WO1995034434A1 - Hub assembly for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Hub assembly for motor vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1995034434A1
WO1995034434A1 PCT/GB1995/001297 GB9501297W WO9534434A1 WO 1995034434 A1 WO1995034434 A1 WO 1995034434A1 GB 9501297 W GB9501297 W GB 9501297W WO 9534434 A1 WO9534434 A1 WO 9534434A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hub
aperture
hub member
formation
assembly according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1995/001297
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter Doré RAWLINSON
Original Assignee
Gkn Automotive Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gkn Automotive Ag filed Critical Gkn Automotive Ag
Priority to DE19581672T priority Critical patent/DE19581672T1/en
Priority to JP8501779A priority patent/JPH10501497A/en
Priority to GB9625016A priority patent/GB2303428A/en
Publication of WO1995034434A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995034434A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B27/00—Hubs
    • B60B27/0005—Hubs with ball bearings

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a hub assembly for a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a hub member adapted to be supported by bearing means for rotation about an axis, and a member of a universal joint having a connection with the hub member for torque transmission therewith.
  • the universal joint is a constant velocity ratio universal joint.
  • hub assemblies are known wherein one or more inner races of rolling element bearing assemblies, by which the hub member is rotatably supported, are provided integrally on the exterior of the hub member rather than being separate components. It has been proposed to combined the hub member and an outer race of a constant velocity ratio universal joint in a single integral component, although such a combined component is itself difficult and expensive to manufacture, and if any fault should arise in either the universal joint part thereof or the bearings the complete component requires to be replaced.
  • a hub assembly comprising a hub member adapted to be supported by bearing means for rotation about an axis, and a member of a universal joint connected to the hub member for torque transmission therewith, wherein the hub member has an aperture extending axially through it and the joint member has a formation extending through the aperture from a first end to a second end thereof, the joint member and hub member having respective abutment surfaces adjacent the first end of said aperture and a portion of said formation being deformed into engagement with the hub member adjacent the second end of the aperture to hold the members together with said abutment surfaces in engagement with one another; the joint member and hub member having interengaging means for torque transmission therebetween.
  • At least parts of said formation and aperture have a non- circular cross-sectional shape for torque transmission therebetween.
  • the formation and aperture may have interengaging splines.
  • said abutment surfaces of the hub member and joint member are of frusto-conical configuration.
  • the provision of such surfaces provides a high degree of assistance in maintaining alignment between the members despite the secondary couple produced by constant velocity ratio universal joints when rotating while articulated.
  • the formation of the joint member may be at least partially of hollow generally cylindrical configuration, and an end portion thereof be deformed at said second end of the aperture in the hub member into a radially outwardly extending flange formation engaging a surface of the hub member to hold the members together.
  • Such radially outwardly extending flange formation may be of frusto- conical configuration.
  • the end portion of the formation may be deformed by a simple upsetting operation, involving the application of an appropriate tool axially thereto.
  • the deformation may be carried out by a rotary, e.g. orbital, forming operation.
  • the universal joint member is preferably an outer member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint, e.g. of the type wherein torque is transmitted between such outer member and an inner joint member by balls engaging tracks in the joint members.
  • the joint member may be a member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint of another known type, e.g. the tripode type. It would be within the scope of the invention if the joint member were to be a yoke member of a Hookes type of universal joint, although the invention is intended in the main for application to hub assemblies of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles wherein constant velocity universal joints are usually employed.
  • the hub member may comprise at least one bearing race formed integrally thereon.
  • the principal components of the illustrated hub assembly are a hub member 10 and a joint member 11.
  • the illustrated joint member 11 is the outer member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint of the known type wherein torque is transmitted between such member and a further joint member disposed at least partially within the first joint member by balls engaging in opposed tracks in the joint members.
  • the hub member 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a flange portion 13.
  • the body portion 12 which is generally of hollow cylindrical configuration, is provided on its external peripheral surface with two tracks 14 which constitute the inner race of a double row angular contact ball bearing assembly whose outer race is indicated at 15 and whose bearing balls are indicated at 16.
  • the outer race 15 is held in a carrier 17. It will be noted that the body portion 12 of the hub member has the tracks 14 formed integrally thereon rather than on a separate inner race component or components.
  • the flange portion 13 of the hub member provides in known manner for mounting of a road wheel and possibly also a brake disc.
  • an internally splined central aperture 19 extends axially of the hub member. At the end of the hub member remote from the flange portion 13 thereof, the aperture 19 opens into a frusto conical abutment surface 20, whilst at the other end of the hub member the aperture 19 opens into a parallel bore portion 21 with the intermediary of a frusto-conical surface 22.
  • the joint member 11 has a frusto-conical abutment surface 23 of the same configuration as the surface 20 of the hub member, followed by a spigot formation 24 which is externally splined for torque-transmitting engagement with the splines in the aperture 19 of the hub member.
  • An end portion 25 of the spigot, originally in line with the rest of the spigot as shown in broken lines in the drawing, 24 extends beyond the end of the splined bore 19 adjacent the flange portion 13 of the hub member, and is deformed into an outwardly extending frusto-conical flange 26 engaging the surface 22 of the hub member.
  • the deformation of the end portion 25 of the spigot 24 of the joint member to the illustrated shape, after the spigot has been introduced into the aperture 19 of the hub member, may be carried out by an axial upsetting operation by use of a suitable tool, or possibly a rotary deformation technique, e.g. orbital forming, may be utilised.
  • the end portion of the spigot must not, of course, be subjected to the hardening treatment which will have been carried out on the splined portion of the spigot, so that the end portion is able to be deformed.
  • the inter-engaging frusto-conical abutment surfaces 20, 23 of the hub member and joint member ensure that these components remain in alignment with one another and are not subject to fretting and consequent corrosion.
  • a suitable technique such as orbital forming for deformation of the end portion of the spigot, it may even be possible to achieve axial preload between the hub member and joint member.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)

Abstract

A hub assembly comprising a hub member adapted to be supported by bearing means for rotation about an axis, and a member of a universal joint connected to the hub member for torque transmission therewith, wherein the hub member (10) has an aperture (19) extending axially through it, and the joint member (11) has a formation (24) extending through the aperture from a first end to a second end thereof, the joint member and hub member having respective abutment surfaces (23, 20) adjacent the first end of said aperture and a portion (25) of said formation (24) being deformed into engagement with the hub member adjacent the second end of the aperture to hold the members together with said abutment surfaces in engagement with one another; the joint member and hub member having inter-engaging means for torque transmission therebetween.

Description

Title: HUB ASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE
Description of Invention
This invention relates to a hub assembly for a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a hub member adapted to be supported by bearing means for rotation about an axis, and a member of a universal joint having a connection with the hub member for torque transmission therewith. Preferably the universal joint is a constant velocity ratio universal joint.
In such hub assemblies used hitherto, the most common construction has had the torque transmitting connection between the hub member and universal joint member provided by a stub shaft on the joint member extending through an axial bore in the hub member, the stub shaft and bore having interengaging splines for torque transmission. The end of the stub shaft has been screw-threaded to receive a securing nut which is tightened against the hub member. The hub member and joint member are thus firmly held together, usually under a preload in order to avoid fretting between the hub member and joint member, and consequent fretting corrosion.
There have been various proposals for variations on such a construction of hub assembly, with the object of decreasing the weight and/or cost of manufacture thereof. Such variations have involved the elimination of one or more separate components from the assembly. For example hub assemblies are known wherein one or more inner races of rolling element bearing assemblies, by which the hub member is rotatably supported, are provided integrally on the exterior of the hub member rather than being separate components. It has been proposed to combined the hub member and an outer race of a constant velocity ratio universal joint in a single integral component, although such a combined component is itself difficult and expensive to manufacture, and if any fault should arise in either the universal joint part thereof or the bearings the complete component requires to be replaced. Therefore for many purposes it is desirable to keep the hub member and universal joint member as separate components, although there is still scope for refinement in the design thereof and the means by which they are connected together. It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide a hub assembly in which this last mentioned aspect is improved.
According to the present invention, we provide a hub assembly comprising a hub member adapted to be supported by bearing means for rotation about an axis, and a member of a universal joint connected to the hub member for torque transmission therewith, wherein the hub member has an aperture extending axially through it and the joint member has a formation extending through the aperture from a first end to a second end thereof, the joint member and hub member having respective abutment surfaces adjacent the first end of said aperture and a portion of said formation being deformed into engagement with the hub member adjacent the second end of the aperture to hold the members together with said abutment surfaces in engagement with one another; the joint member and hub member having interengaging means for torque transmission therebetween.
Preferably at least parts of said formation and aperture have a non- circular cross-sectional shape for torque transmission therebetween. The formation and aperture may have interengaging splines.
Preferably said abutment surfaces of the hub member and joint member are of frusto-conical configuration. The provision of such surfaces provides a high degree of assistance in maintaining alignment between the members despite the secondary couple produced by constant velocity ratio universal joints when rotating while articulated.
The formation of the joint member may be at least partially of hollow generally cylindrical configuration, and an end portion thereof be deformed at said second end of the aperture in the hub member into a radially outwardly extending flange formation engaging a surface of the hub member to hold the members together.
Such radially outwardly extending flange formation may be of frusto- conical configuration. The end portion of the formation may be deformed by a simple upsetting operation, involving the application of an appropriate tool axially thereto. Alternatively, the deformation may be carried out by a rotary, e.g. orbital, forming operation.
The universal joint member is preferably an outer member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint, e.g. of the type wherein torque is transmitted between such outer member and an inner joint member by balls engaging tracks in the joint members. Alternatively the joint member may be a member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint of another known type, e.g. the tripode type. It would be within the scope of the invention if the joint member were to be a yoke member of a Hookes type of universal joint, although the invention is intended in the main for application to hub assemblies of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles wherein constant velocity universal joints are usually employed.
The hub member may comprise at least one bearing race formed integrally thereon.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a partly sectioned view of an assembly in accordance with the invention.
The principal components of the illustrated hub assembly are a hub member 10 and a joint member 11. The illustrated joint member 11 is the outer member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint of the known type wherein torque is transmitted between such member and a further joint member disposed at least partially within the first joint member by balls engaging in opposed tracks in the joint members.
The hub member 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a flange portion 13. The body portion 12, which is generally of hollow cylindrical configuration, is provided on its external peripheral surface with two tracks 14 which constitute the inner race of a double row angular contact ball bearing assembly whose outer race is indicated at 15 and whose bearing balls are indicated at 16. The outer race 15 is held in a carrier 17. It will be noted that the body portion 12 of the hub member has the tracks 14 formed integrally thereon rather than on a separate inner race component or components.
The flange portion 13 of the hub member provides in known manner for mounting of a road wheel and possibly also a brake disc.
The axis of rotation of the hub member and joint member assembly is indicated at 18. In the body portion 12 of the hub member, an internally splined central aperture 19 extends axially of the hub member. At the end of the hub member remote from the flange portion 13 thereof, the aperture 19 opens into a frusto conical abutment surface 20, whilst at the other end of the hub member the aperture 19 opens into a parallel bore portion 21 with the intermediary of a frusto-conical surface 22.
The joint member 11 has a frusto-conical abutment surface 23 of the same configuration as the surface 20 of the hub member, followed by a spigot formation 24 which is externally splined for torque-transmitting engagement with the splines in the aperture 19 of the hub member. An end portion 25 of the spigot, originally in line with the rest of the spigot as shown in broken lines in the drawing, 24 extends beyond the end of the splined bore 19 adjacent the flange portion 13 of the hub member, and is deformed into an outwardly extending frusto-conical flange 26 engaging the surface 22 of the hub member.
The deformation of the end portion 25 of the spigot 24 of the joint member to the illustrated shape, after the spigot has been introduced into the aperture 19 of the hub member, may be carried out by an axial upsetting operation by use of a suitable tool, or possibly a rotary deformation technique, e.g. orbital forming, may be utilised. The end portion of the spigot must not, of course, be subjected to the hardening treatment which will have been carried out on the splined portion of the spigot, so that the end portion is able to be deformed.
The inter-engaging frusto-conical abutment surfaces 20, 23 of the hub member and joint member ensure that these components remain in alignment with one another and are not subject to fretting and consequent corrosion. By a suitable technique such as orbital forming for deformation of the end portion of the spigot, it may even be possible to achieve axial preload between the hub member and joint member.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A hub assembly comprising a hub member adapted to be supported by bearing means for rotation about an axis, and a member of a universal joint connected to the hub member for torque transmission therewith, wherein the hub member (10) has an aperture (19) extending axially through it, and the joint member (11) has a formation (24) extending through the aperture from a first end to a second end thereof, the joint member and hub member having respective abutment surfaces (23, 20) adjacent the first end of said aperture and a portion (25) of said formation (24) being deformed into engagement with the hub member adjacent the second end of the aperture to hold the members together with said abutment surfaces in engagement with one another; the joint member and hub member having inter-engaging means for torque transmission therebetween.
2. A hub assembly according to Claim 1 wherein at least parts of said formation (24) and aperture (19) have a non-circular cross-sectional shape, constituting said means for torque transmission therebetween.
3. An assembly according to Claim 2 wherein said formation and aperture have inter-engaging splines.
4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said abutment surfaces (20, 23) of the hub member and joint member are of frusto- conical configuration.
5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said formation (24) of the joint member is at least partially of hollow generally cylindrical configuration, and an end portion (25) thereof is deformed at second end of the aperture in the hub member into a radially outwardly extending flange formation (26) engaging a surface (22) of the hub member to hold the members together.
6. An assembly according to Claim 5 wherein said radially outwardly extending flange formation (26) is of frusto-conical configuration.
7. An assembly according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein said end portion (25) is deformed by an axial upsetting operation.
8. An assembly according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein said end portion of the formation is deformed by a rotary forming operation.
9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the universal joint member comprises an outer member of a constant velocity ratio universal joint.
10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hub member comprises at least one bearing race formed integrally thereon.
11. A hub assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB1995/001297 1994-06-10 1995-06-06 Hub assembly for motor vehicle WO1995034434A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19581672T DE19581672T1 (en) 1994-06-10 1995-06-06 Hub assembly for motor vehicles
JP8501779A JPH10501497A (en) 1994-06-10 1995-06-06 Automotive hub structure
GB9625016A GB2303428A (en) 1994-06-10 1995-06-06 Hub assembly for motor vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9411715A GB9411715D0 (en) 1994-06-10 1994-06-10 Hub assembly for motor vehicle
GB9411715.7 1994-06-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995034434A1 true WO1995034434A1 (en) 1995-12-21

Family

ID=10756571

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1995/001297 WO1995034434A1 (en) 1994-06-10 1995-06-06 Hub assembly for motor vehicle

Country Status (4)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH10501497A (en)
DE (1) DE19581672T1 (en)
GB (1) GB9411715D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1995034434A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6517278B2 (en) * 2000-02-03 2003-02-11 Gkn Automotive Ag Shaft assembly for ball-type constant velocity joints

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002008048A1 (en) 2000-07-24 2002-01-31 Gkn Technology Limited Vehicle drive
DE102004046625A1 (en) * 2004-09-25 2006-03-30 Robert Bosch Gmbh Positive connection between a shaft and a drive or driven element of an actuating device of a motor vehicle and method for their preparation

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0065127A2 (en) * 1981-05-18 1982-11-24 RIV-SKF OFFICINE DI VILLAR PEROSA S.p.A A support assembly for vehicle wheels
EP0561437A1 (en) * 1992-03-19 1993-09-22 SKF Industrial Trading & Development Co, B.V. Bearing unit for a vehicle wheel
FR2689061A1 (en) * 1992-03-30 1993-10-01 Loehr & Bromkamp Gmbh Wheel hub and universal joint transmission assembly.
DE4230639C1 (en) * 1992-09-12 1993-10-07 Loehr & Bromkamp Gmbh Ball constant velocity swivel

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0065127A2 (en) * 1981-05-18 1982-11-24 RIV-SKF OFFICINE DI VILLAR PEROSA S.p.A A support assembly for vehicle wheels
EP0561437A1 (en) * 1992-03-19 1993-09-22 SKF Industrial Trading & Development Co, B.V. Bearing unit for a vehicle wheel
FR2689061A1 (en) * 1992-03-30 1993-10-01 Loehr & Bromkamp Gmbh Wheel hub and universal joint transmission assembly.
DE4230639C1 (en) * 1992-09-12 1993-10-07 Loehr & Bromkamp Gmbh Ball constant velocity swivel

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6517278B2 (en) * 2000-02-03 2003-02-11 Gkn Automotive Ag Shaft assembly for ball-type constant velocity joints

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9411715D0 (en) 1994-08-03
DE19581672T1 (en) 1997-05-28
JPH10501497A (en) 1998-02-10

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