Patent ID: RE39838

Claim:
In combination with an automotive road wheel and an automotive suspension system component, a bearing assembly for coupling the road wheel to the suspension system component so that the road wheel can rotate relative to the suspension system component about an axis of rotation while providing monitoring capabilities for bearing loading, said bearing assembly comprising: a hub including a flange and a spindle projecting from the flange, with its axis being the axis of rotation, the spindle having first and second inner raceways on it, with the raceways being presented outwardly away from the axis; a housing surrounding the spindle of the inner race and having first and second outer raceways presented inwardly toward and surrounding the first and second raceways, respectively; rolling elements arranged in first and second rows between the first and second raceways, respectively, and contacting the raceways to transfer both radial and axial loads between the housing and spindle; and at least four first strain sensors located on the housing to measure circumferential strains and circumferential strains less axial strains, the at least four sensors being located on the housing such as to provide a series of signals, the signals being capable of providing information allowing the calculating of loads for at least four degrees of freedom.