Wheel end with load sensing capabilities
US7669941B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L5/1627
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A wheel end (A) has a housing (2, 70, 80, 90) and a hub (4) provided with a spindle (32) that projects into the housing, and the hub rotates relative to the housing on an antifriction bearing (6) located between the housing and hub spindle. The housing has a tubular core (12, 72, 82, 92) that encloses the bearing and ring mounts (14, 74, 84, 94) spaced outwardly from the core and also webs (16,76,86,96) that connect the ring mounts to the core. A road wheel (B) is attached to the hub and rotates with the hub relative to the housing. The housing is secured to a suspension upright (C) at its ring mounts. The core deflects relative to the ring mounts, owning to forces and moments transferred through the bearing from the suspension upright to the road wheel and vice versa, and the magnitude of those forces and moments are reflected in signals derived from strain sensor modules (SM) attached to the webs of the housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.