Wheel Speed Sensor Housing With Indexed Radial Cable Outlet

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicle wheel speed sensors face challenges due to higher thermal loads and limited installation space, which hinder the use of active sensors like AMR sensors, and require costly tooling for different cable outlet orientations.

Innovation Solution

A wheel speed sensor design featuring a housing with a first and second component, allowing for variable angular alignment of the pulse sensor and radial cable outlet, using an AMR sensor with a predetermined detection direction and a plastic molded housing for cost-effective production and thermal stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If AMR sensors are used to withstand thermal stress, then reliability under thermal load is improved, but device complexity increases due to predetermined orientation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stress resistanceVSAvoidmounting orientation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first component (sensor holder) and a second component (cable guide), allowing independent optimization of each part's function and simplifying the overall assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor holder is designed with a universal mounting structure that can accommodate AMR sensors in predetermined orientations while maintaining the same cable exit direction, making the housing design applicable to multiple sensor orientations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If radial cable exit is used to accommodate limited installation space, then ease of installation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to different tools required for different angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidtooling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The second component is designed as a universal cable guide structure that can accommodate cable exits at different angles through a standardized interface, eliminating the need for different manufacturing tools for different orientations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing components are pre-designed with integrated cable guide features during the molding process, eliminating the need for post-assembly modifications or specialized tools for different cable exit angles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If active pulse sensor with predetermined detection direction is used, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability worsens due to fixed sensing direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed detection accuracyVSAvoidsensing direction flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is segmented into the active pulse sensor with fixed detection direction and the housing with adjustable orientation, allowing the sensor to maintain its precision while the housing adapts to different installation requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the adaptability requirement from the sensor's detection direction to the housing's spatial orientation, allowing the sensor to maintain its fixed detection direction for precision while the housing provides rotational flexibility for installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the production of wheel speed sensors that can withstand higher thermal loads and accommodate various installation spaces efficiently, reducing production costs and ensuring accurate speed detection.

Implementation Method 1

AMR sensors, which feature a chip with an anisotropic magnetoresistive effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnisotropic magnetoresistive effect: Magnetoresistance

Data Source

PatentEP3980302B1Wheel speed sensor for a commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3980302B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3980302B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3980302B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a wheel speed sensor (1) for a utility vehicle, having an active pulse sensor (6) with a specified detection direction and a housing (8) which at least partly encloses the pulse sensor (6). The housing (8) has a first (3) and a second component (7), by means of which the first component (3) can be at least partly enclosed and to which the first component (3) can be connected in an at least partly formfitting manner. The pulse sensor (6) is secured to the first component (3), and a radial cable outlet (10) is integrally formed together with the second component (7) and guides the cable (4) in a direction other than the direction of an axis (12) of the wheel speed sensor (1). In the direction of the axis (12), the first component (3) has a first region (14) the circumference of which has a contour other than a rotationally symmetrical contour, and the second component (7) has a second region, the inner contour of which at least partly matches the contour of the circumference of the first region (14). The contour of the circumference of the first region (14) has a respective shape characteristic (15) in specified angle steps about the axis (12) such that the first component (3) defines the orientation of the first component (3) relative to the second component (7) in the specified angle steps about the axis (12) in order to provide a specified angle about the axis (12) between a detection direction (11) of the pulse sensor (6) and the radial cable outlet (10).