JP2019132376A - Seal assembling method and wheel bearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To make a fastening margin of a lip possessed by a seal approximate a design value.SOLUTION: In a method for assembling a seal 15 to an outer ring end part 17 by pressure-inserting the seal 15 into the other side in an axial direction from one side in the axial direction with respect to the outer ring end part 17 being one side in the axial direction possessed by an outer ring member 12 for a wheel bearing device, the seal 15 has a lip 30a contacting with a seal face 29 from the axial direction possessed by an inner ring member 11 for the wheel bearing device. The method includes: a first process for moving the seal 15 up to a first position at the other side in the axial direction with respect to the outer ring end part 17, and fitting the seal 15 to the outer ring end part 17; and a second process for moving the seal 15 in the first position so as to be returned to one side in the axial direction, and bringing about a state that the seal 15 is fit to the outer ring end part 17 in a second position at one side in the axial direction rather than the first position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a seal assembling method and a wheel bearing device.

  In a vehicle such as an automobile, a wheel bearing device (hub unit) is used to support the wheel. The wheel bearing device includes an outer ring member attached to the vehicle body side, an inner shaft member to which the wheel is attached, and a plurality of rolling elements (balls) disposed between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member. Patent document 1 is disclosing the conventional vehicle bearing apparatus.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of one side in the axial direction of the wheel bearing device. A seal 91 is attached to an end portion 93 (hereinafter referred to as “outer ring end portion 93”) on one axial side of the outer ring member 90. A seal surface 97 is provided between the shaft body part 99 and the flange part 98 of the inner shaft member 95. The seal 91 has a lip 92 that extends to the flange portion 98 side. The lip 92 comes into contact with the seal surface 97, and foreign material is prevented from entering from the outside.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-1000085

  The lip 92 is elastically deformed and is in contact with the seal surface 97, and the lip 92 has an allowance for the seal surface 97. This tightening allowance affects the sliding friction torque (rotation resistance) generated when the lip 92 contacts the seal surface 97 and the sealing performance of the seal 91. For this reason, the seal 91 needs to be attached to the outer ring end portion 93 so as to have a specified tightening allowance. The seal 91 is attached to the outer ring end portion 93 by press fitting. Conventionally, the position of the seal 91 at the outer ring end portion 93 is based on the end surface 94 of the outer ring end portion 93. That is, the seal 91 is press-fitted into the outer ring end portion 93 until a part 91 a of the seal 91 comes into contact with the end surface 94.

  In the wheel bearing device, a ball 96 is interposed as a rolling element between the outer ring member 90 and the inner shaft member 95. As a result, the outer ring member 90 and the inner shaft member 95 are positioned relative to each other in the axial direction. For this reason, the tightening allowance of the lip 92 is determined by the distance L1 from the end surface 94 of the outer ring end portion 93 to the ball 96, which is the reference for the attachment position of the seal 91, and the distance L2 from the ball 96 to the seal surface 97. The For example, as the distance L1 decreases, the tightening allowance of the lip 92 decreases. In this case, the sealing performance of the seal 91 may be deteriorated. On the contrary, as the distance L1 increases, the tightening margin increases. In this case, sliding friction torque (rotational resistance) increases.

  The outer ring member 90 is heat-treated during manufacture. For this reason, the size of each part of the outer ring member 90 may vary from product to product, and the distance L1 may also be affected by heat treatment. If the dimensional accuracy of the distance L1 is low, the fastening margin of the lip 92 deviates from the specified design value, the sealing performance is lowered, and the sliding friction torque (rotational resistance) is increased.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the assembly method of the seal | sticker which becomes possible to make close the design margin of the lip which a seal | sticker has, and the wheel bearing apparatus manufactured by this assembly method.

The present invention presses a seal from one axial direction side to the other axial direction side with respect to an outer ring end portion which is an end portion on one axial side of an outer ring member for a wheel bearing device. The seal is attached to the outer ring end, and the seal has a lip that comes into contact with the seal surface of an inner shaft member for a wheel bearing device from the axial direction, and the seal is pivoted with respect to the outer ring end. Moving to the first position on the other side in the direction, and fitting the seal to the outer ring end, and moving the seal at the first position back to the one side in the axial direction, A second step in which the seal is fitted to the end portion of the outer ring at a second position on one axial side of the first position.
According to this assembling method, the position of the seal that is press-fitted into the outer ring end is adjusted, and the tightening margin of the seal lip with respect to the seal surface can be brought close to the design value.

  In addition, the second position is a position based on an outer raceway surface provided as a finishing surface on the inner circumference of one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member or a rolling element in contact with the outer raceway surface. The method can be as follows. In this case, the outer raceway surface on one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member is a finished surface and has high accuracy. Therefore, the seal at the first position is moved to the second position set with reference to the outer raceway surface or the rolling element in contact with the outer raceway surface. This makes it possible to bring the tightening margin of the seal lip with respect to the seal surface close to the design value.

  Alternatively, the outer raceway surface is formed on the inner peripheral side of the outer ring member on each of the one axial side and the other axial side. When these outer raceway surfaces are polished at the same time, that is, when these outer raceway surfaces are polished with a common grindstone, the following assembly method can be used. The second position is a position based on an outer raceway surface provided as a finishing surface on the inner circumference on the other axial side of the outer ring member, or a rolling element in contact with the outer raceway surface. It can be a method. In this case, the outer raceway surface on the other side in the axial direction of the outer ring member is a finished surface and has high accuracy. Therefore, the seal at the first position is moved to the second position set with reference to the outer raceway surface or the rolling element in contact with the outer raceway surface. This makes it possible to bring the tightening margin of the seal lip with respect to the seal surface close to the design value.

  Alternatively, the first step is performed before combining the outer ring member and the inner shaft member, and the second step is performed after combining a rolling element between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member. The second position may be a method that is a position with reference to the seal surface. In this case, it is possible to bring the margin for sealing the lip of the seal surface close to the design value directly.

  Alternatively, the first step is performed before combining the outer ring member and the inner shaft member, and the second step is performed after combining a rolling element between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member. A slinger is attached to the inner shaft member, one surface side of the slinger is the sealing surface, and the second position is a position based on the slinger. In this case, it becomes possible to bring the tightening margin of the seal lip with respect to the sealing surface of the slinger directly close to the design value.

  Further, the wheel bearing device provided with the seal assembled by the assembling method includes a cylindrical outer ring member, a shaft body portion provided radially inward of the outer ring member, and one axial direction of the shaft body portion. An inner shaft member provided with a seal surface between the shaft body portion and the flange portion, and disposed between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member. A rolling element, and a seal attached to an outer ring end portion on one axial side of the outer ring member and having a lip extending toward the flange portion and contacting the seal surface. A gap is provided between an end face on one axial side of the seal and a part of the seal facing the end face.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to bring the tightening margin of the seal lip with respect to the seal surface close to the design value.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the wheel bearing apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a seal | sticker and its circumference | surroundings. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method of a 1st seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method (completion state of a 1st process) of a 1st seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method (completion state of a 2nd process) of a 1st seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method (3rd method) of a seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method (3rd method) of a seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method (4th method) of a seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing explaining the assembly method (4th method) of a seal | sticker. It is sectional drawing which shows the seal | sticker of a different form, and its circumference | surroundings. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of axial direction one side of the wheel bearing apparatus.

[Configuration of wheel bearing device]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a wheel bearing device. The wheel bearing device (hub unit) 10 is attached to a suspension device (knuckle) provided on the vehicle body side of the automobile, and rotatably supports the wheel. The wheel bearing device 10 includes a cylindrical outer ring member 12, an inner shaft member 11, a ball 13 that is a rolling element, a retainer 14, and a first seal 15 provided on one side in the axial direction, And a second seal 16 provided on the other side in the axial direction. In the wheel bearing device 10, the axial direction is a direction parallel to the central axis C0 (hereinafter referred to as the bearing central axis C0) of the wheel bearing device 10. The radial direction is a direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

  The outer ring member 12 includes a cylindrical outer ring main body portion 21 and a fixing flange portion 22 that extends radially outward from the outer ring main body portion 21. Outer raceway surfaces 12 a and 12 b are formed on the inner peripheral side of the outer ring main body 21. The outer ring member 12 is attached to a knuckle (not shown) which is a vehicle body side member by a flange portion 22, whereby the wheel bearing device 10 including the outer ring member 12 is fixed to the vehicle body. In a state where the wheel bearing device 10 is fixed to the vehicle body, a wheel mounting flange portion 27 side which the inner shaft member 11 has, which will be described later, is the outside of the vehicle. That is, the one axial side on which the flange portion 27 is provided is the vehicle outer side, and the opposite axial side is the vehicle inner side.

  The inner shaft member 11 has a hub shaft (inner shaft) 23 and an inner ring 24 attached to the other axial side of the hub shaft 23. The hub shaft 23 includes a shaft body portion 26 provided radially inward of the outer ring member 12 and a flange portion 27 provided on one axial side of the shaft body portion 26. The shaft body portion 26 is a shaft portion that is long in the axial direction. The flange portion 27 is provided to extend radially outward from one axial side of the shaft body portion 26. A wheel and a brake rotor (not shown) are attached to a surface (flange surface) 31 on one side in the axial direction of the flange portion 27. A seal surface 29 is provided between the shaft body portion 26 and the flange portion 27.

  The inner ring 24 is an annular member and is externally fitted and fixed to a small diameter portion 39 on the other axial side of the shaft body portion 26. A (first) inner raceway surface 11 a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body portion 26, and a (second) inner raceway surface 11 b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 24.

  A plurality of balls 13 are arranged between the outer raceway surface 12a and the inner raceway surface 11a on one side in the axial direction. A plurality of balls 13 are arranged between the outer raceway surface 12b and the inner raceway surface 11b on the other side in the axial direction. The balls 13 are arranged in two rows between the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11. Each of the outer raceway surfaces 12a and 12b and the inner raceway surfaces 11a and 11b has a concave arc shape in cross section. The balls 13 make point contact with the outer raceway surfaces 12a and 12b and the inner raceway surfaces 11a and 11b with contact angles. The outer raceway surfaces 12a and 12b, the inner raceway surfaces 11a and 11b, and the surfaces of the balls 13 are polished and have high dimensional accuracy. When the inner shaft member 11 is manufactured, the inner raceway surface 11a and the seal surface 29 are subjected to finishing processing (polishing processing) using, for example, the same grindstone. For this reason, the dimensional accuracy of the axial distance between the inner raceway surface 11a and the seal surface 29 is high.

  The first seal 15 is attached to an end 17 on one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member 12 (hereinafter referred to as “outer ring end 17”). FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the seal 15 and its surroundings. The first seal 15 has a main body portion 19 fitted and attached to the outer ring end portion 17, and rubber lips 30 a, 30 b, 30 c provided extending from the main body portion 19. . The first lip 30a is provided so as to extend toward the flange portion 27, and contacts the seal surface 29 (annular seal surface 29a) from the axial direction. The second lip 30b is provided to extend toward the shaft body portion 26, and faces the seal surface 29 (tubular seal surface 29b). The third lip 30c is provided to extend toward the flange portion 27, and contacts the seal surface 29 (the round surface 29c) from the axial direction.

  Although not shown, the first seal 15 has a metal core, and a rubber portion including lips 30a, 30b, and 30c is fixed to the core. The first seal 15 is fixed to the outer ring end 17 by fitting the cored bar to the outer ring end 17. In the form shown in FIG. 2, a part 15 a of the first seal 15 (main body portion 19) is fitted and attached to the outer peripheral side of the outer ring end portion 17. The part 15a includes a part of the cored bar and a rubber part fixed to a part of the cored bar.

  On the inner shaft member 11 side, the seal surface 29 includes an annular seal surface 29a, a cylindrical seal surface 29b, and a rounded surface 29c. The first lip 30a contacts the annular sealing surface 29a. The second lip 30b is opposed to the cylindrical sealing surface 29b. The third lip 30c contacts the rounded surface 29c. The annular seal surface 29a is a surface along a surface orthogonal to the bearing central axis C0 as a whole. The cylindrical sealing surface 29b is a surface along a cylindrical surface parallel to the bearing central axis C0 as a whole. The rounded surface 29c is a surface that connects the annular seal surface 29a and the annular seal surface 29a.

  In FIG. 1, the first seal 15 is a foreign object such as muddy water from between the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11 to the inside of the bearing where the ball 13 is provided on one axial side of the wheel bearing device 10. To prevent infiltration. The second seal 16 prevents foreign matter such as muddy water from entering the bearing from between the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11 on the other side in the axial direction.

[Assembly method of first seal 15 (first method)]
3, 4, and 5 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for assembling the first seal 15 (hereinafter simply referred to as “seal 15”). The seal 15 is attached to the outer ring end 17 by press-fitting the seal 15 from one axial side (left side in each figure) to the other axial side (right side in each figure). Is called.

  The assembly method includes a first step shown in FIGS. 3 to 4 and a second step shown in FIGS. 4 to 5. In the assembly method (first method), the first step and the second step are performed before the outer ring member 12 is combined with the inner shaft member 11. That is, after the second step is finished, the seal 15 is attached to a predetermined position (second position P2 described later) of the outer ring end portion 17, and then the outer ring member 12, the inner shaft member 11, and the ball 13 that is a rolling element are assembled. Then, the wheel bearing device 10 is completed.

  In the first step, the seal 15 in the state shown in FIG. 3 is brought close to the outer ring end 17 and press-fitted from one side in the axial direction. In the present embodiment (see FIG. 4), the seal 15 is press-fitted until the side surface 41 of the main body 19 of the seal 15 contacts the end surface 40 on one axial side of the outer ring end 17. The position of the seal 15 in this state is defined as “first position P1”. That is, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is fitted to the outer ring end portion 17 in a state where the side surface 41 of the seal 15 is in contact with the end surface 40 of the outer ring end portion 17. Thus, in the first step, the seal 15 is moved to the first position P1 on the other side in the axial direction with respect to the outer ring end portion 17, and the seal 15 is fitted to the outer ring end portion 17. The first position P1 may be another position, or may be a position where the side surface 41 of the seal 15 is (a little) away from the end surface 40 of the outer ring end portion 17.

  In the second step, the seal 15 (see FIG. 4) at the first position P1 is moved to one side in the axial direction and returned to the second position P2 on the one side in the axial direction from the first position P1 (see FIG. 5). . As a result, a gap e is formed between the side surface 41 of the seal 15 and the end surface 40 of the outer ring end portion 17. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the seal 15 is fitted and attached to the outer ring end 17 at the second position P2. The axial movement dimension of the seal 15 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 is “Y1” in FIG. When returning the seal 15 at the first position P1 to the second position P2, for example, a part 15a of the seal 15 located on the radially outer side of the outer ring end portion 17 may be pushed.

  In the assembling method of the present embodiment, a plurality of balls 13 are provided along the outer raceway surface 12 a of the outer ring member 12. These balls 13 are held at intervals in the circumferential direction by a holder (not shown). The outer raceway surface 12a is polished, and the outer raceway surface 12a is a finished surface. As shown in FIG. 1, in the completed state of the wheel bearing device 10, the balls 13 are in contact with the outer raceway surface 12 a with a contact angle (point contact). Therefore, when the seal 15 is assembled, at least in the second step, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of balls 13 provided along the outer raceway surface 12a are annularly formed from the side opposite to the outer raceway surface 12a. The jig 51 is pressed. The jig 51 is provided with a contact surface 52 having the same specifications as the inner raceway surface 11a of the inner shaft member 11 shown in FIG. For this reason, when the jig 51 is pressed against the other side in the axial direction with respect to the plurality of balls 13, the balls 13 come into contact with the contact surface 52 at the contact angle (point contact), and the balls 13 are moved toward the outer raceway surface at the contact angle. 12a can be contacted (point contact). That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the jig 51 reproduces the state in which the balls 13 are in contact with the outer raceway surface 12 a of the outer ring member 12 of the wheel bearing device 10 with the contact angle.

  A jig reference surface 53 is provided on one side of the jig 51 in the axial direction. The jig reference surface 53 is a machined surface (for example, a polished surface) and has high accuracy. Further, as described above, the outer raceway surface 12a and the outer peripheral surface of the ball 13 are polished, and the accuracy is high. For this reason, by pressing the jig 51 against the plurality of balls 13 provided along the outer raceway surface 12a, the outer raceway surface 12a (or the ball 13 in contact with the outer raceway surface 12a) is used as a reference. The jig reference surface 53 is uniquely positioned in the axial direction.

  In the second step, as shown in FIG. 5, a non-contact type measuring instrument 54 such as a laser displacement meter is provided on one side in the axial direction of the seal 15 and the jig 51. The measuring instrument 54 can measure the distance L1 to the jig reference surface 53 and the distance L2 to the surface 15b on one axial side of the seal 15. Therefore, in a state where the jig 51 is pressed against the plurality of balls 13 provided along the outer raceway surface 12a, the difference (L1) between the distance L1 and the distance L2 measured by the measuring instrument 54 -L2) is measured. Until the measured difference (L1-L2) reaches a specified value, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is returned to the one side in the axial direction. The distance for returning the seal 15 in this way is the axial movement dimension Y1. The position of the seal 15 where the difference (L1−L2) is a specified value is the second position P2.

  As described above, in the second step, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is moved so as to return to the one side in the axial direction, and the seal 15 is moved at the second position P2 on the one side in the axial direction from the first position P1. The outer ring end 17 is fitted. The second position P2 of the seal 15 moved from the first position P1 is the outer raceway surface 12a provided as a finished surface on the inner circumference of one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member 12, or the outer raceway surface. This position is set with reference to the ball 13 in contact with 12a.

  According to this attachment method, the seal 15 is in a state of being attached at an axial position with reference to the outer raceway surface 12a or the ball 13 in contact with the outer raceway surface 12a. Therefore, the heat treatment is performed during the production of the outer ring member 12, so that the axial dimension of the outer ring end 17 varies from product to product, and the distance between the ball 13 (outer raceway surface 12 a) and the end surface 40 of the outer ring end 17 is increased. Even if it is not stable, the seal 15 is attached to a specified axial position (second position P2) based on the ball 13 (outer raceway surface 12a).

  As described above, when the inner shaft member 11 is manufactured, the inner raceway surface 11a and the seal surface 29 are finished with a common grindstone, for example, so that the inner raceway surface 11a and the seal surface are sealed. The dimensional accuracy of the axial distance from the surface 29 is high. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in an assembled state in which a plurality of balls 13 are interposed between the inner shaft member 11 and the outer ring member 12 to which the seal 15 is attached at the second position P2, The axial distance between the seal surface 29 and the seal 15 (main body portion 19) is a prescribed dimension. For this reason, it is possible to bring the tightening margin of the lip 30a (30c) in contact with the seal surface 29 close to the design value. As a result, for each product, it is possible to suppress a decrease in sealing performance by the seal 16 and an increase in sliding friction torque (rotational resistance).

  In the method shown in FIG. 5, the jig 51 is used. However, the measurement position is a specific position on the outer peripheral surface of the ball 13 and the measuring instrument 54 is at a distance to the measurement target position (a distance corresponding to the L1). If the measurement is possible, the jig 51 may be unnecessary. Further, if a specific position of the outer raceway surface 12a is a measurement target and the measuring instrument 54 can measure a distance to the measurement target position (a distance corresponding to the L1), the ball 13 is not present (and cured). The second step may be performed with the tool 51 unnecessary.

[Assembly method of seal 15 (second method)]
The assembly method (first method) is based on the outer raceway surface 12a provided on the inner circumference of one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member 12, or the position based on the balls 13 that are in contact with the outer raceway surface 12a. The second position P2, and the seal 15 at the first position P1 is moved to the second position P2. On the other hand, another assembling method (second method) is an outer raceway surface 12b (see FIG. 1) provided on the inner circumference on the other axial side of the outer ring member 12, or the outer raceway surface 12b. This is a method in which the position where the ball 13 in contact with the reference is the second position P2, and the seal 15 at the first position P1 is moved to the second position P2.

  That is, on the inner peripheral side of the outer ring member 12 (see FIG. 1), outer raceway surfaces 12a and 12b are formed on one axial side and the other axial side, respectively. These outer raceway surfaces 12a and 12b are simultaneously polished by, for example, a common grindstone. For this reason, not only the axial dimension from the seal surface 29 to the outer raceway surface 12a on one side in the axial direction, but also the axial dimension from the outer raceway surface 12b on the other side in the axial direction has high accuracy. Therefore, in the second step, the outer raceway surface 12b on the other side in the axial direction may be utilized instead of the outer raceway surface 12a on the one side in the axial direction as described with reference to FIG.

  The first method shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 except that the reference position of the second position P2 is the outer raceway surface 12b on the other side in the axial direction or the ball 13 in contact with the outer raceway surface 12b. Is the same. Also in the second method, although not shown, a jig similar to the jig 51 shown in FIG. 5 may be used.

[Assembly method of seal 15 (third method)]
In the first method and the second method, both the first step and the second step are performed before the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11 are combined. On the other hand, in another assembling method (third method), the first step is performed before the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11 are combined, but the second step is performed with the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member. 11 and the ball 13 after the combination.

  Regarding the third method, the first step is the same as the method shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. When the first step is completed, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball 13 is interposed between the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11.

  In the second step, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is moved back from the combination state shown in FIG. 6 to the one side in the axial direction, and as shown in FIG. The seal 15 is fitted to the outer ring end 17 at the second position P2 on the side. In the third method, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is returned to the one side in the axial direction until the axial distance between the seal surface 29 (annular seal surface 29a) and the seal 15 reaches a specified value. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is moved to the one side in the axial direction until the distance L3 between the annular seal surface 29a and the surface 15b on the one side in the axial direction of the seal 15 reaches a specified value. return. The distance L3 can be measured by a measuring instrument (not shown). Thus, in the case of the third method, the second position P2 is a position based on the seal surface 29 (annular seal surface 29a). According to this method, it is possible to bring the tightening margin of the lip 30a (30c) of the seal 15 against the seal surface 29 directly close to the design value. For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress that the sealing performance by the seal | sticker 16 falls for every product, or a sliding friction torque (rotation resistance) becomes large.

[Assembly method of seal 15 (fourth method)]
In the wheel bearing device 10 having the seal 15 assembled by the above-described methods, a part of the surface of the inner shaft member 11 becomes the seal surface 29. In another wheel bearing device 10, as shown in FIG. 9, in the inner shaft member 11, an annular slinger 35 is attached between the shaft body portion 26 and the flange portion 27. One surface side of the slinger 35 is a seal surface 29 that comes into contact with the lip 30a (30c) of the seal 15. As a method for attaching the seal 15 for the wheel bearing device 10 shown in FIG. 9, the first method or the second method can be employed. Or it is good also as the 4th method demonstrated below.

  In the fourth method, as in the third method, the first step is performed before the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11 are combined, and the second step is performed between the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11. After the combination with the ball 13 interposed. However, the slinger 35 is attached to the inner shaft member 11 before the outer ring member 12 and the inner shaft member 11 are combined.

  Regarding the fourth method, the first step is the same as the method shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. When the first step is finished, as shown in FIG. 8, the ball 13 is interposed between the inner shaft member 11 to which the slinger 35 is attached and the outer ring member 12.

  In the second step, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is moved from the combination state shown in FIG. 8 so as to return to the one side in the axial direction, and as shown in FIG. The seal 15 is fitted to the outer ring end 17 at the second position P2 on the side. In the fourth method, the seal 15 at the first position P1 is returned to the one side in the axial direction until the axial distance between the slinger 35 and the seal 15 reaches a specified value. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the axial distance L4 between the radially outer second cylindrical portion 38 (described later) of the slinger 35 and the large diameter portion 45b (described later) of the seal 15 is a prescribed value. The seal 15 at the first position P1 is returned to one side in the axial direction until The distance L4 can be measured by a measuring instrument (not shown). Thus, in the fourth method, the second position P2 is a position based on the slinger 35. According to this method, it is possible to bring the tightening margin of the lip 30a (30c) of the seal 15 against the seal surface 29 with the slinger 35 directly close to the design value. For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress that the sealing performance by the seal | sticker 16 falls for every product, or a sliding friction torque (rotation resistance) becomes large.

  In the wheel bearing device 10 shown in FIG. 9, the seal 15 has an outer cylindrical portion 45 that covers the outer side in the radial direction of the outer ring end portion 17. The outer cylindrical portion 45 includes a cylindrical small-diameter portion 45a provided on one axial side and a cylindrical large-diameter portion 45b provided on the other axial side. The large diameter portion 45b has a larger outer diameter than the small diameter portion 45a, and the outer peripheral cylindrical portion 45 has a stepped shape on the outer peripheral surface. The slinger 35 includes an annular portion 36 with which the lip 30a (30c) contacts, a first cylindrical portion 37 that is continuous with the radially inner side of the annular portion 36 and covers the shaft body portion 26, and a radially outer side of the annular portion 36. And a second cylindrical portion 38 extending continuously to the other side in the axial direction.

  A labyrinth gap 46 is provided between the second cylindrical portion 38 and the outer peripheral cylindrical portion 45 of the seal 15. The labyrinth gap 46 is opened radially outward between the second cylindrical portion 38 and the large diameter portion 45b (opening portion 46a). Since the opening 46a opens toward the outer side in the radial direction, even when water (muddy water) flows in the axial direction along the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring member 12, the water flows from the opening 46a to the labyrinth gap 46. Difficult to enter. Further, in order to effectively suppress the entry of water in this way, it is preferable to narrow the opening 46a. That is, it is preferable to reduce the axial dimension of the opening 46a.

  Therefore, in the fourth method, in the second step, the seal 15 located at the first position P1 is moved to the second position P2. At this time, the second position P2 is a position based on the slinger 35. Therefore, as described above, the seal 15 in the first position P1 until the axial distance (interval) L4 between the second cylindrical portion 38 of the slinger 35 and the large diameter portion 45b of the seal 15 reaches a specified value. Is returned to the one side in the axial direction, and the position of the seal 15 is defined as a second position P2. Thereby, the axial direction dimension (L4) of the opening part 46a can be made into a regulation value, and the opening part 46a can be narrowed. At the same time, as described above, the tightening margin of the lip 30a (30c) of the seal 15 with respect to the seal surface 29 of the slinger 35 can be brought close to the design value. As a result, the sealing performance of the sealing device by the seal 15 and the slinger 35 can be enhanced.

[Assembly method of each form]
As described above, according to the assembling methods (first to fourth methods) of the above embodiments, the position of the seal 15 that is press-fitted to the outer ring end 17 is adjusted, and the lip of the seal 15 with respect to the seal surface 29 is adjusted. It becomes possible to bring the tightening allowance of 30a (30c) close to the design value.

  And in the wheel bearing apparatus 10 provided with the seal | sticker 15 assembled by each method, the seal | sticker 15 which existed in the 1st position P1 is moved to the 2nd position P2, and it is shown in FIG.2, FIG.7 and FIG.9. As shown, a gap e is provided between the end face 40 on one side in the axial direction of the outer ring end portion 17 and a part of the seal 15 (side face 41) facing the end face 40.

[Others]
The seal 15 may be other than the illustrated form. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the seal 15 may have an annular portion 47 that linearly extends radially outward from the outer ring end portion 17. A seal 15 shown in FIG. 10 is press-fitted to the inner peripheral side of the outer ring end 17 and is fitted and attached to the inner peripheral side of the outer ring end 17. The seal 15 is also attached to the outer ring end portion 17 by employing the above-described attachment methods. In the second step of each attachment method, the seal 15 can be moved to the second position P2 on one axial side by pushing the annular portion 47. Although the slinger is omitted in FIG. 10, the slinger may be attached to the inner shaft member 11.

  The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configurations described in the scope of claims.

10: Bearing device for wheel 11: Inner shaft member 11a, 11b: Inner raceway surface 12: Outer ring member 12a, 12b: Outer raceway surface 13: Ball (rolling element)
15: Seal 17: Outer ring end portion 26: Shaft body portion 27: Flange portion 29: Seal surface 30a: First lip 35: Slinger 40: End surface 41: Side surface e: Clearance P1: First position P2: Second position

Claims (6)

A seal is press-fitted from one axial side to the other axial side with respect to an outer ring end that is an end on one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member for the wheel bearing device, so that the seal is attached to the outer ring end. The method of attaching to
The seal has a lip that comes into axial contact with a seal surface of an inner shaft member for a wheel bearing device,
A first step of moving the seal to the first position on the other side in the axial direction with respect to the outer ring end, and fitting the seal to the outer ring end;
The seal at the first position is moved so as to return to the one side in the axial direction, and the seal is fitted to the end portion of the outer ring at the second position on the one side in the axial direction from the first position. A method for assembling the seal, comprising a second step.   The second position is a position based on an outer raceway surface provided as a finishing surface on the inner circumference of one side in the axial direction of the outer ring member or a rolling element in contact with the outer raceway surface. The method for assembling the seal according to claim 1.   The second position is a position based on an outer raceway surface provided as a finishing surface on the inner circumference on the other axial side of the outer ring member, or a rolling element in contact with the outer raceway surface. The method for assembling the seal according to claim 1. The first step is performed before combining the outer ring member and the inner shaft member,
The second step is performed after a combination in which a rolling element is interposed between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member,
The seal assembling method according to claim 1, wherein the second position is a position based on the seal surface. The first step is performed before combining the outer ring member and the inner shaft member,
The second step is performed after a combination in which a rolling element is interposed between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member,
A slinger is attached to the inner shaft member, and one surface side of the slinger is the seal surface,
The seal assembling method according to claim 1, wherein the second position is a position based on the slinger. A cylindrical outer ring member,
Including a shaft body portion provided radially inward of the outer ring member and a flange portion provided on one axial side of the shaft body portion, between the shaft body portion and the flange portion. An inner shaft member provided with a sealing surface,
A rolling element disposed between the outer ring member and the inner shaft member;
And a seal that is attached to an outer ring end portion on one axial side of the outer ring member and has a lip that extends toward the flange portion and contacts the seal surface,
A wheel bearing device, wherein a gap is provided between an end surface on one axial side of the outer ring end portion and a part of the seal facing the end surface.

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