WO1999034126A1

WO1999034126A1 - Wheel bearing arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1999034126A1
Application number: PCT/SE1998/002420
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sigvard ZETTERSTRÖM
Original assignee: Ab Volvo
Priority date: 1997-12-29
Filing date: 1998-12-22
Publication date: 1999-07-08
Also published as: SE514651C2; SE9704883L; SE9704883D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for vehicle wheel bearings (12), the wheel bearing (12) comprising an inner ring (5; 17) being connected to a stub axle (2) of the vehicle, arranged for carrying a wheel hub (10), and an exterior ring (16; 16') arranged for fixed mounting in a wheel bearing carrier (20; 20') of the vehicle. The invention is characterised by comprising a sleeve element (19; 19') located between the exterior ring (16; 16') and the wheel bearing carrier (20; 20'), and means (22, 23, 24; 29, 30, 31, 32) for locking the sleeve element (19; 19') against axial movement relative to the exterior ring (16; 16') and the wheel bearing carrier (20; 20'). Due to the invention, an improved arrangement for simple and space-saving integration of a wheel bearing (12) into a vehicle is achieved.

Description

WHEEL BEARING ARRANGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an arrangement for vehicle wheel bearings in accordance with the preamble of the accompanying patent claim 1. The invention is particularly intended for integration of that type of wheel bearing, which includes an exterior ring intended for mounting in a carrier of a wheel bearing housing of the vehicle in question.

BACKGROUND ART

In connection with presently existing vehicles, e.g. passenger cars, various types of wheel suspension systems are utilised for the vehicle wheel axles. In a known manner, such systems are arranged to provide a mounting and suspension for the vehicle wheels, which in turn is aimed at good comfort for the passengers and enhanced road-holding capabilities and service life of the vehicle.

Furthermore applies that the individual wheel of a passenger car is commonly fitted rotatably on its wheel axle by means of a wheel bearing (e.g. in the form of a ball bearing), which in turn comprises an exterior ring that is fixedly attached to the vehi- cle. This attachment of the exterior ring is made according to known technique by the exterior ring being shaped with a radially extending flange being provided with a multitude, for example four, of radially located holes. In this way, the flange can be bolted, by means of four fastening bolts, to a particularly shaped wheel bearing carrier of the vehicle wheel bearing housing.

In accordance with the known technique, the inner ring of the above discussed wheel bearing is fitted onto a hub carrier. This hub carrier includes on the one hand a sleeve-shaped part and on the other a radial flange, the actual hub of the subject wheel being arranged to be fitted on the radial flange. During mounting, the sleeve- shaped part is pushed onto a stub axle, which will then extend along the interior of the sleeve-shaped part. A number of openings are arranged in the flange of the hub carrier, with the aid of which the wheel hub can be fastened by a corresponding number of wheel bolts. In this manner, the wheel can be fitted, together with its wheel bearing, into the wheel bearing carrier. Even though the above known type of wheel bearing assembly generally works satisfactorily, is has some disadvantages. Primarily, the assembly of the wheel bearing will be rather complicated, as the radially located screws in the flange of the exterior ring have to be fitted and then tightened to the wheel bearing carrier. Beyond that, this type of assembly is relatively bulky, which is a disadvantage as the space available in the vehicle is very limited. Furthermore, it is a drawback that the exterior ring is shaped with the above-mentioned flange, as this will increase the total weight of the wheel bearing. A further drawback of the known arrangement is that there is a risk of galvanic corrosion occurring in case the wheel bearing carrier is manufactured from aluminium or magnesium, which may be the case in connection with lightweight vehicles manufactured from such materials.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for a vehicle wheel bearing, which will in particular allow a wheel bearing installation where the above drawbacks are eliminated. This object is achieved by an arrangement, the characteristics of which will be disclosed in the accompanying claim 1.

The invention is intended to be used for a vehicle wheel bearing comprising an inner ring connected to a stub axle of the vehicle, arranged for carrying a wheel hub, and an exterior ring arranged for fixed mounting in a wheel bearing carrier of the vehicle.

The invention is characterised by comprising a sleeve element provided between the exterior ring and the wheel bearing carrier, and means for locking the sleeve element against axial movement relative to the exterior ring and the wheel bearing carrier.

Through the arrangement according to the invention, a number of advantages are achieved. Primarily can be noted a substantially simpler construction and machining of the wheel bearing exterior ring. For example, the radial flange of the exterior ring can be made smaller than in known arrangements. Neither does this flange require any drilled through bolt holes. Further, according to the invention, a simpler assembly of the wheel bearing is obtained, as it does not have to be fastened by a number of bolts in the wheel bearing housing of the vehicle in question. Instead, according to the invention, a snap-fastening arrangement is provided, where the exterior ring is initially provided with the sleeve element according to the invention, whereupon the complete wheel bearing assembly can be pushed into the wheel bearing carrier and then be snap-fastened. This provides for very easy and quick assembly of the arrangement according to the invention.

Another advantage of the invention is that it requires less space for installation in the vehicle in question than the known arrangement. Furthermore, according to the invention, a high degree of reliability is provided, as it does not require any screwed connection for securing the wheel bearing, which screwed connection might otherwise stand a risk of coming loose.

According to a preferred embodiment, the above discussed sleeve element is manufactured from an electrically insulating material, e.g. polyamide. A substantial advantage with this is that it will provide an electrically insulated installation of the wheel bearing, which in turn provides for protection against galvanic corrosion.

Furthermore, the sleeve element can, due to its resilience, absorb any expansion of materials such as magnesium and aluminium, which may be used in connection with lightweight vehicles.

Beyond that, the invention provides for a lower total weight of the vehicle, as the exterior ring can be designed with a smaller radial flange and as there is also no need for any fastening bolts.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become evident from the accompanying dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in further detail below, with reference to a preferred embodiment example and the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view, schematically showing an arrangement for a vehicle wheel bearing in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a sleeve element and a retainer ring that can be used according to the invention,

Fig. 3a is a partial cross section showing a portion of a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3b is a further partial cross section showing a portion of said second embodiment, but taken at another position along the circumference of the sleeve element, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the sleeve element according to the second embodiment.

PREFERRED MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 shows the construction, in principle, of the present invention. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises an arrangement for a wheel bearing intended for installation in connection with a wheel hub 1 of a motor vehicle, e.g. a passenger car. The wheel hub 1 therefore comprises, in a conventional manner, a stub axle 2, extending along a through axle of rotation 3.

On the stub axle 2, there is arranged, in a conventional manner, a hub carrier 4, which in turn is formed with a substantially sleeve-shaped part 5 extending concentrically around the axle 3, and with a flange 6 extending in a radial direction from said axle 3. The flange 6 is provided with a multitude of radially located, through holes 7 (of which only one is visible in Fig. 1). Each hole 7 is intended for a through bolt 8, which together with a corresponding nut 9 is used for securing a wheel hub 10, belonging to the wheel intended to be fitted onto the hub 1 in question.

Where appropriate, it is possible to provide a brake disc (not shown) (or alternatively, a brake drum) in connection with the hub 1. Such a brake disc would then be part of a disc brake assembly for braking the wheel in question. In case of such an arrangement, the brake disc would preferably be located so as to be joined with the hub carrier 4 flange 6, preferably by the brake disc being clamped between the wheel hub 10 and the flange 6. The invention can be utilised in such cases where the stub axle 2 consists of a driven or a non-driven wheel axle. According to the figure, the stub axle 2 is a driven axle, for which reason it is connected to the hub carrier 4 by a spline connection 11.

The hub carrier 4 is arranged to be rotatably fitted onto the stub axle 2 by means of a wheel bearing 12. In the embodiment shown, the wheel bearing 12 consists of a ball bearing, comprising, in a conventional manner, a number of bearing balls 13 arranged along two bearing races 14, 15 in the wheel bearing 12. The wheel bearing 12 further comprises an exterior ring 16, arranged around the bearing balls 13. The outer race 14, i.e. the race located closest to the wheel hub 10, is defined by an appropriately shaped section of the hub carrier 4, while the inner race 15 is defined by a separate inner ring 17.

When assembling the wheel bearing 12, the bearing balls are first fitted in the outer race 14 and the inner race 15, between the exterior ring 16 and the hub carrier 4, and the exterior ring 16 and the inner ring 17, respectively. Subsequently, the balls are secured inside the races 14, 15 by riveting of a principally annular end portion 18 of the hub carrier 4, causing the end portion 18 to be deformed and bent over the inner ring 17 so as to lock it on the hub carrier 4.

According to the invention, the exterior ring 16 supports an elastic, generally sleevelike element 19, which is intended for fastening of the wheel bearing 12. The fastening of the wheel bearing 12 is achieved by a separate wheel bearing carrier 20, which in turn is fixedly arranged in the wheel bearing housing of the vehicle in ques- tion. More precisely, the sleeve element 19 will function as a resilient distance element arranged concentrically around the exterior ring 16 and is arranged to be fitted into a generally circular opening 21 defined in the wheel bearing housing 20. According to the embodiment, the sleeve element 19 is intended to be fixed in position by means of a separate, co-operating component in the form of a retainer ring 22, which is conical in shape and intended to be pressed over the end portion of the exterior ring 16, i.e. the end portion facing away from the wheel hub 10. The retainer ring 22 is so designed as to allow being positioned along generally the same longitudinal extension as the sleeve element 19, between a first restriction surface 23 and a second restriction surface 24, the first restriction surface 23 being a shoulder or a countersunk groove in the exterior ring 16 and the second restriction surface 24 being a shoulder in the wheel bearing carrier 20. The two restriction surfaces 23, 24 are formed so as to be facing each other and extending along the circumference of the exterior ring 16 and the wheel bearing carrier 20, respectively.

With the intention of describing the invention more clearly, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the sleeve element 19 and the retainer ring 22. As can be gathered from the figure, the sleeve element 19 is designed with a first, mainly cylindrical portion 25, extending concentrically around the axis 3, and a second, flange-like section 26, extending radially outwards from the axis of rotation 3. On the side of the flange 26 facing away from the wheel hub (compare Fig. 1) there are a number of distance elements, in the form of protrusions 27, protruding somewhat from the flange 26. These protrusions 27 are shaped so as to be somewhat compressible and resilient, and are preferably evenly spaced along the circumference of the flange 26.

According to the embodiment, the sleeve element 19 as well as the retainer ring 22 are manufactured from an electrically insulating material, which is furthermore somewhat elastic. An example of a suitable material with these properties is polyamide.

When assembling the arrangement according to the invention it is presumed that the wheel bearing 12 is already pre-assembled so that the bearing balls are retained in their respective races 14, 15 (compare Fig. 1). Thereupon, the end portion 18 of the hub carrier 4 is riveted, holding the complete bearing assembly 12 together. The fitting of the wheel bearing 12 and the hub carrier 4 onto the stub axle 2 is then performed by first sliding the sleeve element 19 and the retainer ring 22 into place on the exterior ring 16. Thereupon, the hub carrier 4, together with the wheel bearing 12, the sleeve element 19 and the retainer ring 22, is pushed into place, fitting the sleeve element 19 into the opening 21 and thus locating it between the wheel bear- ing carrier 20 and the exterior ring 16. In order to facilitate this operation, the wheel bearing carrier 20 is preferably provided with a chamfered edge 28 extending circumferentially around the opening 21. Furthermore, the end portion of the exterior ring 16 that is facing the wheel hub 10 is preferably shaped with larger dimensions than said opening 21. When fitting the sleeve element 19 and the retainer ring 22, it is thus presumed that these components are already assembled onto the exterior ring 16. When the exterior ring 16, together with the sleeve element 19 and the retainer ring 22, are entered into the opening 21 of the wheel bearing carrier 20, the retainer ring 22 is forced to assume a generally cylindrical shape. When the retainer ring 22 has been passed through the opening 21 , it will resume its original conical shape and lock the complete wheel bearing assembly 12 through the retainer ring 22 abutting with its inner edge (i.e. the edge facing away from the wheel hub 10) against the first restriction surface 23 and with its opposite edge against the other restriction surface 24. This provides for a very simple fitting procedure, with the aid of which the sleeve element 19 and thus also the complete wheel bearing assembly 12 is locked against axial motion and cannot be pulled out of the opening 21. Neither can the wheel bearing 12 be pushed inwards, i.e. in the direction towards the stub axle 2, as this is prevented by the end portion of the exterior ring 16 and the radial flange 26 of the sleeve element 19.

After fitting the sleeve element 19, the distance elements 27 provide a certain resilient function, as they are elastic. This allows the sleeve element 19 to be located in a correct position and to be snapped into place, even if any measurement deviations would exist in the opening 20.

Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate a second embodiment form of the present invention. Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows a portion of a sleeve element 19' intended for this second embodiment. The sleeve element 19' is generally shaped in the same way as the sleeve element shown in Figs. 1 and 2, however with the difference that it comprises some deformations, preferably consisting of a number of elevated portions 29 and sunk portions 30, respectively. However, Fig. 4 shows only one single elevated portion 29 and one sunk portion 30. The elevated and sunk portions, 29 and 30, respectively, are comprised, according to the embodiment, of strips punched out of the cylindrical portion 24' of the sleeve element 19' and shaped so as to become bent somewhat upwards and downwards, respectively, relative to the circumferential surface of the sleeve element 19', i. e. in a radial direction. Furthermore, the sleeve element 19' comprises a radial flange 26' and a number of protrusions 27', similar to what was discussed above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 3a, which is a cross sectional view taken at a certain position where an elevated portion 29 is located, it can be gathered that the wheel bearing carrier 20', according to this second embodiment, is shaped with an internal, generally annular groove 31 , intended for receiving the respective elevated portion 29. In a corresponding manner it can be gathered from Fig. 3b, which is a cross sectional view taken at a position where a sunk portion 30 is located, that the exterior ring 16', according to this embodiment, is provided with another, generally annular groove 32, intended for receiving said sunk portion 30 when the sleeve element 19' is fitted. It may further be seen from Fig. 3a that the wheel bearing carrier 20' is provided with a chamfered edge 28', in analogy with what was explained above, while Fig. 3b shows that also the exterior ring 16' is provided with a chamfered edge 33. This arrangement facilitates the assembly of the complete arrangement, when the sleeve element 19' is first placed onto the exterior ring 16' in such a way that the respective sunk portion is entered towards the corresponding groove 32 and will snap into place. Subsequently, the wheel bearing with the sleeve element 19' is entered into the wheel bearing carrier 20'. As the sleeve element 19' has been pushed in far enough for the distance elements 27' to abut against the front side of the wheel bearing carrier 20', the respective elevated portion 29 will snap into the corresponding internal groove 31. In this manner the wheel bearing is locked against axial movement in both directions.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment examples above described and illustrated by the drawings, but can be varied within the scope of the accompanying patent claims. For example, the sleeve element 19 (or 19') may be made of different materials, preferably resilient plastic materials. Further to that, the above described deformations, 29, 30, may be formed in various ways, e.g. like short, punched strips (as shown in the drawings), cast resilient protrusions or the like.

Besides that, the protrusions 27 (or 27') described above may be replaced by an annular, elastic component protruding somewhat from the flange element 26 (or 26') and preferably having its extension around principally the whole circumference thereof.

Furthermore, the retainer ring 22 (see Fig. 2) may alternatively be made with an undulating shape along its periphery.

Besides that, the sleeve element 19 (or 19') may be provided with some adhesive agent, e.g. glue, to prevent any rotating motion relative to the exterior ring 16 (or 16') and the wheel bearing carrier 20 (or 20'). To this end, the sleeve element may also be provided with knurls or similar.

Finally applies that the embodiment form shown in Figs. 3a, 3b and 4 may utilise protrusions, 29 or 30, directed either upwards or downwards, or both. In case both types of deformations are being used, the flange 26' (see Fig. 4) may in principle be omitted, as the deformations 29, 30 are then providing the axial locking of the sleeve element 19'.

Claims

1. An arrangement for vehicle wheel bearings (12), the wheel bearing

(12) comprising an inner ring (5; 17) being connected to a stub axle (2) of the vehicle arranged for carrying a wheel hub (10), and an exterior ring (16; 16') arranged for fixed mounting in a wheel bearing carrier (20; 20') of the vehicle, characterised by comprising a sleeve element (19; 19') located between the exterior ring (16; 16') and the wheel bearing carrier (20; 20'), and means (22, 23, 24; 29, 30, 31, 32) for locking the sleeve element (19; 19') against axial movement relative to the exterior ring (16; 16') and the wheel bearing carrier (20; 20').

2. An arrangement according to claim ^characterised in that the sleeve element (19; 19') comprises a cylindrical portion (25; 25') extending into an opening (21) in said wheel bearing carrier (20; 20') and a radial flange (26; 26') arranged to contact the outside of said opening (21).

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said means (22, 23, 24; 29, 30, 31, 32) include a retainer ring (22) arranged along the same longitudinal direction as the sleeve element (19), the axial movement of said ring being delimited by a first restriction surface (23) in said exterior ring (16) and a second restriction surface (24) in said wheel bearing carrier (20).

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that said retainer ring (22) is conical in shape, having an increasing diameter in the direction of said sleeve element (19).

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said means (22, 23, 24; 29, 30, 31, 32) include at least one deformation (29) of the sleeve element (19') and at least one, generally circular, internal groove (31) provided in said wheel bearing carrier (20') and intended for receiving said deformation (29).

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that said deformation (29) consists of a portion of the sleeve element (19') being elevated in relation to the surface of the sleeve element (19') and arranged for snap- fastening into said groove (31).

7. An arrangement according to claim 1,2, 5 or 6, characterised i n that said means (22, 23, 24; 29, 30, 31, 32) include at least one deformation (30) of the sleeve element (19') and at least one, generally circular, external groove (32) provided in said exterior ring (16') and intended for receiving said deformation (30).

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that said deformation (30) consists of a portion of the sleeve element (19') being sunk in relation to the surface of the sleeve element (19') and arranged for snap-fastening into said groove (32).

9. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said wheel bearing carrier (20; 20') is provided with a generally circular opening (21), arranged for receiving said wheel bearing (12) and said sleeve element (19; 19').

10. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said sleeve element (19; 19') is made of an electrically insulating material.

11. An arrangement according to any one of claims 2-10, characterised in that said radial flange (26; 26') is provided with resilient distance elements for resilient abutting against said wheel bearing carrier (20; 20').

12. Vehicle provided with an arrangement according to any one of claims 1-11.