JP4803572B2 - Magnetic encoder and wheel bearing device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic encoder free from contamination of foreign articles in a production line, and to provide a bearing unit equipped with the magnetic encoder and capable of improving the reliability. <P>SOLUTION: A seal 10 is attached to an annular space formed between an outer member 4 and an inner ring 6; the seal 10 comprises an annular steel plate 12, comprising a cylindrical part 12a engaged with the inner ring 6, and a vertical plate 12b extended radial outward therefrom, and a seal plate 11 is arranged facing thereto and formed into an L-shaped cross section, and is vulcanization-bonded integrally with a seal member 15 having a side lip 15a slidingly contacting with the vertical plate 12b, and radial lips 15b, 15c slidingly contacting with the cylindrical part 12a; an outer face of the vertical plate 12b is vulcanization-bonded integrally with the magnetic encoder 13 mixed with magnetic substance powder, in an elastomer and attracted magnetically with magnetic poles N, S alternately along the circumferential direction; and an annular recess 16 is formed in its inner circumference to provide an identification means in appearance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&amp;NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic encoder that detects the rotational speed of a wheel of an automobile or the like, and a wheel bearing device that includes the magnetic encoder and rotatably supports a wheel with respect to a suspension device.

  In general, a wheel bearing device in which a wheel of an automobile is rotatably supported with respect to a suspension device and an anti-lock brake system (ABS) is controlled to detect a rotation speed of the wheel is incorporated. Are known. Conventionally, in such a wheel bearing device, a sealing device is provided between an inner member and an outer member that are in rolling contact with a rolling element, and a magnetic encoder in which magnetic poles are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction is provided as the sealing device. In addition, the rotational speed detecting device is constituted by a magnetic encoder and a rotational speed sensor that is arranged facing the magnetic encoder and detects a magnetic pole change of the magnetic encoder accompanying the rotation of the wheel.

  A structure as shown in FIG. 5 is known as an example of such a wheel bearing device. This wheel bearing device is supported and fixed to a suspension device (not shown), and an outer member 51 serving as a fixing member, and an inner member 52 inserted into the outer member 51 via double rows of balls 53 and 53. And. The outer member 51 has a vehicle body mounting flange 51b integrally on the outer periphery, and double rows of outer rolling surfaces 51a and 51a are formed on the inner periphery. On the other hand, the inner member 52 has double-row inner rolling surfaces 55a and 56a facing the outer rolling surfaces 51a and 51a of the outer member 51 on the outer periphery. Of the double row inner rolling surfaces 55 a and 56 a, one inner rolling surface 55 a is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the hub wheel 55, and the other inner rolling surface 56 a is formed on the outer periphery of the inner ring 56. The inner ring 56 is press-fitted and fixed to a cylindrical small-diameter step portion 55b extending in the axial direction from the inner rolling surface 55a of the hub ring 55 via a predetermined shimiro. The double-row balls 53 and 53 are respectively accommodated between the rolling surfaces and are held by the cages 57 and 57 so as to be freely rollable.

  The hub wheel 55 integrally has a wheel mounting flange 54 for mounting a wheel (not shown) on the outer periphery, and a hub bolt 54 a for fixing the wheel is planted at a circumferentially equidistant position of the wheel mounting flange 54. It is installed. Further, a serration 55 c into which a constant velocity universal joint (not shown) is fitted is formed on the inner periphery of the hub wheel 55. The inner member 52 refers to the hub ring 55 and the inner ring 56. Seals 58 and 59 are attached to the end of the outer member 51 to prevent leakage of lubricating grease sealed inside the bearing and intrusion of rainwater, dust, etc. into the bearing from the outside.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, the inboard side seal 59 is fitted into the inner periphery of the end of the outer member 51 and has a first seal plate 60 formed in an L-shaped cross section. The second sealing plate 61 is disposed opposite to the sealing plate 60 and has a L-shaped cross section. The second seal plate 61 includes a cylindrical portion 61a that is fitted on the inner ring 56, and a standing plate portion 61b that extends radially outward from the cylindrical portion 61a. A pulsar ring 62 is fixed to the outer surface of the upright plate portion 61b.

  On the other hand, the first seal plate 60 is a cored bar 64 having an L-shaped cross section, and is integrally vulcanized and bonded to the cored bar 64 so that the inner surface of the upright plate portion 61 b of the second seal plate 61 And a seal member 65 including a pair of radial lips 65b and 65c slidably in contact with the cylindrical portion 61a.

Here, the pulsar ring 62 that detects the rotational speed of the wheel is composed of a rolled magnet or a sintered magnet in which an N-pole and an S-pole are magnetized on the annular plate at a constant interval in the circumferential direction. The pulsar ring 62 is overlapped on the outer surface of the upright plate portion 61b in a coaxial arrangement, and the rubber 63 is vulcanized on the outer surface of the upright plate portion 61b. A magnetic encoder that detects the rotational speed is configured. Thereby, the pulsar ring 62 is completely molded with the rubber 63, and there is no part exposed to the outside, and the rust prevention effect of the pulsar ring 62 is obtained.
JP 2000-162223 A

  However, such a conventional pulsar ring 62 is completely molded with the rubber 63 and there is no portion exposed to the outside, and the rust prevention effect of the pulsar ring 62 can be obtained. I had it. In other words, this type of pulsar ring 62 has the same dimensions but different specifications such as the number of poles on the line, and the appearance cannot be distinguished. In this case, foreign products may be mixed in the production line, and improvement has been demanded from the viewpoint of increasing man-hours such as sorting and improving quality reliability.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a magnetic encoder that eliminates the mixing of foreign products in a production line, and a wheel encoder that includes this magnetic encoder and has reduced assembly number and improved reliability. It aims at providing a bearing device.

In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a magnetic encoder that is mounted on a rotating side member of an outer member and an inner member and detects a rotation speed, wherein the rotation In a magnetic encoder consisting of a cylindrical portion fitted to a member on the side and a standing plate portion extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion, and fixed to an annular steel plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section, The magnetic encoder is provided on the outer surface of the vertical plate portion, and the magnetic encoder is fixed to the vertical plate portion by vulcanizing and bonding an elastomer, and the magnetic encoder has a similar shape and different specifications. It is provided with an external identification means with the encoder .

As described above, the cylindrical portion fitted to the rotation side member and the standing plate portion extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion are fixed to an annular steel plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section. In the magnetic encoder, a magnetic encoder is provided on the outer surface of the vertical plate portion, and the magnetic encoder is fixed to the vertical plate portion by vulcanizing and bonding the elastomer, and the magnetic encoder has a similar shape and different specifications. is provided with the identification means on the appearance of the magnetic encoder can be easily identified with the other of the magnetic encoder that is similar, in the magnetic encoder having a shape the same size or dimension similar, for example, magnetic poles of N, S Even if products having different numbers of poles are mixed in the same production line, mixing of different products can be prevented.

  Further, the identification means may be a recess formed in the outer surface of the magnetic encoder as in the invention described in claim 2, or as in the invention described in claim 3. It may be the hue of the elastomer.

  In addition, the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention integrally has an outer member in which a double row outer rolling surface is formed on the inner periphery, and a wheel mounting flange for mounting a wheel on one end. A hub ring having a cylindrical small-diameter step portion extending in the axial direction on the outer periphery, and an inner ring press-fitted into the small-diameter step portion of the hub ring, and an inner side facing the double-row outer rolling surface on the outer periphery An inner member formed with a rolling surface, a double row rolling element that is slidably accommodated between the inner member and the outer member, and the outer member and the inner member. In a wheel bearing device provided with a seal mounted in an annular space formed between members, the magnetic encoder according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is mounted on the inner ring. In the production line. Reducing the number of steps, it is possible to suppress the rising costs with a simple configuration, it is possible to provide a wheel bearing apparatus with improved reliability in quality.

  Further, as in the invention described in claim 5, a seal is mounted in an annular space formed between the outer member and the inner member, and the seal faces the annular steel plate and the annular steel plate. The seal plate is disposed and has a L-shaped cross section. A seal member having a side lip that is in sliding contact with the upright plate portion and a radial lip that is in sliding contact with the cylindrical portion is integrally added to the seal plate. It may be sulfur-bonded.

A magnetic encoder according to the present invention is a magnetic encoder that is mounted on a rotating member of an outer member and an inner member and detects a rotation speed, and a cylindrical portion that is fitted to the rotating member. A magnetic encoder comprising a standing plate portion extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion and fixed to an annular steel plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section, wherein the magnetic encoder is disposed on an outer surface of the standing plate portion. The magnetic encoder is fixed to the vertical plate portion by vulcanizing and adhering an elastomer, and the magnetic encoder is provided with an identification means for appearance with a magnetic encoder having a similar shape and a different specification. Therefore, it can be easily distinguished from other similar magnetic encoders, and the magnetic encoders having the same dimensions or similar shapes with different numbers of poles of the magnetic poles N and S, for example, are manufactured by the same method. Be mixed in line, it is possible to prevent mixing of the different products.

  A seal is mounted in an annular space formed between the outer member and the inner ring, and the seal includes a cylindrical portion that is fitted into the inner ring and a vertical plate portion that extends radially outward from the cylindrical portion. An annular steel plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section, and a seal plate disposed opposite to the annular steel plate and having an L-shaped cross section. The seal plate is slid onto the vertical plate portion. A seal member having a side lip that comes into contact with and a radial lip that comes into sliding contact with the cylindrical portion is integrally vulcanized and bonded, and magnetic powder is mixed into the outer surface of the upright plate portion in the circumferential direction. The magnetic encoder with the magnetic poles N and S magnetized thereon is integrally vulcanized and bonded, and an annular recess is formed on the inner periphery of the outer surface of the magnetic encoder so as to provide an external identification means.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a wheel bearing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a magnetic encoder according to the present invention, a) is a sectional view, and (b) is a front view. In the following description, the side closer to the outer side of the vehicle when assembled to the vehicle is referred to as the outboard side (left side in the drawing), and the side closer to the center is referred to as the inboard side (right side in the drawing).

This wheel bearing device is for driving wheels, and has a so-called third generation configuration in which the hub wheel 1 and the double row rolling bearing 2 are unitized.
The double-row rolling bearing 2 includes an outer member 4, an inner member 3, and double-row rolling elements (balls) 5 and 5. Here, the inner member 3 refers to the hub wheel 1 and the inner ring 6 press-fitted into the hub wheel 1.

  The outer member 4 is made of medium carbon steel containing 0.40 to 0.80 wt% of carbon such as S53C, and integrally has a vehicle body mounting flange 4b for mounting to a knuckle (not shown) on the outer periphery. Double rows of outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a are formed on the inner periphery, and a hardened layer is formed with a surface hardness in the range of 58 to 64 HRC by induction hardening.

  On the other hand, the hub wheel 1 integrally has a wheel mounting flange 7 for mounting a wheel (not shown) at an end portion on the outboard side, and a hub bolt 7a is planted at a circumferentially equidistant position of the wheel mounting flange 7. It is installed. Further, on the outer periphery, there are formed an inner rolling surface 1a on the outboard side facing the double row outer rolling surfaces 4a, 4a, and a cylindrical small-diameter step portion 1b extending in the axial direction from the inner rolling surface 1a. Has been. The inner ring 6 is press-fitted into the small-diameter step portion 1b, and an inboard-side inner rolling surface 6a facing the double-row outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a is formed on the outer periphery thereof. A serration (or spline) 1c is formed on the inner periphery of the hub wheel 1, and an outer joint member (not shown) constituting a constant velocity universal joint is fitted through the serration 1c.

  Double row rolling elements 5 and 5 are accommodated between the outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a of the outer member 4 and the double row inner rolling surfaces 1a and 6a facing the outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a, respectively. It is held freely rolling. Further, seals 9 and 10 are attached to the end portion of the outer member 4 to prevent leakage of lubricating grease sealed inside the bearing and intrusion of rainwater, dust and the like into the bearing from the outside.

  The hub wheel 1 is made of medium carbon steel containing 0.40 to 0.80 wt% of carbon such as S53C, and the like from the seal land portion in which the seal 9 on the outboard side is in sliding contact to the inner rolling surface 1a and the small diameter step portion 1b. Thus, a hardened layer is formed with a surface hardness in the range of 58 to 64 HRC by induction hardening. As a result, the seal land that is the base of the wheel mounting flange 7 not only has improved wear resistance, but also has sufficient mechanical strength against the rotational bending load applied to the wheel mounting flange 7. The durability of 1 is further improved.

  In the present embodiment, the inboard-side seal 10 is, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, a seal plate 11 that is fitted in the inner periphery of the end of the outer member 4 and has an L-shaped cross section. It consists of an annular steel plate 12 facing the seal plate 11 and having an L-shaped cross section. This annular steel plate 12 is made of a ferromagnetic steel plate, for example, a ferritic stainless steel plate (JIS standard SUS430 or the like) or a rust-proof cold rolled steel plate (JIS standard SPCC or the like). Is formed by pressing. And it has the cylindrical part 12a press-fitted in the inner ring | wheel 6, and the standing board part 12b extended in radial direction outward from this cylindrical part 12a. A magnetic encoder 13 in which a magnetic powder such as ferrite is mixed into an elastomer such as rubber is integrally vulcanized and bonded to the side surface on the inboard side of the standing plate portion 12b. The magnetic encoder 13 has magnetic poles N and S alternately magnetized in the circumferential direction, and constitutes a rotary encoder for detecting the rotational speed of the wheel.

  On the other hand, the seal plate 11 includes a cored bar 14 having an L-shaped cross section, and a side lip that is vulcanized and bonded integrally to the cored bar 14 and slidably contacts the inner side surface of the upright plate portion 12b of the annular steel plate 12. 15a and a seal member 15 including a pair of radial lips 15b and 15c that are in sliding contact with the cylindrical portion 12a. The core 14 is formed by press working from an austenitic stainless steel plate (JIS standard SUS304 type or the like) or a rust-proof cold rolled steel plate (JIS standard SPCC type or the like). .

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic encoder 13 has an annular recess 16 formed in the inner periphery thereof. These recesses 16 can be distinguished from each other in appearance and can be easily distinguished from other similar magnetic encoders. That is, even when magnetic encoders having the same dimensions or similar shapes and different numbers of magnetic poles N and S are mixed in the same production line, mixing of different products can be prevented.

  A magnetic encoder 17 shown in FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, and recesses 18 are formed in the circumferential direction of the inner periphery of the encoder. As with the above-described embodiment, the recesses 18 can be distinguished from each other in appearance, and can be easily distinguished from other similar magnetic encoders.

  In addition, like the magnetic encoders 13 and 17 described above, it is possible to easily distinguish from other similar magnetic encoders by partially changing the external shape, but the identification means is not limited to this, for example, a magnetic encoder Identification can be made by changing the hue of an elastomer such as rubber.

  In the present embodiment, if the wheel bearing device is provided with such a magnetic encoder, it is possible to substantially eliminate mixing of different magnetic encoders on the production line. Therefore, it is possible to provide a wheel bearing device that can reduce man-hours such as sorting in the production line, suppress the cost increase with a simple configuration, and improve the reliability in quality.

  Here, as the magnetic encoder, a magnetic encoder in which magnetic powder such as ferrite is mixed in an elastomer such as rubber and the magnetic poles N and S are alternately magnetized in the circumferential direction is illustrated, but the magnetic encoder according to the present invention is exemplified. The encoder is not limited to this, but a magnetic encoder whose number of poles and the like cannot be discerned in appearance, for example, a rolled magnet in which N-pole and S-pole are magnetized in an annular plate at regular intervals in the circumferential direction as in the prior art Alternatively, a magnetic encoder in which a pulsar ring made of a sintered magnet is provided and the outer surface of the pulsar ring is molded with rubber may be used.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and is merely an example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the scope of claims, and further, the equivalent meanings described in the scope of claims and all modifications within the scope of the scope of the present invention are included. Including.

  The magnetic encoder according to the present invention is applied to a magnetic encoder that is mounted on a wheel bearing device that rotatably supports a wheel of an automobile or the like with respect to a suspension device, controls an antilock brake system, and detects the rotational speed of the wheel. can do.

It is a longitudinal section showing one embodiment of a wheel bearing device concerning the present invention. It is a principal part enlarged view same as the above. An embodiment of the magnetic encoder concerning the present invention is shown, (a) is a longitudinal section and (b) is a front view. The other embodiment of the magnetic encoder which concerns on this invention is shown, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is a front view. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the conventional wheel bearing apparatus. It is a principal part enlarged view same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... hub wheel 1a, 6a ... inner rolling surface 1b ... ·············· Small diameter step 1c ·········· Double row rolling bearing 3・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Outer member 4a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Outer rolling surface 4b ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・... Body mounting flange 5 ... Rolling element 6 ...・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Inner ring 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Wheel mounting flange 7a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・Bolt 8 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Retainer 9 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Outboard side seal 10 ... Seal on the inboard side 11 ... Seal plate 12 ...・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rolled steel plate 12a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Cylindrical part 12b ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・... Standing plate sections 13, 17 ... Magnetic encoder 14 ...・ ・ ・ ・ Core 15 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Seal member 15a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Side lip 15b 15c ... Radial lips 16, 18 ... ............ Recess 51 ......... Outer member 51a ...・ ・ ・ ・ Outer rolling surface 51b ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Car body mounting flange 52 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・Inner member 53 ... Ball 54 ... Wheel mounting flange 54a ...・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Hub bolt 55 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Hub wheel 55a, 56a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Inner rolling surface 55b ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Small diameter step 55c ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ Serration 56 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Inner ring 57・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Retainer 58, 59 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Seal 60 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ First seal plate 61 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Second seal plate 61a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・Cylindrical part 61b ... Standing plate part 62 ... Pulsar ring 63 ...・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rubber 64 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Core 65 ..... Seal member

Claims (5)

A magnetic encoder that is mounted on a rotating side member of an outer member and an inner member and detects a rotation speed,
A magnetic encoder fixed to an annular steel plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section, comprising a cylindrical portion fitted to the rotating member and a standing plate portion extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion. In
The magnetic encoder is provided on the outer surface of the vertical plate portion, and the magnetic encoder is fixed to the vertical plate portion by vulcanizing and bonding an elastomer, and the magnetic encoder has a similar shape and different specifications. A magnetic encoder, characterized in that it is provided with an external identification means.   The magnetic encoder according to claim 1, wherein the identification means is a recess formed in an outer surface of the magnetic encoder.   The magnetic encoder according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit is a hue of the elastomer. An outer member having a double row outer raceway formed on the inner periphery;
A hub ring integrally having a wheel mounting flange for mounting a wheel at one end, and having a cylindrical small-diameter step portion extending in the axial direction on the outer periphery, and an inner ring press-fitted into the small-diameter step portion of the hub ring; An inner member formed on the outer periphery with an inner rolling surface facing the outer rolling surface of the double row,
A double row rolling element accommodated in a freely rolling manner between the rolling surfaces of the inner member and the outer member;
In a wheel bearing device comprising a seal mounted in an annular space formed between the outer member and the inner member,
A bearing device for a wheel, wherein the magnetic encoder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is mounted on the inner ring. The seal is composed of the annular steel plate and a seal plate that is disposed opposite to the annular steel plate and has an L-shaped cross section, and a side lip that is in sliding contact with the standing plate portion on the seal plate, The wheel bearing device according to claim 4, wherein a seal member having a radial lip that is in sliding contact with the cylindrical portion is integrally vulcanized and bonded.

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