JP4483852B2 - Rotating support device for wheel and assembling method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a wheel rotation support device including a rolling bearing unit with a rotation speed detection device that is used for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to a suspension device and detecting the rotation speed of the wheel. The present invention relates to an improvement of the assembly method.

  A rolling bearing unit is used to rotatably support the wheels of the automobile with respect to the suspension system. Further, in order to control the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS), it is necessary to detect the rotational speed of the wheel. For this reason, the rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device incorporating a rotational speed detection device in the rolling bearing unit supports the wheel rotatably with respect to the suspension device, and detects the rotational speed of the wheel. However, in recent years it has become widely practiced.

FIG. 1 shows one described in Patent Document 1 as an example of a conventional structure of a rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detecting device for automobiles used for such a purpose. In this rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device, a hub 2 that is a member corresponding to an inner ring is rotatably supported inside an outer ring 1 that does not rotate even in use, and a rotational speed of an encoder 3 fixed to a part of the hub 2. Can be detected by the sensor 4 supported on the outer ring 1. For this purpose, double-row outer ring raceways 5 and 5 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 1. Inner ring raceways 7 and 7 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hub 2 and the inner ring 6 fitted and fixed to the hub 2, respectively. A plurality of rolling elements 8 and 8 are provided between the inner ring raceways 7 and 7 and the outer ring raceways 5 and 5, respectively, so that they can roll freely, and an inner ring equivalent member is provided inside the outer ring 1. The certain hub 2 and inner ring 6 are rotatably supported.

Further, outside of the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 1 (outside means the side that is the outer side in the width direction in the assembled state of the automobile, and is the left side of FIG. 1 . The right side of 1 is referred to as the inside.This is the same in the entire specification and claims.) In the end portion, it extends over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, or intermittently over the circumferential direction, protruding outward in the diameter direction. In this state, the fixed flange 9 is provided. The fixed-side flange 9 can be coupled and fixed to a knuckle, which is a part of a vehicle suspension system, by a plurality of bolts (not shown). For this reason, a plurality of through holes (not shown) are provided in the fixed flange 9, and a plurality of screw holes (not shown) are formed in a portion of the outer end surface of the knuckle facing the through holes.

Further, a rotation side flange 10 for attaching a wheel is provided at a portion of the outer end portion (left end portion in FIG. 1 ) of the hub 2 that protrudes in the axial direction from the outer end portion of the outer ring 1. Further, a spline hole is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the hub 2, and a rotation drive shaft of a constant velocity joint (not shown) is freely splined inside the hub 2. In the case of a rolling bearing unit for automobiles that is heavy, tapered rollers may be used as the plurality of rolling elements 8, 8 instead of balls as shown.

In order to incorporate the rotational speed detection device into the rolling bearing unit as described above, the encoder 3 is fastened to the outer peripheral surface of the inner end portion of the inner ring 6 (the right end portion in FIG. 1 ) that is separated from the inner ring raceway 7. The outer ring is fixed by fitting, or is formed integrally with the inner ring 6. The encoder 3 performs plastic working on a magnetic metal plate such as a mild steel plate, or forms a shoulder portion of a magnetic metal inner ring 6 in a gear shape, and turns in the circumferential direction at equal intervals in the diameter direction. By forming the concavo-convex portions 11 whose height changes alternately, the magnetic characteristics of the encoder 3 are changed alternately at equal intervals over the circumferential direction.

Furthermore, an insertion hole 12 is formed in a portion of the inner end portion of the outer ring 1 that is located on the axially inner side (right side in FIG. 1 ) with respect to the fixed flange 9. Then, the sensor 4 is inserted and fixed in the insertion hole 12, and the front end surface of the detection unit 13 of the sensor 4 is opposed to the concavo-convex part 11 of the encoder 3 through a minute gap.

In use of the automobile speed sensing rolling bearing unit, such as described above, the fixed side flange 9 fixedly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 1, is connected and fixed by the bolt against the knuckle. A wheel is fixed to a rotation side flange 10 fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the hub 2 by a stud (not shown) provided on the rotation side flange 10. Further, the rotary drive shaft of the constant velocity joint is inserted inside the hub 2, and the hub 2 and the constant velocity joint are coupled and fixed. Thus, for the knuckle constituting the suspension system of a motor vehicle while rotatably supporting a wheel, a freely transmitted to the wheel rotation of the rotary drive shaft. When the wheel rotates during operation of the automobile, the concave and convex portions of the concave and convex portion 11 formed in the encoder 3 alternately pass through the vicinity of the end surface of the detecting portion 13 of the sensor 4. As a result, the density of the magnetic flux flowing through the sensor 4 changes, and the output of the sensor 4 changes. The frequency at which the output of the sensor 4 changes in this way is proportional to the rotational speed of the wheel. Therefore, if the output of the sensor 4 is sent to a controller (not shown), the ABS and TCS can be controlled appropriately.

When the outer ring 1 and the knuckle constituting the rolling bearing unit with the rotational speed detecting device as shown in FIG. 1 are coupled and fixed, the outer end surface of the knuckle is placed inside the support hole provided in the knuckle. Is inserted until it comes into contact with the inner side surface of the fixed flange 9 (the right side surface in FIG. 1 ). Accordingly, the axially inner portion of the outer ring 1 with respect to the fixed flange 9 serves as a guide surface for the inner peripheral surface of the support hole of the knuckle .

However, when the sensor 4 is inserted in the diameter direction of the outer ring 1 and fixed to the outer ring 1 as in the conventional structure shown in FIG. 1 , the sensor 4 provided on the outer ring 1 and the sensor 4 In order to prevent interference between a harness (not shown) derived from the outer diameter side end of the sensor 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the support hole of the knuckle, the axial distance between the sensor 4 and the fixed flange 9 L ₄ needs to be larger than the length of the knuckle in the width direction. In this way, when the axial distance L ₄ between the sensor 4 and the fixed flange 9 is increased, the inner ends of the outer ring 1 and the inner ring 6 are axially inward (to the right in FIG. 1 ). Extend to. Since many parts are arranged in a narrow space in the vicinity of the knuckle constituting the automobile suspension system, when the inner end portion extends inward in the axial direction, the suspension apparatus and the rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device Design freedom is limited.

In order to prevent the knuckle and the sensor 4 from interfering with each other, the fixing operation of the sensor 4 with respect to the outer ring 1 is performed such that a part of the outer ring 1 is axially inwardly of the fixing side flange 9 and the knuckle This must be done after insertion inside the support hole . However, in an automobile assembly plant, the assembly of the sensor 4 to the outer ring 1 after the rolling bearing unit including the outer ring 1 is assembled to the knuckle is performed in a narrow space sandwiched between the vehicle body and the suspension device of the automobile. It must be done in, and is troublesome.

  As means for solving the above problems, for example, a structure described in Patent Document 2 is known. In the case of the rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device described in Patent Document 2, a sensor and an encoder are provided at positions opposite to the knuckle and the axial direction with respect to the fixed flange. Therefore, according to such a structure, not only can the interference between the knuckle and the sensor be prevented, but also the work for assembling the sensor to the outer ring can be performed in a wide space before the outer ring is assembled to the knuckle. As a result, the above problems can be eliminated.

  However, in the case of the structure described in Patent Document 2, an insertion hole penetrating in the diametrical direction is provided in a part of the outer ring and between the rolling element rows provided in a double row. The sensor is inserted and held and fixed. When the rolling bearing unit is used, the outer ring includes a portion between the rolling element rows provided in a double row, and a large stress is generated in a portion between the rolling member and the fixed side flange. For this reason, as in the structure described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, when an insertion hole penetrating in the diametrical direction is provided in a part of the outer ring and between the rolling element rows provided in a double row, This is not preferable because the allowable stress of the outer ring is reduced.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-21464 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-59769

  The rotation support device for a wheel and the assembly method thereof according to the present invention have been devised in order to solve the above-described problems and to effectively improve the degree of freedom in design and assembly workability.

A rotation support device for a wheel that is an object of the present invention is a device in which a wheel is rotatably supported by a suspension device by a rolling bearing unit with a rotation speed detection device. Among these, a rolling bearing unit with a rotation speed detection device is , as in the conventional rolling bearing unit as described above, an outer ring does not rotate even during use has an outer ring raceway of the double row inner circumferential surface, projects from the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring diametrically outward Equivalent to an inner ring that is provided in a state and has a fixed-side flange that can be coupled and fixed to a part of the knuckle that constitutes the suspension device, and a double-row inner ring raceway that faces both the outer ring raceways on the outer peripheral surface. and the member, projecting a plurality of rolling elements disposed rollably between these outer ring raceways and both inner ring raceway, the axially outward of the outer ring in the axially outer end portion of the inner ring member Provided in the part A rotation-side flange for supporting and fixing the wheel, the inner ring member is partially fixed to the inner ring member concentric with, the equal intervals alternately over the magnetic characteristics of the detection surface in the circumferential direction An encoder that has been changed, and a detection unit, with the detection unit facing the detection surface of the encoder, the outer ring is supported and fixed to an inner portion in the axial direction of the outer ring raceway , and A sensor (including a holder that holds the sensor) that changes an output signal in response to a change in the magnetic characteristics of the detection surface, and an axially inner portion of the outer ring with respect to the fixed-side flange. The fixed-side flange is coupled and fixed to the knuckle in a state of being inserted inside the support hole provided in the knuckle.

In particular, in the wheel rotation support device of the present invention, a notch is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the support hole provided in the knuckle to prevent interference with the sensor and a harness derived from the sensor. is doing.
Further, in the method for assembling the wheel rotation support device of the present invention, the knuckle used is a notch formed on the inner peripheral surface of the support hole, and the sensor for the outer ring, The outer ring is supported and fixed before being coupled and fixed to the knuckle. Then, by inserting a part of the outer ring into the support hole in a state where the sensor and the harness derived from the sensor are aligned with the notch, the sensor, the harness, and the inner peripheral surface of the support hole The outer ring is assembled to the knuckle while preventing interference.

  According to the wheel rotation support device and its assembly method of the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to eliminate the troubles described above. In other words, if the configuration of the present invention is adopted, the parts manufacturer may previously fix the sensor to the outer ring in a wide space, and in this state, the outer ring 1 may be assembled to the knuckle at the automobile assembly plant. Assembling workability can be improved.

In carrying out the present invention, in the structure shown in FIG. 1 described above, the inner peripheral surface of the support hole of the knuckle (not shown) constituting the suspension device is aligned with the sensor 4 supported and fixed to the outer ring 1. Form a notch . With such structure, when the coupling fixing the outer ring 1 against the above knuckle, and the sensor 4 in advance and supported by and fixed to the outer ring 1, and the support hole is so as not to interfere.

The feature of the present invention lies in the structure of the supporting and fixing portion between the knuckle constituting the suspension device of the automobile and the outer ring of the rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device . In the illustrated example, the rolling bearing unit for supporting the driving wheel is shown. However, the rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detecting device of the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and supports the driven wheel. It can also be applied to rolling bearing units.

The half part sectional view which shows the structure used as the object of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer ring 2 Hub 3 Encoder 4 Sensor 5 Outer ring raceway 6 Inner ring 7 Inner ring raceway 8 Rolling element 9 Fixed side flange 10 Rotation side flange 11 Concavity and convexity 12 Insertion hole 13 Detection part

Claims (2)

A rotation support device for a wheel that rotatably supports a wheel on a suspension device by a rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device, and the rolling bearing unit with a rotational speed detection device includes a double-row outer ring on an inner peripheral surface. An outer ring that has a track and does not rotate during use; a fixed-side flange that is provided in a state of projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, and that can be coupled and fixed to a part of the knuckle constituting the suspension device; has an inner ring raceway of the double row facing the outer ring raceway on an outer peripheral surface, and the inner ring member that rotates during use, a plurality of which are provided rollably between these outer ring raceways and both inner ring raceway A rolling element, a rotation side flange for supporting and fixing a wheel provided at a portion projecting outward in the axial direction from the outer ring at an axially outer end portion of the inner ring equivalent member, and one of the inner ring equivalent members; And this inner ring equivalent member Fixed to the heart, the encoder is changed at regular intervals and alternately over the magnetic characteristics of the detection surface in the circumferential direction, has a detection portion, and are opposed to the sensing portion to the sensed surface of the encoder A sensor that is supported and fixed to an inner portion in the axial direction of the outer ring in the outer ring and changes an output signal in response to a change in magnetic characteristics of the detected surface. In a rotating support device for a wheel formed by connecting and fixing the fixed side flange to the knuckle in a state where an axially inner portion of the outer ring is inserted inside a support hole provided in the knuckle. A rotation support device for a wheel, wherein a notch for preventing interference with the sensor and a harness derived from the sensor is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the support hole provided in the knuckle. An assembly method of a wheel rotation support device for rotatably supporting a wheel on a suspension device by means of a rolling bearing unit with a rotation speed detection device, of which the rolling bearing unit with a rotation speed detection device is duplicated on the inner peripheral surface. An outer ring that has a row of outer ring raceways and does not rotate when in use, and a fixed side that is provided in a state of projecting radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring and can be coupled and fixed to a part of the knuckle constituting the suspension device It has a flange, an inner ring raceway of the double row facing the outer ring raceway on an outer peripheral surface, and the inner ring member that rotates when in use, provided rollably between these outer ring raceways and both inner ring raceway A plurality of rolling elements, a rotation side flange for supporting and fixing a wheel provided at a portion projecting outward in the axial direction from the outer ring at the axial outer end of the inner ring equivalent member, and the inner ring equivalent This inner ring is part of the member Fixed to those members concentrically, an encoder is changed at regular intervals and alternately over the magnetic characteristics of the detection surface in the circumferential direction, has a detection unit, the detection unit to the detection surface of the encoder A sensor that is supported and fixed to an inner portion in the axial direction of the outer rings of the outer rings in a state of being opposed to each other, and that changes an output signal in response to a change in magnetic characteristics of the detected surface. And a rotation support device for a wheel for coupling and fixing the fixed side flange to the knuckle in a state where an axially inner portion of the outer ring is inserted into a support hole provided in the knuckle. In this assembling method, a knuckle having a notch formed in the inner peripheral surface of the support hole is used, the sensor is connected to the outer ring, and the outer ring is coupled and fixed to the knuckle. The sensor, the harness, and the support hole are inserted into the support hole in a state where the sensor and the harness derived from the sensor are aligned with the notch. A method of assembling the wheel rotation support device, wherein the outer ring is assembled to the knuckle while preventing interference with the inner peripheral surface of the wheel.

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