WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY IN A HUB CARRIER
The wheel bearing assembly addresses compactness and mounting challenges by using through-mounting holes in the centering skirt's notches for direct axial assembly, achieving efficient and compact wheel bearing assembly on hub carriers.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023007387
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-07-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing wheel bearing assemblies face challenges in compactness and efficient mounting on hub carriers due to the dependency between the centering skirt diameter and the outer ring positioning, requiring tools that interfere radially between the flange and the outer ring, which compromises axial compactness.
The wheel bearing assembly incorporates through-mounting holes in the centering skirt's notches, allowing direct axial insertion of assembly pins to shrink the outer bearing ring into the hub carrier recess, eliminating the need for radial tools and enhancing compactness by reducing the distance between the outer ring and flange.
This approach enables compact wheel bearing assemblies with improved axial compactness and efficient mounting, reducing the distance between the outer ring and flange to less than 20 mm, facilitating assembly without radial interference and maintaining rolling body integrity.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY IN A HUB CARRIER TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a wheel bearing assembly, and to its assembly in a recess formed in a hub carrier. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Document FR2852368 describes a wheel bearing assembly comprising a wheel hub and a rolling bearing. The wheel hub defines a reference axis and comprises a fixing flange and a centering skirt. The rolling bearing comprises at least one outer bearing ring and two rows of rolling bodies positioned between two raceways formed on the outer bearing ring and two raceways secured to the wheel hub, one formed directly on the wheel hub and the other on an inner ring attached to the wheel hub. The wheel bearing is intended to be mounted on a hub carrier which is located on one side of the flange opposite the centering skirt.To facilitate assembly, through-mounting holes oriented parallel to the reference axis are formed on the wheel hub, radially outside the centering skirt, so as to open opposite a flat annular end transverse face of the outer ring, which makes it possible, by inserting a mounting tool through the mounting holes, to exert an axial mounting force directly on the outer ring to shrink it into a recess of a hub carrier, without stressing the hub.
[0003] This arrangement, however, introduces a dependency between the maximum diameter of the centering skirt and the positioning of the transverse end face of the outer ring, the mounting holes being located radially outside the skirt and opposite the transverse end face of the outer ring.
[0004] Wheel hubs are also known whose centering skirt is notched and has lobes separated by notches, as illustrated for example in documents JP2017094978A, JP2006273246A, DE102012219903B4 or DE102009015950A1. This arrangement makes it possible in particular to save material and to reduce the mass of the wheel hub. In each of these documents, the hub comprises a flange with fixing holes, for fixing a wheel rim, and a brake disc, these fixing holes being located radially outside an outer casing of the skirt. The means for mounting on a hub carrier are not not explained, which suggests that, for mounting the wheel bearing assembly on a hub carrier, a tool is used which goes around the flange of the wheel hub and is inserted radially between the flange and the outer ring of the rolling bearing to exert an axial shrinking force directly on the outer ring of the bearing. Such a tool can, for example, take the form of two half-moons whose inner and outer diameters are smaller than the outer diameter of the outer ring of the bearing. Such an arrangement requires maintaining a sufficient axial distance between the outer ring of the bearing and the flange, which is detrimental to axial compactness. Statement of the invention
[0005] The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art and to propose means for facilitating the mounting of a wheel hub on a hub carrier, without the constraints imposed in the state of the art.
[0006] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a wheel bearing assembly is proposed comprising: a wheel hub and a rolling bearing. The wheel hub has a reference axis and comprises a fixing flange, a centering skirt located on an outer axial side of the wheel hub and through mounting holes oriented parallel to the reference axis. The rolling bearing is located on an inner axial side of the flange and comprises at least one outer bearing ring and rolling bodies positioned between one or more outer raceways formed on the outer bearing ring and one or more inner raceways secured to the wheel hub. The outer bearing ring comprises a planar annular end transverse face positioned axially opposite the through mounting holes.The centering skirt comprises lobes of material axially projecting relative to the fixing flange and separated two by two by notches each having a notch bottom, through mounting holes being formed at least partially in at least some of the notch bottoms.
[0007] To mount the wheel bearing assembly in a recess of a hub carrier, it is sufficient to position the outer bearing ring, previously mounted on the wheel hub, at an opening of the recess of the hub carrier, to insert assembly pins into the mounting holes which thus come into contact with the transverse end face of the outer bearing ring, then, using the assembly pins, to apply an axial force directly to the outer bearing ring so as to shrink the outer bearing ring into the recess of the hub carrier. The through mounting holes therefore allow assembly without using a tool inserted radially between the hub flange and the outer bearing ring. outer bearing ring, and therefore allowing a rapprochement between the outer bearing ring and the hub flange. The positioning of the mounting holes in notches in the centering skirt makes it possible to enlarge the diameter of the centering skirt relative to the inside diameter of the end face of the outer bearing ring.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, each of the through mounting holes opens onto a flat face of one of the notch bottoms. It is thus easier to machine the mounting holes during the manufacture of the wheel hub.
[0009] According to one embodiment, each of the through mounting holes is positioned radially at least partially within an outer geometric envelope of the centering skirt.
[0010] According to one embodiment, each of the through mounting holes is positioned radially at least partially outside an inner geometric envelope of the centering skirt;
[0011] According to one embodiment, each of the through mounting holes has a central axis intersecting a planar annular end transverse face of the outer bearing ring.
[0012] The axial insertion of the mounting tools through the mounting holes makes it possible to bring the outer ring closer to the flange of the wheel hub, since it is not necessary to insert a mounting tool radially between the two. Thus, preferably, the transverse end face of the outer bearing ring is located at a distance from the flange, measured parallel to the reference axis, which is less than 20 mm, and preferably less than 10 mm. It is thus possible to reduce the axial size of the bearing assembly or, at constant axial size, to increase the distance between two rows of rolling bodies guided by two outer raceways formed on the outer ring and two inner raceways fixed relative to the hub.
[0013] Preferably one or more of the following features are achieved: • the wheel hub is a single-piece metal part; and / or • the rolling bodies are arranged in two rows of rolling bodies, and / or • the inner raceway(s) include at least one raceway bearing formed directly on the wheel hub; and / or • the inner raceway(s) comprise at least one raceway formed on an inner bearing ring shrunk onto a cylindrical surface of the wheel hub; and / or • the flange has a circular outer perimeter, further from the reference axis than an outer perimeter of the transverse face of the outer ring; and / or • holes for fixing a wheel rim are formed radially outside an outer casing of the skirt.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a method of assembling a wheel bearing assembly in a recess of a hub carrier, according to which: • a wheel hub is formed, the wheel hub having a reference axis and comprising a fixing flange and a centering skirt, the centering skirt comprising lobes of material separated two by two by notches each having a notch bottom, through mounting holes being formed in at least some of the notch bottoms parallel to the reference axis, • a rolling bearing is mounted on the wheel hub comprising at least one outer bearing ring and rolling bodies positioned between at least one raceway formed on the outer bearing ring and at least one raceway secured to the wheel hub, the outer bearing ring comprising a planar annular end transverse face positioned axially opposite the through mounting holes, • the outer bearing ring is positioned at a mouth of the hub carrier recess, • assembly pins are inserted into the through mounting holes and brought into contact with the transverse face of the flat annular end of the outer bearing ring, and an axial force is applied directly to the outer bearing ring so as to shrink the outer bearing ring into the recess of the hub carrier.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the forming of the wheel hub includes the machining of each of the through mounting holes, opening onto a flat face of one of the notch bottoms.
[0016] Preferably, each of the through-mounting holes is positioned radially at least partially within an outer geometric envelope of the centering skirt. Preferably, each of the through-mounting holes is positioned radially at least partially outside an inner geometric envelope of the centering skirt. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures.
[0018] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is an axial sectional view of a wheel bearing assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an isometric view of an outer axial side of a hub of wheel of the bearing assembly of [Fig. 1].
[0020] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an isometric view of an inner axial side of a hub of wheel of the bearing assembly of [Fig. 1].
[0021] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED description of embodiments
[0022] In [Fig. 1] there is illustrated a wheel bearing assembly 10 comprising a wheel hub 12 and a rolling bearing 14.
[0023] The wheel hub 12, illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3, is constituted by a metal part. The wheel hub 12 defines a reference axis A of the bearing assembly 10 and comprises a fixing flange 16 having a face 18 facing axially on a so-called outer side of the wheel hub 12 and an opposite face 19 facing axially on a so-called inner side of the wheel hub 12, this with reference to the positioning on the vehicle for which this assembly 10 is intended, the outer side being facing the outside of the vehicle.
[0024] On the outer axial side of the flange 16, the wheel hub 12 forms a centering skirt 20 extending radially between an inner geometric envelope 23 and an outer geometric envelope 27. In known manner, fixing holes 21 for fixing a wheel rim and a brake disc are formed, radially outside the outer envelope 27 of the skirt 20. These holes 21 are preferably through-holes.
[0025] On the inner side of the flange 16, the wheel hub 12 constitutes a barrel 22, which can be hollow or solid, on which are formed an inner raceway 24 of the rolling bearing 14, and a cylindrical bearing surface 26 for the hooping of an inner bearing ring 28 on which is formed an additional inner raceway 25 of the rolling bearing 14.
[0026] In addition to the inner raceways {24, 25}, the rolling bearing 14 comprises a one-piece metal outer raceway 30 on which an outer raceway 31 and an additional raceway 32 are formed, respectively surrounding the inner raceway 25 and the additional inner raceway 24. Rolling bodies 33, in this case balls, are positioned in two rows between the outer {31, 32} and inner {24, 25} raceways.
[0027] The centering skirt 20 is here made up of lobes of material 34, axially projecting relative to the fixing flange 16, and separated two by two by notches 36 each having a flat notch bottom 38. The number of lobes 34 is greater than or equal to two, and preferably greater than or equal to three. The lobes 34 are positioned radially between the outer casing 27 and the inner casing 23.
[0028] The outer bearing ring 30 has a flat annular end transverse face 44 facing the flange 16. Through mounting holes 45 are machined in the wheel hub 12, oriented parallel to the reference axis A, and opening directly opposite the end transverse face 44 of the outer ring 30.
[0029] Remarkably, the mounting holes 45 are positioned in at least some of the notch bottoms 38, so as to each open onto a flat face of one of the notch bottoms 38 while being positioned radially at least partially, and where appropriate completely, inside the outer geometric envelope 27 of the centering skirt 20 and at least partially, and where appropriate completely, outside the inner geometric envelope 23 of the centering skirt 20. It is thus possible to obtain a wheel bearing assembly 10 whose outer ring 30 of the rolling bearing 14 and the centering skirt 20 are, seen in projection on a transverse plane, overlapping.
[0030] To assemble the wheel bearing assembly 10 in a recess 46 of the hub carrier 50, the outer bearing ring 30 is positioned at a mouth 52 of the recess 46 of the hub carrier 50, and assembly pins are inserted into the through mounting holes (45) from the outer axial side of the flange 16. When the assembly pins come into contact with the outer bearing ring 30, they apply an axial force directly to the outer bearing ring 30 so as to shrink the outer bearing ring 30 into the recess 46 of the hub carrier 50, which avoids unnecessary stress on the rolling bodies 33.
[0031] Naturally, the examples shown in the figures and discussed above are given for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting. It is explicitly provided that the different embodiments illustrated can be combined with each other to propose others.
Claims
1.
2.
3. Claims Wheel bearing assembly (10) comprising: - a wheel hub (12), the wheel hub (12) having a reference axis (A) and comprising a fixing flange (16), a centering skirt (20) located on an outer axial side of the wheel hub (12) and through mounting holes (45) oriented parallel to the reference axis (A), - a rolling bearing (14) located on an inner axial side of the flange (16), the bearing (14) comprising at least one outer bearing ring (30) and rolling bodies (33) positioned between one or more outer raceways (31, 32) formed on the outer bearing ring (30) and one or more inner raceways (24, 25) secured to the wheel hub (12), the outer bearing ring (30) comprising a planar annular end transverse face (44) positioned axially opposite the through mounting holes (45), characterized in that the centering skirt (20) comprises lobes of material (34) axially projecting relative to the fixing flange (16) and separated two by two by notches (36) each having a notch bottom (38), through mounting holes (45) being formed at least partially in at least some of the notch bottoms (38). Wheel bearing assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the through mounting holes (45) opens onto a flat face of one of the notch bottoms (38). Wheel bearing assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - each of the through mounting holes (45) is positioned radially at least partially inside an outer geometric envelope (27) of the centering skirt (20) and / or - each of the through mounting holes (45) is positioned radially at least partially outside an inner geometric envelope (23) of the centering skirt (20); - each of the through mounting holes (45) has a central axis intersecting a planar annular end transverse face (44) of the outer bearing ring (30).
4. Wheel bearing assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse end face (44) of the outer bearing ring (30) is located at a distance from the flange (16), measured parallel to the reference axis (A), which is less than 20 mm, and preferably less than 10 mm.
5. Wheel bearing assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the wheel hub (12) is a single-piece metal part; and / or - the rolling bodies (33) are arranged in two rows of rolling bodies, and / or - the inner raceway(s) (24, 25) comprise at least one raceway (24) formed directly on the wheel hub (12); and / or - the inner raceway(s) (24, 25) comprise at least one raceway (25) formed on an inner bearing ring (28) shrunk onto a cylindrical bearing surface (26) of the wheel hub (12); and / or - the flange (16) has a circular outer perimeter, further from the reference axis (A) than an outer perimeter of the transverse face (44) of the outer ring (30);and / or - fixing holes (21) of a wheel rim are formed radially outside an outer casing (27) of the skirt (20).;
6. Method for assembling a wheel bearing assembly (10) in a recess (46) of a hub carrier (50), according to which: - a wheel hub (12) is formed, the wheel hub (12) having a reference axis (A) and comprising a fixing flange (16) and a centering skirt (20), the centering skirt (20) comprising lobes of material (34) separated two by two by notches (36) each having a notch bottom (38), through mounting holes (45) being formed in at least some of the notch bottoms (38) parallel to the reference axis (A), - a rolling bearing (14) is mounted on the wheel hub (12) comprising at least one outer bearing ring (30) and rolling bodies (33) positioned between at least one raceway (31) formed on the outer bearing ring (30) and at least one raceway (24) integral with the wheel hub (12), the outer bearing ring (30) comprising a planar annular end transverse face (44) positioned axially opposite the through mounting holes (45), - the outer bearing ring (30) is positioned at a mouth (52) of the recess (46) of the hub carrier (50), - assembly pins are inserted into the through mounting holes (45) the transverse face of the flat annular end (44) of the outer bearing ring (30) is brought into contact,and an axial force is applied directly to the outer bearing ring (30) so as to shrink the outer bearing ring (30) into the recess (46) of the hub carrier (50).
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the forming of the wheel hub (12) includes the machining of each of the through mounting holes (45), opening onto a flat face of one of the notch bottoms (38).
8. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that each of the through mounting holes (45) is positioned radially at least partially inside an outer geometric envelope (27) of the centering skirt (20).
9. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that each of the through mounting holes (45) is positioned radially at least partially outside an inner geometric envelope (23) of the centering skirt (20).