Bearing device for drive wheel

• US 20020025093A1
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Ozawa, Masahiro, Sone, Keisuke, Torii, Akira, Sahashi, Koji, Hozumi, Kazuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,692,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/544
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/00 Hubs non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0005 with ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0026 of the radial type, e.g. splined key
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0042 characterised by the fixation of the homokinetic joint to the hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0084 caulking to fix inner race
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0094 one or more of the bearing races are formed by the hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/187 with all four raceways integrated on parts other than race rings, e.g. fourth generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/072 involving plastic deformation plastic welding F16D1/068
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/22326 Attachments to the outer joint member, i.e. attachments to the exterior of the outer joint member or to the shaft of the outer joint member
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/223 the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts

Abstract

A bearing device for a drive wheel is provided with improved strength of coupling a hub wheel and an outer joint member without significantly raising the manufacturing cost. The bearing device for a drive wheel includes the hub wheel, a constant velocity universal joint and bearings arranged in inner races, the hub wheel, the universal joint and the bearings being unitized, at least the inner race being formed in the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. In the bearing device, the hub wheel and the outer joint member are meshed with each other by way of serrations and coupled to each other by caulking. Undulations of serrations at near a caulked section being filled with plastic deformed part caused by the caulking.

Claims

1. A bearing device for a drive wheel comprising a hub wheel, a constant velocity universal joint and bearings arranged in rows, said hub wheel, said universal joint and said bearings being unitized, said plurality of inner races of the bearings being formed partly in an outer joint member of said constant velocity universal joint at a side thereof;

said hub wheel and said outer joint member being meshed with each other by way of torque transmission means and coupled to each other by caulking, plastic deformation caused by said caulking supporting said torque transmission means at near a caulked section.

3. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising said caulked section at one end of the torque transmission means in an axial direction and an engaging section engaged at the other end with the hub wheel and the outer joint member without play.

4. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said torque transmission means comprises serrations.

5. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said outer joint member is engaged at the corresponding axial end thereof with the hub wheel by caulking.

6. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said hub wheel is engaged at the corresponding end thereof with the outer joint member by caulking.

7. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said caulked section is made to show the hardness of a material prior to heat treatment.

8. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said torque transmission means is formed by arranging undulations on engaging surfaces of said hub wheel and said outer joint member and caulking said engaging surfaces by at least partly enlarging or reducing diameters of said engaging surfaces including said undulations.

9. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 8, wherein

said undulations are formed on either or both of the engaging surfaces of said hub wheel and said outer joint member.

10. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 8 or 9, wherein

said undulations are hardened by heat treatment.

11. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 4, wherein

said outer joint member is provided at the corresponding axial end thereof with a caulked section having a diameter smaller than that of its serration groove.

12. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 11, wherein

said serration of said outer joint member is made to show a cut-out profile at the corresponding axial end thereof.

13. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 12, wherein

said serration of said outer joint member is made to have the axial end of the bottom of the groove thereof located at the inboard side relative to the corresponding end face of the hub wheel.

14. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 4 or 11, wherein

the serration-engagement of said outer joint member and that of said hub wheel is realized by interference at least at the side opposite to the axial end side.

15. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 14, wherein

said serration-engagement is realized by clearance fit at the axial end side.

16. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 14, wherein

either the serration of said outer joint member or that of said hub wheel is inclined relative to the axial direction.

17. The bearing device for a drive wheel according to claim 14, wherein

either the serration of said outer joint member or that of said hub wheel is inclined relative to the axial direction at the side opposite to the axial end and formed in parallel with the axial direction at the axial end side.

2. A bearing device for a drive wheel comprising a hub wheel, a constant velocity universal joint and bearings arranged in rows, said hub wheel, said universal joint and said bearings being unitized, said plurality of inner races of the bearings being formed partly in an outer joint member of said constant velocity universal joint at a side thereof;

said hub wheel and said outer joint member being meshed with each other by way of torque transmission means and coupled to each other by caulking, undulations of said torque transmission means at near a caulked section being filled with plastic deformed part caused by said caulking.