Bearing apparatus for a wheel of vehicle

• US 7,220,183 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Ozawa, Masahiro, Yamauchi, Kiyoshige, Fukushima, Shigeaki, Ida, Noriaki
• Primary Examiner(s): BINDA, GREGORY JOHN
• Application Number:
  US10/658,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20040121847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 464/178, 464/906, 384/544, 384/589, 301/105.1
• US Class Current: 464/178
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/00 Hubs non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/184 in O-arrangement
• 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 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings
• 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

Abstract

A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle has a wheel hub (1), a constant velocity universal joint (3) and a double row rolling bearing (2) assembled as a unit. The wheel hub (1) and the outer joint member (14) of the constant velocity universal joint (3) are fitted to each other. At least one of the inner raceway surface (1a) of the double row rolling bearing (2) is formed on the wheel hub. A hardened irregular portion (5) is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the wheel hub (1). The wheel hub 1 and the outer joint member (14) are integrally connected via plastic deformation of a fitting portion (17b) of the outer joint member. The hardened irregular portion (5) bites into the surface of the fitting (17b). A connected portion of the wheel hub and outer joint member has a plastic deformed connection mechanism having an axial pull-out proof force more than 160 kN.

Claims

1. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle comprising:

a wheel hub, a constant velocity universal joint and a double row rolling bearing assembled as a unit, said wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are fitted with each other; and

a connected portion of the wheel hub and the outer joint member has a plastic deformed connection mechanism which includes an irregular surface on said wheel hub and/or said outer joint member, deformation and said irregular surface connecting said wheel hub and outer joint member together such that the plastic deformed connection mechanism has an axial pull-out proof force more than 160 kN.

2. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein one inner raceway surfaces surface, of the double row rolling bearing, being formed on the wheel hub and another of the double row inner raceway surfaces being formed on the outer joint member;

a hardened irregular portion being formed on a radial surface of the wheel hub where the wheel hub and the outer joint member are fitted with each other; and

the wheel hub and the outer joint member are integrally connected via plastic deformation by radially outwardly expanding a radial surface of the outer member enabling the hardened irregular portion of the wheel hub to bite into the surface of the outer joint member.

3. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint is fitted into the wheel hub.

4. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint is fitted about an outer periphery of the wheel hub.

5. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the portion to be radially outwardly expanded projects beyond the hardened irregular portion.

6. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the hardened irregular portion is formed by substantially orthogonally crossed grooves comprising a plurality of axial grooves and annular grooves;

and the outer diameter of the portion projecting beyond the hardened irregular portion is larger than the bottom diameter of the annular grooves or the axial grooves.

7. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the wheel hub and the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are detachably connected with each other;

one inner raceway surface of the double row rolling bearing formed on an inner ring fitted onto the wheel hub and another double row inner raceway surface formed on the wheel hub;

a hardened irregular portion formed on the inner ring; and

the inner ring and the wheel hub being integrally connected via plastic deformation of the wheel hub by radially outwardly expanding the wheel hub enabling the hardened irregular portion of the inner ring to bite into the surface of the wheel hub.

8. A bearing apparatus for a driving wheel of a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein a load supporting capacity of the bearing of an inboard side of the double row rolling bearing is higher than that of the bearing of outboard side.