Wheel bearing device and method for assembling such wheel bearing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel bearing device, preferably for a motor vehicle, comprising a cardan shaft (5), a hub (3), a bolt (9) having a bolt head (17), and a pretensioning element (7), the hub (3) being connected to the cardan shaft (5) by means of the bolt (9). According to the invention, the pre-tensioning element (7) is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head (17), preferably the head underside (15) of the bolt head (17), and the hub (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel bearing / wheel hub bearing according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for assembling such a wheel bearing according to claim 10 . Background Art

[0002] This type of wheel support device for a motor vehicle comprises a cardan shaft, a wheel hub and a bolt with a bolt head. In addition, a helical spring as a preload device and an O-ring as a driver are provided as a mounting part for the bolt. The wheel hub is connected to the cardan shaft in a torque-transmitting manner by means of the bolt. The wheel hub is clamped between the bolt head and the cardan shaft. A helical spring is arranged between the screw rod of the bolt and the wheel hub, wherein the screw rod provides a contact surface for the helical spring and is therefore designed accordingly in terms of geometry.

[0003] A disadvantage of this wheel support is that the bolt with the mounting part is complicated to manufacture. Another disadvantage is that the bolt is not optimal in terms of weight design due to the support surface provided for the helical spring.

[0004] Patent document DE 10 2007 057 047 A1 discloses a method for assembling a hub component and a shaft joint component which is connected to the hub component in a rotationally fixed manner via a cylindrical toothing, and a corresponding connecting device. The bolt is supported on one of the components via a spring element, and the spring travel of the spring element which may be present between the tooth-to-tooth position and the tooth-to-gap position of the cylindrical toothing is not significantly less than the height of the teeth of the cylindrical toothing.

[0005] Patent document DE 10 2013 205 340 B3 discloses an assembly aid for a wheel hub bearing unit, wherein a resilient expansion sleeve is provided as an assembly aid for the wheel bearing hub or the joint bell, which cooperates with another subordinate component. The design and installation position of the expansion sleeve are such that the expansion sleeve is locked by a snap-in or snap-in connection only when the end position is reached (in which, for the cylindrical toothing of the wheel bearing hub and the joint bell, a tooth-to-tooth gap position of the cylindrical toothing is formed), at which point the expansion sleeve partially springs open and is released into the central entry of a tensioning bolt in the joint bell.

[0006] Patent document DE 10 2018 103 219 A1 discloses a wheel rim with a rotation axis for a drive wheel of a motor vehicle. The wheel rim has: at least one coupling element for connecting a wheel, wherein the coupling element has a cylindrical toothing and a central hole; a joint housing, which has a mating cylindrical toothing corresponding to the cylindrical toothing of the coupling element and a central threaded receiving portion; a central bolt with a bolt head, wherein the central bolt is arranged in the central hole of the coupling element and is screwed into the threaded receiving portion of the joint housing; and an elastomeric element, which is arranged between the bolt head of the central bolt and the coupling element and can be compressed in an axial spring travel in a tooth-to-tooth position of the cylindrical toothing and the mating cylindrical toothing so that the elastomeric element exerts an axial elastic force.

[0007] Patent document DE 10 2019 128 622 A1 discloses a wheel hub bearing unit for a motor vehicle. The wheel hub bearing unit comprises a shaft, a wheel hub, a central screw and a spring element, wherein the wheel hub and the shaft are arranged coaxially with each other and each have a toothing on the end for a rotationally fixed connection, wherein the shaft has a central threaded hole into which the central screw is screwed for tensioning the wheel hub to the shaft, wherein the spring element is configured in a pot shape and comprises a first and a second flange section and an annular section arranged between the flange sections and connecting the flange sections to each other, wherein the annular section is at least partially supported radially on the wheel hub, wherein the first flange section is at least partially configured radially outwardly and axially supported on the wheel hub and / or the central screw, and wherein the second flange section is configured at least partially radially inwardly and has spring elasticity and is axially supported on the central screw. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a wheel bearing / wheel hub bearing which can be produced with low manufacturing complexity and low manufacturing costs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for cost-effectively and process-reliably assembling a wheel bearing.

[0009] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the invention, a wheel bearing / wheel hub bearing is provided, preferably for a motor vehicle, and specifically comprises a cardan shaft, a wheel hub, a bolt with a bolt head, and a prestressing element, wherein, preferably in the final assembled state of the wheel bearing, the wheel hub is connected to the cardan shaft by means of the bolt, preferably in a torque-transmitting manner. According to the invention, the prestressing element is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head, preferably the head underside of the bolt head, and the wheel hub. By using the prestressing element, an additional assembly part for the bolt can be omitted. This has the advantage that the wheel bearing is lighter than known wheel bearings. In addition, since the additional assembly part is omitted, the assembly of the wheel bearing can be carried out simply and with low logistic complexity. In addition, in the wheel bearing, a cost-intensive anti-corrosion coating is also not required, because in the wheel bearing, the centering of the wheel and / or the brake disc is not provided by the wheel hub, but by the prestressing element.

[0011] Preferably, it can be provided that the cardan shaft is formed by a drive shaft which is suitable and / or designed to transmit a drive torque from a drive device of the motor vehicle to the wheel hub.

[0012] For example, it can be provided that the preload element is a separate and / or one-piece and / or material-consistent component and / or a separate component from the wheel hub. Since the wheel hub is usually a forged component, in which complex geometries can only be realized with great effort, a less complex wheel hub can be manufactured and the preload element can be designed freely according to the respective requirements. This saves costs and manufacturing effort, since the forged wheel hub does not have to be modified, or at least not significantly, for this purpose.

[0013] By way of example, it can be provided that the preload element has an elastic section, a base section, a conical section, a sleeve section and a crimping section. It can preferably be provided that the elastic section preferably transitions directly into the base section. It can alternatively or additionally be provided that the base section preferably transitions directly into the conical section. It can alternatively or additionally be provided that the conical section preferably transitions directly into the sleeve section. It can alternatively or additionally be provided that the sleeve section preferably transitions directly into the crimping section.

[0014] Preferably, it can be provided that the preload element, preferably the elastic section, lies directly on the underside of the head of the bolt. This has the advantage that commercial standard bolts can be used without subsequently changing the geometry of the bolt to achieve a good mechanical connection at the preload element. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the preload element, preferably the base section and / or the elastic section, lies directly on the hub, preferably on the centering contour of the hub.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the preload element has a preferably spring-elastic elastic section, which is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head, preferably the head underside of the bolt head, and the wheel hub. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the cardan shaft has a cardan shaft cylindrical toothing that meshes with the hub cylindrical toothing of the wheel hub. Since only a part of the preload element, that is to say the elastic section, acts like a spring, the other part of the preload element can be designed for other purposes, for example as a wheel centering for the wheel. That is to say, the preload element not only fulfills one function, for example a spring function, but also other functions, for example wheel centering. As a result, the number of individual components required for realizing the wheel support device is reduced.

[0016] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the preload element, preferably the elastic section of the preload element, is supported on the wheel hub, preferably on the centering contour of the wheel hub, and preferably, during the assembly and / or assembly of the wheel bearing, an axial force is applied to the bolt head, preferably to the head underside of the bolt head and / or directly to the head underside of the bolt head. It can preferably be provided that, preferably with reference to the bolt longitudinal axis of the bolt, the preload element applies an axial force opposite to the screw-in direction of the bolt, that is to say preferably in the positive direction of the bolt longitudinal axis. This axial force makes it possible that, during the assembly and / or assembly of the wheel bearing, as soon as the cylindrical toothings of the cardan shaft and the wheel hub are meshed, the two cylindrical toothings are pressed against each other and thus the meshing is maintained even during the assembly and / or assembly.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the preload element has a sleeve section and that the sleeve section, preferably the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve section, forms a wheel centering surface for the wheel, preferably for the wheel rim and / or the brake disc of the wheel. As already mentioned above, the preload element fulfills a dual function, wherein the first of the dual functions is to load the bolt with an axial force during assembly of the wheel bearing arrangement. The second of the dual functions is that the preload element provides wheel centering for the wheel of the motor vehicle.

[0018] It can thus preferably be provided that the wheel centering and / or wheel centering surface is provided and / or formed by the preload element, preferably the outer circumference of the sleeve section, rather than the wheel hub. Thus, adjustments required in the wheel centering, for example when changing vehicle models, only involve the preload element and not the wheel hub itself. Thus, there is no need for complex modifications to the geometry of the forged wheel hub.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the elastic sections are formed by elastic sheets which are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction around the pretensioning element opening preferably associated with the pretensioning element and are spaced apart from one another with a groove-shaped recess arranged in between. Depending on the number of recesses and, for example, the width of the elastic sheet, the desired elastic properties can be adjusted in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the preload element has a base section and a conical section, and the base section and / or the conical section and / or the sleeve section are in contact with the hub, preferably with a centering contour of the hub. The centering contour has the advantage that the preload element is centered relative to the hub via the centering contour.

[0021] Preferably, it can be provided that the base section has the form of a perforated disk. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the preload element in the region of the conical section, starting from the sleeve section and up to the base section, preferably tapers radially inwards. This conical section advantageously enables automatic centering of the preload element relative to the hub.

[0022] By way of example, it can be provided that the base section, preferably together with the elastic section, forms a screw head contact surface for a screw head of a screw, preferably in the finally assembled state of the wheel mounting.

[0023] It can be particularly preferably provided that the preload element has a flanged section into which the sleeve section transitions directly and / or materially and / or in one piece, and in which the preload element has a preferably radially inwardly open parallel sheet metal fold. The flanged section increases the mechanical stability of the preload element and increases the mechanical stability compared to preload elements that terminate in a straight line.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the wheel bearing device has a driver and / or that the wheel bearing device is equipped with a driver / drag / entraining member, wherein it can preferably be provided that the driver increases the thread friction between the external thread of the bolt and the internal thread of the cardan shaft at least partially with respect to the external thread of the bolt and / or with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. By means of the driver, it is achieved that when the cylindrical toothing of the cardan shaft and the wheel hub reaches a tooth-to-tooth position during assembly, that is, when the bolt is screwed in, the cylindrical toothing of the cardan shaft and the wheel hub is slightly rotated relative to each other so that the cylindrical toothings mesh with each other. As a result, even in the case of poor accessibility and / or poor viewing angles to the cylindrical toothing, a correct connection of the wheel hub and the cardan shaft via the corresponding cylindrical toothing can be achieved.

[0025] Preferably, it can be provided that the driver is arranged on the preferred screw in such a way that an increase in thread friction occurs only when the screw is screwed in to such an extent that the tooth tips of the teeth of the cylindrical toothing of the cardan shaft and the tooth tips of the teeth of the cylindrical toothing of the hub are located in a common plane and / or only when the screw is screwed in to such an extent that the tooth tips of the teeth of the cylindrical toothing of the cardan shaft extend into the tooth gaps of the cylindrical toothing of the hub. This special positioning of the driver ensures that the cardan shaft rotates together with the screw only when the cylindrical toothing of the cardan shaft can be supported on the cylindrical toothing of the hub. This ensures that the screw continues to be screwed into the internal thread of the cardan shaft even when the screw is rotated.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the driver is formed by a coating, preferably by a thread-locking lacquer, which is applied to the screw, preferably to the external thread of the screw, and / or the driver is formed in such a way that the diameter of the external thread, preferably the core diameter, the external diameter and / or the median diameter of the external thread is greater than the diameter of the internal thread, preferably the core diameter, the external diameter and / or the median diameter of the internal thread, and / or the driver is formed in such a way that the pitch of the external thread of the screw has a pitch difference from the pitch of the internal thread of the cardan shaft. The variants of the design of the driver listed are cost-effective solutions in which the wheel support device can be realized with as few individual components as possible.

[0027] According to the invention, a motor vehicle, preferably a passenger vehicle, is also proposed, having a wheel mounting arrangement as described above.

[0028] According to the invention, a method for assembling the wheel bearing described above is also proposed, which comprises: a preparation step, in which a cardan shaft, a wheel hub, a preload element and a bolt are provided, and in which, in forming a pre-assembled unit, the bolt is guided with its threaded shaft through the preload element opening and the wheel hub opening; a pre-assembled step, in which the pre-assembled part and the cardan shaft are guided relative to each other and the bolt is partially screwed into the internal thread of the cardan shaft, preferably without torque transmission; and a final assembly step, in which the bolt is further screwed into the internal thread and tightened with a predetermined tightening torque. According to the invention, the preload element is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head, preferably the head underside of the bolt head, and the wheel hub. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The following is a more detailed explanation of the embodiments of the present invention based on the attached schematic diagrams.

[0030] Figure 1 The wheel bearing arrangement with the prestressing element is shown in a longitudinal section in the finally assembled state;

[0031] Figures 2 to 4 The longitudinal section diagrams are respectively used for assembling Figure 1Method steps for a wheel support device;

[0032] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The prestressing elements are shown separately in a perspective view, and

[0033] Figure 7 The preload element is shown alone in a longitudinal section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] exist Figure 1 , a wheel bearing 1 for a motor vehicle (not shown), preferably a passenger car, is shown in the final assembled state. The wheel bearing 1 has a preferably forged wheel hub 3, a cardan shaft 5, a preload element 7 and a bolt 9 with a bolt longitudinal axis A. Figure 1 In the figure, the positive direction of the longitudinal axis of the bolt is indicated by an arrow. The positive direction of the longitudinal axis of the bolt corresponds to the screwing direction of the bolt 9.

[0035] On the cardan shaft side, the wheel hub 3 has a wheel hub spur gearing 11, and on the wheel hub side, the cardan shaft 5 has a cardan shaft spur gearing 13. The wheel hub spur gearing 11 and the cardan shaft spur gearing 13 correspond to each other and mesh with each other in the final assembled state of the wheel bearing 1. In the final assembled state of the wheel bearing 1, the wheel hub 3 and the cardan shaft 5 are connected to each other in a form-fitting manner via the wheel hub spur gearing 11 and the cardan shaft spur gearing 13.

[0036] The bolt 9 has an external thread 14, with which the bolt 9 is screwed into the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5 in the finally assembled state of the wheel bearing 1 and is tightened and / or tensioned with a predetermined tightening torque. In the finally assembled state of the wheel bearing 1, the wheel hub 3 is connected and / or tensioned with the cardan shaft 5 by means of the bolt 9 in a non-positively locking manner. As a result, in the finally assembled state, there is not only a non-positively locking but also a positively locking connection between the wheel hub 3 and the cardan shaft 5, so that even large torques can be transmitted from the cardan shaft 5 to the wheel hub 3 and vice versa. In other words: the connection between the cardan shaft 5 and the wheel hub 3 consists of at least two types of connection, specifically, on the one hand, by a positively locking connection via the spur gears 11 and 13, and on the other hand - in the case of an intermediate bearing hub 3 and a preload element 7 - by a non-positively locking connection between the bolt 9 and the cardan shaft 5.

[0037] The preload element 7 is arranged centrally between the head underside 15 of the bolt head 17 of the bolt 9 and the centering contour 19 of the wheel hub 3. The preload element 7 bears radially on the outside against the centering contour 19, so that in the finally assembled state of the wheel bearing 1 the preload element 7 is centered relative to the wheel hub 3 and is arranged concentrically relative to the wheel hub.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the prestressing element 7 is made, by way of example, only of a thin deep-drawn sheet metal made of stainless spring steel. It should be explicitly pointed out at this point that, alternatively, the prestressing element 7 can also be made of other materials, such as, for example, plastic. The prestressing element also does not necessarily have to be a metal sheet made of stainless steel and / or spring steel.

[0039] As in Figures 5 to 7 As shown in the figure, the preload element 7 is formed by a combined and one-piece and material-consistent body. The body has a spring-elastic elastic section 21, a base section 23, a substantially conical conical section 25, a sleeve section 27 and a flange section 29. The sleeve section 27 has a straight and round hollow cylindrical shape. The sleeve section 27 is thin-walled and radially outwardly defines a receiving space for the bolt head 17.

[0040] The outer circumferential surface of the sleeve section 27 forms a centering surface onto which the wheel rim (not shown) can be pushed, preferably in a form-fitting and / or precisely fitting manner, and / or can be centered relative to the wheel hub. The wheel rim is centered and / or concentrically aligned relative to the wheel hub via this centering surface. In the wheel support 1 shown, the wheel and / or rim are therefore not centered via the wheel hub 3 itself, but rather by means of a separate component, namely the preload element 7, specifically the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve section 27 of the preload element 7.

[0041] The sleeve section 27 transitions directly into the curling section 29 on its side facing away from the hub 3. In the curling section 29, the deep-drawn sheet metal is curled radially inwards and in the direction of the hub 3, forming a sheet metal curling, specifically a parallel open sheet metal curling. The sheet metal curling contributes to the mechanical stability of the preload element 7. In the region of the sleeve section 27 and / or the curling section 29, preferably groove-shaped recesses can be provided, through which water that may have accumulated radially inwards at the sleeve section 27 and / or the curling section 29 can flow out. Figures 5 to 7 The notch is shown in FIG.

[0042] The sleeve section 27 transitions directly on the hub side into the conical section 25. In the conical section 25, the preload element 7 tapers, starting from the sleeve section 27 and in the direction of the hub 3 as far as the base section 23, into which the conical section 25 transitions directly. On the outer circumference, the conical section 25 is, for example, directly in contact with the centering contour 19 of the hub 3 only.

[0043] The base section 23 has the form of a perforated disk which delimits radially outward a circular opening arranged centrally relative to the perforated disk. The base section 23 is preferably directly in contact with the centering contour 19 of the hub 3. The base section 23 transitions directly into the elastic section 21. In the embodiment shown, the elastic section 21 is formed, merely by way of example, by a plurality of elastic sheets 33, such as in Figures 5 to 7 The elastic strips 33 extend radially inwards from the base section 23 with their free ends, that is, in the direction of the through-opening, and also in the direction of the head underside 15. The elastic strips 33 are spaced apart from each other by groove-shaped recesses 35, as shown in Figures 5 to 7 as shown in .

[0044] The spring strip 33 radially outwardly delimits the prestressing element opening associated with the prestressing element 7 and bears directly against the head underside 15. In the finally assembled state of the wheel bearing 1, the spring strip 33 is clamped between the base section 23 and the head underside 15 under mechanical prestressing. The spring strip 33 is supported by the base section 23 on the centering contour 19 of the wheel hub 3 and, during the assembly and / or mounting of the wheel bearing, preferably with reference to the bolt longitudinal axis A, exerts an axial force on the head underside 15, specifically in the opposite direction to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and thus in the opposite direction to the screwing-in direction of the bolt 9. This axial force also acts on the cardan shaft 5, specifically so that, when the bolt 9 is partially or completely screwed in, the cardan shaft 5 is pressed against the wheel hub 3 under the action of this axial force. That is, as soon as the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 have been meshed during assembly, the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 are pressed against each other under the action of this axial force and remain meshed.

[0045] The elastic sheet 33 is connected to the base section 23 very softly. Therefore, when screwing in and / or tightening the screw 9, it can be achieved that only the elastic sheet 33 is only or almost only elastically deformed, wherein the remaining sections of the preload element 7 remain unchanged in shape. In particular, when screwing in and / or tightening the screw 9, the sleeve section 27 should neither change its position nor its state. In particular, this feature is also facilitated by providing a groove-shaped recess 35. Of course, in addition to the groove-shaped recess 35, a material jump and / or a cross-sectional jump can also be provided in addition or alternatively to achieve the described individual deformation of the elastic sheet 33.

[0046] The wheel bearing 1 has a driver, which in the embodiment shown is associated, by way of example, only with the screw 9. By way of example only, the driver is formed by a threadlocking lacquer 37 applied to the outer thread 14 of the screw 9. The thread friction between the outer thread 14 and the inner thread 10 is increased by the driver, in particular by the threadlocking lacquer 37. As a result, when the screw 9 is screwed in and the inner thread 10 comes into contact with the threadlocking lacquer 37, a friction force is established between the outer thread 14 and the inner thread 10, which causes the cardan shaft 5 to rotate together with the screw 9 from this point on. The driver is arranged on the outer thread 14 in such a way that the cardan shaft 5 rotates together with the screw 9 only when the tooth tips of the cardan shaft cylindrical toothing and the tooth tips of the wheel hub cylindrical toothing are located in a common plane and / or only when the tooth tips of the cardan shaft cylindrical toothing at least partially extend into the tooth gaps of the wheel hub cylindrical toothing.

[0047] Thus, the cardan shaft 5 rotates together with the bolt 9 under the action of the axial force until the cardan shaft cylindrical gearing 13 is meshed with the wheel hub cylindrical gearing 11. Subsequently, the cardan shaft cylindrical gearing 13 is kept meshed with the wheel hub cylindrical gearing 11 by the axial force, as already described above.

[0048] After the cardan shaft spur gearing 13 meshes with the wheel hub spur gearing 11, when the bolt 9 is screwed in further, the friction force is overcome and the bolt 9 is tightened in the internal thread 10 with a predetermined tightening torque, to be precise, without the cardan shaft 5 rotating together with the bolt 9. As a result, the toothed meshing between the cardan shaft spur gearing 13 and the wheel hub spur gearing 11 that is established once always exists reliably during the entire assembly process of the wheel bearing 1.

[0049] In addition to the thread locking paint 37, alternatively, any other measures can be used to establish a high friction force between the external thread 14 of the bolt 9 and the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5, so that the cardan shaft 5 rotates together with the bolt 9 until the cylindrical toothing 11 and 13 are in tooth engagement for the first time and / or reach tooth engagement for the first time, and form a driver. For example, the outer diameter of the external thread 14 can have a slightly larger value than the inner diameter of the internal thread. For example, the external thread 14 and the internal thread 10 can also form a matching and / or matching pair with corresponding dimensions. But for example, the external thread 14 and the internal thread 10 can also have different pitches. That is, the pitch of the external thread 14 is different from the pitch of the internal thread 10, to be precise, the difference is, for example, 0.01mm. Therefore, the thread locking paint 37 is only one of the multiple examples that can be used to achieve and / or help to establish a correspondingly high friction force between the external thread 14 and the internal thread 10 when the bolt 9 is screwed in, especially one of the examples of the coating. In other words: regardless of its specific design, the driver always results in a local difficulty in screwing the screw 9 into the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5—ie, with high thread friction.

[0050] The driver, in particular the threadlocking lacquer 37, is spaced apart from the bolt tip of the bolt 9 in the negative direction of the bolt longitudinal axis at least to such an extent that high friction forces are established as soon as contact is established between the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13. This prevents the cardan shaft 5 from rotating together with the bolt 9 beyond the nearest tooth clearance position during screwing in.

[0051] The wheel hub 3 has a wheel rim 39, on which a wheel (not shown) is fastened. In addition, the wheel hub 3 is provided with a wheel hub opening which is bounded radially outward by the wheel hub 3 and through which the bolts 9 extend.

[0052] The following is based on Figures 1 to 4 The method for assembling the wheel bearing 1 is described in detail.

[0053] The method has a preparatory step (see Figure 2 ), pre-assembly steps ( Figure 3 ) and final assembly steps (see Figure 4 ). A preparation step is performed before a pre-assembly step. A pre-assembly step is performed before a final assembly step.

[0054] In a preparatory step, the cardan shaft 5, the hub 3, the preload element 7 and the bolt 9 are provided. In addition, the bolt 9 is passed through the preload element opening and the hub opening with its threaded rod, as in Figure 2. The spring sheet 33 is mechanically relaxed and initially rests on the head underside 15 in a force-free manner. The preload element 7 initially rests on the centering contour 19 with the base section 23 and the conical section 25 in a force-free manner. The external thread 14 of the screw 9 is not yet threadedly engaged with the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5. The cylindrical teeth 11 and 13 are not yet in contact. After the preparatory steps have been completed, the screw 9, the preload element 7 and the hub 3 form a preassembled component.

[0055] Next, the pre-assembly steps are performed, such as Figure 3 . In the preassembly step, the preassembly part and the cardan shaft 5 are guided toward each other and the screw 9 is screwed into the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5 until the external thread 14 of the screw 9 and the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5 are at least slightly threadedly engaged. After the preassembly step is completed, the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 are not yet meshed. The thread locking lacquer 37 is still located outside the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5, and the elastic sheet 33 still rests on the head underside 15 in a force-free manner.

[0056] After the pre-assembly step is completed, the final assembly step is performed, such as according to Figure 4 The final assembly step is shown. In the final assembly step, the screw 9 is first screwed further into the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5. As the screw 9 is screwed further into the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5, the axial distance between the head underside 15 and the cardan shaft 5 is shortened relative to and / or parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the screw. As a result of this shortening of the axial distance, the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 come into contact when the screw 9 is screwed in. The contact can be established in that the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 come into contact in a tooth-to-tooth position or in a tooth-to-gap position.

[0057] If the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 touch in the tooth-on-tooth position, the axial distance between the head underside 15 and the cardan shaft 5 is further shortened, whereby the spring plate 33 is elastically prestressed between the head underside 15 on the one hand and the base section 23 and / or the centering contour 19 on the other hand, to be precise with the build-up of an axial force. This axial force also acts on the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 and presses the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 against each other in the tooth-on-tooth position.

[0058] If the threadlocking lacquer 37 now reaches the internal thread 10 during further screwing in and is screwed further into the internal thread, then preferably suddenly a high friction force is established between the screw 9 and the internal thread 10 of the cardan shaft 5. Due to this high friction force, the cardan shaft 5 rotates together with the screw 9 during further screwing in of the screw 9. Since this axial force also acts on the head underside 15, the cardan shaft 5 rotates together with the screw 9 from the tooth-to-tooth position into the immediately adjacent and / or adjacent tooth-to-gap position. In this case, the teeth of the cardan shaft cylindrical toothing 13 slide into the tooth gaps of the hub cylindrical toothing 11, specifically when the axial force is slightly reduced and only during this time. If the bolt 9 is then screwed in further, the teeth of the cardan shaft cylindrical gearing 13 are supported in the circumferential direction on the tooth flanks of the teeth of the hub cylindrical gearing 11, so that the bolt 9 can be screwed in further under the action of high friction forces, without the cylindrical gearing 11 and 13 leaving the tooth-pair clearance position and / or the cardan shaft 5 continues to rotate with the bolt 9. When the bolt 9 is screwed in further under the action of high friction forces, the axial force increases again, and the tooth-pair clearance position is maintained when the bolt 9 is screwed in further, to be precise, until the bolt 9 is screwed into the internal thread 10 with a predetermined tightening torque and the wheel bearing 1 is finally assembled. In the finally assembled state of the wheel bearing 9, the head underside 15 lies flat against the base section 23.

[0059] It is of course also conceivable that in the final assembly step, the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 do not happen to be in the tooth-to-tooth position at any time. As a result, when the bolt 9 is screwed in, the teeth of the cardan shaft cylindrical toothing 13 are immediately supported in the circumferential direction on the tooth flanks of the teeth of the hub cylindrical toothing 11, and the bolt 9 can continue to be screwed in under the action of high friction forces without the cylindrical toothings 11 and 13 leaving the tooth-to-tooth gap position. Moreover, in this case, there is no slight reduction in the axial force during this period, and the bolt 9 can be screwed into the internal thread 10 with a predetermined tightening torque and the wheel bearing 1 is finally assembled (see Figure 1 ).

[0060] List of Reference Numerals

[0061] 1Wheel support device

[0062] 3 wheels

[0063] 5 Cardan shaft

[0064] 7 Preload element

[0065] 9 Bolts

[0066] 10 Internal thread

[0067] 11 Hub cylindrical gear

[0068] 13Cylindrical gear of cardan shaft

[0069] 14 External thread

[0070] 15 Lower side of head

[0071] 17 Bolt head

[0072] 19 centering profiles

[0073] 21 Elastic Sections

[0074] 23 Basic Section

[0075] 25 cone segments

[0076] 27 sets of sections

[0077] 29 Curling section

[0078] 33 elastic sheet

[0079] 35 notches

[0080] 37 thread locking paint

[0081] 39 Rim

[0082] A bolt longitudinal axis

Claims

1. A wheel support device preferably for a motor vehicle, comprising: Cardan shaft (5), Wheel hub (3), a bolt (9) with a bolt head (17), and Preload element (7), in, The wheel hub (3) is connected to the cardan shaft (5) by means of bolts (9). It is characterized in that the preload element (7) is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head (17), preferably the head underside (15) of the bolt head (17), and the wheel hub (3).

2. The wheel support device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preload element (7) has a preferably spring-elastic elastic section (21) which is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head (17), preferably the head underside (15) of the bolt head (17), and the hub (3), and / or The cardan shaft (5) has a cardan shaft cylindrical toothing (13) which meshes with the hub cylindrical toothing (11) of the hub (3).

3. The wheel support device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The preload element (7), preferably the elastic section (21) of the preload element (7), is supported on the wheel hub (3), preferably on the centering contour (19) of the wheel hub (3), and during the assembly and / or mounting of the wheel bearing, an axial force is applied to the bolt head (17), preferably to the head underside (15) of the bolt head (17), wherein preferably it is provided that the preload element (7) applies an axial force opposite to the screw-in direction of the bolt (9), preferably with reference to the bolt longitudinal axis (A) of the bolt (9).

4. The wheel support device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The preload element (7) has a sleeve section (27), the sleeve section (27), preferably the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve section (27) forming a wheel centering surface for the wheel, preferably for the wheel rim and / or for the brake disc.

5. The wheel support device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The spring section (21) is formed by spring strips (33) which are distributed in the circumferential direction around the preload element passage and are spaced apart from one another with a groove-shaped recess (35) arranged in between.

6. The wheel support device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The preload element (7) has a base section (23) and a preferably conical conical section (25), wherein the base section (23) and / or the conical section (25) and / or the sleeve section (27) are in contact with the hub (3), preferably with a centering contour (19) of the hub (3).

7. The wheel support device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The wheel bearing (1) has a driver and / or the wheel bearing (1) is provided with a driver, wherein it is preferably provided that the driver increases the thread friction between the external thread (14) of the screw (9) and the internal thread (10) of the cardan shaft (5) at least partially with respect to the external thread (14) of the screw (9).

8. The wheel support device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The driver is formed by coating, preferably by a thread-locking lacquer (37), which is applied to the screw (9), preferably to the outer thread (14) of the screw (9), and / or The driver is formed in such a way that the diameter of the external thread (14), preferably the core diameter, outer diameter and / or median diameter of the external thread (14), is larger than the diameter of the internal thread (10), preferably the core diameter, outer diameter and / or median diameter of the internal thread (10), and / or The driver is formed in such a way that the pitch of the external thread (14) of the screw (9) and the pitch of the internal thread (10) of the cardan shaft (5) have a pitch difference.

9. A motor vehicle having a wheel bearing arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. A method for assembling a wheel support device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising: a preparation step, in which a cardan shaft (5), a wheel hub (3), a preload element (7) and a bolt (9) are provided, a preassembly step, in which the wheel hub (3) and the cardan shaft (5) are guided toward each other and / or brought close to each other, and wherein: Partially screw the bolt (9) into the internal thread (10) of the cardan shaft (5), and A final assembly step, in which the bolt (9) is further screwed into the internal thread (10) and the bolt (9) is tightened with a predetermined tightening torque, It is characterized in that The preload element (7) is arranged and / or clamped between the bolt head (17), preferably the head underside (15) of the bolt head (17), and the wheel hub (3).

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