JP3335251B2 - Wheel support bearings - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bearing used for supporting a wheel of an automobile, and more particularly to a joint structure of an inner ring of the bearing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, for supporting front wheels of an automobile,
Rolling bearings in which a member connected to a hub and a member connected to a drive shaft such as a constant velocity joint are joined to form an inner ring, and a member connected to a knuckle is used as an outer ring, and a rolling element is incorporated between the outer ring and the inner ring. Used.

In such a wheel supporting bearing,
There is a demand for a structure in which the hub and the drive shaft are firmly fixed in the inner race, and the torque can be transmitted stably from the drive shaft toward the hub.

Conventionally, as a method for joining the inner rings of this type of bearing, there is a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-26525, for example.

In this known method, a member connected to a hub and a member connected to a drive shaft are fitted inside and outside, and the fitting portions are welded to join them together.

[0006]

However, in the method of joining the inner races by welding alone as described above, there is a problem that defects are apt to occur at the joints due to uneven welding or the like, so that reliable and stable joining cannot be performed.

In other words, if the joint is partially defective, a large fluctuating load is applied during the running of the vehicle, and the joint may be broken, thereby completely disconnecting the hub and the drive shaft. It is possible that the wheels are separated from each other and the wheels are separated from the vehicle.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and enables the hub and the drive shaft constituting the inner ring to be firmly joined, and even if the joined state is broken, the separation of the wheels can be reliably prevented. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing for supporting a wheel.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a method in which a member connected to a hub and a member connected to a drive shaft are fitted inside and outside to form an inner ring, and a member connected to a knuckle is formed as an outer ring. The outer ring and the inner ring constitute a rolling bearing, and in a wheel supporting bearing in which the fitting portion of the inner ring is welded, a circumferential groove surrounding the fitting portion is provided in the fitting portion of the inner ring, and the circumferential groove is formed in the circumferential groove. In addition, a snap ring that engages simultaneously with the fitting member is incorporated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above structure, means for transmitting torque by mechanical engagement is added to the fitting portion of the inner race.

[0011]

In the above structure, even if the joining by welding is disengaged, the retaining ring simultaneously engages with the fitting member to stop the relative movement in the axial direction, so that the separation of the hub and the drive shaft can be prevented. .

Further, by adding a mechanical torque transmitting means to the fitting portion as in the second means, the torque can be stably transmitted from the drive shaft to the hub even if the joint by welding is disengaged. It can secure the driving ability of the car.

[0013]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hub on which wheels are mounted, 2 denotes a drive shaft extending from the constant velocity joint 3, and a member (hereinafter referred to as a hub member) 1a connected to the hub 1 and a member (hereinafter referred to as a drive shaft) connected to the drive shaft 2. Inner member 11 in combination with 2a
Is configured.

The hub member 1a and the drive shaft member 2a are connected by fitting the drive shaft member 2a on the inner diameter side of the hub member 1a. Balls are respectively attached to the outer diameter surfaces of the hub member 1a and the drive shaft member 2a. The rolling surfaces 14 and 15 are formed.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a knuckle fixed to the body of the automobile. An outer ring 12 having double rows of ball rolling grooves 16 and 17 is integrally formed on the inner diameter of the knuckle 4.

Ball rolling surface 1 of inner ring 11 and outer ring 12
A plurality of balls 13 are incorporated between the knuckles 4 and 4, 15 and 16 and 17, respectively.

In the inner race 11, the hub member 1a and the drive shaft member 2a fitted inside and outside are integrally joined at their fitting end surfaces by welding (welded portion 5).

Circumferential grooves 6, 7 are formed on the inner surface of the hub member 1a and the outer surface of the drive shaft member 2a so as to face each other.
A retaining ring 8 made of a circlip or the like is fitted in the circumferential grooves 6 and 7. The cross-sectional diameter D of the retaining ring 8 is set to be large enough to simultaneously engage with the hub member 1a and the drive shaft member 2a.

In the bearing of the embodiment having the above-described structure, the retaining ring 8 keeps the hub member 1 even if the joint by welding is disengaged.
a to engage with the drive shaft member 2a to prevent the escape.
The hub 1 and the drive shaft 2 are held in a connected state. Therefore, the hub 1 (that is, the wheels) is not separated from the drive shaft 2.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment. In this example, serration grooves 21 and 22 meshing with each other are formed on the fitting surface of the hub member 1a and the drive shaft member 2a of the inner race 11, and torque transmission can be performed by engagement of the serration grooves 21 and 22. ing.

In the above-described structure, even if the joining by welding is broken, the hub member 1a and the drive shaft member 2 are retained by the retaining ring 8.
As long as a is prevented from coming off, the transmission state of the torque can be maintained via the serration grooves 21 and 22, and the vehicle can travel by itself.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner diameter surface of the hub member 1a and the outer diameter surface of the drive shaft member 2a are eccentric in the radial direction, and the drive shaft 2 is engaged by the eccentricity. Thus, torque is transmitted to the hub 1.

On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the hub member 1a is fitted on the inner diameter side of the drive shaft member 2a, and the welding portion 5 is Retaining ring 8
Are provided.

Further, serration grooves 23 and 24 are provided on the distal end surface of the drive shaft member 2a and the end surface of the hub member 1a to engage with each other and transmit torque.

In the above case, the hub 1 and the hub member 1a
Is a press-formed product integrally formed by press working.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.
Serration grooves 25 and 26 are provided on end faces of the drive shaft member 2a and the drive shaft member 2a.

The track member 1 is provided on the outer diameter side of the hub member 1a.
8 is press-fitted and fixed, and the ball rolling groove 15 is
Is formed.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the hub and the drive shaft are prevented from coming off by the retaining ring even when the joint by welding is disengaged, the accident that the wheels come off can be reliably prevented, and the safety of the vehicle can be improved. Driving can be guaranteed.

Further, by adding a mechanical torque transmitting means to the fitting portion of the inner ring, the driving force can be transmitted to the wheels even in a state where the welding is released, and the self-propelling ability of the automobile is maintained. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hub 1a Hub member 2 Drive shaft 2a Drive shaft member 4 Knuckle 5 Welded part 6, 7 Circular groove 8 Retaining ring 11 Inner ring 12 Outer ring 13 Ball 14, 15, 16, 17 Ball rolling groove 18 Track member 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Serration grooves

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16C 19/14-19/18 F16C 35/06-35/063 F16C 35/07-35/073 F16C 33 / 58-33/64 B60B 35/14-35/18

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A member connected to the hub and a member connected to the drive shaft are fitted inside and outside to form an inner ring, and a member connected to the knuckle is formed as an outer ring, and the outer ring and the inner ring constitute a rolling bearing;
In the wheel supporting bearing in which the fitting portion of the inner ring is welded and joined, a circumferential groove surrounding the fitting portion is provided in the fitting portion of the inner ring, and the circumferential groove is engaged simultaneously with the fitting member. A wheel support bearing characterized by incorporating a retaining ring. 2. The wheel supporting bearing according to claim 1, wherein a means for transmitting torque by mechanical engagement is added to the fitting portion of the inner ring.