FR2548595A1 - Bearing for vehicle drive wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

The wheel bearing for vehicle drive wheels has a one piece bearing outer ring (1) and an inner ring (2) which is formed in one piece with the wheel hub (3). Between the inner and outer rings, are ball races (4). A drive link (5) consists of a body (6) with several pins (7) whose outer ends connect into bores (13) in the bearing inner ring (2), into which they can be glued, soldered or welded, to provide the drive to the inner ring (2). The wheel bearing is sealed by a bellows sleeve (13) fitted to the end (14) of the inner ring (2) and to the drive shaft (12).

Description

The present invention relates to a drive wheel hub assembly of

vehicle.

  This assembly is of the type comprising a bearing provided with an inner ring secured to a wheel support flange, as well as a transmission joint coaxial with the bearing and provided with at least two radial arms. In a bearing, intended for a driving wheel, produced using the so-called "third generation" technique, that is to say of which the outer and inner rings are each one piece, the inner ring is in one piece with 'the flange supporting the wheel of the vehicle and the drive is carried out by means of a

  rocket carrying grooves which mesh with the inner tube and receive an axial locking system.

  This third generation hub assembly, which can be combined with a multi-arm transmission joint (bipod, tripod), is heavy

and bulky.

  A “fourth generation” wheel hub assembly has therefore been proposed, that is to say comprising an extended one-piece inner ring for housing a joint of a multiple ball joint for a driving wheel.

  and possibly directing, the joint ensuring the transmission of the engine torque.

  This fourth generation set improves the third generation but also presents

disadvantages.

  Indeed, the inner ring must satisfy several imperatives simultaneously because of the different functions it fulfills, and must also

  be able to resist the heat developed during braking.

  It follows that the material of this ring

must be carefully chosen.

  On the other hand, in the event of deterioration, a fourth generation assembly is irreparable since it is practically impossible to dismantle by a garage or user.

  so this set must be changed entirely.

  Finally, the manufacture of fourth generation sets is particularly expensive, due to the difficulty

  to properly execute the machining of the inner ring 10 receiving the multiple ball joint, the rejects for defective machining of this ring being very expensive.

  The object of the invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by producing a set of wheel hubs which can easily be obtained from a third generation, which does not have the

faults mentioned above.

  According to the invention, the inner ring has housings receiving at least partially the ends of the arms of the joint, which are made integral with the inner ring to drive the latter in rotation.

  In a first embodiment of the invention, the end parts of the arms of the joint are engaged in recesses or notches of corresponding section formed in the inner ring, the end parts of the arms being fixed to the ring,

  For example, by welding, soldering, gluing as well as to seal the bearing at the notches.

  Under these conditions, the engine torque is transmitted to the wheel support flange no longer by splines, but by two attachment points of the arms of the seal if the latter is of the bipod type, or by three points if it is a question of '' a tripod joint Correlatively, the qualities required for the inner drive ring are the same as those of the third generation, but not those required by the fourth generation which very significantly reduces the cost and the difficulties of manufacturing this ring compared to

  the whole of the fourth generation.

  On the other hand, the rollers of the arms of the tripod (or of the bipod) are distant from the heat flow coming from the inner ring and developed during braking unlike what is observed in the fourth generation assembly, and the contact between the seal and the ring for 10 the transmission of the engine torque takes place at three points instead of being carried out around the entire periphery of the ring, which also reduces the heat transmission at

joint during braking.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows.

  follow, made with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments by way of examples

not limiting.

  FIG. 1 is a view in axial section half in elevation of a first embodiment of a drive wheel hub assembly according to the invention; Fig 2 is a detail view in section along II-II of Fig 1 at the point of anchoring of an arm of the seal in the inner ring of the bearing; FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a counter ring forming part of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and which maintains the ends of the arms of the seal in the inner ring of the bearing; Fig 4 is a view similar to Fig l 30 of a second embodiment of the hub assembly according to the invention; Fig 5 is a partial sectional view in an axial plane of a third embodiment of the assembly covered by the invention; Fig 6 is a partial axial sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a sectional view along VII-VII of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a partial axial sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the assembly according to the invention;

  Fig 9 is a sectional view along IX-IX of Fig 8.

  The hub assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is intended for a driving wheel of a motor vehicle and comprises a bearing produced according to the so-called "third generation" technique. This bearing comprises an outer ring 1 one-piece as well as an inner ring 2 one-piece with a wheel flange 3, sets of balls 4 being interposed between the rings 1 and 2 To this bearing is associated a transmission joint 5 coaxial with axis XX, comprising a part 6 20 provided with radial arms 7, of which only one has been shown in Fig l These arms 7 are two in number if it is a bipod joint, three in number if it is a tripod joint etc. In a manner known per se, the piece 6 is fitted with rollers 8 coaxial with the arms 7 which can roll in the corresponding raceways 9 petals 11 of a tulip 12 driven in rotation about the axis

  X-X by a shaft not shown A bellows 13 seals the transmission joint 5.

  C ete NS emb 1 e includes means for driving the inner ring 2 and the flange 3 in rotation by the arms 7 of the joint 5 In the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 to 3, these means comprise, for each arm 7 , a recess or notch 13 of semi-circular section corresponding to that of the end part of the arm 7, this notch 13 being formed in the edge of the inner ring 2 facing the inside of the hub assembly Means are in further provided for fixing the end parts of the arms 7 to the ring 2, for example by welding, soldering, gluing as well as for sealing the bearing at the notches 13 In the example of Fia 1 to 3, these means d sealing comprise a counter ring 14 having, opposite the notches 13, corresponding semi-circular notches 15 in which are received the end parts of the arms 7, to which the counter ring 14 is fixed, as well as at the annular edge

  of the ring 2, by one of the aforementioned means.

  The joining together of the parts concerned (7,2,14) can be ensured on all the surfaces in contact,

  or only at the level of some of them.

  The bellows 13 is fixed to the counter-ring 14, so that a collar 16 for retaining the sealing members of the bearing, the counter-ring 14 thus making it easier to seal both the bearing and that

of the transmission joint 5.

  Under these conditions, the engine torque developed 20 by the rotation of the tulip 12 around the axis X-X is transmitted to the ring 2 and to the flange 3 wheel support by the radial arms 7, and no longer by a rocket cooperating with

  grooves as in previous embodiments.

  This arrangement makes it easy to carry out the manufacturing and mounting of the hub assembly according to

  the invention, from a third generation assembly.

  In fact, i 1 suffices to machine the semi-circular recesses 13 in the ring 2 of the bearing, in a number equal to that of the arms 7 of the part 6 The seal 5 and the inner ring 2 30 can therefore be manufactured separately. one of the other, this

which limits the cost of waste.

  Another advantage of the assembly according to the invention consists in the fact that the rollers 8 of the arms 7 are distant from the heat flow developed during frei35 swimming and coming through the ring 2, contrary to what

  seen in fourth generation bearings.

  In addition, the transmission of heat to the seal 5 during braking is also reduced by the fact that the contact between the seal and the bearing is limited to three points in the case of a tripod (only 2 points in the case of a bipod), instead of being mainly around the

  joint as in multiple ball joints.

  In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.1 the arms 17 of the joint 18 are shorter 10 than the arms 7 of the previous embodiment, and they are each fitted with a radial pin 19 inserted in a radial housing of the arm 17 to which they are fixed by any appropriate means (welding, bonding) Each pin 19 has on the outside of the arm 17 a projecting part 19 a which is 5 received in a corresponding cylindrical recess machined in the ring 2, N the difference of previous recesses the recesses receiving the projecting parts 19 a are formed in the body of the ring 2, and not on its edge

  interior, on which the sealing bellows 20 is fixed directly.

  Instead of being permanently fixed to the arms 17, the pins 19 can be removably mounted therein, for example by screwing, which makes it possible to disassemble the

  seal 18 of ring 2, to carry out eventual repairs.

  In this embodiment, the engine torque is therefore transmitted to the ring 2 by the arms 17

  by means of the pins 19, which are obviously chosen from a material having sufficient mechanical strength.

  In the third embodiment illustrated a in Fig 5.1 es the end parts 21 a, arms 21 each engage in a ring 22 embedded in a corresponding cylindrical housing 23 machined radially in the ring

  2 The latter as well as the ring 22 and the end portion 21 of the arm 21 are fixed together by any suitable means such as welding.

  The engine torque is therefore here transmitted to the ring 25 by the end portions 21 a and the associated rings 22.

  The rings 22 can be screwed permanently to the ring 2 and to the arms 21, making the assembly non-removable,

  or on the contrary be removably mounted to allow the separation of the seal and the bearing.

  In the variant of FIGS. 6 and 7, the end parts of the arms 7 are received in semicircular notches 13 and are held in place by a circular cap 24 The cap 24 has a thread allowing it to be fixed on the ring 2 by screwing on a 15 thread 26 formed on the outer edge of the ring 2.

  The seal of the bearing is ensured by a flange 27 fixed on the cap 24, which can be removed for

  allow the separation of the seal and the bearing.

  Finally, in the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 20 8 and 9, the end parts of the arms 28 are received in housings 29 of corresponding, almost circular section, machined in the edge of the ring 2 turned axially towards the inside of the assembly. of hubs The ends of the arms 28 are provided with lateral flats 25 a coming to be applied on corresponding flats formed in the housing 29, in order to transmit the driving torque to the ring 2 The arms 28 are held in place by a flange 31 comprising, opposite each arm 28, a tongue 32 crimped in a corresponding notch 30 in the ring 2, which secures the arms 28 and

from flange 31 to ring 2.

  As in the case of the realization of Figures 6

  and 7, this solution makes it possible to disassemble the trans-

  mission of the bearing The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and may include numerous variant embodiments In all cases, it advantageously makes it possible to eliminate the play and noise observed with the transmission grooves of the sets of third generation and leads to some relief. In the various possible embodiments of the device r the housings formed in the

  inner ring at least partially receive the ends of the radial arms of the seal.

Claims (6)

  1 Driving wheel hub assembly for a vehicle, comprising a bearing provided with a one-piece inner ring (2) with a wheel flange (3), as well as a joint (5) for transmission coaxial with the bearing and provided with at least two radial arms (7) carrying rollers (8) for rolling in the petals (31) of a tulip (12) of the seal (5), characterized in that the inner ring (2) has housings receiving at at least partially the ends of the arms (7) of the joint   (5), which are made integral with the inner ring (2) to drive the latter in rotation.   2 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the end parts of the arms 7 of the seal (5) are engaged in recesses or enco15 ches (13) of corresponding section constituting the housings in the inner ring (2), the end parts arms (7) being fixed to the ring (2), for example by welding, soldering, gluing as well as for sealing the bearing at the notches (13).  20 3 assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, the notches (13) being arranged in the edge of the ring (2) turned axially inwardly of the assembly, the sealing means comprise a counter ring (14) having enco25 ches (15) complementary to that of the ring (2), in order to receive the end parts of the arms (7), this counter-ring (14) being fixed to the ring (2) and to the arms (7) and provided with a collar (16) ensuring sealing of the bearing.   4 assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the end parts of the arms (7) engaged therein are held by a cap   circular (24), this cap (24) being screwed onto the ring (2) to allow disassembly of the seal (5) relative to the bearing, and supporting a flange (27) ensuring the sealing of the bearing.   Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that-, the end parts (23 a) of the arms 2 S; are received in housings (29) of corresponding almost circular section and held in place in these housings (29) by a flange (31) having tongues (32) facing each arm and fixed to the ring (2) of the bearing by crimping, allowing   disassembly of the seal relative to the bearing.   6 The assembly of claim 1, carac10 terized in that the arms (17) of the seal (18) are each equipped with a radial pin (19) pressed into a radial housing of the arm (17) and having a projecting part (19 a) which is received in a corresponding recess in the inner ring (2) of the bearing, these pins (19) being fixed to the arms (17) or removable with respect to these and ensuring the transmission to the ring (2) of the torque seal drive (18).   7 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the end portions (21 a) of the arms 20 C 21) each come to engage in a ring (22) embedded in a corresponding cylindrical recess of the ring (2>, which thus that the ring (22) and the end part of the arm (21) are fixed together by all suitable means such as welding.