Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement

Abstract

A vehicle wheel bearing assembly (1) comprising a wheel bearing unit (3) provided for mounting on a vehicle steering knuckle (2) and a wheel adapter (4) which is provided with a rotary bearing on the steering knuckle (2) by the wheel bearing unit (3). The wheel bearing unit (3) comprises at least two rows of bearings (31, 32) and an integral bearing outer ring element (33, 34) configured to rotate synchronously with the outer rings (31a, 32a) of the bearings (31, 32). The adapter (4) is a detachable element, independent of the integral outer ring element (33, 34), for connecting the wheel (41) and the brake disc (42). In at least one connection state of the brake disc (42), the adapter (4) can be attached to or detached from the integral outer ring element (33, 34) by means of screws (5).A screw fixing point between the adapter (4) and the integral outer ring element (33, 34) is arranged on the radial circumference of the integral outer ring element (33, 34) with the exception of an outer end face (33a) of the integral outer ring element (33, 34).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel bearing arrangement for vehicles, in particular a wheel bearing arrangement for a driven wheel and a non-driven wheel of a truck. State of the art

[0002] Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional wheel bearing arrangement used in driven wheels of trucks (hereinafter referred to as "Scheme 1"). As shown in the figure, the wheel bearing arrangement 1 comprises a wheel bearing unit 3, which can be mounted on a vehicle steering knuckle 2, and a wheel hub 34, which is provided with a rotary bearing on the steering knuckle by means of a wheel bearing assembly. The wheel bearing unit 3 comprises at least two rows of rolling bearings, typically a pair of tapered roller bearings 31, 32, which are mounted on the steering knuckle 2 at predetermined axial distances. The wheel hub 34 is fixedly mounted on the outer bearing race 31a, 32a, causing it to rotate synchronously with the latter. The wheel hub 34 is also integrally formed with a wheel fitting flange 4 for connecting vehicle wheels (two parallel wheels are shown in the figure) 41 and a brake disc 42.When the brake disc 42 needs to be serviced, the vehicle wheels 41 must first be removed from the flange 4, and then the wheel hub 34, which is assembled with the brake disc 42 and includes two rows of bearings 31 and 32, is removed from the steering knuckle 2.

[0003] During the disassembly process described above, the wheel hub 34 can be briefly tilted when the outer bearing 31 is first removed from the steering knuckle 2, forming an angle with the horizontal steering knuckle. This is because the wheel hub 34, which connects the brake disc 42 and includes two rows of bearings 31 and 32, has a considerable weight. Due to the leverage effect, this tilt can cause an enormous load on the inner bearing 32 (on the right side of the figure), causing some of the rolling elements of the inner bearing 32 to be forced into the raceway, forming depressions in the raceway. When the inner bearing 32 is put back into service, the damaged raceway begins to spall material under the influence of the operating load. Typically, the damaged bearing fails approximately 10,000 kilometers after the brake disc has been serviced.

[0004] To solve the aforementioned problems, the applicant proposed an improved technical solution (hereinafter referred to as “Scheme 2”) in patent application WO 2022 / 008272 A1, filed on June 28, 2021. In Scheme 2, as described in the Fig. 2A and Fig. As shown in Figure 2B, the wheel adapter flange 4, originally integrally formed on the wheel hub 34 in Figure 1, is replaced by an independent wheel adapter (hereinafter referred to as the "adapter," still using the reference numeral 4). The adapter 4 can be detachably mounted on a common outer ring 33 of the two bearing rows 31 and 32 by means of its inner circumferential flange 45. When the brake disc 42 then requires maintenance, only the adapter 4 needs to be detached from the common outer ring 33 and removed. It is not necessary to remove the entire wheel hub 34, along with all bearings 31 and 32, from the steering knuckle 2 to perform the maintenance as in Figure 1. In other words, in Figure 2, maintenance of the brake disc 42 does not depend on the complete removal of the wheel bearing assembly 3.This ensures that bearings 31 and 32 remain precision components and, theoretically, can always be in a stable condition after their initial commissioning at the factory, thus avoiding risks that can arise from unnecessary disassembly and assembly. Furthermore, the individually disassembled and assembled adapter facilitates brake disc maintenance.

[0005] Scheme 2 has its own problems; in particular, the weight of the "common outer ring + wheel adapter" is much greater than that of the "wheel hub + wheel adapter flange" in Scheme 1. This is because the screw mounting point (abbreviated "screw point") between the adapter 4 and the common outer ring 33 is still located on the outer end face 33a of the common outer ring 33, as shown in the wheel adapter flange 4 and the wheel hub 34 in Fig. 1. This screw point is axially far from a wheel load action line X, so both the adapter 4 and the common outer ring 33 must be designed to have a wall thickness with sufficient radial dimension along a longitudinal section between the screw point and the wheel load action line X, and even must incorporate stiffening structures 47, 48 to achieve the structural strength required to absorb the wheel load. This is the main reason for the increase in weight and cost of the wheel bearing arrangement in scheme 2.

[0006] Reality requires a wheel bearing arrangement that facilitates brake disc maintenance without increasing the weight of the vehicle body. Summary of the invention

[0007] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a vehicle wheel bearing arrangement comprising a wheel bearing unit designed for mounting on a vehicle steering knuckle and a wheel adapter which is rotatably mounted on the steering knuckle by the wheel bearing unit. The wheel bearing unit comprises at least two rows of bearings and an integral outer ring element designed to rotate synchronously with the outer rings of the at least two rows of bearings. The adapter is a removable element, independent of the integral outer ring element, for connecting the wheel and the brake disc. At least when the brake disc is connected, the adapter can be fastened to or detached from the integral outer ring element by means of screws.A screw fixing point between the adapter and the integral outer ring element is arranged radially outside the integral outer ring element, with the exception of an outer end face of the integral outer ring element.

[0008] By moving the screw point from the outer end face of the integral outer ring element to a radial circumference of the integral outer ring element, particularly in axial proximity to a wheel load line X, the aforementioned weight-increasing effect caused by an excessive axial distance between the screw mounting point and the wheel load line can be effectively avoided. Based on the improved technical scheme described above, the present invention not only retains the original advantages of Scheme 2 (i.e., the ability to disassemble the wheel adapter independently, thus avoiding the enormous risk associated with disassembling and assembling the bearing) but also reduces the overall weight of the wheel bearing assembly to approximately the weight in Scheme 1.

[0009] Various embodiments and advantageous technical effects of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the characters Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional wheel bearing arrangement (Scheme 1) used in driven wheels of trucks; Fig. Figure 2A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the wheel bearing arrangement in the applicant's earlier patent scheme (Scheme 2); Fig. Figure 2B shows the perspective structural view of the wheel bearing arrangement in the applicant's earlier patent scheme (Scheme 2); Fig. Figure 3A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an improved wheel bearing arrangement of the present invention when used for a driven wheel of a vehicle; Fig. Figure 3B shows a perspective structural view of the improved wheel bearing arrangement of the present invention when used for the driven wheel of the vehicle; Fig. 3C shows a three-dimensional perspective view of the wheel bearing unit in Fig. 3B; Fig. Figure 4A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the improved wheel bearing arrangement of the present invention when used for a non-driven wheel of the vehicle; and Fig. Figure 4B shows the perspective structural view of the improved wheel bearing arrangement of the present invention when used in the non-driven wheel of the vehicle. Detailed description of the invention

[0010] In the following description, identical or similar drawing designations are always used to refer to the same or similar components. Terms indicating directions, such as "axial," "radial," and "circumferential (direction)," refer to the axial, radial, and circumferential (direction) of the described component, respectively, unless otherwise defined or specified. Furthermore, "inside" refers to a direction approaching a vehicle body centerline and corresponding to the left side of each cross-section, and "outside" refers to a direction away from the vehicle body centerline and corresponding to the right side of each cross-section.

[0011] Fig. 3A and Fig. Figure 3B shows a schematic cross-sectional view and a perspective structural view of an improved wheel bearing arrangement of the present invention when used for a driven wheel of a vehicle. In the illustrated arrangement, a wheel adapter 4 is mounted on a common outer ring 33 of two rows of bearings 31 and 32 and forms a screw connection with the common outer ring 33 via an inner circumferential flange 45. Compared to the Fig. 2A and Fig. Figure 2B shows that a screw point between the inner circumferential flange 45 and the common outer ring 33 has been moved from an outer end face 33a of the common outer ring 33 in the previous diagram 2 to a radial circumference of the common outer ring 33 in the current technical diagram. In a preferred embodiment, the screw point can be located as close as possible to a wheel load action line X in order to reduce the axial distance between the two.

[0012] It is necessary to point out that the screw point in the present invention is an abstract concept and does not refer to an entire region along the length of the screw, but rather to a specific position of an interface between connected elements in the axial direction of the screw. For example, in the Fig. 2A and Fig. In the scheme shown in 2B, the screw point between an outer circumferential flange 21 of a driver shaft 20 and the common outer ring 33 is located on an outer end face 33a of the common outer ring 33, and the screw point between an inner circumferential flange 45 of an adapter 4 and the circumferential flange 21 of the driver shaft 20 is located on a contact surface between the two.

[0013] Fig. 3C shows a perspective structure of the wheel bearing unit in Fig. 3B. In the diagram shown, the common outer ring 33 of the bearings is formed with a stepped circumferential projection 35, which is used to form a support for carrying the adapter 4. The common outer ring 33 has its greatest radial thickness at the location of the support 35 in order to bear a wheel load transmitted by the adapter 4. In particular, the support 35 is formed with a circumferential radial outer surface 36 and an outer end face 37 to provide radial and axial support for the adapter 4, respectively. In addition, the support 35 also has threaded holes 38 formed on one side of its outer end face 37, suitable for a screw connection. From the Fig. 3A and Fig. Figure 3B shows that a base 43 matching the support 35 is formed on the adapter 4. The base 43 comprises a circumferential radial inner surface 44, which supports the radial outer surface 36 of the support, and an inner circumferential flange 45, which abuts the outer end face 37 of the support. Screw holes 46 are formed on the inner circumferential flange 45 of the base, which correspond to the threaded holes 38 of the support, so that the screws can be screwed through them into the threaded holes 38, thereby fastening the base 43 and the support 35 together.

[0014] In the fit between the base and the carrier described above, a radial load-bearing surface P is formed between the radial inner surface 44 of the base and the radial outer surface 36 of the carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier 35, together with the load-bearing surface P, is axially preloaded inwards as a whole, allowing the outer bearing 31 to use rolling elements with a smaller dimension than the inner bearing 32. This design enables the common outer ring 33 to have the wall thickness of the smallest possible radial dimension in the outer section of the wheel load line X, thereby achieving the goal of further weight reduction.

[0015] In the Fig. 3A and Fig. In the specific embodiment shown in Figure 3B, a set of screws fastens the driver shaft 20, the common outer ring 33, and the adapter 4 into a single unit by means of a spacer ring 50. The spacer ring 50 has an annular element with internally formed through holes 53 through which screws can pass. When positioned between the outer circumferential flange 21 of the driver shaft 20 and the inner circumferential flange 45 of the adapter 4, the latter two can be provided with axial supports necessary to resist fastening by screws. It is readily apparent that the existence of the spacer ring 50 enables the driver shaft 20, the common outer ring 33, and the adapter 4 to be joined into a single unit using the same set of screws 5.As one proposed scheme, the above-mentioned purpose can also be achieved by using two sets of screws (this scheme is not shown). For example, the support 35 of the common outer ring 33 and the base 43 of the adapter 4 can be fastened with a first set of screws, and the outer circumferential flange 21 of the driver shaft 20 and the outer end face 33a of the common outer ring 33 can be fastened with a second set of screws. Compared to the one in the . Fig. 3A and Fig. In the technical scheme shown in 3B, which uses only one set of screws, the proposed scheme has a larger number of parts and disassembly and assembly may be somewhat more complicated due to the use of an additional set of screws, but the purpose of the present invention can still be achieved.

[0016] Fig. 4A and Fig. Figure 4B shows a schematic cross-sectional view and a three-dimensional perspective view of the improved wheel bearing arrangement of the present invention when used for a non-driven wheel of the vehicle. Since the steering knuckle 2 of the non-driven wheel of the vehicle does not include a drive shaft, the screws 5 only need to pass through the spacer ring 50, the inner circumferential flange 45 of the adapter 4, and the carrier 35 of the common outer ring 33 to fasten the common outer ring 33 and the adapter 4 together from the outside. It is necessary to point out that the wheel bearing arrangement 1 for the non-driven wheel typically also includes an end cover 23 to enclose the steering knuckle 2 and prevent the ingress of external contaminants into the steering knuckle 2 and the bearing unit 3. In the illustration shown in the Fig. 4A and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4B, the screws 5 also use their screw heads 51 and / or screw washers 52 to press a radial outer edge 24 of the end cover 23 against the outer end face 33a of the common outer ring 33 as they pass through the spacer ring 50. Alternatively, the end cover 23 may also have screw holes (not shown) formed on its radial outer edge 24, allowing the screws to pass through them. In this case, the screws 5 can pass from the outside through the screw holes of the radial outer edge 24 and press the end cover 23 against the outer end faces of the spacer ring 50 and / or the common outer ring 33, similar to the situation where the screws 5 pass through the outer circumferential flange 21 of the driver shaft 20, as shown in the Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B is shown.

[0017] It is necessary to point out that in the Fig. 3 and Fig. In the wheel bearing arrangement shown in Figure 4, adapter 1 is mounted on the common outer ring 33 of the two rows of bearings 31 and 32, but not as shown in Figure 4. Fig. The situation shown in Figure 1 is mounted on a wheel hub 34. It is not difficult to understand that the purpose of the present invention can also be achieved if the adapter 4, which is in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is mounted on the common outer ring 33, on which in Fig. The wheel hub 34 shown in diagram 1 is mounted on the bearing outer races 31 and 32. This is because, in diagram 1, the wheel hub 34 is firmly mounted to these outer races and effectively forms a single-piece structure with them, allowing the wheel hub 34 to rotate completely synchronously with them. Thus, it is evident that, regardless of the outer race itself, such as the common outer race 33, which is located in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shown, or another element that is firmly attached to the outer bearing ring, such as the wheel hub 34, which is shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the outer rings of the at least two rows of bearings, or any other element fixedly attached to the bearing outer ring, can each fulfill the purpose of the present invention, provided they are suitable for connecting the wheel adapter. In light of this, this bearing outer ring, or any other element formed on the bearing outer ring, is uniformly defined as the “integral bearing outer ring element” (referred to as the “integral outer ring element”).

[0018] The vehicle wheel bearing arrangement described above is not limited to the specific embodiments, and more general technical solutions are subject to the limitations of the appended claims. All modifications and improvements to the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention, provided they comply with the limitations of the appended claims. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2022 / 008272 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) comprising a wheel bearing unit (3) provided for mounting on a vehicle steering knuckle (2) and a wheel adapter (4) which receives a rotary bearing on the steering knuckle (2) through the wheel bearing unit (3), wherein the wheel bearing unit (3) comprises at least two rows of bearings (31, 32) and an integral bearing outer ring element (33, 34) which is designed to be able to rotate synchronously with the bearing outer rings (31a, 32a) of the at least two rows of bearings (31, 32); and the adapter (4) is a detachable element independent of the integral outer ring element (33, 34) for connecting a wheel (41) and a brake disc (42), at least in one connection state of the brake disc (42), wherein the adapter (4) can be attached to or detached from the integral outer ring element (33, 34) by means of screws (5); the vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) characterized byis that a screw fastening point is arranged between the adapter (4) and the integral outer ring element (33, 34) on the radial circumference of the integral outer ring element (33, 34) with the exception of an outer end face (33a) of the integral outer ring element (33, 34). [2] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the integral outer ring element (33, 34) is a common outer ring (33) of the at least two rows of bearings (31, 32) or other elements, including but not limited to a wheel hub (34), which is fixedly attached to the bearing outer ring (31a, 32a) of the at least two rows of bearings (31, 32) and is rotatable synchronously with them. [3] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein a support (35) for carrying the adapter (4) is formed on the integral outer ring element (33, 34), the adapter (4) is formed with a base (43) designed to fit the support (35), and the screw fixing point is formed between the support (35) and the base (43). [4] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 3, wherein the support (35) is formed with a circumferential radial outer surface (36) and an outer end face (37) for providing radial support or axial support for the adapter (4), and the support (35) also has threaded bores (38) formed on one side of the outer end face (37) thereof, which are suitable for screw fastening; and the base (43) is formed with a circumferential radial inner surface (44) and an inner circumferential flange (45) that match the circumferential radial outer surface (36) and the outer end face (37) of the support (35), respectively, and the inner circumferential flange (45) is also formed with screw holes (46) that correspond to the threaded bores (38) of the support (35), allowing the screws to pass through them to fasten the base (43) to the support (35). [5] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 4, wherein a radial load bearing surface (P) is formed between the circumferential radial inner surface (44) of the base (43) and the circumferential radial outer surface (36) of the support (35), wherein the bearing surface (P) as a whole is axially preloaded to an inner side of the integral outer ring element (33, 34), and the at least two rows of bearings (31, 32) on the outer side are provided with rolling elements which have a smaller dimension than the inner side. [6] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 5, wherein the wheel bearing arrangement (1) is provided for use with a driven wheel of the vehicle, wherein the steering knuckle (2) is provided with a driver shaft (20) inside it, wherein the driver shaft (20) is formed with an outer circumferential flange (21), wherein the outer circumferential flange (21) is provided with screw holes that allow the screws to pass through it, and wherein a set of screws (5) fasten the driver shaft (20), the adapter (4) and the integral outer ring element (33, 34) together by means of a spacer ring (50), wherein the spacer ring (50) is an annular element that is provided between the outer circumferential flange (21) of the driver shaft (20) and the inner circumferential flange (45) of the adapter (4), with screw holes (53) formed inside it, which is formed such that the screws pass through it to provide an axial support for the screw fastening. [7] Vehicle wheel bearing assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the wheel bearing assembly (1) is intended for use with a non-driven wheel of the vehicle, comprises an end cover (23) that encloses the steering knuckle (2) and the bearing unit (3) from the outside, wherein the end cover (23) is formed with a radial outer edge (24), wherein the radial outer edge (24) is formed with screw holes that allow the screws to pass through it, and wherein a set of screws (5) connects the end cover, the integral outer ring element (33, 34) and the adapter (4) to each other by means of a spacer ring (50), wherein the spacer ring (50) is an annular element that is provided between the radial outer edge (24) of the end cover (23) and the inner circumferential flange (45) of the adapter (4), with screw holes (53) formed on the inside that are suitable for passing the screws to provide axial support for the To provide screw fastening.[8] Vehicle wheel bearing assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the wheel bearing assembly (1) is intended for use with a non-driven wheel of the vehicle, comprises an end cover (23) that encloses the steering knuckle (2) and the bearing unit (3) from the outside, wherein the end cover (23) is formed with a radial outer edge (24), wherein a set of screws (5) connects the integral outer ring element (33, 34) and the adapter (4) by means of a spacer ring (50) and presses the radial outer edge (24) of the end cover (23) against the integral outer ring element (33, 34) and / or the spacer ring (50) using screw heads (51) and / or screw washers (52), wherein the spacer ring (50) is an annular element that is located between the screw heads (51) and / or screw washers (52) and the inner circumferential flange (45) of the adapter (4) is provided, with screw holes formed inside (53),which are suitable for guiding the screws in order to provide axial support for the screw fastening. [9] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the spacer ring (50) is made of a lightweight material that is lighter than bearing steel. [10] Vehicle wheel bearing arrangement (1) according to claim 9, wherein the lightweight material is aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

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