Wheel Hub/Universal Joint Assembly With Securing Ring For Axially Supporting The Clamping Means

• US 20080018170A1
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Cermak, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/105.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/00 Hubs non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00
• 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 35/0635 the bore of the inner ring being of special non-cylindrical shape which co-operates with a complementary shape on the shaft, e.g. teeth, polygonal sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/116 the interengaging parts including a continuous or interrupted circumferential groove in the surface of one of the coupling parts circlips for retaining hubs on shafts F16B21/18
• 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 3/2237 where the grooves are composed of radii and adjoining straight lines, i.e. undercut free [UF] type joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7033 including a lock or retainer

Abstract

A wheel hub/universal joint assembly (11) comprising a rotatably supported wheel hub (21) which is provided with a wheel flange (22) for bolting on a vehicle wheel and which comprises a central through-aperture (29) with inner shaft teeth (30), and a universal joint (41) with an outer joint part (42) to which there is attached a driving journal (43) with outer shaft teeth (53), wherein the driving journal (43) is inserted into the through-aperture (29) and wherein the wheel hub (21) and the outer joint part (42) are connected to one another in a rotationally fast way by inter-engaging inner and outer shaft teeth (30, 53), and wherein, between the wheel hub (21) end facing the joint and an end face (50) of the outer joint part (42), which end face (50) faces the wheel, there is provided an axial free space (81), wherein between the wheel hub (21) and the driving journal (43), there includes a clamping element which load the wheel hub (21) towards the outer joint part (42) and wherein, for supporting the wheel hub (21) on the driving journal (43), a securing ring (86) is inserted into an outer annular groove (85) against which there rests an end face of an inner widening (32) in the wheel hub (21).

Claims

1. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly comprising:

a rotatably supported wheel hub including a wheel flange adapted for bolting on a vehicle wheel, said rotatably supported wheel hub comprises a central through-aperture including inner shaft teeth;

a universal joint comprising an outer joint part and a driving journal including outer shaft teeth, said driving journal is positioned within said through-aperture, said wheel hub and said outer joint part connected to one another in a rotationally fast way by inter-engaging inner and outer shaft teeth;

an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face of said outer joint part and a wheel hub end face of said wheel hub;

a clamping element in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said clamping element loading said wheel hub towards said outer joint part; and

a securing ring positioned with an outer annular groove, an inner widened region of said wheel hub resting against said securing ring.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said securing ring comprises a round cross section ring rotatably held in said outer annular groove.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wheel hub end face is formed by a beading which axially rests against a slid-on inner bearing race of a rolling contact bearing held on said wheel hub.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamping element comprises a bolt axially threaded into said driving journal and includes a bolt head supported by said wheel hub.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said bolt head is supported on a disc which rests on said wheel hub.

6. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said bolt head is supported on a recess in the through-aperture.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamping element comprises a clamp securing ring inserted into a clamp outer annular groove formed in said driving journal, said clamp securing ring resting against said wheel hub, and along said wheel hub towards said outer joint part.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said clamp outer annular groove is inwardly wedge-shaped and said clamp securing ring comprises at least one inner portion with a wedge-shaped cross-section.

9. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said clamp securing ring is radially secured by an annular cap slid-on after said clamp securing ring has been inserted into said clamp outer annular groove.

10. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly comprising:

a wheel hub comprising a central through-aperture including inner shaft teeth;

a universal joint including a driving journal having outer shaft teeth, said driving journal positioned within said central through-aperture, said inner shaft teeth engaging said outer shaft teeth;

an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face and a wheel hub end face;

a clamping element in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said clamping element biasing said wheel hub towards said driving journal; and

a securing ring positioned within an annular groove, said securing ring in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said securing ring opposing said clamping element bias.

11. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly as described in claim 10, further comprising:

an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face and a wheel hub end face.

12. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said securing ring comprises a round cross section ring rotatably held in said outer annular groove.

13. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said wheel hub end face is formed by a beading which axially rests against a slid-on inner bearing race of a rolling contact bearing held on said wheel hub.

14. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said clamping element comprises a bolt axially threaded into said driving journal and includes a bolt head supported by said wheel hub.

15. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said bolt head is supported on a disc which rests on said wheel hub.

16. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said clamping element comprises a clamp securing ring inserted into a clamp outer annular groove formed in said driving journal, said clamp securing ring resting against said wheel hub, and along said wheel hub towards said driving journal.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said clamp outer annular groove is inwardly wedge-shaped and said clamp securing ring comprises at least one inner portion with a wedge-shaped cross-section.

18. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said clamp securing ring is radially secured by an annular cap slid-on after said clamp securing ring has been inserted into said clamp outer annular groove.

19. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly comprising:

a wheel hub including a wheel flange adapted for bolting on a vehicle wheel, said wheel hub including a central through-aperture;

a universal joint comprising an outer joint part and a driving journal, said driving journal positioned within said central through-aperture and rotationally fast engaging said wheel hub;

a clamping element in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said clamping element loading said wheel hub towards said outer joint part; and

a securing ring positioned within an outer annular groove, said driving journal and said wheel hub resting against said securing ring.

20. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly as described in claim 19, further comprising:

an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face and a wheel hub end face.