GB2315822A - Grease expelling wheel bearing assembly - Google Patents

Grease expelling wheel bearing assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2315822A
GB2315822A GB9625849A GB9625849A GB2315822A GB 2315822 A GB2315822 A GB 2315822A GB 9625849 A GB9625849 A GB 9625849A GB 9625849 A GB9625849 A GB 9625849A GB 2315822 A GB2315822 A GB 2315822A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
grease
blade
collar
wheel bearing
shaft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9625849A
Other versions
GB9625849D0 (en
Inventor
David Paul Adkins
Mark S Ford
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Original Assignee
Jaguar Cars Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jaguar Cars Ltd filed Critical Jaguar Cars Ltd
Publication of GB9625849D0 publication Critical patent/GB9625849D0/en
Priority to DE69721146T priority Critical patent/DE69721146T2/en
Priority to EP97305647A priority patent/EP0822349B1/en
Priority to US08/902,990 priority patent/US5826986A/en
Priority to JP9208038A priority patent/JPH10151905A/en
Publication of GB2315822A publication Critical patent/GB2315822A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C33/00—Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof
    • F16C33/72—Sealings
    • F16C33/76—Sealings of ball or roller bearings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C33/00—Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof
    • F16C33/30—Parts of ball or roller bearings
    • F16C33/66—Special parts or details in view of lubrication
    • F16C33/6603—Special parts or details in view of lubrication with grease as lubricant
    • F16C33/6622—Details of supply and/or removal of the grease, e.g. purging grease
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C19/00—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement
    • F16C19/22—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings
    • F16C19/34—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for both radial and axial load
    • F16C19/38—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for both radial and axial load with two or more rows of rollers
    • F16C19/383—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for both radial and axial load with two or more rows of rollers with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
    • F16C19/385—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for both radial and axial load with two or more rows of rollers with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone with two rows, i.e. double-row tapered roller bearings
    • F16C19/386—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for both radial and axial load with two or more rows of rollers with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone with two rows, i.e. double-row tapered roller bearings in O-arrangement
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2326/00—Articles relating to transporting
    • F16C2326/01—Parts of vehicles in general
    • F16C2326/02—Wheel hubs or castors

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)

Abstract

A wheel bearing assembly (1) comprises a grease expelling seal (3), and a grease distributor (5). The grease distributor comprises a collar (7) for mounting about the shaft (9) of the rotor nut (11) and, projecting from the collar, at least one grease spreading blade (13) extending radially outwards from the collar towards the assembly housing (15). Part (17) of the area between the collar and the housing is not covered by a blade, the arrangement being such that rotation of the blade causes the grease expelled from the bearing seal to be spread evenly around the circumference of the seal, but does not prevent the grease from contacting the rotor nut.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
Improvements in and relating to Wheel Bearing Assemblies Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved wheel bearing assembly in which the wheel bearing seal is grease expelling.
Typically a wheel bearing/rotor nut assembly of a motor vehicle includes a cylindrical housing within which a rotor nut rotates. The rotor nut includes a short shaft extending from its rear face towards the wheel bearing. This serves to space the rear face of the rotor nut from the wheel bearing and its sealing elements. Typically the wheel bearing includes a central rotating member and a circumferential seal which bridges the gap between the rotating and non rotating members of the bearing. This is the main bearing seal which ensures that dirt and liquid does not enter the moving assembly. A circlip is mounted around the edge of the bearing assembly in a groove within the housing wall. In order to enhance the seal and provide further lubrication in any such assembly grease or oil needs to be introduced in the annular space defined behind the rear face of the rotor nut.
In an attempt to improve the waterproof seal, wheel bearings are being designed which include bearing seals which expel grease, through at least their outermost seals. The grease is intended to act as a tertiary seal between the rotor nut and the bearing seal. The term'grease expelling wheel bearing'will be used in the specification to mean any wheel bearing including a bearing seal which is designed to so expel grease. A typical example of such a grease expelling wheel bearing is sold by The Timken Co of 1835, Dueber Avenue SW, P. O. Box 6930, Canton, Ohio 44706/0930, U. S. A.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
Although the seal of such a grease expelling wheel bearing assembly is intended to expel grease equally around the edge of the assembly, in practice, the grease expulsion is at times uneven which can lead to a build up of grease that may become packed between the back face of the rotor nut and the bearing seal. Over a period of time this grease becomes contaminated with debris and could then abrade the seal.
Such abrasion inevitably leads to wear and degradation of the seal and of the wheel bearing.
If measures are taken to insert a physical barrier such as a shield between the bearing seal and the rotor nut to prevent the grease building up on the rotor nut, this can cause different problems. If the grease expulsion is uneven, there may also be areas where little or no grease is expelled. The presence of a shield can mean that no tertiary seal is formed and then water can enter the assembly.
Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided an improved grease expelling wheel bearing assembly, comprising a grease expelling wheel bearing seal, and a grease distributor, comprising a collar for mounting about the shaft of the rotor nut and projecting from the collar at least one grease spreading blade extending radially outwards from the collar towards to the assembly housing, part of the area between the collar and the housing not being covered by a blade, the arrangement such that the rotation of the collar and blade causes the grease expelled from the bearing seal to be spread evenly around the circumference of the seal, but not prevent the grease from contacting the rotor nut.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a grease distributor for a wheel bearing assembly comprising a collar for fitting around the shaft of a rotor nut, and, extending radially outwards of the collar, at
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
least one blade, the dimensions of the or each blade being such that in use each blade extends to the assembly housing wall, but that part of the area between the shaft and the housing wall is not covered by a blade.
The blade acts to spread grease about the face of the seal but also tends to push the grease onto the cylindrical face of the housing which is the most efficient position for the tertiary sealing action of the seal.
Preferably the collar is cylindrical with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft of the rotor nut so that the collar rotates with the rotor nut.
However in order to ensure that the collar does not crack due to expansion of the shaft, it is preferred that the diameter of the collar is greater than the greatest possible diameter of the shaft and the collar includes resilient means to grip the shaft to ensure that it rotates with the rotor nut.
Preferably the resilient means includes at least one resilient finger urged towards the shaft. Preferably the collar includes three resilient fingers.
Preferably the resilient fingers are integral with the collar forming projections which bend inwards towards the shaft.
The grease distributor may include a plurality of blades, the maximum number being decided by the area covered by the blades. It is preferred that less than half of the area of the annulus between the collar and the edge of the housing does not have a blade covering it. This means that there is sufficient space for the grease to pass to the edge of the rear face of the rotor nut.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
It is preferred that the grease distributor includes an even number of blades, comprising one or more diametrically opposed pairs. This provides a balanced arrangement.
Preferably the grease distributor includes two or four blades, most preferably it includes two blades.
The grease distributor can be of a number of materials such as metal, rubber or nylon. Since it should be lightweight, cheap and hardwearing, preferably it is of nylon.
Each blade should extend to as close to the housing wall as possible without interfering with the rotation of the rotor nut within the housing. Typically the edge of the blade extends to within lmm of the housing wall.
Since one area where grease often is expelled and can accumulate is in the region of the holes of the circlip, preferably the blade extends to the holes of the circlip so that any grease accumulating in this area is contacted by the blade and distributed around the housing wall.
The grease distributor is preferably arranged such that the edge of the blade lies at a distance of between 0.5mm and 1. Omm from the plane of the circlip.
Although the blade may be planar lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the circlip, preferably the leading face of the blade (in the direction of rotation) is tilted to the plane of the circlip so that the leading edge is tilted towards the face of the wheel bearing.
Preferably the leading face of the blade lies at an angle of substantially 300to the plane of the circlip.
Although the blade may be of constant cross section, it is preferred that the blade tapers so that its leading edge (in the direction of rotation) forms a sharp edge of small cross
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
section to aid in'scooping up'the grease, especially from the region of the circlip holes.
For ease of manufacture it is preferred that the grease distributor is not left or right handed so that the same design may be used on all wheels of the car. It is therefore preferred that each blade is symmetrical about a plane parallel to a diametral plane of the shaft with the blade tapering in two directions from the plane towards each edge.
Brief Description of the Drawings Three grease distributors and wheel bearing assemblies in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a cross section through a first wheel bearing assembly; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second grease distributor; Figure 3 is a plan view of a third grease distributor; Figure 4 is a partial section of the grease distributor of figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken along line I-I of figure 3; and, Figure 6 is a part side elevation of the grease distributor of figure 3.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment An improved grease expelling wheel bearing assembly 1 comprises a grease expelling seal 3, and a grease distributor 5. The grease distributor 5 comprises a collar 7 for mounting about the shaft 9 of the rotor nut 11 and, projecting from the collar 7, at least one grease spreading blade 13 extending radially outwards from the collar towards the assembly housing 15, part 17 of the area between the
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
collar 7 and the housing 15 not being covered by a blade 13, the arrangement being such that rotation of the blade 13 causes the grease expelled from the bearing seal 3 to be spread evenly around the circumference of the seal, but not prevent the grease from contacting the rotor nut 11.
In the assembly illustrated in figure 1, the grease distributor 5 includes four blades 13. Only two of the blades can be seen in the drawing-each of the blades illustrated has a diametrically opposed blade which is not illustrated. The shape of the blades are all the same and can be clearly seen.
Each blade 13 is of constant cross section and symmetrical about a diametral plane 19 of the shaft. The blade is in the form of a shallow inverted V-shape so that its leading face 22 lies at an angle to the plane of the circlip 27. The leading edge thus is tilted towards the bearing 21. Thus the blade operates effectively irrespective of the direction of rotation of the collar. The blade can be regarded as two halves 23, only one of which operates at once.
The edge of the blade is close to the surface of the circlip 27. The distance is between 0.5mm and lmm. The radial edge 29 of the blade is spaced at lmm from the housing wall so that the blade overlaps the circlip but allows sufficient clearance between the rotating members and the housing.
In operation the bearing seal 3 between the parts of the bearing 21 expels grease, and this expulsion may be uneven especially in the region of the holes of the circlip 27. In order to prevent build up of the grease behind the rear face 31 of the rotor nut in space 33, the blades 13 of the grease distributor 5 scoop up the grease from the region of the circlip holes and distribute the grease around the walls of the housing 15. This grease will extend to the edge of the rotor nut 11.
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
Thus there will be grease in the region of the peripheral edge of the rotor nut so preventing the ingress of water or debris by this route, but without a build up of grease in the space 33. This extends the life of seal 3.
Figure 2 illustrates a second example of a grease distributor 35 which includes two blades 37. Each blade is not of constant cross section with the blade tapering from a central diametral plane 39 to each edge 41.
Figures 3 to 6 illustrate a third example of a grease distributor 43, which comprises an essentially annular collar 45 having two diametrically opposed grease spreading blades 47 which project radially outwards from the collar 45.
Although the collar 45 is essentially annular, it includes three equally spaced cut out projections 49 which form resilient fingers. The collar 45 includes three sets of parallel slots 51 as illustrated in figure 5 which define between them an area 49 which is bent towards the inside of the annulus, i. e. towards the shaft onto which the collar is to be mounted.
The collar is made of glass nylon which would crack if the collar was a too tight fit on a shaft which subsequently expanded. By mounting the collar so that there is some clearance between the inner annular surface 53 and the surface of a shaft onto which it is to be mounted, the collar will not crack, the resilient fingers bearing on the shaft to hold the collar firmly in position on the shaft so that it rotates with the collar.
The blade 47 is symmetrical about diametral plane 55 and tapers from its centre to its two outer edges 57. The leading face 58 of the blade lies at an angle of 30 to the
<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
plane 59 forming the upper rim of the collar, which is parallel to the surface of the circlip (not shown) over which the blade will pass. The inner face 61 of the blade lies at 20 to the leading face 58. This shape of blade provides an optimum spreading surface for the distributor.

Claims (16)

  1. Claims 1. An improved grease expelling wheel bearing assembly, comprising a grease expelling wheel bearing seal, and a grease distributor, comprising a collar for mounting about the shaft of the rotor nut and projecting from the collar at least one grease spreading blade extending radially outwards from the collar towards to the assembly housing, part of the area between the collar and the housing not being covered by a blade, the arrangement such that the rotation of the collar and blade causes the grease expelled from the bearing seal to be spread evenly around the circumference of the seal, but not prevent the grease from contacting the rotor nut.
  2. 2. A grease distributor for a wheel bearing assembly comprising a collar for fitting around the shaft of a rotor nut, and, extending radially outwards of the collar, at least one blade, the dimensions of the or each blade being such that in use each blade extends to the assembly housing wall, but that part of the area between the shaft and the housing wall is not covered by a blade.
  3. 3. A grease distributor according to claim 2, in which the collar is cylindrical with a diameter slightly greater that the diameter of the shaft of the rotor nut.
  4. 4. A grease distributor according to claim 2, in which the collar has a diameter greater than the expanded diameter of the shaft and the collar includes resilient means to grip the shaft.
  5. 5. A grease distributor according to claim 3, in which the resilient means includes at least one resilient finger projecting towards the shaft of the rotor nut.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 10>
  6. 6. A grease distributor according to claim 4 or 5, in which the collar includes integral projections which bend inwards towards the shaft.
  7. 7. A grease distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which less than half of the area of the annulus between the collar and the edge of the housing does not have a blade covering it.
  8. 8. A grease distributor according to any one of claims 2 to 7, including an even number of blades arranged in one or more diametrically opposed pairs.
  9. 9. A grease distributor according to claim 8, including 2 or 4 blades.
  10. 10. A wheel bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which each blade extends to a position overlying the holes of the circlip of the bearing assembly.
  11. 11. A wheel bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the leading face of the blade is tilted with respect to the plane of the circlip, such that the leading edge of the blade tilts towards the face of the wheel bearing
  12. 12. A wheel bearing assembly according to claim 11, in which the leading face of the blade lies at an angle of substantially 30 to the plane of the circlip.
  13. 13. A wheel bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the blade tapers so that its leading edge forms a sharp edge of small cross section.
  14. 14. A wheel bearing assembly according to claim 1, in which the blade is symmetrical about a plane parallel to a diametral plane of the shaft.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 11>
  15. 15. An improved grease expelling wheel bearing assembly arranged substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
  16. 16. An improved grease expelling wheel bearing assembly arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in figure 1 when modified in accordance with figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9625849A 1996-08-01 1996-12-12 Grease expelling wheel bearing assembly Withdrawn GB2315822A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69721146T DE69721146T2 (en) 1996-08-01 1997-07-28 WHEEL BEARING GREASE DISTRIBUTOR / SCRAPER
EP97305647A EP0822349B1 (en) 1996-08-01 1997-07-28 Bearing assemblies
US08/902,990 US5826986A (en) 1996-08-01 1997-07-30 Wheel bearing assembly
JP9208038A JPH10151905A (en) 1996-08-01 1997-08-01 Wheel bearing assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9616247.4A GB9616247D0 (en) 1996-08-01 1996-08-01 Improvements in and relating to wheel bearing assemblies

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9625849D0 GB9625849D0 (en) 1997-01-29
GB2315822A true GB2315822A (en) 1998-02-11

Family

ID=10797906

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9616247.4A Pending GB9616247D0 (en) 1996-08-01 1996-08-01 Improvements in and relating to wheel bearing assemblies
GB9625849A Withdrawn GB2315822A (en) 1996-08-01 1996-12-12 Grease expelling wheel bearing assembly

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9616247.4A Pending GB9616247D0 (en) 1996-08-01 1996-08-01 Improvements in and relating to wheel bearing assemblies

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9616247D0 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB325785A (en) * 1928-09-29 1930-02-25 Georges Eveno Improvements relating to axle boxes
GB490995A (en) * 1936-12-15 1938-08-15 Mackie & Sons Ltd J Improvements in and relating to suspended wharve-driven flyer spindles for machines for the manufacture of rove and yarn from flax, hemp, jute, and like fibres
GB1148796A (en) * 1967-06-30 1969-04-16 Schwermaschb E Thalmann Veb Self lubricating bearing assembly for machines running at high speed
US4406333A (en) * 1981-10-13 1983-09-27 Adams Johnie R Rotating head for rotary drilling rigs

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB325785A (en) * 1928-09-29 1930-02-25 Georges Eveno Improvements relating to axle boxes
GB490995A (en) * 1936-12-15 1938-08-15 Mackie & Sons Ltd J Improvements in and relating to suspended wharve-driven flyer spindles for machines for the manufacture of rove and yarn from flax, hemp, jute, and like fibres
GB1148796A (en) * 1967-06-30 1969-04-16 Schwermaschb E Thalmann Veb Self lubricating bearing assembly for machines running at high speed
US4406333A (en) * 1981-10-13 1983-09-27 Adams Johnie R Rotating head for rotary drilling rigs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9625849D0 (en) 1997-01-29
GB9616247D0 (en) 1996-09-11

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