Hub bearing and seal device

• US 10,119,570 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Zhang, Jianchang, He, Chenxi, Chai, Zhongdong
• Primary Examiner(s): Charles, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US15/543,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20180003235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 384477, 384479, 384484-486, 384504, 384544, 384589, 277351, 277402, 277407, 277383, 277413, 324173
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0073 characterised by sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/18 with two or more rows of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/184 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/525 related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7823 of sealing lips
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7883 mounted to the inner race and of generally L-shape, the two sealing rings defining a sealing with box-shaped cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/164 the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/32 with elastic sealings, e.g. O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3264 the elements being separable from each other

Abstract

A hub bearing and a seal device therefore are disclosed. In one example, the hub bearing seal device includes inner and outer rings, a ring-shaped seal, and a seal retaining ring. A metallic framework is provided inside the seal. The seal is fixed to the outer ring via the metallic framework and a seal lip edge is provided on the metallic framework of the seal. The seal lip edge is in contact with the seal retaining ring in interference fit. The seal is further provided with another layer of metallic framework having a different thermal expansion coefficient from that of the metallic framework. Together, the metallic frameworks form a bimetallic sheet type framework. During the operation of the seal device, the bimetallic sheet type framework can adjust the amount of interference between the seal lip edge and the seal retaining ring dynamically according to temperature change.

Claims

1. A seal device for a hub bearing, comprising:

a hub bearing inner ring, a hub bearing outer ring, a ring-shaped seal, and a seal retaining ring, the seal retaining ring being fixed to the inner ring, the outer circumference of the seal being fixed to the outer ring;

the seal being provided therein with a metallic framework, with which the outer circumference of the seal is fixed to the outer ring, the seal being provided with a seal lip edge on the metallic framework, and the seal lip edge being brought into contact with the seal retaining ring in interference fit;

the seal is further provided therein with another layer of metallic framework, which is arranged radially inside the metallic framework, has a different thermal expansion coefficient from that of the metallic framework, and forms a bimetallic sheet type framework with the metallic framework; and

the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to dynamically adjust the amount of interference between the seal lip edge and the seal retaining ring as the temperature changes when the seal device is in operation.

2. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to increase the amount of interference between the seal lip edge and the seal retaining ring as the temperature increases.

3. The seal device according to claim 2, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to be brought into an inward contraction state when the hub bearing starts up, and into a normal state when the hub bearing is in a working state.

4. The seal device according to claim 2, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to be brought into a normal state when the hub bearing starts up, and into an expansion state when the hub bearing is in a working state.

5. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the seal lip edge of the bearing is injection molded onto the bimetallic sheet type framework.

6. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is provided thereon with a circumferential slot.

7. The seal device according claim 1, wherein the seal retaining ring is bent into an L shape, one leg which extends towards the interior of the hub bearing and is fixed to the inner ring, and the seal lip edge includes a first radial seal lip edge and a second axial seal lip edge that are brought into contact with the two legs of the seal retaining ring in interference fit, respectively.

8. The seal device according to claim 7, wherein the second axial seal lip edge expands towards the exterior of the hub bearing in an axial direction on a side surface of the seal that faces the seal retaining ring.

9. The seal device according to claim 7, wherein the first radial seal lip edge expands towards the inner ring in a radial direction on a side surface of the seal that faces the seal retaining ring.

10. A hub gearing, comprising a seal device according to claim 1.

11. A seal device for a hub bearing, comprising:

a hub bearing inner ring and a hub bearing outer ring;

a ring-shaped seal and a seal retaining ring;

the seal retaining ring being fixed to the inner ring and an outer circumference of the seal being fixed to the outer ring;

a first metallic framework, with which the outer circumference of the seal is fixed to the outer ring, the seal being provided with a seal lip edge on the metallic framework, and the seal lip edge being brought into contact with the seal retaining ring in interference fit;

a second metallic framework, which is arranged radially inside the first metallic framework, and has a different thermal expansion coefficient from that of the first metallic framework, the first and second metallic frameworks forming a bimetallic sheet type framework; and

the bimetallic sheet type framework being configured to dynamically adjust an amount of interference between the seal lip edge and the seal retaining ring as the temperature changes when the seal device is in operation.

12. The seal device according to claim 11, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to increase the amount of interference between the seal lip edge and the seal retaining ring as the temperature increases.

13. The seal device according to claim 11, wherein the seal lip edge of the bearing is injection molded onto the bimetallic sheet type framework.

14. The seal device according to claim 12, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to be brought into an inward contraction state when the hub bearing starts up, and into a normal state when the hub bearing is in a working state.

15. The seal device according to claim 12, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is configured to be brought into a normal state when the hub bearing starts up, and into an expansion state when the hub bearing is in a working state.

16. The seal device according to claim 11, wherein the bimetallic sheet type framework is provided thereon with a circumferential slot.

17. The seal device according claim 11, wherein the seal retaining ring is L-shaped, including one leg which extends towards the interior of the hub bearing and is fixed to the inner ring;

and

the seal lip edge includes a first radial seal lip edge and a second axial seal lip edge that are brought into contact with the two legs of the seal retaining ring in interference fit, respectively.

18. The seal device according to claim 17, wherein the second axial seal lip edge expands towards the exterior of the hub bearing in an axial direction on a side surface of the seal that faces the seal retaining ring.

19. The seal device according to claim 17, wherein the first radial seal lip edge expands towards the inner ring in a radial direction on a side surface of the seal that faces the seal retaining ring.

20. A method of controlling an interference fit between a seal lip edge and a seal retaining ring in a hub bearing, comprising:

injection molding a seal lip edge of a sealing ring onto a bimetallic sheet type framework, the bimetallic sheet type framework including;

a first metallic framework, with which an outer circumference of the sealing ring is fixed to a hub bearing outer ring, the seal being provided with a seal lip edge on the metallic framework, and the seal lip edge being brought into contact with a seal retaining ring fixed to a hub bearing inner ring in interference fit;

a second metallic framework, which is arranged radially inside the first metallic framework, and has a different thermal expansion coefficient from that of the first metallic framework; and

dynamically adjusting an amount of interference between the seal lip edge and the seal retaining ring in response to a temperature change of the hub bearing.