JP2021054143A - Axle support structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an axle support structure capable of vehicle widthwise positional adjustment between a retainer and a hub bearing to performed easily, and further reducing size and weight of the retainer and hub bearing.SOLUTION: An axle support structure A which is connected to a vehicle body side member 1, supports an outer ring member 31 of a hub bearing 3 via a retainer 2 having a center hole 22, and integrates an axle 4 passing through the center hole 22 with an inner ring member 32 of the hub bearing 3 so as to axially rotatably support the axle 4. An enlarged diameter portion 221 having a contact surface 221a in contact with a vehicle widthwise inner end surface 313 of the outer ring member 31 is provided in a vehicle widthwise outer portion 22a of the center hole 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an axle support structure in a vehicle.

As the support structure of the axle in the vehicle, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a hub bearing in which the axle that rotates integrally with the wheel is on the inner ring side and the outer ring side is connected to the vehicle body may be adopted.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an axle support structure that employs such a hub bearing.

In this axle support structure, for example, a drive in which the outer ring member 31 of the hub bearing 3 is fixed to the rear axle beam end 11 on the vehicle body side via the retainer 2 and integrated with the inner ring member 32 of the hub bearing 3. The axle 4 as a shaft is supported so as to be axially rotatable. The outer ring member 31 and the retainer 2 are connected by overlapping a flange 311 provided on the outer circumference of the outer ring member 31 and the retainer 2 and fastening means using bolts 211. Further, in this state, the inner end portion 31b of the outer ring member 31 in the vehicle width direction is tightly fitted into the center hole 22 of the retainer 2, so that the hub bearing 3 is positioned with respect to the retainer 2.

Further, at the inner end portion of the hub bearing 3, for example, a magnetic encoder 5 which is an element of a vehicle speed detecting means is provided. In order to prevent foreign matter from entering the portion where the magnetic encoder 5 is provided, the axle 4 is provided. A flange-shaped dust ring 41 is provided on the outer periphery. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a notch 223 is provided at the inner end of the central hole 22 of the retainer 2, and a dust ring 41 is placed close to the notch 223 to form a labyrinth, thereby forming a foreign matter. The intrusion prevention effect is enhanced.

However, the axle support structure shown in FIG. 2 has the following problems.

First, in order to position the hub bearing 3 in the vehicle width direction with respect to the retainer 2, it is necessary to insert an adjusting member such as a spacer between the flange 311 of the outer ring member 31 and the retainer 2, which requires assembling man-hours and The number of parts increases.

Secondly, the central hole 22 of the retainer 2 into which the inner end portion 31b of the outer ring member 31 in the vehicle width direction is fitted needs to be precision-polished, but the axial region to be precision-polished is wide, and the processing cost increases. To do.

Thirdly, shortening of the distance (bolt pitch) P between the bolt 211 and the axle shaft L is hindered, which hinders the miniaturization and weight reduction of the retainer 2 and the hub bearing 3.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-8556

The present invention has been conceived under the above circumstances, and it is easy to adjust the position of the retainer and the hub bearing in the vehicle width direction, and the retainer and the hub bearing can be further reduced in size and weight. The challenge is to provide a support structure for the axle.

In order to solve the above problems, the following technical means are adopted in the present invention.

That is, the axle support structure provided by the present invention supports the outer ring member of the hub bearing via a retainer that is connected to the vehicle body side member and has a center hole, and provides the center hole in the inner ring member of the hub bearing. In the axle support structure that integrates the passing axles to support the axle so as to be axially rotatable, the contact surface in which the inner end surface of the outer ring member in the vehicle width direction abuts on the outer portion of the center hole in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized in that an enlarged diameter portion having a bearing is provided.

When assembling the hub bearing with respect to the retainer, the width of the hub bearing with respect to the retainer is formed by abutting the contact surface formed by the inner end of the outer ring member in the vehicle width direction in the enlarged diameter portion of the center hole of the retainer. It also applies to directional (axle axial) positioning. Since the enlarged diameter portion related to the positioning of the hub bearing in the direction perpendicular to the axle axis with respect to the retainer is precisely machined, the positioning of the hub bearing in the vehicle width direction is also accurate without the need for spacers or the like. It is done in. As a result, the number of man-hours for assembling the support structure of the axle and the number of parts are not increased.

Positioning of the retainer and the hub bearing in the direction perpendicular to the axle axis is performed by fitting the inner surface of the enlarged diameter portion provided in the center hole of the retainer with the inner end portion of the outer ring member in the vehicle width direction. Since the axial length of the enlarged diameter portion is shorter than the total length of the central hole, the precision machining area required for accurate positioning can be reduced, and the machining cost can be suppressed.

Compared to fitting the outer ring member of the hub bearing into the center hole of the retainer, fitting the outer ring member into the enlarged diameter portion provided in the center hole makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the retainer and the hub bearing.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the drawings.

It is a half-cut vertical sectional view which shows the support structure of the axle which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a half-cut vertical cross-sectional view which shows the conventional example.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the drawing, the outer side in the vehicle width direction is shown as out, and the inner side is shown as in.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a support structure A of an axle that supports the axle 4 of the rear wheel as a drive shaft. In FIG. 1, members or parts that are the same as or equivalent to those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The hub bearing 3 is supported via the retainer 2 with respect to the rear axle beam end 11 as the vehicle body side member 1. The retainer 2 has a role of holding the magnetic encoder 5 described later and positioning the hub bearing 3 in the direction perpendicular to the axle axis. The retainer 2 is an annular member that surrounds the hub bearing 3, and the outer ring member 31 of the hub bearing 3 is fastened to the peripheral portion of the hub bearing 3 via a flange 311 with a rear axle beam end 11 interposed therebetween. A plurality of boss portions 21 through which the bolts 211 are inserted are provided, and a central hole 22 through which the axle 4 passes is formed in the central portion.

The hub bearing 3 has an outer ring member 31 and an inner ring member 32, and a rolling element 33 is interposed between the outer ring member 31 and the inner ring member 32. The inner ring member 32 is integrated with the axle 4, whereby the axle 4 can rotate around its central axis (axle axis L). A flange 322 in which a bolt 321 for attaching a wheel (not shown) is embedded is formed at the outer end of the inner ring member 32 in the vehicle width direction.

A diameter-expanded portion 221 is formed in the outer portion 22a of the central hole 22 of the retainer 2 in the vehicle width direction. The diameter-expanded portion 221 has a cylindrical diameter-expanded inner surface 221a and a contact surface 221b orthogonal to the axle axis L, and is formed in an L-shaped notch by these surfaces. The cylindrical enlarged inner surface 221a and the contact surface 221b are formed by precision machining in order to accurately position the hub bearing 3 with respect to the retainer 2 in the vehicle width direction and in the direction perpendicular to the axle shaft L as described later. To.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical outer surface 312 located at the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the outer ring member 31 is tightly fitted to the cylindrical enlarged inner surface 221a of the enlarged diameter portion 221 and is closely fitted to the contact surface 221b. Is in contact with the inner end surface 313 of the outer ring member 31 in the vehicle width direction, whereby the hub bearing 3 is properly positioned with respect to the retainer 2 in the vehicle width direction of the hub bearing 3 with respect to the retainer 2 and in the direction orthogonal to the axle shaft L. It is done in.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 indicates a magnetic encoder located inward in the vehicle width direction of the hub bearing 3 and arranged between the outer ring member 31 and the inner ring member 32. The magnetic encoder 5 is an element of the vehicle speed detecting means. When the vehicle is running, the magnetic encoder 5 rotates together with the inner ring member 32. At this time, a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) receives a magnetic force generated from the magnetic encoder 5 and emits an output signal. The output signal is input to a predetermined control device (not shown) via the retainer 2 and is used for various traveling controls and the like.

In order to prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the portion where the magnetic encoder 5 is arranged, the dust ring 41 that reduces the gap between the central hole 22 of the retainer 2 and the axle 4 stands up from the outer surface of the axle 4. However, in the present embodiment, the relationship between the dust ring 41 and the central hole 22 of the retainer 2 is particularly configured as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, an additional diameter-expanded portion 222 is formed in the inner portion 22b of the central hole 22 in the vehicle width direction. The additional diameter-expanded portion 222 has a cylindrical diameter-expanded inner surface 222a and a stepped portion 222b orthogonal to the axle axis L, and preferably has a diameter-expanded portion 22a formed in the outer portion 22a of the central hole 22 in the vehicle width direction. The shape is the same as that of the portion 221, that is, the shape is symmetrical with the diameter-expanded portion 221 in the thickness direction of the retainer 2. Then, by arranging the dust ring 41 close to the step portion 222b of the additional diameter-expanded portion 222, a labyrinth is formed and the effect of preventing foreign matter from entering is enhanced.

Next, the operation of the support structure A of the axle having the above configuration will be described.

When assembling the hub bearing 3 with respect to the retainer 2, the inner end surface 313 of the outer ring member 31 in the vehicle width direction abuts on the contact surface 221b formed in the enlarged diameter portion 221 of the central hole 22 of the retainer 2 with respect to the retainer 2. It can be used for positioning the hub bearing 3 in the vehicle width direction (axle axis direction). Since the enlarged diameter portion 221 related to the positioning of the hub bearing 3 in the direction perpendicular to the axle axis with respect to the retainer 2 is precisely machined, the positioning of the hub bearing 3 in the vehicle width direction also does not require the use of spacers or the like. , Be done exactly. As a result, the number of man-hours for assembling the support structure A of the axle 4 and the number of parts are not increased.

Positioning of the retainer 2 and the hub bearing 3 in the direction perpendicular to the axle axis is performed by the cylindrical enlarged inner surface 221a of the enlarged diameter portion 221 provided in the central hole 22 of the retainer 2 and the cylindrical outer surface of the inner end portion of the outer ring member 31 in the vehicle width direction. This is done by fitting with 312. Since the axial length of the enlarged diameter portion 221 is shorter than the total length of the central hole 22, the precision machining area required for accurate positioning can be reduced, and the machining cost can be suppressed.

Compared to fitting the outer ring member 31 of the hub bearing 3 into the center hole 22 of the retainer 2, by fitting the retainer 2 into the enlarged diameter portion 221 provided at the end of the center hole 22, the retainer 2 is fitted to the hub bearing 3. It is possible to shorten the distance (bolt pitch) P between the bolt 211 and the axle shaft L for fastening to the rear axle beam end 11 together with the outer ring member 31, and to reduce the size and weight of the retainer 2 and the hub bearing 3. Can be done. Further, this makes it possible to meet the needs such as mounting a wheel having a smaller diameter.

Further, since the diameter-expanding portion 221 and the additional diameter-expanding portion 222 having a symmetrical shape in the thickness direction are formed in the central hole 22 of the retainer 2, the retainer 2 can be shared for the left and right wheels, whereby the axle can be shared. The cost of the support structure A can be reduced.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any modification within the scope of the matters described in the claims is included in the scope of the present invention.

Although the above-described embodiment targets the axles of the rear wheels as the driving wheels, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the axles of the rear wheels as the driven wheels and the axles of the front wheels as the steering wheels.

A Support structure L Axle shaft 1 Body side member 11 Rear axle beam end 2 Retainer 21 Boss part 211 Bolt 22 Center hole 22a Vehicle width direction outer part 22b Vehicle width direction inner part 221 Diameter expansion part 221a Cylindrical diameter expansion inner surface 221b Contact surface 222 Additional diameter expansion part 222a Cylindrical diameter expansion inner surface 222b Step part 3 Hub bearing 31 Outer ring member 311 Flange 312 Cylindrical outer surface 313 Inner end surface in vehicle width direction 32 Inner ring member 321 Bolt 322 Flange 33 Rolling body 4 Axle 41 Dustring 5 Magnetic encoder

Claims (1)

The outer ring member of the hub bearing is supported via a retainer that is connected to the vehicle body side member and has a center hole, and the axle that passes through the center hole is integrated with the inner ring member of the hub bearing so that the axle can be axially rotated. In the support structure of the axle that supports
An axle support structure characterized in that a diameter-expanded portion having a contact surface with which the inner end surface of the outer ring member in the vehicle width direction abuts is provided on the outer portion of the center hole in the vehicle width direction.

Images