Constant velocity joint and wheel hub assembly

• US 6,626,581 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc. (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc. (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Uchman, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US10/060,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20030044099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 384/544, 384/589, 384/561, 384/903, 384/539, 403/1, 403/19, 403/20, 403/397, 403/315, 403/319, 403/316, 403/355, 403/325, 411/517, 411/520, 411/521, 411/530, 464/178, 464/906
• US Class Current: 384/544
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/00 Hubs non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0005 with ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0042 characterised by the fixation of the homokinetic joint to the hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0084 caulking to fix inner race
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0094 one or more of the bearing races are formed by the hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/69 Redundant disconnection blocking means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/71 Blocking disengagement of catches or keys
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/06 Mounting or dismounting of ball or roller bearings; Fixing them onto shaft or in housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 384/903 Retaining ring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/10 Selectively engageable hub to shaft connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7176 Resilient clip

Abstract

An assembly including an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing. The outer race has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, and the wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end, an external groove, and a slot extending radially from the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at an external surface of the bearing part, the slot extending axially between the external groove and the open end. The wheel bearing part and the outer race are held in an assembled position by a spring ring engaged in the internal groove and the external groove. The spring ring includes, adjacent its ends, first and second arms which extend generally radially inward through the slot. The first arm is substantially longer than the second arm and inclined such that the first arm extends approximately through a center axis of the spring ring. A sealing element is also included to seal the second bore.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing, wherein the outer race has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, and wherein the wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end, an external groove, and a slot extending radially from the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at an external surface of the bearing part, the slot extending axially between said external groove and said open end, the wheel bearing part and the outer race being held in an assembled position by a spring ring engaged in said internal groove and said external groove, the spring ring having, adjacent its ends, first and second arms which extend generally radially inward through said slot, said first arm being substantially longer than said second arm and inclined such that said first arm extends approximately through a center axis of said spring ring.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 comprising a sealing element located in the second bore, said sealing element comprising a cylindrical body having an annular groove formed therein, said groove containing a seal for sealingly engaging said second bore.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said sealing member comprises an annular first flange towards one end of said cylindrical body for seating said sealing element within said second bore.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said sealing member comprises a resilient second flange at the other end of said cylindrical body for securing said sealing element within said second bore.

5. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said sealing element is made of plastic.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 comprising a threaded sealing element engaging threads within said second bore.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wheel bearing part comprises a hub rotatably mounted in a fixed portion by rolling element bearings on an inner race, the hub having a vehicle wheel mount, the rolling element bearings being pre-loaded by an outwardly projecting part on one of the hub and an element securing the hub and the inner race together.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein said wheel bearing part includes a tubular securing element received in a third bore in the hub, the securing element having a flange at one end of said second bore to pre-load the bearings and being swaged outwardly at the other end of said second bore to engage the hub.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein an external surface of the securing element and the third bore in the hub have inter-engaging splines.

10. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein said external surface of the securing element includes an annular groove containing a seal for sealingly engaging said third bore.