TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a sensor retainer device for ABS sensor means according to the preamble of claim 1 . The invention relates also to a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Sensor retainers for ABS sensors are usually fitted to a vehicle's shaft journal by press-fit or shrink-fit. Press-fitting involves using relatively expensive and unwieldy equipment to push the sensor retainer on round the shaft journal. The press-fit method is also time-consuming. Moreover, press-fitting makes it difficult to post-adjust a sensor retainer which reaches a wrong position during the fitting operation.

Similarly, shrink-fitting involves using relatively expensive and unwieldy equipment, is time-consuming and makes post-adjustment difficult. Such a method is also not user-friendly in involving handling of components at high temperatures caused by their heating.

US5080500 refers to a sensor retainer device comprising an open ring element which can be snapped resiliently onto the shaft journal and is held in place by clamping itself round the shaft journal and by the provision of a circumferential groove in which the ring element is locked by shape. A problem with such a sensor retainer device is that it is of relatively small dimensions and needs locking by shape to prevent axial movement. There is also risk that it might move out of position circumferentially. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose a sensor retainer device for ABS sensor means which is easy to fit and firmly fasten to a shaft journal of a motor vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects indicated by the description set out below are achieved by a sensor retainer device and a motor vehicle of the kind indicated in the introduction which further have the features indicated in the characterising parts of the attached independent claims 1 and 7. Preferred embodiments of the sensor retainer device are defined in the attached dependent claims.

According to the invention, the objects are achieved with a sensor retainer device for ABS sensor means which comprises a ring element configured to be fitted to a shaft journal of a motor vehicle, comprising means for fixing said sensor means axially and circumferentially by means of a clamping arrangement, with said ring element running round said shaft journal. This makes fitting easy in that the ring element can be put onto the shaft journal manually, i.e. with so little force as to require no use of any tool or

complicated fitting method. It further makes it possible to achieve by clamping force robust fastening and locking round the shaft journal both axially and circumferentially. It also makes it possible to use lightweight material such as aluminium, in which case no press force is required to fit the device.

According to the invention, said ring element has at least a first end and a second end and said clamping arrangement incorporates securing means for adjustably holding said ends together.

This makes it possible, by adjusting the clamping force, to achieve robust fastening and, when necessary, to remove the retainer device. It also makes post-adjustment possible, e.g. if the retainer device does not reach a correct position when being fitted, thereby ensuring quality.

According to the invention, said ends are so shaped as to jointly form an axial sealing configuration, preventing dirt from the vehicle's wheels from passing through to the vehicle's hub device.

According to the invention, said sealing configuration incorporates a locking- by-shape function, resulting in more robust locking of the sensor retainer device while at the same time preventing dirt from passing through to the hub device.

According to an embodiment of the sensor retainer device, said ring element takes the form of a single ring element part. This means that the sensor retainer device is composed of a smaller number of items, with the result that clamping is only required at one point.

According to an embodiment of the sensor retainer device, said ring element comprises two separate ring element parts. This means that the ring element need not be fitted axially but may be fitted directly at the position along the shaft journal where the sensor retainer device is to be positioned, which may consequently be done with the hub device already in place on the shaft journal. According to an embodiment of the sensor retainer device, said clamping arrangement incorporates a threaded connection, enabling effective tightening and easy release by screwing.

According to an embodiment of the sensor retainer device, said clamping arrangement comprises alternative fixing means depending on whether said shaft journal pertains to the vehicle's right or left side. This makes it possible, without making fitting difficult, to use similar retainer devices on the right and left sides, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and making more effective use of fitting time. Said alternative fixing means take the form of, according to a variant, parallel holes for threaded connections, one hole being intended for effecting a threaded connection in one direction, and the parallel other hole being intended for effecting a threaded connection in the opposite direction, so that the threaded connection can be effected from above irrespective of whether the retainer device is to be fitted on the right or the left side. According to an embodiment of the sensor retainer device, at least said ring element is made of lightweight material, preferably aluminium, making the device less heavy. It also makes more cost-effective construction possible, since aluminium is easier to machine than cast-iron or the like. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood better by reading the detailed description set out below in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which the same reference notations pertain to similar items throughout the various views, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic sideview of a motor vehicle;

Figs. 2a and 2b are schematic perspective views of part of a shaft journal provided with hub device, with a sensor retainer device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2c is a schematic perspective view of part of the sensor retainer device in Fig. 2b;

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shaft journal provided with hub device, with the sensor retainer device, in Figs. 2a-b;

Fig. 4 illustrates schematically part of a sensor retainer device as viewed in an axial direction according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a schematic sideview of part of a sensor retainer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 is a schematic sideview of a motor vehicle 1 according to the present invention. The exemplifying vehicle 1 is a heavy vehicle in the form of a truck. It may alternatively be a bus or a car. The vehicle 1 is provided with a sensor retainer device for ABS sensor means according to the present invention.

Figs. 2a and 2b are schematic perspective views and Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of part of a shaft journal 20 provided with hub device 10, with a sensor retainer device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2c is a perspective view of part of the sensor retainer device 30 in Fig. 2b. The hub device 10 is supported about the shaft journal 20 via bearings 22. The hub device 10 is consequently rotatable relative to the shaft journal 20 about the centreline X of the shaft journal.

The sensor retainer device 30 is fastened round the shaft journal 20 between the hub device 10 and a toothed wheel 100 which rotates with the hub device 10 and is adapted to keeping an ABS sensor means 32 radially in line with, and axially at a distance from, the toothed wheel 100.

The sensor retainer device 30 comprises a ring element 34 configured to be fitted to the shaft journal 20 of a motor vehicle. Said ring element 34 is adapted to running round said shaft journal 20. The sensor retainer device 30 comprises a clamping arrangement adapted to axially and

circumferentially fixing the ring element 34 to the shaft journal 20.

The sensor retainer device 30 comprises a sensor retainer portion 35 integrated with the ring element 34. The sensor means 32 is fitted to the sensor retaining portion and adapted to running axially towards the toothed wheel 100, thereby being brought radially into line with, and being situated axially at a distance from, the toothed wheel 100. Said ring element 34 has a first end 34a and a second end 34b. Said clamping arrangement incorporates securing means for adjustably holding said ends together. Said clamping arrangement incorporates a threaded connection 40.

The sensor retainer device 30 comprises a first fastening portion 50 integrated with the ring element 34 at the first end 34a, and a second fastening portion 60 integrated with the ring element 34 at the second end. The first fastening portion 50 and the second fastening portion 60 are arranged to be connected by means of said threaded connection 40. The threaded connection 40 is arranged to run through the first and second fastening portions 50, 60 substantially tangentially along the circumference of the shaft journal 20 and perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft journal 20.

The first fastening portion 50 has a hole 52 running all the way through it. The second fastening portion 60 has running all the way through it a hole 62 which is brought into line with the hole 52 in the first fastening portion 50 so that the threaded connection 40 can be introduced through said holes in order to clamp the sensor retainer device 30. The sensor retainer device 30 is consequently clamped to achieve clamping connection by the threaded connection 40 pulling the first fastening portion 50 and the second fastening portion 60 towards one another. Said clamping arrangement consequently comprises the threaded connection 40 and the first and second fastening portions 50, 60.

The sensor retainer portion 35 integrated with the ring element 34 is situated substantially opposite to the respective ends 34a, 34b of the ring element 34 and consequently opposite to said first and second fastening portions 50, 60. Said ring element 34 has a sleeve configuration with a first portion 36 intended to face towards the hub device 10 and to run round the shaft journal 20, and a second portion 37 intended to run round the shaft journal 20 and to extend axially from an inner circumferential region of the first portion 36 away from the hub device 10. The first portion 36 has a larger radius than the second portion 37. The first portion 36 has a shorter axial extent than the second portion 37.

Said sensor retainer portion 35 integrated with the ring element 34 has an axial extent at least corresponding to that of the second portion 37 of the ring element 34 and consequently extending towards the toothed wheel 100. Said sensor retainer portion 35 extends axially on a radial level substantially corresponding to the periphery of the second portion 37 of the ring element 34. The sensor retainer portion 35 is dimensioned to firmly support said ABS sensor means 32.

Said first fastening portion 50 integrated with the ring element 34 has a radial extent substantially corresponding to that of the second portion 37 of the ring element 34. Said second fastening portion 60 integrated with the ring element 34 has a radial extent substantially corresponding to that of the second portion 37 of the ring element 34 and consequently to that of the first fastening portion 50. Said first and second fastening portions 50, 60 each further have an axial extent substantially corresponding to that of the second portion 37 of the ring element 34. The holes 52, 62 brought into line and running through the first fastening portion 50 and the second fastening portion 60 form a fastening hole 70 into which the threaded connection 40 is adapted to being introduced to achieve clamping connection round a shaft journal 20. The fastening hole 70 runs in the plane of the ring element 34 substantially perpendicular to a notional radius from the centre of the ring element 34 to the respective ends 34a, 34b of the end portions 50, 60. The fastening hole 70 and the threaded connection 40 according to this variant are both threaded. The shaft journal has according to this embodiment a chamfer 38 which runs circumferentially round the shaft and serves as axial position for the ring element 34 and as a stop for the ring element in the fitting direction. Fig. 4 illustrates schematically part of a sensor retainer device 130 as seen in an axial direction according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sensor retainer device 130 according to the embodiment in Fig. 4 differs from the sensor retainer device 30 in Figs. 2a-b in the configuration of the clamping arrangement.

The clamping arrangement according to this embodiment comprises alternative fixing means depending on whether said shaft journal 20 pertains to the vehicle's right or left side. Accordingly, the first fastening portion 150 of the ring element 134 has a first fastening hole 170 and the second fastening portion 160 of the ring element has a second fastening hole 180 running parallel with the first fastening hole to make it possible to introduce threaded connections 140 from opposite directions.

The first fastening portion 150 has a first hole 152 running all the way through it in the opposite direction to the hole 52 in Fig. 2. The second fastening portion 160 has a blind second hole 162 which is brought into line with the hole 152 in the first portion so that a threaded connection 140 can be introduced through said holes 152, 162. The aperture of said blind second hole 162 is consequently situated at the end 160a of the second fastening portion 160 and faces towards the first hole 152. Said first and second holes 152, 162 form the first fixing hole 170 in which a threaded connection 140 is intended to be screwed in order to clamp the sensor retainer device 130 round a shaft journal 20. The first fixing hole 170 according to this variant is threaded and adapted to accommodating the threaded connection 140 which is provided with corresponding threads. The first fastening portion 150 has a blind third hole 154 which runs parallel with the first hole 152 and which has its aperture situated at the end 150a of the first fastening portion 150. The second fastening portion 160 has running all the way through it a fourth hole 164 which is brought into line with the third hole 154 in the first fastening portion 150 so that a threaded connection 140 can be introduced through said holes 154, 164. Said third and fourth holes 154, 164 form the second fastening hole 180 in which a threaded connection is intended to be screwed to clamp the sensor retainer device 130 round a shaft journal 20. Accordingly a threaded connection is intended to be inserted in the second fastening hole 180 from the opposite direction to a threaded connection intended to be inserted in the first fastening hole 170. The second fastening hole 180 according to this variant is threaded and adapted to accommodating a threaded connection provided with corresponding threads.

The sensor retainer device 130 is consequently clamped to achieve clamping connection by inserting the threaded connection 140 in the first fastening hole 170 or the second fastening hole 180 and by using the threaded connection 140 to pull the first fastening portion 150 and the second fastening portion 160 towards one another. Said clamping arrangement consequently comprises the threaded connection 140 and the first and second fastening portions 150, 160 with the first and second fastening holes 170, 180. Having a first fastening hole 170 which runs all the way through the first fastening portion 150 but only partly through the second fastening portion 160, and a second fastening hole 180 which runs parallel with the first fastening hole 170 and runs all the way through the second fastening portion 160 but only partly through the first fastening portion 150, makes it possible, without making fitting difficult, to use similar sensor retainer devices 130 on the right and left sides, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and making more effective use of fitting time. The fact that the first fastening hole 170 is intended to accommodate a threaded connection 140 in a first direction and that the second parallel fastening hole 180 is intended to accommodate a threaded connection in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction makes it possible, irrespective of whether the sensor retainer device 130 is to be fitted on the right or left side, for the threaded connection 140 to be introduced from above, resulting in easier fitting and consequently speeding up the fitting process.

The fact that the first fastening hole 170 is blind in one direction and the second fastening hole 180 is blind in the opposite direction means that fitters cannot insert the screw in the wrong hole, i.e. in the hole with threading intended for insertion in the opposite direction.

The first and second fastening holes may, according to an alternative embodiment, be holes running all the way through, in which case they might respectively be provided with some form of indication to avoid insertion of threaded connections in wrong holes.

Fig. 5 is a schematic sideview of part of a sensor retainer device 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sensor retainer device 230 according to the embodiment in Fig. 4 differs from the sensor retainer device 30 in Figs. 2a-b in the configuration of the clamping arrangement. In this case the first fastening portion 250 of the ring element 234 has a first hole 252 running all the way through it and the second fastening portion 260 has a second blind hole 262 which is brought into line with the first hole 252 so that said first and second holes 252, 262 form a fastening hole 270 in which a threaded connection 240 is intended to be screwed in order to clamp the sensor retainer device 230 round a shaft journal 20. In the clamping arrangement according to this embodiment, the ends 251 , 261 are configured to jointly form an axial sealing configuration which comprises a locking-by-shape function. According to this embodiment, the sealing configuration comprises a locking- by-shape arrangement incorporating mutually matching steps formed at the ends 251 , 261 of the first and second fastening portions 250, 260.

The first fastening portion 250 has at its end 251 a first end surface 251 a running axially and a second end surface 251 b running axially, thereby forming a step between said first end surface 251 a and second end surface 251 b. The first end surface 251 a, according to this variant, when fitted to the shaft journal, is at a lower level than the second end surface 251 b. The second fastening portion 260 has at its end 261 a third end surface 261 a running axially and facing towards the first end surface, and a fourth end surface 261 b running axially and facing towards the second end surface, thereby forming a step between said third end surface 261 a and fourth end surface 261 b. The third end surface, according to this variant, when fitted to the shaft journal, is at a higher level than the fourth end surface, so that the ends 251 , 261 of the first and second fastening portions 250, 260 are locked by shape in the axial direction. The result is more robust locking of the sensor retainer device 230 while at the same time dirt is prevented from passing through to the hub device.

A sealing configuration effected by opposite steps at the respective ends is described above with reference to Fig. 5. The sealing configuration may however have any configuration appropriate to preventing dirt from making its way through to the hub device. The sealing configuration may have any suitable form of locking by shape, e.g. splines at the ends of the respective end portions, or the ends of the respective end portions may be set obliquely, i.e. at an angle relative to the axial direction. The sealing configuration comprises, according to a variant, sealing means in the form of undepicted fabric, protective tape or the like intended to be applied to achieve said seal after fitting. According to an embodiment of said invention, at least said ring element according to any of the embodiments according to the present invention is made of lightweight material, preferably aluminium.

The ring element being made of aluminium or similar lightweight material with similar characteristics will make the sensor retainer device lighter, thereby reducing the vehicle weight. It also makes more cost-effective manufacture possible in that aluminium is easier to machine than, for example, cast-iron or the like. According to an undepicted variant, said ring element of the sensor retainer device comprises two separate ring element parts which according to a variant take the form of first and second ring halves, the first half having a first end and a second end and the second half having a first end adapted to being clamped to the first end of the first ring half, and a second end adapted to being clamped by means of the second end of the first ring half.

This means that the ring element need not be fitted axially but may be fitted immediately at the position along the shaft journal where the sensor retainer device is to be positioned, making it possible for the sensor retainer device to be fitted and removed with the hub device already in place on the shaft journal. Double clamping connections are also achieved.