JP6222197B2 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing rolling bearing unit and method for manufacturing vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit that is used as a wheel bearing rolling bearing unit constituting a wheel driving bearing unit, for example, in combination with a constant velocity joint.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a conventional structure of a wheel driving bearing unit incorporating a wheel supporting rolling bearing unit, which is a type of rolling bearing unit that is an object of the present invention, described in Patent Document 1. Show.
The wheel drive bearing unit shown in FIG. 14 is formed by combining a wheel support rolling bearing unit 1 and a constant velocity joint outer ring 2.

The wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit 1 includes an outer ring 3, a hub 4, and a plurality of rolling elements (balls in the illustrated example) 5 and 5.
The outer ring 3 has a stationary flange 6 on the outer peripheral surface, and double-row outer ring raceways 7a and 7b on the inner peripheral surface.
The hub 4 is formed by combining a hub body 8 and an inner ring 9. The hub body 8 has a rotation-side flange 10 at a portion closer to one end in the axial direction, an inner ring raceway 11a on one side in the axial direction, and a small diameter step portion 12 at the other end in the axial direction. And an axial center hole 13 at the center in the radial direction. At one end portion in the axial direction of the center hole 13, there is a small diameter portion 14 through which the flange portion 16 of the bolt 15 as a coupling member can be inserted through a predetermined guide gap.
In this specification, “one side” in the axial direction means the left side of FIG. 14 and the lower side of FIGS. On the contrary, the right side of FIG. 14 and the upper side of FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, and 8 to 11, which are the center side of the vehicle in the assembled state in the automobile, are referred to as “other side” in the axial direction.
The inner ring 9 has an inner ring raceway 11b on the other side in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface, and is fitted on the small-diameter step portion 12 of the hub body 8 with an interference fit.
Each of the rolling elements 5 and 5 is provided between the outer ring raceways 7a and 7b and the inner ring raceways 11a and 11b so as to be capable of rolling plurally for each row. Further, in this state, of the cylindrical portion 19 provided at the other axial end of the hub body 8, the portion protruding from the other axial opening of the inner ring 9 is caulked by plastic deformation outward in the radial direction. Part 20 is formed. Then, the other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring 9 is suppressed by the caulking portion 20 (a coupling force directed to one side in the axial direction with respect to the hub main body 8 is applied to the inner ring 9), whereby each rolling element 5 is provided. 5 is provided with an appropriate preload, and separation of the inner ring 9 from the hub body 8 is prevented. Further, a hub-side face spline 21 that is an uneven portion in the circumferential direction is formed on the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion 20 over the entire circumference. In the illustrated example, the tooth tip surface of the hub-side face spline 21 is a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the hub body 8.

  The constant velocity joint outer ring 2 includes a cup-shaped mouth portion 22, an end wall portion 23 that is a bottom portion of the mouth portion 22, and a cylindrical shape that extends from the center portion of the end wall portion 23 in one axial direction. The center hole of the shaft portion 24 is a screw hole 25. In addition, a joint-side face spline 26 that is an uneven portion in the circumferential direction is formed over the entire circumference of the end wall portion 23 on the outer peripheral portion of one axial end surface. In the case of the illustrated example, the tooth tip surface of the joint-side face spline 26 is a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the constant velocity joint outer ring 2. The number of teeth of the joint-side face spline 26 is the same as the number of teeth of the hub-side face spline 21.

  Then, the hub body 8 and the joint-side face splines 21 and 26 are engaged with each other while the central axes of the hub body 8 and the constant velocity joint outer ring 2 are aligned with each other. The rotational force can be transmitted to and from the outer ring 2 for the constant velocity joint. Further, in this state, the flange portion 16 of the bolt 15 is inserted into the small diameter portion 14 of the center hole 13 of the hub body 8 from one axial direction, and the male screw portion 17 provided at the tip portion of the flange portion 16 is It is screwed into the screw hole 25 and further tightened. Accordingly, the hub body 8 and the constant velocity joint outer ring 2 are coupled and fixed in a state where the hub body 8 is sandwiched between the head 18 of the bolt 15 and the constant velocity joint outer ring 2. .

  When the wheel drive bearing unit configured as described above is assembled to a vehicle, the stationary side flange 6 of the outer ring 3 is coupled and fixed to a suspension device, and the wheel (drive wheel) is attached to the rotation side flange 10 of the hub body 8. ) And a brake rotating member such as a disk. Further, a tip end portion of a drive shaft (not shown) that is rotationally driven by the engine via the transmission is spline-engaged with the inside of the constant velocity joint inner ring 27 provided inside the constant velocity joint outer ring 2. When the automobile travels, the rotation of the constant velocity joint inner ring 27 is transmitted to the constant velocity joint outer ring 2 and the hub main body 8 via a plurality of balls 28 to rotate the wheels.

  When assembling the wheel support rolling bearing unit 1 constituting the wheel drive bearing unit as described above, first, the outer ring 3 is disposed around the hub body 8 and the outer ring raceways 7a and 7b are arranged. Among these, the rolling elements 5 and 5 are provided between the outer ring raceway 7a on one axial side and the inner ring raceway 11a on the one axial side in a state of being held by the cage 29a on one axial side. Next, the rolling elements 5 and 5 are installed around the inner ring raceway 11b on the other axial side formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 9 while being held by the cage 29b on the other axial side. Then, the inner ring 9 is externally fitted to the small-diameter step portion 12 formed at the other axial end portion of the hub body 8 with an interference fit. Then, along with this external fitting operation, the rolling surface of each of the rolling elements 5, 5 (in the other axial row) held by the cage 29 b on the other axial side is connected to the other axial end of the outer ring 3. It is made to contact | abut to the outer ring | wheel track | orbit 7b of the other axial direction formed in the inner peripheral surface of a shift | offset | difference part. Next, the caulking portion 20 is formed by plastically deforming the cylindrical portion 19 formed at the other axial end portion of the hub body 8 radially outward. At the same time, the hub-side face spline 21 is formed on the other axial end surface of the caulking portion 20.

  The caulking portion 20 and the hub-side face spline 21 are pressed against the other end surface in the axial direction of the hub main body 8 with a processing surface of a roll having a central axis inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the central axis of the hub main body 8. Thus, the roll is rotated (revolved) around the central axis of the hub body 8 and rotated (rotated) around the central axis of the hub body 8 to form with a relatively small processing force. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 2 and 3).

  However, when swing forging as described above is performed, the load applied to the other axial end portion of the hub body 8 from the processed surface of the roll is only one load in the circumferential direction. That is, in the case of performing the swing forging as described above, a large offset load (offset in the radial direction from the central axis of the hub main body 8) from the processing surface of the roll to the other axial end portion of the hub main body 8 is performed. Load) acting on the position. For this reason, after the caulking portion 20 and the hub-side face spline 21 are formed, the force with which the caulking portion 20 restrains the other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring 9 may be uneven in the circumferential direction.

JP 2009-292422 A JP 2002-81453 A International Publication No. 2009/139137

  In view of the circumstances as described above, the present invention provides an eccentric load applied to the other axial end portion of the hub body when the other axial end portion (caulking portion, hub side face spline) of the hub body is processed. The invention was invented to realize a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit that can reduce or substantially eliminate the above.

The rolling bearing unit that is the object of the manufacturing method of the present invention is configured to apply an axial force of the hub body to the inner ring that is externally fitted to the hub body in order to apply a coupling force directed to one side of the hub body in the axial direction. The other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring is held down by a caulking portion formed by plastically deforming a cylindrical portion provided at the end portion radially outward.
Such a rolling bearing unit subject to the manufacturing method of the present invention has, for example, a hub body having an inner ring raceway on one side in the axial direction on an outer peripheral surface in the axial direction and an inner ring raceway on the other side in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface. And an inner ring that is externally fitted to a portion closer to the other axial end of the hub body. And, by pressing the other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring by a caulking portion formed by plastically deforming a cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end portion of the hub main body radially outward, the hub main body is The inner ring is fixed. Furthermore, an outer ring having a double row outer ring raceway on the inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of rolling elements provided between the outer ring raceway and the inner ring raceways are provided so as to be capable of rolling.

  The rolling bearing unit manufacturing method according to claim 1 of the present invention is arranged side by side in the circumferential direction centering on the central axis of the hub body, and is capable of axial displacement independent of each other. One end face in the axial direction of the caulking part mold (a single end face in the axial direction of each mold element) formed by combining a plurality of mold elements thus formed is brought into contact with the other axial end face of the cylindrical part. . At the same time, with respect to the circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the hub body, a plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective molding die elements are arranged in the axial direction of the caulking portion molding die. It is slidably pressed against the other end surface (the other end surface in the axial direction of a part of the mold elements facing the rollers among the mold elements). And in this state, each roller rolls in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body (by pressing each roller sequentially against the other axial end surface of each mold element, The cylindrical portion is processed into the caulking portion by sequentially pressing one end surface in the axial direction of each mold element against the other axial end surface of the cylindrical portion.

In the rolling bearing unit manufacturing method according to the second aspect of the present invention, a hub-side face spline that is an uneven portion in the circumferential direction is formed on the other axial end surface of the caulking portion.
For this purpose, a face spline is formed by combining a plurality of mold elements that are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body and that are capable of independent axial displacement. One end surface in the axial direction of the molding die (the surface having the same number of teeth as the number of teeth on the hub-side face spline. One end surface in the axial direction of each molding element) is contacted with the other axial end surface of the caulking portion. Make contact. At the same time, with respect to the circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the hub body, a plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective mold elements are arranged in the axial direction of the face spline mold. It is slidably pressed against the other end surface (the other end surface in the axial direction of a part of the mold elements facing the rollers among the mold elements). And in this state, each roller rolls in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body (by pressing each roller sequentially against the other axial end surface of each mold element, The hub-side face spline is formed on the other axial end surface of the caulking portion by sequentially pressing one end surface in the axial direction of each mold element against the other axial end surface of the caulking portion.
In carrying out the present invention, preferably, after the caulking portion is formed on the same object by the manufacturing method described in claim 1, the hub-side face spline is formed by the manufacturing method described in claim 2. Form.

When implementing the manufacturing method of the rolling bearing unit of the present invention as described above, preferably, as in the invention described in claim 3, each of the rollers has a circumference centered on the central axis of the hub body. On the top, they are arranged in a positional relationship that is rotationally symmetric about the central axis of the hub body (for example, at equal intervals in the circumferential direction).
The rotational symmetry is a property in which when m is an integer of 2 or more and a certain positional relationship is rotated (360 / m) ° about a certain axis, the same positional relationship as before rotation is obtained. (Such a positional relationship is referred to as an m-fold symmetrical positional relationship). For example, the positional relationship of m places at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the circumference centered on a certain axis is a positional relationship of m-fold symmetry.

The rolling bearing unit manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 can be used when the rolling bearing unit manufacturing method according to claim 1 described above is carried out, and includes a caulking portion molding die, A pressing unit and a pressing unit drive mechanism are provided.
Among these, the caulking part molding die is arranged side by side in the circumferential direction centering on the central axis of the hub body, and includes a plurality of molding element elements provided so as to be capable of axial displacement independent of each other. Combining them, one axial end surface (the axial one end surface of each mold element) can be brought into contact with the other axial end surface of the cylindrical portion of the hub body.
In addition, the pressing unit includes a plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective mold elements with respect to a circumferential direction centering on a central axis of the hub body, and each of the rollers Can be slidably brought into contact with the other axial end surface of the caulking part molding die.
The pressing unit drive mechanism is configured such that one end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion molding die abuts on the other end surface in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and the rollers are moved in the axial direction of the caulking portion molding die. A driving force for rolling each roller in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub main body can be applied to the pressing unit while being pressed against the other end surface in a rollable manner.

The rolling bearing unit manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 can be used when the rolling bearing unit manufacturing method according to claim 2 is carried out, and includes a face spline mold, A pressing unit and a pressing unit drive mechanism are provided.
Of these, the face spline mold is arranged side by side in the circumferential direction centering on the central axis of the hub body, and a plurality of mold elements provided to be capable of axial displacement independent of each other. It is a combination, and one end surface in the axial direction (a surface having the same number of teeth as the number of teeth of the hub-side face spline. One end surface in the axial direction of each mold element) is brought into contact with the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion. Is possible.
In addition, the pressing unit includes a plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective mold elements with respect to a circumferential direction centering on a central axis of the hub body, and each of the rollers Can be slidably brought into contact with the other axial end surface of the face spline mold.
The pressing unit driving mechanism abuts one end surface in the axial direction of the mold for face spline on the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion, and causes each roller to move in the axial direction of the mold for face spline. A driving force for rolling each roller in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub main body can be applied to the pressing unit while being pressed against the other end surface in a rollable manner.
In the case of carrying out the invention described in claim 5, for example, the face spline mold is composed of the respective mold elements divided into the same number as the number of teeth of each processed tooth. Can do. Specifically, each mold element is divided for each machining tooth {center position of the tooth bottom existing between adjacent machining teeth (center position in the circumferential direction of the face spline mold) Or may be divided at the center position of the tip of each processed tooth.

  When carrying out the rolling bearing unit manufacturing apparatus of the present invention as described above, preferably, as in the invention described in claim 6, the rollers are arranged with a circumference around the central axis of the hub body. On the top, they are arranged in a positional relationship that is rotationally symmetric about the central axis of the hub body (for example, at equal intervals in the circumferential direction).

The manufacturing method of the vehicle of this invention includes the manufacturing method of the rolling bearing unit described in any one of Claims 1-3.

According to the method and apparatus for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit of the present invention as described above, the axial direction of the hub main body when the other axial end of the hub main body (caulking portion, hub side face spline) is processed. Uneven load applied to the other end can be reduced or substantially zero.
That is, in the case of the invention described in claims 1 and 4, when the caulking portion is formed, the load (working force) applied to the cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end portion of the hub body is the hub body. Load from a plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction centering on the central axis is applied to a plurality of loads in the circumferential direction through a part of the molding element. For this reason, compared to the case where the caulking portion is processed by swing forging, the uneven load applied to the cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end portion of the hub body can be reduced or substantially zero.
In the case of the inventions described in claims 2 and 5, when forming the hub-side face spline, the load (working force) applied to the caulking portion provided at the other axial end of the hub body is Loads at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction are applied from a plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body via some of the molding elements. For this reason, it is possible to reduce or substantially eliminate the uneven load applied to the caulking portion provided at the other axial end portion of the hub body as compared with the case where the hub side face spline is processed by swing forging.

Sectional drawing which shows a part of processing apparatus regarding the 1st example of embodiment of this invention in the state before starting the process which forms a crimp part. Similarly, it is a schematic side view of the processing apparatus, with a part omitted. Similarly, a cross-sectional view showing a part of the processing apparatus in a state where the lower end surface of the caulking portion forming die is brought into contact with the other axial end surface of the cylindrical portion of the hub body, following the state shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the processing apparatus in a state where a plurality of rollers are brought into contact with the upper end surface of the caulking part molding die following the state shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, sectional drawing which shows a part of a processing apparatus in the state after processing the cylindrical part of a hub main body into a caulking part following the state shown in FIG. Similarly, the enlarged view (A) of the a part of FIG. 4, and the enlarged view (B) of the b part of FIG. Similarly, the perspective view (A) which takes out and shows one shaping | molding die element, the top view (B) seen from the upper direction of (A), and cc sectional drawing (C) of (B). Sectional drawing which shows a part of processing apparatus regarding the 2nd example of embodiment of this invention in the state before starting the process which forms a hub side face spline. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the processing apparatus in a state where the lower end surface of the face spline mold is brought into contact with the other axial end surface of the caulking portion of the hub body, following the state shown in FIG. 8. Similarly, sectional drawing which shows a part of processing apparatus in the state which made the some roller contact | abut to the upper end surface of the shaping | molding die for face splines following the state shown in FIG. Similarly, it is sectional drawing which shows a part of processing apparatus in the state after processing the crimping | crimped part of a hub main body into the hub side face spline following the state shown in FIG. Similarly, the d section enlarged view (A) of FIG. 10 and the e section enlarged view (B) of FIG. 11. Similarly, the perspective view (A) which takes out and shows one shaping | molding die element, the top view (B) seen from the upper direction of (A), and ff sectional drawing (C) of (B). Sectional drawing which shows one example of the conventional structure of the wheel drive bearing unit incorporating the wheel support bearing unit which is 1 type of the rolling bearing unit used as the object of this invention.

[First example of embodiment]
A first example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The object of the manufacturing method of this example is the outer ring 3 and the hub 4 (the hub main body 8 having the inner ring raceway 11a on one axial side on the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface as shown in FIG. An inner ring 9) having an inner ring raceway 11b on the other side in the axial direction, and a plurality of rolling elements 5, 5, and a caulking portion 20 is formed at the inner end of the hub body 8 in the axial direction. This is a wheel bearing rolling bearing unit 1 in which a hub-side face spline 21 is formed on the other axial end surface of the caulking portion 20.
The feature of this example is that the cylindrical portion 19 provided at the other axial end of the hub main body 8 is subjected to plastic working to caulking portion 20 (the caulking portion 20 before forming the hub-side face spline 21). In the method of forming. Manufacturing method and assembling method of each member constituting the wheel supporting rolling bearing unit 1 until just before the caulking portion 20 is formed, and formation of the hub side face spline 21 after the caulking portion 20 is formed. The method is the same as the method widely known in the art including the above-described conventional assembling method, and the description thereof is omitted in this example.
1 and 3 to 5, only a part of the wheel supporting rolling bearing unit 1 (the other end portion in the axial direction of the hub body 8 and the inner ring 9) is illustrated, and the other parts are illustrated. Is omitted.
Moreover, in the following description regarding this example, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of FIGS. However, the vertical direction of FIGS. 1-6 does not necessarily correspond with the vertical direction at the time of processing.

  A processing device (manufacturing device) for forming the caulking portion 20 includes a base 30 (shown only in FIG. 2), and a holder 31 (shown only in FIG. 2) supported and fixed on the upper surface of the base 30. , A pressing unit drive mechanism 33, a caulking part molding die 34, and a molding die lifting mechanism 35.

  The holder 31 has the center axis of the hub body 8 aligned with the vertical direction (vertical direction), and the wheel support rolling bearing unit 1 with the other axial end of the hub body 8 facing upward. Is to hold.

The pressing unit 32 includes a head 36, a roller jig 37, and a plurality of (for example, 2 to 6) rollers 38, 38, and is disposed above the hub body 8.
The central axis of the head 36 coincides with the central axis of the hub body 8. The head 36 has a bottomed mounting hole 39 that opens at the center in the radial direction of the lower end surface.
The roller jig 37 is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape, with a large-diameter cylindrical portion 40 at the lower end, an intermediate-diameter cylindrical portion 41 at the middle in the vertical direction, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 42 at the upper end. In addition to being provided on the same axis, holding concave portions 43 and 43 are provided at a plurality of locations (the same number as the rollers 38 and 38) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the lower end surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 40. Such a roller jig 37 is fixedly mounted in the mounting hole 39 of the head 36. Therefore, the mounting hole 39 is a bottomed stepped hole. An outer diameter side retaining ring groove (not shown) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole provided at the upper end of the mounting hole 39, and a retaining ring (not shown) is formed in the outer diameter side retaining ring groove. A radially outer half is housed. In addition, the diameter dimension of the groove bottom of the said outer diameter side retaining ring groove is larger than the outer diameter dimension in the free state of the said retaining ring. Then, as the small-diameter cylindrical portion 42 is pushed into the small-diameter hole portion, the retaining ring is elastically expanded, and then the retaining ring is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 42. When the retaining ring is aligned with the side retaining ring groove, the retaining ring is elastically restored, and the retaining ring is spanned between both the outer diameter side and inner diameter side retaining ring grooves, whereby the mounting hole 39 This prevents the roller jig 37 from coming out. Further, the head 36 and the roller jig are formed by spline-engaging the inner peripheral surface of the medium-diameter hole portion provided at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the mounting hole 39 and the outer peripheral surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 41. Torque transmission to and from 37 is possible. Further, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 40 is fitted in the large-diameter hole provided at the lower end portion of the mounting hole 39 without rattling.
Each of the rollers 38 and 38 is held in the holding recesses 43 and 43 one by one. Accordingly, the rollers 38 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the circumference centered on the central axis of the hub body 8. That is, when the total number of the rollers 38, N is N {N is an integer of 2 or more (N = 2, 3, 4,...)}, The rollers 38, 38 are It is arranged at a center angle pitch of (360 / N) ° above. Each of the rollers 38, 38 has the respective holding recesses in a state in which the respective central axes coincide with the radial direction centered on the central axis of the hub body 8 (the central axis of the roller jig 37). 43, 43 is held so that only rotation about its own central axis is possible. In this state, a part of the outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers 38, 38 protrudes downward from the lower end opening of each holding recess 43, 43.

  The pressing unit drive mechanism 33 is for rotating and moving up and down (displacement in the axial direction of the hub body 8) of the pressing unit 32, and is supported by a support column 66 fixed to the base 30. . Such a pressing unit driving mechanism 33 is driven by an electric motor 44 to rotate directly (without a speed reduction mechanism), and a spindle 45 disposed in the vertical direction, and a hydraulic type that drives the spindle 45 up and down. Cylinder 46. A head 36 (not shown in FIG. 2) of the pressing unit 32 is attached and fixed to the lower end portion of the spindle 45.

  The caulking part forming die 34 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and is arranged in a portion between the hub body 8 and the pressing unit 32 in the vertical direction. The caulking part forming die 34 has a shape that matches the other end face in the axial direction of the caulking part 20 at the lower end face that is one end face in the axial direction (a circular concave surface having a substantially arc-shaped cross section). 47 is provided, and a flange portion 48 protruding radially outward is provided over the entire circumference at an axially intermediate portion of the outer peripheral surface. Such a caulking portion forming die 34 is divided into a plurality of pieces (for example, 20 to 40) in the circumferential direction (a plurality of pieces arranged side by side in the circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body 8). It is configured by combining mold elements 49 and 49. In other words, the caulking part forming die 34 has a fan-shaped shape when viewed from the axial direction, an element main body 50 having a lower end surface provided with a part in the circumferential direction of the processed surface 47, and an outer periphery of the element main body 50. The mold element 49 is formed by combining in the circumferential direction a molding element 49 which is provided at a middle portion of the surface in the axial direction and includes a protruding portion 51 which is a part of the flange portion 48 in the circumferential direction. The caulking part molding die 34 having such a configuration enables the axial displacement of the molding die elements 49 and 49 to be independent from each other with respect to the holding plate 52 constituting the molding die lifting mechanism 35. It is supported by.

The mold raising / lowering mechanism 35 is for raising and lowering the caulking part molding die 34 (displacement in the axial direction of the hub body 8). The holding plate 52, the holding plate 52, and the base 30. And hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 53, 53 provided between them.
The holding plate 52 is arranged in the horizontal direction, and a holding hole 54 for holding the caulking part forming die 34 in the radial direction and the circumferential direction is provided in the center part. The holding hole 54 is a stepped hole in which a lower small diameter portion and an upper large diameter portion are made continuous by a step surface portion 55. Of these, the axial dimension of the large diameter part is larger than the axial dimension of the flange part 48 of the caulking part molding die 34. An inward flange 67 is provided in the upper half of the large diameter portion. In the case of this example, the holding plate 52 has a configuration that can be divided into two in the radial direction. In addition, an annular holding plate 56 is fitted into the large diameter portion of the holding hole 54 in a state where the caulking portion molding die 34 is held in the holding hole 54. The center hole of the holding plate 56 is a stepped hole in which the upper small diameter portion and the lower large diameter portion are made continuous by the step surface portion 57. Further, an outward flange 68 is provided in the lower half of the outer peripheral surface of the holding plate 56. Further, the upper half of the outer peripheral surface of the holding plate 56 is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the inward flange 67 so as to be able to be displaced in the axial direction without any radial play. The holding plate 56 is biased in a direction approaching the stepped surface portion 55 of the holding hole 54 by a biasing spring 58 schematically shown in FIG. 6 in order to stabilize the posture of the caulking portion molding die 34. ing. The flange portion 48 of the caulking portion forming die 34 is in the state before the machining for forming the caulking portion 20 is started (the state shown in FIG. 1) by the elastic force of the biasing spring 58. It is sandwiched between the step surface portion 55 and the step surface portion 57 of the holding plate 56. In this state, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the outward flange 68 and the lower surface of the inward flange 67.
The holding plate 52 as described above is supported by the cylinders 53, 53 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the base 30.

  When the caulking portion 20 is formed at the other axial end portion of the hub body 8 using the processing apparatus as described above, first, the cylinders 53 and 53 are operated as shown in FIG. The holding plate 52 includes a machining surface 47 provided on a lower end surface of the caulking portion molding die 34 and an axial other end surface of the wheel supporting rolling bearing unit 1 held by the holder 31 (the hub body). The other end surface in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 19 is not positioned in contact with the upper portion of the cylinder portion 19 in the vertical direction. In this state, as described above, the flange portion 48 of the caulking portion molding die 34 is formed between the step surface portion 55 of the holding hole 54 and the step surface portion 57 of the holding plate 56 by the elasticity of the biasing spring 58. It is in a state of being sandwiched between them. Further, the wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit 1 holds the holder 31 in a state where the central axis of the hub body 8 coincides with the vertical direction and the other axial end of the hub body 8 faces upward. Keep it.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, by operating the cylinders 53, 53 to displace the holding plate 52 downward, the machining surface 47 of the caulking part forming die 34 and the hub The other end surface in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 19 of the main body 8 is brought into contact. From this state, the holding plate 52 is further displaced downward, so that the caulking portion forming die 34 and the holding plate 56 are moved upward against the holding plate 52 against the elasticity of the biasing spring 58. 3 and 6A, the upper surface of the outward flange portion 68 of the holding plate 56 and the lower surface of the inward flange portion 67 of the holding plate 52 are brought into contact with each other to cause the caulking. A gap 59 in the axial direction (vertical direction) is formed between the lower surface of the flange portion 48 of the part forming die 34 and the stepped surface portion 55 of the holding hole 54. The axial dimension L ₅₉ of the gap 59 will be described later.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the pressing unit drive mechanism 33 is operated to displace the pressing unit 32 downward, whereby the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 38, 38 are moved to the caulking portion. It is made to contact | abut so that it can roll to the upper end surface which is the other end surface of the shaping | molding die 34 in the axial direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4 → FIG. 5 {and FIG. 6 (A) → (B)}, the pressing unit 32 is further displaced downward by operating the pressing unit driving mechanism 33. In this state, the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 38, 38 are pressed against the upper end surface of the caulking portion forming die 34, that is, the upper end surfaces of the forming die elements 49, 49 so as to be able to roll. By rotating the unit 32, the rollers 38 are rolled in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the rolling surfaces of the rollers 38, 38 are sequentially pressed against the other axial side surfaces of the mold elements 49, 49, thereby the lower end surfaces of the mold elements 49, 49 (the processing surface). 47) is sequentially pressed against the other axial end surface of the cylindrical portion 19 of the hub body 8 to plastically deform the cylindrical portion 19 radially outward to form the caulking portion 20.

In the case of this example, the axial dimension L ₅₉ of the gap 59 is such that when the caulking portion 20 is formed, one roller 38 is arranged in the circumferential direction on the upper end surface of each mold element 49, 49. It is set to be larger than the downward displacement amount (machining stroke) of each of the mold elements 49, 49 each time it passes once. The cylinders 53 and 53 prevent the gap 59 from disappearing by continuously applying a downward force to the holding plate 52.

In the case of this example, the processing for forming the caulking portion 20 as described above ends when a certain time has elapsed after the plastic processing of the cylindrical portion 19 is started. Until the predetermined time elapses, the press load (load for displacing the press unit 32 downward) of the cylinder 46 (see FIG. 2) constituting the press unit drive mechanism 33 is a predetermined value. And when the pressing unit 32 is in a predetermined position, it is determined that the caulking portion 20 is properly formed. On the other hand, when the press load does not reach the predetermined value until the predetermined time elapses, or when the pressing unit 32 is not in the predetermined position, the caulking portion 20 is appropriate. It was determined that it was not formed.
In carrying out the present invention, the processing for forming the caulking portion 20 as described above is continued until the pressing load reaches the predetermined value and the pressing unit 32 reaches a predetermined position. It can also be terminated after a predetermined time has elapsed.

According to the rolling bearing unit manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the present example as described above, the axial direction of the hub body 8 is performed when the other axial end portion (the caulking portion 20) of the hub body 8 is processed. Uneven load applied to the other end can be reduced or substantially zero.
That is, in the case of this example, when the caulking portion 20 is formed, the load (working force) applied to the cylindrical portion 19 provided at the other axial end portion of the hub body 8 is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Loads at equal intervals in the circumferential direction are applied from each of the rollers 38, 38 through a part of the mold elements 49, 49. For this reason, the caulking portion 20 can be formed without substantially applying an offset load to the other axial end surface of the cylindrical portion 19. Therefore, after the caulking portion 20 is formed, the force that the caulking portion 20 suppresses the other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring 9 can be easily made uniform over the entire circumference.

[Second Example of Embodiment]
A second example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The object of the manufacturing method of this example is the outer ring 3 and the hub 4 (the hub main body 8 having the inner ring raceway 11a on one axial side on the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface as shown in FIG. An inner ring 9) having an inner ring raceway 11b on the other side in the axial direction, and a plurality of rolling elements 5, 5, and a caulking portion 20 is formed at the inner end of the hub body 8 in the axial direction. This is a wheel bearing rolling bearing unit 1 in which a hub-side face spline 21 is formed on the other axial end surface of the caulking portion 20.
The feature of this example is the method of forming the hub-side face spline 21 by plastic processing the caulking portion 20 formed at the other axial end portion of the hub body 8. The manufacturing method and assembling method (including the method of forming the caulking portion 20) of each member constituting the wheel supporting rolling bearing unit 1 until immediately before the hub-side face spline 21 is formed are described above. Since this method is the same as a conventionally known method including a conventional assembling method and the manufacturing method of the first example of the above-described embodiment, the description is omitted in this example.
8 to 11, only a part (the other axial end part of the hub body 8 and the inner ring 9) of the wheel support rolling bearing unit 1 is illustrated, and the other parts are not illustrated. doing.
Moreover, in the following description regarding this example, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of FIGS. However, the vertical direction of FIGS. 8-12 does not necessarily correspond with the vertical direction at the time of a process.

  The processing device (manufacturing device) for forming the hub-side face spline 21 includes a face spline forming die 60 as a forming die instead of the caulking portion forming die 34 (see FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5). This is different from the processing apparatus of the first example of the embodiment described above. The structure and operation of the other parts are substantially the same as those of the first example of the embodiment described above.

  The face spline molding die 60 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the processing teeth 61, 61 of the same number as the number of teeth of the hub side face spline 21 are circular on the lower end surface which is one end surface in the axial direction. A flange portion 62 that is formed at an equal pitch in the circumferential direction and protrudes radially outward is provided at the axially intermediate portion of the outer peripheral surface over the entire circumference. Such a face spline mold 60 is divided into a plurality (for example, 20 to 40. In this example, the same number as the processing teeth 61, 61) in the circumferential direction (the central axis of the hub body 8). Are formed by combining a plurality of) mold elements 63, 63 arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. In other words, the face spline mold 60 has a fan-shaped shape viewed from the axial direction and an element main body 64 provided with one processing tooth 61 on the lower end surface, and an axis of the outer peripheral surface of the element main body 64. The mold element 63 is formed by combining in the circumferential direction a molding element 63 which is provided at a middle portion in the direction and includes a projecting portion 65 which is a part in the circumferential direction of the flange portion 62.

  Also in the case of this example, as in the case of the caulking part forming die 34 of the first example of the embodiment described above, the face spline forming die 60 is formed at the center of the holding plate 52 constituting the forming die lifting mechanism 35. In the holding hole 54 provided in the part, the mold elements 63 and 63 are held without shakiness in the radial direction and the circumferential direction in a state in which the mold elements 63 and 63 can be axially displaced independently of each other. Further, the flange portion 62 of the face spline mold 60 is in a state before the processing for forming the hub side face spline 21 is started (the state shown in FIG. 8). It is clamped between the step surface portion 55 of the holding hole 54 and the step surface portion 57 of the holding plate 56 by the elasticity of the biasing spring 58 (see FIG. 12) for stabilization. In this state, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the outward flange portion 68 of the holding plate 56 and the lower surface of the inward flange portion 67 of the holding plate 52.

  When forming the hub-side face spline 21 at the other axial end of the caulking portion 20 using the above-described processing apparatus, first, as shown in FIG. The holding plate 52 is held by the processing teeth 61 and 61 provided on the lower end surface of the face spline mold 60 and the holder 31 (see FIG. 2) by operating the cylinders 53 and 53 constituting the cylinder 35. The wheel support rolling bearing unit 1 is positioned vertically upward so that it does not come into contact with the other axial end surface (the other axial end surface of the caulking portion 20). In this state, as described above, the flange portion 62 of the face spline mold 60 is formed between the step surface portion 55 of the holding hole 54 and the step surface portion 57 of the holding plate 56 by the elastic force of the biasing spring 58. It is in a state of being sandwiched between them. Further, the wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit 1 holds the holder 31 in a state where the central axis of the hub body 8 coincides with the vertical direction and the other axial end of the hub body 8 faces upward. Keep it.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 9, by operating the cylinders 53, 53 to displace the holding plate 52 downward, the processing teeth 61, 61 of the face spline mold 60, The crimping portion 20 is brought into contact with the other axial end surface. From this state, the holding plate 52 is further displaced downward, so that the face spline mold 60 and the holding plate 56 are moved upward against the holding plate 52 against the elasticity of the biasing spring 58. 9 and 12A, the upper surface of the outward flange portion 68 of the holding plate 56 and the lower surface of the inward flange portion 67 of the holding plate 52 are brought into contact with each other, and the face A gap 59 a in the axial direction (vertical direction) is formed between the lower surface of the flange portion 62 of the spline mold 60 and the stepped surface portion 55 of the holding hole 54. Studies on the axial dimension L _59a of the gap 59a will be described later.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, by operating the pressing unit drive mechanism 33 and displacing the pressing unit 32 downward, the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 38 and 38 are formed on the face spline molding die. It is made to contact | abut to the upper end surface which is 60 axial direction other end surfaces so that rolling is possible.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10 → FIG. 11 {and FIG. 12 (A) → (B)}, the pressing unit 32 is further displaced downward based on the operation of the pressing unit drive mechanism 33. In this state, the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 38, 38 are pressed against the upper end surface of the face spline mold 60, that is, the upper end surfaces of the molding element 63, 63, so that they can roll. By rotating the unit 32, the rollers 38 are rolled in the circumferential direction. As a result, the rolling teeth of the rollers 38, 38 are sequentially pressed against the other axial side surfaces of the mold elements 63, 63, so that the processing teeth 61, 61 of the mold elements 63, 63 are pressed. By sequentially pressing the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion 20, the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion 20 is plastically deformed to form the hub-side face spline 21.

In the case of this example, the axial dimension L _59a of the gap 59a is such that when the hub-side face spline 21 is formed, a single roller 38 is arranged on the upper end surface of each mold element 63, 63. Each time it passes once in the direction, it is larger than the downward displacement amount (machining stroke) of the respective mold elements 63, 63. Further, the cylinders 53, 53 prevent the gap 59a from disappearing by continuously applying a downward force to the holding plate 52.

In the case of this example, the processing for forming the hub-side face spline 21 as described above ends when a certain time has elapsed after the plastic processing of the caulking portion 20 is started. Until the predetermined time elapses, the press load (load for displacing the press unit 32 downward) of the cylinder 46 (see FIG. 2) constituting the press unit drive mechanism 33 is a predetermined value. And when the pressing unit 32 is in a predetermined position, it is determined that the hub-side face spline 21 has been properly formed. On the other hand, if the press load does not reach the predetermined value until the predetermined time elapses, or if the pressing unit 32 is not in the predetermined position, the hub-side face spline 21 Is determined not to be properly formed.
In carrying out the present invention, the processing for forming the hub-side face spline 21 as described above is continued until the pressing load reaches the predetermined value and the pressing unit 32 reaches a predetermined position. Thereafter, the process can be ended after a predetermined time has elapsed.

According to the rolling bearing unit manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of this example as described above, when the other axial end portion (the hub-side face spline 21) of the hub body 8 is processed, the hub body 8 Uneven load applied to the other axial end can be reduced or substantially zero.
That is, in this example, when forming the hub-side face spline 21, the load (working force) applied to the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion 20 is the rollers 38 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. , 38, the load is applied at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, which is applied via a part of the mold elements 63, 63. For this reason, the hub-side face spline 21 can be formed without substantially applying an offset load to the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion 20. Therefore, after the hub-side face spline 21 is formed, the force that the caulking portion 20 suppresses the other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring 9 can be easily made uniform over the entire circumference.

The manufacturing method of the present invention can be implemented not only for the rolling bearing units described in the above-described embodiments but also for various rolling bearing units that satisfy the requirements described in the claims.
For example, among the present inventions, the invention characterized by the method of forming the caulking portion is implemented for a rolling bearing unit that does not have a hub-side face spline on the other axial end surface of the caulking portion after completion. You can also.
Further, when carrying out the present invention, a mode in which a plurality of rollers are arranged in a rotationally symmetric positional relationship around the central axis of the hub main body on a circumference around the central axis of the hub main body is a circle. It is not restricted to the aspect arrange | positioned at the circumferential direction equal intervals. For example, a mode is adopted in which two rollers (or three) are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction at two positions (or three positions or four positions) that are equally spaced in the circumferential direction. You can also do it. Even when such an aspect is employed, the caulking portion (hub-side face spline) can be formed without substantially applying an offset load to the cylindrical portion (caulking portion) of the hub body.

1 rolling wheel supporting bearing unit 2 constant velocity joint outer ring 3 outer ring 4 hub 5 rolling bodies 6 stationary flange 7a, 7b ring raceway 8 hub body 9 the inner ring 10 rotating flange 11a, 11b inner ring raceway 12 the cylindrical portion 13 the central hole 14 Small-diameter portion 15 Bolt 16 Hook portion 17 Male thread portion 18 Head portion 19 Cylindrical portion 20 Caulking portion 21 Hub side face spline 22 Mouse portion 23 End wall portion 24 Shaft portion 25 Screw hole 26 Joint side face spline 27 Inner ring for constant velocity joint 28 Ball 29a, 29b Cage 30 Base 31 Holder 32 Press unit 33 Press unit drive mechanism 34 Molding mold for caulking part 35 Mold lifting mechanism 36 Head 37 Roller jig 38 Roller 39 Mounting hole 40 Large diameter cylindrical part 41 Medium Diameter cylindrical part 42 Small diameter cylindrical part 43 Holding recess 4 Electric motor 45 Spindle 46 Cylinder 47 Work surface 48 Flange part 49 Mold element 50 Element body 51 Projection part 52 Holding plate 53 Cylinder 54 Holding hole 55 Step surface part 56 Holding plate 57 Step surface part 58 Biasing spring 59, 59a Clearance 60 Face Spline mold 61 Processing teeth 62 Flange part 63 Mold element 64 Element body 65 Projection part 66 Support column 67 Inward collar part 68 Outward collar part

Claims (7)

A cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end of the hub main body is radially outwardly provided to the inner ring externally fitted to the hub main body in order to apply a coupling force directed to one side of the hub main body in the axial direction. In order to make a rolling bearing unit that suppresses the other axial end surface of the inner ring by a caulking portion formed by plastic deformation,
A caulking part molding die comprising a plurality of molding die elements which are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction centering on the central axis of the hub main body and which are capable of axial displacement independent of each other. One end surface in the axial direction is brought into contact with the other end surface in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and is arranged at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective mold elements in the circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body. In a state where the rollers are pressed against the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking part mold so as to be able to roll, by rolling each roller in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body, A method for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit, wherein the cylindrical portion is processed into the caulking portion. A cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end of the hub main body is radially outwardly provided to the inner ring externally fitted to the hub main body in order to apply a coupling force directed to one side of the hub main body in the axial direction. The other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring is suppressed by a caulking portion formed by plastic deformation, and a hub-side face spline that is an uneven portion in the circumferential direction is formed on the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion. To make a rolling bearing unit,
A face spline mold comprising a plurality of mold elements that are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body and that are capable of axial displacement independent of each other. One end surface in the axial direction is brought into contact with the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion, and is arranged at a plurality of locations less than the total number of the respective mold elements in the circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body. In a state where the plurality of rollers pressed against the other end surface in the axial direction of the face spline mold are rollable, the rollers roll in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body. The manufacturing method of the rolling bearing unit which forms the said hub side face spline in the other axial end surface of the said crimping part by the thing. 3. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are arranged on a circumference centered on the central axis of the hub body in a positional relationship that is rotationally symmetric about the central axis of the hub body. A method for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit according to item 1. A cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end of the hub main body is radially outwardly provided to the inner ring externally fitted to the hub main body in order to apply a coupling force directed to one side of the hub main body in the axial direction. An apparatus for manufacturing a rolling bearing unit for producing a rolling bearing unit in which the other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring is suppressed by a caulking portion formed by plastic deformation,
The hub body is arranged side by side in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the hub body, and is formed by combining a plurality of mold elements provided so as to be capable of axial displacement independent of each other. A caulking portion mold that can contact the other axial end surface of the cylindrical portion of the hub body;
A plurality of rollers disposed at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective molding die elements in a circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the hub body, and the caulking portion molding die. A pressing unit capable of rolling contact with the other axial end surface of
A state in which one end surface in the axial direction of the mold for caulking portion is brought into contact with the other end surface in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and the respective rollers are pressed against the other end surface in the axial direction of the mold for caulking portion so as to allow rolling. And a pressing unit driving mechanism capable of applying a driving force for rolling the rollers in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body to the pressing unit. . A cylindrical portion provided at the other axial end of the hub main body is radially outwardly provided to the inner ring externally fitted to the hub main body in order to apply a coupling force directed to one side of the hub main body in the axial direction. The other end surface in the axial direction of the inner ring is suppressed by a caulking portion formed by plastic deformation, and a hub-side face spline that is an uneven portion in the circumferential direction is formed on the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion. A rolling bearing unit manufacturing apparatus for producing a rolling bearing unit,
The hub body is arranged side by side in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the hub body, and is formed by combining a plurality of mold elements provided so as to be capable of axial displacement independent of each other. A mold for face spline capable of contacting the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion;
A plurality of rollers arranged at a plurality of locations smaller than the total number of the respective molding die elements in the circumferential direction centering on the central axis of the hub body, and each of the rollers is used as the molding die for the face spline. A pressing unit capable of rolling contact with the other axial end surface of
A state where one end surface in the axial direction of the mold for face spline is brought into contact with the other end surface in the axial direction of the caulking portion, and each roller is pressed against the other end surface in the axial direction of the mold for face spline so as to be able to roll. And a pressing unit driving mechanism capable of applying a driving force for rolling the rollers in a circumferential direction around the central axis of the hub body to the pressing unit. . 6. The roller according to claim 4, wherein the rollers are arranged on a circumference centered on the central axis of the hub body in a positional relationship that is rotationally symmetric about the central axis of the hub body. A rolling bearing unit manufacturing apparatus according to item 1. The manufacturing method of a vehicle containing the manufacturing method of the rolling bearing unit described in any one of Claims 1-3.

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