Wheel bearing device

• US 6,739,977 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Syougo, Ohtsuki, Hisashi, Umekida, Mitsuru, Fukushima, Shigeaki, Sera, Akira, Torii, Akira, Tajima, Eiji, Ogura, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwoody, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US09/956,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 464/178, 464/145, 464/905, 384/544, 301/105.1, 148/320
• US Class Current: 464/178
• 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 27/001 with roller-bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0026 of the radial type, e.g. splined key
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0036 comprising homokinetic joints
• 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: F16C 19/186 with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/187 with all four raceways integrated on parts other than race rings, e.g. fourth generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/505 with the diameter of the rolling elements of one row differing from the diameter of those of another row
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/80 Pitch circle diameters [PCD]
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/0635 the bore of the inner ring being of special non-cylindrical shape which co-operates with a complementary shape on the shaft, e.g. teeth, polygonal sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/072 involving plastic deformation plastic welding F16D1/068
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/2232 Elements arranged in the hollow space between the end of the inner shaft and the outer joint member
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2003/22326 Attachments to the outer joint member, i.e. attachments to the exterior of the outer joint member or to the shaft of the outer joint member
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/10 Surface characteristics; Details related to material surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/223 the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 464/905 : Torque transmitted via radially extending pin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 464/906 : Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49535 : with assembling

Abstract

A wheel bearing device having a unitized hub ring, double-row bearing and constant velocity universal joint with one of double-row inner raceways formed on the joint outer ring. An end portion of the joint outer ring is fitted to an outside periphery of the hub ring through serrated portions. The hub ring is plastically deformed and expanded from an inside diameter side toward an outside diameter side by pushing a steel ball into a through hole of the hub ring preventing play in the serrated portions by the diameter expansion. A surface-hardened layer is formed at least on a base portion of the wheel mounting flange.

Claims

1. A wheel bearing device, comprising a hub ring, a constant velocity universal joint and a double-row bearing which are unitized, at least one of inner raceways of double-row raceways of the bearing and a wheel mounting flange being formed on the hub ring, a stem portion of a joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint being fitted into the hub ring through torque transmission means, wherein a surface-hardened layer is formed at least on an outboard base portion of a wheel mounting flange,

wherein the base portion is a fillet portion on a region extending from a brake rotor mounting surface to a tubular pilot portion.

2. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein a surface hardness of the surface-hardened layer is from HRC 40 through 63 with the depth being from 0.3 through 2 mm.

3. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the hub ring is made of carbon steel containing C from 0.5 through 0.8 wt %.

4. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the hub ring has the wheel mounting flange on its outside periphery, and has a small-diameter stepped portion onto which is fitted an inner ring formed with one of the outboard inner raceway and the inboard inner raceway of the double-row raceways.

5. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein a seal having a seal lip slidingly contacting with an outside periphery of the hub ring or inner ring is provided, and a surface-hardened layer is formed about a base portion of the wheel mounting flange with which the seal lip slidingly contacts.

6. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein a serrated portion is formed on an inside periphery of the hub ring and a surface-hardened layer is formed on the serrated portion.

7. The wheel bearing device according to claim 6, the surface-hardened layer is formed with induction hardening.

8. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the stem portion is fixed to the hub ring by swaging an end portion of the stem portion to the hub ring.

9. A wheel bearing device comprising a hub ring, a constant velocity universal joint and a double-row bearing which are unitized, at least one of inner raceways of double-row raceways of the bearing and a wheel mounting flange being formed on the hub ring, a stem portion of a joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint being fitted into the hub ring through torque transmission means, wherein a surface-hardened layer is formed at least on an outboard base portion of a wheel mounting flange,

wherein a surface hardness of the surface-hardened layer is from HRC 40 through 63 with the depth being from 0.3 through 2 mm.

10. The wheel bearing device according to claim 9, wherein the hub ring is made of carbon steel containing C from 0.5 through 0.8 wt %.

11. The wheel bearing device according to claim 9, wherein the hub ring has the wheel mounting flange on its outside periphery, and has a small-diameter portion onto which is fitted an inner ring formed with one of the outboard inner raceway and the inboard inner raceway of the double-row raceways.

12. The wheel bearing device according to claim 9, wherein a seal having a seal lip slidingly contacting with an outside periphery of the hub ring or inner ring is provided, and a surface-hardened layer is formed about a base portion of the wheel mounting flange with which the seal lip slidingly contacts.

13. The wheel bearing device according to claim 9, wherein a serrated portion is formed on an inside periphery of the hub ring and a surface-hardened layer is formed on the serrated portion.

14. The wheel bearing device according to claim 13, wherein the surface-hardened layer is formed with induction hardening.

15. The wheel bearing device according to claim 9, wherein the stem portion is fixed to the hub ring by swaging an end portion of the stem portion to the hub ring.

16. A wheel bearing device comprising a hub ring, a constant velocity universal joint and a double-row bearing which are unitized, at least one of inner raceways of double-row raceways of the bearing and a wheel mounting flange being formed on the hub ring, a stem portion of a joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint being fitted into the hub ring through torque transmission means, wherein a surface-hardened layer is formed at least on an outboard base portion of a wheel mounting flange,

wherein the hub ring is made of carbon steel containing C from 0.5 through 0.8 wt %.

17. The wheel bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the hub ring has the wheel mounting flange on its outside periphery, and has a small-diameter portion onto which is fitted an inner ring formed with one of the outboard inner raceway and the inboard inner raceway of the double-row raceways.

18. The wheel bearing device according to claim 16, wherein a seal having a seal lip slidingly contacting with an outside periphery of the hub ring or inner ring is provided, and a surface-hardened layer is formed about a base portion of the wheel mounting flange with which the seal lip slidingly contacts.

19. The wheel bearing device according to claim 16, wherein a serrated portion is formed on an inside periphery of the hub ring and a surface-hardened layer is formed on he serrated portion.

20. The wheel bearing device according to claim 19, wherein the surface-hardened layer is formed with induction hardening.

21. The wheel bearing device according to claim 16, wherein the stem portion is fixed to the hub ring by swaging an end portion of the stem portion to the hub ring.

22. A wheel bearing device comprising a hub ring, a constant velocity universal joint and a double-row bearing which are unitized, at least one of inner raceways of double-row raceways of the bearing and a wheel mounting flange being formed on the hub ring, a stem portion of a joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint being fitted into the hub ring through torque transmission means, wherein a surface-hardened layer is formed at least on an outboard base portion of a wheel mounting flange,

wherein a serrated portion is formed on an inside periphery of the hub ring and a surface-hardened layer is formed on the serrated portion.

23. The wheel bearing device according to claim 22, wherein the hub ring has the wheel mounting flange on its outside periphery, and has a small-diameter portion onto which is fitted an inner ring formed with one of the outboard inner raceway and the inboard inner raceway of the double-row raceways.

24. The wheel bearing device according to claim 22, wherein a seal having a seal lip slidingly contacting with an outside periphery of the hub ring or inner ring is provided, and a surface-hardened layer is formed about a base portion of the wheel mounting flange with which the seal lip slidingly contacts.

25. The wheel bearing device according to claim 22, wherein the surface-hardened layer is formed with induction hardening.

26. The wheel bearing device according to claim 22, wherein the stem portion is fixed to the hub ring by swaging an end portion of the stem portion to the hub ring.