Integrated hub-bearing assembly for the wheel of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9259962-B2
Application number	US-201213691906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2012
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

An asymmetrical hub bearing assembly for the wheel of a motor vehicle provides a flanged hub rotatable around an axis of rotation (x), a flange transversal to the axis (x), an outer ring with raceways axially spaced from one another, and two rows of balls, of which the axially outer row has a pitch circle with a diameter greater than that of the axially inner row. The flanged hub includes a tubular portion which protrudes in the axially outer direction beyond the flange and provides a thread for a single central threaded fastener adapted to releasably lock a wheel on the hub.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An asymmetric hub bearing assembly for a motor vehicle wheel having an axis of rotation, the assembly comprising:
a flanged hub rotatable about the axis of rotation and configured for mounting to a constant velocity joint;
a flange integral with the flanged hub and transversal to the axis of rotation, the flange having a plurality of holes extending axially therethrough which are configured to lighten the flange, the flange having an axially inner end and an axially outer end formed by first and second radially extending surfaces, respectively, the first radially extending surface being connected to an axially extending surface of the flanged hub via a portion of an outer surface of the flanged hub extending through a fillet radius;
a stationary bearing ring arranged radially outwardly of the flanged hub and providing raceways axially spaced from one another, the stationary bearing ring comprising a radially outer flange defining a bore therethrough configured for mounting the stationary bearing ring to a vehicle suspension;
two rows of rolling elements, comprising an axially outer row of rolling elements and an axially inner row of rolling elements, arranged between the stationary bearing ring and the flanged hub, the rolling elements having pitch circles with respective diameters, of which the diameter of the pitch circle of the axially outer row of rolling elements has a size greater than the size of the diameter of the pitch circle of the axially inner row of rolling elements, wherein a diameter of one of the plurality of holes radially overlaps both the bore and one of the rolling elements in the axially outer row of rolling elements, an axial length of the axially extending surface located between the axially outer row of rolling elements and the portion of the outer surface being greater than a radial distance between the axially extending surface of the flanged hub and a closest portion of a perimeter of the one of the plurality of holes;
an annular insert positioned on the flanged hub and radially inward of the stationary bearing ring, the annular insert providing a first radially inner raceway for the axially inner row of rolling elements, the annular insert comprising a free radially extending surface such that the flanged hub does not overlap any of the free radially extending surface of the annular insert and such that the flanged hub does not prevent axial inward movement of the annular insert;
the flanged hub integrally forming a second radially inner raceway for the axially outer row of rolling elements;
the flanged hub provides a tubular portion which projects in an axially outer direction beyond the flange and is configured to engage a fastening element for releasably locking the wheel on the hub;
the tubular portion comprising a hollow recess such that access is provided to a connecting nut positioned adjacent to the flanged hub, the connecting nut being configured to secure the assembly to a shaft; and
wherein the free radially extending surface of the annular insert protrudes axially inward beyond the flanged hub so that the free radially extending surface is configured to engage the constant velocity joint such that engagement and adjustment of the connecting nut with the shaft determines a preload to the two rows of rolling elements of the assembly when the flanged hub is connected to the constant velocity joint.

2. An asymmetric hub bearing assembly for a motor vehicle wheel having an axis of rotation, the assembly comprising:
a flanged hub rotatable about the axis of rotation and configured for mounting to a constant velocity joint;
a flange integral with the flanged hub and transversal to the axis of rotation, the flange having a plurality of holes extending axially therethrough which are configured to lighten the flange, the flange having an axially inner end and an axially outer end formed by first and second radially extending surfaces, respectively, the first radially extending surface being connected to an axially extending surface of the flanged hub via a portion of an outer surface of the flanged hub extending through a fillet radius;
a stationary bearing ring arranged radially outwardly of the flanged hub and providing raceways axially spaced from one another, the stationary bearing ring comprising a radially outer flange defining a bore therethrough configured for mounting the stationary bearing ring to a vehicle suspension;
two rows of rolling elements, comprising an axially outer row of rolling elements and an axially inner row of rolling elements, arranged between the stationary bearing ring and the flanged hub, the rolling elements having pitch circles with respective diameters, of which the diameter of the pitch circle of the axially outer row of rolling elements has a size greater than the size of the diameter of the pitch circle of the axially inner row of rolling elements, wherein a diameter of one of the plurality of holes radially overlaps both the bore and one of the rolling elements in the axially outer row of rolling elements, an axial length of the axially extending surface located between the axially outer row of rolling elements and the portion of the outer surface being greater than a radial distance between the axially extending surface of the flanged hub and a closest portion of a perimeter of the one of the plurality of holes;
an annular insert positioned on the flanged hub and radially inward of the stationary bearing ring, the annular insert providing a first radially inner raceway for the axially inner row of rolling elements, the annular insert comprising a free radially extending surface such that the flanged hub does not overlap any of the free radially extending surface of the annular insert and such that the flanged hub does not prevent axial inward movement of the annular insert;
the flanged hub integrally forming a second radially inner raceway for the axially outer row of rolling elements;
the flanged hub provides a tubular portion which projects in an axially outer direction beyond the flange and is configured to engage a fastening element for releasably locking the wheel on the hub;
the tubular portion comprising a hollow recess such that access is provided to a connecting nut positioned adjacent to the flanged hub, the connecting nut being configured to secure the assembly to a shaft, the tubular portion including: a centering portion, a conical portion, and a distal portion, the centering portion having a cylindrical shape and extending from a radial surface of the flanged hub, the conical portion having a conical shape and extending between the centering portion and the distal portion such that the conical shape tapers inwardly from the centering portion toward the distal portion, the distal portion having a cylindrical shape;
the fastening element configured for engagement to the distal portion of the tubular portion and configured to secure the wheel between the flange and the fastening element; and
wherein the free radially extending surface of the annular insert protrudes axially inward beyond the flanged hub so that the free radially extending surface is configured to engage the constant velocity joint such that engagement and adjustment of the connecting nut with the shaft determines a preload to the two rows of rolling elements of the assembly when the flanged hub is connected to the constant velocity joint.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the connecting nut is located entirely axially within the centering portion of the tubular portion, the conical portion and the distal portion being free of material therein to facilitate access to the connecting nut.

4. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein a thread is formed on the outer surface of the distal portion.

5. The assembly according to clai

Assignees

• Falsetti Fabio
• Fegely Jr Kenneth C
• Monetti Alfredo
• Schollmeyer Marc
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Falsetti Fabio
• Fegely Jr Kenneth C
• Monetti Alfredo
• Schollmeyer Marc

Classifications

• F16C2326/02

  Wheel hubs or castors · CPC title

• B60B27/0026

  of the radial type, e.g. splined key · CPC title

• B60B2380/12

  Ball bearings · CPC title

• B60Y2200/114

  Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts · CPC title

• B60B2900/113

  Production or maintenance time · CPC title