Bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of vehicle

• US 20060023984A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Takubo, Takayasu, Aritake, Yasuhiro, Terada, Hiroki
• Application Number:
  US11/190,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/544
• 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 27/0084 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 19/186 with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/527 related to vibration and noise
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/586 outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/108 having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling
• 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 apparatus for a vehicle driving wheel which prevents generation of stick-slip noise as well as fretting wear to improve durability of the bearing apparatus has an outer member (10) formed with double row outer raceway surfaces (10a, 10a) on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member (1, 27) is formed with double row inner raceway surface (2a (24a), 3a) opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces (10a, 10a). Double row rolling elements (6) are freely rollably maintained between the outer and inner raceway surfaces (10a, 10a; 2a (24a), 3a), respectively, of the outer and inner member (10; 1, 27). A constant velocity universal joint (11, 26), for torque transmission, is inserted into the inner member (10; 1, 27). The constant velocity universal joint abuts and is axially separably connected to the inner member via a nut (19). The end surface (13a, 23a, 28a) of a shoulder (13, 28) of an outer joint member (15, 29) and an end surface of the inner member (1, 27) are previously formed so that these end surfaces line contact with each other at a vertex formed by inclined surfaces on the end of the inner member (1,27).

Claims

1. A bearing apparatus for a vehicle driving wheel comprising:

an outer member formed with double row outer raceway surfaces on its inner circumferential surface;

an inner member formed with double row inner raceway surface arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces;

double row rolling elements freely rollably maintained between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer and inner member;

a constant velocity universal joint inserted into the inner member abutting said inner member and being axially separably connected to said inner member via a nut; and

an end surface of a shoulder of an outer joint member and an end surface of the inner member are previously formed so that these end surfaces line contact with each other at a vertex formed by inclined surfaces on the end of the inner member.

2. A bearing apparatus for a vehicle driving wheel of claim 1, wherein said inner member comprises:

a wheel hub having a wheel mounting flange and one inner raceway surface formed on an outer circumferential surface of said wheel hub, said one inner raceway surface opposing one of said outer raceway surfaces and a cylindrical portion axially extending from the inner raceway surface formed on said wheel hub;

an inner ring press fit onto the axially extending cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, said inner ring including the other inner raceway surface on its outer circumferential surface, said other inner raceway surface opposing the other outer raceway surface; and

wherein the inner ring is axially immovable secured relative to the wheel hub by a caulked portion formed by radially outward plastically deforming the end of the axially extending cylindrical portion, and the inner end surface of the caulked portion abuts the end surface of the shoulder of the outer joint member.

3. A bearing apparatus for a vehicle driving wheel of claim 2, wherein the inner end surface of the caulked portion is formed as an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a vertical surface.

4. A bearing apparatus for a vehicle driving wheel of claim 2, wherein the inner end surface of the caulked portion is formed as a substantially flat surface, and the end surface of the shoulder is formed as an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a vertical surface.

5. A bearing apparatus for a vehicle driving wheel of claim 1, wherein an axially deformable length between the end surface of the shoulder and the end surface of the inner member is set within a range of about 0.010 mm to about 0.015 mm.