JP2005325902A - Method for manufacturing wheel bearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely manage pre-load by a simple means. <P>SOLUTION: When assembling an assembly including an outer member 1, a hub 2, an inner ring 3, and a ball 4, it is determined whether pre-load reaches a specified value or not from the amount of outside diameter expansion of the outer member 1 caused by pressing the inner ring 3 into the outer periphery of the hub 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device, and more particularly to a method for applying an appropriate preload to a bearing device.

  It is advantageous to use a wheel bearing device used in a vehicle such as an automobile in a state in which the bearing axial gap is negative, that is, in a state where a preload is applied, in terms of bearing rolling life, rigidity, and fretting. . On the other hand, if the preload is too large, the friction moment and the temperature increase, and therefore it is necessary to manage the preload to an appropriate value at the manufacturing stage of the wheel bearing device. However, since it is difficult to directly measure the negative gap, it is not easy to accurately measure the preload.

Conventionally, as means for managing the preload amount, for example, methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below have been proposed.
Japanese Patent No. 2846545 Japanese Patent No. 2866282

  In recent years, demands for cost reduction of wheel bearing devices have become increasingly severe. Since the preload management of the wheel bearing device requires a lot of labor and labor, if this can be done with simple means, it will be an effective measure for meeting such a demand.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing apparatus which can perform preload management accurately with simple means.

  According to the verification by the present inventors, when preload is applied to the wheel bearing device, the outer member expands in accordance with the magnitude of the preload, and there is a difference between the preload amount and the expansion amount of the outer member. As shown in FIG. 5, it has been found that the relationship of an increasing function is established when one increases. Therefore, if this relationship is clarified in advance by experiments or the like, the preload amount can be grasped by measuring the expansion amount of the outer member.

  Based on such knowledge, in the present invention, an outer member having a double row outer race on the inner periphery, a first track member having an outer race, a flange for attaching to a wheel, and an inner race facing one outer race, After assembling an assembly including a second race member having an inner race facing the other outer race on the outer periphery and a double row rolling element interposed between the opposing outer race and the inner race, the first track of the assembly Of the members and the second raceway member, when the inner diameter side member is partially plastically deformed to the outer diameter side and both members are restrained in the axial direction, the outer member is removed from the outer member due to the plastic deformation of the inner diameter side member. It was decided to manage the preload by measuring the amount of radial expansion.

  The outer diameter of the outer member can be easily measured using a known measuring device, and the outer diameter expansion amount of the outer member can be easily calculated from the difference in outer diameter before and after assembly of the assembly. Can do. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform preload management only by measuring the outer diameter of the outer member, and at the same time as assembling the bearing device, high-precision preload management can be performed with a simple procedure. Note that the preload management here includes both the meaning of determining whether or not the preload is a specified value and setting the preload to the specified value.

  When assembling the above assembly, it is desirable to match the groove diameters of the outer race and inner race with the outer diameter of the rolling element so as to obtain an appropriate preload amount (negative gap in the axial direction). This matching is performed by measuring the outer race and inner race groove diameters and the outer diameters of the rolling elements for the outer member, the first race member, the second race member, and the rolling elements produced in the respective processes. Are grouped according to the deviation width from the reference dimension, and then a combination of parts that provides a predetermined axial negative gap is selected. Conventionally, after assembling the assembly by this matching, it has been difficult to confirm whether or not the actual preload has been obtained. However, according to the present invention, the assembly subjected to the matching process has a specified preload amount. It can be easily determined whether or not.

  Further, in the present invention, a first track member having an outer member having a double row outer race on the inner periphery, a flange for attaching to the wheel and an inner race facing one outer race on the outer periphery, and the other on the outer periphery. After assembling an assembly including a second race member having an inner race facing the outer race of the second race, and a double row rolling element interposed between the outer race and the inner race facing each other. Of the two raceway members, when the inner diameter side member is partially plastically deformed to the outer diameter side and both members are restrained in the axial direction, the outer diameter expansion amount of the outer member due to plastic deformation of the inner diameter side member It was decided to manage the preload by measuring.

  Further, in the present invention, a first track member having an outer member having a double row outer race on the inner periphery, a flange for mounting on a wheel and an inner race facing one outer race on the outer periphery, and the other on the outer periphery. After assembling an assembly including a second race member having an inner race opposite to the outer race of the outer race and a double row rolling element interposed between the opposite outer race and inner race, the first race member and the first race member of the assembly When the two race members are restrained in the axial direction using the tightening force of the nut, the preload is managed by measuring the outer diameter expansion amount of the outer member accompanying the tightening of the nut. .

  Thus, in the manufacturing process of the wheel bearing device, after the assembly of the assembly, the member on the inner diameter side of the first race member and the second race member is partially plastically deformed to the outer diameter side by means such as caulking. Alternatively, it is possible to add a step of restraining the first track member and the second track member in the axial direction by using a tightening force of the nut. In any case, a preload is applied to the bearing device with plastic deformation or nut tightening, but if the outer diameter expansion amount of the outer member is measured during these operations, a preload similar to the above is applied. Management becomes possible. In particular, if the outer diameter expansion amount is constantly monitored during these operations, a predetermined preload can be reliably obtained by terminating each operation when the outer diameter expansion amount reaches a predetermined value.

  The preload management (final preload management) at the time of plastic deformation or nut tightening can be performed together with the preload management (primary preload management) performed when the assembly is assembled. Of course, the primary preload may be omitted and only the final preload may be managed.

  As the first track member, a hub having a wheel mounting flange can be used. In this case, as the second race member, an inner ring fitted with a hub or an outer ring of an outer joint member is used.

  According to the present invention, highly accurate preload management can be performed with a simple procedure. Therefore, the cost of the wheel bearing device can be reduced and the quality stability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows a wheel bearing device for a driven wheel as an example of a wheel bearing device whose preload is managed by the method of the present invention. The wheel bearing device includes an outer member 1 having a double row outer race 1a on the inner periphery, a first race member 2 having an outer race 2a on the outer periphery on the outer periphery, and an inner race 3a on the outer periphery on the outer periphery. The main component is a rolling bearing comprising a second race member 3 and a double row rolling element 4 interposed between the outer race 1a and the inner races 2a, 3a. In the illustrated example, a ball is used as the rolling element 4 (other rolling elements such as tapered rollers can also be used), and this ball 4 has a contact angle between the outer race 1a and the inner races 2a and 3a. A plurality of columns are interposed. The balls 4 are held at equal intervals in the circumferential direction for each row by a holder (not shown).

  Here, the outboard side means the side that is outside in the vehicle width direction when the wheel bearing device is assembled to the vehicle body, and the inboard side means the side that is inside in the vehicle width direction.

  The outer member 1 has a flange portion 1b for attaching to a vehicle body side member (not shown) such as a knuckle on the outer periphery. Of the outer peripheral surface of the outer member, a cylindrical press-fitting surface 1c that is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the knuckle is formed on the inboard side of the flange portion 1b. The outer member 1 is fixed to the vehicle body by press-fitting the press-fitting surface 1c of the outer member 1 into the inner periphery of the knuckle and further fixing the flange portion 1b to the end surface of the knuckle using a bolt or the like.

  In the illustrated wheel bearing device, a solid-shaped hub having a flange portion 2b for attaching to a wheel (not shown) on the outer periphery is used as the first track member 2, and a ring-shaped hub is used as the second track member 3. An inner ring is used. A flange portion 2b, an inner race 2a, and a small diameter portion 2c are formed on the outer periphery of the hub 2 in this order from the outboard side, and the inner ring 3 is press-fitted and fixed to the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 2c. As will be described later, a cylindrical portion 2e (see FIG. 3) formed on the inboard side end portion of the hub 2 is plastically deformed to the outer diameter side to form a flange-like shape. A plastically deformed portion 2d is formed. The hub 2 and the inner ring 3 are restrained in the axial direction by the plastic deformation portion 2d, and one member is prevented from falling off from the other.

  The preload management of the wheel bearing device is performed according to the following procedure in parallel with the assembly of the wheel bearing device.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer member 1 is placed on the base 6, and the outer diameter D0 of the outer peripheral surface of the outer member 1 is measured. The measurement location A at this time is the outer peripheral surface 1d on the outboard side with respect to the flange portion 1b, and is between the double row outer races 1a (desirably in the middle of the double row outer races 1a). This measurement location A is common to subsequent outer diameter measurements.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, in the state where the hub 2 is supported by the jig 8, the outer member 1, the inner ring 3, and the ball 4 are assembled on the outer periphery thereof to assemble the assembly 9. The assembly of the assembly 9 is completed by press-fitting the inner ring 3 into the outer periphery of the hub 2, and a primary preload is applied inside the bearing by this press-fitting. When assembling the assembly 9, a ball having a diameter matched to each groove diameter so that the race diameter of the outer race 1a and the race diameter of the inner races 2a and 3a are measured in advance and a prescribed primary preload amount can be applied after the inner ring 2 is press-fitted. 4 is selected and used (matching process). Although illustration is omitted, when the assembly 9 is assembled, a retainer and a seal member (not shown) are also incorporated in the bearing device.

  As the inner ring 3 is press-fitted, a tensile force acts between the double-row inner races 2a and 3a as shown in FIG. Further, a compressive force acts between the double-row outer races 1a, and the outer diameter of the outer member 1 increases from D0 to D1 due to the compressive force. As described above, the relationship between the preload amount F and the outer diameter expansion amount ΔX of the outer member increases as one increases, so that the other increases (see FIG. 5). If this relationship is obtained, the outer diameter method D1 of the outer member 1 is measured after completion of press-fitting of the inner ring 3, and the increase amount ΔX (= D1-D0) of the outer diameter before and after assembly is calculated. It can be confirmed whether or not the primary preload after matching is within a specified range.

  The assembly 9 assembled in this way is subsequently subjected to crimping. As shown in FIG. 4, the caulking is performed by plastically deforming the hub 2 located on the inner diameter side of the hub 2 and the inner ring 3 toward the outer shape, thereby forming a plastic deformation portion 2 d to form the hub 2 and the inner ring 3. In FIG. 4, as an example, a cylindrical portion 2 e formed at the end of the inboard side of the hub 2 is plastically deformed into a flange shape by swinging the caulking jig 10. The case where dynamic caulking is performed is illustrated.

  During swing caulking, the axial pressure from the jig 10 acts on the assembly 9, so the preload F further increases. At the same time, the same compressive force as that during assembly of the assembly acts on the outer member 1, so that the outer diameter of the outer member 1 further increases. Accordingly, the outer dimension of the outer member 1 is always measured during the caulking, and the outer diameter expansion amount ΔX from the initial outer diameter dimension D0 is measured based on the measured value D2 (ΔX = D2-D0). If the crimping operation is terminated when this ΔX reaches the specified value, the final preload inside the bearing can be set to the specified value. Thereby, the wheel bearing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

  Thus, in the present invention, it is found that there is a certain relationship between the preload amount F and the outer diameter expansion amount ΔX of the outer member 1, and by using this relationship, the outer diameter dimension can be easily measured. The final preload of the bearing device after caulking can be set to an appropriate value only with simple work. Accordingly, it is possible to apply an accurate preload while improving the work efficiency of the assembly work, and it is possible to reduce the cost of the bearing device and further improve the quality stability.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be applied to various embodiments. For example, as a caulking method, in addition to the above-mentioned swing caulking, the hub 3 which is a member on the inner diameter side of the hub 2 and the inner ring 3 is partially plastically deformed in the diameter-expanding direction, and this plastically deformed portion is used as the inner ring. Although the so-called diameter expansion caulking is known in which the hub 2 and the inner ring 3 are coupled by biting into the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 3 and both are restrained in the axial direction. Since the outer diameter Dx of the outer member 1 increases with the progress, the preload can be set to an appropriate value by calculating the outer diameter expansion amount ΔX from this Dx.

  As a final preload application means, in addition to the above-described caulking, as shown in FIG. 6, a nut 11 is screwed into a screw portion 2 f formed at the inboard side end portion of the hub 2. In some cases, the hub 2 and the inner ring 3 are restrained in the axial direction by tightening and preload is applied to the inside of the bearing. In this case, the outer diameter of the outer member 1 increases as the nut 11 is tightened. By calculating the outer diameter expansion amount ΔX accompanying this tightening, the preload F can be set to an appropriate value for the same reason as described above.

  In this case, since the final preload is accurately set by caulking, measurement of the outer diameter expansion amount ΔX of the outer member 1 in the assembly stage of the assembly 9 (see FIG. 3) (management of the primary preload) is omitted. You can also.

  The form of the wheel bearing device is not limited to that shown in the figure. For example, the hub 2 is formed in a hollow shape, and the stem portion (none of which is shown) of the outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint is inserted into the inner periphery thereof. The present invention can also be applied to a bearing device (for driving wheels) that restrains the hub 2 and the joint outer ring in the axial direction by tightening (see FIG. 1) or nut tightening (see FIG. 6). Alternatively, the present invention can also be applied to a bearing device (for driving wheels) that uses the hub 2 as the first track member and the outer ring of a constant velocity universal joint as the second track member.

It is sectional drawing of a wheel bearing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the assembly process of a wheel bearing apparatus, and is sectional drawing of an outward member. It is a figure which shows the assembly process of a wheel bearing apparatus, and is sectional drawing of an assembly. It is sectional drawing of the assembly which shows a caulking process. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the preload F and the outer diameter expansion amount (DELTA) X of an outer member. It is sectional drawing which shows the other form of a wheel bearing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer member 1a Outer race 2 Hub 2a Inner race 2b Flange part 2c Small diameter part 2d Plastic deformation part 2e Cylindrical part 3 Inner ring 3a Inner race 4 Rolling element 6 Base 8 Jig 9 Assembly 10 Caulking jig 11 Nut

Claims (5)

A first track member having an outer member having a double row outer race on the inner periphery, a flange for mounting on a wheel and an inner race facing one outer race on the outer periphery, and an inner facing the other outer race on the outer periphery When assembling an assembly including a second race member having a race and a double-row rolling element interposed between the opposing outer race and inner race,
A method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device, wherein preload is managed by measuring an outer diameter expansion amount of an outer member accompanying assembly of the assembly. A first track member having an outer member having a double row outer race on the inner periphery, a flange for mounting on a wheel and an inner race facing one outer race on the outer periphery, and an inner facing the other outer race on the outer periphery After assembling an assembly including a second race member having a race and a double-row rolling element interposed between the opposing outer race and inner race, the first race member and the second race member of the assembly, When the inner diameter side member is partially plastically deformed to the outer diameter side and both members are restrained in the axial direction,
A method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device, wherein preload is managed by measuring an outer diameter expansion amount of an outer member accompanying plastic deformation of an inner diameter side member. A first track member having an outer member having a double row outer race on the inner periphery, a flange for mounting on a wheel and an inner race facing one outer race on the outer periphery, and an inner facing the other outer race on the outer periphery After assembling the assembly including the second race member having the race and the double row rolling elements interposed between the opposing outer race and the inner race, the first race member and the second race member of the assembly, When restraining in the axial direction using the tightening force of the nut,
A method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device, comprising: managing a preload by measuring an outer diameter expansion amount of an outer member accompanying tightening of a nut.   4. A method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device, comprising: managing preload by measuring an outer diameter expansion amount of an outer member during assembly of the assembly according to claim 2 or 3.   The method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the assembly is assembled, matching is performed between the groove diameters of the outer race and the inner race and the outer diameter of the rolling element.

Images