Speed sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664705-B2
Application number	US-201514607093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2014
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

In an embodiment, a speed sensor includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion includes a sensing assembly for generating a signal associated with a movement of an object external to the speed sensor. The second portion includes a wiring harness for transferring the generated signal to a device external to the speed sensor. The first portion and the second portion are joined. The third portion is over-molded over a point of the speed sensor where the first portion joins the second portion. Over-molding the third portion at the point may act to seal the point from outside contaminants. Moreover, over-molding the third portion at the point may act to strengthen the speed sensor at the point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A speed sensor comprising:
a sensing assembly including: a bobbin having a wire coil and a magnet for generating a magnetic field and a plurality of conductive pins in electrical connection with the wire coil; and a lead frame affixed to the bobbin, the lead frame providing an electrical connection between the conductive pins and a plurality of first conductive terminals;
a first housing over-molded to the sensing assembly, the first housing having an upper flange proximate to an open top end, wherein the first conductive terminals protrude from the open top end;
a second housing having a lower flange proximate to an open lower end, the lower flange joined to the upper flange of the first housing to form a plurality of weld windows, wherein the second housing contains a plurality of second conductive terminals proximate to both the open lower end and the first conductive terminals such that the weld windows provide an opening to allow the first conductive terminals to be welded to the second conductive terminals; and
a flange overmold having a first opening operable to join the flange overmold to both the upper flange and the lower flange to seal the first housing to the second housing and fill the weld windows.

2. The speed sensor of claim 1 wherein the flange overmold includes a second opening offset from the first opening, the second opening operable to mount the flange overmold.

3. The speed sensor of claim 1 wherein the second housing includes a plurality of ridges proximate to the open lower end, the ridges aligning the first housing and the second housing.

4. The speed sensor of claim 1 wherein the bobbin includes a plurality of stake pins extending perpendicular to the conductive pins, the stake pins staking the conductive pins within the bobbin.

5. The speed sensor of claim 1 wherein the magnet is disposed within an annular ring formed by the wire coil.

6. The speed sensor of claim 5 wherein the magnet protrudes substantially from a top opening of the annular ring and slightly from a bottom opening of the annular ring.

7. The speed sensor of claim 6 wherein the first housing is thicker at a location proximate to the bottom opening of the annular ring.

8. The speed sensor of claim 1 wherein the flange overmold is further operable to seal the weld windows such that the flange overmold flows into the weld windows driving out air.

9. The speed sensor of claim 1 wherein:
the first housing includes a plurality of first ribs proximate to the open top end;
the second housing includes a plurality of second ribs proximate to the open lower end; and
the first opening of the flange overmold is operable to couple with the first ribs and the second ribs.

10. A speed sensor comprising:
a sensing assembly extending substantially along a longitudinal axis for generating a signal associated with a movement of an object external to the speed sensor, the sensing assembly having a plurality of conductive terminals proximate to an upper end for transmitting the signal;
a first housing extending along the longitudinal axis and over-molded to the sensing assembly, the first housing having an upper flange proximate to a top end, wherein the first conductive terminals protrude from the top end;
a second housing extending along the longitudinal axis and having a lower flange proximate to a lower end, the lower flange joined to the upper flange of the first housing to form a plurality of weld windows, wherein the second housing contains a plurality of second conductive terminal proximate to the lower end and the first conductive terminals such that the weld windows provide an opening to allow the first conductive terminals to be welded to the second conductive terminals;
a flange overmold extending along a transverse axis and having: a first opening operable to join the overmold to both the upper flange and the lower flange to seal the first housing to the second housing and seal the weld windows; and a second opening, offset from the first opening along the transverse axis, for mounting the flange overmold.

Assignees

• Sensata Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Cobb Iii Carleton M
• Amatruda Andrew

Classifications

• G01P3/481 Primary

  of pulse signals · CPC title

• G01P1/026 Primary

  for speed measuring devices, e.g. pulse generator · CPC title

• G01P3/488

  delivered by variable reluctance detectors · CPC title

• G01D11/245 Primary

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• G01P3/487

  delivered by rotating magnets · CPC title