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, the inboard end of the wheel hub having a reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end directly adjacent thereto, the reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end defining an inboard end outer diameter, the main body of the wheel hub defining a main body outer diameter which is greater than the inboard end outer diameter, the bearing seat of the wheel hub defining a generally constant bearing seat outer diameter which is the generally the same as the main body outer diameter;
(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 inboard end of the wheel hub adjacent the bearing unit; and
(d) re-shaping the material of reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end 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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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) 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.
28 Citations
17 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, the inboard end of the wheel hub having a reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end directly adjacent thereto, the reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end defining an inboard end outer diameter, the main body of the wheel hub defining a main body outer diameter which is greater than the inboard end outer diameter, the bearing seat of the wheel hub defining a generally constant bearing seat outer diameter which is the generally the same as the main body outer diameter;
(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 inboard end of the wheel hub adjacent the bearing unit; and
(d) re-shaping the material of reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end 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 defining a bearing seat and a wheel hub shoulder, said inboard end of said wheel hub having a reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end, said reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end defining an inboard end outer diameter, said main body of said wheel hub defining a main body outer diameter which is greater than said inboard end outer diameter, said bearing seat of said wheel hub defining a generally constant bearing seat outer diameter which is the generally the same as said main body outer diameter;
a bearing unit disposed onto said bearing seat of said wheel hub;
a bearing unit retention and preload device installed on said inboard end of said wheel hub; and
said reduced diameter non-threaded outermost end of said wheel hub extending against said bearing unit retention and preload device thereby securing said bearing unit retention and preload device on said wheel hub and preventing axial and radial movement of said bearing unit retention and preload device relative to said wheel hub. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification