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US5053656A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sensing ring for rotational sensing system

Assignee: Schaeffler Group USA Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-18
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Granted: 1991-10-01
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Expires: 2009-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract A thin, metallic sensor ring for rotational sensing systems wherein protrusions formed on the periphery of the ring are constructed so as to interrupt an electromagnetic flux emitted by a sensing device mounted in fixed relation to the ring, whereby rotation of the ring may be detected. The protrusions are formed without removing any metal from the ring, preferably by a stamping or drawing operation. Slits may be provided in the ring to facilitate the formation of the protrusions. The ring may be partially encapsulated in a plastic mounting adapter to facilitate mounting thereof on a rotating shaft or hub.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bobby L. Hodge

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 05:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/42; G01P3/44; G01P3/48; G01P3/481; G01P3/488; B; B60; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/171; B60T8/32; B60T8/321; B60T8/329; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49009; Y10T29/49012

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 102 words
A sensor ring for use in a rotational sensing system having means spaced along the periphery thereof capable of being detected by an electromagnetic sensor positioned in proximity thereto whereby rotation of said ring may be determined; wherein said sensor ring is constructed from a metal sheet having two parallel ledges and said means spaced along the periphery thereof comprise a plurality of drawn concave protrusions formed on one side of said metal sheet and spaced inwardly from each of said edges; and wherein slits are provided in said metal sheet to facilitate drawing of said metal sheet to form said protrusions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 102 words
A sensor ring for use in a rotational sensing system having means spaced along the periphery thereof capable of being detected by an electromagnetic sensor positioned in proximity thereto whereby rotation of said ring may be determined; wherein said sensor ring is constructed from a metal sheet having two parallel ledges and said means spaced along the periphery thereof comprise a plurality of drawn concave protrusions formed on one side of said metal sheet and spaced inwardly from each of said edges; and wherein slits are provided in said metal sheet to facilitate drawing of said metal sheet to form said protrusions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 125 words
A rotational sensing system comprising: a sensor ring mounted for rotation about an axis; an electromagnetic sensor positioned in proximity to said sensor ring for detecting rotation thereof; said electromagnetic sensor including means for emitting an electromagnetic flux; a plurality of protrusions formed in said sensor ring for causing fluctuation in said electromagnetic flux as said sensor ring rotates in a direction past said electromagnetic sensor; said protrusions having a substantially flat rectangular land, two open trapeziodal sides, and two rectangular ends; and wherein said protrusions are arranged with said open sides adjacent one another in the direction of rotation of said sensor ring whereby the fluctuation in the electromagnetic flux as said sensor ring rotates is substantially in the form of a step function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 125 words
A rotational sensing system comprising: a sensor ring mounted for rotation about an axis; an electromagnetic sensor positioned in proximity to said sensor ring for detecting rotation thereof; said electromagnetic sensor including means for emitting an electromagnetic flux; a plurality of protrusions formed in said sensor ring for causing fluctuation in said electromagnetic flux as said sensor ring rotates in a direction past said electromagnetic sensor; said protrusions having a substantially flat rectangular land, two open trapeziodal sides, and two rectangular ends; and wherein said protrusions are arranged with said open sides adjacent one another in the direction of rotation of said sensor ring whereby the fluctuation in the electromagnetic flux as said sensor ring rotates is substantially in the form of a step function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein said protrusions have a generally rectangular configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein the configurations of said protrusions are varied whereby the angular position of said ring may be determined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein said protrusions extend radially of the axis of rotation of said ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein said protrusions extend in the direction of the axis of rotation of said ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein said ring is partially encapsulated in plastic to facilitate mounting thereof on a shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein said metal sheet is less than 2 mm thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein said protrusions have the general configuration of a frustum of a right triangular prism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
A sensor ring according to claim 1 wherein the depths of said protrusions are varied whereby the angular position of said ring may be determined.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 127 words
A sensor ring for use in a rotational sensing system having means spaced along the periphery thereof capable of being detected by an electromagnetic sensor positioned in proximity thereto whereby rotation of said ring may be determined; said sensor ring being constructed from a metal strip and including means for interrupting a magnetic flux as said ring rotates; said interrupting means comprising a plurality of protrusions having substantially flat lands disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said strip, two open sides, and two closed ends inclined to the plane of said strip; and said protrusions being formed by providing a plurality of parallel slits in said strip and drawing the metal between pairs of said slits out of the plane of said strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 127 words
A sensor ring for use in a rotational sensing system having means spaced along the periphery thereof capable of being detected by an electromagnetic sensor positioned in proximity thereto whereby rotation of said ring may be determined; said sensor ring being constructed from a metal strip and including means for interrupting a magnetic flux as said ring rotates; said interrupting means comprising a plurality of protrusions having substantially flat lands disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said strip, two open sides, and two closed ends inclined to the plane of said strip; and said protrusions being formed by providing a plurality of parallel slits in said strip and drawing the metal between pairs of said slits out of the plane of said strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
A sensor ring according to claim 11 wherein said slits are disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of said ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
A sensor ring according to claim 11 wherein said slits are radially formed in said ring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
A sensor ring according to claim 11 wherein said slits are axially formed in said ring.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3961215A Cited
US4087710A Cited
US4710659A Cited
US4835840A Cited
US4797611A Cited
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US4795278B1 Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-09-30 1995-04-01 1995-10-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-09-30 1999-04-01 1999-10-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-09-30 2003-04-01 2003-10-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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