WO2007081073A1

WO2007081073A1 - Disc and wheel bearing assembly of driven wheel

Info

Publication number: WO2007081073A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae Myoung Song
Original assignee: Iljin Global Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-01-13
Filing date: 2006-06-02
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: KR100742027B1; WO2007081074A1

Abstract

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non-driven wheel including: a hub type brake disc integrally formed with a hub and a brake disc; a wheel bearing assembly comprising rolling elements, with at least one inner race installed inside of the rolling elements, a bearing inner race spindle having a shoulder portion on its one side and a spline portion on its other side, an outer race, and a bolt connecting the wheel bearing assembly to a knuckle; and a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly. The disc and wheel bearing assembly of the non-driven wheel constructed as above has a simple structure and a simplified assembly process. Accordingly, assembly time can be reduced.

Description

[Description]

[Invention Title]

DISC AND WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY OF DRIVEN WHEEL

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a disc and wheel bearing assembly of driven wheel, and more particularly, to a disc and wheel bearing assembly of driven wheel in which a hub flange is removed and a wheel bearing is integrated with a brake disc.

[Background Art]

Generally, an axle of a vehicle is a supporting member for the weight of a vehicle through wheels attached thereto. There are two types of axle's, a driven wheel axle, transferring a driving force generated at an engine and a non-driven wheel axle, which does not transferring the driving force.

Furthermore, the axle of the vehicle is divided into an integral axle combining the left and right wheels with one axle or a separate type axle enabling the left and the right wheels to work respectively and separately. The driven wheel axle serves to transfer a driving force transmitted through a transmission and a differential gear from an engine to the wheels. Additionally, the driven wheel axle supports the forces, acting in all directions, as a result of the road surface. A front axle of a front-wheel driven vehicle and a rear axle of a rear- wheel driven vehicle correspond hereto. The axle is connected to a wheel through a hub, and an end portion of the hub is covered to prevent dusts or foreign materials from ingressing, and to prevent an internal lubrication oil from leaking. The axle is connected to a wheel through a hub, and an end portion of the hub is covered to prevent dusts or foreign materials from ingressing, and to prevent an internal lubrication oil from leaking.

Furthermore, a vehicle is configured to stop by fluid pressure forcing brake pads to close onto both a sides of a rotating brake disc that is connected to the wheels.

The brake assembly includes a brake disc, made of special cast iron, connected to and rotating with a hub, a caliper, made of a special cast iron and shaped into a saddle, a brake cylinders or brake cylinders, which are combined in the left and right sides of the caliper, a piston, which generates a force for braking, and a pad, which is mounted to the piston and used to create friction with the brake disc.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a conventional axle assembly includes a hub assembly 10, a brake disc 20, a wheel bearing assembly 30, and a knuckle 40.

The hub assembly 10 includes a hub 12 and a hub bolt 14. The wheel bearing assembly 30 includes rolling elements 32, a retainer 35, an inner ring 34, and an outer ring 36. Also, the wheel bearing assembly 30 and the knuckle 40 are engaged by a bolt 38.

The hub assembly 10 consists of a hub flange 16 engaged with the brake disc

20 and a wheel (not shown) attached to the outside of the vehicle by the hub bolt 14.

The hub assembly is coupled with the wheel bearing assembly 30 to the inside of the vehicle, thereby being connected with other suspension parts (not shown), such as the knuckle 40 and a carrier (not shown).

While driving the vehicle the wheels, brake disc 20, and hub 12 rotate. Also, the rolling element 32, mounted to the fixed knuckle 40 or the carrier, serves to support the load of the vehicle and makes rotation smooth. [Disclosure]

[Technical Solution]

One objective of the present invention is to provide a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel in which a hub flange of a conventional axle assembly is removed and a brake disc or a brake drum is integrated with a wheel bearing.

Another objective pf the present invention is to provide a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel which simplifies the structure of an axle assembly by removing a hub function of a convention axle assembly, giving a portion of the function to an inner race shaft and a disc, and integrating the disc and a bearing, thereby reducing weight cost.

[Advantageous Effects]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel according to the present invention removes a hub and integrates a wheel bearing and a brake disc.

Accordingly, its structure is simplified and its weight and number of parts are also reduced. In addition, since an assembly process is simplified, an assembly operation time can be decreased and a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Also, a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel according to the present invention may enhance the degrees of freedom of a wheel bearing assembly. Accordingly, its durability life span may be increased. In addition, since a judder phenomenon of an axle assembly may easily occur, a brake capacity may be secured.

[Description of Drawings] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a brake disc and a wheel bearing according to conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the disc and wheel bearing assembly shown in FIG. 2; FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating an A-A portion and a B-

B portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non driven wheel according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the disc and wheel bearing assembly shown in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7 A and 7B are cross-sectional view according to an A-A portion and a B-B portion of FIG. 6.

[Best Mode]

A hub type brake disc according to the present invention integrates a brake pad and a brake disc. A wheel bearing assembly further includes a bearing inner race spindle constructed to add an axial force to a wheel bearing by connecting it to the hub type brake disc with a flange bolt and nut.

Hereinafter, a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the disc and wheel bearing assembly of the driven wheel according to the present invention includes a hub type brake disc 50, a knuckle 70, a wheel bearing assembly 90 and a bolt 98.

The hub type brake disc 50 is made of cast iron. A cover portion 57 is provided on the outside of the joint portion 54 to prevent ingressing of foreign substances. A protrusion portion 53 is provided to be nearly opposite to the cover portion 57 to facilitate a disassembly work. The joint portion 54 is formed in an inner portion of the hub type brake disc 50.

One end of the joint portion 54 is provided to make surface contact with the inner race 94 of the wheel bearing assembly 90. A spline portion 56 is formed the other end of the joint portion 54. The spline portion 56 on the joint portion 54 and the first spline portion 60 of the wheel bearing assembly 90 are provided to pressurize each other. In FIG. 2, a reference symbol 52 is a hub bolt.

In the present embodiment, it is described that the joint portion 54 is combined by forming the spline portion 56 as shown in FIG. 4 A, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be applicable to various shapes, such as a non-circle or a polygon. Also, the joint portion 54 is constructed to be capable of preventing spacing in an axial direction or a rotation direction by compulsory pressure.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the wheel bearing assembly 90 in which a conventional hub is removed includes rolling elements 92, an inner race 94, a bearing inner race spindle 95 and an outer race 96. Also, the wheel bearing assembly 90 and the knuckle 70 are combined to each other by a bolt 98.

A shoulder portion 99 is formed on one end of the bearing inner race spindle 95. The first spline portion 60 is formed on the other end of the bearing inner race spindle 95 opposite to the shoulder portion 99. The shoulder portion 99 includes a curved portion 97 to support the rolling elements 92.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, the bearing inner race spindle 95 includes a female thread 82 in its inner side and is assembled to the hub type brake disc 50 with a flange bolt 100, therby, preloading the wheel bearing assembly.

Hereinafter, an assembly process of the disc and wheel bearing assembly of the non driven wheel constructed as above will be described.

Initially, the joint portion 54 of the hub type brake disc 50 is compulsorily inserted onto the first spline portion 60 of the bearing inner race spindle 95, whereby, the female thread 82 is combined with the male thread 102 of the flange bolt 100. Since an axial force is added to the wheel bearing assembly 90 by combining the flange bolt 100 with the female thread 82, it is possible to pre-load the wheel bearing assembly 90. After this, the wheel bearing assembly 90 is combined with the knuckle 70 using the bearing connecting bolt 98.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non- driven wheel according to another embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the hub type brake disc 50 and the knuckle 70 is almost identical to the above-described embodiment as shown in FIG. 3. The only difference is the wheel bearing assembly 90 and the flange bolt 100.

As in the above-described embodiment, the first spline portion 60 is formed on one end of the bearing inner race spindle 95 of the wheel bearing assembly 90. However, a male thread 83, not the female thread 82, is provided on the inner side of the bearing inner race spindle 95 to compulsorily insert the hub type brake disc 50 and combine it with the flange nut 110. Through this, the wheel bearing assembly 90 is pre-loaded by adding an axial force, (see FIGS. 6 and 7B). As described above, when applying the hub type brake disc 50, a conventional axial assembly can be simplified and the number of parts will be reduced. Also, a weight and cost can be decreased.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 A, a portion of the hub type brake disc 50 which mutually pre-loads the wheel bearing inner race spindle 95 is processed to be in the same shape as the first spline 60, or non-circleular, so as to prevent rotation or slip with the wheel bearing assembly 90 in an axial direction.

As described above, the hub type brake disc 50 may be constructed to give pressure to the rolling elements 92 by processing the mutually contacting portion to be in the shape of the first spline 60, or noncircular, and adding an axial force to the rolling element 92. Through this, the hub type brake disc 50 and the inner race spindle 95 of the wheel bearing assembly 90 are combined with each other and bind each other in a rotation direction or an axial direction.

Hereinafter, an assembly process of the disc and wheel bearing assembly of the non-driven wheel, constructed as above, will be described. Initially, the wheel bearing assembly 90 is combined with the knuckle 70 using the bearing connecting bolt 98. Then the joint portion 54 of the hub type brake disc 50 is compulsorily inserted into the first spline 60 of the bearing inner race spindle 95 whereby the flange nut 110 is combined with the male thread 83. Since an axial force is added to the wheel bearing assembly 90 by combining the flange nut 110, it is possible to give pressure to the wheel bearing assembly 90.

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of the non-driven wheel constructed as above fixes an outer race flange reference surface, and rotates a combined flange nut hexagon portion while adding an axial force thereto. Also, a brake pad friction surface and a wheel left surface of a disc integral type hub are post-processed. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively maintain an axial flow shake.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[Industrial Applicability]

The present invention may be applicable to a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non-driven wheel in which a wheel bearing and a disc are integrated.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non-driven wheel comprising: a hub; a brake disc connected to the hub; a wheel bearing assembly comprising rolling elements, an inner race and an outer race formed inside and outside of the rolling element respectively, and a bolt connecting the rolling elements to a knuckle; and a carrier, a suspension and a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly, wherein a hub type brake disc integrates the brake disc and the hub, the wheel bearing assembly further comprises a bearing inner race spindle, and the bearing inner race spindle is configured to pre-load a wheel bearing by processing a female thread in its inside and connecting the hub type brake disc with a flange bolt, thereby, adding an axial force to the wheel bearing.

[Claim 2]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub type brake disc comprises a cover portion, which is made of cast iron and prevents foreign materials from ingressing, a protrusion portion, for facilitating a disassembly, and a joint portion, for compulsorily being mounted onto the bearing inner race spindle of the wheel bearing assembly.

[Claim 3]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the joint portion of the hub type brake disc is processed to be any one of the following: a spline, non- circular, or a polygon, so as to prevent spacing in an axial direction and a rotation direction by compulsory pressure.

[Claim 4]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing inner race spindle is formed with a spline to compulsorily bind the hub type brake disc and a female thread, to its inside, to be engaged with a male thread of a flange bolt.

[Claim 5]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non-driven wheel comprising: a hub type brake disc integrating a hub and a brake disc; a wheel bearing assembly comprising rolling elements, at least one inner race installed inside of the rolling element, a bearing inner race spindle having a shoulder portion on its one side and a spline portion on its other side, an outer race, and a bolt connecting the wheel bearing assembly to the knuckle; and a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly, wherein the bearing inner race spindle is constructed to pre-load a wheel bearing by processing a female thread in its inside, connecting the hub type brake disc with a flange bolt and thereby adding an axial force to the wheel bearing.

[Claim 6]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the hub type brake disc comprises a cover portion, which is made of cast iron and prevents foreign materials from ingressing, a protrusion portion, for facilitating a disassembly, and a joint portion, for compulsorily being inserted into the bearing inner race spindle of the wheel bearing assembly.

[Claim 7]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non-driven wheel comprising: a hub; a brake disc connected to the hub; a wheel bearing assembly comprising a bearing, an inner race and an outer race formed inside and outside of the bearing respectively, and a bolt connecting the bearing to a knuckle; and a carrier, a suspension and a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly, wherein, a hub type brake disc integrates a brake disc and the hub, the wheel bearing assembly further comprises a bearing inner race spindle, and the bearing inner race spindle is combined with the hub type brake disc with a flange nut by a male thread on its one side.

[Claim 8]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 7, wherein the hub type brake disc comprises a cover portion which is made of cast iron and prevents foreign materials from incoming, a protrusion portion, for facilitating disassembly work, and a joint portion, for compulsorily being inserted into the bearing inner race spindle of the wheel bearing assembly.

[Claim 9] The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 7, wherein the joint portion of the hub type brake disc is processed to be any one of the following: a spline, non- circular or and a polygon, so as to prevent a spacing in an axial direction and a rotation direction by compulsory pressure.

[Claim 10]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a non-driven wheel comprising: a hub type brake disc integrating a hub and a brake disc; a wheel bearing assembly comprising rolling elements, at least one inner race installed inside of the rolling elements, a bearing inner race spindle having a shoulder portion on its one side and a spline portion on its other side, an outer race, and a bolt connecting the wheel bearing assembly and a knuckle; and a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly, wherein the bearing inner race spindle is combined with the hub type brake disc with a flange nut by forming a male thread on its one side.

[Claim 11 ]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 10, wherein the hub type brake disc comprises a cover portion which is made of cast iron and prevents foreign materials from ingressing, a protrusion portion for facilitating disassembly work and a joint portion for compulsorily inserting into the bearing inner race spindle of the wheel bearing assembly.