Integrated centrifugal disc with crack-resistant corrosion protection feature for a vehicle drivetrain component

Abstract

A powertrain component for a vehicle comprises a half-shaft including a housing having an axially outward-facing surface, a wheel hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inward-facing surface, and a ring extending around the housing. The ring includes a radially inward-projecting flange section located between the axially outward-facing surface of the half-shaft housing and the axially inward-facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outward-projecting flange section, and a transition area extending between the radially inward-projecting flange section and the radially outward-projecting flange section.The transition area comprises a first section extending axially inwards from the radially inwardly projecting flange section, a second section extending at an angle towards the radially outwardly projecting flange section, and a third section comprising a transition between the first and second sections. The transition has a sharp edge.

Description

AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technology of vehicles and in particular to a half-shaft arrangement for a vehicle powertrain component, which has an integrated disk comprising a crevice corrosion protection feature. BACKGROUND

[0002] The background information provided herein serves to present the general context of the disclosure. Works of the inventors currently named, insofar as they are described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not have been prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor implicitly recognized as prior art with respect to the present disclosure.

[0003] A drive unit serves as the interface between a vehicle's engine and drivetrain. Often, the drive unit itself houses an electric motor connected to a transmission. The transmission can be controlled to produce different gear ratios that regulate the vehicle's speed. The drive unit is connected to a first wheel via a first half-shaft and to a second wheel via a second half-shaft. Each half-shaft interacts with a wheel bearing to rotate its corresponding wheel, which is mounted on the bearing. During torque transitions, a joint housing on the half-shaft may move into contact with the bearing. This metal-on-metal contact can produce a clicking sound. SUMMARY

[0004] A powertrain component for a vehicle according to the present disclosure comprises a half-shaft including a housing having an axially outwardly facing surface, a wheel hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inwardly facing surface, and a ring extending around the housing of the half-shaft. The ring comprises a radially inwardly projecting flange section located between the axially outwardly facing surface of the half-shaft housing and the axially inwardly facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange section, and a transition area extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange section and the radially outwardly projecting flange section.The transition area comprises a first section extending axially inwards from the radially inwardly projecting flange section, a second section extending at an angle towards the radially outwardly projecting flange section, and a third section forming a transition between the first and second sections of the transition area. The transition has a sharp edge.

[0005] In other features, the sharp edge forms an angle of essentially 90°.

[0006] In other features, the housing of the half-shaft has a surface that extends axially between the axially outward-facing surface and a radially outward-projecting section, the transition being located closer to the axially outward-facing surface than to the radially outward-projecting section.

[0007] In other aspects, the transition reduces moisture retention between the ring and the housing of the half-shaft.

[0008] In other features, the area on the axially outward-facing surface of the housing comprises a first thickness section, and the area adjacent to the radially outward-facing section comprises a second thickness section, wherein the second thickness section has a thickness that is less than the first thickness section, the transition reducing moisture accumulation on the surface adjacent to the second thickness section.

[0009] In other respects, the ring is made of an elastic material.

[0010] In other features, the housing of the half-shaft includes an outer diameter and the ring includes an opening that has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter to facilitate a press fit between the ring and the housing of the half-shaft.

[0011] In other features, the second section of the transition area extends at an acute angle between the sharp edge and the radially outward projecting flange section.

[0012] In other features, a fastener is configured to secure the wheel bearing to the half-shaft, with the fastener being tightened with a first selected torque value and a second torque value that is less than the first selected torque value.

[0013] In other features, the wheel hub assembly includes an opening surrounded by a recess, the opening being configured to accommodate the housing of the half-shaft, and the recess being configured to accommodate the radially outwardly projecting flange section of the ring.

[0014] A powertrain component for a vehicle according to the present disclosure comprises a half-shaft including a housing having an axially outwardly facing surface, a wheel hub assembly including a wheel bearing having an axially inwardly facing surface, and a ring extending around the half-shaft housing. The ring includes a radially inwardly projecting flange section located between the axially outwardly facing surface of the half-shaft housing and the axially inwardly facing surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange section, and a transition area extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange section and the radially outwardly projecting flange section. The transition area directs water and dirt accumulation away from the axially outwardly facing surface.

[0015] In other features, the transition area comprises a first section extending axially inward from the radially inward projecting flange section, a second section extending at an angle toward the radially outward projecting flange section, and a third section comprising a transition between the first section and the second section, the transition having a sharp edge.

[0016] In other features, the second section of the transition area extends at an acute angle from the transition to the flange section extending radially outwards.

[0017] In other features, the sharp edge forms an angle of essentially 90°.

[0018] In other features, the half-shaft housing comprises a surface extending axially between the axially outward-facing surface and a radially outward-projecting section, the transition being located closer to the axially outward-facing surface than to the radially outward-projecting section.

[0019] In other features, the area on the axially outward-facing surface of the housing comprises a first thickness section, and the area adjacent to the radially outward-facing section comprises a second thickness section, wherein the second thickness section has a thickness that is less than the first thickness section, the transition reducing moisture accumulation on the surface adjacent to the second thickness section.

[0020] In other respects, the ring is made of an elastic material.

[0021] In other features, the housing of the half-shaft includes a first outer diameter and the ring includes an opening having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter to facilitate a press fit between the ring and the housing of the half-shaft.

[0022] In other features, a fastener is configured to secure the wheel bearing to the half-shaft, with the fastener being tightened with a first selected torque value and a second torque value that is less than the first selected torque value.

[0023] In other features, the wheel hub assembly includes an opening surrounded by a recess, the opening being configured to accommodate the housing of the half-shaft, and the recess being configured to accommodate the radially outwardly projecting flange section of the ring.

[0024] Further applications of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and the specific examples serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present revelation will be better understood with the help of the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, whereby: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a vehicle comprising a drive train having a drive unit comprising a first half-shaft and a second half-shaft, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 2 a perspective view of one of the first half-wave and the second half-wave is, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a side view of a wheel hub, which is connected to the half-shaft of Fig. 2 is connected, according to the present revelation; Fig. 4 is a sectional drawing, which is defined by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3 is taken, which is a connection between the half-wave of Fig. 2 and the wheel hub of Fig. 3 illustrated, according to the present revelation; Fig. 5 a detailed view of the connection between the half-wave of Fig. 2 and the wheel hub of Fig. Figure 3 illustrates a noise-reducing ring, according to the present disclosure; and Fig. 6 a perspective view of the noise-reducing ring of Fig. 5 is, according to the present revelation.

[0026] Reference symbols can be reused in the drawings to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Half-shafts tend to produce noise, especially during hard cornering. To dampen the noise, a ring was fitted to the outer end of the half-shaft. The ring reduces play, which leads to binding. While the noise-reducing ring serves to reduce noise, it can also act as a moisture and dirt trap. Moisture and dirt accumulating on various sections of the drive components can lead to corrosion, which in turn can reduce the overall service life of the component. The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a solution for noise propagation and reduce corrosion.

[0028] A vehicle according to a non-restrictive example is in Fig. Vehicle 10 is generally denoted by 10. It comprises a body 12 supported by a plurality of wheels 14. Two of the plurality of wheels 14 are connected to a drive unit 16, which provides propulsion to the vehicle 10. A first drivetrain component 20 connects one of the plurality of wheels 14 to the drive unit 16, and a second drivetrain component 20 connects another of the plurality of wheels 14 to the drive unit 16. The first drivetrain component 20 comprises a first half-shaft 28, and the second drivetrain component 20 comprises a second half-shaft 30. In the illustrated, non-restrictive example, the two wheels 14 connected to the drive unit 16 are front wheels. The vehicle 10 is a front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicle.

[0029] The following is a reference to Fig. 2. When describing the first half-shaft 28, it is understood that the second half-shaft 30 is similarly constructed. The first half-shaft 28 comprises an inner end 32 and an outer end 34. A threaded shaft 42 extends axially outward from the splined shaft 40. The inner end 32 includes a collar 37, and the outer end 34 includes a splined shaft 40. The first half-shaft 28 is configured such that the outer end 34 can pivot at various angles relative to the inner end 32 during rotation to accommodate spring travel and steering angles.

[0030] The first half-shaft 28 comprises a first joint assembly 44, which is located adjacent to the inner end 32. The first joint assembly 44 can be in the form of a three-legged joint, which is covered by a first protective sleeve 46. The first half-shaft 28 comprises a second joint assembly 48, which is located near the outer end 34. The second joint assembly 48 can be in the form of a constant velocity (CV) joint, which is covered by a second protective sleeve 50. The first protective sleeve 46 and the second protective sleeve 50 shield or protect the first joint assembly 44 and the second joint assembly 48, respectively, from dirt. The first protective sleeve 46 and the second protective sleeve 50 also contain grease, which is used to lubricate the first joint assembly 44 and the second joint assembly 48, respectively.A shaft 52 extends between the first joint arrangement 44 and the second joint arrangement 48.

[0031] Reference will now be made to Fig. 3 with continued reference to Fig. 2 when describing the wheel hub 58. The wheel hub 58 comprises an outer end section 60 and an inner end section 62. An opening 64 extends through the wheel hub 58. The opening 64 provides a passage for the splined shaft 40. The opening 64 is surrounded by a recess 66. The wheel hub 58 carries a steering knuckle 68, which transmits steering commands to one of the plurality of wheels 14. The outer end section 60 carries a wheel bearing 70, which facilitates the rotation of the first half-shaft 28. The wheel bearing 70 comprises an axially inwardly projecting surface 72, which bears against the splined shaft 40 of the first half-shaft 28, as explained in more detail herein. A fastening element 74 is attached to the threaded shaft 42 and exerts a compressive force on the wheel bearing 70.

[0032] The following is a reference to Fig. 4 when describing the second joint assembly 48. The second joint assembly 48 comprises a housing 80 having an outer surface 82 and a hollow inner section 84 that receives the CV joint of the second joint assembly 48. The splined shaft 40 extends from the housing 80 and includes a bearing support surface 86, which comprises a first surface section 88 and a second surface section 90. The second surface section 90 extends to an axially outwardly projecting surface 93 of the housing 80. The housing 80 also includes a radially outwardly projecting surface 95 that extends axially inward from the axially outwardly projecting surface 93 and forms a shoulder 97. The radially outwardly projecting surface 95 includes an outer diameter that defines a first thickness 98 of the housing 80. A second thickness 100 is defined axially through the outer surface 82 to the hollow inner section 84. The first thickness is significantly larger than the second thickness.

[0033] According to a non-restrictive example found in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 5, a noise-reducing ring 110 is mounted above the shoulder 97. The noise-reducing ring 110 is made of an elastic material and comprises a ring body 112 having a radially inwardly projecting flange section 114, a radially outwardly projecting flange section 118, and a transition or exclusion region 124. The elastic material can take various forms, including metals such as coated steel and non-metals such as plastic. The transition region 124 extends between and connects the radially inwardly projecting flange section 114 and the radially outwardly projecting flange 118. In this design, the noise-reducing ring 110 comprises both a disc, e.g., a radially inwardly projecting flange section 114, and a centrifugal element, e.g.,a transition area 124 and a radially outwardly projecting flange section 118, which are combined in a single component.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, the transition area 124 reduces the moisture and dirt migration between the housing 80 and the wheel hub 58. The transition area 124 comprises a first section 128 extending substantially parallel to the radially outward-facing surface 95, a second section 132 extending at a non-zero angle relative to the radially outward-facing surface 95, and a third section 134 connecting the first section 128 with the second section 132.

[0035] According to the present disclosure, the third section 134 includes a transition 138 having a sharp edge 142. In a non-limiting example, the sharp edge 142 forms a 90° angle in the third section 134. The sharp edge 142 is located adjacent to the axially outward-facing surface 93 and spaced apart from thinner sections of the housing 80, which, for example, have the second thickness 100. In this way, any moisture / dirt that accumulates under the noise-reducing ring 110 and is not removed by centrifugal forces can only act on thicker sections of the housing 80, such as those having the first thickness. If corrosive forces act on the thicker sections rather than the thinner sections of the housing 80, this can extend the service life of components.

[0036] In a non-restrictive example, which in Fig.As illustrated in Figure 6, the noise-reducing ring 110 includes a central opening 146 with an inner diameter “ID” that comprises a first dimension. The radially outward-facing surface 95 of the housing 80 has an outer diameter “OD” that has a second dimension slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the central opening 146. The noise-reducing ring 110 is thus fitted to the housing 80 in an interference fit. After fitting, the outer end 34 of the first half-shaft 28 is guided through the opening 64 in the wheel hub 58. The wheel bearing 70 is mounted on the threaded shaft 42 and fitted into the wheel hub 58. The fastening element 74 is engaged with the threaded shaft 42 and tightened against the wheel bearing 70 with a selected torque.After tightening with the selected torque, the screw 74 is turned back by 45° and a final torque is applied to the seat of the noise-reducing ring 110.

[0037] The noise-reducing ring according to the present disclosure is formed as a single component that is easy to manufacture and install, and which ensures that moisture and / or dirt that can accumulate on a half-shaft housing are kept away from thinner material areas. In this way, any corrosion that occurs acts on thicker, more robust areas of the housing, which can withstand corrosion for much longer than the thinner areas of the housing.

[0038] The foregoing description serves only for illustration and is not intended in any way to limit the disclosure, its application or use.

[0039] The comprehensive teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a whole range of forms. Although this disclosure includes certain examples, the true scope of the disclosure should therefore not be limited to them, since other modifications will become apparent upon study of the drawings, the patent specification, and the following claims. It is understood that one or more steps within a process may be carried out in a different order (or simultaneously) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Even though the embodiments above are each described as having certain features, any one or more of these features described in relation to one embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented with features of any of the other embodiments and / or combined with them, even if such combination is not expressly described.In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and an exchange of one or more embodiments among themselves remains within the scope of this disclosure.

[0040] The terms "approximately" and "essentially" are intended to encompass the degree of error associated with measuring the specified quantity based on the equipment available at the time of application. For example, "approximately" and "essentially" may cover a range of ± 8% of a specified value.

[0041] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "interlocking," "coupled," "adjacent," "next to," "on top of," "above," "below," and "arranged." Unless a relationship between first and second elements is expressly described as "direct" in the preceding disclosure, this relationship may be a direct relationship in which no other intervening elements exist between the first and second elements, or an indirect relationship in which one or more intervening elements (either spatial or functional) exist between the first and second elements.As used herein, the expression “A, B and / or C” should be interpreted using a non-exclusive logical OR operation as logical (A OR-connected with B OR-connected with C) and not as “at least one of A, at least one of B and at least one of C”.

Claims

[1] Powertrain component for a vehicle, comprising: a half-shaft comprising a housing having an axially outward-facing surface, a wheel hub assembly comprising a wheel bearing having an axially inward-facing surface, and a ring extending around the housing of the half-shaft, the ring comprising a radially inwardly projecting flange section arranged between the axially outwardly projecting surface of the half-shaft housing and the axially inwardly projecting surface of the wheel bearing, a radially outwardly projecting flange section and a transition area extending between the radially inwardly projecting flange section and the radially outwardly projecting flange section, the transition area comprising a first section extending axially inward from the radially inwardly projecting flange section, a second section extending at an angle toward the radially outwardly projecting flange section, and a third section comprising a transition between the first section of the transition area and the second section of the transition area, the transition having a sharp edge. [2] Powertrain component according to claim 1, wherein the sharp edge forms an angle of substantially 90°. [3] Drive train component according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the half shaft comprises a surface which extends axially between the axially outwardly facing surface and a radially outwardly projecting section, the transition being arranged closer to the axially outwardly facing surface than to the radially outwardly projecting section. [4] Drive train component according to claim 3, wherein the transition reduces moisture retention between the ring and the housing of the half shaft. [5] Drive train component according to claim 4, wherein the surface on the axially outwardly projecting surface of the housing comprises a first thickness section and the surface adjacent to the radially outwardly projecting section comprises a second thickness section, wherein the second thickness section has a thickness that is less than the first thickness section, the transition reducing the accumulation of moisture on the surface adjacent to the second thickness section. [6] Powertrain component according to claim 1, wherein the ring is formed from an elastic material. [7] Drive train component according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the half shaft comprises an outer diameter and the ring comprises an opening having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter to facilitate a press fit between the ring and the housing of the half shaft. [8] Powertrain component according to claim 1, wherein the second section of the transition area extends at an acute angle between the sharp edge and the radially outward projecting flange section. [9] Powertrain component according to claim 1, further comprising a fastening element configured to fasten the wheel bearing to the half-shaft, wherein the fastening element is tightened with a first selected torque value and a second torque value which is less than the first selected torque value. [10] Drive train component according to claim 1, wherein the wheel hub assembly comprises an opening surrounded by a recess, the opening being configured to accommodate the housing of the half shaft, and the recess being configured to accommodate the radially outwardly projecting flange section of the ring.

Images