JP6852265B2 - Hub unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hub unit for a vehicle that rotatably supports wheels with respect to a vehicle body.

Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, a hub unit that rotatably supports a wheel with respect to a vehicle body has a tubular outer member fitted inside a knuckle connected to a suspension device and a wheel attached to the hub unit. It has a bearing structure including an inner member to be formed and a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the outer member and the inner member. At the center of the inner member, a fitting hole is formed in which the outer joint member of the constant velocity joint, which is the output member of the drive shaft that transmits the driving force of the vehicle, is fitted. The inner member transmits the driving force received from the outer joint member of the constant velocity joint to the wheels.

In the hub unit described in Patent Document 1, a pair of sealing members for preventing foreign matter from entering the bearing structure are arranged at both ends in the axial direction of the outer member. Of these, the seal member on the drive shaft side includes a first seal plate fixed to the outer member, a seal rubber attached to the first seal plate, and a second seal plate that is in sliding contact with the side lip of the seal rubber. It has a magnetic encoder attached to the second seal plate. The second seal plate is fitted to the inner member. The magnetic encoder is connected to the inner member via the second sealing plate and rotates integrally with the inner member. A plurality of magnetic poles are formed in the magnetic encoder along the rotation direction of the inner member.

Further, the hub unit described in Patent Document 1 includes a core metal that is press-fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of an end portion of an outer member, a resin portion attached to the core metal, and a rotation speed sensor embedded in the resin portion. Has. The rotation speed sensor is arranged to face the magnetic encoder via an air gap, and detects the magnetic field of the magnetic pole of the magnetic encoder. The core metal includes a cylindrical main body cylinder portion, an inner diameter wall portion extending from the main body cylinder portion to the inner diameter side, and a polymerization portion connecting the main body cylinder portion and the inner diameter wall portion. The polymerized portion is fitted onto the end of the outer member. Further, a ring-shaped collar portion extending in the outer diameter direction is formed in the main body cylinder portion, and a pressure input for press-fitting the polymerized portion into the outer member is applied to this collar portion.

The main body cylinder including the collar forms a labyrinth seal with the inner peripheral surface of the knuckle. This labyrinth seal suppresses the intrusion of foreign matter into the bearing structure side.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-180533

In the hub unit configured as in Patent Document 1, in order to fully exert the effect of suppressing foreign matter intrusion by the labyrinth seal, the thickness of the knuckle in the axial direction is increased to widen the width of the inner peripheral surface, and the inside of the knuckle is widened. The peripheral surface must be close to the outer joint member of the constant velocity joint to narrow the distance between the core metal and the main body cylinder. For this reason, there is a risk that the design of the knuckle will be restricted, the types of vehicles that can be mounted will be limited, and the weight of the knuckle will increase.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hub unit capable of forming a seal portion that suppresses the intrusion of foreign matter from between the outer member and the outer joint member of the constant velocity joint without restricting the design of the knuckle. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an outer member to be attached to a support member on the vehicle body side, a flange portion to which a wheel is attached, and an outer joint member of a constant velocity joint is connected so as not to rotate relative to each other. An inner member that rotates with respect to the outer member, a plurality of rolling elements that roll on the raceway surfaces formed on the outer member and the inner member, and the inner member that rotates together with the inner member. An annular magnetic encoder in which a plurality of magnetic poles are formed along the rotation direction of the member and a seal structure portion arranged between the outer member and the outer joint member are provided, and the seal structure portion includes the seal structure portion. A holding portion that holds a magnetic field sensor that detects magnetic fields of the plurality of magnetic poles of the magnetic encoder, and a sensor holder that has a cylindrical portion that is arranged around the outer periphery of the outer joint member and is fixed to the outer member. The deflector includes an annular deflector fixed to the outer joint member, and the deflector has a large-diameter tubular portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion via a first gap and a second on the axial end surface of the cylindrical portion. An annular plate portion facing through the gap and a small-diameter tubular portion facing the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion via a third gap are integrally provided, and the small-diameter tubular portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer joint member. The sensor holder is fitted and fixed, and the axial one-sided end of the cylindrical portion is fixed to the outer member and the axial other-side end of the cylindrical portion is the large diameter of the deflector. The small diameter cylinder is arranged between the cylinder portion and the small diameter cylinder portion, and the holding portion is provided at the central portion in the axial direction between the one side end portion in the axial direction and the other end portion in the axial direction. Provided is a hub unit in which a portion and the large-diameter tubular portion are connected by the annular plate portion, and the first gap and the third gap communicate with each other through the second gap to form a labyrinth seal.

According to the hub unit according to the present invention, it is possible to form a seal portion that suppresses foreign matter from entering between the outer member and the outer joint member of the constant velocity joint without restricting the design of the knuckle. Become.

It is sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of the hub unit which mounted the magnetic encoder which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows a part of FIG. 1 enlarged. The sensor holder is shown, (a) is a plan view seen from the vehicle outer side, (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA of (a), and (c) is an enlarged view of part B of (b). It is a perspective view of a sensor holder. It is an enlarged view which shows the sensor holding part of a sensor holder together with a magnetic field sensor.

[Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The embodiments described below are shown as suitable specific examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, although there are some parts that specifically exemplify various technically preferable technical matters, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this specific aspect.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a hub unit according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a part of a drive shaft connected to the hub unit. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a part of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner.

The hub unit 1 rotatably supports the wheels 92 together with the brake rotor 93 with respect to the knuckle 91 as a support member on the vehicle body side connected to the suspension device. Further, the hub unit 1 transmits the driving force received from the drive shaft 8 to the wheels 92. Hereinafter, in the hub unit 1, the side on which the wheel 92 is attached (left side in FIG. 1) is referred to as the vehicle outer side, and the opposite side (right side in FIG. 1) is referred to as the vehicle inner side.

The hub unit 1 is composed of an outer member 2 attached to a knuckle 91 on the vehicle inner side, an inner member 3 to which a wheel 92 on the vehicle outer side is attached together with a brake rotor 93, and an outer member 2 and an inner member 3. A seal structure 7 including a plurality of rolling elements 4 arranged between them, a magnetic encoder 5 that rotates together with the inner member 3, and a sensor holder 6 fixed to the end of the outer member 2 on the vehicle inner side. A seal member 70 fixed to an end portion of the outer member 2 on the vehicle outer side is provided.

The driving force of a driving source such as a vehicle engine is transmitted to the inner member 3 via the drive shaft 8. The drive shaft 8 has an intermediate shaft 800 and a pair of constant velocity joints provided at both ends of the intermediate shaft 800. FIG. 1 illustrates one of these constant velocity joints 80. The other constant velocity joint (not shown) is connected to the output gear of the differential.

The constant velocity joint 80 is a ball-type constant velocity joint, and has an inner joint member 81 connected to one end of an intermediate shaft 800 so as not to rotate relative to each other, a bowl-shaped cup portion 821 for accommodating the inner joint member 81, and a shaft shape. An outer joint member 82 having a stem portion 822, a plurality of balls 83 arranged between the inner joint member 81 and the outer joint member 82, a cage 84 that rotatably holds the plurality of balls 83, and an outer side. It has a bellows-shaped boot 85 that covers the opening of the joint member 82.

FIG. 1 illustrates one ball 83 out of a plurality of (for example, six) balls 83. The ball 83 rolls the ball groove 81a of the inner joint member 81 and the ball groove 82a of the outer joint member 82, and transmits a driving force between the inner joint member 81 and the outer joint member 82.

The inner joint member 81 is prevented from coming off from the intermediate shaft 800 by the snap ring 801. One end of the boot 85 is fixed to the outer joint member 82 by a tightening band 851, and the other end is fixed to the intermediate shaft 800 by a tightening band 852. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which the central axes of the inner joint member 81 and the outer joint member 82 coincide with each other and the joint angle is zero. However, when the vehicle is traveling, the inner joint member 81 and the outer joint member 82 are, for example, 10 to 10. It rotates at a constant speed with a joint angle of 50 °.

The outer member 2 integrally has a cylindrical tubular portion 21 and a flange portion 22 that projects outward from the tubular portion 21 and is attached to the knuckle 91. On the inner circumference of the tubular portion 21, a first outer raceway surface 2a for rolling the rolling element 4 and a second outer raceway surface 2b for rolling the rolling stock 4 on the vehicle inner side of the first outer raceway surface 2a. Are formed parallel to each other. The flange portion 22 is formed with a bolt insertion hole 220 through which a bolt 90 screwed into a screw hole 910 provided in the knuckle 91 is inserted. A seal member 70 is press-fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 21 at the end on the outer side of the vehicle.

The inner member 3 is rotatably arranged with respect to the outer member 2. A first inner raceway surface 3a and a second inner raceway surface 3b for rolling the rolling element 4 are formed on the outer periphery of the inner member 3. The first inner raceway surface 3a faces the first outer raceway surface 2a of the outer member 2, and the second inner raceway surface 3b faces the second outer raceway surface 2b of the outer member 2.

In the present embodiment, the inner member 3 is composed of a hub ring 31 and an annular inner ring member 32. The hub wheel 31 integrally has a flange portion 311 to which the wheel 92 and the brake rotor 93 are attached, and a body portion 312 arranged inside the outer member 2. The flange portion 311 is formed with a plurality (for example, five) press-fitting holes 311a into which hub bolts 33 for mounting wheels are press-fitted. FIG. 1 shows one of these press-fit holes 311a. The hub bolt 33 inserts the insertion hole 920 formed in the wheel of the wheel 92 and the insertion hole 930 formed in the brake rotor 93, and the wheel nut 94 is screwed into the tip end portion.

The inner ring member 32 is externally fitted to the end portion of the hub wheel 31 on the vehicle inner side. A second inner raceway surface 3b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring member 32. The first inner raceway surface 3a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hub wheel 31 on the vehicle outer side of the inner ring member 32.

The hub ring 31 is provided with a through hole 310 that penetrates the central portion thereof in the axial direction. The stem portion 822 of the outer joint member 82 of the constant velocity joint 80 is inserted into the through hole 310. Serrations 310a are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 310, and the serrations 310a mesh with the serrations 822a of the stem portion 822. As a result, the hub wheel 31 and the outer joint member 82 are connected so as not to rotate relative to each other.

A male threaded portion 823 is provided at the tip of the stem portion 822, and a nut 34 is screwed into the male threaded portion 823. The nut 34 comes into contact with the end surface 31a of the hub wheel 31 on the vehicle outer side, and restricts the axial movement of the stem portion 822 with respect to the hub wheel 31. Further, the cup portion 821 of the outer joint member 82 is pressed against the end surface of the inner ring member 32 on the vehicle inner side by the tightening force of the nut 34.

A seal structure portion 7 is arranged between the cup portion 821 of the outer joint member 82 and the outer member 2. The seal structure portion 7 includes a sensor holder 6 and a deflector 71 fitted to the outer peripheral surface 821a of the cup portion 821 of the outer joint member 82. The configuration of the sensor holder 6 and the deflector 71 will be described later.

The plurality of rolling elements 4 arranged between the first outer raceway surface 2a and the first inner raceway surface 3a are rotatably held by the first cage 43. The plurality of rolling elements 4 arranged between the second outer raceway surface 2b and the second inner raceway surface 3b are rotatably held by the second cage 44. When the wheel 92 rotates, the plurality of rolling elements 4 held by the first cage 43 roll on the first outer raceway surface 2a and the first inner raceway surface 3a, and the plurality of rolling elements 4 held by the second cage 44. The rolling element 4 rolls on the second outer raceway surface 2b and the second inner raceway surface 3b. Foreign matter (water droplets, dust, etc.) entering the space between the outer member 2 and the inner member 3 on which the rolling element 4 rolls is suppressed by the seal structure portion 7 and the seal member 70.

In the present embodiment, the rolling element 4 is a sphere, but the rolling element 4 is not limited to this and may be a conical roller. Further, in the present embodiment, the inner member 3 has one inner ring member 32, but the inner member 3 has two inner ring members, and the inner ring member 3 has two inner ring members. The first inner raceway surface 3a may be formed, and the second inner raceway surface 3b may be formed on the other inner ring member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic encoder 5 has an annular magnetic member 50 and a core metal 51 for fixing the magnetic member 50 to the inner member 3. The magnetic member 50 is formed by mixing ferritic stainless steel powder with a base material made of, for example, rubber or resin, and a plurality of magnetic poles having different magnetisms are alternately magnetized along the rotation direction of the inner member 3. There is. The core metal 51 is formed by, for example, pressing a ferritic stainless steel plate or a cold-rolled steel plate such as SPCC that has been subjected to a rust preventive treatment.

In the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 511 in which the core metal 51 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface 32a of the inner ring member 32 and the outer flange portion 512 extending outward from the end portion of the cylindrical portion 511 on the vehicle inner side are formed. Have. The magnetic member 50 is fixed to the outer flange portion 512 by, for example, bonding. The magnetic fields of the plurality of magnetic poles (N pole and S pole) of the magnetic member 50 are detected by the magnetic field sensor 10 held in the sensor holder 6. The magnetic field sensor 10 is arranged so as to face a part of the magnetic member 50 in the circumferential direction.

Further, the magnetic field sensor 10 has a magnetic field detection element 100 such as a Hall element that converts the strength of the magnetic field into an electric signal, and outputs this electric signal to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown). The magnetic field detection element 100 is sealed in a rectangular parallelepiped outer shell 101 made of a resin package. The electric signal of the magnetic field detection element 100 is sent to the ECU by the electric wire 102 derived from the outer shell 101. In FIG. 2, the magnetic field detection element 100 resin-sealed inside the outer shell 101 is shown by a broken line.

When the wheel 92 rotates together with the inner member 3, the magnetic poles of the magnetic member 50 in which the magnetic field is detected by the magnetic field detection element 100 alternate. In the ECU, the rotation speed of the wheel 92 can be calculated by calculation based on the electric signal output from the magnetic field sensor 10.

3A and 3B show a sensor holder 6, where FIG. 3A is a plan view seen from the vehicle outer side, FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a partially enlarged view of FIG. Is. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sensor holder 6. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the sensor holding portion 610 of the sensor holder 6 together with the magnetic field sensor 10.

The sensor holder 6 has a cylindrical cylindrical portion 60 arranged around the outer periphery of the cup portion 821 of the outer joint member 82, and a sensor holding portion 610 for holding the magnetic field sensor 10. The cylindrical portion 60 is formed by connecting a first member 61 and a second member 62 having different wall thicknesses and materials. The sensor holding portion 610 is composed of a part of the first member 61. The first member 61 is formed by press-molding a thin plate made of spring steel such as SK85. The plate thickness of the first member 61 is, for example, 0.8 mm.

The second member 62 is formed by forming a cold-rolled steel plate such as SPCC into a cylindrical shape, and integrally has a thick portion 621 and a thin portion 622 having different thicknesses in the radial direction. The thick portion 621 and the thin portion 622 have the same outer diameter, and the inner diameter of the thick portion 621 is smaller than the inner diameter of the thin portion 622. The thickness of the thick portion 621 is, for example, 2.3 mm, and the thickness of the thin portion 622 is, for example, 1.7 mm.

The sensor holder 6 is fixed to the outer member 2 so that the thick portion 621 of the second member 62 is arranged on the vehicle outer side and the thin portion 622 is arranged on the vehicle inner side. The end portion of the thin-walled portion 622 on the vehicle inner side is subjected to an outwardly bent brim processing. The tip surface 622b of the collar portion 622a formed by the flange turning process is located outside the outer peripheral surface 622c of the thin-walled portion 622 excluding the collar portion 622a.

The first member 61 integrally includes a sensor holding portion 610, cylindrical large-diameter portions 611 and small-diameter portions 612 having different inner and outer diameters, and a step portion 613 between the large-diameter portion 611 and the small-diameter portion 612. Have. The inner diameter of the large diameter portion 611 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 612. A thick portion 621 of the second member is fitted to the outside of the small diameter portion 612, and the axial end surface 621a of the thick portion 621 is in contact with the step portion 613 of the first member 61. The relative movement of the first member 61 and the second member 62 in the axial direction is regulated by the crimping portion 612a formed by bending the end portion of the small diameter portion 612 outward. The crimping portion 612a is in contact with a stepped surface 621b between the thick portion 621 and the thin wall portion 622 on the inner peripheral surface of the second member 62.

The cylindrical portion 60 of the sensor holder 6 is composed of a large-diameter portion 611 and a small-diameter portion 612 of the first member 61, and a thick-walled portion 621 and a thin-walled portion 622 of the second member 62. The large diameter portion 611 of the first member 61 corresponds to the end portion of the cylindrical portion 60 on the vehicle outer side. The thin-walled portion 622 of the second member 62 corresponds to the end portion of the cylindrical portion 60 on the vehicle inner side. The sensor holding portion 610 is provided between the large-diameter portion 611 of the first member 61 and the thin-walled portion 622 of the second member 62 in the axial direction of the sensor holder 6, that is, at the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 60. ..

As shown in FIG. 5, the sensor holding portion 610 is formed so as to extend from the step portion 613 in the notch 612b provided by notching a part of the small diameter portion 612 in the circumferential direction. When the magnetic field sensor 10 is mounted on the sensor holder 6, the outer shell 101 is moved into the sensor holding portion 610 along the mounting direction indicated by the arrow A from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the sensor holder 6. The second member 62 is formed with a through hole 62a (see FIG. 4) through which the outer shell 101 is inserted. The outer shell 101 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and engaging grooves 101a extending in the mounting direction of the outer shell 101 are formed on a pair of side surfaces of the sensor holder 6 arranged in the circumferential direction.

The sensor holding portion 610 is provided on a pair of engaging protrusions 610a, a bottom portion 610b to which the outer shell 101 is abutted when the magnetic field sensor 10 is mounted, a wall portion 610c erected from the bottom portion 610b, and a tip portion of the wall portion 610c. It has a locking portion 610d provided. The pair of engaging protrusions 610a are provided side by side at intervals in the circumferential direction of the sensor holder 6.

When the magnetic field sensor 10 is mounted on the sensor holding portion 610, the pair of engaging protrusions 610a engage with the engaging groove 101a of the outer shell 101. As a result, the movement of the outer shell 101 in the circumferential direction and the axial direction with respect to the sensor holder 6 is restricted. The outer shell 101 faces the magnetic member 50 of the magnetic encoder 5 from between the pair of engaging protrusions 610a. The magnetic field detection element 100 is arranged in the vicinity of the facing position.

The bottom portion 610b abuts on the outer shell 101 on the thin-walled portion 622 side of the second member 62 with respect to the pair of engaging protrusions 610a. The wall portion 610c is arranged in the axial direction of the pair of engaging protrusions 610a and the sensor holder 6, and the locking portion 610d is provided at a position where the outer shell 101 is sandwiched between the bottom portion 610b. When the magnetic field sensor 10 is mounted, the wall portion 610c is elastically deformed so as to be separated from the pair of engaging projections 610a, and the outer shell 101 is passed to the bottom portion 610b side of the locking portion 610d. As a result, the movement of the outer shell 101 inward and outward in the radial direction with respect to the sensor holder 6 is restricted.

In the sensor holder 6, the large diameter portion 611 of the first member 61 is fitted and fixed to the fitting portion 211 provided at the end portion of the tubular portion 21 of the outer member 2 on the vehicle inner side. On the outer peripheral surface 21a of the tubular portion 21 on the vehicle inner side of the outer member 2 on the inner peripheral side of the vehicle, the facing surface 21b facing the inner peripheral surface 91a of the knuckle 91 and the large diameter portion 611 of the first member 61 are fitted. It is composed of a fitting surface 21c to be formed. The fitting surface 21c has a smaller diameter than the facing surface 21b, and the diameter difference is more than twice the thickness of the large diameter portion 611 of the first member 61.

In FIG. 3A, the center position of the sensor holding portion 610 in the circumferential direction of the sensor holder 6 and the straight line L passing through the center axis C of the sensor holder 6 are shown by a alternate long and short dash line. The sensor holder 6 is formed with first and second drain holes 601, 602 at positions symmetrical with respect to the straight line L. The mounting angle of the sensor holder 6 to the outer member 2 differs depending on whether the hub unit 1 is for the right wheel or the left wheel, and the first and second drain holes 601, 602 Either is placed at the bottom in the vertical direction.

Specifically, when the hub unit 1 is for the right wheel, the sensor holder 6 is attached so that the first drain hole 601 is located at the lowermost position in the vertical direction. When the hub unit 1 is for the left wheel, the sensor holder 6 is attached so that the second drain hole 602 is located at the lowermost position in the vertical direction. Therefore, the magnetic field sensor 10 is arranged at a position deviated from the uppermost portion of the sensor holder 6 in the vertical direction by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction. This is a result of considering the lead-out direction of the electric wire 102 so as to avoid interference with the suspension device and the like.

The first and second drain holes 601, 602 are formed by communicating the through holes 612c formed in the small diameter portion 612 of the first member 61 and the through holes 621c formed in the thick portion 621 of the second member. , Each is formed. Foreign matter that has passed through the seal structure 7 composed of the sensor holder 6 and the deflector 71 and has entered the inside of the sensor holder 6 is discharged to the outside through the first drain hole 601 or the second drain hole 602. ..

The deflector 71 is formed by, for example, pressing a stainless steel plate or a cold-rolled steel plate such as SPCC that has been subjected to a rust preventive treatment. As shown in FIG. 2, the deflector 71 connects between the concentrically arranged small-diameter cylinders 711 and large-diameter cylinders 712 and the ends of the small-diameter cylinders 711 and large-diameter cylinders 712 on the vehicle inner side. The annular plate portion 713 and the annular extending portion 714 extending outward from the end of the large-diameter tubular portion 712 on the vehicle outer side are integrally provided. In the deflector 71, the inner peripheral surface 711a of the small-diameter tubular portion 711 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface 821a of the cup portion 821 and fixed to the outer joint member 82.

The large-diameter tubular portion 712 of the deflector 71 sandwiches the end portion of the thin-walled portion 622 of the second member 62 of the sensor holder 6 on the vehicle inner side with the small-diameter tubular portion 711. That is, the large-diameter tubular portion 712 of the deflector 71 functions as a covering portion that covers at least a part of the cylindrical portion 60 of the sensor holder 6.

Between the outer circumferential surface 622c of the inner peripheral surface 712a and the thin portion 622 of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 712, a first gap _{S 1} is formed. Between the vehicle inner side of the end face 622d of the inner surface (vehicle outer side surface) 713a and a thin portion 622 of the annular plate portion 713, a second gap _{S 2} is formed. Between the inner peripheral surface 622e of the outer circumferential surface 711b and the thin portion 622 of the small diameter cylinder portion 711, a third gap _{S 3} is formed. The first gap S ₁ and the third gap S ₃ communicate with each other via the second gap S _{2. The width of the first gap S 1} and the third gap S ₃ in the radial direction of the deflector 71 can suppress the intrusion of foreign matter into the thick portion 621 of the second member 62 and the small diameter portion 612 of the first member 61. It is set to the dimension. As a result, the seal structure portion 7 is formed as a labyrinth seal.

Further, in the present embodiment, the distance between the thin-walled portion 622 and the large-diameter tubular portion 712 is narrowed on the outer peripheral side of the tip surface 622b of the flange portion 622a provided at the vehicle inner side end of the thin-walled portion 622. .. With this configuration, the effect of suppressing the invasion of foreign matter into the inside of the cylindrical portion 60 by the seal structure portion 7 is further enhanced.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the present embodiment described above, the seal structure portion 7 is composed of the sensor holder 6 fixed to the outer member 2 and the deflector 71 fixed to the outer joint member 82. Then, the seal structure portion 7 suppresses the intrusion of foreign matter from between the outer member 2 and the outer joint member 82. Further, since the seal structure portion 7 does not include the knuckle 91 as a component, the design of the knuckle 91 is not restricted. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the axial thickness of the knuckle 91 beyond the dimensions required to secure the required strength. Therefore, the weight of the knuckle 91 does not increase in order to secure the sealing property. Further, since the hub unit 1 can be mounted on knuckles of various shapes, the types of vehicles that can be mounted are not limited.

(Additional note)
Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments and modifications, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention according to the claims. It should also be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

In addition, the present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the large-diameter cylindrical portion 712 of the deflector 71 configures the seal structure portion 7 so as to cover the thin-walled portion 622 of the second member 62 of the sensor holder 6 from the outer peripheral side has been described. Not limited to this, the large-diameter tubular portion 712 may cover a wider range of the cylindrical portion 60 of the sensor holder 6.

Further, the seal rubber with which the seal lip is in sliding contact with the core metal 51 may be fixed to the outer member 2. In this case, the invasion of foreign matter into the space between the outer member 2 and the inner member 3 on which the rolling element 4 rolls is more reliably suppressed.

1 ... Hub unit 10 ... Magnetic sensor 2 ... Outer member 2a ... Outer raceway surface 2b ... Outer raceway surface 3 ... Inner member 311 ... Flange portion 3a ... First inner raceway surface 3b ... Second inner raceway surface 4 ... Rolling element 5 ... Magnetic encoder 6 ... Sensor holder 60 ... Cylindrical part 610 ... Sensor holding part 7 ... Seal structure part 71 ... Deflector 712 ... Large diameter tubular part (covering part) 80 ... Constant velocity joint 82 ... Outer joint member 92 ... Wheel

Claims (1)

The outer member attached to the support member on the vehicle body side,
An inner member that has a flange to which a wheel is attached and an outer joint member of a constant velocity joint that is connected so as not to rotate relative to the outer member and that rotates with respect to the outer member.
A plurality of rolling elements that roll on the raceway surfaces formed on the outer member and the inner member, respectively.
An annular magnetic encoder that rotates together with the inner member and has a plurality of magnetic poles formed along the rotation direction of the inner member.
A seal structure portion arranged between the outer member and the outer joint member is provided.
The seal structure is
A sensor holder having a holding portion for holding a magnetic field sensor for detecting magnetic fields of the plurality of magnetic poles of the magnetic encoder and a cylindrical portion arranged around the outer periphery of the outer joint member and fixed to the outer member. ,
It is provided with an annular deflector fixed to the outer joint member.
The deflector includes a large-diameter tubular portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion via a first gap, an annular plate portion facing the axial end surface of the cylindrical portion via a second gap, and the cylindrical portion. A small-diameter cylinder portion facing the inner peripheral surface via a third gap is integrally provided, and the small-diameter cylinder portion is fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer joint member.
In the sensor holder, one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion is fixed to the outer member, and the other end in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion is the large-diameter tubular portion and the small-diameter tubular portion of the deflector. The holding portion is provided at the central portion in the axial direction between the one side end portion in the axial direction and the other side end portion in the axial direction.
The small-diameter cylinder portion and the large-diameter cylinder portion are connected by the annular plate portion, and the first gap and the third gap communicate with each other through the second gap to form a labyrinth seal.
Hub unit.

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