Wheel bearing device

Abstract

The present invention provides a sealing device that can prevent the separation of the core metal and the slinger without increasing the space occupied and torque when they are stacked. [Solution] In the inner side sealing device 10 of the wheel bearing device 1, the elastic member 12 has a projection 125 that protrudes inward from the inner fitting portion 111 of the core metal 11 and is capable of contacting the magnetic encoder 15 in the axial direction. The projection 125 restricts the movement of the slinger 14 toward the side where the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 and the side plate portion 112 of the core metal 11 separate by contacting the magnetic encoder 15, and the projection 125 is formed on a part of the circumferential direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel bearing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a wheel bearing device that rotatably supports a wheel in a suspension device such as an automobile has been known. The wheel bearing device is provided with a sealing device that closes an open end of an annular space formed by an outer member and an inner member to prevent entry of foreign substances such as mud and water.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inner side sealing device that closes an inner side open end of an annular space between an outer member and an inner member in a wheel bearing device. The inner side sealing device described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a packing seal including a slinger that is fitted to an inner ring and to which a magnetic encoder is joined, and a core metal that is fitted to an outer ring and to which an elastic member is joined, and is press-fitted into the annular space between the outer member and the inner member in the wheel bearing device from the inner side.

[0004] In the press-fitting process of press-fitting the inner side sealing device into the annular space between the outer member and the inner member, a plurality of inner side sealing devices placed in a stacked state are taken out one by one and press-fitted into the wheel bearing device.

[0005] When a plurality of inner side sealing devices are stacked and placed, as shown in FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the core metal of the upper inner side sealing device and the magnetic encoder of the lower inner side sealing device are attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic encoder, which may hinder taking out the inner side sealing devices one by one.

[0006] Therefore, in the inner sealing device described in Patent Document 1, a projection is formed on the core of the inner sealing device using an elastic member, which protrudes toward the magnetic encoder of the adjacent inner sealing device when the devices are stacked. By providing a projection on the core, a gap is formed between the core and the magnetic encoder when the inner sealing devices are stacked, thereby preventing the core and the magnetic encoder from being attracted to each other.

[0007] Furthermore, when multiple inner-side sealing devices are stacked on top of each other, if the core metal and magnetic encoder attract each other, when removing one inner-side sealing device, the slinger of the placed inner-side sealing device may be lifted along with the core metal of the removed inner-side sealing device, potentially causing the core metal and slinger of the placed inner-side sealing device to separate.

[0008] Therefore, in the inner side sealing device described in Patent Document 2, before mounting to the wheel bearing device, the grease slip of the elastic member on the core metal side is brought into contact with the slinger, and the separation of the core metal and the slinger is suppressed by the reaction force of the grease slip against the slinger. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-141069 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-187218 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] However, in the inner sealing device described in Patent Document 1, a gap is formed between the core metal and the magnetic encoder by a projection provided on the core metal. This presents a problem in that when multiple inner sealing devices are stacked on top of each other, or when multiple inner sealing devices are transported in a stacked state, the space occupied by the stacked inner sealing devices increases.

[0011] Furthermore, when multiple inner-side sealing devices are stacked on top of each other, the slinger may be pushed in by the protrusions of adjacent inner-side sealing devices, causing the gap between the slinger and the core metal in the inner-side sealing device to become smaller than the normal gap. When the gap between the slinger and the core metal becomes smaller, the side lip of the elastic member that extends from the core metal side and contacts the slinger may be attracted to the slinger, potentially causing an increase in the torque of the inner-side sealing device.

[0012] Furthermore, in the inner sealing device described in Patent Document 2, if the reaction force of the grease slip against the slinger is set to be large in order to suppress the separation of the core metal and the slinger by the reaction force of the grease slip, the sliding resistance of the grease slip against the slinger will increase, which may cause an increase in the torque of the inner sealing device.

[0013] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a sealing device and a wheel bearing device that can suppress the separation of the core metal and the slinger without increasing the space occupied and torque when they are stacked. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] Specifically, the sealing device is a sealing device for sealing an annular space formed between an outer member and an inner member of a wheel bearing device, and comprises a slinger having an outer fitting portion fitted onto the inner member and an annular portion extending outward from the outer fitting portion, a magnetic encoder joined to one axial side of the annular portion of the slinger, a core metal having an inner fitting portion fitted onto the outer member and a side plate portion extending inward from the inner fitting portion and facing the annular portion in the axial direction, and an elastic member joined to the core metal, wherein the elastic member has a projection that protrudes inward from the inner fitting portion of the core metal and contacts the magnetic encoder in the axial direction, thereby restricting the movement of the slinger toward the side where the annular portion and the side plate portion separate, and the projection is formed on a part in the circumferential direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the separation of the core metal and the slinger without increasing the space occupied and torque when they are stacked. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a side cross-sectional view showing a wheel bearing device. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the inner sealing device. [Figure 3] This is a view of the inner sealing device from the inner side in the axial direction. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged view of the projection of the elastic member in the inner sealing device, as seen from the inner side in the axial direction. [Figure 5] This is a side cross-sectional view showing multiple inner sealing devices stacked vertically. [Figure 6] This is a side cross-sectional view showing an inner-side sealing device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple inner-side sealing devices according to the second embodiment are stacked vertically. [Figure 8]It is a side cross-sectional view showing an inner side sealing device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a plurality of inner side sealing devices according to the third embodiment are stacked in the vertical direction.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] [Wheel Bearing Device] The wheel bearing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a wheel bearing device provided with a sealing device according to the present invention, and rotatably supports a wheel in a suspension device of a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0019] In the following description, the axial direction represents the direction along the rotation axis X of the wheel bearing device 1, the radial direction represents the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis X of the wheel bearing device 1, and the circumferential direction represents the direction along an arc centered on the rotation axis X of the wheel bearing device 1. Further, the inner side represents one side in the axial direction and the vehicle body side of the wheel bearing device 1 when attached to the vehicle body, and the outer side represents the other side in the axial direction and the wheel side of the wheel bearing device 1 when attached to the vehicle body.

[0020] The wheel bearing device 1 has a configuration called the third generation, and includes an outer ring 2 which is an outer member, a hub ring 3 and an inner ring 4 which are inner members, two rows of inner side ball rows 5 and outer side ball rows 6 which are rolling element rows, an outer side sealing device 9, and an inner side sealing device 10. In the present embodiment, a 3 - lip seal is used as the outer side sealing device 9, and a pack seal is used as the inner side sealing device 10.

[0021] An inner side opening 2a into which the inner side sealing device 10 can be fitted is formed at the inner side end of the outer ring 2. An outer side opening 2b into which the outer side sealing device 9 can be fitted is formed at the outer side end of the outer ring 2.

[0022] The inner sealing device 10 is fitted into the inner opening 2a, thereby closing the inner opening end of the annular space S formed by the outer ring 2 (an outer member) and the hub ring 3 and inner ring 4 (inner members). The outer sealing device 9 is fitted into the outer opening 2b, thereby closing the outer opening end of the annular space S.

[0023] The inner sealing device 10 and the outer sealing device 9 are components that close the open end of the annular space S. By closing the inner and outer open ends of the annular space S in this way, the intrusion of foreign matter such as muddy water into the wheel bearing device 1 is suppressed.

[0024] The inner circumferential surface of the outer ring 2 has an inner outer raceway surface 2c and an outer outer raceway surface 2d. The outer circumferential surface of the outer ring 2 has a vehicle body mounting flange 2e integrally formed thereon for attaching the outer ring 2 to the vehicle body side member. The vehicle body mounting flange 2e is provided with bolt holes 2f into which fastening members (in this case, bolts) that fasten the vehicle body side member and the outer ring 2 are inserted.

[0025] A small-diameter stepped portion 3a, which is smaller in diameter than the outer end, is formed on the inner end of the outer surface of the hub wheel 3. A wheel mounting flange 3b for attaching a wheel is integrally formed on the outer end of the hub wheel 3. Multiple bolt holes 3e are formed in the wheel mounting flange 3b. Hub bolts 3f for fastening the hub wheel 3 to a wheel or brake component can be press-fitted into the bolt holes 3e.

[0026] In the hub wheel 3, a sliding contact surface 3d is formed on the base side of the wheel mounting flange 3b, into which the outer sealing device 9 slides. On the outer circumferential surface of the hub wheel 3, an inner raceway surface 3c is provided on the outer side, facing the outer raceway surface 2d of the outer ring 2. In other words, the inner raceway surface 3c is formed on the outer side of the inner member by the hub wheel 3.

[0027] An inner ring 4 is provided on the small-diameter stepped portion 3a of the hub wheel 3. The inner ring 4 is fixed to the small-diameter stepped portion 3a of the hub wheel 3 by press-fitting. The inner ring 4 applies preload to the rolling rows, which consist of the inner ball row 5 and the outer ball row 6.

[0028] The outer circumferential surface of the inner ring 4 is provided with an inner raceway surface 4a that faces the outer raceway surface 2c on the inner side of the outer ring 2. In other words, the inner raceway surface 4a is formed on the inner side of the inner member by the inner ring 4.

[0029] The inner ball row 5 and the outer ball row 6, which are rolling elements, are composed of multiple balls 7, which are rolling elements, held by a cage 8. The inner ball row 5 is rotatably sandwiched between the inner raceway surface 4a of the inner ring 4 and the inner outer raceway surface 2c of the outer ring 2. The outer ball row 6 is rotatably sandwiched between the inner raceway surface 3c of the hub ring 3 and the outer outer raceway surface 2d of the outer ring 2. In other words, the inner ball row 5 and the outer ball row 6 are rotatably housed between the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner members.

[0030] In the wheel bearing device 1, a double-row angular contact ball bearing is constructed from an outer ring 2, a hub ring 3 and an inner ring 4, an inner ball row 5, and an outer ball row 6. Alternatively, the wheel bearing device 1 may be configured with a double-row tapered roller bearing instead of the double-row angular contact ball bearing.

[0031] [Inner side sealing device] As shown in Figure 2, the inner sealing device 10 includes a sealing member 13 having a core metal 11 fitted onto the outer ring 2 and an elastic member 12 joined to the core metal 11, a slinger 14 fitted onto the inner ring 4, and a magnetic encoder 15 joined to the slinger 14.

[0032] The core metal 11 is made of, for example, a steel plate and consists of a cylindrical inner fitting portion 111 that fits onto the inner circumference of the inner opening 2a of the outer ring 2, and an annular side plate portion 112 that extends inward from the outer end of the inner fitting portion 111.

[0033] The side plate portion 112 has an outer diameter side portion 112a, an inner diameter side portion 112b, and a connecting portion 112c. The outer diameter side portion 112a is located at the outer diameter end of the side plate portion 112. The inner diameter side portion 112b is located on the inner diameter side of the outer diameter side portion 112a. The connecting portion 112c is located between the outer diameter side portion 112a and the inner diameter side portion 112b, and connects the outer diameter side portion 112a and the inner diameter side portion 112b. The outer diameter side portion 112a of the side plate portion 112 is the outermost part of the core metal 11.

[0034] The outer diameter side end of the outer diameter side portion 112a is connected to the outer side end of the inner fitting portion 111. The inner diameter side end of the outer diameter side portion 112a is connected to the outer diameter side end of the connecting portion 112c. The inner diameter side end of the connecting portion 112c is connected to the outer diameter side end of the inner diameter side portion 112b. The inner diameter side portion 112b is located on the inner side of the outer diameter side portion 112a, and the connecting portion 112c is inclined inward as it approaches the inner diameter side. The connection portion between the outer diameter side portion 112a and the connecting portion 112c, and the connection portion between the connecting portion 112c and the inner diameter side portion 112b in the side plate portion 112 are bent.

[0035] The elastic member 12 is made of, for example, synthetic rubber and is integrally bonded to the core metal 11 by vulcanization bonding. The elastic member 12 has a base portion 121 that is vulcanized and bonded to the core metal 11, and a grease lip 122, a first side lip 123, and a second side lip 124 that extend from the base portion 121 and are each formed in an annular shape. The grease lip 122, the first side lip 123, and the second side lip 124 are sealing lips of the elastic member 12.

[0036] The base portion 121 is joined to the inner circumferential surface, inner side end face, and inner side end of the outer circumferential surface of the inner fitting portion 111, as well as to the inner side surface, inner diameter side end face, and inner diameter side end of the outer side surface of the side plate portion 112.

[0037] The portion of the base 121 joined to the inner end face of the inner fitting portion 111 forms the inner end portion 121a. The portion of the base 121 joined to the inner circumferential surface of the inner fitting portion 111 forms the inner circumferential surface portion 121b. The inner circumferential surface of the inner circumferential surface portion 121b is an inclined surface that slopes toward the outer diameter as it moves from the outer side to the inner side.

[0038] The portion of the base 121 that is joined to the outer side surface of the side plate portion 112 is the outermost part of the base 121 and forms the outer end portion 121c. The outer side surface of the outer end portion 121c is located at a distance d inward from the outer side surface of the outer diameter side portion 112a of the side plate portion 112 of the core metal 11.

[0039] In other words, the outer end 121c of the elastic member 12 is located on the inner side of the outer diameter side portion 112a of the core metal 11. Note that the outer end 121c of the elastic member 12 is an example of the other axial end of the elastic member, and the outer diameter side portion 112a of the core metal 11 is an example of the other axial end of the core metal.

[0040] The portion of the base 121 that is joined to the outer circumferential surface of the inner fitting portion 111 is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the inner opening 2a of the outer ring 2. By pressing the portion of the base 121 that is joined to the outer circumferential surface of the inner fitting portion 111 against the inner circumferential surface of the inner opening 2a, foreign matter such as muddy water from the outside is prevented from entering the annular space S of the wheel bearing device 1 from between the outer ring 2 and the inner sealing device 10.

[0041] The grease lip 122 is located on the innermost side of the seal lip of the elastic member 12 and extends from the base 121 toward the inner and outer sides. The first side lip 123 is located on the outermost side of the seal lip of the elastic member 12 and extends from the base 121 toward the outer and inner sides. The second side lip 124 is located between the grease lip 122 and the first side lip 123 and extends from the base 121 toward the outer and inner sides.

[0042] The slinger 14 is made of, for example, a steel plate and has a cylindrical outer fitting portion 141 that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the inner end of the inner ring 4, and an annular ring portion 142 that extends from the inner end of the outer fitting portion 141 toward the outer diameter.

[0043] The annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 is located on the inner side of the side plate portion 112 of the mandrel 11 in the axial direction, and the annular portion 142 and the side plate portion 112 face each other in the axial direction.

[0044] The grease lip 122 of the elastic member 12 extends radially from the base 121 toward the outer fitting portion 141 of the slinger 14. The grease lip 122 faces the outer fitting portion 141 of the slinger 14 radially, and the tip of the grease lip 122 is in slidable contact with the outer fitting portion 141. In other words, the grease lip 124 is a contact lip that contacts the slinger 14.

[0045] The first side lip 123 of the elastic member 12 extends axially from the base 121 toward the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14. The first side lip 123 faces the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 in the axial direction, and the tip of the first side lip 123 is in slidable contact with the annular portion 142. In other words, the first side lip 123 is a contact lip that contacts the slinger 14.

[0046] The second side lip 124 of the elastic member 12 extends axially from the base 121 toward the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14. The second side lip 124 faces the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 in the axial direction, and the tip of the second side lip 124 is in slidable contact with the annular portion 142. In other words, the second side lip 124 is a contact lip that contacts the slinger 14.

[0047] The magnetic encoder 15 is bonded to the inner side surface of the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14. The magnetic encoder 15 has an inclined surface 151 at its outer diameter end. The inclined surface 151 is inclined towards the outer side as it extends towards the outer diameter.

[0048] The magnetic encoder 15 is made of synthetic rubber mixed with magnetic powder such as ferrite, and is integrally bonded to the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 by vulcanization bonding. The magnetic encoder 15 is vulcanized and bonded to the slinger 14 by insert molding together with the slinger 14, for example.

[0049] The magnetic encoder 15 has magnetic poles N and S magnetized alternately at equal pitches in the circumferential direction. By detecting changes in the magnetic flux density of the magnetic encoder 15 using a rotational speed sensor positioned opposite the magnetic encoder 15, it is possible to detect the rotational speed of the inner ring 4.

[0050] [Protrusions on elastic members] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the elastic member 12 has a projection 125 that protrudes inward from the inner end of the inner fitting portion 111 of the core metal 11. The projection 125 is inclined inward as it extends toward the inner diameter.

[0051] The protrusions 125 are formed on a portion of the circumferential direction. The protrusions 125 are formed intermittently at multiple locations in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the protrusions 125 are formed at four locations along the circumferential direction, and each protrusion 125 is arranged at equal intervals.

[0052] The projection 125 protrudes inward and toward the inner diameter from the boundary between the inner circumferential surface portion 121b and the inner end portion 121a of the base portion 121 of the elastic member 12. The inner end of the projection 125 is located outward from the inner end of the inner end portion 121a of the elastic member 12 and the inner end of the magnetic encoder 15.

[0053] The projection 125 overlaps with the magnetic encoder 15 when viewed from the axial direction, and the projection 125 and the inclined surface 151 of the magnetic encoder 15 face each other.

[0054] The projection 125 and the magnetic encoder 15 are configured to make contact when the slinger 14 moves away from the mandrel 11 in the axial direction. When the projection 125 and the magnetic encoder 15 make contact, the movement of the slinger 14 away from the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 and the side plate portion 112 of the mandrel 11 in the axial direction is restricted.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, when multiple inner sealing devices 10 are stacked so that their axial direction is aligned vertically, the multiple inner sealing devices 10 are placed in a state where, for example, the core metal 11 of the upper inner sealing device 10 and the inner end portion 121a of the elastic member 12 of the lower inner sealing device 10 are in contact.

[0056] In other words, in the inner sealing device 10, since there are no protrusions formed on the side plate portion 112 of the core metal 11 that protrude toward the magnetic encoder 15 side of the adjacent inner sealing device 10, it is possible to arrange adjacent inner sealing devices 10 close together.

[0057] Therefore, when multiple inner-side sealing devices 10 are stacked and placed on top of each other during the press-fitting process of the inner-side sealing devices 10, and when multiple inner-side sealing devices 10 are transported in a stacked state, it is possible to reduce the space occupied by the stacked inner-side sealing devices 10.

[0058] Furthermore, when multiple inner-side sealing devices 10 are stacked on top of each other, the core metal 11 of the upper inner-side sealing device 10 and the magnetic encoder 15 of the lower inner-side sealing device 10 are positioned close together in the axial direction, and there is a risk that the core metal 11 and the magnetic encoder 15 may be attracted to each other by the magnetic force of the magnetic encoder 15.

[0059] When the core metal 11 and the magnetic encoder 15 are attracted to each other, when removing the upper inner sealing device 10, the slinger 14 of the lower inner sealing device 10, which is placed on top of the removed inner sealing device 10, may be lifted by the core metal 11 of the inner sealing device 10.

[0060] However, in the inner sealing device 10, the elastic member 12 has a projection 125, and when the slinger 14 moves upward, which is the side where the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 and the side plate portion 112 of the core metal 11 separate, the projection 125 and the magnetic encoder 15 come into contact, restricting the upward movement of the slinger 14. This makes it possible to prevent the core metal 11 and the slinger 14 of the inner sealing device 10 from separating.

[0061] Furthermore, in the inner sealing device 10, the projection 125 of the elastic member 12 prevents the core metal 11 and the slinger 14 from separating, so it is not necessary to set a large reaction force of the grease slip 122 on the elastic member 12 against the slinger 14. Therefore, by setting a small reaction force of the grease slip 122 on the slinger 14, it is possible to reduce the torque of the inner sealing device 10.

[0062] Furthermore, since the inner sealing device 10 does not have a projection that protrudes toward the magnetic encoder 15 side of the adjacent inner sealing device 10, the slinger 14 of the adjacent inner sealing device 10 is not pushed in by the projection. Consequently, the first side lip 123 and the second side lip 124 of the elastic member 12 do not attract onto the slinger 14, and the torque of the inner sealing device 10 does not increase.

[0063] Furthermore, in the inner sealing device 10, the outer side surface of the outer end 121c of the elastic member 12 is located on the inner side than the outer side surface of the outer diameter side portion 112a of the core metal 11. Therefore, when multiple inner sealing devices 10 are stacked on top of each other, the outer end 121c of the elastic member 12 does not come into contact with the magnetic encoder 15 of an adjacent inner sealing device 10.

[0064] As a result, the slinger 14 of the adjacent inner sealing device 10 is not pushed in by the outer end 121c of the elastic member 12, and the first side lip 123 and second side lip 124 of the elastic member 12 are attracted to the slinger 14, thereby suppressing an increase in the torque of the inner sealing device 10.

[0065] In this way, the inner sealing device 10 makes it possible to suppress the separation of the core metal 11 and the slinger 14 without increasing the space occupied and torque when they are stacked.

[0066] Furthermore, in the inner sealing device 10, the elastic member 12 has a projection 125 that overlaps with the magnetic encoder 15 when viewed from the axial direction, but the projection 125 is not formed over the entire circumferential area, but only on a part of the circumferential area.

[0067] Therefore, when foreign matter such as muddy water enters the inside of the inner sealing device 10 from between the outer diameter end of the slinger 14 and the inner fitting portion 111 of the core metal 11, the obstruction of the discharge of the foreign matter to the outside of the inner sealing device 10 by the projection 125 can be minimized.

[0068] Furthermore, in the inner sealing device 10, the inner circumferential surface of the inner circumferential surface portion 121b of the elastic member 12 is formed as an inclined surface that slopes toward the outer diameter as it moves from the outer side to the inner side. This makes it easier for foreign matter that has entered the interior of the inner sealing device 10 to flow along the inner circumferential surface of the inner circumferential surface portion 121b between the outer diameter end of the slinger 14 and the inner fitting portion 111 of the core metal 11, thereby promoting the discharge of the foreign matter that has entered to the outside of the inner sealing device 10.

[0069] In this embodiment, the projection 125 is provided on the elastic member 12 joined to the core metal 11, but it is also possible to form the projection on the magnetic encoder 15 joined to the slinger 14. In this case, the projection can be formed in a shape that extends outward from the outer diameter end of the magnetic encoder 15, and can be configured to suppress separation of the core metal 11 and the slinger 14 by contacting the inner circumferential surface portion 121b of the elastic member 12 joined to the inner fitting portion 111 of the core metal 11 in the axial direction.

[0070] [Second embodiment of the inner side sealing device] The inner side sealing device 10 can also be configured as shown in Figure 6, as in the inner side sealing device 10A.

[0071] The inner sealing device 10A differs from the inner sealing device 10 in that it has an elastic member 12A of the sealing member 13A instead of the elastic member 12 of the sealing member 13. The other components of the inner sealing device 10A are the same as those of the inner sealing device 10, so their description is omitted.

[0072] The elastic member 12A differs from the elastic member 12 in that it has a projection 126 instead of projection 125. The other components of the elastic member 12A are the same as those of the elastic member 12, so their description is omitted.

[0073] The projection 126 protrudes from the inner end of the inner fitting portion 111 of the core metal 11 toward the inner diameter. The projection 126 is inclined toward the inner side as it extends toward the inner diameter.

[0074] The projections 126 are formed on a portion of the circumferential direction. The projections 126 are formed intermittently at multiple locations in the circumferential direction. For example, the projections 126 can be formed at four locations along the circumferential direction. In this case, for example, each projection 126 can be arranged at equal intervals.

[0075] The projection 126 protrudes inward and toward the inner diameter from the boundary between the inner circumferential surface portion 121b and the inner end portion 121a of the base portion 121 of the elastic member 12A. The inner end of the projection 126 protrudes further inward than the inner end of the inner end portion 121a of the elastic member 12 and the inner end of the magnetic encoder 15.

[0076] The projection 126 overlaps with the magnetic encoder 15 when viewed from the axial direction, and the projection 126 and the inclined surface 151 of the magnetic encoder 15 face each other.

[0077] The projection 126 and the magnetic encoder 15 are configured to come into contact when the slinger 14 moves away from the mandrel 11 in the axial direction. When the projection 126 and the magnetic encoder 15 come into contact, the movement of the slinger 14 away from the annular portion 142 of the slinger 14 and the side plate portion 112 of the mandrel 11 in the axial direction is restricted.

[0078] As shown in Figure 7, when multiple inner sealing devices 10A are stacked so that their axial direction is aligned with the vertical direction, the multiple inner sealing devices 10A are placed in a state where, for example, the core metal 11 of the upper inner sealing device 10A and the tip of the projection 126 of the lower inner sealing device 10A are in contact.

[0079] In this case, since the projection 126 protrudes further inward than the inner end of the magnetic encoder 15, a gap is formed between the core metal 11 in the upper inner sealing device 10A and the magnetic encoder 15 in the lower inner sealing device 10A, thereby preventing the core metal 11 and the magnetic encoder 15 from being attracted to each other.

[0080] This makes it possible to further suppress the lifting of the slinger 14 of the lower inner sealing device 10A, which is placed on top of the upper inner sealing device 10A, when the upper inner sealing device 10A is removed, due to being pulled up by the core metal 11 of the inner sealing device 10A being removed.

[0081] [Third embodiment of the inner side sealing device] The inner side sealing device 10 can also be configured as shown in Figure 8, as shown in the inner side sealing device 10B.

[0082] The inner sealing device 10B differs from the inner sealing device 10 in that it has a core metal 11A of sealing member 13B instead of the core metal 11 of sealing member 13. The other components of the inner sealing device 10B are the same as those of the inner sealing device 10, so their description is omitted.

[0083] The core metal 11A is made of, for example, a steel plate and consists of a cylindrical inner fitting portion 111A that fits onto the inner circumference of the inner opening 2a of the outer ring 2, and an annular side plate portion 112A that extends inward from the outer end of the inner fitting portion 111A. The side plate portion 112A extends straight inward from the outer end of the inner fitting portion 111A in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0084] In other words, the side plate portion 112A does not have bent portions such as the connection portion between the outer diameter side portion 112a and the connecting portion 112c, and the connection portion between the connecting portion 112c and the inner diameter side portion 112b, which are present in the side plate portion 112 of the core metal 11. By forming the side plate portion 112A in a straight shape without bent portions, it is possible to facilitate the molding of the core metal 11A.

[0085] As shown in Figure 9, when multiple inner sealing devices 10B are stacked vertically so that their axial orientation is aligned with the vertical direction, the multiple inner sealing devices 10B are placed in a state where, for example, the outer end portion 121c of the elastic member 12 of the upper inner sealing device 10B and the magnetic encoder 15 of the lower inner sealing device 10B are in contact.

[0086] In this case, the core metal 11A of the upper inner sealing device 10B and the magnetic encoder 15 of the lower inner sealing device 10B are positioned close together in the axial direction, and there is a risk that the core metal 11A and the magnetic encoder 15 may be attracted to each other by the magnetic force of the magnetic encoder 15.

[0087] However, in the inner sealing device 10B, since the elastic member 12 has a projection 125, even if the core metal 11A and the magnetic encoder 15 are attracted to each other and the slinger 14 of the lower inner sealing device 10B moves upward, pulled by the core metal 11A of the upper inner sealing device 10B, the projection 125 and the magnetic encoder 15 come into contact, preventing the core metal 11 and the slinger 14 from separating.

[0088] Thus, in the inner sealing device 10B, it is possible to suppress the separation of the core metal 11A and the slinger 14 while facilitating the molding of the core metal 11A.

[0089] In this embodiment, the wheel bearing device 1 equipped with inner side sealing devices 10, 10A, and 10B is configured as a third-generation wheel bearing device 1 in which the inner raceway surface 3c is directly formed on the outer circumference of the hub ring 3. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and may also be a second-generation structure in which a pair of inner rings are press-fitted and fixed to the hub ring, or a first-generation structure consisting of an outer ring which is an outer member and a pair of inner rings which are inner members, without a hub ring.

[0090] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited in any way to these embodiments, but is merely illustrative. It can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalents as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1. Wheel bearing device 2 Outer ring 2a Inner side opening 2b Outer side opening 2c (Inner side) outer raceway surface 2d (Outer side) outer raceway surface 3 Hub wheels 3c Inner raceway surface 4. Inner Ring 4a Inner raceway surface 5. Inner ball row 6 Outer ball row 10, 10A, 10B Inner side sealing device 11, 11A core metal 12, 12A Elastic member 13. Sealing member 14 Slinger 15 Magnetic Encoder 111 Inner fitting part 112 Side plate part 112a Outer diameter side 121b Inner peripheral surface section 121c Outer end 125, 126 protrusion 141 External fitting part 142 Annular section

Claims

1. A sealing device for sealing an annular space formed between an outer member and an inner member of a wheel bearing device, A slinger comprising an outer fitting portion fitted onto the inner member and an annular portion extending outward from the outer fitting portion, A magnetic encoder is bonded to one axial side surface of the annular portion of the slinger, A sealing member comprising a core metal having an inner fitting portion fitted into the outer member, and a side plate portion extending inward from the inner fitting portion and facing the annular portion in the axial direction, and an elastic member joined to the core metal, Equipped with, The elastic member has a projection that protrudes inward from the inner fitting portion of the core metal and contacts the magnetic encoder in the axial direction, thereby restricting the movement of the slinger toward the side where the annular portion and the side plate portion separate. The aforementioned projection is a sealing device formed on a part of the circumferential direction.

2. The elastic member has an inner circumferential surface portion that is joined to the inner circumferential surface of the inner fitting portion of the core metal, The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the inner circumferential surface portion is inclined toward the outer diameter side as it moves from the other side in the axial direction toward the one side in the axial direction.

3. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the other axial end of the elastic member is located on one axial side of the other axial end of the core metal.

4. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the projection protrudes in one axial direction from one axial side of the magnetic encoder.

5. An outer member having double rows of outer raceway surfaces on its inner circumference, An inner member having double rows of inner raceway surfaces opposite to the double rows of outer raceway surfaces, A double row of rolling elements is rotatably housed between the raceway surfaces of the outer member and the inner member, The sealing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A wheel bearing device equipped with the following features.

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