Static sealing device for wheel hub assemblies connected to constant velocity joints

• US 9,488,278 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Nosenzo, Fabio, Ferraro, Vincenzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Vishal
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARREN, STACY N
• Application Number:
  US13/526,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20130001885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 384/484, 384/486, 384/544, 384/448, 277/500, 277/551, 277/577, 277/925
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/184 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/768 between relatively stationary parts, i.e. static seals
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7883 mounted to the inner race and of generally L-shape, the two sealing rings defining a sealing with box-shaped cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3256 comprising two casing or support elements, one attached to each surface, e.g. cartridge or cassette seals
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3264 the elements being separable from each other

Abstract

A static sealing device for a wheel hub comprising an inner ring associated with an outer ring of a constant velocity joint coupled with the wheel hub. A first sealing assembly is integrated between the inner ring and an outer ring of the wheel hub to protect respective rolling bodies. A second sealing assembly is integrated between the wheel hub and the outer ring of the joint. The first sealing assembly includes a shield fitted to the inner ring with a sleeve portion thereof and a flange portion extending towards the joint carrying an annular signal generating element and a tubular support element which projects axially from the flange portion. The second sealing assembly includes a tubular core having opposite ends embedded in an elastomeric material forming a sealing lip towards the joint and an elastically deformable annular tooth for engaging with a complimentary feature of the tubular support element.

Claims

1. A sealing device for a wheel hub connected to a constant velocity joint, the sealing device comprising:

a first sealing assembly interposed in use between a wheel hub outer ring and a radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface of an inner ring of the wheel hub;

a second sealing assembly arranged in use between the wheel hub and a constant velocity joint outer ring of the constant velocity joint, wherein the first and second sealing assemblies are separate components such that the second sealing assembly is not a one-piece member with the first sealing assembly,

wherein the first sealing assembly comprises a first shield having a sleeve portion and a flange portion, the first shield being anchored directly to the inner ring by the sleeve portion fitted directly onto the radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface, the sleeve portion having a sleeve portion end facing the constant velocity joint with the flange portion located thereon, the flange portion radially extending so as to protrude from the sleeve portion and towards the wheel hub outer ring;

the first sealing assembly comprises a tubular support element formed from an elastomeric material which axially projects so as to protrude from the flange portion and, in use, from the inner ring;

the second sealing assembly comprises a tubular core comprising a first axially extending portion, a second axially extending portion, and a radially extending portion connecting the first and second axially extending portions, wherein the entirety of the tubular core is located radially inwardly from the radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface of the inner ring such that no portion of the first and second axially extending portions and the radially extending portion of the tubular core extend radially outwardly past the radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface of the inner ring, the tubular core having first and second tubular ends, the first tubular end facing away from the first sealing assembly and being at least partially embedded in an elastomeric material forming at least one annular sealing lip sealingly cooperating with the constant velocity joint outer ring;

the second tubular end, opposite the first tubular end, being embedded in an elastomeric material that is configured to form a tooth for engaging the tubular support element, the inner ring of the wheel hub and the second sealing assembly being configured such that the tubular core cannot be directly secured in both axial directions by only the inner ring; and

wherein the tubular support element extends axially past a radially extending axial end of the inner ring in a direction away from the inner ring such that at least a portion of the tubular support element does not radially overlap any part of the inner ring, the tubular support element has a tubular support shape complementary to a tooth shape of the tooth on the second tubular end of the tubular core so as to snappingly receive the tooth therein to axially restrain the second sealing assembly to the first sealing assembly and therefore to the inner ring of the wheel hub such that the tooth abuts and is axially sandwiched between the tubular support element and the radially extending axial end of the inner ring and such that no portion of the tubular core radially overlaps any part of the radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface of the inner ring.

2. A sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the second tubular end of the tubular core of the second sealing assembly is embedded in a material, and the tubular support element is shaped so that, in use, the tooth frontally abuts against the radially extending axial end of the inner ring which starts substantially flush with a radially extending surface of the tubular support element.

3. A sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular support element consists of a tubular sleeve made of an elastomeric material, which axially projects so as to protrude from the flange portion, to which it is restrained, and which is arranged substantially flush with the sleeve portion and, therefore, substantially flush with the radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface of the inner ring.

4. A sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the flange portion of the first shield carries outwards and towards the constant velocity joint an annular signal generating element consisting of an insert, of predetermined thickness measured in the axial direction, made of a magnetizable elastomeric material, which has been anchored to a first frontal surface of the flange portion of the first shield facing the constant velocity joint, so as to completely cover the same;

the tubular sleeve being formed of an elastomeric material and being integral with the annular signal generating element.

5. A sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the tubular sleeve made of elastomeric material forming the tubular support element has a thickness measured in the radial direction which is substantially equal to the thickness of the sleeve portion of the first shield, so as to form a protruding extension thereof on the side of a first frontal surface of the flange portion facing the constant velocity joint in use.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein the flange portion of the first shield of the first sealing assembly has, substantially at the sleeve portion, an annular bulge defined by a U-shaped fold of the flange portion, and extending towards the tubular sleeve made of elastomeric material forming the tubular support element.

7. A sealing device according to claim 1, wherein a lateral surface of the tubular support element is provided, at a first end thereof which is closer to the flange portion of the first shield, with an annular indentation adapted to create, on one hand, a preferential radial bending zone on the tubular support element and, on the other hand, an annular receiving seat for the elastically deformable tooth of the second end of the tubular core of the second sealing assembly.

8. A sealing device according to claim 7, wherein the lateral surface of the tubular support element is provided with an annular rim extending to a position which is immediately adjacent to the indentation and having, when viewed in a radial cross section, a convex curved profile which is seamlessly joined to a corresponding concave curved profile of the indentation.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the convex curved profile of the annular rim defines, on the side opposite to the flange portion of the shield of the first sealing assembly, an inlet opening which is flared away from the tubular core.

10. A sealing device according to claim 9, wherein the tooth made of elastomeric material of the second sealing assembly is delimited towards the first sealing assembly by a front flat surface arranged perpendicularly to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the device and axially projects so as to partially protrude from the second end of the tubular core, which is delimited towards the tooth, when viewed in the radial cross section, by an annular, truncated-conical surface which, when the first and second sealing assemblies are coupled, is substantially parallel to the flared inlet opening of the tubular support element.

11. A sealing device for a wheel hub connected to a constant velocity joint, the sealing device comprising:

a first sealing assembly interposed in use between a wheel hub outer ring and a radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface of an inner ring of the wheel hub;

a second sealing assembly arranged in use between the wheel hub and a constant velocity joint outer ring of the constant velocity joint,

wherein the first sealing assembly comprises a first shield having a sleeve portion and a flange portion, the first shield being anchored to the inner ring by the sleeve portion fitted onto the radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface, the sleeve portion having a sleeve portion end facing the constant velocity joint with the flange portion located thereon, the flange portion radially extending so as to protrude from the sleeve portion and towards the wheel hub outer ring;

the first sealing assembly comprises a tubular support element which axially projects so as to protrude from the flange portion and, in use, from the inner ring;

the second sealing assembly comprises a tubular core having first and second tubular ends, the first tubular end facing away from the first sealing assembly and being at least partially embedded in an elastomeric material forming at least one annular sealing lip sealingly cooperating with the constant velocity joint outer ring;

the second tubular end, opposite the first tubular end, being configured to form a tooth for engaging the tubular support element, a lateral surface of the tubular support element is provided, at a first end thereof which is closer to the flange portion of the first shield, with an annular indentation adapted to create, on one hand, a preferential radial bending zone on the tubular support element and, on the other hand, an annular receiving seat for the elastically deformable tooth of the second end of the tubular core of the second sealing assembly, the lateral surface of the tubular support element is provided with an annular rim extending to a position which is immediately adjacent to the indentation and having, when viewed in a radial cross section, a convex curved profile which is seamlessly joined to a corresponding concave curved profile of the indentation, the convex curved profile of the annular rim defines, on the side opposite to the flange portion of the shield of the first sealing assembly, an inlet opening which is flared towards the tubular support element;

the tooth made of elastomeric material of the second sealing assembly is delimited towards the first sealing assembly by a front flat surface arranged perpendicularly to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the device and axially projects so as to partially protrude from the second end of the tubular core, which is delimited towards the tooth, when viewed in the radial cross section, by an annular, truncated-conical surface which, when the first and second sealing assemblies are coupled, is substantially parallel to the flared inlet opening of the tubular support element; and

wherein the tubular support element has a tubular support shape complementary to a tooth shape of the tooth on the second tubular end of the tubular core so as to snappingly receive the tooth to axially restrain the second sealing assembly to the first sealing assembly and therefore to the inner ring of the wheel hub.