Bearing device for a wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9511629-B2
Application number	US-201414269474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2007
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A bearing device includes a recess-projection fitting structure in which a hub wheel and a shaft section, which is fitted in a hole of the hub wheel of the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint, are unitized together. In the recess-projection fitting structure, entire fitting regions among projections on the outer surface of the shaft section of the outer joint member and recesses, which fit on the projections, are brought into intimate contact with each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bearing device for a wheel, the bearing device comprising:
a hub wheel;
a constant velocity universal joint; and
a double-row roller bearing comprising:
an outer member having an inner circumference in which double-row outer raceway surfaces are formed;
an inner member including
the hub wheel having an outer circumference in which one of inner raceway surfaces opposed to the double-row outer raceway surfaces is provided, and
an inner race externally fitted onto the hub wheel and having an outer circumference in which another one of the inner raceway surfaces opposed to the double-row outer raceway surfaces is formed; and

balls accommodated in double rows between both the raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member so as to freely roll,

the hub wheel, the double-row roller bearing, and the constant velocity universal joint being unitized together,
wherein a recess-projection fitting structure, in which the hub wheel and a shaft section of an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are integrated with each other, is provided, the recess-projection fitting structure being configured such that projections, which are provided on one of an outer surface of the shaft section of the outer joint member and an inner surface of a hole of the hub wheel so as to extend in an axial direction, are press-fitted to another one of the outer surface of the shaft section and the inner surface of the hole along the axial direction, and that recesses, which intimately fit on the projections, are formed in the another one of the outer surface of the shaft section and the inner surface of the hole by the projections, and that entire regions of fitting contact regions between the projections and the recesses are brought into intimate contact with each other,
wherein fitting between the inner race and a small diameter step section at an area corresponding to an outer surface side of the recess-projection fitting structure is non-interference fitting, and the fitting between the inner race and the small diameter step section at another area is interference fitting, and
wherein a circumferential notch section is formed in an inner surface of the inner race in the area corresponding to the outer surface side of the recess-projection fitting structure, whereby the non-interference fitting is realized.

2. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the double-row roller bearing comprises the outer member having the double-row outer raceway surfaces at its inner circumference, the outer member being connected to a knuckle constituting a suspension device through an intermediation of an integral connection structure.

3. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the integral connection structure is configured by caulking at least one of the knuckle and the outer member.

4. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the integral connection structure is configured by caulking a caulked member interposed between the knuckle and the outer member.

5. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the integral connection structure is configured by welding the knuckle and the outer member together.

6. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the recess-projection fitting structure is realized by press-fitting the shaft section of the outer joint member in a state of heating and expanding in diameter the hole of the hub wheel, the entire regions of the fitting contact regions between the projections on the outer surface of the shaft section of the outer joint member and the recesses, which fit on the projections, in the inner surface of the hub wheel are brought into intimate contact with each other.

7. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 6 , wherein a heating expanding temperature is set to be lower than a guaranteed temperature for components of the bearing device for a wheel.

8. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the recess-projection fitting structure, in which the entire regions of the fitting contact regions among the projections on the outer surface of the shaft section of the outer joint member and the recesses, which fit on the projections, in the inner surface of the hub wheel are brought into intimate contact with each other, is realized by forming a tapered section for centering, which decreases in diameter along a press-fitting direction, to the hole of the hub wheel; press-fitting the shaft section of the outer joint member into the hole of the hub wheel through an intermediation of the tapered section.

9. A bearing device for a wheel, the bearing device comprising:
a hub wheel;
a constant velocity universal joint; and
a double-row roller bearing comprising:
an outer member having an inner circumference in which double-row outer raceway surfaces are formed;
an inner member including
the hub wheel having an outer circumference in which one of inner raceway surfaces opposed to the double-row outer raceway surfaces is provided, and
an inner race externally fitted onto the hub wheel and having an outer circumference in which another one of the inner raceway surfaces opposed to the double-row outer raceway surfaces is formed; and

balls accommodated in double rows between both the raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member so as to freely roll,

the hub wheel, the double-row roller bearing, and the constant velocity universal joint being unitized together,
wherein a recess-projection fitting structure, in which the hub wheel and a shaft section of an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are integrated with each other, is provided, the recess-projection fitting structure being configured such that projections, which are provided on one of an outer surface of the shaft section of the outer joint member and an inner surface of a hole of the hub wheel so as to extend in an axial direction, are press-fitted to another one of the outer surface of the shaft section and the inner surface of the hole along the axial direction, and that recesses, which intimately fit on the projections, are formed in the another one of the outer surface of the shaft section and the inner surface of the hole by the projections, and that entire regions of fitting contact regions between the projections and the recesses are brought into intimate contact with each other,
wherein fitting between the inner race and a small diameter step section at an area corresponding to an outer surface side of the recess-projection fitting structure is non-interference fitting, and the fitting between the inner race and the small diameter step section at another area is interference fitting, and
wherein a circumferential notch section is formed in an outer surface of the small diameter step section in the area corresponding to the outer surface side of the recess-projection fitting structure, whereby the non-interference fitting is realized.

10. A bearing device for a wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the projections of the recess-projection fitting structure are provided to the shaft section of the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint, and the recesses, which intimately fit on the projections, are formed by the projections on the inner surface of the hole of the hub wheel by setting at least hardness of axial end portions of the projections to be higher than that of an inner surface portion of the hole of the hub wheel, and by press-fitting the shaft section into the hole of the hub wheel from a side of the axial end portions of the projections, whereby the recess-projection fitting structure is realized.

11. A b

Assignees

• Torii Akira
• Kawamura Hiroshi
• Yamauchi Kiyoshige
• Ozawa Masahiro
• Nakagawa Tohru
• Asano Yuichi
• Umekida Mitsuru
• Kura Hisaaki
• Tomogami Shin
• Ntn Toyo Bearing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Torii Akira
• Kawamura Hiroshi
• Yamauchi Kiyoshige
• Ozawa Masahiro
• Nakagawa Tohru
• Asano Yuichi
• Umekida Mitsuru
• Kura Hisaaki
• Tomogami Shin

Classifications

• F16C19/186

  with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs · CPC title

• F16C33/64

  Special methods of manufacture · CPC title

• F16D1/072

  involving plastic deformation (plastic welding F16D1/068) · CPC title

• Y10T403/7021

  Axially extending · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title