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Apparatus for driving wheel of automobile

  • US 6,488,589 B2
  • Filed: 02/13/2001
  • Issued: 12/03/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A wheel-drive apparatus for an automobile comprising;

  • an outer race having an outer peripheral surface on which a first flange is provided to be fixedly connected to a suspension, and an inner peripheral surface on which outer ring raceways in rows are formed, the outer race being not rotatable during use, a hub having an outer peripheral surface on which a second flange is provided to support a wheel at an outside end portion thereof, and a first inner ring raceway is formed at a middle portion thereof, and an inner race is provided at an inside end portion thereof, the inner race being fixedly fitted onto the hub and having an outer peripheral surface on which a second inner ring raceway is formed, and the first inner ring raceway being formed directly on the hub or on a separate inner race provided on the hub, and the hub having a first spline hole formed at the center thereof, a plurality of rolling members rotatably provided between the outer ring raceways and the first and second inner ring raceways, respectively, a drive shaft member having an outside end formed with a spline shaft for engagement with the first spline hole, and an inside end formed in an outer ring for a constant velocity joint, the spline shaft having an outer peripheral surface on which a radially inside fitting portion is formed at the outside end thereof, the hub having an inner peripheral surface on which a radially outside fitting portion is formed at a portion facing the radially inside fitting portion, a stop ring provided between and engaged with the radially inside fitting portion and the radially outside fitting portion to prevent the spline shaft from coming away from the first spline hole, the outer ring for the constant velocity joint having an inner peripheral surface formed with an outside engaging groove at locations in the circumferential direction, and the outside engaging groove directed orthogonal to the circumferential direction, an inner ring for the constant velocity joint provided on the radially inside of the outer ring for the constant velocity joint, and having a second spline hole at the center thereof, and an outer peripheral surface on which an inside engaging groove is formed at a portion in alignment with the outside engaging groove, and the inside engaging groove directed orthogonal to the circumferential direction, a plurality of balls provided between the outside engaging groove and the inside engaging groove to be rotatable along the engaging grooves, and a drive shaft having an outside end formed with a male spline portion in spline-engagement with the second spline hole, and the male spline portion having a groove bottom with a diameter, and the spline shaft having a base end the minimum outer diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the groove bottom of the male spline portion.

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