer ring 6 with respect to inner ring 8, which is appropriate in case of a rolling bearing with a so-called inner fast ring and a so-called outer rotating ring.
  • Sensor 30 has a main detection direction D 30 which is radial with respect to axis X2 and it is oriented towards axis X2, as shown by arrow A 30 on figure 3.
  • Sensor 30 is located radially outside of encoder washer 20 and it is roughly axially aligned with encoder washer 20.
  • sensor 30 can be located radially inside of encoder washer 20, while it is also aligned axially with respect to this washer, the main detection direction of sensor 30 being also radial but the sensor being oriented so that an arrow similar to arrow A 30 is directed away from axis X 2 .
  • Sensor 30 has a body 32 which includes a Hall effect detection cell and three pins 34, 36 and 38 which extend parallel to each other with respect to body 32. These pins extend parallel to axis X 2 when rolling bearing assembly is mounted.
  • a housing 42 is provided in support member 40 in order to accommodate body 32 of sensor 30.
  • Housing 42 has a shape which corresponds to the shape of body 32.
  • Support member is made of synthetic material, e.g. PA66 and the nominal shape of housing 42 is such that it is slightly expanded when body 32 is introduced within housing 42 so that body 32 is held, both elastically and by cooperation of shapes, within housing 42.
  • Housing 42 communicates by an opening 44 with a volume 46 defined within a socket 48 of support member 40.
  • Volume 46 is adapted to accommodate a connector 100 mounted at one end of an electric cable 102 used to connect sensor 30 to a non represented electronic control unit.
  • Cable 102 includes three individual conductors 104, 105 and 106 whose extremities are stripped in order to be electrically connected to respective conducting clamps 108 fixed within connector 100 as shown on figure 3. On figure 3, the electrical connection between the stripped end of connector 104 and the corresponding clamp is not visible.
  • the fond face of connector 100 is provided with three openings 109 giving access to three clamps 108 which are aligned along a direction D100 defined by connector 100.
  • Direction D 1O o is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis X 100 of connector 100 which is parallel to the direction of introduction of connector 100 within volume 46.
  • Connector 100 is provided with two lateral protrusions 107 adapted to be received within corresponding slits 47 of socket 48.
  • Pins 34, 36 and 38 are aligned along a direction D 30 defined by body 32.
  • the geometry of parts 30, 40 and 100 is such that when sensor 30 is mounted on support member 40, its three pins 32, 36 and 38 extend within volume 46 in a position which is compatible with the introduction of connector 100 within this volume so that each pin 34, 36 and 38 penetrates an opening and is electrically connected to a respective clamp 108, thus to a respective conductor 104, 105 or 106 of cable 102.
  • support 100 holds sensor 30 directly, that is without making use of a printed circuit board, in a position which allows direct connection between this sensor and electrical cable 102, via pins 34, 36 and 38 and connector 100.
  • Such a construction is simple, inexpensive, reliable and improves the compactness of rolling bearing assembly 2 which can be easily connected to a cable 102 equipped with a corresponding connector 100.
  • Support member 40 is mounted on outer ring 6 by engagement within an inner radial volume 62 of outer ring 6 which is delimited by an inner flange 64 of this ring.
  • the geometry of support member 40 and flange 64 is such that support member 40 is radially contracted towards axis X 2 when it is introduced within volume 62. This implies that housing 42 is contracted around body 32 so that sensor 30 is firmly held in position with respect to rolling bearing 4 and encoder washer 20.
  • housing 42 is opened towards axis X 2 , so that sensor body 32 can be directly opposite to encoder washer 20, without interference of a wall of support member 40 which would otherwise extend between items 20 and 30.
  • Manufacturing of rolling bearing assembly 2 starts with manufacturing rolling bearing 4 in a classical way. Then encoder washer 20 is fixedly mounted on inner ring 8. On the other hand, sensor 30 is introduced within housing 42, in the direction of arrow A 1 on figure 5 so that its pins 34, 36 and 38 go through opening 44 and penetrate within volume 46. This is obtained by pushing body 32 within housing 42. Then, support member 40, which has been equipped with sensor 30, is mounted on outer ring 6 by introducing a radial bead 41 of support member 40 within volume 62 of outer ring 6. This is obtained thanks to a radial contraction of support member 40, which firmly holds support member 40 with respect to rolling bearing 4 and increases the blocking effort of sensor body 32 within housing 42.
  • bead 41 is interrupted at the level of housing 42, so that support member is easily deformable at the level of a wall 43 of support member 40 which radially surrounds housing 42.
  • Wall 43 is more flexible than bead 41 and it is also partly introduced within volume 62, so that support member primarily contracts at the level of housing 42 when it is mounted onto ring 6.
  • Rolling bearing assembly 2 is then in the configuration of figure 1 where a connector 100 can be easily introduced within volume 46 when it is necessary to connect sensor 30 to a non represented electronic control unit.
  • the invention is described here-above and represented on the figures with balls as rolling bodies. It can however be used with other kinds of rolling bodies, e.g. rollers or needles.
  • volume 46 which is adapted to accommodate electrical connector 100. According to a non represented embodiment of the invention, only some of these pins, or even one of these pins, can extend in this volume.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)

Abstract

This rolling bearing assembly (2) comprises a rolling bearing (4) with an inner ring (8), an outer ring (6) and several rolling bodies (10) between the inner and outer rings, at least one sensor (30) adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring (8) with respect to a second ring (6) of the rolling bearing and a support member (40) holding the sensor (30) in position with respect to the rolling bearing (4). The support member (40) holds the sensor (30) in a position such that at least one connecting pin (34, 36, 38) of the sensor (30) extends in a volume (46) defined by the support member (40) and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector (100).

Description

ROLLING BEARING ASSEMBLY WITH A SENSOR AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A BEARING ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a rolling bearing assembly comprising, amongst others, a sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring of a rolling bearing with respect to a second ring of this rolling bearing. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a rolling bearing assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A rolling bearing generally comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and several rolling bodies installed between these two rings. These rolling bodies can be balls, rollers or needles. In the meaning of the present invention, a rolling bearing can be, for instance, a ball bearing, a roller bearing or a needle bearing. In the field of rolling bearings, it is known to use a tachometer in order to determine the rotation speed of a member supported by a rolling bearing. In such a case, a sensor is generally mounted on a support member which has to be immobilized with respect to one of the rings of the rolling bearing, the so-called "fixed ring". For instance, WO-A-2007/122303 discloses an instrumented roller bearing device including an encoder washer fixed on the inner ring of a rolling bearing and a sensor facing a magnetic part of this encoder washer. This sensor is mounted on an annular printed circuit board. Opposite the sensor with respect to a central axis of the bearing, the printed circuit board is crossed by three pins which extend parallel to the central axis of the bearing and form connection means for the printed circuit board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention aims at improving the simplicity and compactness of a rolling bearing assembly while allowing efficient detection of a rotation parameter. To this end, the invention concerns a rolling bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and several rolling bodies between the inner and outer rings, at least one sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring with respect to a second ring of the rolling bearing and a support member holding the sensor in position with respect to the rolling bearing.
According to the invention, the support member holds the sensor in a position such that at least one connecting pin of the sensor extends in a volume defined by the support member and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector. Thanks to the invention, one does not need a printed circuit board to support the sensor which can be directly connected to an external cable, via its respective pin or pins, in order to deliver an output signal to an external electronic control unit.
According to advantageous aspects of the invention which are not compulsory, such a rolling bearing assembly can incorporate one or several of the following features:
- The sensor is provided with several connecting pins, each of the pins extending in the volume adapted to accommodate an electrical connector, when the sensor is held by the support member.
- The support member forms a housing for the reception of a body of the sensor in a position where the pin or pins extend within the volume defined by the support member and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector.
- The body is immobilized in the housing by cooperation of shapes.
- The support member is locally expanded by the introduction of the body within the housing. - The support member is immobilized on the rolling bearing by cooperation of shapes, in such a way that the housing is contracted around the body.
- A part of the support member is partly engaged and contracted within an inner volume of the outer ring and the housing is partly defined by this part of the support member. - The housing communicates with the volume via an opening through which the pin or pins extends or extend.
- The sensor is located radially outside or inside of the encoder washer and is oriented in such a way that its principal detection direction is radial with respect to the axis of rotation of the first ring. The invention also concerns a process for manufacturing a rolling bearing as mentioned here-above and, more particularly, a process for manufacturing a rolling bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing with an inner ring, an outer ring and several rolling bodies between the inner and outer rings, at least one sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring with respect to a second ring, and a support member holding the sensor in position with respect to the rolling bearing. According to the invention, the process includes at least the steps of: a) inserting the sensor into a housing of the support member with at least one connecting pin of the sensor going through an opening contiguous to the housing, b) pushing the pin through the opening, so that it extends in a volume defined by the support member and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector, and c) mounting the support member equipped with the sensor onto one ring of the rolling bearing.
Advantageously, during step c), the support member is partly introduced within an inner volume of the outer ring and the housing is contracted around a body of the sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood on the basis of the following description which is given in correspondence with the annexed figures and as an illustrative example, without restricting the object of the invention. In the annexed figures:
- figure 1 is a perspective view of a rolling bearing assembly according to the invention;
- figure 2 is a perspective view similar to figure 1 when the rolling bearing assembly is connected to an electrical cable;
- figure 3 is a partial cut view along plane III on figure 2;
- figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of the rolling bearing assembly and cable represented on figures 2 and 3; and
- figure 5 is a perspective exploded view, from a different angle, of the elements represented on figure 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS The rolling bearing assembly 2 represented on figure 1 to 5 includes a rolling bearing 4 which comprises an outer ring 6, an inner ring 8 and seven balls 10 held in position by a cage 12 in an annular chamber 14 defined between the inner radial surface of outer ring 6 and the outer radial surface of inner ring 8.
Ring 8 is supposed to rotate with respect to ring 6, around a central axis X2 of rolling bearing assembly 2.
In the present description, the words "axial", "radial", "axially" and "radially" relate to axis X2. A direction is "axial" when it is parallel to this axis and "radial" when it is perpendicular and secant with this axis. A surface is radial when it is perpendicular to a set of straight lines which are radial with respect to axis X2.
A sealing device 16 extends between rings 6 and 8 on one side of rolling bearing 4. This sealing device isolates annular chamber 14 from the outside atmosphere. An encoder washer 20 is fixedly mounted on inner ring 6 by cooperation of shapes and/or by magnetic effect. Encoder washer 20 has at least two magnetic poles and rotates with ring 8 around axis X2.
A sensor 30 is held by a support member 40 with respect to outer ring 6. Sensor 30 includes a Hall effect cell and it is adapted to detect the variation of the electromagnetic field induced by the rotation of encoder washer 20. Thus, sensor 30 is adapted to detect a rotation parameter of ring 8 with respect to ring 6.
Rolling bearing assembly 2 includes rolling bearing 4 and items 20, 30 and 40.
A rotation parameter of one ring with respect to the other is a parameter which is representative of a pivoting movement of these rings, one with respect to the other. Such a parameter can be an angle measuring the angular position of one of the rings with respect to the other, around axis X2. Such a parameter can also be a speed, a displacement, an acceleration or a vibration.
According to an embodiment of the invention which is not represented, encoder washer 20 and sensor 30 could be mounted so that they allow to detect the rotation of outer ring 6 with respect to inner ring 8, which is appropriate in case of a rolling bearing with a so-called inner fast ring and a so-called outer rotating ring. Sensor 30 has a main detection direction D30 which is radial with respect to axis X2 and it is oriented towards axis X2, as shown by arrow A30 on figure 3. Sensor 30 is located radially outside of encoder washer 20 and it is roughly axially aligned with encoder washer 20. According to a non represented embodiment of the invention, sensor 30 can be located radially inside of encoder washer 20, while it is also aligned axially with respect to this washer, the main detection direction of sensor 30 being also radial but the sensor being oriented so that an arrow similar to arrow A30 is directed away from axis X2 . Sensor 30 has a body 32 which includes a Hall effect detection cell and three pins 34, 36 and 38 which extend parallel to each other with respect to body 32. These pins extend parallel to axis X2 when rolling bearing assembly is mounted.
A housing 42 is provided in support member 40 in order to accommodate body 32 of sensor 30. Housing 42 has a shape which corresponds to the shape of body 32. Support member is made of synthetic material, e.g. PA66 and the nominal shape of housing 42 is such that it is slightly expanded when body 32 is introduced within housing 42 so that body 32 is held, both elastically and by cooperation of shapes, within housing 42.
Housing 42 communicates by an opening 44 with a volume 46 defined within a socket 48 of support member 40. Volume 46 is adapted to accommodate a connector 100 mounted at one end of an electric cable 102 used to connect sensor 30 to a non represented electronic control unit. Cable 102 includes three individual conductors 104, 105 and 106 whose extremities are stripped in order to be electrically connected to respective conducting clamps 108 fixed within connector 100 as shown on figure 3. On figure 3, the electrical connection between the stripped end of connector 104 and the corresponding clamp is not visible.
The fond face of connector 100 is provided with three openings 109 giving access to three clamps 108 which are aligned along a direction D100 defined by connector 100. Direction D1Oo is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis X100 of connector 100 which is parallel to the direction of introduction of connector 100 within volume 46. Connector 100 is provided with two lateral protrusions 107 adapted to be received within corresponding slits 47 of socket 48. Pins 34, 36 and 38 are aligned along a direction D30 defined by body 32. When sensor 30 is mounted on support member 40 with its body 32 received in housing 42, direction D30 is imposed by the geometry of sensor 30 and housing 42. The geometry of parts 30, 40 and 100 is such that when sensor 30 is mounted on support member 40, its three pins 32, 36 and 38 extend within volume 46 in a position which is compatible with the introduction of connector 100 within this volume so that each pin 34, 36 and 38 penetrates an opening and is electrically connected to a respective clamp 108, thus to a respective conductor 104, 105 or 106 of cable 102. In other words, support 100 holds sensor 30 directly, that is without making use of a printed circuit board, in a position which allows direct connection between this sensor and electrical cable 102, via pins 34, 36 and 38 and connector 100.
Such a construction is simple, inexpensive, reliable and improves the compactness of rolling bearing assembly 2 which can be easily connected to a cable 102 equipped with a corresponding connector 100.
Support member 40 is mounted on outer ring 6 by engagement within an inner radial volume 62 of outer ring 6 which is delimited by an inner flange 64 of this ring. The geometry of support member 40 and flange 64 is such that support member 40 is radially contracted towards axis X2 when it is introduced within volume 62. This implies that housing 42 is contracted around body 32 so that sensor 30 is firmly held in position with respect to rolling bearing 4 and encoder washer 20.
As shown on figure 5, housing 42 is opened towards axis X2, so that sensor body 32 can be directly opposite to encoder washer 20, without interference of a wall of support member 40 which would otherwise extend between items 20 and 30.
Manufacturing of rolling bearing assembly 2 starts with manufacturing rolling bearing 4 in a classical way. Then encoder washer 20 is fixedly mounted on inner ring 8. On the other hand, sensor 30 is introduced within housing 42, in the direction of arrow A1 on figure 5 so that its pins 34, 36 and 38 go through opening 44 and penetrate within volume 46. This is obtained by pushing body 32 within housing 42. Then, support member 40, which has been equipped with sensor 30, is mounted on outer ring 6 by introducing a radial bead 41 of support member 40 within volume 62 of outer ring 6. This is obtained thanks to a radial contraction of support member 40, which firmly holds support member 40 with respect to rolling bearing 4 and increases the blocking effort of sensor body 32 within housing 42.
As shown on figure 5, bead 41 is interrupted at the level of housing 42, so that support member is easily deformable at the level of a wall 43 of support member 40 which radially surrounds housing 42. Wall 43 is more flexible than bead 41 and it is also partly introduced within volume 62, so that support member primarily contracts at the level of housing 42 when it is mounted onto ring 6.
Rolling bearing assembly 2 is then in the configuration of figure 1 where a connector 100 can be easily introduced within volume 46 when it is necessary to connect sensor 30 to a non represented electronic control unit.
The invention is described here-above and represented on the figures with balls as rolling bodies. It can however be used with other kinds of rolling bodies, e.g. rollers or needles.
The invention has been represented here-above in case all connecting pins
34, 36 and 38 of sensor 30 extend within volume 46 which is adapted to accommodate electrical connector 100. According to a non represented embodiment of the invention, only some of these pins, or even one of these pins, can extend in this volume.

Claims

1. A rolling bearing assembly (2) comprising:
- a rolling bearing (4) with an inner ring (8), an outer ring (6) and several rolling bodies (10) between the inner and outer rings
- at least one sensor (30) adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring (8) with respect to a second ring (6) of the rolling bearing
- a support member (40) holding the sensor (30) in position with respect to the rolling bearing (4), wherein said support member holds said sensor in a position such that at least one connecting pin (34, 36, 38) of said sensor (30) extends in a volume (46) defined by said support member (40) and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector (100).
2. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor (30) is provided with several connecting pins (34, 36, 38) and each of said pins extends in said volume (46) when said sensor (30) is held by said support member (40).
3. Rolling bearing assembly according to one of the previous claims, wherein said support member (40) forms a housing (42) for the reception of a body (32) of said sensor (30) in a position where said pin (34, 36, 38) extends within said volume (46).
4. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein said body (32) is immobilized in said housing (42) by cooperation of shapes.
5. Rolling bearing assembly according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein said support member (40) is locally expanded by the introduction of said body (32) within said housing (42).
6. Rolling bearing assembly according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said support member (40) is immobilized on said rolling bearing (4) by cooperation of shapes, in such a way that said housing (42) is contracted around said body (32).
7. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 6, wherein a part (43) of said support member (40) is partly engaged and contracted within an inner volume (62) of said outer ring (6) and said housing (42) is partly defined by said part (43).
8. Rolling bearing according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein said housing (42) communicates with said volume (46) via an opening (44) through which said pin or pins (34, 36, 38) extends or extend.
9. Rolling bearing assembly according to one of the previous claims, wherein sais sensor (30) is located radially outside or inside of the encoder washer (20) and is oriented in such a way that its principal detection direction (D30) is radial with respect to the axis of rotation (X2) of said first ring (8) with respect to said second ring (6).
10. A process for manufacturing a rolling bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing (4) with an inner ring (8), an outer ring (6) and several rolling bodies (10) between said inner and outer rings, at least one sensor (30) adapted to detect a rotation parameter of a first ring (8) with respect to a second ring (6), a support member (40) holding said sensor (30) in position with respect to said rolling bearing (4), wherein said process includes at least the steps of: a) inserting (Ai) said sensor (30) into a housing (42) of said support member (40) with at least one connecting pin (34, 36, 38) going through an opening (44) contiguous to said housing, b) pushing said pin (34, 36, 38) through said opening (44) so that it extends in a volume (46) defined by said support member (40) and adapted to accommodate an electrical connector (100), and c) mounting said support member (40) equipped with said sensor (30) onto one ring (6) of said rolling bearing (4).
11. Process according to claim 10, wherein, at step c), said support member (40) is partly introduced within an inner volume (62) of said outer ring (6) and said housing (42) is contracted around a body (32) of said sensor (30).
PCT/IB2009/053234 2009-06-12 2009-06-12 Rolling bearing assembly with a sensor and process for manufacturing such a bearing assembly WO2010143021A1 (en)

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013050801A1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2013-04-11 Aktiebolaget Skf Sensor unit and bearing assembly comprising such a sensor unit
CN104969040A (en) * 2013-01-15 2015-10-07 斯凯孚公司 Sensor unit and instrumented bearing comprising such a sensor unit
DE102015202126A1 (en) * 2015-02-06 2016-08-11 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Ring-shaped connecting element for the electrical and mechanical connection of electronic modules, electronic module assembly for installation in a cylindrical space and rolling bearing assembly
DE102015202129A1 (en) * 2015-02-06 2016-08-11 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Electronic module assembly for installation in a cylindrical space and rolling bearing assembly
CN112431855A (en) * 2020-11-20 2021-03-02 上海第二工业大学 Intelligent bearing

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EP0484195A1 (en) * 1990-10-30 1992-05-06 S.N.R. Roulements Rollbearing with measurement sensor
EP0487405A1 (en) * 1990-11-21 1992-05-27 Skf France Angular velocity sensor and roller bearing equiped with such a sensor
EP0520853A1 (en) * 1991-06-28 1992-12-30 S.N.R. Roulements Sealing assembly for sensor suitable for sealed rollbearing
EP1160492A2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2001-12-05 Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. Seal ring, sealing apparatus and bearing apparatus
US20030142891A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2003-07-31 Ntn Corporation Bearing with rotational sensor
EP1790985A1 (en) * 2004-09-15 2007-05-30 Ntn Corporation Bearing device with rotary sensor
WO2007122303A1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-11-01 Aktiebolaget Skf Instrumented roller bearing device

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0484195A1 (en) * 1990-10-30 1992-05-06 S.N.R. Roulements Rollbearing with measurement sensor
EP0487405A1 (en) * 1990-11-21 1992-05-27 Skf France Angular velocity sensor and roller bearing equiped with such a sensor
EP0520853A1 (en) * 1991-06-28 1992-12-30 S.N.R. Roulements Sealing assembly for sensor suitable for sealed rollbearing
EP1160492A2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2001-12-05 Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. Seal ring, sealing apparatus and bearing apparatus
US20030142891A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2003-07-31 Ntn Corporation Bearing with rotational sensor
EP1790985A1 (en) * 2004-09-15 2007-05-30 Ntn Corporation Bearing device with rotary sensor
WO2007122303A1 (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-11-01 Aktiebolaget Skf Instrumented roller bearing device

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013050801A1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2013-04-11 Aktiebolaget Skf Sensor unit and bearing assembly comprising such a sensor unit
CN104969040A (en) * 2013-01-15 2015-10-07 斯凯孚公司 Sensor unit and instrumented bearing comprising such a sensor unit
DE102015202126A1 (en) * 2015-02-06 2016-08-11 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Ring-shaped connecting element for the electrical and mechanical connection of electronic modules, electronic module assembly for installation in a cylindrical space and rolling bearing assembly
DE102015202129A1 (en) * 2015-02-06 2016-08-11 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Electronic module assembly for installation in a cylindrical space and rolling bearing assembly
CN112431855A (en) * 2020-11-20 2021-03-02 上海第二工业大学 Intelligent bearing

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