JP4305512B2 - Vehicle bearing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle bearing device to which a disc rotor and wheels of a disc brake device are attached.

  Regarding the hub unit for the drive wheel, a double-row rolling bearing supporting the hub unit is mounted on the outer periphery of the shaft part of the hub wheel to which the wheel is mounted, while the shaft part of the hub wheel has a hollow structure, and is outside the constant velocity joint. There is one in which a wheel shaft portion is inserted into a shaft portion of a hub wheel and is spline-fitted on the coupling surfaces of the inner and outer opposed peripheral surfaces (Patent Document 1).

By the way, in order to detachably connect the hub wheel and the constant velocity joint, the present applicant, for example, inserts a C-shaped retaining ring into an outer peripheral groove provided on the vehicle outer side of the outer ring shaft portion of the constant velocity joint and the hub. Although a slightly large diameter portion was provided on the vehicle outer side on the inner peripheral surface of the wheel, and the C-shaped retaining ring was hooked on the stepped portion caused by the large diameter portion, the C-shaped in this coupling form was considered. A slight axial gap between the retaining ring and the outer circumferential groove causes a slight rattling in the coupling between the hub wheel and the constant velocity joint.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-14215.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to connect the hub wheel and the constant velocity joint in such a manner that they can be separated without any difficulty.

A vehicle bearing device according to the present invention includes a constant velocity joint in which a double-row rolling bearing is fitted on the outer periphery of a hollow shaft portion of a hub wheel, and the hub wheel is tiltably connected to a drive shaft. a of the outer race is being bearing apparatus for a vehicle and a shaft portion that is splined to the inner circumference of the hollow shaft portion of the bowl-shaped portion and the hub wheel, the shaft end of the hollow shaft portion is the bowl-shaped portion A circumferential groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer side of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint on the outer side of the vehicle, and is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion Has a retaining ring that couples the hub wheel fitted in a fixed state by press-fitting into the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion of the hub wheel and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint, and the retaining ring is a bottom portion. The vehicle outer side end portion of the shaft portion is inserted into the center of the shaft Have a, the surrounding of the through hole, the locked in a state of being bent deformed with respect to the circumferential groove of the shaft portion by the elastic restoring force accompanying the bending deformation of the constant velocity joint and the hub wheel A locking piece that pulls the outer ring toward each other in the axial direction is formed .

  According to the present invention, since the structure of the retaining ring is a bottomed cylindrical shape, the inside of the hollow shaft portion can be closed to improve the sealing performance with respect to the vehicle outer side, thereby preventing the entry of foreign matters. It is possible and preferable. Further, since the retaining ring has a bottomed cylindrical shape, the posture of retaining the constant velocity joint with respect to the hub wheel is stable and preferable. In addition, the bottomed cylindrical retaining ring is bent and deformed with respect to the convex portion of the vehicle outer side end surface of the outer ring shaft portion of the constant velocity joint, and the hub wheel and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint are coupled by an elastic restoring force. As a result, both the hub wheel and the constant velocity joint can be connected to each other in a separable manner. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the efficiency of power transmission from the drive shaft to the hub wheel may be reduced. No structure.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking piece is divided into a plurality of pieces.

  As described above, in the case of the present invention, since the structure of the retaining ring is a bottomed cylindrical shape, the inside of the hollow shaft portion is closed to improve the sealing performance against the vehicle outer side, thereby preventing the entry of foreign matter. Can be achieved, which is preferable. Further, since the retaining ring has a bottomed cylindrical shape, the posture of retaining the constant velocity joint with respect to the hub wheel is stable and preferable. In addition, the bottomed cylindrical retaining ring is bent and deformed with respect to the convex portion of the vehicle outer side end surface of the outer ring shaft portion of the constant velocity joint, and the hub wheel and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint are coupled by an elastic restoring force. As a result, both the hub wheel and the constant velocity joint can be connected to each other in a separable manner. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the efficiency of power transmission from the drive shaft to the hub wheel may be reduced. No structure.

  Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the drawings. In addition, although this embodiment demonstrates the hub unit for vehicles, this invention is not limited to this, It can apply to a vehicle bearing apparatus widely.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a hub unit for a vehicle, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a coupling plate of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG.

  The vehicle hub unit shown in the figure is a type used on the drive wheel side of an automobile, and includes a hub wheel 1, a double row rolling bearing 2, and a constant velocity joint 3.

  The hub wheel 1 has a radially outward flange 11 to which a wheel (not shown) is attached, and a hollow shaft portion 12 to which the double-row rolling bearing 2 is fixed to a bearing fitting region on the outer periphery thereof.

  The outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 has a configuration in which a raceway surface 22a of one group of balls 22 in the double row rolling bearing 2 is formed near the vehicle outer side. The shaft end 12 a of the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 is bent radially outward and is caulked to the outer end surface of the inner ring 25 of the double row rolling bearing 2.

  The double row rolling bearing 2 is composed of a single outer ring 21 having two rows of raceway grooves, a plurality of balls 22 as rolling elements arranged in two rows, and two crown-shaped cages 23. As for the two inner rings that are originally necessary, one uses the raceway surface 22a of the hub wheel 1 as described above, and has only the other inner ring 25. The outer ring 21 is formed with a radially outward flange 24 that is bolted to the vehicle body 6 or the like.

  The constant velocity joint 3 is referred to as a well-known Rzeppa type (Burfield type) constant velocity joint, and includes an outer ring 31, an inner ring 32, a ball 33, a cage 34, and the like.

  The outer ring 31 includes a bowl-shaped part 35 in which the inner ring 32, the ball 33, the retainer 34, and the like are accommodated and a shaft part 36 that is integrally connected to the small-diameter side of the bowl-shaped part 35.

  One end side of the shaft 7 is spline-fitted to the inner ring 32 of the constant velocity joint 3 and is secured by a retaining ring (not shown). The other end side of the shaft 7 is connected to another constant velocity joint (not shown). To the vehicle differential device.

  A double-row rolling bearing 2 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 and a constant velocity joint 3 is attached to the hub wheel 1 in the state of being close to the double-row rolling bearing 2. Yes.

  Further, the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 are respectively formed with axial splines. The outer ring shaft portion 36 and the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 are coupled so as to be integrally rotatable.

  Bolts 13 for fixing a disc rotor 4 and wheels (not shown) of the disc brake device are provided at several positions on the side surface of the flange 11 on the circumference of a predetermined radius centered on the central axis of the hub wheel 1. It is installed in the penetrating state.

  In such a vehicle hub unit, the rotational power of the shaft 7 is transmitted to the wheel (not shown) attached to the hub wheel 1 via the constant velocity joint 3.

  Next, a configuration that characterizes the present embodiment will be described.

  In summary, this embodiment is provided with a convex portion 40 on the vehicle outer side end surface of the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 1, and further with a circumferential groove 41 on the base side outer peripheral surface of the convex portion 40. Then, the retaining ring 42 is fitted into the vehicle outer side opening of the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 in a fixed state. Then, the locking piece 42b in the retaining ring 42 is bent and deformed by the convex portion 40, and is hooked on the circumferential groove 41, and the elastic force of the hub wheel 1 and the constant velocity joint 3 is changed by the bending deformation. Both are combined as a form in which the outer ring 32 is pulled toward each other in the axial direction.

  This will be specifically described below.

  The convex portion 40 is provided at the center of the vehicle outer side end surface of the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 1, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is formed in a tapered shape that is reduced in diameter toward the vehicle outer side.

  The circumferential groove 41 is provided on the outer peripheral surface on the base side of the convex portion 40 in the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 1.

  The retaining ring 42 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape in which both end openings of the hollow cylindrical portion 42a are closed by a circular lid piece 42b and a locking piece 42c, and the engagement on the bottom side of the cylindrical shape. The stop piece 42b is provided with a through hole 42d at the center thereof. The inner diameter of the through hole 42d is made equal to the outer diameter per center of the tapered outer peripheral surface of the convex portion 40.

  The cylindrical portion 42a of the retaining ring 42 is fitted into the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 in a fixed state by press fitting.

  In the retaining ring 42 shown in FIG. 1, the locking piece 42 b is hooked on the circumferential groove 41 of the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 1. The operation up to this hook will be described. To do.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 3 is fitted into the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 toward the vehicle outer side, the outer ring shaft portion 36 has a vehicle outer side. The convex portion 40 on the end face is inserted into the through hole 42 d of the locking piece 42 b of the retaining ring 42.

  In this case, since the inner diameter of the through hole 42d is made equal to the outer diameter per middle of the convex portion 40, when the convex portion 40 tries to be inserted into the through hole 42d beyond the middle, the convex portion 40 is The locking piece 42b of the retaining ring 42 that is forcibly fitted in the through hole 42d is bent and deformed in the vehicle outer side direction with the inner wall that is the outer peripheral portion as a fulcrum, and is brought to a tilted state.

  In this state, when the convex portion 40 further moves to the vehicle outer side, the locking piece 42b of the retaining ring 42 is brought into a state of overcoming the convex portion 40 and being hooked on the circumferential groove 41. The engaging piece 42b performs an operation of pulling the hub wheel 1 and the outer ring 31 of the constant velocity joint 3 toward each other in the axial direction by the elastic restoring force accompanying the bending deformation.

  As a result, the hub wheel 1 and the constant velocity joint 3 are attracted to each other in the axial direction by the retaining ring 42 and coupled.

  From the above, in the case of the present embodiment, since both the hub wheel 1 and the constant velocity joint 3 are coupled by the above-described retaining ring 42, there is no axial direction in a separable state unlike the conventional example. Can be combined.

  In addition, the locking piece 42b is preferable because it can block the inside of the hollow shaft portion 12 to improve the sealing performance with respect to the vehicle outer side and prevent entry of foreign matters such as muddy water.

  Further, a through-hole 42e is provided in the cover piece 42c on the vehicle outer side of the retaining ring 42, and a retaining device 42 is hooked on the through-hole 42e by using the through-hole 42e. Convenient to pull out.

  Examples of the material of the retaining ring 42 include a hot rolled mild steel plate and steel strip, a cold rolled mild steel plate and steel strip, a hot rolled mild steel plate and steel strip for automobile structure, and the like.

  When the constant velocity joint 3 is separated from the hub wheel 1, the retaining ring 42 may be pulled out using an appropriate instrument.

  In the above-described form of the present embodiment, the retaining ring 42 is a consumable item that is damaged by being removed and cannot be reused. However, the hub wheel 1 and the constant velocity joint 3 are convenient because they can be reused.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible.

  (1) FIGS. 5 to 7 show a vehicle hub unit according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view of the vehicle hub unit, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. FIG. 6 and FIG. 6 are enlarged views of main parts before the retaining ring is inserted. In these drawings, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the vehicle hub unit of the illustrated example, the retaining ring 42 includes a cylindrical portion 42a and a circular locking piece 42b having a through hole 42d in the center. It is formed in a tapered shape that decreases in diameter toward the inner side.

  The cylindrical portion 42a of the retaining ring 42 is fitted into the hollow shaft portion 12 of the hub wheel 1 by press fitting, and the retaining piece 42b of the retaining ring 42 is in the process of fitting. When the through-hole 42d is forcibly fitted to the convex portion 40, the locking piece 42b is bent and deformed with the outer peripheral portion as a fulcrum, and is hooked to the tapered outer peripheral surface 40a of the convex portion 40. As a result, the above-described pulling action is exhibited.

  From the above, also in the case of this embodiment, the hub wheel 1 and the constant velocity joint 3 are coupled in the above-described form using the retaining ring 40, so that unlike the conventional example, both can be separated and It can be combined without any axial direction.

  As in the above-described embodiment, the locking piece 42b closes the inside of the hollow shaft portion 12 to enhance the sealing performance with respect to the vehicle outer side, thereby preventing entry of foreign matter such as muddy water.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the locking piece 42b is a planar annular body that is provided continuously to the periphery of the cylindrical portion 42a and has a through hole 42d at the center thereof. The annular body may be divided into a plurality of pieces along.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the entire outer peripheral surface of the convex portion 41 of the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 3 has a tapered surface shape. However, the outer peripheral surface may be partially provided with a tapered surface. .

  (4) Although the circumferential groove 41 is provided on the base side of the convex portion 41 of the outer ring shaft portion 36 of the constant velocity joint 3, it is merely a groove provided partially in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring shaft portion 36. May be.

1 is a longitudinal side view of a hub unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. Perspective view of retaining ring 1 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 1 in the middle of inserting the retaining ring. A longitudinal side view of a hub unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. Perspective view of retaining ring

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hub wheel 2 Double row rolling bearing 3 Constant velocity joint 12 Shaft part of hub wheel 36 Shaft part of outer ring of constant velocity joint 40 Convex part 41 Circumferential groove 42 Retaining ring 42a Cylindrical part 42b Locking piece

Claims (2)

A double-row rolling bearing is fitted on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft portion of the hub wheel, and includes a constant velocity joint that connects the hub wheel so as to be tiltable with respect to the drive shaft. The outer ring of the constant velocity joint includes a saddle portion and a hub wheel. A shaft bearing that is spline-fitted to the inner periphery of the hollow shaft portion of the vehicle,
The shaft end of the hollow shaft portion abuts on the vehicle outer side end surface of the saddle portion,
A circumferential groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion on the vehicle outer side of the shaft portion of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint,
A retainer that joins the outer ring of the constant velocity joint and the hub wheel that is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion of the hub wheel in a fixed state. Having a ring
The retaining ring body have a through hole in which the vehicle outer side end portion of the shaft portion in the center of the bottom portion is inserted,
Around the through-hole, it is locked in a state of being bent and deformed with respect to the peripheral groove of the shaft portion, and the hub wheel and the outer ring of the constant velocity joint are pivoted by an elastic restoring force accompanying the bending deformation. A vehicular bearing device, characterized in that a locking piece is formed to be pulled toward each other in the direction . The vehicle bearing device according to claim 1 ,
The vehicular bearing device, wherein the locking piece is divided into a plurality of pieces.

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