JP2013253647A - Method of manufacturing wheel bearing device, and wheel bearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device, and the wheel bearing device, capable of suppressing pressure increases in the bearing when a seal member is press-fitted.SOLUTION: A method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device includes: a communication member mounting step of mounting a communication member 9 having flexibility from a bearing inner space 6 to a bearing outer space 10 while a ball 5 is mounted in an outer ring 2; an inner ring related mounting step of mounting a vehicle outer side seal member 7, an inner shaft 3 and an inner ring 4 to produce a state where the bearing inner space 6 and the bearing outer space 10 are brought into communication with each other by a communication hole 9a formed in a surrounding space of the communication member 9 in a sliding part 72g where the vehicle outer side seal member 7 makes slide contact with an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 3, following the communication member mounting step; a seal press-fitting step of press-fitting a vehicle inner side seal member 8, following the inner ring related mounting step; and a communication member removal step of removing the communication member 9, following the seal press-fitting step.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device and a wheel bearing device.

  Since the wheel bearing device used for a vehicle wheel is used in a bad environment affected by rainwater or muddy water, seal members are arranged at both ends in the axial direction of the annular space between the outer ring and the inner ring of the bearing. Thus, the sealability of the bearing inner space formed thereby is enhanced.

  The seal member mounted on the vehicle outer side is fitted into the outer ring and is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring. A seal member mounted on the vehicle inner side is composed of a core metal fitted into the outer ring, a slinger fitted outside the inner ring, and a seal fixed to the core metal and slidably in contact with the slinger, so-called pack seal. Is. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP 2009-162677 A

  The above-mentioned wheel bearing device is constructed by assembling an inner ring, an outer ring, a rolling element, and a vehicle outer side seal member in a state in which grease is sealed in the bearing inner space, and then press-fitting the vehicle inner side seal member. Assembled. When the seal member is press-fitted, the volume of the bearing internal space decreases because the volume of the seal internal volume decreases.

  Here, since the fitting portion between the slinger and the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring is made of metal, a slight gap may be generated depending on the surface roughness. Then, since the pressure in the bearing internal space is rising, the base oil of the grease sealed in the bearing internal space may be pushed out from this gap and leak to the outside of the bearing. In particular, when the assembled wheel bearing device is stored as a single unit for a long time, for example, for 2 to 3 weeks, leakage of the base oil may be confirmed. As a result, when the wheel bearing device is attached to the vehicle, the hand may touch the leaked base oil, which deteriorates the working environment. Then, the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing apparatus and the wheel bearing apparatus had a subject to suppress the pressure rise inside a bearing when press-fitting a seal member.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device and a wheel bearing device capable of suppressing an increase in pressure inside the bearing when a seal member is press-fitted. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the structural feature of the method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device according to claim 1 is that an outer ring fixed to a vehicle fixing member on the vehicle inner side and a wheel on the vehicle outer side are attached. An inner ring that rotates relative to the outer ring, a rolling element that is disposed in an annular space between the outer ring and the inner ring, and an axial end of the annular space that seals the annular space to seal the bearing interior. A seal member that forms a space, and the seal member is a vehicle outer side seal member that is mounted on the vehicle outer side of the bearing internal space, and a vehicle inner side seal member that is mounted on the vehicle inner side of the bearing internal space. And the vehicle outer side seal member is press-fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring, is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring, and manufactures a bearing device for a wheel in which a lubricant is sealed in the bearing inner space. A method, In a state where the rolling element is mounted on the outer ring, a communication member mounting step of mounting a flexible communication member from the bearing inner space to the bearing outer space, and following the communication member mounting step, the vehicle outer The bearing inner space and the bearing outer space are in communication with each other by a communication hole formed in a space around the communication member at a sliding contact portion where the side seal member is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring. Following the inner ring related mounting step of mounting the vehicle outer side seal member and the inner ring, following the inner ring related mounting step, the seal press-fitting step of press-fitting the vehicle inner-side seal member, and the seal press-fitting step, And a communication member removing step of removing the communication member.

  According to the method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device of claim 1, the vehicle inner side seal member is press-fitted in a state where the bearing inner space and the bearing outer space are communicated by the communication hole formed by the communication member. When the member is press-fitted, the pressure inside the bearing does not increase.

  A structural feature of the wheel bearing device according to claim 2 is that it is manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1.

  According to the wheel bearing device of the second aspect, the vehicle inner side seal member is press-fitted in a state where the bearing inner space and the bearing outer space are communicated by the communication hole formed by the communication member. When doing so, the pressure inside the bearing does not increase.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing apparatus and wheel bearing apparatus which can suppress the pressure rise inside a bearing when press-fitting a seal member can be provided.

It is sectional drawing of the axial direction of the hub unit provided with the wheel bearing apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is the A section enlarged view of FIG. It is the B section enlarged view of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the assembly process of the manufacturing method of the hub unit provided with the wheel bearing apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the communicating member to the hub unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the member related to the inner ring to the hub unit. It is the C section enlarged view of FIG. It is a D arrow line view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore the vehicle inner side of the hub unit with the sealing member. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which removed the communicating member from the hub unit.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device and a wheel bearing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vehicle inner side is the axle side and indicates the left side in each drawing, and the vehicle outer side is the side on which the wheels are attached and the right side in each drawing.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view in the axial direction of a hub unit 1 including a wheel bearing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This will be described with reference to FIG.
The hub unit 1 (wheel bearing device) is, for example, for a front wheel (for a drive shaft) of a front wheel drive vehicle, and has a double-row outward angular ball bearing structure. Specifically, the hub unit 1 includes an outer ring 2 fixed to a knuckle 20 on the vehicle inner side, and an inner shaft 3 that is disposed coaxially with the axis 11 of the outer ring 2 and on which a vehicle outer side wheel (not shown) is attached. (Inner ring), the inner ring 4 fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 3a formed integrally with the vehicle inner side end of the inner shaft 3, and the circumferential direction between the outer ring 2, the inner shaft 3 and the inner ring 4 And double-row balls 5 (rolling elements) arranged on the surface.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 2, a raceway surface 2a for balls 5 arranged on the vehicle inner side and a raceway surface 2b for balls 5 arranged on the vehicle outer side are formed. A vehicle mounting flange portion 2 c that protrudes radially outward and is fixed to the knuckle 20 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 2. As a material of the outer ring 2, for example, high carbon steel “S55C” is used.

  A raceway surface 3b that faces the raceway surface 2b of the outer ring 2 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft 3, and a flange 3c that protrudes radially outwardly from the raceway surface 3b and is attached to a wheel. Is formed. For example, high carbon steel “S55C” is used as the material of the inner shaft 3.

  The inner ring 4 is press-fitted into the fitting portion 3a and integrated with the fitting portion 3a. On the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 4, a raceway surface 4 a that faces the raceway surface 2 a of the outer ring 2 is formed. As a material of the inner ring 4, for example, a high carbon chrome bearing steel “SUJ2” is used.

  Between the outer ring 2 and the inner shaft 3 and the inner ring 4, an annular space S for disposing the balls 5 as rolling elements is formed. In the annular space S, an annular vehicle outer side seal member 7 (seal member) is mounted on the vehicle outer side, and an annular vehicle inner side seal member 8 (seal member) is mounted on the vehicle inner side. The vehicle outer side seal member 7 and the vehicle inner side seal member 8 constitute a bearing internal space 6 that is sealed in a state in which relative rotation between the outer ring 2 and the inner shaft 3 and the inner ring 4 is allowed.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. The vehicle outer side seal member 7 includes an annular cored bar 71 and an annular seal 72.

  The cored bar 71 is a cylindrical cored bar cylindrical part 71a that is press-fitted into the inner end of the outer ring 2 on the inner side of the vehicle outer side. It consists of a cored bar part 71b formed to extend. As a material of the core bar 71, for example, SPCC of a cold-rolled steel sheet that has been rust-proofed is used.

  An annular seal 72 made of an elastic body is vulcanized and integrated with the metal core 71. The seal 72 includes a seal fitting portion 72a, a base portion 72b, and a lip portion 72c. The seal fitting portion 72a is formed at the end on the flange 3c side of the cored bar cylindrical portion 71a with a predetermined tightening allowance between the outer ring 2 and the inner side of the outer ring 2 along with the cored bar cylindrical portion 71a. It is fitted and fixed to the peripheral surface by press fitting. The base portion 72b extends from the seal fitting portion 72a to the outer circumference of the inner shaft 3 along the core bar disc portion 71b. The lip portion 72c extends from the base portion 72b toward the outer periphery of the inner shaft 3 on the raceway surface side, and includes an axial lip 72d and radial lips 72e and 72f.

  The axial lip 72d extends from the base portion 72b to the axial flange 3c side and the radial outer ring 2 side (radially outward side). The tip of the axial lip 72b is in sliding contact with the vehicle inner side surface of the flange 3c over the entire circumference.

  The radial lip 72e is positioned outward in the axial direction from the radial lip 72f. The radial lips 72e and 72f extend from the base 72b inward in the radial direction, and are in sliding contact with the outer circumference of the inner shaft 3 over the entire circumference.

  Grease G1 (lubricant) is applied in advance to the bearing inner sides of the axial lip 72d and the radial lip 72e to lubricate the sliding of the lip portion 72c.

  Thus, in the vehicle outer side seal member 7, the seal 72 is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft 3 to seal the bearing inner space 6 on the vehicle outer side.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. The vehicle inner side seal member 8 is an annular pack seal, and includes an inner side cored bar 81, a slinger 83, and an inner side seal 82.

  The inner side metal core 81 is formed from a cylindrical inner side metal core cylindrical portion 81a fitted to a vehicle inner side end portion of the inner periphery of the outer ring 2, and a vehicle outer side end portion of the inner side metal core cylindrical portion 81a. The inner side cored bar part 81b extending inward in the radial direction has a substantially L-shaped cross section. As a material of the inner side metal core 81, for example, SPCC of a cold rolled steel sheet that has been subjected to a rust prevention treatment is used.

  The slinger 83 is fitted to a vehicle inner side end portion of the outer periphery of the inner ring 4 and is disposed in a direction opposite to the inner side core metal cylindrical portion 81a, and a radial direction from an end portion of the slinger cylindrical portion 83a on the vehicle inner side. It consists of a slinger disc 83b extending outward and facing the inner side core disc 81b, and has a substantially L-shaped cross section. As a material of the slinger 83, for example, stainless steel SUS430 is used.

  The inner side metal core 81 and the slinger 83 are combined with the inner side metal core cylindrical part 81a and the slinger cylindrical part 83a, and the inner side metal core disk part 81b and the slinger disk part 83b facing each other. The structure is called a seal.

  An annular inner side seal 82 made of an elastic material is vulcanized and integrated with the inner side metal core 81. The inner side seal 82 includes an inner side seal fitting portion 82a, an inner side base portion 82b, and an inner side lip portion 82c.

  The inner-side seal fitting portion 82a is formed from the outer periphery of the inner-side cored bar cylindrical portion 81a to a midway position from the vehicle inner-side end to the vehicle outer side, and is formed with a predetermined allowance with the outer ring 2. Then, together with the inner side cored bar cylindrical portion 81a, it is fitted and fixed to the raceway side inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 2 by press fitting.

  The inner side base portion 82b is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the inner side core metal cylindrical portion 81a and the inner side core metal disc portion 81b from the vehicle inner side end portion of the inner side seal fitting portion 82a.

  The inner side lip portion 82c extends from the inner side base portion 82b and is slidably contacted with the vehicle outer side of the slinger disc portion 83b, and the inner side radial lip slidably contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the slinger cylindrical portion 83a. 82e and 82f. The inner radial lip 82e is positioned outward in the axial direction from the inner radial lip 82f.

  Grease G2 (lubricant) is preliminarily applied to the bearing inner sides of the inner side axial lip 82d and the inner side radial lip 82e to lubricate the sliding of the inner side lip portion 82c.

  Thus, in the vehicle inner side seal member 8, the inner side seal 82 is in sliding contact with the slinger 83, and the bearing inner space 6 is sealed on the vehicle inner side.

Next, the assembly process of the manufacturing method of the hub unit 1 provided with the wheel bearing device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an assembling process of the manufacturing method of the hub unit 1 including the wheel bearing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the communication member 9 is attached to the hub unit 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where inner ring-related members are mounted on the hub unit 1. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inner seal member 8 is mounted on the vehicle inner side of the hub unit 1. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the communication member 9 is removed from the hub unit 1.

First, grease G3 (lubricant) is sealed in the raceway surfaces 2a and 2b of the outer ring 2 (step S1 in FIG. 4).
Next, two rows of balls 5 are mounted on the raceway surfaces 2a and 2b of the outer ring 2 (step S2 in FIG. 4).

  Next, a flexible communication member 9 is mounted from the bearing inner space 6 to the bearing outer space 10 (step S3 in FIG. 4). The communication member 9 is made of, for example, a resin string having a diameter of 0.5 mm. As a result, the hub unit 1 is in the state shown in FIG. Step S2 corresponds to the communication member mounting step of the present invention.

Next, the vehicle outer side seal member 7 is press-fitted and attached to the vehicle outer side of the outer ring 2 (step S4 in FIG. 4). Next, the inner shaft 3 is press fitted onto the inner periphery of the outer ring 2 from the vehicle outer side (step S5 in FIG. 4). As a result, in the hub unit 1, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the communication member 9 passes through the sliding contact portion 72 g where the seal 72 of the vehicle outer side sealing member 7 is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the hub unit 1 communicates the bearing inner space 6 and the bearing outer space 10 with a communication hole 9 a formed in the space around the communication member 9.
Next, the inner ring 4 is press-fitted into the inner periphery of the outer ring 2 from the vehicle inner side (step S6 in FIG. 4). As a result, the hub unit 1 is in the state shown in FIGS. Steps S4 to S6 correspond to the inner ring related mounting process of the present invention.

  Next, the vehicle inner side sealing member 8 is press-fitted and attached to the vehicle inner side of the outer ring 2 (step S7 in FIG. 4). Since the hub unit 1 press-fits the vehicle inner side seal member 8 in a state where the bearing inner space 6 and the bearing outer space 10 are communicated with each other through the communication hole 9a, the pressure in the bearing inner space 6 does not increase. As a result, the hub unit 1 is in the state shown in FIG. Step S7 corresponds to the seal press-fitting step of the present invention.

  Next, the communication member 9 is removed from the hub unit 1 by pulling the end of the communication member 9 on the bearing external space 10 side (step S8 in FIG. 4). As a result, the hub unit 1 is in the state shown in FIG. Step S8 corresponds to the communicating member removing step of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the method for manufacturing the hub unit 1 according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle outer side seal member 7 and the vehicle inner side seal member 8 are press-fitted, the pressure increase in the bearing internal space 6 is suppressed. be able to.

  In addition, according to the method for manufacturing the hub unit 1 according to the present embodiment, even when the assembled hub unit 1 is stored alone for a long period of time, for example, for 2 to 3 weeks, the bearing internal space Since the pressure of 6 does not increase, the base oils of the greases G1 to G3 do not leak.

  Further, according to the hub unit 1 according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle outer side seal member 7 and the vehicle inner side seal member 8 are press-fitted, an increase in pressure in the bearing inner space 6 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the hub unit 1 according to the present embodiment, the pressure in the bearing internal space 6 is maintained even when the assembled hub unit 1 is stored as a single unit for a long period of time, for example, for 2 to 3 weeks. Does not rise, the base oils of the greases G1 to G3 do not leak.

  Although the configuration of the drive wheel has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is naturally applicable to a driven wheel.

1: Hub unit (wheel bearing device), 2: outer ring, 2c: vehicle mounting flange, 3: inner shaft (inner ring), 3c: flange, 4: inner ring, 5: ball (rolling element), 6: bearing inside Space, 7: Vehicle outer side seal member (seal member), 71: Core metal, 71a: Core metal cylindrical part, 71b: Core metal disc part, 72: Seal, 72a: Seal fitting part, 72b: Base part, 72c : Lip portion, 72d: axial lip, 72e, 72f: radial lip, 72g: sliding contact portion, 8: vehicle inner side seal member (seal member), 81: inner side core metal, 81a: inner side core metal cylindrical portion, 81b: Inner side metal disc part, 82: Inner side seal, 82a: Inner side seal fitting part, 82b: Inner side base part, 82c: Inner side lip part, 82d: Inner side axial lip, 82e 82f: Inner radial lip, 83: Slinger, 83a: Slinger cylindrical part, 83b: Slinger disc part, 9: Communication member, 9a: Communication hole, 10: Bearing outer space, 11: Axis, G1 to G3: Grease ( Lubricant), S: annular space

Claims (2)

An outer ring that is fixed to a vehicle fixing member on the vehicle inner side, an inner ring that is mounted with a wheel on the vehicle outer side and rotates relative to the outer ring, and a rolling element that is disposed in an annular space between the outer ring and the inner ring. A seal member disposed at both ends of the annular space in the axial direction to seal the annular space to constitute a bearing internal space, and the seal member is mounted on a vehicle outer side of the bearing internal space. A vehicle outer side seal member and a vehicle inner side seal member mounted on the vehicle inner side of the bearing inner space, and the vehicle outer side seal member is press-fitted and fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. A method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device in which a lubricant is sealed in the inner space of the bearing.
A communication member mounting step of mounting a flexible communication member from the bearing inner space to the bearing outer space with the rolling element mounted on the outer ring;
Subsequent to the communication member mounting step, the bearing inner space and the bearing exterior are formed by communication holes formed in a space around the communication member at a sliding contact portion where the vehicle outer side seal member is slidably contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring. An inner ring-related mounting step of mounting the vehicle outer side seal member and the inner ring so as to communicate with the space;
Following the inner ring related mounting step, a seal press-fitting step for press-fitting the vehicle inner side seal member;
The manufacturing method of the wheel bearing apparatus characterized by including the communicating member removal process which removes the said communicating member following the said seal press-fit process.   A wheel bearing device manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1.

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