Vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system and method for producing same
First Claim
1. A method for producing a vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a wheel hub including an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body, the wheel hub defining a bearing seat and a wheel hub shoulder;
(b) providing a bearing unit onto the bearing seat of the wheel hub adjacent the wheel hub shoulder, the bearing unit including at least an inner race and a pair of bearings;
(c) providing a bearing unit retention and preload device on the opened inboard end of the wheel hub adjacent the inner race of the bearing unit, the bearing unit retention and preload device being formed of a material which is harder than the material of the inner race; and
(d) re-shaping the material of the inboard end of the wheel hub against the bearing unit retention and preload device to thereby secure the bearing unit retention and preload device on the wheel hub and prevent axial movement of the bearing unit relative to the wheel hub.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to an improved vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system and method for producing the same, the vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system including a wheel hub, a bearing unit, and a bearing retention and preload device. The wheel hub includes an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body. The bearing unit is provided onto a bearing seat of the wheel hub. The material of the inboard end of the wheel hub is re-shaped against the bearing retention and preload device to thereby secure the device on the wheel hub and prevent axial and radial movement of said device relative to the wheel hub. The method for producing a vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system comprising the steps of: (a) providing a wheel hub defining a longitudinal axis and including an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body, the wheel hub defining a bearing seat and a wheel hub shoulder; (b) providing a bearing unit onto the bearing seat of the wheel hub adjacent the wheel hub shoulder; (c) providing a bearing unit retention and preload device on the opened inboard end of the wheel hub adjacent the bearing unit; and (d) reshaping the material of the inboard end of the wheel hub against the bearing unit retention and preload device to thereby secure the bearing unit retention and preload device on the wheel hub and prevent axial movement of the bearing unit relative to the wheel hub.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for producing a vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a wheel hub including an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body, the wheel hub defining a bearing seat and a wheel hub shoulder; (b) providing a bearing unit onto the bearing seat of the wheel hub adjacent the wheel hub shoulder, the bearing unit including at least an inner race and a pair of bearings; (c) providing a bearing unit retention and preload device on the opened inboard end of the wheel hub adjacent the inner race of the bearing unit, the bearing unit retention and preload device being formed of a material which is harder than the material of the inner race; and (d) re-shaping the material of the inboard end of the wheel hub against the bearing unit retention and preload device to thereby secure the bearing unit retention and preload device on the wheel hub and prevent axial movement of the bearing unit relative to the wheel hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system comprising:
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a wheel hub including an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body, said wheel hub including a non-threaded first section directly adjacent said inboard end, an externally threaded second section adjacent said first section, and a bearing seat disposed between said threaded second section and said outboard end thereof, a bearing unit disposed onto said bearing seat of said wheel hub, said bearing unit including at leas t an inner race and a pair of bearings; a retention nut installed on said second section of said wheel hub, said retention ring provided with internal threads which mate with said external threads of said second section of said outer wheel hub portion, said retention nut being formed of a material which is harder than the material of the inner race; and said inboard end of said wheel hub extending against said retention nut thereby securing said retention nut on said wheel hub and preventing axial and radial movement of said retention nut relative to said wheel hub. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle wheel hub and bearing retention system comprising:
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a wheel hub including an inboard end, an outboard end, and a main body, said wheel hub including a bearing seat disposed between said second section and said outboard end thereof; a bearing unit disposed onto said bearing seat of said wheel hub, said bearing unit including at least an inner race and a pair of bearings; a retention ring installed on said inboard end of said wheel hub, said retention ring being formed of a material which is harder than the material of the inner race; and said inboard end of said wheel hub extending against said retention ring thereby securing said retention ring on said wheel hub and preventing axial and radial movement of said retention ring relative to said wheel hub. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification