Sensor cap nut and sensor cap

Abstract

A nut is used with being fixed to a sensor cap. The sensor cap is attached to an outer ring of a bearing in a wheel bearing device of an automobile. The sensor cap includes a sensor holder for holding a magnetic sensor. The nut is made of steel, and has a screw portion in which a bolt is screwed to attach the magnetic sensor to the sensor cap. A surface of the nut is coated with a zinc-nickel alloy plating layer with a nickel eutectic ratio of 8 to 18%.

Claims

1. A sensor cap nut that is a nut used with being fixed to a sensor cap, comprising: the sensor cap is attached to an outer ring of a bearing in a wheel bearing device of an automobile, and has a sensor holder for holding a magnetic sensor, and the sensor cap nut is made of steel, has a screw portion in which a bolt is screwed to attach the magnetic sensor to the sensor cap, and has a surface on which a zinc-nickel alloy plating layer with a nickel eutectic ratio of 8 to 10% is formed.

2. The sensor cap nut according to claim 1, wherein the nickel eutectic ratio of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer is 12 to 18%.

3. A sensor cap comprising the sensor cap nut according to claim 1.

4. A sensor cap comprising the sensor cap nut according to claim 2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a sensor cap nut according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sensor cap nut.

(3) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a sensor cap in which the nut is buried, viewed from an inward side of the sensor cap.

(4) FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the sensor cap in which the nut is buried, viewed from an outward side of the sensor cap.

(5) FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sensor cap.

(6) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a modification of the sensor cap nut.

(7) FIG. 4B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sensor cap nut.

(8) FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a wheel bearing device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) An aspect of the present invention is described in detail, based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. A direction along a rotation axis A of a wheel bearing device 20 shown in FIG. 5 refers to an “axial direction,” and a direction orthogonal to the axial direction refers to a “radial direction”.

(10) In a state where a sensor cap 6 is attached to a bearing 15, a direction (outboard) parallel to the axial direction directed from a body to wheels in an automobile refers to “outward” (see an arrow OB in FIG. 5), and a direction (inboard) parallel to the axial direction directed from the wheels to the body in the automobile refers to “inward” (see an arrow IB in FIG. 5).

(11) <Sensor Cap Nut>

(12) A sensor cap nut 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1A and the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 1B has a substantially cylindrical shape, is made of steel, such as carbon steel wire for cold heading (SWCH material according to JIS G 3507-2), and is provided with a through hole 1A and a screw portion 3. Knurl portions 4A serving as twill lines are, for example, formed on an outer peripheral surface of the nut 1. The knurl portions 4A are formed by, for example, rotating the nut 1 with a lathe or the like and pressing a knurling tool against the nut. Thus, concave portions and convex portions are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nut 1. The outer peripheral surface of the nut 1 is entirely coated with a zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5.

(13) Thickness of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 is 5 to 15 μm. If the thickness is less than 5 μm, an anticorrosive effect is poor for the sensor cap that is one of the automobile chassis components. If the thickness is above 15 μm, a gap becomes narrow to increase fastening force that is applied to a screw.

(14) A nickel eutectic ratio of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 is preferably in the range of 8 to 18%, and more preferably 12 to 18%. If the nickel eutectic ratio is less than 8%, the anticorrosive effect is poor for the sensor cap that is one of the automobile chassis components. If the nickel eutectic ratio is above 18%, the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 has excessive quality, which increases a cost.

(15) <Sensor Cap>

(16) As shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 2A and 2B and the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the sensor cap 6 in which the sensor cap nut 1 is buried includes a fiber-reinforced synthetic resin body 6A and a metallic annular body 6B.

(17) Here, the fiber-reinforced synthetic resin for forming the body 6A is a synthetic resin, in which 20 to 70 weight % of glass fiber is contained. The synthetic resin includes polyamide (nylon 6, nylon 66, or the like), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), for example.

(18) It is preferable for the metallic annular body 6B to use a cold-rolled steel plate, such as steel plate cold commercial (SPCC) made of low carbon steel.

(19) The body 6A includes a disc part 7 and a cylindrical part 8 which form a cup shape, and a sensor holder 9 projecting inward (see the arrow IB) from the disc part 7.

(20) The disc part 7 includes a separation wall 10 that is thinner than the other area of the disc part 7 and that separates a magnetic encoder 12 from a magnetic sensor 14 (FIG. 5).

(21) The sensor holder 9 holds the nut 1 in which a bolt 11 (FIG. 5) for attaching the magnetic sensor 14 to the sensor holder 9 (FIG. 5) is screwed, and is provided with a sensor attachment hole 9A in which the magnetic sensor 14 is inserted.

(22) The nut 1 and the metallic annular body 6B are insert articles, and are each united with the fiber-reinforced synthetic resin body 6A by injection molding. As shown in the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the synthetic resin enters the knurl portions 4A of the nut 1. Accordingly, the nut 1 buried in the sensor holder 9 is locked and fixed thereto. The cylindrical part 8 wraps around an outward (see the arrow OB) end periphery of the metallic annular body 6B, so that the metallic annular body 6B and the fiber-reinforced synthetic resin body 6A are mechanically coupled.

(23) The locking of the nut 1 is not limited to the knurl portions 4A provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nut 1, but may be a circumferential groove 4B provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nut 1 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4A and the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 4B, or a flange portion, which is not shown, provided on the nut 1. A plurality of such locking ways may be combined.

(24) As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2A and the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, in the nut 1, one end portion 2A of opposite end portions 2A and 2B (FIG. 1B) in a direction parallel to the axial direction A (FIG. 5) and a screw portion 3 are exposed in a state where the nut 1 is buried in the sensor holder 9 of the sensor cap 6.

(25) <Wheel Bearing Device in Automobile>

(26) As shown in the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the wheel bearing device 20 includes, in addition to the bearing 15 in which an inner ring 16 rotates relative to an outer ring 17, the magnetic encoder 12, the sensor cap 6, the magnetic sensor 14, a seal member 19 provided on the outward (see the arrow OB) end periphery of the bearing 15, and the like.

(27) The bearing 15 includes: the inner ring 16 having, on the outer peripheral surface thereof, an inner ring trace surface 16A; the outer ring 17 having, on the inner peripheral surface, an outer ring trace surface 17A; rolling elements 18 rolling between the inner ring trace surface 16A and the outer ring trace surface 17A.

(28) The magnetic encoder 12 has N and S poles alternately arranged at a regular interval in the circumferential direction, and is fixed to the inner ring 16 by a support member 13 positioned inward (see the arrow IB) end periphery of the bearing 15.

(29) The sensor cap 6 has a cup shape and is attached to the outer ring 17 so as to seal the inward end periphery of the bearing 15, and has the sensor holder 9 for holding the magnetic sensor 14.

(30) The magnetic sensor 14 attached to the sensor holder 9 of the sensor cap 6 faces the magnetic encoder 12 across the separation wall 10, and detects the rotation speed of the magnetic encoder 12.

(31) The sensor cap 6 has the separation wall 10, so as not to be provided with a through hole penetrating the sensor cap 6 in the thickness direction thereof, thereby eliminating the necessity of incorporation of a seal member, such as an O-ring.

(32) The sensor cap 6 seals the inward end periphery of the bearing 15, thereby preventing pebbles, muddy water, and the like from hitting the magnetic encoder 12. Therefore, breakage of the magnetic encoder 12 can be prevented.

(33) Furthermore, the sensor cap 6 seals the inward end periphery of the bearing 15, thereby eliminating the necessity of the seal member in the inward side of the magnetic encoder 12. Therefore, sliding resistance is reduced to reduce rotation torque of the bearing 15.

(34) The sensor cap 6 includes the sensor holder 9, so that complicated operations in adjusting an air gap between the magnetic encoder 12 and the magnetic sensor 14 can be eliminated.

(35) The sensor cap 6 shown in an example of FIG. 5 is formed by injection molding, with the metallic annular body 6B and the nut 1 as insert articles. The nut 1 may be incorporated, not as an insert article, but through outsert molding. If the nut is attached through the outsert molding, a prepared hole is first molded, for example, at the injection molding being performed to mold the sensor cap 6 with the metallic annular body 6B as the insert article, and then the nut 1 is press-fitted in the prepared hole after the molding of the sensor cap 6. At this time, the nut 1 may be heated and press-fitted while resin of the sensor holder 9 is softened.

(36) <Test for Evaluating Anticorrosion Property of Zinc-Nickel Alloy Plating Layer>

(37) As described above, the sensor cap nut 1 is made of steel and its entire surface is coated with the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5. Experiments for evaluating anticorrosion property of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 were performed.

EXAMPLES AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES

(38) 20 nuts each having a cold-heading carbon steel that was not yet coated with the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 so as to be exposed were prepared. On each surface of 10 nuts among the 20 nuts, the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 (nickel eutectic ratio: 12 to 18%) having the thickness of 5 μm was formed, to prepare Examples. On each surface of the remaining 10 nuts, a zinc plating layer having the thickness of 5 μm was formed, to prepare Comparative Examples.

(39) (Experiment Method)

(40) To the prepared nuts of Examples and Comparative Examples, salt water (water temperature: 35° C.±3° C., the concentration of salt water: 5 wt %) is sprayed for 2000 consecutive hours.

(41) (Evaluation Method)

(42) (1) In experiments according to the aforementioned experiment method, the nuts in Examples and Comparative Examples are examined, to evaluate the generation of rust.

(43) (2) White rust, which is an oxide appearing due to a sacrificial anticorrosive effect by galvanization, may be generated. Even if such white rust is generated, the white rust does not develop into an iron substrate. Accordingly, there is no problem regarding the anticorrosion property. On the other hand, if red rust that develops into the iron substrate is generated, there is a problem regarding the anticorrosion property.

(44) <Evaluation Result>

(45) (1) In the nuts of Comparative Examples, red rust was generated after about 600 hours passed.

(46) (2) Regarding the nuts in Examples, in all of the ten nuts after the experiments according to the aforementioned experiment method, the white rust was generated in the end face and the side face of each nut but no red rust was generated.

(47) (3) In the nuts of Examples, the red rust was not generated even under such strict conditions as in the aforementioned experiment method. This explains that the sensor cap nut 1, the surface of which is coated with the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5, has extremely high anticorrosion property.

(48) Thickness of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 for coating the steel nut is preferably 5 μm or more, in view of the above experiments. Accordingly, the thickness may be 5 to 15 μm. If the nickel eutectic ratio of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 is made in the range of 12 to 18% in view of the above experiments, an extremely high antirust effect can be obtained. Here, the high antirust effect can also be obtained in the range of 8% or more. If the nickel eutectic ratio of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 exceeds 18%, the quality is excessive, which increases a cost.

(49) After the steel nut is coated with the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5, trivalent chromium processing may be performed, and then non-chromium high corrosion resistance film processing or silica-based high antirust coating processing may further be performed, to thereby provide a protective film on a surface layer of the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5. This further enhances the anticorrosion property.

(50) <Effect>

(51) Since the sensor cap nut 1 made of steel and coated with the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 is used, the expensive brass is not used. Accordingly, a manufacturing cost can be reduced. The sensor cap nut 1 does not contain lead, so that the requirements of the RoHS directive can be satisfied on and after Jul. 21, 2021. Therefore, the nut can be exported to European Union (EU) on and after Jul. 21, 2021. The steel is greater in strength than the brass, so that the strength in attachment of the magnetic sensor 14 can be improved. The nut 1 made of steel is coated with the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5, so that high anticorrosion property can be provided. Furthermore, the zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 5 is a coating film containing nickel. Accordingly, the coating film has high hardness, so as to be excellent in abrasion resistance against the bolt 11 for attaching the magnetic sensor 14.

(52) In the above embodiments, the sensor cap nut 1 has the through hole 1A. The sensor cap nut 1 may serve as an insert nut in a cat nut type, the entire of which is formed in a bag shape.

(53) The above description regarding the embodiment is all examples, and thus the present invention is not limited thereto. Various improvements and modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention can be applied.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(54) 1 . . . Sensor cap nut 1A . . . Through hole 2A, 2B . . . End portion 3 . . . Screw portion 4A . . . Knurl portion 4B . . . Circumferential groove 5 . . . Zinc-nickel alloy plating layer 6 . . . Sensor cap 6A . . . Fiber-reinforced synthetic resin body 6B . . . Metallic annular body 7 . . . Disc part 8 . . . Cylindrical part 9 . . . Sensor holder 9A . . . Sensor attachment hole 10 . . . Separation wall 11 . . . Bolt 12 . . . Magnetic encoder 13 . . . Support member 14 . . . Magnetic sensor 15 . . . Bearing 16 . . . Inner ring 16A . . . Inner ring trace surface 17 . . . Outer ring 17A . . . Outer ring trace surface 18 . . . Rolling element 19 . . . Seal member 20 . . . Wheel bearing device A . . . Axial direction IB . . . Inward OB . . . Outward