Heat dissipation and lubrication automobile hub bearing unit

Abstract

The invention discloses a radiating and lubricating automobile hub bearing unit. The radiating and lubricating automobile hub bearing unit comprises a bearing body and a radiating module, the bearing body adopts a double-row roller bearing and comprises an inner ring, an outer ring, a retainer, 2M rollers, a first sealing ring and a second sealing ring; the heat dissipation module comprises a shell, a partition plate, a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe. The outer ring is fixed to a frame, the inner ring is connected with a hub, a circulating lubrication structure is arranged on the inner ring of the bearing, a closed loop of oil storage, oil supplementing, lubrication and backflow is formed, continuous lubrication is achieved, meanwhile, a heat dissipation structure is additionally arranged on the outer ring of the bearing, the service life of the bearing can be effectively prolonged through multi-path efficient heat dissipation of heat pipe phase change and natural heat dissipation, and the service life of the bearing is prolonged. And the driving safety and stability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wheel hub bearings, and more particularly to a heat dissipation and lubrication automotive wheel hub bearing unit. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of machinery, bearings are key components that support rotating mechanical bodies, reduce the coefficient of friction, and ensure rotational accuracy. As an important category, automotive wheel hub bearings are core components of automotive transmission systems. They need to withstand radial loads and bearing loads, accurately guide the rotation of the wheel hub, and transmit the vehicle's output torque, directly affecting the safety and reliability of vehicle operation.

[0003] Existing automotive wheel hub bearing units generate a significant amount of heat during operation. If this heat cannot be dissipated effectively and promptly, it will affect the bearing's lifespan and the vehicle's operational safety. Furthermore, traditional bearing units have shortcomings in lubrication, making it difficult to guarantee the continuity and stability of lubrication.

[0004] Among existing heat dissipation technologies, natural heat dissipation relies on the wheel hub's own ventilation structure and natural air convection, which is significantly affected by factors such as ambient temperature and vehicle speed, resulting in limited heat dissipation efficiency. Forced convection heat dissipation, while enhancing heat dissipation through fans and air ducts, adds extra complexity, weight, and energy consumption to the system. Furthermore, it is prone to failure under complex road conditions due to obstructions blocking the air ducts or fan malfunctions. In addition, traditional lubrication methods struggle to maintain stable lubrication performance under high-temperature and high-load conditions, failing to continuously provide effective lubrication to the bearings, leading to accelerated bearing wear and affecting their service life and operational reliability.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, there is an urgent need to design a new type of bearing unit that can balance heat dissipation and lubrication, in order to improve the working efficiency and reliability of automotive wheel hub bearings and meet the growing demand for high-performance automotive components. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to address the deficiencies mentioned in the background art by providing a heat dissipation and lubrication automotive wheel hub bearing unit.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] A heat dissipation and lubrication automotive wheel hub bearing unit includes a bearing body and a heat dissipation module;

[0009] The bearing body is a double-row roller bearing, comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, a cage, 2M rollers, a first seal ring, and a second seal ring, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to 3;

[0010] The inner ring is provided with a first and a second annular limiting groove; the outer ring is provided with a third and a fourth annular limiting groove, wherein the third limiting groove and the first limiting groove cooperate to form a first raceway, and the fourth limiting groove and the second limiting groove cooperate to form a second raceway.

[0011] The cage is a double-row roller cage with two rows of limiting slots in the circumferential direction, each row containing M circumferentially evenly arranged limiting slots;

[0012] The 2M rollers are arranged one-to-one in the 2M fiber channels of the cage;

[0013] The cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The rollers in one row of limiting grooves on the cage are located in the first raceway, and the rollers in the other row of limiting grooves are located in the second raceway, so that the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate freely.

[0014] The first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are both disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, respectively located on both sides of the retainer;

[0015] The inner ring has an annular cavity inside as an oil reservoir for storing lubricating oil;

[0016] The inner ring has N oil replenishment channels circumferentially evenly arranged on the outer wall between the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove, which are connected to the oil storage tank. N is a natural number greater than or equal to 3. The oil replenishment channels are arc-shaped and are used to output the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank to the first raceway and the second raceway when the inner ring of the bearing rotates.

[0017] The inner ring is also provided with N oil return channels circumferentially and uniformly on the outer wall between the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove, which are connected to the oil storage tank; the oil return channels and the oil replenishment channels are arranged alternately; the oil return channel includes at least one bend structure, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the oil return channel gradually decreases from the outer end to the inner end, so as to prevent the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank from flowing out in the reverse direction due to centrifugal force when the inner ring rotates;

[0018] The outer ring has P sets of mounting slots equidistantly arranged in the radial direction on its outer wall. Each set of mounting slots contains Q mounting slots, where P is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 and Q is a natural number greater than or equal to 3. Each of the P*Q mounting slots on the outer wall of the outer ring is equipped with a heat pipe for heat dissipation.

[0019] The heat dissipation module includes a housing, a partition, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe;

[0020] The housing includes a side plate, a first end plate, and a second end plate. The side plate is a hollow cylinder with openings at both ends. The first end plate and the second end plate have the same structure and are both annular plates. The outer walls of the first end plate and the second end plate are coaxially and sealed to the two ends of the side wall, respectively. The inner walls of the first end plate and the second end plate are coaxially and sealed to the outer wall of the outer ring, thus containing P*Q heat pipes.

[0021] The partition is a rectangular plate, arranged parallel to the axis inside the housing. Its two ends are connected to the first end plate and the second end plate, respectively. Its outer side is connected to the side plate, and its inner side is connected to the outer wall of the outer ring. The liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe extend into the housing from the outside and are located on both sides of the partition. The liquid inlet pipe is used to input coolant, so that the coolant flows around the outer wall of the outer ring to the other side of the partition and then flows out from the liquid outlet pipe.

[0022] The heat dissipation device includes a cooling oil tank, a cooling oil inlet, and a cooling oil outlet. The cooling oil inlet is located on the surface of the cooling oil tank, and the cooling oil outlet is located on the other side of the cooling oil tank.

[0023] According to a further optimization of the automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication as described in claim 1, both ends of the oil replenishment channel are set to rounded corners.

[0024] In a further optimized scheme of the automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, N is 7.

[0025] According to a further optimized embodiment of the automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication as described in claim 1, the outer wall of the inner ring is provided with oil-blocking ridges that correspond one-to-one with the oil return channels; the oil-blocking ridges are protruding and are used to guide lubricating oil from the outer end of the corresponding oil return channel into the oil return channel.

[0026] In a further optimized scheme of the automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, Q is 10 and P is 5.

[0027] According to a further optimized embodiment of the heat dissipation and lubrication automotive bearing unit as described in claim 1, both the housing and the partition are made of aluminum alloy.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention, employing the above technical solution, has the following technical effects:

[0029] This invention utilizes the combination of an oil storage tank and an oil replenishment channel, along with the guiding effect of an oil baffle, to form a dynamically balanced self-circulating system.

[0030] The primary purpose of the oil reservoir design is to expand the internal lubricating oil storage space of the bearing, enabling the replenishment of lubricating media. Traditional wheel hub bearings mainly rely on the initial filling of grease for lubrication throughout their entire life cycle. However, with the passage of time, the base oil in the grease gradually evaporates or is consumed, leading to the risk of lubrication failure. The oil reservoir and replenishment channel designed in this invention allow the lubricating media stored in the reservoir to be continuously and stably replenished to the roller raceway through the replenishment channel when the lubricating oil film on the raceway surface thins due to high temperature or centrifugal force. This structure can extend the maintenance-free service life of the bearing.

[0031] The oil-blocking ridges and return oil channels overcome the "grooving effect" of grease. In traditional structures, grease is easily squeezed to the non-contact areas on both sides of the raceway during the initial operation of the bearing, forming fixed "grooves." This results in insufficient lubrication on the raceway surface, and the grease accumulated in dead corners cannot participate in lubrication, leading to waste. This invention, through its designed oil-blocking ridge structure, constructs an active flow guiding mechanism inside the bearing. The oil-blocking ridges effectively intercept lubricating oil that is thrown away by centrifugal force or squeezed out by the rollers, and forcibly guide it to the return oil channel, allowing it to re-enter the circulation loop. This structure improves the utilization rate of the lubricating medium, ensuring that the rolling elements are always fully enveloped in an oil film.

[0032] In summary, the outer ring of this invention is fixed to the vehicle frame, and the inner ring is connected to the wheel hub. A circulating lubrication structure is provided in the inner ring of the bearing to replenish and return lubricating oil, ensuring sufficient lubrication of each friction pair. At the same time, a heat dissipation structure is added to the outer ring of the bearing, which effectively reduces the operating temperature and extends the service life of the bearing. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention along its axis;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the invention along a direction perpendicular to its axis;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the oil return channel in this invention;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of mounting grooves on the outer wall of the outer ring in this invention.

[0038] In the diagram, 1-inner ring, 2-outer ring, 3-cage, 4-roller, 5-first sealing ring, 6-second sealing ring, 7-oil reservoir, 8-heat pipe, 9-heat dissipation module, 10-partition plate, 11-oil replenishment channel, 12-oil return channel, 13-side plate, 14-oil baffle, 15-mounting groove. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0040] This invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be considered limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully express the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, components are enlarged for clarity.

[0041] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, and / or parts, these elements, components, and / or parts are not limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish elements, components, and / or parts from one another. Therefore, the first element, component, and / or part discussed below may be a second element, component, or part without departing from the teachings of this invention.

[0042] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "horizontal," "vertical," "left," "right," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention, and should not be construed as limiting this invention; the terms "installation," "connection," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly, for example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, they can refer to a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components; for those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0043] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly, for example, as a fixed connection, an integral connection, or a detachable connection; as a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; as a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or as communication between two components, etc. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention discloses a heat dissipation and lubrication automotive wheel hub bearing unit, including a bearing body and a heat dissipation module;

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the bearing body is a double-row roller bearing, comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, a cage, 2M rollers, a first seal ring, and a second seal ring, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to 3;

[0046] The inner ring is provided with a first and a second annular limiting groove; the outer ring is provided with a third and a fourth annular limiting groove, wherein the third limiting groove and the first limiting groove cooperate to form a first raceway, and the fourth limiting groove and the second limiting groove cooperate to form a second raceway.

[0047] The cage is a double-row roller cage with two rows of limiting slots in the circumferential direction, each row containing M circumferentially evenly arranged limiting slots;

[0048] The 2M rollers are arranged one-to-one in the 2M fiber channels of the cage;

[0049] The cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The rollers in one row of limiting grooves on the cage are located in the first raceway, and the rollers in the other row of limiting grooves are located in the second raceway, so that the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate freely.

[0050] The first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are both disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, respectively located on both sides of the retainer;

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, the inner ring has an annular cavity inside as an oil reservoir for storing lubricating oil;

[0052] The inner ring has N oil replenishment channels circumferentially evenly arranged on the outer wall between the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove, which are connected to the oil storage tank. N is a natural number greater than or equal to 3. The oil replenishment channels are arc-shaped and are used to output the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank to the first raceway and the second raceway when the inner ring of the bearing rotates.

[0053] The inner ring also has N oil return channels evenly distributed circumferentially on its outer wall between the first and second limiting grooves, communicating with the oil storage tank; the oil return channels and the oil replenishment channels are staggered; each oil return channel includes at least one bend, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the oil return channel gradually decreases from the outer end to the inner end to prevent the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank from flowing out in the reverse direction due to centrifugal force when the inner ring rotates. Figure 4 As shown;

[0054] like Figure 5 As shown, the outer wall of the outer ring is provided with P sets of mounting slots at equal intervals along the radial direction. Each set of mounting slots contains Q mounting slots, where P is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 and Q is a natural number greater than or equal to 3. Each of the P*Q mounting slots on the outer wall of the outer ring is provided with a heat pipe for heat dissipation.

[0055] The heat dissipation module includes a housing, a partition, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe;

[0056] The housing includes a side plate, a first end plate, and a second end plate. The side plate is a hollow cylinder open at both ends. The first and second end plates have identical structures, both being annular plates. The outer walls of the first and second end plates are coaxially and sealed to both ends of the side plate, and the inner walls of both the first and second end plates are coaxially and sealed to the outer wall of the outer ring. P*Q heat pipes are included within the housing. Figure 2 As shown;

[0057] The partition is a rectangular plate, arranged parallel to the axis within the housing. Its two ends are connected to a first end plate and a second end plate, respectively. Its outer side is connected to a side plate, and its inner side is connected to the outer wall of the outer ring. The inlet pipe and outlet pipe extend into the housing from the outside and are located on either side of the partition. The inlet pipe is used to input coolant, allowing the coolant to flow around the outer wall of the outer ring to the other side of the partition before exiting through the outlet pipe. Figure 1 As shown.

[0058] Both ends of the oil replenishment channel are rounded to reduce the resistance to the flow of lubricating oil, prevent oil from stagnating at the channel inlet, and prevent stress concentration from causing cracks at the channel edge.

[0059] N takes priority 7, Q takes priority 10, and P takes priority 5.

[0060] The outer wall of the inner ring is provided with oil-blocking ridges that correspond one-to-one with the oil return channels; the oil-blocking ridges are protruding and are used to guide lubricating oil from the outer end of the corresponding oil return channel into the oil return channel.

[0061] The heat pipe is installed in the mounting groove of the outer ring via an interference fit. The heat pipe is capsule-shaped and made of pure copper with a high thermal conductivity, ensuring efficient heat conduction. Its outer diameter is adapted to the width of the groove, allowing it to fit tightly against the inner wall of the groove and reduce thermal resistance. The heat pipe consists of an evaporator end and a condenser end. The evaporator end is installed inside the mounting groove to absorb heat, while the condenser end is immersed in the heat dissipation module to release heat.

[0062] The shell and partition are preferably made of aluminum alloy, which has the characteristics of being lightweight and having high thermal conductivity.

[0063] The coolant filling the heat dissipation module is preferably mineral oil-based. This coolant has good thermal conductivity, oxidation resistance and low-temperature fluidity, can work stably in the range of -20℃ to 120℃, and has good compatibility with rubber sealing rings and heat pipe materials, and will not cause corrosion.

[0064] During vehicle operation, the inner ring rotates with the wheels, and the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir flows into the oil replenishment channel under the action of centrifugal force. Because the oil replenishment channel and the oil reservoir have rounded corners, the oil flow resistance is reduced, and it can be quickly delivered to the inner ring raceway surface. When the steel balls roll in the raceway, they evenly coat the lubricating oil on the contact area between the raceway and the steel balls, forming an oil film and reducing friction and wear. Excess lubricating oil flows to the return oil channel under the guidance of gravity and the oil baffle. The serpentine return oil channel only allows the oil to flow towards the oil reservoir, preventing oil leakage in the opposite direction. At the same time, the oil baffle at the top prevents oil splashing, ensuring that the oil flows back to the oil reservoir efficiently, forming a closed-loop lubrication system of "oil storage-oil replenishment-lubrication-return", achieving continuous lubrication.

[0065] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have the same meaning as in the context of the prior art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless defined as herein.

[0066] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat dissipation and lubrication automotive wheel hub bearing unit, characterized in that, Includes the bearing body and the heat dissipation module; The bearing body is a double-row roller bearing, comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, a cage, 2M rollers, a first seal ring, and a second seal ring, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to 3; The inner ring is provided with a first and a second annular limiting groove; the outer ring is provided with a third and a fourth annular limiting groove, wherein the third limiting groove and the first limiting groove cooperate to form a first raceway, and the fourth limiting groove and the second limiting groove cooperate to form a second raceway. The cage is a double-row roller cage with two rows of limiting slots in the circumferential direction, each row containing M circumferentially evenly arranged limiting slots; The 2M rollers are arranged one-to-one in the 2M fiber channels of the cage; The cage is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The rollers in one row of limiting grooves on the cage are located in the first raceway, and the rollers in the other row of limiting grooves are located in the second raceway, so that the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate freely. The first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are both disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, respectively located on both sides of the retainer; The inner ring has an annular cavity inside as an oil reservoir for storing lubricating oil; The inner ring has N oil replenishment channels circumferentially evenly arranged on the outer wall between the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove, which are connected to the oil storage tank. N is a natural number greater than or equal to 3. The oil replenishment channels are arc-shaped and are used to output the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank to the first raceway and the second raceway when the inner ring of the bearing rotates. The inner ring is also provided with N oil return channels circumferentially and uniformly on the outer wall between the first limiting groove and the second limiting groove, which are connected to the oil storage tank; the oil return channels and the oil replenishment channels are arranged alternately; the oil return channel includes at least one bend structure, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the oil return channel gradually decreases from the outer end to the inner end, so as to prevent the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank from flowing out in the reverse direction due to centrifugal force when the inner ring rotates; The outer ring has P sets of mounting slots equidistantly arranged in the radial direction on its outer wall. Each set of mounting slots contains Q mounting slots, where P is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 and Q is a natural number greater than or equal to 3. Each of the P*Q mounting slots on the outer wall of the outer ring is equipped with a heat pipe for heat dissipation. The heat dissipation module includes a housing, a partition, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe; The housing includes a side plate, a first end plate, and a second end plate. The side plate is a hollow cylinder with openings at both ends. The first end plate and the second end plate have the same structure and are both annular plates. The outer walls of the first end plate and the second end plate are coaxially and sealed to the two ends of the side wall, respectively. The inner walls of the first end plate and the second end plate are coaxially and sealed to the outer wall of the outer ring, thus containing P*Q heat pipes. The partition is a rectangular plate, arranged parallel to the axis inside the housing. Its two ends are connected to the first end plate and the second end plate, respectively. Its outer side is connected to the side plate, and its inner side is connected to the outer wall of the outer ring. The liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe extend into the housing from the outside and are located on both sides of the partition. The liquid inlet pipe is used to input coolant, so that the coolant flows around the outer wall of the outer ring to the other side of the partition and then flows out from the liquid outlet pipe. The heat dissipation device includes a cooling oil tank, a cooling oil inlet, and a cooling oil outlet. The cooling oil inlet is located on the surface of the cooling oil tank, and the cooling oil outlet is located on the other side of the cooling oil tank.

2. The automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both ends of the oil replenishment channel are rounded.

3. The automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, characterized in that, The value of N is 7.

4. The automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the inner ring is provided with oil-blocking ridges that correspond one-to-one with the oil return channels; the oil-blocking ridges are protruding and are used to guide lubricating oil from the outer end of the corresponding oil return channel into the oil return channel.

5. The automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, characterized in that, Q is set to 10, and P is set to 5.

6. The automotive bearing unit for heat dissipation and lubrication according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shell and partition are both made of aluminum alloy.

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