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.
