Patent ID: 7108427

Claim:
A wheel end for an automotive vehicle said wheel end comprising: a knuckle having a bearing cavity that opens out of at least one end of the knuckle and includes a bore; a hub having a spindle which projects into the bearing cavity; an antifriction bearing located in the cavity and around the spindle to enable the hub to rotate relative to the knuckle about an axis of rotation, the bearing including a outer race fitted tightly into the bearing cavity, yet offset from the bore, an inner race located around the spindle, and rolling elements located between the inner and outer races, the inner race having a rib at one of its ends, with the rib being located within the bore of the bearing cavity; a seal located in the bore of the bearing cavity and around the rib on the inner race, the seal including a first seal member fitted tightly in the bore of the bearing cavity, a second seal member mounted firmly on the thrust rib of the inner race, and a flexible seal element attached to one of the seal members and establishing a fluid barrier along the other seal member, the second seal member also having a tone ring, and a sensor carried by the knuckle and having a sensing face which is presented toward the tone ring on the second seal member, the sensor being capable of producing a signal which reflects the angular velocity of the tone ring and the hub.