Hub and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The invention originates from a hub (10) comprising a first axial end region (12) designed to be connected to a wheel and / or a wheel adapter, and at least one hub base body (14), which is integrally formed and designed to surround at least a part of a roller bearing. According to the invention, the hub (10) comprises at least one component (16) surrounding the hub base body (14), said component (16) being arranged in a second axial end region (18) of the hub (10), said second axial end region being arranged opposite the first axial end region (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention originates from the apparatus described in the preamble of technical solution 1. Background Technology

[0002] A one-piece wheel hub is known to include two rows of outer raceways of tapered rolling elements (rollers), and the wheel hub includes openings for connecting a wheel adapter. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is particularly to provide a wheel hub of the aforementioned type with higher efficiency. This object is inventively achieved by the features described in technical solution 1, while the advantageous design and further development of the invention can be derived from the dependent technical solutions.

[0004] The present invention originates from a wheel hub comprising a first axial end region configured for attaching a wheel and / or a wheel adapter, and including at least one hub base body integrally formed therein, the hub base body being configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling-element bearing.

[0005] This invention proposes that the wheel hub includes at least one component surrounding the wheel hub body, arranged in a second axial end region of the wheel hub opposite to the first axial end region. The term "integral construction" should be understood to particularly mean cast and / or separable only by damage. This invention enables high efficiency, particularly improved wheel hub service life, because the reinforcement of the component prevents plastic deformation, especially on the inboard side, during sharp cornering. The "inboard side" refers to the side facing the vehicle's center point in the final installed state. Furthermore, it is particularly economical to stabilize existing wheel hub bodies, especially those already in use, by retrofitting with the component. Additionally, wheel hubs designed for a specific axial load range but not including the component can be extended to a slightly higher axial load range by adding the component. This economic advantage is particularly advantageous for small-batch products in the mid-to-high-end axle load range, as it eliminates the need for new wheel hub designs.

[0006] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes a wheel hub comprising at least one wheel hub base. The wheel hub base is integrally constructed (or integrated) and configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling element bearing (or rolling bearing), wherein the wheel hub includes at least one component surrounding the wheel hub base, which is distinct from a flange. High efficiency can be achieved using the present invention, particularly an increase in wheel hub service life, because plastic deformation of the wheel hub on the inner side of the housing is avoided due to the reinforcing effect of the component.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the component includes at least one ABS ring region, thereby saving components and achieving a cost-effective design.

[0008] Advantageously, the hub base has a cylindrical or conical surface shape in the area of ​​its surface that abuts against the component, thereby achieving simple manufacturability. In particular, the component can be easily attached by welding or friction welding.

[0009] In addition, the present invention proposes that the components be attached to the hub base by press-fit and / or brazing and / or friction welding, thereby achieving simple assembly.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the component is substantially cylindrical in shape, thereby enabling an economical design.

[0011] An advantage is that the component is constructed in a substantially ring-shaped manner, thereby achieving material savings.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention proposes that the components be constructed as a single unit, thereby achieving a simple structural design with high stability.

[0013] Furthermore, this invention also proposes a method for manufacturing a wheel hub: attaching (or affixing) a component to a hub base such that the component surrounds the hub base and is located in a second axial end region of the hub. The hub base is integrally formed and configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling element bearing; the second axial end region is positioned opposite to the first axial end region of the hub, the first axial end region being configured to attach a wheel or wheel adapter. This invention achieves high efficiency.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the attachment is achieved by shrink fitting and / or brazing and / or friction welding, thereby enabling simple and inexpensive assembly.

[0015] A further advantage of the present invention arises from the description in the following figures. The figures depict exemplary embodiments of the invention. Numerous combinations of features are included in the figures, description, and claims. Those skilled in the art may also consider these individual features where advantageous, or combine them into more meaningful combinations. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This shows a cross-sectional view of the hub described in this invention;

[0017] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view showing an alternative exemplary embodiment of the wheel hub of the present invention, wherein the wheel hub includes an ABS gear ring region;

[0018] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view showing a further alternative exemplary embodiment of the hub according to the present invention, wherein the components of the hub are configured to be substantially annular;

[0019] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view showing a further alternative exemplary embodiment of the wheel hub described in this invention, wherein the wheel hub base includes a conical surface.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0021] 10-inch wheels

[0022] 12 end regions

[0023] 14-wheel hub base

[0024] 16 parts

[0025] 18 end regions

[0026] 20ABS ring area (gear ring area)

[0027] 22 surface areas

[0028] 24 through holes

[0029] 26 through holes

[0030] 28-track

[0031] 30-rollway Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1This diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the hub according to the present invention. The hub includes a first axial end region 12 and a second axial end region 18 disposed opposite to each other. The axial end region 12 is configured to attach (or mount) a wheel adapter. For this purpose, the axial end region 12 is configured as a flange containing a through hole 24, on which the wheel adapter can be bolted. Furthermore, the hub includes an integrally formed hubbase body 14, which is configured to surround (or encircle) rolling bearings (more precisely, a first tapered roller bearing and a second tapered roller bearing). In the final installed state, the hub through hole 26 forms corresponding receiving areas for the two tapered roller bearings. The hubbase body becomes the common outer ring of the first and second tapered roller bearings. Therefore, the hubbase body 14 includes a first raceway 28 for the first tapered roller bearing and a second raceway 30 for the second tapered roller bearing. Furthermore, the hub also includes a component 16 that surrounds the hub base and is located in the second axial end region 18. Unlike a flange, the component 16 has a hollow cylindrical shape, except for machined edges, and is therefore also a hollow cylinder. Consequently, the hub base is also constructed with a cylindrical surface shape in the surface region 22 that abuts against the component. The surface region 22 is manufactured by turning before the component 16 is attached to the hub base.

[0033] The component 16 is constructed as a single unit and attached to the hub base 14 by pressure fitting (also known as "press fitting" or "tight fit"). The pressure fitting has a significant overlap area. During assembly, the component is either simply pressed directly onto the hub base 14 or shrink-fitted (preheated before pressing) onto the hub base. Alternatively, it is conceivable to connect the component to the hub base 14 by friction welding or brazing. If the connection is achieved by brazing, a gap must first be provided between the component and the hub base at surface region 22, the gap being used to accommodate solder through a capillary effect.

[0034] Component 16 is constructed of structural steel. In principle, the material spectrum available for component 16 is very broad, ranging from heat-treated high-strength steel. Other metals or composite materials may also be used as materials for component 16.

[0035] In its final installed configuration, component 16 has the effect of stabilizing the dimensions to prevent plastic deformation of the wheel hub.

[0036] In one alternative exemplary embodiment, in the installed state, a wheel is installed in the axial end region 12 instead of a wheel adapter.

[0037] In other exemplary embodiments, the tapered roller bearings may also be replaced by different rolling element bearings, in particular, for example, angular contact ball bearings.

[0038] Especially when truck wheel bearing units are subjected to high lateral acceleration (such as during sharp road turns), the innovative wheel hub of this invention prevents excessive radial raceway deformation. This deformation is particularly significant in the inner (or inner) side of the (vehicle) bearing housing, where conventional wheel hubs exemplify material optimization. Even without this component—and even in some commercially available wheel hubs—the stress deviates from or exceeds the material's elastic range within a critical range, leading to plastic (and thus / i.e., permanent) deformation.

[0039] Significant plastic deformation of the raceways in tapered roller bearings severely disrupts the bearing's motion (kinematics), breaking the so-called "apex-point condition" (where, under ideal pure rolling conditions, the extended lines of the outer and inner raceways of the tapered roller bearing converge at a single point with the bearing's axis of rotation). As a result, the rolling elements no longer roll purely but exhibit significant slippage. This slippage generates friction, temperature (temperature rise), and eventually raceway wear. In operation or on a test bench, without the aforementioned components, or on some conventional commercially available hubs, the bearing's expected / calculated life can no longer be achieved, and / or the frictional losses become unacceptably high.

[0040] Figures 2-4 Various alternative exemplary embodiments are described. Essentially identical components, features, and functions are given the same reference numerals. However, to distinguish these exemplary embodiments, the letters "a", "b", etc., are added. Figures 2-4 The reference numerals follow the exemplary embodiments in the accompanying drawings. The following description is largely limited to... Figure 1 The differences between the exemplary implementation and the Chinese version, wherein the same components, features and functions can be referred to Figure 1 The description of exemplary implementation methods.

[0041] Figure 2This illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of the innovative wheel hub of the present invention, wherein a component 16a located directly at the axial end of one side of the wheel hub includes an ABS ring region (also referred to as the "ABS toothed ring region"). The ABS ring region is provided with axially extending protrusions that are circumferentially arranged (or equally spaced) from each other. For the ABS toothed ring region to function, it is precisely positioned on the wheel hub base. Component 16a is also constructed to be longer than component 16 in the first exemplary embodiment.

[0042] Figure 3 Further alternative exemplary embodiments of the innovative wheel hub of the present invention are shown. The component 16b of the wheel hub is configured to be substantially (generally / essentially) annular, specifically formed by a ring having rounded edges.

[0043] Figure 4 This invention further innovates by showing the upper half of the axial section of the hub 10c. The component 16c is attached (or mounted) to the hub base 14c of the hub 10c via friction welding. To implement the required welding process, the surface region 22c of the hub base 14c is constructed into a conical surface shape. Correspondingly, the radially inner surface of the component 16c is also constructed into a conical surface shape. During the attachment (or mounting) of the component 16c to the hub base 14c, the component 16c and the hub base 14c are configured to rotate relative to each other, and the component 16c is moved toward the center of mass of the hub base 14c.

Claims

1. A wheel hub (10) comprising a first axial end region (12) configured for attaching a wheel and / or a wheel adapter, and comprising at least one hub base (14) integrally formed and configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling element bearing, characterized in that, At least one component (16) surrounds the hub base (14), the component (16) being arranged in a second axial end region (18) of the hub (10) opposite to the first axial end region (12). The component (16) is an annular reinforcing strip, which is installed on the radial outer surface of the second axial end region (18). The hub base (14) is configured to plastically deform under the application of force when the component (16) is not present. The component (16) is configured to prevent the hub base (14) from plastic deformation under the application of force.

2. A wheel hub, particularly a wheel hub according to claim 1, comprising at least one wheel hub base (14), said wheel hub base (14) being integrally formed and configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling element bearing, characterized in that, Unlike the flange, at least one component (16) surrounds the hub base (14). The component (16) is an annular reinforcing strip, which is installed on the radial outer surface of the hub base (14). The hub base (14) is configured to plastically deform under the application of force when the component (16) is not present. The component (16) is configured to prevent the hub base (14) from plastic deformation under the application of force.

3. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (16) has a radial inner surface and a radial outer surface, and has an axial width and a radial thickness from the radial inner surface to the radial outer surface, wherein the axial width is greater than the radial thickness.

4. The wheel hub according to claim 3, characterized in that, The component (16) has a substantially constant radial thickness from the first axial end region to the second axial end region.

5. The wheel hub according to claim 3, characterized in that, The radial outer surface of the component (16) has no recesses.

6. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The hub base (14) has a conical surface shape in the surface area (22) of its contact with the component (16).

7. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (16) includes at least one ABS annular region (20).

8. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (16) is attached to the hub base (14) by press fitting and / or brazing and / or friction welding.

9. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (16) is basically hollow cylindrical in shape.

10. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (16) is configured to be substantially ring-shaped.

11. The wheel hub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The component (16) is constructed as a single unit.

12. A method for manufacturing a wheel hub (10), particularly a method for manufacturing a wheel hub according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, A component (16) is attached to the hub base (14) of the hub (10) such that the component (16) surrounds the hub base (14) and is arranged in a second axial end region (18) of the hub (10), wherein the hub base (14) is integrally formed and configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling element bearing, and the second axial end region (18) is arranged opposite to the first axial end region (12) of the hub (10) configured for attaching a wheel and / or a wheel adapter. The component (16) is an annular reinforcing strip, which is installed on the radial outer surface of the second axial end region (18). The hub base (14) is configured to plastically deform under the application of force when the component (16) is not present. The component (16) is configured to prevent the hub base (14) from plastic deformation under the application of force.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The attachment is achieved by shrink-fitting and / or brazing and / or friction welding.

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