VEHICLE WHEEL BEARINGS

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing can be provided for the rotatable mounting and support of a vehicle wheel on a vehicle body. The vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise: a wheel hub to which a vehicle wheel is attached and which rotates together with the vehicle wheel; at least one inner ring attached to the wheel hub; an outer ring rigidly connected to an element on the vehicle body; a plurality of rolling elements configured to rotatably support the wheel hub and the inner rings relative to the outer ring; and a sealing element configured to prevent the ingress of foreign substances.According to one embodiment of the present invention, an axially inner end face of the wheel hub or inner ring can be provided with a face tooth section, and the face tooth section can be configured to engage with a corresponding face tooth section formed on a constant velocity joint to transmit drive force. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element can comprise: an outer sealing element configured to provide a seal at an axially outer end section of a bearing chamber in which the rolling elements are located; an inner sealing element configured to provide a seal at an axially inner end section of the bearing chamber; and a sealing element for the face tooth section configured to provide a seal around the face tooth section.According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element for the face gear section can be configured to be press-fitted to an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring, and a stop section can be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring, so that movement of the sealing element for the face gear section by the stop section is prevented.

Description

wheel bearings for vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel bearing that supports a vehicle wheel by rotatably mounting it on a vehicle body, and more specifically, to a vehicle wheel bearing configured to transmit power through a cross-sectional tooth portion (face-spline) formed on an axial cross-section.

[0002] A wheel bearing is a device that supports a vehicle's wheel by rotatably mounting it to the vehicle body. It can be divided into a wheel bearing for a driving wheel used for the vehicle's driving wheel and a wheel bearing for a driven wheel used for the vehicle's driven wheel.

[0003] Referring to Fig. 1, the structure of a wheel bearing for a conventional drive shaft is illustrated as an example.

[0004] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wheel bearing (10) is configured to support the wheel of the vehicle rotatably with respect to the body by connecting a rotating element [e.g., wheel hub (20) and inner ring (30)] on which the wheel is mounted to a non-rotating element [e.g., outer ring (40)] fixed to the body through a rolling element (50), and a constant velocity joint (60) is coupled to one side of the wheel bearing (10) to transmit power generated from the driving device to the wheel bearing (10).

[0005] Meanwhile, the constant velocity joint (60) can be formed in a structure in which a cloud member (80; for example, a ball member) and an inner member supporting the same are accommodated within an outer member (70), and a central shaft (90) connected to a driving device is coupled to the inner member, and an axially extending stem portion (75) is formed at an axially outer end of the outer member (70), so that splines formed on the outer surface of the stem portion (75) are configured to mesh with and be coupled with splines formed on the inner surface of the wheel hub (20).

[0006] However, since the wheel bearing (10) of this structure is configured to transmit power by meshing the axial spline formed in the stem portion (75) of the constant velocity joint (60) with the axial spline formed in the wheel hub (20), a long stem portion (75) that penetrates the wheel hub (20) must be formed in the constant velocity joint (60), which may increase the weight of the wheel bearing assembly and cause problems such as noise or vibration during acceleration / deceleration.

[0007] As a means to improve these problems, a vehicle wheel bearing has been proposed in the field of vehicle wheel bearings in which a cross-section of a rotating element of the wheel bearing (e.g., wheel hub, inner ring, etc.) and an axial cross-section of a constant velocity joint are formed with a cross-section tooth profile (face-spline), and then power is transmitted through the tooth-tooth engagement of this cross-section tooth profile.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle wheel bearing configured to transmit power through a cross-sectional tooth portion formed on an axial cross-section of a wheel bearing and a constant velocity joint, wherein the sealing member and the structure of the mounting portion thereof are improved to enhance assembly and sealing properties.

[0009] A representative configuration of the present invention to achieve the aforementioned purpose is as follows.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing is provided that supports a wheel of a vehicle by being rotatably mounted on a vehicle body. The vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: a wheel hub on which a wheel of the vehicle is mounted and rotates together with the wheel of the vehicle; one or more inner rings mounted on the wheel hub; an outer ring coupled to and fixed to a body-side member; a plurality of rolling elements that support the wheel hub and the inner ring so as to be rotatably relative to the outer ring; and a sealing member that prevents the inflow of external foreign substances. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a cross-sectional tooth portion may be provided on an inner axial cross-section of the wheel hub or the inner ring, such that the cross-sectional tooth portion may be configured to be in tooth engagement with a corresponding cross-sectional tooth portion formed in a constant velocity joint to transmit power. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member may include: an outboard side sealing member that performs sealing at an outer axial end portion of a bearing space in which rolling elements are located; It may include an inboard side sealing member that performs sealing at the inner axial end portion of the bearing space where the rolling element is located; and a tooth sealing member that performs sealing around a cross-sectional tooth portion. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tooth sealing member may be configured to be press-fitted and mounted on the outer circumference of the inner ring, and a stopper portion may be provided on the outer circumference of the inner ring so that movement of the tooth sealing member is prevented by the stopper portion.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inboard side sealing member can be configured to be press-fitted onto the tooth-shaped sealing member and mounted thereon.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an axially inner end portion of the inner ring may be provided with an extension formed to extend axially inward, and an inclined portion whose diameter becomes smaller as it moves axially inward may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the extension portion.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tooth sealing member may be configured to be placed in a state spaced apart from the inclined portion.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inclined portion may be formed as an inclined surface having an inclination angle of 30° or less with respect to the axial direction.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tooth sealing member may include a frame and an elastic sealing member attached to the frame, and the tooth sealing member may be configured such that the frame is press-fitted onto the outer surface of the inner ring and mounted thereon.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame of the tooth-shaped sealing member may include a press-fit portion in which the inboard-side sealing member is mounted; and a diameter reduction portion located on an axially inner portion of the press-fit portion.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic sealing portion of the tooth-shaped sealing member can be formed by being attached to a diameter-reducing portion of the frame, and the outer surface of the elastic sealing portion of the tooth-shaped sealing member can be formed to have a diameter smaller than the outer surface of the press-fit portion of the frame.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame of the tooth-shaped sealing member may include a radially bent portion at an axial outer end portion.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic sealing portion of the tooth-shaped sealing member may be provided with one or more sealing lips, and the sealing lips may be configured to perform sealing by contacting one side of the constant velocity joint.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion may be formed in a protrusion or step shape protruding radially from the outer surface of the inner ring, so that one side of the tooth sealing member is caught on the stopper portion in the protrusion or step shape and prevented from moving.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the radially outer end of the axial contact section in contact with the tooth-shaped sealing member in the stopper portion may be configured to be positioned radially outer compared to the outer circumferential surface of the press-fit portion of the frame of the tooth-shaped sealing member.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the axial length from the axial outer end of the inclined portion to the axial contact surface of the stopper portion may be formed to be greater than the axial length from the axial contact surface of the stopper portion to the inner axial end of the rolling element located axially inward.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion may be formed as a recessed structure that is sunken in the radial direction from the outer surface of the inner ring, so that one side of the tooth sealing member is caught on the stopper portion of the recessed structure to prevent movement.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the axial length from the axial outer end of the inclined portion to the center of the recess of the stopper portion may be formed to be smaller than the axial length from the center of the recess of the stopper portion to the inner axial end of the driving element located axially inward.

[0025] In addition, the vehicle wheel bearing according to the present invention may further include other additional components within a range that does not impair the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0026] A vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to transmit power through tooth engagement of cross-sectional tooth portions, thereby simplifying the structure of the wheel bearing and reducing its weight compared to a conventional vehicle wheel bearing that transmits power through axial spline engagement.

[0027] In addition, a vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured such that an inboard side sealing member is press-fitted onto a tooth sealing member that seals a cross-sectional tooth portion, so that the inboard side sealing member and the tooth sealing member can be easily mounted together on the inner ring without providing multiple mounting portions on the inner ring.

[0028] In addition, a vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured so that a stopper part is provided on the outer circumference of the inner ring into which the tooth sealing member is press-fitted, so that when the tooth sealing member is press-fitted onto the inner ring and / or when the inboard side sealing member is press-fitted onto the tooth sealing member and mounted, the problem of the tooth sealing member being pushed and moved by the press-fitting force can be prevented.

[0029] Figure 1 illustrates the structure of a typical vehicle wheel bearing (wheel bearing for a drive shaft).

[0030] Figures 2 and 3 exemplarily illustrate the structure of a wheel bearing for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2 illustrates a wheel bearing with a constant velocity joint attached, and Figure 3 illustrates a wheel bearing with the constant velocity joint omitted.]

[0031] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate cross-sectional structures of a vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4 illustrates a wheel bearing with a constant velocity joint attached, and Figure 5 illustrates a wheel bearing with the constant velocity joint omitted.]

[0032] FIG. 6 exemplarily illustrates the structure of an inner ring that can be used in a vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates the structure of a tooth sealing member that can be used in a vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the structure of a portion where an inboard side sealing member and a tooth sealing member are mounted in a vehicle wheel bearing illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0035] Figures 9 and 10 illustrate examples of modifications of a stopper part that prevents the tooth sealing member from sliding.

[0036] <Explanation of symbols>

[0037] 100: Wheel bearings for vehicles

[0038] 200: Wheel hub

[0039] 210: Wheel mounting flange

[0040] 220: Inner ring mounting part

[0041] 230: Forming Department

[0042] 240: Spline joint

[0043] 250: Press-fit mounting part

[0044] 300: Inner ring

[0045] 310: Cross-sectional tooth section

[0046] 320: Recess

[0047] 330: Axial spline section

[0048] 340: Cylindrical press-fitting part

[0049] 350: (Inner ring) outer surface

[0050] 360: Extension (of the inner ring)

[0051] 370: Stopper section

[0052] 400: Outer ring

[0053] 410: Body side mounting flange

[0054] 500: Electric body

[0055] 600: Outboard side sealing member

[0056] 700: Inboard side sealing member

[0057] 800: Tooth sealing member

[0058] 810: Frame (of the tooth sealing member)

[0059] 820: Elastic sealing part (of the tooth sealing member)

[0060] 900: Constant velocity joint

[0061] 910: Corresponding cross-sectional tooth profile (of constant velocity joint)

[0062] The embodiments described below are provided for the purpose of explaining the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented below or the specific description thereof.

[0063] All technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the meaning commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains unless otherwise defined, and all terms used in this specification have been selected for the purpose of more clearly explaining the present invention and have not been selected to limit the scope of the rights of the present invention.

[0064] As used herein, expressions such as “including,” “comprising,” “having,” etc. should be understood as open-ended terms implying the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence in which the expression is included.

[0065] In this specification, “axial” means a direction extending along the rotational center axis of the wheel bearing (“axially inward” means a direction toward the body side, and “axially outward” means a direction toward the wheel side), “radially” means a direction away from or closer to the rotational center axis perpendicular to the “axial direction,” and “circumferential” means a rotational direction centered on the aforementioned “axial direction.”

[0066] Where a component is described herein as extending axially or radially, it should be understood that this may include extending not only parallel to the axial or radial direction, but also obliquely to the axial or radial direction, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence containing the expression.

[0067] The singular forms used in this specification may include plural meanings unless otherwise stated, and the same applies to the singular forms used in the claims.

[0068] When a component is referred to herein as being “positioned” or “formed” on one side of another component, it should be understood that the component is positioned or formed in direct contact with one side of the other component, or may be positioned or formed with another new component interposed therebetween.

[0069] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail to a degree that those skilled in the art can easily practice the present invention. In the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are indicated by the same reference numerals, and in the description of the embodiments below, redundant description of identical or corresponding components may be omitted. However, even if a description of a specific component is omitted in the description below, this is not intended to mean that such component is not included in the corresponding embodiment.

[0070] Referring to the drawings, a vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is exemplarily illustrated. As illustrated in the drawings, the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be formed with an overall structure similar to that of a conventional vehicle wheel bearing.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wheel bearing (100) for a vehicle may be configured to include a wheel hub (200) on which a wheel of the vehicle is mounted and which rotates together with the wheel of the vehicle; an inner ring (300) mounted on the wheel hub (200); an outer ring (400) coupled and fixed to a body-side member; and a plurality of rolling elements (500) that support the wheel hub (200) and the inner ring (300) so as to be able to rotate relative to the outer ring (400).

[0072] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the wheel hub (200) may be formed in a substantially cylindrical structure extending in the axial direction, and a wheel mounting flange (210; hub flange) may be provided on one outer peripheral surface of the wheel hub (200). The wheel mounting flange (210) is formed in a shape extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel hub (200) and may be used to mount a wheel of a vehicle to the wheel hub (200) using a hub bolt or the like. Meanwhile, an inner ring (300) may be configured to be press-fitted and mounted on an end portion of the body side of the wheel hub (200), and a raceway surface (inner raceway surface) of a rolling element may be formed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel hub (200) to support the rolling element (500) from the radially inner side.

[0073] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inner ring (300) may be configured to be mounted on the outer surface of the wheel hub (200) at least once, and a raceway surface (inner raceway surface) of a rolling element may be formed on the outer surface of the inner ring (300) to support the rolling element (500) from the radially inner side. For example, the inner ring (300) may be configured to be coupled to a mounting portion (220) provided near the body-side end of the wheel hub (200), and may be configured to be coupled on the wheel hub (200) while a predetermined preload is applied.

[0074] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the outer ring (400) may be configured to have a body-side mounting flange (410) on the outer circumference thereof, which is used to mount the wheel bearing (100) on a body-side member, and to have a raceway surface on the inner circumference thereof, with which the rolling element (500) comes into contact. The raceway surface (outer raceway surface) formed on the inner circumference of the outer ring (400) may be configured to cooperate with the raceway surface (inner raceway surface) formed on the wheel hub (200) and / or the inner ring (300) to accommodate and support the rolling element (500), which is a rolling element, between these raceway surfaces.

[0075] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electric body (500) is interposed between a rotating element of a wheel bearing (100) [e.g., wheel hub (200) and / or inner ring (300)] and a non-rotating element [e.g., outer ring (400)], and can perform a function of supporting the rotating element of the wheel bearing (100) so as to be able to rotate relative to the non-rotating element.

[0076] However, the above-described configurations of the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the structure shown in the drawing, and may be modified and formed into various structures applicable to the vehicle wheel bearing.

[0077] For example, in the case of the embodiment shown in the drawing, the vehicle wheel bearing (100) is configured in a form in which one side of the track surface for supporting the rolling element is directly formed on a part of the outer surface of the wheel hub (200), but the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by modifying it into another structure, such as by mounting two inner rings (300) on the wheel hub (200) to support the rolling element (500) through the two inner rings (300).

[0078] In addition, in the case of the embodiment shown in the drawing, the rolling element (500) that rotatably supports the rotating element of the wheel bearing (100) [e.g., wheel hub (200) and / or inner ring (200)] relative to the non-rotating element [e.g., outer ring (400)] is formed as a spherical ball member, but the rolling element (500) may be formed as a cloud element of a different shape, such as a tapered roller.

[0079] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a rotating element of a wheel bearing (e.g., wheel hub (200) or inner ring (200)) may be configured to have a cross-sectional tooth portion (310) on an axial cross-section so that the cross-sectional tooth portion (310) is tooth-coupled to a corresponding cross-sectional tooth portion (910) formed in a constant velocity joint (900) to transmit power.

[0080] For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing (100) is configured such that a cross-sectional tooth portion (310) is formed on the inner axial cross-section of the inner ring (300), and then such cross-sectional tooth portion (310) is tooth-engaged with a corresponding cross-sectional tooth portion (910) formed on the outer axial cross-section of a constant velocity joint (900). (See FIGS. 4 to 6)

[0081] However, in the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional tooth portion (310) does not have to be formed on the inner ring (300) as shown in the drawing, but may be modified and implemented so as to be formed on the inner axial cross-section of the wheel hub (200).

[0082] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it may be preferable that the cross-sectional tooth portion (310) of the wheel bearing (100) and the corresponding cross-sectional tooth portion (910) of the constant velocity joint (900) are formed so that the pressure angle of the teeth is 55° or more.

[0083] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a recess (320) may be provided on the inner surface of the axial inner end of the inner ring (300), so that the forming portion (230) of the wheel hub (200) for fixing the inner ring (300) may be formed by being received in this recess (320).

[0084] In this way, the vehicle wheel bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to transmit power through tooth engagement of cross-sectional tooth portions formed on the axial cross-sections of the wheel bearing and the constant velocity joint, so that there is no need to form an axial spline engagement by forming a stem portion extending axially in the constant velocity joint, thereby reducing the weight of the wheel bearing assembly and suppressing noise generated during the operation of the wheel bearing.

[0085] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an axial spline portion (330) may be provided on the inner surface of the inner ring (300), and this axial spline portion (330) may be configured to be coupled to a spline coupling portion (240) provided on the outer surface of the wheel hub (200) (specifically, the outer surface of the inner ring mounting portion (220) of the wheel hub (200)). For example, the axial spline portion (330) formed on the inner surface of the inner ring (300) may be configured to be spline-press-fitted into a spline coupling portion (240) provided on the wheel hub (200).

[0086] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a cylindrical press-fit portion (340) may be provided on the inner surface of the inner ring (300) at an axially outer portion compared to the axial spline portion (330) described above, and this cylindrical press-fit portion (340) may be configured to be press-fitted and coupled to a press-fit mounting portion (250) provided on the outer surface of the wheel hub (200) (specifically, the outer surface of the inner ring mounting portion (220) of the wheel hub (200)).

[0087] In this way, since the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to mount the inner ring (300) on the wheel hub (200) by using both a cylindrical press-fit portion and a spline portion, the inner ring (300) can be securely mounted and fixed on the wheel hub (200), and driving power can be stably transmitted to the wheel hub (200) on which the vehicle wheel is mounted.

[0088] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical press-fit portion (340) provided on the inner surface of the inner ring (300) may be formed to have a larger inner diameter than the axial spline portion (330), so as to prevent the cylindrical press-fit portion (340) from being damaged by the spline coupling portion (240) provided on the wheel hub (200) when the inner ring (300) is mounted on the wheel hub (200).

[0089] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing (100) may be configured to include a sealing member to prevent the inflow of external foreign substances.

[0090] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing (100) may be configured to prevent external foreign substances from entering the bearing space where the rolling element (500) is positioned by including an outboard side sealing member (600) that performs sealing at an outer axial end portion of a bearing space where the rolling element (500) is positioned and an inboard side sealing member (700) that performs sealing at an inner axial end portion of the bearing space where the rolling element (500) is positioned.

[0091] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the outboard side sealing member (600) and the inboard side sealing member (700) can be configured in a similar manner to a conventional vehicle wheel bearing, and since the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is not characterized by the specific structure of these sealing members, a detailed description thereof will be omitted in this specification.

[0092] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing (100) may further include a tooth sealing member (800) that performs sealing around a tooth joint (a portion where a cross-sectional tooth (310) provided on the wheel bearing (100) and a corresponding cross-sectional tooth (910) provided on the constant velocity joint (900) are tooth-joined).

[0093] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tooth sealing member (800) can be configured to be press-fitted and mounted on the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300), and can perform the function of surrounding the tooth joint from the radial outer side to prevent external foreign substances from entering the tooth joint.

[0094] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inboard side sealing member (700) that seals the axial inner end portion of the wheel bearing (100) can be configured to be press-fitted onto the tooth sealing member (800).

[0095] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle wheel bearing (100) is configured such that the inboard side sealing member (700) is press-fitted onto the tooth sealing member (800) and mounted, so that the inboard side sealing member (700) and the tooth sealing member (800) can be stably mounted together on the inner ring (300) without providing multiple mounting portions on the inner ring (300).

[0096] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tooth sealing member (800) may be configured to include a frame (810) forming a basic body and an elastic sealing member (820) attached to the frame (810).

[0097] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame (810) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) may be formed as a structure in which a metal plate is bent, and may be configured to be formed as an approximately cylindrical structure overall and be press-fitted and joined to the outer circumferential surface (350) of the inner ring (300).

[0098] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic sealing portion (820) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) may be formed integrally attached to one side of the frame (810), and the elastic sealing portion (820) may be provided with one or more sealing lips (822) so that the sealing lips (822) may be configured to contact one side of the constant velocity joint (900) to perform sealing.

[0099] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame (810) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) can be formed in a stepped structure so that the axially inner portion has a smaller diameter than the axially outer portion.

[0100] For example, the frame (810) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) is configured to include a press-fit portion (812) on which the inboard-side sealing member (700) is mounted; and a diameter reduction portion (814) located on the axial inner portion of the press-fit portion (812), so that when the inboard-side sealing member (700) is pressed and mounted on the tooth-shaped sealing member (800), interference does not occur on the axial inner portion of the frame (810).

[0101] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic sealing portion (820) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) may be configured to be provided only in an area excluding the press-fit portion (812) of the frame (810). [For example, the elastic sealing portion (820) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) may be configured to be provided only in an area of ​​the diameter-reduced portion (814) of the frame (810) as illustrated in the drawing.

[0102] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic sealing portion (820) is configured so that the outer circumference has a smaller diameter than the outer circumference of the press-fit portion (812) of the frame (810), so that when the inboard side sealing member (700) is press-fitted onto the tooth-shaped sealing member (800), interference does not occur due to the elastic sealing portion (820).

[0103] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame (810) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) may be configured to have a radially bent portion (816) at an axial outer end portion.

[0104] According to one embodiment of the present invention, this bending portion (816) can perform a function of preventing movement of the inboard side sealing member (700) by contacting the inboard side sealing member (700) when the inboard side sealing member (700) is pressed and mounted on the tooth-shaped sealing member (800), and can perform a function of preventing movement of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) by contacting the stopper portion (370) described below.

[0105] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an axially inner end portion of the inner ring (300) may be provided with an extension portion (360) formed to extend in the axial direction, and a cross-sectional tooth portion (310) may be configured to be formed in the axial cross section of the extension portion (360) of the inner ring (300).

[0106] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the extension (360) of the inner ring (300) may be configured to have an inclined portion (362) on the outer surface whose diameter becomes smaller as it moves axially inward, and the tooth sealing member (800) may be configured to be arranged in a state spaced apart from the inclined portion (362).

[0107] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inclined portion (362) provided on the outer surface of the extension portion (360) of the inner ring (300) may be formed as a straight inclined surface as shown in the drawing, or alternatively, may be formed as a curved inclined surface.

[0108] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it may be preferable that the inclined portion (362) provided on the outer surface of the extension portion (360) of the inner ring (300) be formed to have an inclination angle of 30° or less with respect to the axial direction.

[0109] If the inclined portion (362) provided on the outer surface of the extension portion (360) is formed to have an inclination angle greater than 30°, it may be difficult to form sufficient teeth for forming a cross-sectional tooth portion (330) on the axial cross-section of the extension portion (360) of the inner ring (300).

[0110] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a stopper part (370) may be provided on the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300), so that movement of the tooth sealing member (800) can be prevented by the stopper part (370).

[0111] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion (370) may be formed in a protrusion shape that protrudes radially from the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300), so that one side of the tooth sealing member (800) is caught by the protrusion-shaped stopper portion (370) and prevented from moving. (See Fig. 8)

[0112] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion (370) formed in a protrusion shape may be configured so that the radially outer end (A) of the axial contact section (372) that contacts the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) is positioned radially outer compared to the outer circumferential surface of the press-fit portion (812) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) for stable engagement / support with the tooth-shaped sealing member (800).

[0113] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion (370) formed in a protrusion shape may be configured such that the axial length from the axial outer end of the inclined portion (362) to the axial contact end surface (372) of the stopper portion (370) is formed to be greater than the axial length from the axial contact end surface (372) of the stopper portion (370) to the inner axial end of the rolling element (500; inboard-side rolling element) located axially inward, thereby sufficiently securing a press-fit surface for mounting the tooth sealing member (800).

[0114] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the radially outer portion of the axial contact cross-section (372) of the stopper portion (370) may be configured to have an outer corner portion (374) of a chamfer or rounding structure, and the corner portion of the radially inner portion of the axial cross-section (372) of the stopper portion (370) (the corner portion between the axial cross-section (372) of the stopper portion (370) and the outer peripheral surface (350) of the inner ring (300)) may be configured to have an undercut (376) of a sunken structure so as to easily perform a grinding process for forming a press-fit surface and stably perform mounting of the tooth sealing member (800).

[0115] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion (370) may be formed by being modified into various other structures capable of preventing movement of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) in addition to the aforementioned protrusion-shaped structure.

[0116] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, variations of the stopper portion (370) are exemplarily illustrated.

[0117] For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion (370) is formed as a recessed structure radially sunken from the outer circumferential surface (350) of the inner ring (300) as illustrated in FIG. 9, so that one side of the tooth sealing member (800) is caught on the stopper portion (370) of the recessed structure to prevent movement.

[0118] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the frame (810) of the tooth-shaped sealing member (800) is provided with a protrusion (818) protruding radially inward on the inner surface, and the protrusion (818) can be configured to be prevented from moving by being caught on a stopper portion (370) of a recess structure.

[0119] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper portion (370) of the recess structure may be configured so that the axial length from the axial outer end of the inclined portion (362) to the center of the recess of the stopper portion (370) is formed to be smaller than the axial length from the center of the recess of the stopper portion (370) to the inner axial end of the driving element (500; inboard-side driving element) located axially inward.

[0120] If the stopper part (370) of the recess structure is formed so that the axial length from the axial outer end of the inclined part (362) to the center of the recess of the stopper part (370) is greater than the axial length from the center of the recess of the stopper part (370) to the inner axial end of the rolling element (500; inboard-side rolling element) located axially inside, the axial length of the tooth sealing member (800) is greatly increased, which may cause an increase in cost.

[0121] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the stopper part (370) may be formed in a step structure as illustrated in FIG. 10, so that one side of the tooth sealing member (800) is caught on the stopper part (370) of the step structure and prevented from moving.

[0122] In this case, the step-shaped stopper portion (370) may be configured so that the axial length from the axial outer end of the inclined portion (362) to the axial contact section (372) of the stopper portion (370) is greater than the axial length from the axial contact section (372) of the stopper portion (370) to the inner axial end of the electric element (500; inboard-side electric element) located axially inside.

[0123] In this way, since the vehicle wheel bearing (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a stopper portion (370) on the outer circumferential surface (350) of the inner ring (300) on which the tooth sealing member (800) is mounted, when the inboard side sealing member (700) is pressed into and mounted on the tooth sealing member (800), the tooth sealing member (800) can be prevented from being pushed and moved by the pressing force.

[0124] Although the present invention has been described above with specific details such as specific components and limited examples, the above examples are provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations based on this description.

[0125] Therefore, the idea of ​​the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and all things that are modified equally or equivalently to the claims described below as well as the claims are considered to fall within the scope of the idea of ​​the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel bearing (100) that supports a vehicle wheel by rotatably mounting it on the vehicle body. A wheel hub (200) on which a vehicle wheel is mounted and which rotates together with the vehicle wheel; One or more inner rings (300) mounted on the wheel hub (200); An outer ring (400) that is fixed by being joined to a body-side member; A plurality of electric motors (500) that support the wheel hub (200) and the inner ring (300) so as to be able to rotate relative to the outer ring (400); Includes a sealing member that prevents the inflow of foreign substances from outside; The inner axial cross-section of the wheel hub (200) or the inner ring (300) is provided with a cross-sectional tooth portion (310), and the cross-sectional tooth portion (310) is configured to transmit power by being tooth-connected with a corresponding cross-sectional tooth portion (910) formed in a constant velocity joint (900). The sealing member includes an outboard sealing member (600) that performs sealing at an outer axial end portion of a bearing space where the rolling element (500) is located; an inboard sealing member (700) that performs sealing at an inner axial end portion of a bearing space where the rolling element (500) is located; and a tooth sealing member (800) that performs sealing around the cross-sectional tooth portion (310). The above-mentioned tooth sealing member (800) is configured to be installed by being pressed into the outer circumferential surface (350) of the inner ring (300), A stopper part (370) is provided on the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300), and the movement of the tooth sealing member (800) is prevented by the stopper part (370). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

2. In paragraph 1, The above inboard side sealing member (700) is configured to be mounted by being pressed onto the above tooth sealing member (800). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

3. In paragraph 2, The axial inner end portion of the inner ring (300) is provided with an extension portion (360) formed to extend axially inward. The outer surface of the above extension (360) is provided with an inclined portion (362) whose diameter becomes smaller as it moves inward in the axial direction. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

4. In paragraph 3, The above-mentioned tooth sealing member (800) is placed in a state spaced apart from the above-mentioned inclined portion (362). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

5. In paragraph 4, The above inclined portion (362) is formed as an inclined surface having an inclination angle of 30° or less with respect to the axial direction. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

6. In paragraph 2, The above-mentioned tooth sealing member (800) includes a frame (810) and an elastic sealing member (820) attached to the frame (810). The above-mentioned tooth sealing member (800) is configured so that the frame (810) is pressed into and mounted on the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

7. In paragraph 6, The frame (810) of the above-mentioned tooth-shaped sealing member (800) includes a press-fitting portion (812) on which the inboard-side sealing member (700) is mounted; and a diameter reduction portion (814) located on the axial inner portion of the press-fitting portion (812). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

8. In paragraph 7, The elastic sealing portion (820) of the above-mentioned tooth sealing member (800) is formed by being attached to the diameter reduction portion (814) of the above-mentioned frame (810), The outer surface of the elastic sealing portion (820) of the above-mentioned tooth-shaped sealing member (800) is formed to have a smaller diameter than the outer surface of the press-fit portion (812) of the above-mentioned frame (810). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

9. In paragraph 8, The frame (810) of the above-mentioned tooth-shaped sealing member (800) includes a radially bent portion (816) at the axial outer end portion. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

10. In paragraph 9, The elastic sealing portion (820) of the above-mentioned tooth-shaped sealing member (800) is provided with one or more sealing lips (822). The above sealing lip (822) is configured to perform sealing by contacting one side of the constant velocity joint (900). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

11. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, The above stopper part (370) is formed in a protrusion or step shape that protrudes radially from the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300), so that one side of the tooth sealing member (800) is caught on the stopper part (370) in the protrusion or step shape and prevented from moving. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

12. In paragraph 11, The radially outer end (A) of the axial contact section (372) in contact with the tooth sealing member (800) in the above stopper portion (370) is configured to be positioned radially outer compared to the outer surface of the press-fit portion (812) of the frame (810) of the tooth sealing member (800). Wheel bearings for vehicles.

13. In paragraph 12, The axial length from the axial outer end of the above-mentioned inclined portion (362) to the axial contact section (372) of the above-mentioned stopper portion (370) is formed to be greater than the axial length from the axial contact section (372) of the above-mentioned stopper portion (370) to the inner axial end of the driving element (500) located axially inside. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

14. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, The above stopper part (370) is formed as a recessed structure radially sunken from the outer surface (350) of the inner ring (300), so that one side of the tooth sealing member (800) is caught on the stopper part (370) of the recessed structure and prevented from moving. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

15. In paragraph 14, The axial length from the axial outer end of the above-mentioned inclined portion (362) to the center of the recess of the above-mentioned stopper portion (370) is formed to be smaller than the axial length from the center of the recess of the above-mentioned stopper portion (370) to the inner axial end of the driving body (500) located axially inside. Wheel bearings for vehicles.

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