JP7260310B2 - Manufacturing method of wheel bearing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device.

Conventionally, in a wheel bearing device, a seal member or the like is provided between an outer ring and a hub ring to improve sealing performance in order to prevent foreign matter such as muddy water and dust from entering the bearing device. For example, a seal member provided with a plurality of seal lips such as an axial lip, an intermediate lip and a radial lip is fitted in the outer ring in order from the radially outer side to seal the gap between the outer ring and the hub wheel. Each seal lip comes into contact with the lip sliding surface of the hub wheel to seal grease between the outer ring and the hub wheel and prevent foreign matter such as muddy water and dust from entering. For example, it is as described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2013-217428 A

In the wheel bearing device described in Patent Document 1, each seal lip of the outer-side seal member assembled to the outer ring comes into contact with the lip sliding surface of the hub ring in the assembly process in which the outer ring is inserted to a predetermined position in the hub ring. do. The space between the radial lip and the intermediate lip (hereinafter simply referred to as "radial lip side space") and the space between the intermediate lip and the axial lip (hereinafter simply referred to as "axial lip side space") It is sealed by the lip sliding surface. The radial lip side space and the axial lip side space are compressed or expanded by deformation of each seal lip along the lip sliding surface, and the air pressure in each space fluctuates. In addition, the pressure inside the bearing rises by press-fitting the inner side seal member into the outer ring inserted into the hub wheel.

Each seal lip is pressed against the lip sliding surface due to changes in air pressure in the radial lip side space and the axial lip side space or in the air pressure inside the bearing. As a result, a pressure difference is generated between the air pressure in the radial lip side space, the axial lip side space, and the inside of the bearing, and the atmospheric pressure, which may increase the rotational torque due to the sliding resistance of the seal lip.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and is designed to reduce rotational torque caused by the pressure difference between the air pressure in the radial lip side space and the axial lip side space and the atmospheric pressure, or the pressure difference between the air pressure inside the bearing and the atmospheric pressure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device that can prevent an increase in the

That is, the first invention comprises an outer member having a double-row outer raceway surface formed on the inner circumference thereof, and an inner member having a double-row inner raceway surface facing the double-row outer raceway surface. , a double-row rolling element that is rollably accommodated between the raceway surfaces of the outer member and the inner member; and an outer side seal member that is fitted into the outer side opening of the outer member. A method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device having an inner seal member fitted in an inner opening of the outer member, wherein the outer member incorporates the rolling elements and the outer seal member. In the inner member inserting step of inserting the inner member into the inner member, a gap member is arranged between the outer side seal member and the lip sliding surface of the inner member, and the inner member is inserted into the outer side The method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device in which the gap member is sandwiched between the seal member and the lip sliding surface.

In a second aspect of the invention, in the inner side seal member fitting step of assembling the inner side seal member to the inner side opening of the outer member assembled to the inner member, after the inner side seal member is assembled, the It is a manufacturing method of a wheel bearing device in which a gap member is removed.

A third aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device using a thin plate having an uneven surface as the gap member.

As effects of the present invention, the following effects are obtained.

That is, in the first and second inventions, the gap member creates a gap between each seal lip of the outer side seal member and the lip sliding surface of the hub wheel, thereby creating a radial lip side space and an axial lip side space. The air pressure and the air pressure inside the bearing become equal to the atmospheric pressure. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in rotational torque due to the pressure difference between the air pressure in the radial lip side space and the axial lip side space and the atmospheric pressure, or the pressure difference between the air pressure in the bearing and the atmospheric pressure.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of gaps are generated between each seal lip of the outer side seal member and the gap member due to the plurality of irregularities on the surface of the gap member. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in rotational torque due to the pressure difference between the air pressure in the radial lip side space and the axial lip side space and the atmospheric pressure, or the pressure difference between the air pressure in the bearing and the atmospheric pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of the bearing apparatus for wheels which concerns on 1st embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of the bearing apparatus for wheels which concerns on 2nd embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic process diagram showing a mode of a hub ring inserting process in a manufacturing method of a wheel bearing device; FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of an outer-side seal member in a hub wheel inserting step in a method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device; (a) A partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of the outer side seal member with the gap member inserted in the hub wheel inserting step in the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing device, (b) A arrow view in Fig. 5 (a). A partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic process diagram showing a mode of an inner side seal member fitting process in a method of manufacturing a wheel bearing device; FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along arrow A in FIG. 5( a ) when the second embodiment of the gap member is used in the hub ring inserting step in the method of manufacturing the wheel bearing device;

A wheel bearing device 1, which is a first embodiment of a wheel bearing device according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a wheel bearing device 1 rotatably supports a wheel in a suspension system of a vehicle such as an automobile. A wheel bearing device 1 includes an outer ring 2 as an outer member, a hub wheel 3 as an inner member, an inner ring 4, two inner ball rows 5a and outer ball rows 5b as rolling rows, and an inner seal. A member 6 and an outer side sealing member 9 are provided. Here, the inner side indicates the vehicle body side of the wheel bearing device 1 when attached to the vehicle body, and the outer side indicates the wheel side of the wheel bearing device 1 when attached to the vehicle body. Moreover, the axial direction represents the direction along the rotation axis of the wheel bearing device 1 .

An inner-side opening 2a into which an inner-side sealing member 6 can be fitted is formed at the inner-side end of the outer ring 2 . An outer-side opening 2b into which an outer-side sealing member 9 can be fitted is formed in the outer-side end portion of the outer ring 2 . The inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 2 is formed with an inner side outer raceway surface 2c and an outer side raceway surface 2d which are annularly formed. A vehicle body attachment flange 2e is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 2 for attachment to a member (knuckle) on the vehicle body side (not shown).

A small-diameter stepped portion 3a having a smaller diameter than that of the outer end is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner end of the hub wheel 3 . A wheel mounting flange 3b for mounting a wheel is formed on the outer end of the hub wheel 3. As shown in FIG. The wheel mounting flange 3b is provided with a plurality of hub bolts 3e equidistantly arranged on the circumference thereof. Further, the hub wheel 3 is provided with an outer side inner raceway surface 3 c so as to face the outer side raceway surface 2 d of the outer ring 2 . Further, the hub wheel 3 is formed with a lip sliding surface 3d of the outer side seal member 9 on the base side of the wheel mounting flange 3b. The hub wheel 3 is provided with an inner ring 4 at a small diameter stepped portion 3a.

The inner ring 4 is a rolling train and applies preload to an inner ball row 5a arranged on the vehicle body side when mounted on a vehicle and an outer ball row 5b arranged on the wheel side when mounted on a vehicle. An annular inner raceway surface 4 a is formed in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 4 . The inner ring 4 is fixed to the small-diameter stepped portion 3a of the hub wheel 3 by press-fitting and caulking. In other words, the inner raceway surface 4 a is formed by the inner ring 4 on the inner side of the hub wheel 3 . The inner raceway surface 4a of the inner race 4 at the inner side end of the hub wheel 3 faces the inner side outer raceway surface 2c of the outer ring 2 .

The inner ball row 5a and the outer ball row 5b are composed of a plurality of balls 5d and a retainer 5c that holds the balls 5d. The inner ball row 5a is rollably sandwiched between the inner raceway surface 4a of the inner ring 4 and the outer raceway surface 2c of the outer ring 2 on the inner side. The outer-side ball row 5b is rotatably sandwiched between the inner raceway surface 3c of the hub wheel 3 and the outer-side raceway surface 2d of the outer ring 2 .

A wheel bearing device 1 comprises an outer ring 2, a hub ring 3, an inner ring 4, an inner ball row 5a, and an outer ball row 5b to constitute a double-row angular contact ball bearing. In this embodiment, the wheel bearing device 1 includes a double-row angular contact ball bearing, but may be configured with a bearing such as a double-row tapered roller bearing.

The inner side seal member 6, which is a sealing member, is a pack seal that closes the gap between the outer ring 2 and the inner ring 4. As shown in FIG. The inner side seal member 6 is composed of, for example, a two-side lip type pack seal with an encoder that brings two seal lips into contact with each other. The inner side seal member 6 includes a substantially cylindrical seal plate 7 and a substantially cylindrical slinger 8 . The seal plate 7 is composed of a metal core and a seal lip.

The slinger 8 is made of, for example, the same steel plate as the seal plate 7 . The slinger 8 is formed into a substantially L shape when viewed in axial cross-section by bending the outer edge and inner edge of an annular steel plate by press working. The slinger 8 is fitted and fixed to the inner ring 4 on the inner side of the seal plate 7 . The inner side seal member 6 is arranged such that a seal plate 7 fitted to the inner side opening 2a of the outer ring 2 and a slinger 8 fitted to the inner ring 4 face each other to form a pack seal.

The outer-side sealing member 9, which is a sealing member, is a sealing member that mainly closes the gap between the outer ring 2 and the hub wheel 3. As shown in FIG. The outer side seal member 9 has a plurality of seal lips made of synthetic rubber, which is the same as the seal lips of the inner side seal member 6, and is vulcanized and bonded to a substantially cylindrical core metal 9a. The outer seal member 9 has, for example, a radial lip 9b, an intermediate lip 9c, and an axial lip 9d (also called side lip) that are bonded in order from the radially inner side.

The radial lip 9b is formed on the innermost side. The radial lip 9b extends obliquely toward the inner side. The intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d are formed on the outer side of the radial lip 9b and radially outward of the radial lip 9b. The intermediate lip 9c is arranged between the radial lip 9b and the axial lip 9d. The intermediate lip 9c extends radially outward with a slight inclination. The axial lip 9d extends obliquely outward in the radial direction at an inclination angle larger than that of the intermediate lip 9c.

The radial lip 9b is in contact with or close to the lip sliding surface 3d of the hub wheel 3 through an oil film of grease, which is a lubricant, and serves as a grease lip that prevents the grease inside the wheel bearing device 1 from leaking to the outside. It is configured. The intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d are in contact with or close to the lip sliding surface 3d via an oil film of grease. Thus, the radial lip 9b, the intermediate lip 9c, and the axial lip 9d are configured to be slidable on the lip sliding surface 3d by coming close to or contacting the lip sliding surface 3d through the oil film of grease. .

Next, a wheel bearing device 10, which is a second embodiment of the wheel bearing device according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the wheel bearing device 10 according to each of the following embodiments is applied in place of the wheel bearing device 1 in the wheel bearing device 1 shown in FIG. , and reference numerals are used to indicate the same thing, and in the following embodiments, the specific description of the same points as those of the already described embodiments will be omitted, and the differences will be mainly described.

A wheel bearing device 10 includes an outer ring 2 as an outer member, a hub wheel 3 as an inner member, an inner ring 4, two inner ball rows 5a (see FIG. 1) as rolling rows, and an outer ball row. 5b (see FIG. 1), a cover 11, an annular inner seal member 6 provided on the cover 11, and an outer seal member 9 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 11, which is a sealing member, closes the inner side opening 2a of the outer ring 2 to prevent foreign substances such as muddy water from entering from the outside. The cover 11 is made of metal and formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom by press working. The cover 11 is formed by integrally connecting a fitting portion 11a, a seal support portion 11b, and a bottom portion 11c.

A fitting portion 11a and a seal support portion 11b are formed on the same axis in the cylindrical portion of the cover 11. As shown in FIG. The fitting portion 11a is formed at the opening side end portion of the cover 11 . The fitting portion 11 a is formed to have an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the inner side opening 2 a of the outer ring 2 . The fitting portion 11 a is fitted into the inner side opening 2 a of the outer ring 2 . The seal support portion 11b supports the inner side seal member 6. As shown in FIG. The seal support portion 11b is arranged adjacent to the inner side of the fitting portion 11a. The seal support portion 11b has an outer diameter smaller than that of the fitting portion 11a. A bottom portion 11c is formed on the inner side of the seal support portion 11b. The bottom portion 11c covers the inner side opening portion 2a of the outer ring 2 .

Next, a method for manufacturing the wheel bearing device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. FIG. In the description of this manufacturing method, the wheel bearing device is the wheel bearing device 1 according to the first embodiment. It is assumed that the inner side seal member 6 is not incorporated in the inner side opening 2a of the outer ring 2 in the hub wheel insertion step. In the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing device 1, assembly is completed through a hub wheel inserting step, an inner ring fitting step, an inner side seal member fitting step, and a gap member extracting step. This manufacturing method can also be applied to the wheel bearing device 10 according to the second embodiment of the wheel bearing device.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the hub ring inserting step in the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing device 1 is a step of inserting the hub ring 3 into the outer ring 2 . In the hub wheel inserting step, the outer side (wheel mounting flange 3b side) of the hub wheel 3 is held by the holder J3. That is, the hub wheel 3 is held in a state that it can be inserted into the outer ring 2 from the inner side (the side of the small diameter stepped portion 3a). A clearance member J1, which is an assembly jig, is arranged along the lip sliding surface 3d of the hub wheel 3 along the sliding surface.

The gap member J1, which is the first embodiment of the gap member, is an assembly tool that partially separates the plurality of seal lips of the outer side seal member 9 contacting the lip sliding surface 3d of the hub wheel 3 from the lip sliding surface 3d. It is a tool. The gap member J1 is made of a resin such as polyethylene or vinyl chloride, a ferritic stainless steel plate (JIS SUS430 series, etc.), an austenitic stainless steel plate (JIS SUS304 series, etc.), or a cold-rolled antirust treatment. It is composed of a steel plate (JIS standard SPCC system, etc.). The gap member J1 is formed as a belt-shaped thin plate having a predetermined width and a thickness of several tens of μm or more, which is easily elastically deformable.

The gap member J1 is arranged radially outward from a position overlapping the lip sliding surface 3d with which the radial lip 9b of the outer side seal member 9 contacts. Further, the gap member J1 has a radially outer end projecting radially outward beyond the outer edge of the lip sliding surface 3d. The gap member J1 is formed of a strip-shaped thin plate, but if it can be sandwiched between each seal lip of the outer side seal member 9 and the lip sliding surface 3d, an elastically deformable rod-shaped gap member can be used. etc. The gap member J1 arranged on the lip sliding surface 3d of the hub wheel 3 is arranged between the outer side seal member 9 and the lip sliding surface 3d by arranging the hub wheel 3 on the outer side of the outer ring 2. placed. The hub wheel 3 is inserted into the outer ring 2 from the outer side of the outer ring 2 into which lubricant is injected (see the black arrow).

As shown in FIG. 4, the outer inner raceway surface 3c of the hub wheel 3 is press-fitted to the outer circumference of the outer ball train 5b incorporated in the outer outer raceway surface 2d of the outer ring 2 (black (see solid arrows). In the process of inserting the hub wheel 3 into the outer ring 2, the radial lip 9b, the intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d of the outer seal member 9 come into contact with the lip sliding surface 3d of the hub wheel 3 in sequence. A radial lip side space S1 and an axial lip side space S2, which are spaces between the respective seal lips, are formed.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), the gap member J1 is formed by inserting the hub wheel 3 into the outer ring 2 so that the radial lip 9b, the intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d of the outer side seal member 9 and the lip sliding surface are formed. It will be sandwiched between 3d and 3d. A radial lip 9b, an intermediate lip 9c and an axial lip 9d are in contact with the surface of the gap member J1.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), the radial lip 9b made of an elastic material is elastically deformed in a direction away from the lip sliding surface 3d by the gap member J1, and a gap between the radial lip 9b and the lip sliding surface 3d is formed. G is produced. Similarly, the intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d are also elastically deformed in the direction away from the lip sliding surface 3d by the gap member J1, creating a gap G between them and the lip sliding surface 3d. That is, the radial lip-side space S1 and the axial lip-side space S2 communicate with the outside through the gap G formed between the intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d.

The radial lip 9b, intermediate lip 9c, and axial lip 9d are pressed against the lip sliding surface 3d and elastically deformed as the hub wheel 3 is inserted into the outer ring 2 (see black arrows in FIG. 5(a)). As a result, the radial lip side space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 are reduced in volume, and the internal air is pushed out through the gap G (see white arrows). In addition, when the radial lip side space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 increase in volume due to the restoring force of each seal lip, external air is sucked inside through the gap G (see white arrows). That is, even if the volume of the radial lip side space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 fluctuates, the air flows in and out of the space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 through the gap G created by the gap member J1. There is no pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the atmospheric pressure.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the inner ring fitting step in the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing device 1, the hub ring 3 assembled with the outer ring 2 is inserted into the inner ring 4 with the small diameter stepped portion 3a of the hub ring 3. The inner raceway surface 4a of the inner ring 4 is press-fitted into the inner diameter of the inner ball row 5a incorporated in the outer ring 2. As shown in FIG. The hub wheel 3 into which the inner ring 4 is inserted is plastically deformed radially outward at the inner side (small diameter stepped portion 3a side) end portion in order to fix the inner ring 4 .

In the inner seal member fitting process in the method of manufacturing the wheel bearing device 1, the inner seal member 6 is press-fitted into the inner opening 2a of the outer ring 2 assembled to the hub wheel 3 (painted black). arrow). At this time, the volume of the internal space S3 decreases as the inner side seal member 6 is press-fitted. Then, the air in the internal space S3 is pushed out through the gap G between the outer side seal member 9 and the lip sliding surface 3d (see the white arrow). That is, even if the inner side seal member 6 is press-fitted into the inner space S3 of the wheel bearing device 1, the air is pushed out through the gap G created by the gap member J1. There is no pressure difference between them.

In the gap member removing step in the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing device 1, the gap member J1 of the wheel bearing device 1 is removed from between the lip sliding surface 3d and the outer side seal member 9 (see FIG. 1). At this time, the radial lip 9b, the intermediate lip 9c, and the axial lip 9d of the outer side seal member 9 are elastically deformed by the pulled out gap member J1, and each gap G is further widened. As a result, the pressure in the inner space S3 of the wheel bearing device 1 and the pressure in the radial lip side space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 of the outer side seal member 9 become equal to the atmospheric pressure.

As described above, in the method for manufacturing the wheel bearing device 1, in the hub wheel inserting step of inserting the hub wheel 3 into the outer ring 2, the radial lip 9b, the intermediate lip 9c and the axial lip 9d of the outer side seal member 9 slide against each other. A gap G is generated by interposing a gap member J1 between the surface 3d and the surface 3d. Due to this gap G, the air pressure in the radial lip side space S1, the air pressure in the axial lip side space S2, and the air pressure in the internal space S3 become equal to the atmospheric pressure. As a result, in the manufacturing process of the wheel bearing device 1, the radial lip side space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 are pressed against the lip sliding surface 3d due to positive pressure, or lip sliding due to negative pressure. Sticking to the moving surface 3d is prevented, and an increase in rotational torque can be suppressed.

Next, a gap member J2, which is a second embodiment of the gap member in the wheel bearing device 1, will be described with reference to FIG. The gap member J2 is formed of a strip-like thin plate having a predetermined width and a thickness of several tens of μm or more, which is easily elastically deformable. A plurality of linear irregularities (grooves) are formed radially outward on the surface of the gap member J2. The irregularities of the gap member J2 are not limited to linear irregularities, and a plurality of gaps G are formed between each seal lip of the outer side seal member 9 and the surface of the gap member J2. I wish I had.

When the hub wheel 3 is inserted into the outer ring 2, the gap member J2 is sandwiched between the radial lip 9b, intermediate lip 9c and axial lip 9d of the outer seal member 9 and the lip sliding surface 3d. As a result, the radial lip 9b, the intermediate lip 9c, and the axial lip 9d, which are made of an elastic material, form a gap G between the lip sliding surface 3d and the unevenness of the gap member J2. That is, the radial lip side space S1 and the axial lip side space S2 are communicated with the outside through a plurality of gaps G created by the gap member J2 having linear irregularities formed on the surface thereof.

In the inner side seal member fitting step in the manufacturing method of the wheel bearing device 1, the inner side seal member 6 is press-fitted into the inner side opening 2a of the outer ring 2 assembled to the hub wheel 3. As shown in FIG. Even if the inner side seal member 6 is press-fitted into the inner space S3 of the wheel bearing device 1, the air is pushed out through the plurality of gaps G created by the gap member J2. There is no pressure difference between atmospheric pressure and atmospheric pressure. This manufacturing method also has the same effect as the manufacturing method using the above-described gap member J1.

A wheel bearing device 1 or 10 according to the present application includes a hub ring 3 in which an outer ring 2 as an outer member and an inner ring 4 as an inner member are fitted. The third-generation wheel bearing device (driven wheel type) of the inner ring rotation specification, which is configured by combining, is composed of an outer member and an inner member, and the opening is a seal member or a sealing member. If it is a wheel bearing device sealed with a cover, it is a wheel bearing device with a first-generation structure that does not have a mounting flange, a wheel bearing device with a second-generation structure that has an outer ring rotation or an inner ring rotation type, and a drive It may be a ring-type wheel bearing device having a third generation structure, or a wheel bearing device having a fourth generation structure in which the bearing inner member and the outer ring 2 of the constant velocity universal joint are integrated. Further, the bearing device is not limited to a wheel as long as it is composed of an outer member and an inner member, and the opening is sealed with a seal member or a cover. The manufacturing method of the present application is not limited to bearing devices, provided that change is an issue.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments in any way, and is merely an example. Of course, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the claims, and the meaning of equivalents described in the claims and all changes within the scope include.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Wheel bearing device 2 Outer ring 2a Inner side opening 3 Hub wheel 3d Lip sliding surface 4 Inner ring 6 Inner side seal member 9 Outer side seal member J1 Gap member

Claims (2)

an outer member having a double-row outer raceway surface formed on the inner circumference;
an inner member formed with double-row inner raceway surfaces facing the double-row outer raceway surfaces;
a double-row rolling element rollably accommodated between the raceway surfaces of the outer member and the inner member;
A method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device having an outer seal member fitted into an outer opening of the outer member and an inner seal member fitted into an inner opening of the outer member, the method comprising: ,
In the inner member inserting step of inserting the inner member into the outer member in which the rolling element and the outer seal member are incorporated, the outer seal member and the lip sliding surface of the inner member A gap member is arranged between the gap members, and the gap member is sandwiched between the outer side seal member and the lip sliding surface by inserting the inner member;
A method for manufacturing a wheel bearing device , wherein a thin plate having an uneven surface is used as the gap member . In an inner side seal member fitting step of assembling the inner side seal member into the inner side opening of the outer member assembled to the inner member, the gap member is removed after the inner side seal member is assembled. 2. The method for manufacturing the wheel bearing device according to 1.

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