Wheel Bearing Device for Motor Vehicles

Abstract

A wheel bearing device for a motor vehicle is proposed, with an inner ring arrangement, formed for rotationally fixed reception of a first rotary partner, particularly an axial stump or a shaft, an outer ring arrangement, which is connected and/or connectable and rotationally fixed with a second rotary partner, a multitude of rolling elements, which roll off between the inner ring arrangement and the outer ring arrangement, so that inner ring arrangement and outer ring arrangement and/or the rotary partners are rotatable against each other, and an electric sensor device, which, using mechanical contact, is arranged and/or formed for detecting an operating status of the wheel bearing device, in which the sensor device has a stationary sensor element and a rotating sensor element, which can work together to form the mechanical contact, one of the sensor elements is connected with the inner ring arrangement without the interposition of the first rotary partner.

1 . A wheel bearing device for a motor vehicle comprising
 an inner ring arrangement, which is formed for rotationally fixed reception of a first rotary partner, particularly an axial subshaft, or a shaft,   an outer ring arrangement, which is connected and/or connectable with a second rotary partner in a rotationally fixed manner,   a multitude of rolling elements, which roll between the inner ring arrangement and the outer ring arrangement, so that inner ring arrangement and outer ring arrangement and/or the first rotary partner and the second rotary are rotatable against each other, and   an electric sensor device, which, using a mechanical contact, is arranged and/or formed for detecting a working condition of the wheel bearing device,   the sensor device comprises at least two sensor elements, a stationary sensor element and a rotating sensor element, which work together to form the mechanical contact,   
     wherein stationary sensor element is connected with the inner ring arrangement without interposition of the first rotary partner. 
   
   
       2 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating sensor element is connected with the outer ring arrangement. 
   
   
       3 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheel bearing device is formed as a pre-finished structural element. 
   
   
       4 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stationary sensor element comprises a functional surface surrounding a rotation axis of the wheel bearing device, which is tracked in operation by the rotating sensor element distanced with a safety distance (s) or with mechanical contact. 
   
   
       5 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 4 , wherein the functional surface is arranged on a radial plane in relation to the rotation axis of the wheel bearing device, on a cylindrical surface arranged concentrically in relation to the rotation axis of the wheel bearing device and/or on a conical surface arranged concentrically in relation to the rotation axis of the wheel bearing device. 
   
   
       6 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 4 , wherein an electric conductor arrangement is arranged parallel with or on the functional surface. 
   
   
       7 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device operates according to a shutter principle, in which a signal is activated when the stationary sensor element and the rotating sensor element make mechanical contact. 
   
   
       8 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device operates according to an opener principle, in which a signal is activated as soon as one of the electric conductor arrangement is opened in the stationary sensor element. 
   
   
       9 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the stationary sensor element with the electric conductor arrangement is formed as a sensor ring, set on the inner ring arrangement and preferably is formed as a sealing ring. 
   
   
       10 . The wheel bearing device according to  4 , wherein the rotating sensor element is formed as a sensor lever, which preferably and optionally, using at least one intermediary element, is mounted, arranged and/or fixed on the outer ring arrangement. 
   
   
       11 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sensor elements, particularly the rotating sensor element, is temperature-sensitive, so that in the case of a temperature increase over normal operating temperature, the safety distance (s) between the sensor elements is reduced and/or the two sensor elements make mechanical contact. 
   
   
       12 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 11 , wherein temperature sensitivity is realised by the use of a shape memory alloy, a bimetallic arrangement or an actuator, optionally interposing a lever gear. 
   
   
       13 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 11 , wherein one of the sensor elements, particularly the rotating sensor element and in particular a sensor lever, is preferably integrally and/or as an integral component of an ABS disc or a seal. 
   
   
       14 . The wheel bearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer ring arrangement in an installation is rotating and the inner ring arrangement is stationarily placed.