U.S. patent application number 09/361839 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for side-mount bracket system for providing a locked sensor position.
Invention is credited to SCHROEDER, THADDEUS, STEVENSON, ROBIN.
Application Number | 20010032497 09/361839 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23423640 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032497 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHROEDER, THADDEUS ; et
al. |
October 25, 2001 |
SIDE-MOUNT BRACKET SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A LOCKED SENSOR
POSITION
Abstract
A side-mount bracket system for locking the sensor position with
respect to a side-mount bracket once the air gap is first
established by the gauging layer method, wherein the sensor may be
removed and then reinstalled without use of any position setting
procedure, yet the air gap is automatically precisely reset to its
original value. The side-mount bracket system according to the
present invention includes a washer and a side-mount bracket having
an elongated slot, wherein as the washer is brought into the slot,
facial interaction therebetween, eg., teeth inscribing a smooth
surface, causes the washer to be positionally fixed with respect to
the bracket. Alteratively, the washer may be slidably trapped onto
the bracket at the slot, and a tapered bolt having a varying
cross-section which causes expansion of the washer as it is
threaded home, thereby affixing the washer positionally with
respect to the bracket.
Inventors: |
SCHROEDER, THADDEUS;
(ROCHESTER HILLS, MI) ; STEVENSON, ROBIN;
(BLOOMFIELD, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARGARET A DOBROWITSKY
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC
P O BOX 5052
MAIL CODE: 480-414-420
TROY
MI
480075052
|
Family ID: |
23423640 |
Appl. No.: |
09/361839 |
Filed: |
July 27, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/114.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
73/116 |
International
Class: |
G01L 003/26; G01L
005/13 |
Claims
1. A side-mount bracket system for retaining position of a washer
relative to a bracket responsive to the washer being moved into a
slot of the bracket, comprising: a bracket having a slot, said slot
being elongated along a longitudinal axis, said slot having
opposing slot sidewalls disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a washer having opposing washer sidewalls; means for causing said
washer to be received into said slot, wherein said washer moves
exclusively parallel to a transverse axis that is perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis; and means for deforming at least one of said
washer and said bracket to provide a facial interaction between
said washer and said bracket to thereby positionally affix said
washer with respect to said bracket.
2. The side-mount bracket system of claim 1, wherein said washer
has an initial bracket engagement surface; further wherein said
washer sidewalls have a draft commencing at said initial bracket
engagement surface.
3. The side-mount bracket system of claim 2, wherein said slot
sidewalls are harder than said washer sidewalls; further comprising
teeth on said slot sidewalls, wherein said washer sidewalls are
substantially smooth, and wherein said facial interaction is
provided by said teeth inscribing said washer sidewalls parallel to
the transverse axis as said washer is received into said slot.
4. The side-mount bracket system of claim 2, wherein said washer
sidewalls are harder than said slot sidewalls; further comprising
teeth on said washer sidewalls, wherein said slot sidewalls are
substantially smooth, and wherein said facial interaction is
provided by said teeth inscribing said slot sidewalls parallel to
the transverse axis as said washer is received into said slot.
5. The side-mount bracket system of claim 1, further comprising a
sensor having a sensor body, said sensor body having a tip, said
sensor body being connected to said bracket so that said tip is
oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.
6. A side-mount bracket system for retaining position of a washer
relative to a bracket, comprising: a bracket having an elongated
slot, said slot having opposing, mutually parallel slot sidewalls;
a washer having a central portion, said central portion having a
predetermined initial diameter wherein said washer is slidable in
said slot along said sidewalls; and means for deforming said washer
to provide a facial interaction between said washer and said
bracket to thereby positionally affix said washer with respect to
said bracket.
7. The side-mount bracket system of claim 6, further comprising
teeth located on a harder one of said slot sidewalls and said
central portion for inscribing a softer of the other thereof;
wherein the facial interaction is provided by said washer being
expanded by said means for deforming to a second diameter that
exceeds said initial diameter to thereby cause the teeth to
inscribe the softer of the slot sidewalls and the central
portion.
8. The side-mount bracket system of claim 7, wherein said means for
deforming comprises a tapered bolt threadably engageable with a
threaded hole of an article; and wherein the tapered bolt comprises
a threaded shank having a first cross-section, a neck having a
second cross-section and a taper therebetween, wherein said second
cross-section is larger than said first cross-section.
9. The side-mount bracket system of claim 8, wherein said central
portion is trapped in said slot by flange means for overhanging
said sidewalls adjacent said slot at opposing ends of said central
portion.
10. The side-mount bracket system of claim 9, wherein said teeth
are located at said slot sidewalls; and wherein said central
portion is substantially smooth.
11. The side-mount bracket system of claim 9, wherein said teeth
are located at said central portion; and wherein said slot
sidewalls are substantially smooth.
12. The side-mount bracket system of claim 9, wherein said bracket
and said washer have surfaces that provide a frictional interplay
when said washer is slid along said slot.
13. The side-mount bracket system of claim 9, further comprising a
sensor having a sensor body, said sensor body having a tip, said
sensor body being connected to the bracket so that said tip is
oriented parallel to the sidewalls.
14. The side-mount bracket system of claim 6, further comprising a
first flange located at one end of the central portion, and a
second flange located at the other end of said central portion;
wherein said means for deforming comprises a bolt threadably
engaged in a threaded hole of an article, said facial interaction
being provided by said first and second flanges being crimped upon
said bracket adjacent said slot when the bolt is threadably
tightened.
15. The side-mount bracket system of claim 14, wherein said bracket
and said washer have surfaces that provide a frictional interplay
when said first and second flanges of said washer are crimped upon
said bracket.
16. The side-mount bracket system of claim 15, further comprising a
sensor having a sensor body, said sensor body having a tip, said
sensor body being connected to the bracket so that said tip is
oriented parallel to the sidewalls.
17. The side-mount bracket system of claim 6, further comprising a
first flange located at one end of the central portion, and a
flangeable portion at the other end of the central portion for
being formable into a second flange located at the other end of
said central portion in response to said means for deforming;
wherein said means for deforming comprises a bolt threadably
engaged in a threaded hole of an article, wherein threading of the
bolt results in the flangeable portion being formed into the second
flange, and wherein said facial interaction is provided by said
first and second flanges being crimped upon said bracket adjacent
said slot when the bolt is further threadably tightened.
18. The side-mount bracket system of claim 17, wherein said bracket
and said washer have surfaces that provide a frictional interplay
when said first and second flanges of said washer are crimped upon
said bracket.
19. The side-mount bracket system of claim 18, further comprising a
sensor having a sensor body, said sensor body having a tip, said
sensor body being connected to the bracket so that said tip is
oriented parallel to the sidewalls.
20. A method for setting and locking an air gap of a sensor tip
with respect to a reluctor, wherein the reluctor is rotatable with
respect to an engine housing, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a slot in a side-mount bracket, the slot being elongated
in a longitudinal direction; connecting a sensor body of a sensor
to the side-mount bracket, wherein a contact surface of a tip
thereof is directed parallel to the longitudinal direction; placing
the sensor body into a sensor port of an engine housing, wherein
the contact surface contacts a reluctor and thereby sets an air gap
between the reluctor and the tip; passing a fastener through a hole
in a washer; and securing the fastener to a vertical surface
connected with the engine housing to thereby secure the side-mount
bracket to the engine housing, whereduring a facial interaction is
established between the washer and the slot which positionally
affixes the washer with respect to the side-mount bracket so as to
lock the air gap independent of the presence of the contact
surface.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said steps of passing and
securing comprise: passing a bolt through a bolt hole of the
washer; and threading the bolt into a threaded mounting hole of the
vertical surface to thereby cause the washer to be pressed into the
slot; wherein a toothed surface of one of the washer and the slot
inscribes a substantially smooth surface of the other of the washer
and the slot to thereby provide said facial interaction.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein said steps of passing and
securing comprise: passing a tapered bolt through the washer,
wherein the tapered bolt having a neck; and threading the tapered
bolt into a threaded mounting hole of the vertical surface to
thereby cause the neck of the tapered bolt to permanently expand
the washer compressibly against the slot; wherein a toothed surface
of one of the washer and the slot inscribes a substantially smooth
surface of the other of the washer and the slot to thereby provide
said facial interaction.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein said steps of passing and
securing comprise: passing a bolt through a central portion of the
washer; and threading the bolt into a threaded mounting hole of the
vertical surface to thereby cause the bolt to permanently crimp
flanges formed at each end of the central portion compressibly
against the bracket adjacent the slot to thereby provide said
facial interaction.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein during said step of threading,
a flangeable portion of the washer is deformed to provide a flange
at one end of the central portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to brackets for holding a
first object with respect to a second object. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a side-mount bracket for precisely
locating a sensor relative to an object to be sensed. Still more
particularly, the present invention relates to a side-mount bracket
system, wherein facial interaction between a bracket and a washer
results in the washer being fixed positionally with respect to the
bracket. The present invention is further related to air gap
setting methodologies incorporating abradable setting features,
wherein the air gap thereby set is permanently captured at the
side-mount bracket system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Magnetic sensors operate on the principle of detecting
magnetic flux density modulation caused by the movement of
appropriately configured reluctors (or targets). The magnetic
sensor must be affixed very close to the reluctor since its
sensitivity decreases very rapidly with the size of the air gap
between the reluctor and the magnetic sensor. In most automotive
applications, for example, the air gaps are on the order of 0.3 to
1.75 mm. Over such a range of air gaps, the sensor output signal
decreases more than ten times. The signal attenuation at large air
gaps makes the sensor operation more prone to noise induced
failures as well as less accurate in detecting the elements of the
reluctor as it spins in relation to the magnetic sensor. Both of
these factors are often unacceptable in critical engine control and
diagnostic applications.
[0003] It may at first glance appear that there would be no problem
whatsoever to choose and achieve an appropriate air gap between the
magnetic sensor and the reluctor. However, in the majority of
production cases, the stack-up of tolerances of the many different
components randomly influence the net size of the air gap, which
consequently precludes achieving, at each assembly, a precisely
predetermined air gap by mere assembly of the parts. As a result,
because of the random variations caused by accumulation of
tolerances, mere assembly of the parts risks damaging interference
between the magnetic sensor and reluctor on the one hand, and
inaccurate readings associated with too large an air gap on the
other hand. To lessen all the tolerances so that mere assembly
assures, at each assembly, the optimum air gap is physically
unrealistic and involves inordinate costs associated with
manufacturing such precise parts.
[0004] The majority of magnetic sensors used in automotive
applications involve non-adjustable air gap placement, wherein the
stack-up of tolerances causes deviation from the optimal air gap.
For example, a rigid bracket is affixed to the body of a magnetic
sensor. The magnetic sensor is placed into a sensor port in the
engine block, and the bracket is bolted, via a bolt hole in the
bracket, to a threaded mounting hole in a mounting surface of the
engine block. When the bracket is bolted, the length of the sensor
body from the bolt hole of the bracket to the sensor tip determines
the air gap with respect to the reluctor, which air gap is affected
by the stack-up of tolerances. Even though subject to tolerance
related placement inaccuracy, this structural mounting methodology
is used widely because of the simplicity of the hardware, and ease
of assembly and service.
[0005] In situations where air gap variation cannot be tolerated,
the air gap is preset during magnetic sensor installation by means
of an adjustable bracket, often referred to as a "side-mount"
bracket. The adjustability of side-mount brackets resides in a bolt
slot which allows for the bracket to be adjusted along the slot
elongation relative to the threaded mounting hole of the mounting
surface.
[0006] In one form of operation of the side-mount bracket, the
sensor body is placed into the sensor port of the engine block such
that the sensor tip is allowed to touch the surface of the
reluctor, and then it is withdrawn a distance equal to the
predetermined optimum air gap. This method is more time consuming
and is error prone.
[0007] In another form of operation of the side-mount bracket, a
gauging layer of soft, abradable material is placed onto the sensor
tip, wherein the thickness of the gauging layer is equal to the
optimum air gap. The gauging layer may be either attached to the
sensor body or be a part thereof, such as a protuberance, provided
the sensor body is of a soft material. Now, the installer need
merely place the sensor body into the sensor port until the gauging
layer touches the reluctor, and then tighten the bolt on the
mounting surface to thereby hold the sensor body at this position.
During initial rotation of the reluctor, a portion of the gauging
layer is sacrificial to abrasion due to reluctor run-out or
differential thermal expansion without damage being incurred to the
sensor body or the reluctor.
[0008] However, in the event the magnetic sensor must be
re-installed, the abraded gauging layer cannot again provide
position location for the sensor tip, as it was formerly able to do
when it was unabraded. Therefore, before dismounting the magnetic
sensor, the bracket must be marked to indicate the correct position
of the bolt in the slot of the bracket so that when the "old"
(original) magnetic sensor is re-installed, the original position
of the bolt in the slot can be alignably sighted--not an exact
procedure. Indeed, rather than try to reinstall the old, but still
usable, sensor using the sighting method to reset the air gap, a
technician would rather install a new sensor having the abradable
layer intact, thereby circumventing the error prone sighting step
otherwise needed to reinstall the old, but usable, sensor. This
results in waste of otherwise good sensors and unnecessary expense
for the customer or warranty provider. Accordingly, what remains
needed in the art, is some way to eliminate the inherently error
prone installation procedure of the sighting method, and enable
precise and reliable resetting of the air gap during reinstallation
of old, but still usable, sensors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is a side-mount bracket system for
locking the sensor position with respect to a side-mount bracket
once the air gap is first established by the gauging layer method,
wherein the sensor may be removed and then reinstalled without use
of any position setting procedure, yet the air gap is automatically
precisely reset to its original value.
[0010] The side-mount bracket system according to the present
invention includes a washer and a side-mount bracket having an
elongated slot, wherein as the washer is brought into the slot,
facial interaction therebetween causes the washer to be
positionally fixed with respect to the bracket. In this regard,
either the slot sidewalls or the washer sidewalls are provided with
teeth, the other of the sidewalls are smooth. The teeth are
oriented parallel to the direction of insertion of the washer into
the slot, referred to herein as the "transverse axis". The member
having the toothed sidewalls is formed of a material harder than
the member having the smooth sidewalls. The teeth of the toothed
sidewalls may be provided in any suitable form, such as for example
serrations, cutting ridges or cutting surfaces. A slight draft is
preferred to be provided on the washer sidewalls to facilitate an
initial engagement surface of the washer to be inserted into the
slot with minimum interference by the slot sidewalls.
[0011] The washer and slot are dimensioned so that the sidewalls of
the washer tightly abut the sidewalls of the slot, wherein the
teeth of the toothed sidewalls inscribe corresponding grooves into
the smooth sidewalls as the washer is pressed into the slot along
the transverse axis. Consequently, as the corresponding grooves are
inscribed, the washer sidewalls are caused to become positionally
fixed with respect to the bracket along a "longitudinal axis" that
is perpendicular to the transverse axis.
[0012] Operationally, a sensor body having a sensor tip provided
with a gauging layer is placed into a sensor port of an engine
block so that the gauging layer comes to rest upon a surface of a
reluctor. The gauging layer thereupon immediately establishes the
optimum air gap between the sensor and the reluctor along the
longitudinal axis. A washer having a bolt hole sized to just fit a
preselected bolt is slipped onto the bolt. With a side-mount
bracket having an elongated slot preconnected with the sensor, the
bolt carrying the washer is passed through the slot and threadably
into a threaded mounting hole of the vertical surface. The washer
and the slot have complementary sidewalls, wherein one is toothed,
the other is smooth, such that the fit therebetween is interfering,
wherein the toothed sidewalls score into the smooth sidewalls.
Accordingly, as the bolt is tightened, the washer moves along the
transverse axis, and facial interaction between the toothed and
smooth sidewalls causes the washer to become fixed to the bracket,
wherein the position of the sensor is fixed along the longitudinal
axis.
[0013] During engine operation, a portion of the gauging layer is
sacrificially lost to abrasion. However, should the sensor need to
be removed and then again replaced, the washer remains fixed to the
bracket, and all the installer need do is place the bolt through
the mounting hole of the sensor body, through the bolt hole of the
washer, and then threadably engage it into the threaded mounting
hole of the vertical surface, and the preset air gap will be
precisely re-established.
[0014] In a second embodiment, the washer may be slidably trapped
onto the bracket at the slot, and a tapered bolt having a varying
cross-section which causes expansion of the washer as it is
threaded home, thereby affixing the washer positionally with
respect to the bracket.
[0015] In a third embodiment, as a bolt is threaded tightly,
annular flanges at either end of a washer are caused to be squeezed
onto the bracket adjacent the slot, thereby affixing the washer
positionally with respect to the bracket.
[0016] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a side-mount bracket system which affixes a washer to a
side-mount bracket at a positional location indicative of a preset
air gap of a sensor attached to the bracket.
[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
side-mount bracket system, wherein a predetermined facial
interaction between the sidewalls of a slot of a side-mount bracket
and the sidewalls of a washer capture a positional location of a
sensor with respect to the bracket which is precisely
reproducible.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
side-mount bracket system which operates in concert with a gauging
layer air gap positioning methodology which retains the air gap
setting whether or not any of the gauging layer is sacrificially
abraded during operation.
[0019] These, and additional objects, advantages, features and
benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the
following specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a partly sectional side view of the side-mount
bracket system according to the present invention, shown in a
typical environment of operation wherein a magnetic sensor is
spaced from a reluctor a distance equal to an optimum air gap that
is established by a gauging layer.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front side view of a first embodiment of the
side-mount bracket system according to the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a partly sectional side view of the first
embodiment of the side-mount bracket system, shown operationally
prior to mutual engagement of the side-mount bracket and washer
thereof.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a partly sectional side view of the first
embodiment of the side-mount bracket system, shown operationally
after mutual engagement of the side-mount bracket and washer
thereof.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a partly sectional side view of a variation of the
first embodiment of the side-mount bracket system, shown
operationally after mutual engagement of the side-mount bracket and
washer thereof.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a front side view of a second embodiment of the
side-mount bracket system according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a partly sectional side view of the second
embodiment of the side-mount bracket system, shown operationally
after full engagement of a tapered bolt.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a detail, partly sectional side view of the second
embodiment of the side-mount bracket system shown prior to full
engagement of the tapered bolt.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a detail, partly sectional side view of a third
embodiment of the side-mount bracket system, shown prior to full
engagement of a bolt.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a detail, partly sectional side view of the third
embodiment of the side-mount bracket system, shown after full
engagement of the bolt.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a front side view of the third embodiment of the
side-mount bracket system according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Referring now to the Drawings, FIG. 1 generally depicts the
side-mount bracket system 10 according to the present invention in
an exemplar environment of operation, wherein the side-mount
bracket system serves to locate a magnetic sensor 12 with respect
to a reluctor 14. In this regard, the magnetic sensor 12 has a
sensor body 16 which includes a sensor tip 18. The sensor tip 18
extends into a sensor port 20 of an engine block 22 and is spaced
from the reluctor 14 a predetermined distance equal to an optimum
air gap G which provides optimal sensing performance by the
magnetic sensor of magnetic field variations as the reluctor
spins.
[0032] The air gap G is defined when a gauging layer 25, which is
attached to, or is a formed part of, the sensor tip 18 abuts the
reluctor 14, as shown. The gauging layer 25 is composed of a soft
abradable material which is sacrificed to abrasion as the reluctor
rotates when differential thermal expansion or run-out causes the
gauging layer to rub against the reluctor.
[0033] A side-mount bracket 26 (hereafter, simply "bracket") of the
side-mount bracket system 10 is affixed to the sensor body 16. The
bracket 26 may be L-shaped wherein a transverse leg is connected to
the sensor body 16, as shown at FIG. 1, or flatly connected with
the sensor body, having a configuration analogous to that of a flag
and its flagpole. The bracket 26 has a slot 28 which is elongated
along a longitudinal axis L that is parallel to the cylindrical
axis of the sensor body 16, wherein the sensor tip 18 is oriented
parallel to the longitudinal axis. A washer 30 of the side-mount
bracket system 10 is dimensioned to fit into the slot 28 by a
press-fit along a transverse axis T that is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis L. A bolt 32 carries the washer 30, passes
through the slot 28 and threadably engages a threaded mounting hole
34 formed in a vertical mounting surface 36 (by the term "vertical"
is meant oriented parallel to the center axis of the sensor port
20).
[0034] With reference now to FIGS. 2 through 8, the structure and
function of the side-mount bracket system will be further described
whereby the setting of the air gap G is automatically memorized by
the bracket 26 and washer 30 as the washer is press-fit into the
slot 28.
[0035] FIGS. 2 through 5 depict a first embodiment of the
side-mount bracket system 10, which is considered most preferred,
and is the form of the side-mount bracket system shown at FIG.
1.
[0036] The bracket 26 shown is of the L-shaped type, including a
longitudinal leg 26A oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and
having the slot 28 formed therein, and further including a
transverse leg 26B oriented parallel to the transverse axis and
having connection to the sensor body 16. The slot 28 has a pair of
opposing slot sidewalls 38, 40 oriented parallel to the
longitudinal axis L (of FIG. 1) which are smooth.
[0037] The washer 30 is constructed of a harder material than that
of the bracket 26 and has a bolt hole 44 for receiving therethrough
a bolt 32 (as shown at FIG. 1). The washer 30 is armularly shaped,
most preferably somewhat conically so as to have a reduced draft
for ease of initial entry into the slot 28. The washer 30 is
toothed, wherein the teeth 42 of opposing sidewalls 46, 48
respectively abut the sidewalls 38, 40 of the slot 28. The teeth 42
may be finely spaced or coarsely spaced, and may be in any suitable
form, such as for example serrations, cutting ridges or cutting
surfaces arranged parallel to the bolt hole axis.
[0038] As shown at FIG. 2, when the washer 30 is aligned over the
slot 28, the crests 42A of the teeth of the washer sidewalls 46, 48
are located so as to overlap the sidewalls 38, 40 of the slot.
Thus, for the washer 30 to be received into the slot 28, it must be
press-fit therein, whereduring the teeth 42 inscribably cut or
deform the slot sidewalls 38, 40. It is preferred for the washer to
be annular in shape, but other shapes may be used, such as for
example a rectilinear shape.
[0039] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the side-mount bracket system 10 in
operation.
[0040] The installer grasps the magnetic sensor 12 and places the
sensor tip 18 of the sensor body 16 into the sensor port 20 of the
engine block 22 so that the gauging layer 25 touches the reluctor
14. The washer 30 is placed onto the bolt 32 and the bolt is placed
through the slot 28 and then loosely threaded into the threaded
mounting hole 34 of the vertical mounting surface 36, wherein the
longitudinal leg 26A of the bracket 26 lies against the vertical
mounting surface, until the washer sidewalls 46, 48 touch the slot
sidewalls 38, 40 (see FIG. 2). The installer continues to thread
the bolt into the threaded mounting hole, thereby causing the
washer 30 to be pressed into the slot 28 along the transverse axis
T. As the washer penetrates into the slot, the teeth of the washer
sidewalls inscribe the smooth slot sidewalls. Because of the
inscribing, the washer becomes fixed upon the bracket, and as a
result of this facial interaction is prevented from moving
independent of the bracket in the longitudinal direction.
[0041] Now, if the sensor 12 ever needs to be removed, it can later
be reinstalled by simply running the bolt through the bolt hole of
the washer, and the fixed position of the washer in relation to the
bracket provides a memory of the prior preset air gap G.
[0042] FIG. 5 depicts a variation of the first embodiment of the
side-mount bracket system 10, wherein the teeth 42' are located on
the sidewalls of the slot 28' of the bracket 26' (having
longitudinal and transverse legs 26A', 26B'), and wherein the
sidewalls of the washer 30' are smooth. Operation is similar to
that above recounted, wherein like numerals reference like
features, and wherein the washer penetrates into the slot. Now,
however, the harder teeth of the slot sidewalls inscribe the softer
smooth washer sidewalls. Again, because of the inscribing, the
washer becomes fixed upon the bracket, and is prevented from moving
independent of the bracket in the longitudinal direction. And
again, if the sensor ever needs to be removed, it can later be
reinstalled by simply running the bolt through the bolt hole of the
washer, and the fixed position of the washer in relation to the
bracket (FIG. 2) provides a memory of the prior preset air gap
G.
[0043] Turning attention now to FIGS. 6 through 8, a second
embodiment of the side-mount bracket 10' will be detailed.
[0044] The bracket 26" is again shown as the L-shaped type, and
includes a longitudinal leg 26A" having a slot 28" formed therein,
and a transverse leg 26B" connected to the sensor body 16 of the
sensor 12. The slot 28" has a pair of opposing slot sidewalls 38",
40" which are smooth.
[0045] The washer 30" has a relatively thin-walled, sleeve-like
central portion 30A and a pair of annular flanges 30B, 30C (see
FIG. 8) integrally connected at opposing ends thereof. The washer
30" is trapped with respect to the slot 28" (wherein the central
portion is trapped in the slot) by the annular flanges 30B, 30C
overhanging the sidewalls 38", 40", wherein the central portion 30A
is sized so as to be slidable in the slot. At least one sidewall
46", 48" of the central portion 30A (or alternatively at least one
of the sidewalls 38", 40" of the slot 28") is provided with teeth
42", wherein the teeth are harder than the opposing sidewall. To
facilitate temporary placement of the washer 30" with respect to
the slot, it is preferred for the surfaces of the annular flanges
30B, 30C facing the bracket and/or a portion of the bracket capable
of contacting the annular flanges to provide a frictional interplay
50, such as by roughening.
[0046] A tapered bolt 32" is provided, having a larger diameter
neck 32A, a narrower diameter threaded shank 32B and a taper 32C
therebetween. The diameter of the central portion 30A and the bolt
hole 44" of the washer 30" are coordinated with the dimensions of
the slot 28" and the tapered bolt 32". In this regard, the threaded
shank 32B of the tapered bolt 32" passes through the bolt hole 44"
without causing distortion of the central portion 30A. However,
when the neck 32A enters the bolt hole 44", the central portion 30A
expands compressibly against the slot sidewalls which forces the
teeth 42" to be driven into the smooth sidewall of the slot 28",
and causes the washer 30" to become positionally fixed with respect
to the bracket 26". The material of the washer 30" is selected so
that if the tapered bolt 32" is removed, the expanded central
portion remains permanently expanded and fixed with respect to the
slot.
[0047] In operation, the installer grasps the magnetic sensor 12
and places the sensor tip 18 of the sensor body 16 into the sensor
port 20 of the engine block 22 so that the gauging layer 25 touches
the reluctor 14. The washer 30" is moved along the slot so that the
bolt hole aligns with the threaded mounting hole 34 in the vertical
surface 36. The threaded shank 32B of the tapered bolt 32" is now
threaded into the threaded mounting hole 34. As the neck 32C enters
the bolt hole 44", the central portion becomes expanded and the
teeth bite into the slot sidewall to thereby fix the position of
the washer with respect to the bracket, which, as a consequence of
this facial interaction, is prevented from moving independent of
the bracket in the longitudinal direction.
[0048] Now, if the sensor 12 ever needs to be removed, it can later
be reinstalled by simply running the bolt through the bolt hole of
the washer, and the fixed position of the washer in relation to the
bracket (FIG. 6) provides a memory of the prior preset air gap
G.
[0049] Turning attention now to FIGS. 9 though 11, a third
embodiment of the side-mount bracket 10" will be detailed.
[0050] The bracket 26" is as recounted with respect to the second
embodiment, again being of the L-shaped type, and including a
longitudinal leg 26A" having a slot 28" formed therein, and a
transverse leg 26B" connected to the sensor body 16 of the sensor
12. The slot 28" has a pair of opposing slot sidewalls 38", 40"
which are smooth.
[0051] The washer 30'" now has a central portion 30A' with a first
annular flange 30B' at one end and, at the other end, either a
flangeable portion 30C" capable of becoming a second annular flange
30C' when crimped by the head of the bolt 32 as the bolt is
tightened (FIG. 9), or a pre-formed second armular flange 30C'
(FIG. 10). The washer 30"' is trapped with respect to the slot 28"
when the annular flanges are both present (FIG. 10), wherein the
annular flanges overhang the sidewalls 38", 40", and wherein the
central portion 30A' is sized so as to be slidable in the slot. To
facilitate affixing of the washer 30'" with respect to the slot
when the annular flanges are crimped thereagainst, it is preferred
for the surfaces of the annular flanges 30B', 30C' facing the
bracket and/or a portion of the bracket capable of contacting the
annular flanges to provide a frictional interplay 50, such as by
roughening.
[0052] A bolt 32 is provided for passing through the bolt hole 44'"
of the washer 30'". In this regard, the bolt 32 passes through the
bolt hole 44'" without causing distortion of the central portion
30A'. However, when the bolt 32 is tightened into the threaded
mounting hole 34, the annular flanges 30B', 30C' are caused to
crimpably compress upon the bracket 26a, thereby affixing the
washer 30'" to the bracket at that location. The material of the
washer 30"' is selected so that if the bolt 32 is removed, the
annular flanges remain permanently crimped against the bracket.
[0053] In operation, the installer grasps the magnetic sensor 12
and places the sensor tip 18 of the sensor body 16 into the sensor
port 20 of the engine block 22 so that the gauging layer 25 touches
the reluctor 14. Either the washer 30'" is inserted into the slot
28" via the flangeable portion 30C" or is pre-mated to the bracket
by both annular flanges being already preformed. The washer 30'" is
moved along the slot so that the bolt hole aligns with the threaded
mounting hole 34 in the vertical surface 36. The bolt 32 is now
threaded into the threaded mounting hole 34. As the bolt tightens,
if the flangeable portion is present, an annular flange is formed
thereof as it is flattened by the bolt head. As the bolt is further
tightened (in any event the second flange now being present), the
annular flanges become crimped against the bracket adjacent the
slot, thereby frictionally affixing the position of the washer with
respect to the bracket, which, as a consequence of this facial
interaction, is prevented from moving independent of the bracket in
the longitudinal direction.
[0054] Now, if the sensor 12 ever needs to be removed, it can later
be reinstalled by simply running the bolt through the bolt hole of
the washer, and the fixed position of the washer in relation to the
bracket (FIG. 11) provides a memory of the prior preset air gap
G.
[0055] It is to be understood that the facial interaction in the
first and second embodiments is preferred to include teeth, but
this is not required, so long as the facial interaction provided
locks the washer in position relative to the bracket. For example
roughening (ie., roughening 50) may be provided on the harder
sidewalls in place of the teeth, where teeth are shown. Further,
the flanges may be other than annular in shape, and that by the
term "smooth" as used herein is meant that the surface is able to
accept inscribing by the teeth as described hereinabove, whether or
not the surface is actually physically smooth.
[0056] To those skilled in the art to which this invention
appertains, the above described preferred embodiments may be
subject to change or modification. Such change or modification can
be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention,
which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *