Method for Producing Vehicle Wheel Hubs and Wheel Hubs Made Using This Method

• US 20110044571A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minganti International Limited
• Original Assignee: Minganti International Limited
• Inventors: Caldana, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US12/922,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20110044571A1
• 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: F16C 19/185 with two raceways provided integrally on a part other than a race ring, e.g. a shaft or housing
• 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 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings

Abstract

In order to simplify mounting of the inner ring (5) of one of the bearings (102) of a wheel hub on the associated spindle (1) and in order to perform keying together of this ring and the spindle by means of multiple-lobe—for example three-lobe-machining which can be performed using the same machine for turning the spindle and the ring, this same three-lobe machining operation is such as to involve all or only partly the shoulder (6) of the spindle and involve, in recessed form, the corresponding inner end of the ring (5) intended to rest against this shoulder, so that the said ring (5) may be mounted on the spindle (1) as though these two parts were two normal parts with a round cross-section and therefore without any need for prior relative angular alignment thereof. After these two parts have been engaged together axially, a relative rotation of said parts is performed so as to engage correctly the three-lobe profile (100) of the ring (5) with the corresponding three-lobe profile (10) of the shoulder (6) of the spindle and vice versa and, after this step, the edge (201′) for axially locking the said inner ring (5) of the bearing is formed by means of rolling.

Claims

1. Method for producing vehicle wheel hubs provided with at least two crown parts of rolling means (2, 102), at least one of which (102) travels along an annular track (104) which is formed in a ring (5) which is mounted with a high degree of precision on an end portion (201) of the spindle (1) on which the same ring is axially locked by means of abutment, on one side, against a shoulder (6) and, on the other side, against a rolled end edge (201′

) of the same spindle, characterized by the succession of following operating steps;

forming with the machine tools for turning the spindle (1), in the angle zone and/or only on the front surface of the said shoulder (6), a multiple-lobe profile, for example with a three-lobe form (10), which has parts raised relative to the outer side surface of the spindle portion (201) provided with the same shoulder (6) and on which the said ring (5) must be mounted;

forming with the machine tools for turning the said ring (5), on the edge and/or on the end of this ring which is intended to co-operate with the said shoulder (6), a machined zone for example with a three-lobe form (100) which complements and is able to mate with the machined zone (10) formed on the said shoulder (6) and which has parts which are recessed relative to the inner side surface of the ring (5) and which may act as guide means during the following step, i.e.;

axially mounting the ring (5) on the spindle portion (201) which it must support, operating in such a way that the said ring abuts against the said shoulder (6);

performing a brief relative rotation of the spindle (1) and the ring (5) so as to perform engagement between the said three-lobe profiles (10, 100) whereupon the ring engages with the spindle occupying the space of appropriate length and ceases to be axially displaced on the said spindle;

rolling the spindle portion (201) projecting from the said ring (5), for formation of a rolled edge (201′

) which axially locks the said ring (5) on the support spindle (1).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, prior to the said last rolling step, a step where the ring (5) is locked in the correct axial and angular mounting position on the spindle portion (201), resulting in mutual co-operation of the said three-lobe profiles (10, 100), for example with the application of adhesive in any part of the contact surfaces of the ring (5) and the spindle (1).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the production of wheel hubs for vehicles, provided with at least two crown parts of rolling means (2, 102) which travel along tracks (4, 104) formed on respective rings (5, 105) mounted with a high degree of precision on an end portion (201) of the spindle on which the said rings are mounted in succession and are locked axially by means of abutment of the inner ring (5) against a shoulder (6) of the said spindle and by means of abutment of the outer ring (105) on one side against the said inner ring (5) and on the other side against a rolled end edge (201′

) of the said spindle, the inner ring (5) and the shoulder (6) are designed so as to be keyed together with a said multiple-lobe—

for example three-lobe (10, 100)—

engaged arrangement, while further multiple-lobe machined zones, for example of the three-lobe type (10′

), are provided on the rear edge of the said inner ring (5) and other multiple-lobe machined zones, for example of the three-lobe type (100′

), are provided on the inner edge of the outer ring (105), in order to provide mutual keying between the two rings, so that the inner ring (5) is keyed directly onto the spindle (1) and the outer ring (105) is keyed onto the inner ring (5) and therefore, via the latter, also onto the spindle (1).

4. Vehicle wheel hub provided with at least two crown parts of rolling means (2, 102), at least one of which travels along an annular track (104) formed in a ring (5) which is mounted with a high degree of precision on an end portion (201) of the spindle (1) on which the same ring is axially locked by means of abutment against an inner shoulder (6) of the said spindle and by means of abutment against a rolled end edge (201′

) of the said spindle, characterized in that the said shoulder (6) is machined on machine tools, so as to assume a multiple-lobe form, for example a three-lobe form (10), which has parts raised relative to the outer side surface of the spindle portion (201) on which the said ring (5) must be mounted and which mates perfectly with a corresponding three-lobe form (100) formed on the edge and/or on the end of the said ring (5) which is intended to rest against the said shoulder (6) so as to simplify the formation of the said three-lobe keying profiles and simplify mounting of the ring on the spindle, this three-lobe profiled form (100) being characterized in that it has parts which are recessed relative to the inner side surface of the said ring (5), so as to form a guide means which facilitates axial engagement of the said parts (5, 201).

5. Wheel hub according to claim 4, characterized in that if both the crown parts of rolling means (2, 102) travel along the respective tracks (4, 104) of respective rings (5, 105) mounted with a high degree of precision and in succession on an end portion (201) of the spindle on which the said rings are axially locked by means of abutment of the inner ring (5) against a shoulder (6) of the same spindle and by means of abutment of the outer ring (105) on one side against the said inner ring (5) and on the other side against a rolled end edge (201′

) of the same spindle, the inner ring (5) and the shoulder (6) are designed to be keyed together with a said three-lobe engaged arrangement (10, 100), while further three-lobe machined zones (10′

) are provided on the rear edge of the said inner ring (5) and other three-lobe machined zones (100′

) are provided on the inner edge of the outer ring (105), in order to provide mutual keying between the two rings, so that the inner ring (5) is keyed directly onto the spindle (1) and the outer ring (105) is keyed onto the inner ring (5) and therefore, via the latter, also onto the spindle (1).