Hub for drive axle of truck

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel hub (6) for a drive axle of a truck, comprising a hollow section (11) which transitions at a first axial end (12) to a flange section (13) which projects radially outward with respect to the hollow section (11) and is provided for fastening at least one rim (7, 8). According to the invention, the hollow section (11) is provided with a centering section (19) in the region of the first axial end (12), which centering section defines a centering outer diameter (21) of the hollow section (11) in order to center the at least one rim (7, 8) on the hollow section (11) and which centering sections are separated from one another in the circumferential direction by an intermediate section (20), each central section is radially retracted relative to the centering section (19). In order to reduce the production costs of the hub (6), an intermediate section (20) is formed between the centering sections (19) by cutting the hollow section (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel hub for a truck drive axle, the wheel hub having a hollow section which transitions into a flange section at a first axial end, the flange section protruding radially outward relative to the hollow section and being provided for fixing at least one wheel rim, wherein the hollow section is provided with a centering section in the region of the first axial end, the centering section defining a centering outer diameter of the hollow section, the centering outer diameter being used for centering at least one wheel rim on the hollow section, and the centering sections are separated from one another in the circumferential direction by intermediate sections, the intermediate sections being radially set back relative to the centering sections in each case. In addition, the invention also relates to a truck drive axle having the above-mentioned wheel hub. Background Art

[0002] In the case of a drive axle of a motor vehicle, a drive shaft within the respective drive axle is usually connected to an associated wheel hub, which is used to fix at least one associated wheel in each case. In the drive train of a truck, the wheel hub is sometimes also designed as a bell hub, on which two wheels can usually be fixed as dual tires in each case. For this purpose, the bell hub usually has a hollow section and a flange section, wherein the one or more wheels are placed on the hollow section and fixed to the flange section. In most cases, the bell hub is also used to accommodate a wheel hub transmission, by which an additional speed change can be achieved when transmitting the power flow between the respective drive shaft and the one or more wheels fixed to the bell hub, and the wheel hub transmission is usually designed as a planetary gear transmission in this case.

[0003] Patent document DE 10 2008 014 105 A1 discloses a wheel hub which is constructed as a casting and consists of a hollow section and a flange section. The transition from the hollow section to the flange section occurs at the axial end of the hollow section, wherein the flange section protrudes radially outward relative to the hollow section and serves to fix at least one wheel rim of the respective wheel. At the axial end and thus directly in the transition region from the hollow section to the flange section, the hollow section is also provided with a centering section which defines the centering outer diameter of the hollow section. Intermediate sections are also provided between the centering sections in the circumferential direction, which separate the centering sections from each other in the circumferential direction and are respectively set back in the radial direction relative to the centering sections. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on the prior art described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a wheel hub, which is unique in that it has a lower manufacturing cost.

[0005] This object is achieved based on the preamble of claim 1 in combination with its characterizing features. The dependent claims following claim 1 each specify advantageous developments of the invention. Furthermore, a drive axle with a wheel hub according to the invention is the subject of claim 7.

[0006] According to the invention, the wheel hub has a hollow section which transitions at a first axial end into a flange section which projects radially outward relative to the hollow section and is provided for fixing at least one wheel rim. The hollow section is provided with a centering section in the region of the first axial end which defines a centering outer diameter of the hollow section which is used for centering at least one wheel rim on the hollow section, and the centering sections are separated from one another in the circumferential direction by intermediate sections which are each radially set back relative to the centering section.

[0007] Therefore, the wheel hub according to the invention has a hollow section and a flange section axially adjacent to each other, wherein the hollow section transitions into the flange section at a first axial end. In fact, the flange section here protrudes radially outward relative to the hollow section and is used to fix at least one wheel rim to the wheel hub. For fixing, the flange section and the hollow section are particularly designed to be circumferential, wherein the flange section is also preferably provided with fixing points in the form of through holes, which are particularly designed to be equidistantly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction and are respectively used to allow wheel bolts to pass through in order to fix the at least one wheel rim. Therefore, the flange section of the wheel hub is preferably designed to be threadedly connected to at least one wheel rim to achieve fixing of the wheel rim to the wheel hub.

[0008] In the context of the present invention, “axial” is understood to mean parallel to the axis of rotation of the hub, while “radial” in the sense of the present invention means in the diametrical direction with the center point on the axis of rotation.

[0009] The hollow section of the hub is a hollow body-like section of the hub, wherein the hollow section is preferably designed in the form of a hollow cylinder or hollow cylinder.

[0010] In the region of the first axial end, where the hollow section transitions into the flange section, a centering outer diameter of the hollow section is also defined, wherein the centering outer diameter is provided for centering at least one rim to be fastened to the hub on the hollow section and thus also relative to the flange section. The centering outer diameter is defined here by the centering sections, which are arranged at the axial ends of the hollow section and are separated from one another by intermediate sections located in the circumferential direction between the centering sections. In this regard, in the region of the first axial end, the centering sections and the intermediate sections are arranged alternately with one another in the circumferential direction of the hollow section.

[0011] The intermediate section is radially offset relative to the centering section, i.e., is located at a smaller outer diameter of the hollow section than the centering outer diameter. As a result, the contact surface between the rim fastened to the flange section and the hollow section is correspondingly reduced, since this contact surface is interrupted in the circumferential direction by the intermediate section. This has the effect that the area in which the rim is fixed to the hollow section of the hub due to corrosion is correspondingly reduced, thereby making it easier to remove the rim from the hub.

[0012] In the sense of the present invention, the hub is preferably designed in one piece, so that the hollow section and the flange section are also sections of the same component.

[0013] The present invention now includes the following technical teaching, that is, the intermediate section is formed between the centering sections by cutting the hollow section. In other words, by cutting in the corresponding area between the centering sections, the intermediate section is formed which is located between the centering sections in the circumferential direction and is radially indented relative to the centering sections.

[0014] This design of the hub has the advantage that a radially recessed center section can be formed with low production costs, and this can be done with high precision. A reduction in the contact surface between the rim fastened to the flange section and the hollow section can thus be achieved in a simple and reliable manner. Furthermore, this can be done without problems retrospectively, i.e. on a hub that has already been manufactured and, if appropriate, even already been put into use.

[0015] In the sense of the invention, "machining" refers to machining of the hub according to the invention in which the center section of the hollow section is produced by chip removal, that is, the center section is mechanically defined by separating excess material in the form of chips. In this context, the center section, which is radially set back relative to the centering section, is not produced until the part of the machining of the hub and is therefore not produced by forming.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hollow section transitions to a bottom section at a second axial end opposite to the first axial end, the bottom section extending radially inward from the hollow section and defining an inner space together with the hollow section, thereby giving the hub a cup-like shape, so that the hub is designed in the form of a bell-shaped hub.

[0017] In a development of the above-mentioned embodiment, an axially protruding boss is provided on the bottom section on one side of the interior space, which boss is respectively provided for guiding the planetary gears of the planetary gear set. The wheel hub according to the invention thus forms at least a part of the planetary carrier of the planetary gear set, the components of which are preferably accommodated in the interior space delimited by the bottom section and the hollow section. When the wheel hub according to the invention is used for a truck drive axle, a compact design of the truck drive axle can be achieved in an advantageous manner by integrating the planetary gear set as a hub transmission into the wheel hub, and an additional gear change can be achieved when conducting the power flow between the corresponding drive shaft and one or more wheels fixed to the wheel hub. Since the centering sections of the wheel hub are separated by the intermediate section located therebetween, it is also easier to remove the corresponding wheel rim of the one or more wheels fixed to the wheel hub in the event of corrosion.

[0018] According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the outer diameter of the hollow section decreases from the centering outer diameter toward the second axial end opposite the first axial end. This simplifies pushing the rim to be fixed at the flange section onto the hub, wherein the reduction in the outer diameter of the hollow section preferably takes place here in conjunction with the previous variant to a diameter at the second axial end that is only slightly smaller than the centering outer diameter. This ensures that the size of the interior space is sufficient to accommodate the planetary gear set. In particular, the reduction in the outer diameter is achieved in a linear manner, whereby the hollow section has a conical or slightly conical shape. However, the hollow section is particularly preferably designed here as essentially a hollow cylinder.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the centering section and the intermediate section are axially configured on the hollow section in a region in which the at least one rim is positioned on the hollow section in a manner fixed to the flange section. This region can be directly axially adjacent to the flange section, in which the centering section and the intermediate section are configured alternately with one another in the circumferential direction, or can be spaced apart from the flange section by a region of the hollow section axially located between them. It is important that the centering section and the intermediate section are configured in a region of the hollow section in which the at least one rim is positioned on the hollow section when fixed to the flange section, i.e., in this region the at least one rim is centered on the hollow section and thus comes into contact with the hollow section.

[0020] One embodiment of the present invention is to configure the wheel hub as a casting. This allows the wheel hub to be manufactured at a lower manufacturing cost. In particular, after the forming manufacturing process of the wheel hub, at least a portion of the wheel hub, preferably the outer side of the hollow section, is subjected to cutting finishing. In any case, after the forming manufacturing process of the wheel hub, the hollow section is subjected to cutting processing to form an intermediate section located between the centering sections.

[0021] The subject matter of the invention also relates to a truck drive axle with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is respectively coupled to an associated wheel hub according to one or more of the above-described variants. The coupling of the drive shaft to the wheel hub is realized in particular via a planetary gear set, which serves as a wheel hub transmission, or more precisely as part of a wheel hub transmission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The drawings show advantageous embodiments of the invention explained below. In which:

[0023] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a truck drive axle is shown;

[0024] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A perspective view of a wheel hub of a truck drive axle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0025] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the wheel hub. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 A sectional view of a portion of a truck drive axle 1 is shown, wherein the truck drive axle 1 is shown in the region of the dual wheel 2. In the truck drive axle 1, the drive wheels 3 and 4 of the dual wheel 2 can be driven via an associated drive shaft, not shown here, which is coupled to a wheel hub 6 via a hub gear 5 located therebetween, to which the drive wheels 3 and 4 of the dual wheel 2 are each fastened with their associated wheel rims 7 and 8. The hub gear 5 is designed here as a planetary gear set, but it is not shown in FIG. Figure 1 The drive wheels 3 and 4 are fixed with their rims 7 and 8 on the hub 6 via a screw connection 9 , wherein the rims 7 and 8 are centered on the hub 6 in the region 10 .

[0027] The hub 6 is realized according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and furthermore Figure 2 and Figure 3 1 is shown separately in FIG. As can be seen here, the wheel hub 6 comprises a hollow section 11 which transitions at a first axial end 12 into a surrounding flange section 13 and at a second axial end 14 into a base section 15. The hollow section 11 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, relative to which the flange section 13 protrudes radially outward. In this case, a plurality of through holes 16 spaced equidistantly from one another are bored out in the flange section 13, through which wheel bolts can be respectively passed to form Figure 1 The threaded connection 9 shown in FIG.

[0028] On the other hand, the bottom section 15 extends radially inwards from the hollow section 11 and defines, together with the hollow section 11, an interior space 17 which, in the installed state of the hub 6, Figure 1 The hub gear 5 is accommodated in the inner space. In addition, the bottom section 15 has a boss 18 protruding axially into the inner space 17, which is respectively provided for guiding the planetary gears of the hub gear 5. In this regard, the hub 6 forms at least a part of the planetary gear carrier of the hub gear 5.

[0029] The region 10 is arranged on the hollow section 11 in the region of the axial end 12 and thus adjacent to the flange section 13, in which the rims 7 and 8 are centered on the hub 6. In this case, the hollow section 11 is provided in this region 10 with centering sections 19 and intermediate sections 20, which are designed to be arranged alternately with one another in the circumferential direction in the region 10. In this respect, two centering sections 19 are each separated from one another by an intermediate section 20 located between them.

[0030] The centering section 19 defines a centering outer diameter 21 of the hollow section 11, wherein the centering outer diameter 21 is Figure 3 . The intermediate section 20 is radially set back relative to the centering section 19 and is therefore located at a smaller diameter 22 than the centering outer diameter 21. This reduces the respective contact surface of the hub 6 on the hollow section 11 with the rims 7 and 8 centered there, thereby simplifying the removal of the rims 7 and 8 from the hub 6 in the event of corrosion due to the reduced contact surface. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the hollow section 11 decreases starting from the region 10 and thus from the centering outer diameter 21 towards the axial end 14.

[0031] The hub 6 is designed as a casting in the present case, so that the hollow section 11, the flange section 13 and the bottom section 15 are manufactured in the scope of a forming process. In particular, the middle section 20 located between the centering sections 19 is formed by machining the hollow section 11 immediately after the forming manufacturing process, by removing material in a cutting manner in the corresponding circumferential section of the hollow section 11. As a result, the region 10 with the centering section 19 and the middle section 20 can be realized for the hub 6 at low manufacturing costs.

[0032] With the design solution according to the present invention, a wheel hub with low manufacturing cost can be realized.

[0033] List of reference numerals:

[0034] 1 Truck drive axle

[0035] 2 Dual Tires

[0036] 3 Drive wheels

[0037] 4 Drive wheels

[0038] 5-wheel hub drive

[0039] 6 Hub

[0040] 7 Rim

[0041] 8 Rim

[0042] 9 Threaded connection

[0043] 10 Regions

[0044] 11 Hollow Section

[0045] 12 Axial end

[0046] 13 Flange section

[0047] 14 Axial end

[0048] 15 Bottom section

[0049] 16 Through Holes

[0050] 17 Internal Space

[0051] 18 Boss

[0052] 19 Centering section

[0053] 20 Middle section

[0054] 21 Centering outer diameter

[0055] 22 Diameter.

Claims

1. A wheel hub (6) for a truck drive axle (1), the wheel hub having a hollow section (11) which transitions at a first axial end (12) into a flange section (13), the flange section protruding radially outward relative to the hollow section (11) and being provided for fixing at least one wheel rim (7, 8), wherein: The hollow section (11) is provided with a centering section (19) in the area of ​​the first axial end (12), the centering section defining the centering outer diameter (21) of the hollow section (11) so as to center the at least one rim (7, 8) on the hollow section (11), and the centering sections are separated from each other in the circumferential direction by intermediate sections (20), the intermediate sections being radially indented relative to the centering sections (19), characterized in that the intermediate sections (20) are formed between the centering sections (19) by cutting the hollow section (11).

2. The wheel hub (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that The hollow section (11) transitions to a bottom section (15) at a second axial end (14) opposite to the first axial end (12), the bottom section extending radially inward from the hollow section (11) and defining an interior space (17) together with the hollow section (11).

3. The wheel hub (6) according to claim 2, characterized in that Axially protruding bosses (18) are provided on the bottom section (15) on one side of the interior space (17), and the bosses are each provided for guiding a planetary gear of a planetary gear set.

4. The wheel hub (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The outer diameter of the hollow section (11) decreases starting from the centering outer diameter (21) toward a second axial end (14) opposite the first axial end (12).

5. The wheel hub (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The centering section (19) and the intermediate section (20) are formed axially on the hollow section (11) in a region (10) in which the at least one rim (7, 8) is positioned on the hollow section (11) in a manner fixed to the flange section (13).

6. The wheel hub (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The wheel hub is designed as a casting.

7. A truck drive axle (1) comprising a transmission shaft, each of which is coupled to an associated wheel hub (6) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 6.

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