WO2007035625A1

WO2007035625A1 - Collar for a sensor assembly and a method of containing a corrosion preventative applied to the sensor assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2007035625A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/036272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Russ A. Wells; Travis Maxwell
Original assignee: The Timken Company
Priority date: 2005-09-15
Filing date: 2006-09-14
Publication date: 2007-03-29
Also published as: WO2007035625A8

Abstract

A collar for containing a corrosion preventative. The collar (22) contains corrosion preventative (80) that is applied to a sensor flange (52) of a sensor assembly (18) when the sensor assembly (18) is assembled to a housing (10). The collar (22) comprises a body member (46) having an inner surface (36) and an outer surface (38). The inner surface (36) is positioned to surround a portion of the sensor flange (52). The collar (22) also comprises a plurality of ribs (70) positioned on the inner surface (36). The ribs (70) are positioned to engage with a perimeter of the sensor flange (52) when the body member (46) surrounds the portion of the sensor flange (52). The collar (22) also comprises a stop (72) positioned on one of the ribs (70) wherein the body member (46) is movable between a first position (74) and a second position (82) with respect to the sensor flange (52) such that the body member (46) contains the corrosion preventative (80) within the inner surface (36) and on the sensor flange (52).

Description

COLLAR FOR A SENSOR ASSEMBLYAND A METHOD OF CONTAINING A CORROSION PREVENTATIVE APPLIED TO THE

SENSORASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent No. 60/717,448 filed on September 15, 2005 and is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates in general to a sensor assembly and more particularly to a collar that surrounds portions of a sensor instrument of the sensor assembly to contain a corrosion preventative, which is applied to the sensor assembly. BACKGROUND ART

During installation of a sensor assembly in a housing, a corrosion preventative, such as grease, is applied to components of the sensor assembly. As an example, the housing may include a bearing assembly that supports a rotating component that is positioned within the housing. A sensor instrument of the sensor assembly inserts through a bore of the bearing assembly wherein the sensor instrument monitors variables of the rotating component. The sensor instrument is sensitive to corrosion effects, though. As such, the corrosion preventative is applied to components of the sensor assembly to protect the sensor instrument from the corrosion effects.

Applications today use various methods to apply the corrosion preventative. These applications topically apply the corrosion preventative to the sensor assembly. Once applied, the corrosion preventative is exposed to the environment. The process of applying the corrosion preventative to the sensor assembly becomes problematic with the exposed preventative contacting and transferring to the operator's hands. During handling of the housing, the operator's hands contact the corrosion preventative and then contaminate other surfaces by smearing the corrosion preventative on these surfaces. As such, unwanted contaminants migrate onto devices and critical components of their surfaces. For example, the migration of the corrosion preventative during handling of a comer assembly of a brake hub contaminates brake components. Furthermore, during handling of the sensor assembly and housing, the exposed corrosion preventative also migrates onto critical components of the sensor instrument where the migration minimizes or voids the usefulness of the sensor instrument.

Automobiles and light trucks of current manufacture contain many components that are acquired in packaged form from outside suppliers. The packaged components reduce the time required to assemble the vehicles and further improve the quality of the vehicles by eliminating critical adjustments from the assembly line. The sensor assemblies of these components experience many handling and shipping steps wherein the applied corrosion preventative is exposed during these handling and shipping steps.

As such, sensor assemblies require handling that protects any exposed corrosion preventative from contacting components and/or contacting the operator's hands and/or contacting the operator's tools.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automotive brake assembly, a hub assembly, a bearing assembly and a sensor assembly constructed in accordance with and embodying the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a collar surrounding a sensor flange of the sensor assembly of Fig. 1 , which is attached to a housing of the hub assembly; Fig. 3 is a elevational cross sectional of the collar and sensor flange;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the collar of the Fig. 2 constructed in accordance with and embodying the present disclosure;

Fig. 5 is perspective view of the collar surrounding the sensor flange of the sensor assembly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the collar and sensor assembly of Fig. 5 wherein a corrosion preventative has been applied to the sensor flange;

Figs. 7 is a perspective view of the collar and the sensor assembly of Fig. 6 assembled to the housing;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a removable collar constructed in accordance with and embodying the present disclosure; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the removable collar of Fig. 8 surrounding a sensor flange of the sensor assembly, which is assembled to a housing;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another removable collar constructed in accordance with and embodying the present disclosure; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the removable collar of Fig. 10 surrounding a sensor flange of a sensor assembly, which is assembled to a housing;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another removable collar constructed in accordance with one embodying the present disclosure; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the removable collar of Fig. 12 surrounding a sensor flange, which is assembled to a housing;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another removable collar constructed in accordance with and embodying the present disclosure; and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the removable collar of Fig. 14 surrounding a sensor flange, which is assembled to the housing; Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following detailed description illustrates the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the disclosure, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the disclosure. The disclosure relates to a collar that contacts a sensor assembly to contain a corrosion preventative, which is applied to the sensor assembly. The collar of the present disclosure relates to a variety of sensor assembly technologies. For example, a sensor instrument of the sensor assembly monitors a variety of variables relating to an object to produce an output signal for the monitored variables. These variables may include but are not limited to speed, load, temperature or vibration. In all applications, the collar interacts with the sensor assembly to contain a corrosion preventative applied to the sensor assembly.

For illustrative purposes, the following description illustrates the sensor assembly monitoring a speed variable. One application of this disclosure relates to automotive wheel bearings, that is to say a wheel end, where the sensor instrument of the sensor assembly mounts and projects into a bearing assembly associated with a disc brake of the vehicle, wherein the sensor detects the speed of the road wheel of the vehicle.

The bearing assembly may couple the road wheel to the suspension system of the automotive vehicle, particularly to a component of the suspension system, such as a steering knuckle, and enables the wheel to rotate about an axis of rotation, which is, of course, the axis of the bearing assembly. Aside from coupling the wheel to a component of the suspension system, the bearing assembly further generates an electrical signal via the sensor assembly, which is responsive to the rotation of the wheel and, indeed, represents the angular velocity at which the wheel revolves about the axis. This enables a controller in an antilock brake system or traction control system to monitor the angular velocity of the road wheel. The typical bearing assembly has a housing that is bolted against the steering knuckle or other suspension upright. The bearing assembly also has a hub provided with a flange to which the road wheel is attached and also a spindle that projects from the flange into the housing. The housing encloses an antifriction bearing of the bearing assembly, the bearing assembly being located between the housing and the spindle to enable the hub to rotate in the housing with minimal friction.

Referring to the drawings, a disc brake assembly A (Fig. 1) for a vehicle is shown. The disc brake assembly A includes a housing 10, a knuckle 12, a brake rotor 14, a hub assembly 16, a sensor assembly generally shown as 18 (Fig. 3), a bearing assembly 20 and a collar 22 (Fig. 3). The knuckle 12, brake rotor 14 and hub assembly 16 comprise known components of the disc brake assembly A.

The sensor assembly 18 is removably mountable within the housing 10, wherein the housing 10 defines an axis "X" of rotation therethrough (Fig. 2). The housing 10 includes the bearing assembly 20 that permits the shaft 23 to rotate about the axis "X" of rotation and confines the shaft 23 radially and axially within the housing 10. In other words, the bearing assembly 20 transfers radial loads between the shaft 23 and the housing 10 and also thrust loads in both axial directions. The bearing assembly 20 has an outer race 24 in the form of a cup having a pair of raceways 26 that may incline with respect to the axis "X" of rotation. The housing 10 also has an inner race 28 in the form of cones located within the outer race 24. The inner race 28 has another pair of raceways 30 that may incline with respect to the axis "X" of rotation. The bearing assembly 20 also has rolling elements 32 in the form of rollers arranged in rows between the outer and inner races 24, 28. The rolling elements 32 are located between and contact the inner race 28 and the outer race 24. The rolling elements 32 are confined within cages 34, which distribute the rolling elements 32 uniformly and thereby maintain the proper spacing between the rolling elements 32. The cages 34 also retain the rolling elements 32 around the inner race 28 when the inner race 28 is withdrawn from the housing 10/outer race 24. The rolling elements 32 transmit thrust and radial loads between the outer racer 24 and the inner race 28, while reducing friction to a minimum. The outer race 24 further has an inner surface 36 and an outer surface 38 that may be in form of a flange. Between the inner and outer surfaces 36, 38, a bore 40 is disposed therethrough. In one embodiment, the bore 40 angles perpendicularly within the housing 10. In another embodiment, the bore angles obliquely within the housing (not shown). The sensor assembly 18 positions a sensor instrument 42 within the bore 40 such that a gap exists between a sensed object 44 and the sensor instrument 42.

In this illustrative example, the sensed object 44 may comprise a target wheel. The target wheel has discontinuities that take the form of teeth that are presented toward the sensor assembly 18. The sensed object 44 along with its operative surface cooperates with the sensor instrument 42 to produce a pulsating signal when inner race 28 rotates within the outer race 24, with the frequency of the signal reflecting the angular velocity. The sensor assembly 18 (Fig. 3) comprises a body generally shown as 46, a fastener 48, a flexible electrical conduit 50 emanating from a suitable grommet, and the sensor instrument 42 (Figs. 2 and 4). The body 46 has a sensor flange 52 (Fig. 4) that includes apertures defined therethrough. The sensor flange 52 and the sensor instrument 42 form the body 46. In other words, the sensor flange 52 and sensor instrument 42 are integrated. In an embodiment, the body 46, its sensor flange 56 and instrument 52 may be formed from an injected molded part. In one embodiment, the sensor flange 52 comprises an elliptical shape. The fastener 48 fits within one of the apertures of the sensor flange 52 while the sensor instrument 42 fits within another aperture of the sensor flange 52 (Fig. 4). During assembly of the sensor assembly 18, the sensor instrument 42 is positioned within the aperture of the sensor flange 52 such that the electrical conduit 50 and sensor instrument 42 are positioned on opposite sides of the sensor flange 52.

A collar 22 (Fig. 5) comprises a body member generally shown as 58 having a first end 60, a second end 62 and a middle portion 64 disposed between the first end 60 and the second end 62. The middle portion 64 further has an outer surface 66 and an inner surface 68. The inner surface 68 is in the shape defining an aperture therethrough. In one embodiment, the body member 58 comprises an elliptical shape. The collar 22 further comprises a plurality of ribs 70 positioned within the middle portion 64. The ribs 70 extend from the first end 60 to the second end 62 and extend inwardly from the middle portion 64 and toward the center of the collar 22. The collar 22 also includes at least one stop 72 positioned on at least one of the ribs 70. The stops 72 also extend toward the center of the collar 22. As shown in Fig. 5, stops 72 are preferably positioned on corner ribs 70 of the body member 52.

During installation of the collar 22 to the sensor assembly 18, the operator mates the sensor flange 52 with the body member 58 of the collar 22 by pressing the collar 22 around the sensor assembly 18 (Fig. 4). The body member 58 surrounds a perimeter of the sensor flange 52 in a first position generally shown as 74, such that the body member 58 positions the sensor flange 52 above the at least one stop 72. Thus, the sensor flange 52 is positioned above the stop 72 when the body member 58 is in the first position 74. Since the ribs 70 of the collar 22 extend toward the center of the collar 22, the ribs 70 contact the sensor flange 52. As such, the ribs 70 maintain spaces 78, in the form of visual areas, between the sensor flange 52 and the middle portion 64 of the collar 22 (Fig. 3). Once secured in the first position 74, an applicator (not shown) applies a corrosion preventative 80 in the form of grease (Fig. 6) to the sensor flange 52. The applicator applies the corrosion preventative 80 to the side of sensor flange 52 that contacts the housing 10 when the operator installs the sensor assembly 18 to the housing 10. This side of the sensor flange 52 is near the sensor instrument 42. The applicator applies the corrosion preventative 80 to the perimeter of the sensor flange 52 and to the inner surface 68 of the collar 22. As such, the corrosion preventative 80 fills the spaces 78 (defined by the ribs 70) between the body member 58 and the sensor flange 52. Thus, the applied corrosion preventative 80 fills the visual areas when the sensor assembly is assembled to the housing 10. This applied corrosion preventative 80 may partially fill or fully fill the spaces 78. The collar 22, however, maintains the corrosion preventative 80 within the middle portion 64 and to the perimeter of the sensor flange 52. In the first position 74, the stop 72 maintains the sensor flange's position such that the second end 62 of the collar 22 extends beyond the corrosion preventative 80 (Fig. 6), minimizing accidental contact during handling of the combined sensor assembly 18 and collar 22. After applying the corrosion preventative 80, the operator handles the sensor assembly 18 via the outer surface 66 of the collar 22. During this handling, the collar 22 prevents the operator's hands from contacting the corrosion preventative 80 since the collar 22 maintains the corrosion preventative 80 within the collar 22. Accordingly, the collar 22 prevents contamination of other components since the corrosion preventative 80 cannot migrate on to the operator's hands and/or cannot migrate onto other surfaces.

After applying the corrosion preventative 80, the operator moves the body member 58 of the collar 22 with respect to the sensor flange 52 to a second position generally shown as 82 (Fig. 2). Thus, the sensor flange 52 is positioned below the stop 72 when the body member 58 is in the second position 82. When the body member 58 is positioned in the second position 82, the sensor flange 52 is positioned below the stop 72 wherein the bottom of the stop 72 is flush with the top of the sensor flange 52. In other words, the operator pushes the collar 22 downward with respect to the sensor flange 52. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 2, the bottom of the second end 62 of the collar 22 is evenly positioned with the bottom of the sensor flange 52. In this position, the ribs 70 still define spaces 78 between the middle portion 64 and the sensor flange 52.

The operator then moves the collar 22 (attached to the assembled sensor assembly 18) to contact the exterior surface of the housing 10 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7). The operator aligns the sensor instrument 42 with the bore 40 of the housing 10. The operator also aligns the fastener 48 of the sensor assembly 18 with an appropriate receptacle that is positioned on the exterior surface of the housing 10. Upon alignment, the operator inserts the sensor body 46 within the bore 40 to extend the sensor instrument 42 into the interior of the housing 10 and opposite the target wheel 44. In this position, the bottom of the collar 22 and the bottom of the sensor flange 52 are positioned substantially flush with the exterior surface of the housing 10. Accordingly, the collar 22 positions the corrosion preventative 80 between the sensor flange 52 and the exterior surface of the housing 80. In Fig. 2, the corrosion preventative 80 is exaggerated for purposes of clarity. Furthermore, in this position, the corrosion preventative 80 fills the spaces 78 between the middle portion 64 of the collar 22 and the sensor flange 52. The operator then inserts the fastener 48 through the receptacle of the housing 10 and fastens the fastener 48 to the housing 10. Since the ribs 70 provide spaces 78 between the body member of the collar 22 and the perimeter of the sensor flange 52, the assembled position of the sensor assembly 18 to the housing 10 allows visual verification of the presence of the corrosion preventative 80 between these spaces 78.

As such, during operation, the collar 22 surrounds the sensor flange 52 of the sensor assembly 18, when assembled to the housing 10. The collar 22 also contains the corrosion preventative 80, which is applied to the sensor flange 52. Accordingly, the collar 22 prevents the corrosion preventative 80 from migrating on to critical components such as brake components. The collar 22 also allows a visual verification of the presence of the corrosion preventative 80 since the spaces 78 defined by the ribs 70 allows the operator to see the corrosion preventative 80. In an embodiment, the collar 22, during operation of the housing 10, may remain permanently surrounding the sensor flange 52. In an alternative embodiment, a removable collar 84 includes a top member 86 positioned over the first end of the body member 58 (Fig. 8). The removable collar 84 also includes ribs 70 and stops 72 as previously described. The top member 86, in turn, has apertures 88 defined therethrough. One aperture is configured to surround an outer portion of the sensor assembly 18 (Fig. 9). Another aperture is configured to surround the fastener 48 of the sensor assembly 18. As shown in Fig. 8, the body member 58 and top member 86 comprise an access channel 90 in communication with the aperture. The access channel 90 provides a convenient path for assembling the collar 84 around the sensor assembly 18 since the electrical conduit 50 of the sensor assembly 18 easily slips within the access channel 90.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the body member 58 includes a ring 92 that extends outward from the collar 84 and surrounds the collar 84. The ring 92 allows the operator to easily remove the collar 84 and/or sensor assembly 18 from the housing 10. In other words, the ring 92 provides a portion for the operator to grasp the collar 22 using the operator's fingers and/or the operator's tools. When removing the collar 84, the access channel 90 allows the electronical conduit 50 to slip out of the collar 84 while the sensor assembly 18 remains connected to the housing 10.

The removable collar 84 may also include another embodiment of the ring 94 (Fig. 10). In this embodiment, the ring 94 comprises a U- shaped configuration. As shown, the ring 94 partially surrounds the collar 84. This ring 94 allows the operator to easily grasp and remove the collar 84 from the sensor assembly 18. Fig. 11 illustrates the removable collar 84 and sensor assembly 18 in an assembled position with the housing 10.

In alternative embodiments, the ring 94 may include a tab 96 (Figs. 12-15). As shown, the tab 96 may extend from a side of the ring 94 (Fig. 12). Fig. 13 illustrates this removable collar 84 and sensor assembly 18 in an assembled position within the housing 10. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the tab 96 may extend from one of the ends of the ring 94 (Fig. 14). Fig. 15 illustrates this removable collar 84 and sensor assembly 18 in an assembled position within the housing 10. The tabs 96 extend outward from the ring 94 to further assist the operator in removing the collar 84 from the sensor assembly 18. Further, as shown, the tab 96 may include a tread to further assist the operator in handling the tab 96. As shown in Fig. 14 , the ring 96 may comprise a rectangular configuration.

During handling of the removable collar 84, the operator inserts the aperture of the top member 86 around the sensor instrument 42 wherein the access channel 90 provides a convenient path for inserting the electrical conduit 50 or portions of the sensor assembly 18 through the access channel 90. The operator then engages the collar 84 to the sensor flange 52 by pressing the removeable collar 84 around the sensor assembly 18 (Fig. 9). The removeable collar 84 surrounds the perimeter of the sensor flange 52 in the first position 74 such that the removable collar 84 positions the sensor flange 52 above the stops 72. Since the ribs 70 of the collar 22 extend towards the center of the collar, the ribs 70 can contact the sensor flange 52. As such, the ribs 70 maintain spaces 78 between the sensor flange 52 and the middle portion 64 of the collar 84.

The operator then applies the corrosion preventative 80 as previously described. The collar 84 maintains the corrosion preventative 80 within the collar 22 and on the sensor flange 52. After applying the corrosion preventative 80, the operator handles the sensor assembly 18 via the ring 92 of the removable collar 84. During this handling, the removable collar 84 and ring 92 prevents the operator's hands from contacting the corrosion preventative. The operator then removes the collar 84 with respect to the sensor flange 52 to the second position by pushing the collar 22 down to surround the sensor flange 52. The operator then moves the removable collar 84 and the attached sensor assembly 18 to fasten the sensor assembly 18 to the housing 10. The ring 92, however, is not flush with the bottom of the sensor flange 52 in order to stand around the corrosion preventative 80 applied to the sensor flange 52. This positioning of the ring 92 allows the operator to grasp the ring 92 without contacting any of the corrosion preventatives 80. The removable collar 84 prevents contamination of the operator's hands while inserting the sensor assembly 18 into the housing 10. Once the sensor instrument 42 is inserted into the housing 10, the removable collar 84 provides visual verification that the corrosion preventative 80 has been properly applied to the sensor flange 52 via the space defined by the ribs 70 as previously described. Accordingly, when assembled, the removable collar 22 contains the corrosion preventative 80 within the removable collar 84 such that the corrosion preventative 80 does not migrate onto other components of the brake assembly (Fig. 9). Since the removable collar 84 is removable via the access channel 90 and the ring 92, the operator can remove the collar 22 at any time during handling of the housing 10. For example, the assembled housing 10 may be shipped to another location for further handling, wherein the removable collar 84 contains the corrosion preventative 80 during shipment. Once received at the other location, the operator can easily remove the collar 84 by grasping and pulling the ring 92.

The collar of the present disclosure maintains the applied corrosion preventative to the sensor flange to seal the sensor assembly against the corrosive effects. The disclosure also provides various means for attaching the sensor assembly to the particular housing and means for controlling the position of the sensor relative to any target wheel. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the sensor assembly of the present disclosure may be used for a variety of sensor technologies. For illustrative purposes, the sensor assembly was shown with a bearing arrangement wherein the sensor assembly may be used with all bearing types. The sensors and their respective target wheels have utility beyond hub assemblies and antilock braking systems or traction control systems. Indeed, the sensors may be used in any housing that contains a bore, which opens toward a rotating member that carries a target wheel.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A collar for containing a corrosion preventative that is applied to a sensor flange of a sensor assembly when the sensor assembly is assembled to a housing, comprising: a body member having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being in a shape defining an aperture there through, the inner surface further positioned to surround a portion of the sensor flange; a plurality of ribs positioned on the inner surface, the ribs being positioned to engage with a perimeter of the sensor flange when the body member surrounds the portion of the sensor flange and at least one stop positioned on at least one of the ribs wherein the body member is movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the sensor flange such that the body member contains the corrosion preventative within the inner surface and on the sensor flange.

2. The collar of claim 1 wherein the engagement of the ribs with the sensor flange forms visual areas between the inner surface of the body member and the perimeter of the sensor flange such that the applied corrosion preventative partially fills the visual areas when the sensor assembly is assembled to the housing.

3. The collar of claim 1 wherein the body member positions the sensor flange above the stop when the body member is in the first position.

4. The collar of claim 1 wherein the body member positions the sensor flange below the stop when the body member is positioned in the second position.

5. The collar of claim 1 wherein the body member further comprises a top member, the top member having another aperture defined there through wherein the other aperture is configured to surround a sensor instrument of the sensor assembly.

6. The collar of claim 5 wherein the top member further comprises an access channel in communication with the other aperture.

7. The collar of claim 1 wherein the body member further comprises a ring that outwardly extends from the outer surface.

8. The collar of claim 7 wherein the ring partially surrounds the outer surface.

9. The collar of claim 7 wherein the ring surrounds the outer surface.

10. The collar of claim 7 further comprising a tab that outwardly extends from the ring.

11. A sensor assembly that has a sensing instrument mountable in a housing, the housing having an inner surface, an outer surface, a bore disposed there through and having a sensed instrument positioned across a gap from the sensing element, the sensor assembly, comprising: a sensor flange, the sensor flange being in a shape defining a sensor aperture there through; and a collar having a body member which includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being in a shape defining an aperture there through, the inner surface further positioned to surround a portion of the sensor flange; the collar further having a plurality of ribs positioned on the inner surface, the ribs being positioned to engage with a perimeter of the sensor flange when the body member surrounds the

' portion of the sensor flange wherein the engagement of the ribs with the sensor flange forms visual areas between the inner surface of the body member and the perimeter of the sensor flange such that the body member contains corrosion preventative that is applied to the sensor assembly within the inner surface, on the sensor flange and in the visual areas.

12. The collar of claim 11 wherein the body member further comprises a top member, the top member having another aperture defined there through wherein the other aperture is configured to surround a sensor instrument of the sensor assembly.

13. The collar of claim 11 wherein the body member further comprises a ring that outwardly extends from the outer surface.

14. The collar of claim 13 wherein the ring partially surrounds the outer surface.

15. The collar of claim 13 wherein the ring surrounds the outer surface.

16. A bearing assembly having an axis of rotation, said bearing assembly, comprising: an outer race having a pair of raceways presented toward the axis of rotation and a bore defined there through the outer race and positioned opposite the axis of rotation; a pair of inner races located within the outer race and each having a raceway that is presented toward raceways of the outer race, so that the one raceway of the outer race encircles the raceway of one of the inner races and the other raceway of the outer race encircles the raceway of the other inner race; rolling elements arranged in rows between the raceways of the outer and inner races; a sensor assembly that has a sensing instrument mountable in the bearing assembly, the sensor assembly having a sensor flange and having a sensed instrument positioned across a gap from the sensing element; and a collar having a body member which includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being in a shape defining an aperture there through, the inner surface further positioned to surround a portion of the sensor flange; the collar further having a plurality of ribs positioned on the inner surface, the ribs being positioned to engage with a perimeter of the sensor flange when the body member surrounds the portion of the sensor flange wherein the engagement of the ribs with the sensor flange forms visual areas between the inner surface of the body member and the perimeter of the sensor flange such that the body member contains corrosion preventative that is applied to the sensor assembly within the inner surface, on the sensor flange and in the visual areas.

17. The collar of claim 16 wherein the body member further comprises a top member, the top member having another aperture defined there through wherein the other aperture is configured to surround a sensor instrument of the sensor assembly.

18. The collar of claim 16 wherein the body member further comprises a ring that outwardly extends from the outer surface.

19. A method of containing a corrosion preventative that is¹ applied to a sensor flange of a sensor assembly when the sensor assembly is assembled to a bearing assembly, comprising: surrounding a sensor flange with a collar; engaging the sensor flange with a plurality of ribs of the collar; moving the collar to a first position which positions the sensor flange above at least one stop positioned on the plurality of ribs; applying the corrosion preventative to the sensor flange; and attaching the sensor flange to a housing of the bearing assembly wherein the collar maintains a corrosion preventative that is applied to the sensor flange to prevent the corrosion preventative from contaminating components of the bearing assembly.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising moving the collar to a second position after applying the corrosion preventative, which positions the sensor flange below the at least one stop.