Wheel bearing unit and method of securing the wheel bearing unit for transport

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10054165-B2
Application number	US-201614996374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A wheel bearing unit includes a wheel hub, a first rolling-element bearing, and a fastener assembly, and the fastener assembly is formed separately from the wheel hub and is spaced from an axial end of the wheel hub. The fastener assembly secures at least one component of the rolling-element bearing against falling out of the wheel hub away from a center of mass of the wheel bearing unit, and the fastener assembly contacts the wheel hub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel bearing unit comprising:
a first rolling-element bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring,
a wheel hub having a circumferential groove axially adjacent the first rolling element bearing outer ring,
an angle ring having a first portion overlying an axially outer surface of the inner ring, a second portion overlying a radially outer surface of the bearing inner ring and a flange projecting radially outwardly from the second portion, and
a disk having an outer periphery located in the circumferential groove and an inner peripheral portion axially abutting the flange and holding the angle ring against the bearing inner ring.

2. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first rolling-element bearing comprises a non-spherical rolling element bearing.

3. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the angle ring is in direct contact with the axially outer surface of the inner ring and the second portion of the angle ring is in direct contact with the radially outer surface of the bearing inner ring.

4. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the disk is integrally formed and includes an outer peripheral edge in the circumferential groove and an inner peripheral edge abutting the flange.

5. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the flange is located axially inward of an axial end of the inner ring and axially outward of an axial end of the outer ring.

6. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the angle ring and disk are disposed entirely inside the wheel hub.

7. A wheel bearing unit comprising:
a wheel hub,
a first tapered rolling-element bearing, and
a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly being separate from the wheel hub and being spaced from an axial end of the wheel hub,
wherein the fastener assembly secures an inner bearing ring of the tapered rolling-element bearing against falling out of the wheel hub away from a center of mass of the wheel bearing unit,
wherein the fastener assembly comprises a ring and a disk, the ring comprising an annular disk axially abutting the inner bearing ring and at least one axial projection radially abutting the inner bearing ring and a radial flange extending from the at least one axial projection and wherein the disk is connected to the wheel hub and configured to prevent the ring from moving away from the center of mass of the wheel bearing unit by pressing axially against the radial flange, and
wherein the fastener assembly is disposed entirely inside the wheel hub.

8. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the fastener assembly is at least partially made from metal.

9. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the fastener assembly attaches the rolling-element bearing to the wheel hub with respect to an axial direction of the wheel bearing unit.

10. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the fastener assembly is a transport-securing unit.

11. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the fastener assembly is mounted in a manner that does not interfere with an operating state of the wheel bearing unit.

12. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 , wherein an outer periphery of the disk engages in a groove of the wheel hub.

13. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 12 , wherein the ring comprises an angle ring in abutment on an axial end surface of the inner bearing ring in an interference-fit manner with respect to an axial direction of the wheel-bearing unit.

14. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 ,
wherein the fastener assembly is at least partially made from metal,
wherein the fastener assembly attaches the rolling-element bearing to the wheel hub with respect to an axial direction of the wheel bearing unit,
wherein the fastener assembly is a transport-securing unit, and
wherein the fastener assembly is mounted in a manner that does not interfere with an operating state of the wheel bearing unit.

15. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 ,
wherein the radial flange has an outer diameter and the disk has an inner diameter less than said outer diameter.

16. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 7 ,
wherein the disk has an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of the flange, the disk is mounted in a circumferential groove in the wheel hub and the disk inner diameter extends around the at least one axial projection and is located axially adjacent the flange.

17. The wheel bearing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the radial flange is located axially inward of an axial end of the inner bearing ring and axially outward of an axial end of the bearing outer ring.

18. A method of securing an inner bearing ring of a wheel hub assembly against falling out of the wheel hub assembly comprising:
placing an angle ring against the inner bearing ring such that a first portion of the angle ring axially abuts an axially outer surface of the inner bearing ring and a second portion of the angle ring radially abuts a radially outer surface of the inner bearing ring, the angle ring including a flange, and
snapping a disk into a circumferential groove in the wheel hub such that a radially inner portion of the disk axially abuts the flange.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the inner bearing ring is an inner bearing ring of a non-spherical rolling-element bearing.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the disk is integrally formed and includes an outer peripheral edge in the circumferential groove and an inner peripheral edge abutting the flange.

Assignees

• Dittmar Rico
• Mueller Achim
• Wendt Volker
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Dittmar Rico
• Mueller Achim
• Wendt Volker

Classifications

• F16C19/548

  in O-arrangement · CPC title

• F16C19/364

  with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone · CPC title

• B60B27/0078 Primary

  characterised by the fixation of bearings · CPC title

• B60B27/001 Primary

  with roller-bearings · CPC title

• F16C41/04 Primary

  Preventing damage to bearings during storage or transport thereof or when otherwise out of use · CPC title