Wheel speed sensor

Claim 2

A wheel speed sensor assembly for installation in association with a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle comprising rotor means adapted to be connected to said wheel for rotation therewith, a magnetic sensor module including a housing adapted to be fixed on said axle, magnetic sensor means, retainer means mounting said sensor means in said housing in operative association with said rotor means, said retainer means permitting inward axial movement of said sensor means in said housing but preventing outward axial movement thereof, whereby said sensor means is automatically adjusted in predetermined relationship with said rotor means in response to axial movement of said rotor means inwardly.

Claim 3

The assembly as defined in claim 1, said retainer means comprisng a retainer member embracing said sensor means and slidably mounting said sensor means in said housing, said retainer member having one-way clutch means permitting inward axial movement of said retainer member and sensor means in said housing but preventing outward axial movement thereof.

Claim 4

The assembly as defined in claim 2, said housing having side walls and a rear wall, said retainer member including yieldable means engaging the rear wall of said housing and providing an outward biasing force on said sensor means.

Claim 5

The assembly as defined in claim 3, said one-way clutch means including a plurality of clutch elements engaging the side walls of said housing and preventing outward axial movement of said retainer and sensor means.

Claim 6

The assembly as defined in claim 3, including stop means removably mounted in said housing for establishing an initial position of said retainer means and said sensor means in said housing, said stop means being removed from said housing after said sensor is mounted on said axle and before the wheel is placed thereon.

Claim 7

The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a layer of dielectric material is provided on the radial surface of said sensor means which faces said rotor means, said layer of dielectric material being engaged by said rotor means when the wheel is mounted on the axle.

Claim 8

The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotor means comprises a stamped metal ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots operatively aligned with said sensor means.

Claim 9

A wheel speed sensor assembly for installation in association with a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle comprising a rotor ring adapted to be connected to said wheel for rotation therewith about the axle, a housing adapted to be fixed on said axle, magnetic sensor means, retainer means including a retainer member embracing said sensor means and slidably mounting said sensor means in said housing in operative association with said rotor ring, said retainer member including one-way clutch means which permits inward axial movement of said sensor means in said housing but prevents outward axial movement thereof, said retainer member also including yieldable means providing an outward force on said sensor means, whereby said sensor means is automatically adjusted in predetermined relationship with said rotor means in response to axial movement of said rotor means inwardly and maintained in said predetermined relationship by said one-way clutch means.

Claim 10

A wheel speed sensor assembly for installation in association with a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle comprising a rotor ring adapted to be connected to said wheel for rotation therewith about the axle, a housing adapted to be fixed on said axle, magnetic sensor means, retainer means including a retainer member embracing said sensor means and slidably mounting said sensor means in said housing in operative association with said rotor ring, said retainer member including one-way clutch means which permits inward axial movement of said sensor means in said housing but prevents outward axial movement thereof, said retainer member also including yieldable means providing an outward force on said sensor means, whereby said sensor means is automatically adjusted in predetermined relationship with said rotor means in response to axial movement of said rotor means inwardly and maintained in said predetermined relationship by said one-way clutch means.

Claim 11

The assembly as defined in claim 8, said housing having side walls and a rear wall and said yieldable means engaging the rear wall of said housing, said one-way clutch means including a plurality of clutch elements engaging the side walls of said housing and preventing outward axial movement of said sensor means.

Claim 12

The assembly as defined in claim 9, including stop means removably mounted in said housing for establishing an initial position of said sensor means in said housing, said stop means being removed from said housing after said sensor means is mounted on said axle and before the wheel is placed thereon.

Claim 13

The assembly as defineD in claim 8, said sensor means having a layer of dielectric material on its radial surface which faces said rotor ring, said layer of dielectric material being engaged by said rotor ring when the wheel is mounted on the axle thereby automatically adjusting said sensor means and said rotor ring in predetermined relationship.

Claim 14

The assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said rotor ring is formed by a metal stamping operation and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots operatively aligned with said sensor means.