Antifriction bearing with a clip-on sensor

Claim 2

An antifriction bearing assembly for use with a rotatable shaft, said bearing assembly comprising: a bearing having multiple rolling elements housed in an outer ring having two portions, a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion; a multipole magnetic encoder ring having alternating north and south poles around its circumference to provide a magnetic signal, said encoder ring being housed in said outer ring; prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring; an encoder retainer ring press fitted onto said rotatable shaft, said retainer ring having multiple crossbars and connecting means for connecting said magnetic encoder ring to said encoder retainer ring; a sensor for detecting magnetic signals from said magnetic encoder ring; and attachment means for removably attaching said sensor to said outer ring in alignment with said magnetic encoder ring.

Claim 3

The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bearing assembly further comprises a seal assembly for sealing said outer ring to protect said bearing, said encoder ring, and said retainer ring.

Claim 4

The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means for connecting said magnetic encoder ring to said encoder retainer ring comprises at least one partial crossmember which extends radially outwardly, said partial crossmember engaging a groove formed in the inner surface of said magnetic encoder ring.

Claim 5

The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring comprises a shoulder between said two portions of said outer ring, whereby said rolling elements abut against said shoulder and are separated from said encoder ring by said shoulder.

Claim 6

An antifriction bearing assembly for use with a rotatable shaft, said bearing assembly comprising: a bearing having multiple rolling elements housed in an outer ring having two portions, a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, the rolling elements being within one of said larger diameter and smaller diameter portions; a multipole magnetic encoder ring having alternating north and south poles around its circumference to provide a magnetic signal, said encoder ring being housed within the one of said portions of said outer ring not housing the rolling elements; prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring; an encoder retainer ring press fitted on said rotatable shaft; a sensor for detecting magnetic signals from said magnetic encoder ring; attachment means for removably attaching said sensor to said outer ring in alignment with said magnetic encoder ring; and seal means for providing a barrier between the outer ring and the rotatable shaft.

Claim 7

An antifriction bearing assembly for use with a rotatable shaft, said bearing assembly comprising: a bearing having multiple rolling elements housed in an outer ring having two portions, a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, the rolling elements being within one of said larger diameter and smaller diameter portions; a multipole magnetic encoder ring having alternating north and south poles around its circumference to provide a magnetic signal, said encoder ring being housed within the one of said portions of said outer ring not housing the rolling elements; prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring; an encoder retainer ring press fitted on said rotatable shaft; a sensor for detecting magnetic signals from said magnetic encoder ring; attachment means for removably attaching said sensor to said outer ring in alignment with said magnetic encoder ring; and seal means for providing a barrier between the outer ring and the rotatable shaft.

Claim 8

The bearing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rolling elements are housed in the larger diameter portion of the outer ring.

Claim 9

An antifriction bearing assembly for use with a rotatable shaft, said bearing assembly comprising: a cup-shaped outer ring having a substantially uniform thickness forming two portions, a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, one of said portions providing an outer raceway; multiple rolling elements within an annular space between the outer raceway and the rotatable shaft; a multipole magnetic encoder ring having alternating north and south poles around its circumference to provide a magnetic signal, said encoder ring being housed within the one of said portions of said outer ring not providing the outer raceway; prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring; an encoder retainer ring press fitted on said rotatable shaft; a sensor for detecting magnetic signals from said magnetic encoder ring; attachment means for removably attaching said sensor to said outer ring in alignment with said magnetic encoder ring; and seal means for providing a barrier between the outer ring and the rotatable shaft.

Claim 10

An antifriction bearing assembly for use with a rotatable shaft, said bearing assembly comprising: a cup-shaped outer ring having a substantially uniform thickness forming two portions, a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, one of said portions providing an outer raceway; multiple rolling elements within an annular space between the outer raceway and the rotatable shaft; a multipole magnetic encoder ring having alternating north and south poles around its circumference to provide a magnetic signal, said encoder ring being housed within the one of said portions of said outer ring not providing the outer raceway; prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring; an encoder retainer ring press fitted on said rotatable shaft; a sensor for detecting magnetic signals from said magnetic encoder ring; attachment means for removably attaching said sensor to said outer ring in alignment with said magnetic encoder ring; and seal means for providing a barrier between the outer ring and the rotatable shaft.

Claim 11

The bearing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cup-shaped outer ring has a radially-inwardly directed flange at at least one of its axial ends such that the flange aids retention of an internal element of the bearing assembly.

Claim 12

The bearing assembly according to claim 7, wherein said prevention means for preventing said rolling elements from interfering with proper operation of said magnetic encoder ring comprises a shoulder between said two portions of said outer ring, whereby said rolling elements abut against said shoulder and are separated from said encoder ring by said shoulder.