JP2006112532A - Bearing for wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bearing for wheels capable of suppressing deformation of an inner ring and reduction in flat surface width of the end face of inner ring, and also capable of preventing coming off of the inner ring due to vibration or the like during the period from shipment of bearing to assembly to a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The bearing for wheels comprises an outer member 1 comprising a plurality of rolling lanes 3 on the inner periphery, an inner member 2 comprising a rolling lane 4 which faces the rolling lanes 3, and a plurality of rolling elements 5 interposed between the facing rolling lanes 3 and 4, journaling a wheel to a car body. The inner member 2 consists of a hub ring 9 comprising a flange 9a for fitting a wheel, and an inner ring 10 engaged with the outer periphery of the inboard side end of the hub ring 9. An engaged part 11 is provided on the inner diameter surface of the inner ring 10, and a stop ring groove 12 is provided on the outer diameter surface of the hub ring 9. A stop ring 13 is engaged across the stop ring groove 12 and the engaged part 11, to prevent coming off of the inner ring 10 toward the inboard from the hub ring 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheel bearing device that rotatably supports a drive wheel of an automobile or the like.

  Conventionally, what is shown in FIG. 7 is proposed as a wheel bearing device for driving wheel support (for example, patent documents 1). This is because the balls 25 are interposed between the opposing rolling surfaces 23 and 24 of the outer member 21 and the inner member 22 in a double row, and the inner member 22 is a hub having a wheel mounting hub flange 29a on the outer periphery. This is composed of a ring 29 and an inner ring 30 fitted to the outer periphery of the inboard side end of the hub ring 29. The inner ring 30 is fitted into a step portion 35 provided on the hub ring 29. The stem portion 33a of the outer ring 33 of the constant velocity joint is inserted into the central hole 31 of the hub wheel 29 and is spline-fitted, and the step surface 33b of the constant velocity joint outer ring 33 is pressed against the inboard side end surface 30a of the inner ring 30. It is done. In this state, the inner member 22 is tightened by the constant velocity joint outer ring 33 and the nut 34 by screwing the nut 34 into the tip of the stem portion 33a.

  In this type of wheel bearing device, it is desirable to prevent the inner ring 30 fitted to the hub wheel 29 from being inadvertently removed before the bearing device is assembled to the actual vehicle. In response to such a request, in the proposed example of the figure, a step portion 36 is formed on the inner periphery of the inboard side end of the inner ring 30, and this step portion 36 is provided on the entire periphery of the end portion of the hub wheel 29. It is made to hold down with the crimping part 29b.

The proposed example in the figure is the following improvement. That is, in the conventional wheel bearing device for driving wheel support, the end surface of the inner ring 30 is directly held down by the caulking portion 29b without providing the step portion 36 in the inner ring 30 of the proposed example of FIG. Yes. In that case, since the crimping portion 29b protrudes in the axial direction from the inner ring 30, an additional process for making the abutting surface with the constant velocity joint outer ring 33 is necessary for the crimping portion 29b after the crimping process. . In the proposed example of FIG. 7, the caulking portion 29 b does not protrude from the step portion 36 of the inner ring 30, and the end surface of the inner ring 30 can be used as an abutting surface, so that no additional work is required.
JP-A-9-164803

However, the above-described wheel bearing device has the following problems.
(1) Since the caulking portion 29b of the hub wheel 29 is large, in the caulking process, the caulking tool interferes with the outer diameter portion of the inner ring 30, and the machining is difficult. In this case, unlike the normal swing caulking, the caulking outer diameter portion cannot be suppressed, so that the caulking of the element to be crushed in the axial direction is high. As a result, the amount of expansion of the hub wheel 29 toward the shaft portion becomes excessive, and the hoop stress generated in the inner ring 30 increases. If the hoop stress is excessive, it will cause cracking of the inner ring 30 and early peeling.
(2) Since the caulking portion 29b of the hub wheel 29 is large, it is necessary to increase the radial step of the step portion 36 formed at the inboard side end portion of the inner ring 30. When the stepped portion 36 is increased in this way, the area of the inboard side end surface 30a of the inner ring 30 is reduced, so that the inner ring end surface is formed by the inner member 22 being tightened by the constant velocity joint outer ring 33 and the nut 34. The contact surface pressure increases, which causes wear and abnormal noise when mounted on the vehicle.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wheel bearing device capable of preventing the inner ring from coming off due to vibration or the like from the bearing shipment to assembly into the vehicle while suppressing deformation of the inner ring and a reduction in the flat surface width of the inner ring end face. Is to provide.

  The wheel bearing device of the present invention includes an outer member having a double-row rolling surface on the inner periphery, an inner member having a rolling surface facing the respective rolling surfaces on the outer periphery, and the opposing rolling A plurality of rolling elements interposed between the surfaces, the inner member is a hub wheel having a wheel mounting flange and an inner ring fitted to the outer periphery of the inboard side portion of the hub wheel, In the wheel bearing device in which the rolling surface of each row is formed on the hub wheel and the inner ring, and the wheel serving as the driving wheel is rotatably supported with respect to the vehicle body, the engaged portion provided on the inner diameter surface of the inner ring And a retaining ring that engages with a retaining ring groove provided on an outer diameter surface of the hub ring, and prevents the inner ring from coming off to the inboard side with respect to the hub ring.

  According to this configuration, the hub ring of the inner ring is provided by the retaining ring that engages with the engaged portion provided on the inner diameter surface of the inner ring and the retaining ring groove provided on the outer diameter surface of the hub ring. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner ring from slipping out to the inboard side with respect to the hub wheel due to vibration or the like from the shipment of the bearing to the assembly to the vehicle. Unlike retaining hubs with large caulking portions to prevent them from coming off with retaining rings, the inner ring is less affected by deformation. In addition, since the retaining ring prevents the inner ring from having a large stepped portion, a reduction in the flat surface width of the inner ring end surface can be suppressed. Therefore, an increase in surface pressure caused by engagement of the inner ring end surface with the step portion of the constant velocity joint is suppressed, and generation of wear and noise is suppressed.

  The engaged portion of the inner ring may be a circumferential groove. When the engaged portion is a circumferential groove on the inner ring inner surface, the flat surface width of the inner ring end surface is not reduced due to the provision of the engaged portion, and an increase in the surface pressure of the inner ring end surface is avoided.

  The engaged portion of the inner ring may be a stepped portion having an inner peripheral surface larger in diameter than the inner diameter surface of the inner ring and continuing to the inner ring end surface. When the engaged portion is a stepped portion that extends to the end surface of the inner ring, the assembling work for assembling the hub wheel and the inner ring by engaging the retaining ring is simplified. When the engaged portion is a stepped portion, the flat surface width of the inner ring end surface is reduced, but since the engaged portion is engaged with the retaining ring, a stepped portion for engaging the hub ring caulking portion is provided. Compared to the case, a small step portion is sufficient, and the degree of reduction in the flat surface width is small.

In the present invention, the retaining ring may have a C shape having a split portion at one place in the circumferential direction, and may have an inclined outer diameter surface having a small diameter on the inboard side.
In this way, when the outer diameter surface of the retaining ring is an inclined surface, the retaining ring is reduced in diameter and expanded in accordance with the press-fitting of the inner ring into the hub ring, so that the retaining ring is stopped across the engaged portion and the retaining ring groove. The wheel can be easily engaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner ring from coming off with good assemblability and compactness.

  In this invention, the retaining ring has an inclined sectional shape that is inclined on both the inner and outer diameter surfaces so that the inboard side has a small diameter, and applies an axial force that presses the inner ring against the hub ring toward the outboard side. It may be. In the case of this configuration, the retaining ring can be engaged without causing any backlash in the axial direction between the engaged portion and the retaining ring groove. Further, with the press-fitting of the inner ring into the hub ring, the diameter of the retaining ring is increased after the diameter of the retaining ring is reduced, and the retaining ring can be easily engaged across the engaged portion and the retaining ring groove. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner ring from coming off with good assemblability and compactness.

  The wheel bearing device of the present invention includes an outer member having a double-row rolling surface on the inner periphery, an inner member having a rolling surface facing the respective rolling surfaces on the outer periphery, and the opposing rolling A plurality of rolling elements interposed between the surfaces, the inner member is a hub wheel having a wheel mounting flange and an inner ring fitted to the outer periphery of the inboard side portion of the hub wheel, In the wheel bearing device in which the rolling surface of each row is formed on the hub wheel and the inner ring, and the wheel serving as the driving wheel is rotatably supported with respect to the vehicle body, the engaged portion provided on the inner diameter surface of the inner ring And the retaining ring engaged with the retaining ring groove provided on the outer diameter surface of the hub ring, so that the inner ring is prevented from coming off to the inboard side with respect to the hub ring. From bearing shipment to assembly to vehicle while suppressing reduction in flat surface width of inner ring end face It is possible to prevent the inner ring of the missing caused by vibration or the like.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is a third generation type inner ring rotation type and is applied to a wheel bearing device for driving wheel support. In this specification, the side closer to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle when attached to the vehicle is referred to as the outboard side, and the side closer to the center of the vehicle is referred to as the inboard side.
The wheel bearing device includes an outer member 1 in which double-row rolling surfaces 3 are formed on the inner periphery, an inner member 2 in which rolling surfaces 4 facing the respective rolling surfaces 3 are formed, and the outer members 1. It is comprised by the double row rolling element 5 interposed between the rolling surfaces 3 and 4 of the direction member 1 and the inner member 2. As shown in FIG. This wheel bearing device is a double-row angular ball bearing type, and the rolling elements 5 are formed of balls, and are held by a cage 6 for each row. Each of the rolling surfaces 3 and 4 has an arc shape in cross section, and each of the rolling surfaces 3 and 4 is formed such that the ball contact angle is aligned with the back surface. Both ends of the bearing space between the outer member 1 and the inner member 2 are sealed by seals 7 and 8, respectively.

The outer member 1 is a member on the fixed side, has a vehicle body mounting flange 1a on the outer periphery, and is formed as an integral part as a whole. The vehicle body mounting flange 1a is fastened with a bolt (not shown) to a knuckle provided on a vehicle suspension system (not shown).
The inner member 2 is a member on the rotation side, and includes a hub wheel 9 having a wheel mounting flange 9a on the outer periphery and an inner ring 10 fitted to the outer periphery of the inboard side end of the hub wheel 9. Become. Outboard side rolling surfaces 4 of the double row rolling surfaces 4 are formed on the hub wheel 9, and inboard side rolling surfaces 4 are formed on the inner ring 10. The hub wheel 9 has an inner ring fitting surface 9b formed as a stepped portion on the outer periphery of the inboard side end, and the inner ring 10 is fitted to the inner ring fitting surface 9b.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3, an engaged portion 11 made of a circumferential groove is provided on the inner diameter surface of the inner ring 10, and the inner ring fitting surface 9 b of the hub wheel 9 is connected to the engaged portion 11. Opposing retaining ring grooves 12 are provided. A retaining ring 13 is engaged across the engaged portion 11 and the retaining ring groove 12, thereby preventing the inner ring 10 from coming off to the inboard side with respect to the hub wheel 9. The retaining ring 13 is a C-shaped elastic member having a split portion 13a at one place in the circumferential direction, as shown in the sectional view and the front view in FIGS. The diameter surface is an inclined surface 13b having a small diameter on the inboard side.

The inner ring 10 is fitted to the hub ring 9 as shown in FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the retaining ring 13 is engaged with the retaining ring groove 12 of the hub wheel 9. In this engaged state, the retaining ring 13 is in a state where its outer peripheral portion protrudes from the retaining ring groove 12.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the inner ring 10 is press-fitted into the inner ring fitting surface 9 b from the inboard side end of the hub ring 9. In the middle of the press-fitting, the retaining ring 13 is pressed by the inner ring 10 to reduce its diameter, and is immersed in the retaining ring groove 12. At this time, the end surface of the inner ring 10 facing the outboard side is in sliding contact with the inclined surface 13b which is the outer diameter surface of the retaining ring 13, so that the retaining ring 13 smoothly enters the retaining ring groove 12 as the inner ring 10 is press-fitted. .
As shown in FIG. 3D, when the inner ring 10 is press-fitted to a fixed position where one end surface of the inner ring 10 abuts on the step surface 9ba of the inner ring fitting surface 9b of the hub wheel 9, the engaged portion 11 of the inner ring 10 is engaged. Faces the retaining ring groove 12 of the hub ring 9. At this time, the retaining ring 13 is expanded in diameter by the elastic restoring force from the reduced diameter state, and the retaining ring 13 is engaged across the engaged portion 11 and the retaining ring groove 12. As a result, the inner ring 10 is prevented from coming off to the inboard side with respect to the hub ring 9.

In assembling the wheel bearing device to the vehicle, the flange 9a of the hub wheel 9 is provided with a hub bolt 15 that passes through the bolt insertion hole 14 and a hub nut (not shown) that is screwed into the hub bolt 15. A brake rotor and a wheel (both not shown) of the brake device are attached in an overlapping manner.
The hub wheel 9 has a center hole 16, and a stem portion 18 a of an outer ring 18 serving as one joint member of the constant velocity joint 17 is inserted into the center hole 16 and is spline-fitted, and is screwed to the tip of the stem portion 18 a. The constant velocity joint outer ring 18 is coupled to the inner member 2 by tightening the mating nut 19. At this time, the step surface 18 b provided on the constant velocity joint outer ring 18 facing the outboard side is pressed against the end surface 10 a facing the inboard side of the inner ring 10, and the inner member 2 is formed by the constant velocity joint outer ring 18 and the nut 19. Is tightened.

  According to the wheel bearing device having this configuration, the retaining ring 13 is engaged across the engaged portion 11 provided on the inner diameter surface of the inner ring 10 and the retaining ring groove 12 provided on the outer diameter surface of the hub wheel 9. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner ring 10 from coming out to the inboard side with respect to the hub wheel 9 due to vibration or the like from the shipment of the bearing to the assembly to the vehicle.

  Further, the engaged portion 11 of the inner ring 10 is a circumferential groove, and the retaining ring 13 is C-shaped having a split portion 13a at one place in the circumferential direction, and the outer diameter surface has a smaller diameter on the inboard side. Since the inclined surface 13 b is used, the retaining ring 13 can be easily extended across the engaged portion 11 and the retaining ring groove 12 by reducing and expanding the retaining ring 13 in accordance with the press-fitting of the inner ring 10 into the hub ring 9. The inner ring 10 can be prevented from coming off in a compact and compact manner.

  Further, since the retaining ring 13 is engaged with the engaged portion 11 formed by the circumferential groove on the inner ring inner surface, the flat surface width of the inboard side end surface 10a of the inner ring 10 is reduced by providing the engaged portion 11. Does not occur. Therefore, the contact surface pressure of the inner ring end face 2b due to the inner member 2 being tightened by the constant velocity joint outer ring 18 and the nut 19 is avoided, and wear and noise are generated in the usage state assembled to the vehicle. Can be avoided.

  4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the wheel bearing device of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the engaged portion 11 of the inner ring 10 is replaced with a circumferential groove, and a step is shown as enlarged in FIG. As a part. The engaged portion 11 formed of the stepped portion has an inner peripheral surface having a larger diameter than the inner diameter surface of the inner ring 10 and continues to the inner ring end surface 10a. The retaining ring 13 is made of a C-shaped elastic member having a split portion 13a at one place in the circumferential direction, as shown in the sectional view and the front view in FIGS. In this case, a disc spring shape having an inclined cross-sectional shape in which both the inner and outer diameter surfaces are inclined so that the inboard side has a small diameter is formed. The retaining ring 13 is made of a steel material or the like having a spring property and imparts an axial force that presses the inner ring 10 against the hub wheel 9 toward the outboard side. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The inner ring 10 is fitted to the hub ring 9 as shown in FIG. First, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, after the inner ring 10 is press-fitted into the inner ring fitting surface 9b of the hub ring 9 (at this time, the retaining ring groove 12 is inserted into the engaged portion 11). The retaining ring 13 that is in a diameter-expanded state (facing the board side end) is fitted to the outer diameter surface of the inboard side end of the hub wheel 9 and the retaining ring 13 is pushed into the outboard side by the jig 20.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 6C, the retaining ring 13 is compressed in the axial direction and further reduced in diameter from the expanded state as shown in FIG. 6D by the elastic restoring force, and the retaining ring 13 is engaged. Engage across the part 11 and the retaining ring groove 12. As a result, the inner ring 10 is prevented from coming off to the inboard side with respect to the hub ring 9. At this time, since the elastic restoring force in the axial direction acts on the retaining ring 13, the retaining ring 13 can be engaged with the engaged portion 11 and the retaining ring groove 12 without rattling, and preload is generated in the bearing.

It is sectional drawing of the wheel bearing apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is sectional drawing of the retaining ring in the bearing apparatus for wheels, (B) is a front view of the retaining ring. It is explanatory drawing of the press fit fitting of the inner ring | wheel to the hub ring | wheel in the wheel bearing apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the wheel bearing apparatus concerning other embodiment of this invention. (A) is sectional drawing of the retaining ring in the bearing apparatus for wheels, (B) is a front view of the retaining ring. It is explanatory drawing of the press fit fitting of the inner ring | wheel to the hub ring | wheel in the wheel bearing apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer member 2 ... Inner member 3, 4 ... Rolling surface 5 ... Rolling element 9 ... Hub wheel 9a ... Wheel mounting flange 10, 10A, 10B ... Inner ring 11 ... Engagement part 12 ... Retaining ring groove 13 ... Retaining ring 13a ... Split part 13b ... Inclined surface

Claims (5)

An outer member having a plurality of rolling surfaces on the inner periphery, an inner member having a rolling surface facing each of the rolling surfaces on the outer periphery, and a double row interposed between the facing rolling surfaces. A rolling element, and the inner member includes a hub ring having a wheel mounting flange and an inner ring fitted to an outer periphery of an inboard side portion of the hub ring. In a wheel bearing device in which a rolling surface is formed and rotatably supports a wheel serving as a driving wheel with respect to a vehicle body,
An inboard side of the inner ring with respect to the hub ring is provided by a retaining ring that engages with an engaged portion provided on an inner diameter surface of the inner ring and a retaining ring groove provided on an outer diameter surface of the hub ring. A wheel bearing device characterized in that it is prevented from coming off.   The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the engaged portion of the inner ring is a circumferential groove.   2. The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the engaged portion of the inner ring is a stepped portion having an inner peripheral surface having a diameter larger than an inner diameter surface of the inner ring and extending to an end surface of the inner ring.   4. The retaining ring according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring has a C-shape having a split portion at one place in a circumferential direction and has an inclined outer diameter surface having a small diameter on the inboard side. Is a wheel bearing device.   5. The retaining ring according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring has an inclined cross-sectional shape that is inclined with respect to the inner and outer diameter surfaces so that the inboard side has a small diameter, and the inner ring is out of the hub ring. A wheel bearing device that applies an axial force to be pressed against the board.

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