SENSOR COMPONENT, BEARING HAVING SUCH A SENSOR COMPONENT, AND CONNECTION OF A FIRST CHASSIS COMPONENT HAVING SUCH A BEARING TO A FURTHER CHASSIS COMPONENT

Abstract

Sensor component with a magnetic field sensor (2) for co-operating with at least one magnet (24, 26) and with a component structure (3), where the magnetic field sensor (2) is arranged on and/or in the component structure (3). In order to reduce the manufacturing cost and/or the assembly effort and/or to be able in a simple manner to position the magnetic field sensor (2) as close as possible to the at least one magnet (24, 26), the sensor component (1) is characterized in that the component structure (3) is in the form of a screw for producing a screw connection (15).

Claims

1. A sensor component comprising a magnetic field sensor (2) configured to operate with at least one magnet (24, 26) and having a component structure (3), wherein the magnetic field sensor (2) is arranged on and/or in the component structure (3), and wherein the component structure (3) is in the form of a screw for forming a screw connection (15).

2. The sensor component according to claim 1, wherein the component structure (3) comprises a screw head (4) and a screw-in bolt (5), and the magnetic field sensor (2) is arranged and/or embedded inside the screw head (4) or the screw-in bolt (5).

3. The sensor component according to claim 2, wherein the screw-in bolt (5) or at least a section of the screw-in bolt (5) has an external thread (8).

4. The sensor component according to claim 2, wherein the screw head (4) comprises a data transmission line (9), which is connected on a first side to the magnetic field sensor (2) and a second side extends outward from the screw head (4) for connection to an evaluation unit.

5. The sensor component according to claim 2, wherein the screw head (4) has a screw head cap (13), the screw head cap (13) configured to be detached and/or plugged in, and the screw head cap (13) comprises a data transmission line (9), which is connected on a first side to the magnetic field sensor (2) and a second side extends outward from the screw head (4) and/or from the screw head cap (13) for connection to an evaluation unit.

6. A bearing for a first chassis component (21) of a vehicle, the bearing comprising: an internal sleeve (16); an external sleeve (17); an elastomer layer (18) between the internal sleeve (16) and the external sleeve (17); and at least one magnet (24, 26) configured to operate with a sensor component (1) according to claim 1, wherein the component structure (3) of the sensor component (1) is in the form of a screw and extends through the through-going opening (19) of the internal sleeve (16) in order to form a connection to a further chassis component (22).

7. The bearing according to claim 6, wherein the component structure (3) comprises a screw head (4) and a screw-in bolt (5), and the magnetic field sensor (2) is arranged inside the screw-in bolt (5) and inside the through-going opening (19) of the internal sleeve (16).

8. The bearing according to claim 6, wherein an outside of a screw-in bolt (5) of the component structure (3) is arranged inside the through-going opening (19) of the internal sleeve (16) making no contact with an inside of the through-going opening (19).

9. The bearing according to claim 6, wherein the at least one magnet (24, 26) is arranged in or on the elastomer layer (18) of the external sleeve (17) and/or of the first chassis component (21).

10. A connection of a first chassis component (21) with a further chassis component (22), wherein the first chassis component (21) comprises a bearing) (14, 25) according to claim 6, and the first chassis component (21) is connected to the further chassis component (22) by means of the component structure (3) of the sensor component (1).

11. The connection according to claim 10, wherein the component structure (3) comprises a screw head (4) and a screw-in bolt (5), and the magnetic field sensor (2) is arranged inside the screw-in bolt (5) and inside the through-going opening (19) of the internal sleeve (16).

12. The connection according to claim 11, wherein an outside of the screw-in bolt (5) of the component structure (3) is arranged inside the through-going opening (19) of the internal sleeve (16) without making contact with an inside of the through-going opening (19).

13. The connection according to claim 12, wherein the at least one magnet (24, 26) is arranged in or on the elastomer layer (18) of the external sleeve (17) and/or of the first chassis component (21).

14. The connection according to claim 13, wherein a section of the screw-in bolt (5) having an external thread (8) is screwed into an internal thread (23) of the said further chassis component (22), wherein the internal thread (23) corresponds with the external tread (8).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Below, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the figures. In these, the same indexes denote the same, similar or functionally equivalent components or elements. The figures show:

[0023] FIG. 1: A sectioned side view of a sensor component according to the invention,

[0024] FIG. 2: A sectioned side view of the sensor component according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, in a first bearing according to the invention and to produce a connection according to the invention, and

[0025] FIG. 3: A sectioned side view of the sensor component according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, in a further bearing according to the invention and to produce a connection according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a sectioned side view of a sensor component 1 according to the invention. The sensor component 1 comprises a magnetic field sensor 2. Moreover, the sensor component 1 has a component structure 3. In this example embodiment the magnetic field sensor 2 is arranged inside the component structure 3. The design of the sensor component 1 is established by virtue of the component structure 3. The component structure 3 forms a kind of sensor housing of the sensor component 1. The component structure 3 is in the form of a screw for producing a screw connection.

[0027] The component structure 3 comprises a screw head 4 and a screw-in bolt 5. The screw-in bolt 5 is made integrally with the screw head 4. In this example embodiment the magnetic field sensor 2 is arranged inside the screw-in bolt 5. As an example, here the magnetic field sensor 2 is embedded in the screw-in bolt 5, so that the magnetic field sensor 2 is encapsulated against external environmental influences.

[0028] In this example embodiment, the screw-in bolt 5 has a first cylindrical section 6 and a second cylindrical section 7. The first cylindrical section 6 is arranged between the screw head 4 and the second cylindrical section 7. In other words, the screw head 4 and the second cylindrical section 7 are arranged at two opposite ends of the first cylindrical section 6. The second cylindrical section 7 has an external thread 8. In this example embodiment, the first cylindrical section 6 has no external thread. In this case the magnetic field sensor 2 is arranged inside the first cylindrical section 6.

[0029] The screw head 4 has a data transmission line 9. The data transmission line 9 is connected on the one hand to the magnetic field sensor 2 and on the other hand it extends outward from the screw head 4 in order to be connected to an evaluation unit (not illustrated further here). In this example embodiment the data transmission line 9 extends from the screw head 4, radially outward relative to a central longitudinal axis 10 of the sensor component 1 or the component structure 3.

[0030] The screw head 4 has a stop 11. In this example embodiment the stop 11 is in the form of a stop-collar. The screw head 4 and the stop 11 have larger outer diameters that the screw-in bolt 5. The stop 11 is located immediately adjacent to the screw-in bolt 5. In the area of the stop 11 the screw head 4 merges into the screw-in bolt 5.

[0031] The stop 11 has a stop surface 12. The stop surface 12 faces toward the screw-in bolt 5. Furthermore, the stop surface 12 is directed perpendicularly to the central longitudinal axis 10. By means of the stop 11 and the stop surface 12, the screw-in depth of the sensor component 1 into an internal thread—not illustrated in greater detail here—that corresponds with the external thread 8 is limited.

[0032] In this example embodiment the screw head 4 has a screw head cap 13, or a screw head cap 13 is arranged on the screw head 4. The screw head cap 13 comprises the data transmission line 9. Moreover, the screw head cap 13 is connected detachably to the screw head 4 by means of a snap-on and/or latch-type connection. Thus, the component structure 3 can first be screwed into a correspondingly designed internal thread by virtue of the external thread 8. During this the screw head 4 is not yet covered by the screw head cap 13. Only when the process of screwing the component structure 3 in has been completed, can the screw head cap 13 be attached to the component structure 3 or the screw head 4. This reduces the risk of any undesired damage to the data transmission line 9 during the screwing-in process.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a sectioned side view of the sensor component 1 according to FIG. 1 in a first bearing 14 according to the invention, and for forming a connection 15 according to the invention. In this case the connection 15 is a screw connection.

[0034] The bearing 14 comprises an internal sleeve 16 and an external sleeve 17. The internal sleeve 16 and the external sleeve 17 are in the form of hollow cylinders, and in this example embodiment they are made of metal. An elastomer layer 18 is arranged between the internal sleeve 16 and the external sleeve 17. The elastomer layer 18 is made of an elastomer material. In this example embodiment the elastomer layer 18 is made from a rubber material. The first bearing 14 is correspondingly in the form of a rubber bearing. In this, the elastomer layer 18 connects an inner side of the external sleeve 17 with an outer side of the internal sleeve 16.

[0035] The internal sleeve 16 has a through-going opening 19, which in this example embodiment is of hollow-cylindrical form. The component structure 3 of the sensor component 1 in the form of a screw extends through the through-going opening 19 of the internal sleeve 16.

[0036] The bearing 14 is arranged in or pressed into a bearing holder 20 of a first chassis component 21. By means of the component structure 3 of the sensor component 1 in the form of a screw, the first chassis component 21 and the bearing 14 are connected to a further chassis component 22. For that purpose, the external thread 8 of the screw-in bolt 5 is screwed into a correspondingly designed internal thread 23 of the said further chassis component 22.

[0037] In this case, the component structure 3 is screwed into the internal thread 23 until the stop 11 or stop surface 12 encounters an end side of the internal sleeve 16. In this example embodiment an outer side or outer circumference of the screw-in bolt 5 of the component structure 3 is arranged inside the through-going opening 19 out of contact with the inside of the through-going opening 19. The magnetic field sensor 2 is also arranged inside the through-going opening 19.

[0038] The bearing 14 comprises a magnet 24. In this example embodiment the magnet 24 is arranged in the external sleeve 17. Alternatively, the magnet 24 can be arranged on the first chassis component 21 or at least partially within the elastomer layer 16. The magnet 24 co-operates with the magnetic field sensor 2.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a sectioned side view of the sensor component 1 of FIG. 1 in a further bearing 25 according to the invention and for forming the connection 15 according to the invention. The structure and functional mode of the further bearing 15 correspond in large measure to those of the first bearing 14 according to FIG. 2. Accordingly, to avoid repetition reference should also be made to the previous description.

[0040] However, instead of the single magnet 24, the bearing according to FIG. 3 comprises a plurality of magnets 26. For greater simplicity, not all the magnets 26 are indexed. The plurality of magnets 26 are arranged inside the elastomer layer 18. In this case the plurality of magnets 26 are completely embedded in the elastomer layer 18.

INDEXES

[0041] 1 Sensor component [0042] 2 Magnetic field sensor [0043] 3 Component structure [0044] 4 Screw head [0045] 5 Screw-in bolt [0046] 6 First cylindrical section [0047] 7 Second cylindrical section [0048] 8 External thread [0049] 9 Data transmission line [0050] 10 Central longitudinal axis [0051] 11 Stop [0052] 12 Stop surface [0053] 13 Screw head cap [0054] 14 First bearing [0055] 15 Connection [0056] 16 Internal sleeve [0057] 17 External sleeve [0058] 18 Elastomer layer [0059] 19 Through-going opening [0060] 20 Bearing holder [0061] 21 First chassis component [0062] 22 Further chassis component [0063] 23 Internal thread [0064] 24 Magnet [0065] 25 Further bearing [0066] 26 Magnet