JP6762926B2 - Vehicle wheel support - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wheel support device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a wheel support device for a vehicle that rotatably supports wheels in a state where the wheels and the drive shaft are connected and torque from the drive shaft can be transmitted.

Conventionally, as a wheel support device of this type, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The wheel support device includes a constant velocity joint provided on the drive shaft side and a hub unit connected to the constant velocity joint to rotatably support the wheels with respect to the suspension device of the vehicle. The constant velocity joint is provided at the tip of the drive shaft. Specifically, the inner ring fixed to the tip of the drive shaft and the outer ring provided on the outside of the inner ring with a plurality of balls interposed therebetween. It is composed of. The outer ring is formed in a convex shape protruding toward the hub unit side, and has an outer ring cylinder portion having a large diameter and an outer ring shaft portion having a diameter smaller than the outer ring cylinder portion and protruding in a tapered shape from the outer ring cylinder portion. Have. A plurality of driving teeth are formed so as to be arranged in an annular shape at the end of the outer ring cylinder portion on the hub unit side. Further, a hole portion penetrating along the axial direction is formed in the outer ring shaft portion, and a female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hole portion.

On the other hand, the hub unit has a hub wheel to which a wheel is attached and connected to a constant velocity joint, and a bearing that rotatably supports the hub wheel and is attached to a suspension device. The hub wheel is composed of a hub shaft formed in a thick cylindrical shape and a flange portion provided on the wheel side. A side face spline that meshes with the outer ring tube of the constant velocity joint is formed at the end of the hub shaft on the constant velocity joint side. This side face spline has a plurality of driven teeth corresponding to a plurality of driving teeth of the outer ring cylinder portion on the constant velocity joint side, and these driven teeth are formed so as to be arranged in an annular shape.

In the hub unit configured as described above, all the driven teeth of the side face spline of the hub wheel mesh with all the driving teeth of the outer ring cylinder portion of the constant velocity joint, and the outer ring shaft portion of the constant velocity joint is the hub wheel. It is inserted inside. Then, the cap bolt is inserted into the inside of the hub wheel from the flange portion side of the hub unit and screwed into the hole portion of the outer ring shaft portion of the constant velocity joint, so that the hub unit is connected to the constant velocity joint.

Further, in the above hub unit, when producing a side face spline having a large number of driven teeth, each driven tooth is based on a virtual pitch surface as an engagement position between each driven tooth and each driving tooth of a constant velocity joint. Dimensions such as tooth surface shape, tooth streaks and pitch are designed, and side face splines are produced based on the design. In addition, the above hub unit is required to have high dimensional accuracy as a whole, and in particular, the driven teeth of the side face spline have very high dimensions in order to smoothly transmit the torque from the constant velocity joint to the wheels. Accuracy is required.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, in the inspection process after the manufacture of the hub unit, the inspection is performed using a reference setting tool having a plurality of teeth same as the driving teeth of the constant velocity joint and composed of an annular block. Will be executed. Specifically, the reference setting tool is mounted in a state of being meshed with the side face spline of the hub unit, and the hub unit is set in a predetermined three-dimensional measuring instrument. Then, a predetermined reference surface is set by measuring the upper surface and the side surface of the reference setting tool, and then the reference setting tool is removed from the hub unit, and then the set reference is set for the driven tooth of the side face spline of the hub unit. With the surface as a reference, various dimensions such as tooth surface dimensions, arrangement pitch, and coaxiality with respect to the center of rotation are measured. As a result, it is inspected whether or not the side face spline is properly manufactured.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-50402

As described above, the hub unit of the conventional wheel support device is formed with side face splines having a plurality of driven teeth. Since this side face spline is manufactured based on a virtual pitch surface and each driven tooth has a complicated three-dimensional shape, the side face spline is complicated and time-consuming. In addition, when inspecting the hub unit, it is necessary to prepare a reference setting tool that meshes with the side face spline in advance, and the driven tooth of the side face spline is based on the reference surface set by using the reference setting tool. Since the measurement is performed, the error becomes larger than that in the case of direct measurement, and accurate dimensional measurement may not be performed stably.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and by making the connecting portion between the constant velocity joint and the hub unit a relatively simple shape, the constant velocity joint can be smoothly transferred to the hub unit. Provided is a wheel support device capable of easily and directly measuring the above-mentioned connecting portion in an inspection process before connecting the two, and capable of performing the measurement accurately and stably. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a hub unit 4 to which wheels are mounted and a constant velocity joint 3 provided at an end of a drive shaft 2 on a predetermined axis (in the embodiment (in the embodiment). Hereinafter, the wheel support device 1 of a vehicle that is connected along the central axis CL) and rotatably supports the wheels in a state where the torque from the drive shaft can be transmitted, and the constant velocity joint is The hub unit includes an inner ring 11 fixed to the drive shaft and an outer ring 12 arranged outside the inner ring and rotatable integrally with the drive shaft. The hub unit is a hub wheel to which the wheel is attached and connected to the outer ring. 31 and a bearing 32 that rotatably supports the hub wheel, and the outer ring is a central convex portion 23 having a predetermined length and diameter, which is centered on the axis and projects toward the hub wheel along the axis. A plurality of outer convex portions 22 arranged outside the base end portion of the central convex portion and along the circumferential direction of the axis, each extending in the radial direction of the axis and projecting to the hub wheel side by a predetermined length. The hub wheel is open to the outer ring side, has a predetermined diameter centered on the axis line, and has a predetermined depth extending along the axis line, and is fitted in a state where the central convex portion is in contact with the bottom surface 37a. The matching central recess 37 and the parallel side walls 38a, which are arranged outside the opening of the central recess and along the circumferential direction of the axis, open to the outer ring side, extend in the radial direction of the axis, and face each other. It is characterized by having 38a and having a plurality of outer concave portions 38 into which the plurality of outer convex portions are fitted.

According to this configuration, the constant velocity joint includes an inner ring and an outer ring, the outer ring having a central convex portion protruding toward the hub wheel side and a plurality of outer rings arranged outside the base end portion of the central convex portion. It has an outer convex portion. On the other hand, the hub unit includes a hub wheel and a bearing, and the hub wheel has a central concave portion and a plurality of outer concave portions that are fitted to the central convex portion and the plurality of outer convex portions of the constant velocity joint, respectively. .. When these constant velocity joints and the hub unit are connected, they are fitted in a state where the central convex portion of the constant velocity joint is in contact with the bottom surface of the central concave portion of the hub unit. Since the central convex portion of the constant velocity joint and the central concave portion of the hub unit are both formed in a state centered on a predetermined axis and along the axis, the central convex portion is fitted into the central concave portion in the above-mentioned state. By matching, it is possible to easily and appropriately center the hub unit and position the end face with respect to the constant velocity joint. When the constant velocity joint and the hub unit are connected, the outer convex portion of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint fits into the outer concave portion of the hub wheel of the hub unit. As a result, the outer ring of the constant velocity joint and the hub wheel of the hub unit are connected in a state where torque can be transmitted to each other, and the torque from the drive shaft is smoothly transmitted to the wheel via the outer ring of the constant velocity joint and the hub wheel. can do.

Further, the connecting portion between the constant velocity joint and the hub unit, that is, the central convex portion and the outer convex portion of the constant velocity joint, and the central concave portion and the outer concave portion of the hub unit are those of the conventional constant velocity joint and the hub unit described above. It has a very simple shape compared to the corresponding part. Therefore, in the inspection step after the production of the constant velocity joint and the hub unit of the present invention and before the connection, the above-mentioned central convex portion, outer convex portion, central concave portion and outer concave portion are directly pressed by using a simple measuring instrument. It is possible to measure the dimensions. Therefore, the measurement of the connecting portion between the constant velocity joint and the hub unit can be performed accurately and stably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the wheel support device according to the first aspect, the hub wheel is formed with a through hole 34 centered on the axis and extending along the axis and having a predetermined diameter, and is formed in the center of the outer ring. A screw hole 23b is formed in the convex portion so as to be centered on the axis and extend along the axis. In the hub wheel, a bolt (fastening bolt 5) having a diameter substantially the same as the through hole is inserted into the through hole and a screw is formed. It is characterized in that it is fastened to the outer ring by being screwed into the hole.

According to this configuration, the hub wheel can be firmly fastened to the outer ring of the constant velocity joint by inserting the bolt into the through hole of the hub wheel and screwing it into the screw hole of the central convex portion of the constant velocity joint. Also, since the diameter of the through hole of the hub wheel and the diameter of the bolt are almost the same, there is almost no gap between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole of the hub wheel and the outer peripheral surface of the bolt, and therefore the hub wheel and the bolt are integrated. In this state, the hub wheel is fastened to the outer ring of the constant velocity joint. As a result, the torque from the drive shaft can be smoothly transmitted to the wheels attached to the hub wheels without causing rattling between the outer wheels and the hub wheels.

It is sectional drawing which shows the wheel support device of the vehicle by one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before connection of a constant velocity joint and a hub unit in the wheel support device of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the connection part of a constant velocity joint and a hub unit, (a) is a sectional view of a hub unit, (b) is a central concave part and a plurality of hub units when viewed from a constant velocity joint side. (C) is a central convex portion and a plurality of outer convex portions when the constant velocity joint is viewed from the hub unit side, and (d) is a cross-sectional view of the constant velocity joint.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle wheel support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wheel support device 1 is applied to a vehicle such as an automobile, and supports the wheels rotatably in a state where torque from the drive shaft 2 can be transmitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel support device 1 includes a constant velocity joint 3 provided at one end of a drive shaft 2, a hub unit 4 connected to the constant velocity joint 3, and the hub unit 4. Is provided with a fastening bolt 5 for fastening the constant velocity joint 3.

The constant velocity joint 3 includes an inner ring 11 fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 2, an outer ring 12 arranged outside the inner ring 11 and provided so as to cover the tip of the inner ring 11 and the drive shaft 2, and an inner ring. A plurality of balls 13 (only two are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) provided between the 11 and the outer ring 12, a cage 14 for rotatably holding these balls 13 and the like are provided, and the outer ring 12 is predetermined. It is possible to rotate integrally with the drive shaft 2 within the range of the operating angle of.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer ring 12 of the constant velocity joint 3 includes an outer ring dome portion 21 formed in a dome shape that bulges to the outside of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “outer side”; left side of FIGS. 1 and 2). A plurality of outer convex portions 22 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the top of the outer ring dome portion 21 and fitted to the plurality of outer concave portions 38 described later of the hub unit 4 and projecting from the top of the outer ring dome portion 21 to the outer side. It has a central convex portion 23 that fits into a central concave portion 37 described later in the hub unit 4. The outer ring dome portion 21 is formed so that the inside of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "inner side"; the right side of FIGS. 1 and 2) is opened, and the space between the opened portion and the drive shaft 2 is bellows. It is covered by boots 24 formed in a shape.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the connecting portion of both, in addition to the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub unit 4 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. (C) and (d), a plurality of (12 in this embodiment) outer convex portions 22 provided around the top of the outer ring dome portion 21 include a drive shaft 2 and a constant velocity joint 3. And the central axis CL (predetermined axis) extending through the rotation center of the hub unit 4 is centered, and the hub unit 4 is arranged radially at equal angles to each other in the circumferential direction. Each outer convex portion 22 extends in the radial direction of the central axis CL and projects to the outer side by a predetermined length, and the state when viewed from the outer side (the state shown in FIG. 3C) is a predetermined state in the circumferential direction. It is formed in a rectangular shape with a width.

Further, the central convex portion 23 projecting from the top of the outer ring dome portion 21 is formed in a columnar shape having a predetermined length and diameter, and the tip surface 23a thereof is formed flat. Further, the central convex portion 23 is formed with a screw hole 23b that is open to the outer side and is centered on the central axis CL and extends a predetermined length along the central axis CL.

On the other hand, the hub unit 4 includes a hub wheel 31 having a predetermined shape and a bearing 32 that rotatably supports the hub wheel 31. The hub wheel 31 is formed in a multi-stage columnar shape centered on the central axis CL and extending along the central axis CL by a predetermined length. Further, the hub wheel 31 is formed with a through hole 34 centered on and extending along the central axis CL and having substantially the same diameter as the shaft portion of the fastening bolt 5 over the entire surface. As shown, the fastening bolt 5 is inserted through the through hole 34. Further, a flange 35 is provided at the outer end of the hub wheel 31, and a plurality of bolts 36 (only one is shown in each figure) for fixing the wheel are attached to the flange 35.

The bearing 32 includes an inner ring 41 fixed to the outer periphery of the inner end of the hub wheel 31 in a crimped state, and an outer ring 42 provided so as to cover the inner ring 41 and the outer periphery of the main body portion of the hub wheel 31. A plurality of balls 43 and 44 provided in two rows (two in each row) and balls 43 in each row between the inner ring 41 and the outer ring 42 and between the hub wheel 31 and the outer ring 42. , 44, respectively, and seals 47, 48, etc., which close between the inner ring 41 and the outer ring 42, and between the hub wheel 31 and the outer ring 42, respectively.

The outer ring 42 is provided with a flange 49, and the flange 49 is formed with a plurality of holes 49a (only one is shown in each figure) for inserting bolts. The outer ring 42 of the bearing 32 is fixed to the vehicle suspension device (not shown) via the bolt inserted through the hole 49a.

As shown in FIG. 2, a central concave portion 37 is formed on the inner side of the hub wheel 31 so as to communicate with the through hole 34 and fit the central convex portion 23 of the constant velocity joint 3. The central recess 37 is open to the inner side and has a predetermined diameter centered on the central axis CL and a predetermined depth extending along the central axis CL. More specifically, the central concave portion 37 has an inner diameter and a depth that are larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 34 and substantially the same as the outer diameter and the protruding length of the central convex portion 23 of the constant velocity joint 3. 37a is formed flat.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each of the ends of the hub wheel 31 on the inner side is opened to the inner side and fitted into the plurality of outer convex portions 22 of the constant velocity joint 3. A plurality of matching outer recesses 38 (12 in this embodiment) are provided. These outer recesses 38 are arranged radially at equal angles to each other in the circumferential direction with the central axis CL as the center. Each outer concave portion 38 extends in the radial direction of the central axis CL, and the state when viewed from the inner side (the state shown in FIG. 3B) is formed in a rectangular shape having a constant predetermined width in the circumferential direction. There is. Further, each outer recess 38 has parallel side walls 38a and 38a facing each other and has a predetermined depth.

The hub unit 4 configured as described above is connected to the constant velocity joint 3 in the following state. That is, the central convex portion 23 of the constant velocity joint 3 is fitted into the central concave portion 37 of the hub wheel 31, and the plurality of outer convex portions 22 of the constant velocity joint 3 are fitted into the plurality of outer concave portions 38 of the hub wheel 31, respectively. To do. In this case, the outer peripheral surface of the central convex portion 23 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the central concave portion 37, and the tip surface 23a is in contact with the bottom surface 37a of the central concave portion 37. On the other hand, each of the plurality of outer convex portions 22 has both side surfaces 22a and 22a (see FIG. 3C) in close contact with both side walls 38a and 38a (see FIG. 3B) of the corresponding outer concave portions 38, respectively. To do. The tip surface of each outer convex portion 22 has a slight gap between it and the bottom surface of the corresponding outer concave portion 38.

Then, the fastening bolt 5 is inserted into the through hole 34 of the hub wheel 31 and screwed into the screw hole 23b of the central convex portion 23. As a result, the hub wheel 31 of the hub unit 4 is firmly fastened to the outer ring 12 of the constant velocity joint 3.

As described above, according to the wheel support device 1 of the present embodiment, the central convex portion 23 of the constant velocity joint 3 and the central concave portion 37 of the hub unit 4 are both centered on the central axis CL and on the central axis CL. Since it is formed along the same direction, by fitting the central convex portion 23 into the central concave portion 37 in the above-mentioned state, centering and end face positioning of the hub unit 4 with respect to the constant velocity joint 3 can be easily and appropriately performed. Can be done. Further, by fitting the plurality of outer convex portions 22 of the constant velocity joint 3 into the plurality of outer concave portions 38 of the hub unit 4, the outer ring 12 of the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub wheel 31 of the hub unit 4 transmit torque to each other. It is connected in a possible state, and the torque from the drive shaft 2 can be smoothly transmitted to the wheels via the outer ring 12 and the hub wheel 31 of the constant velocity joint 3.

Further, the connecting portion between the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub unit 4, that is, the central convex portion 23 and the outer convex portion 22 of the constant velocity joint 3, and the central concave portion 37 and the outer concave portion 38 of the hub unit 4 are the conventional hubs described above. It has a very simple shape compared to those corresponding parts of the unit. Therefore, in the inspection step after the production of the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub unit 4 of the present embodiment and before the connection, a simple measuring instrument (for example, an outer diameter micrometer and an inner diameter micrometer) is used in the center of the above. It is possible to directly measure the dimensions of the convex portion 23, the outer convex portion 22, the central concave portion 37, and the outer concave portion 38. Therefore, the measurement of the connecting portion between the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub unit 4 can be performed accurately and stably.

Further, since the fastening bolt 5 for fastening the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub unit 4 has a shaft diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the through hole 34 of the hub wheel 31, the fastening bolt 5 has the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34 of the hub wheel 31. There is almost no gap between the outer peripheral surface of 5 and the outer peripheral surface of 5. Therefore, with the hub wheel 31 and the fastening bolt 5 integrated, the hub wheel 31 is fastened to the outer ring 12 of the constant velocity joint 3. As a result, the torque from the drive shaft 2 can be smoothly transmitted to the wheels attached to the hub wheel 31 without causing rattling between the outer ring 12 and the hub wheel 31.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various embodiments. For example, in the embodiment, the number of the outer convex portion 22 of the constant velocity joint 3 and the outer concave portion 38 of the hub unit 4 is 12, but these numbers are not particularly limited, and the torque from the drive shaft 2 is applied. It can be set to various numbers as long as it can be transmitted appropriately. Further, the detailed configurations of the constant velocity joint 3 and the hub unit 4 shown in the embodiment are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

1 Wheel support device 2 Drive shaft 3 Constant velocity joint 4 Hub unit 5 Fastening bolt (bolt)
11 Inner ring 12 Outer ring 21 Outer ring Dome part 22 Outer convex part 23 Central convex part 23a Tip surface of central convex part 23b Screw hole in central convex part 31 Hub wheel 32 Bearing 34 Through hole 37 Central concave part 38 Outer concave part CL Center axis (predetermined Axis)

Claims (2)

The hub unit to which the wheels are attached and the constant velocity joints provided at the ends of the drive shafts are connected to each other along a predetermined axis, and the wheels can be rotated freely in a state where torque from the drive shaft can be transmitted. It is a wheel support device for supporting vehicles.
The constant velocity joint includes an inner ring fixed to the drive shaft and an outer ring arranged outside the inner ring and rotatable integrally with the drive shaft.
The hub unit includes a hub wheel to which the wheel is attached and connected to the outer ring, and a bearing that rotatably supports the hub wheel.
The outer ring is centered on the axis and projects toward the hub wheel side along the axis, and has a central convex portion having a predetermined length and diameter, and outside the base end portion of the central convex portion and on the axis. Arranged along the circumferential direction, each has a plurality of outer convex portions extending in the radial direction of the axis and projecting to the hub wheel side by a predetermined length.
The hub wheel is open to the outer ring side, has a predetermined diameter centered on the axis, and has a predetermined depth extending along the axis, and is fitted in a state where the central convex portion is in contact with the bottom surface. The matching central recess and the parallel side walls that are arranged outside the opening of the central recess and along the circumferential direction of the axis, each open to the outer ring side, extend in the radial direction of the axis, and face each other. A wheel support device for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of outer concave portions into which the plurality of outer convex portions are fitted, and a plurality of outer concave portions. The hub wheel is formed with a through hole having a predetermined diameter centered on the axis and extending along the axis.
A screw hole is formed in the central convex portion of the outer ring so as to be centered on the axis and extend along the axis.
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hub wheel is fastened to the outer ring by inserting a bolt having substantially the same diameter as the through hole into the through hole and screwing it into the screw hole. Wheel support device.

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