WO2007081074A1

WO2007081074A1 - Disc and wheel bearing assembly of driving wheel

Info

Publication number: WO2007081074A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002137
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; WO2007081073A1

Abstract

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel includes: a hub type brake disc integrally formed with a hub and a brake disc made of cast iron; a wheel bearing assembly comprising rolling elements, at least one inner ring installed in the rolling elements, a bearing inner ring shaft having a rolling shoulder portion on its one end and a spline portion on its other end, and an outer ring; a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly; and a driving shaft having a spline portion and a male thread formed on its ends, wherein the male thread of the driving shaft is combined with the disc and wheel bearing assembly assembled to the knuckle by a nut and thereby, an axial force is given to the wheel bearing assembly so as to pre-load the wheel bearing assembly. The disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel constructed as above can simplify the structure of an axle assembly; thereby reduce weight and cost, by removing a hub function of a conventional axle assembly, giving a portion of the function to an inner ring shaft portion and disc and integrating the disc and a bearing.

Description

[Description]

[Invention Title]

DISC AND WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY OF DRIVING WHEEL

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a disc and wheel bearing assembly of driving wheel, and more particularly, to a disc and wheel bearing assembly of driving 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 the 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 thereto. The axle is connected to a wheel through a hub, and an end portion of the hub is covered to prevent dust or foreign materials from ingressing, and to prevent an internal lubrication oil from leaking. Furthermore, a vehicle is configured to stop by oil pressure forcing brake pads to close onto both sides of a rotating brake disc that is connected to the wheels. The brake assembly includes a brake disc which is 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 cylinder or brake cylinders which are combined in the left and right sides of the caliper, a piston, which generates a driving 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 a 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 of the vehicle, the wheels, the brake disc 20, and the hub 12 rotate. Also, the rolling elements 32, mounted to the fixed knuckle 40 or the carrier , serve to support the load of the vehicle and make rotation smooth.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem] One objective of the present invention is to provide a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel provided 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 of 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 conventional axle assembly, giving a portion of the function to an inner ring shaft portion and a disc and integrating the disc and a bearing, thereby reduce weight and cost.

[Technical Solution]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel including: a hub type brake disc made of a cast iron formed with a spline in its joint portion, a wheel bearing assembly including rolling elements, at least one inner ring installed in the rolling elements, a bearing inner ring shaft having a rolling shoulder portion on its one end and a plurality of splines formed on its another end, and an outer ring. In this instance, the spline of the hub type brake disc is engaged with one of the splines on the bearing inner ring shaft.

[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 a number of parts are also reduced. In addition, since the 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; FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an A-A portion of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a B-B portion of FIG. 2.

[Best Mode]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel according to the present invention comprises : a hub type brake disc integrally formed with a hub and a brake disc made of a cast iron; a wheel bearing assembly including a rolling elements, at least one inner ring installed in the rolling elements, a bearing inner ring shaft having a rolling shoulder portion on its one end and a spline portion on its other end, and an outer ring; a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly; and a driving shaft having a spline portion with a male thread formed on its ends, wherein the male thread of the driving shaft is combined with the wheel bearing and the hub type brake disc by a nut, thereby, an axial force is given to the wheel bearing assembly so as to provide a preload on the wheel bearing assembly. Additionally, there is a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly, wherein the hub type brake disc includes a cover portion 57 provided on the outside of the joint portion to prevent ingressing of foreign materials; a protrusion portion 53 provided opposite of the cover portion 57 to facilitate disassembly work; and a joint portion 54 making a surface contact with the inner race of the wheel bearing assembly and configured and formed to be any one of the following: a spline, a non-circle, or polygon. The bearing inner race shaft is configured and constructed by inserting the inner ring into its one end.

An axle 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, and FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the disc and wheel bearing assembly shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated 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 materials. 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 the inner portion of the hub type brake disc 50. One end of the joint portion 54 is configured and constructed to make a surface contact with the inner ring 94 of the wheel bearing assembly 90. A spline portion 56 is configured and formed on the other end of the joint portion 54. The spline portion 56 of the joint portion 54 and the first spline portion 60 of the wheel bearing assembly 90 are forcibly inserted and engaged by pressing each other together. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 52 is a hub bolt.

In the present embodiment, it is described that the joint portion 54 is configured and constructed by forming a spline portion 56, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be applicable to various shapes, such as a non-circle and a polygon.

In the meantime, the wheel bearing assembly 90 in which a conventional hub is removed includes rolling elements 92, an inner ring 94, a bearing inner ring shaft 95 and an outer ring 96. Also, the wheel bearing assembly 90 and the knuckle 70 are securely fixed and combined with each other by a bolt 98. A shoulder portion 99 is formed on one end of the bearing inner ring shaft 95.

The spline portion is formed on the other end of the bearing inner ring shaft 95 to be opposite to the shoulder portion 99. The shoulder portion 99 includes rolling portions 97 to support the rolling elements 92. The spline portion formed on the other end of the bearing inner ring shaft 95 includes the first spline portion 60 and a second spline portion 62. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the first spline portion 60 and the second spline portion 62 are configured and provided in an upper portion and a lower portion of the wheel bearing assembly 90, respectively.

The first spline portion 60 is shorter than the second spline portion62. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bearing inner ring shaft 95 is formed by inserting the inner ring 94 into its end.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a spline portion 102 is formed on one end of the driving shaft 100 and a male thread 104 is spaced apart at a predetermined distance from the spline portion 102. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 A, a portion of the hub type brake disc 50 which mutually pre-loads the wheel bearing inner ring shaft 95 is processed to be in a shape of a spline 56 or a non-circle, so as to prevent a 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 pre-load at the rolling elements 92 by processing the mutually contacting portion to be in the shape of a spline 60 or noncircular, and adding an axial force to the rolling elements 92. Through this, the hub type brake disc 50 and the inner ring shaft 95 of the wheel bearing assembly 90 are combined with each other and restrain each other in a rotation direction and axial direction.

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

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of the driven wheel constructed as above combine the knuckle 70 and the wheel bearing assembly 90 using the bolt 98.

When the joint portion 54 of the hub type brake disc 50 and the inner ring 94 of the wheel bearing assembly 90 face each other, the driven wheel is inserted via the knuckle 70, wheel bearing assembly 90 and the hub type brake disc 50.

In this instance, the first spline portion 60 of the wheel bearing assembly 90 is forcibly inserted into the spline 56 of the hub type brake disc 50. The spline 102 of the driving shaft 100 is forcibly or loosely inserted into the second spline portion 62 of the wheel bearing assembly 90. When the splines are compulsorily or loosely inserted into each other, a washer 110 is inserted onto the male thread 104 of the driving shaft 100. When the washer 110 supports one end of the hub type brake disc 50, a nut 120 is inserted onto the male thread 104 of the driving shaft 100. As described above, an axial force is applied to the wheel bearing assembly 90 by using the nut 120, pre-load may be provided to the wheel bearing assembly 90.

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 driven wheel in which a wheel bearing and a disc are integrated.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim 1 ]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel comprising: a hub type brake disc integrally formed with a hub and a brake disc made of cast iron; a wheel bearing assembly including rolling elements, at least one inner ring installed in the rolling elements, a bearing inner ring shaft having a rolling shoulder portion on its one end and a spline portion on its other end, and an outer ring; a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly; and a driving shaft having a spline portion and a male thread formed on its ends, wherein the male thread of the driving shaft is combined with the wheel bearing and assembled to the hub type brake disc by a nut thereby, an axial force is given to the wheel bearing assembly so as to pre-load the wheel bearing assembly.

[Claim 2]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein said hub type brake disc comprises: a cover portion 57 provided on an outside of a joint portion to prevent ingressing of foreign materials; a protrusion portion 53 provided opposite to the cover portion 57 to facilitate a disassembly work; and a joint portion 54 making surface contact with the inner ring of the wheel bearing assembly and configured and formed to be any one of the following: a spline, a noncircle or a polygon.

[Claim 3]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said shoulder portion of the bearing inner ring shaft of the wheel bearing assembly has rolling portions 97 for supporting the rolling elements.

[Claim 4]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said spline portion of the bearing inner ring shaft of the wheel bearing assembly comprises a first spline portion 60 for combination with the spline of the hub type brake disc and a second spline portion 62 for combination with the spline of the driving shaft.

[Claim 5]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing inner ring shaft of the wheel bearing assembly is configured and formed by inserting the inner ring 94 into its one end.

[Claim 6]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel comprising: a hub type brake disc integrally formed with a hub and a brake disc made of cast iron; a wheel bearing assembly including rolling elements, at least one inner ring installed in the rolling elements, a bearing inner ring shaft having a rolling shoulder portion on its one end and a spline portion on its other end, and an outer ring; and a knuckle connected to the wheel bearing assembly, wherein the hub type brake disc includes a cover portion 57 provided on the outside of the joint portion to prevent ingressing of foreign materials; a protrusion portion 53 provided opposite of the cover portion 57 to facilitate disassembly work; and a joint portion 54 making surface contact with the inner ring of the wheel bearing assembly and configured and formed to be any one of the following: a spline, noncircular or a polygon, and the bearing inner ring shaft is configured and constructed by inserting the inner ring into its one end.

[Claim 7]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 6, wherein said shoulder portion of the bearing inner ring shaft of the wheel bearing assembly has rolling portions 97 for supporting the rolling elements.

[Claim 8]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 6, wherein said spline portion of the bearing inner ring shaft of the wheel bearing assembly includes a first spline portion 60 for combination with the spline of the hub type brake disc and a second spline portion 62 for combination with the spline of the driving shaft.

[Claim 9]

A disc and wheel bearing assembly of a driven wheel comprising: a hub type brake disc made of an identical iron cast and formed with a spline in a joint portion; and a wheel bearing assembly including rolling elements, at least one inner ring installed in the rolling elements, a bearing inner ring shaft having a rolling shoulder portion on its one end and a spline portion on its other end, and an outer ring, wherein the spline of the hub type brake disc is inserted and engaged with one of the splines formed on the bearing inner ring shaft. [Claim 10]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein said hub type brake disc comprises: a cover portion 57 provided on an outside of a joint portion to prevent ingressing of foreign materials; a protrusion portion 53 provided opposite of the cover portion to facilitate disassembly work; and a joint portion 54 making a surface contact with the inner ring of the wheel bearing assembly and configured and formed to be any one of the following: a spline, a noncircular or a polygon.

[Claim 11 ]

The disc and wheel bearing assembly of claim 9, wherein the bearing inner ring shaft of the wheel bearing assembly is formed by inserting the inner ring 94 into its one end.