Vehicle hub unit

• US 8,512,157 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Harada, Katsuyuki, Shirakami, Kentaro, Araki, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Binda, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): SETLIFF, MATTHIEU F
• Application Number:
  US13/207,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 464/178, 464/182, 384/544, 384/589, 403/359.6, 403/94, 403/96, 403/97
• US Class Current: 464/178
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0036 comprising homokinetic joints
• 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 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/076 by clamping together two faces perpendicular to the axis of rotation, e.g. with bolted flanges

Abstract

A vehicle hub unit includes: an outer ring; rolling elements; a hub wheel that is arranged radially inward of the outer ring via the rolling elements; and an inner ring member that is fixed to an end portion of a hub spindle of the hub wheel by clinching. A spline tooth portion that meshes with a tooth portion of a constant velocity joint that transmits driving force to the hub unit is formed at a clinched portion of the hub spindle. A protruding portion is formed at a radially inner side portion of a bottom of the spline tooth portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle hub unit comprising:

an outer ring;

rolling elements;

a hub wheel that is arranged radially inward of the outer ring via the rolling elements;

an inner ring member that is fixed to an end portion of a hub spindle of the hub wheel by clinching;

a spline tooth portion formed at a clinched portion of the hub spindle;

a meshing portion at which the spline tooth portion meshes with a tooth portion of a constant velocity joint that transmits driving force to the hub unit; and

a protruding portion formed at a radially innermost portion of a bottom of the spline tooth portion, the bottom being adjacent to the meshing portion,

wherein the protruding portion projects more than the bottom and is formed radially inward of the meshing portion.

2. The vehicle hub unit according to claim 1, wherein

a height of the protruding portion is set to such a height that a predetermined clearance is left between the protruding portion and a top surface of a tooth of the tooth portion of the constant velocity joint.

3. The vehicle hub unit according to claim 2, wherein

the predetermined clearance is 0.5 to 1 mm.

4. The vehicle hub unit according to claim 3, wherein

a portion of the top surface of the tooth of the spline tooth portion, the portion being near a radially inner end portion, is flush with a radially inner inclined surface of the protruding portion.

5. The vehicle hub unit according to claim 2, wherein

a portion of the top surface of the tooth of the spline tooth portion, the portion being near a radially inner end portion, is flush with a radially inner inclined surface of the protruding portion.

6. The vehicle hub unit according to claim 1, wherein

a portion of the top surface of the tooth of the spline tooth portion, the portion being near a radially inner end portion, is flush with a radially inner inclined surface of the protruding portion.

7. The vehicle hub unit according to claim 1, wherein

the protruding portion does not mesh with the tooth portion of the constant velocity joint.