Wheel bearing device having an annular securing element as a holder for mounting toothing; securing element; and tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel bearing device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a bearing (2), the flange body (3) of the bearing, and an articulated shaft (5) which is interlockingly supported on the flange body (3) in the direction of rotation by means of face teeth (4), wherein the articulated shaft (5) is prevented from falling out of the flange body (3) by an annular securing element (6), and wherein the securing element (6) has a plurality of radially protruding clamps (7) distributed in the circumferential direction, said clamps (7) being pressed at least partly into the flange body (3) and / or the articulated shaft (5) such that the flange body (3) is axially supported relative to the articulated shaft (5). The invention additionally relates to a tool (15) for mounting the articulated shaft (5) on or removing the articulated shaft from the wheel bearing device (1). The invention also relates to the securing element (6) per se.

Description

[0001] Wheel bearing device with ring-shaped locking element as a holder for the toothed mounting; locking element; and tool

[0002] The invention relates to a wheel bearing device for a motor vehicle, such as a car, truck, bus, or other commercial vehicle, comprising a flange body for receiving a bearing and a driveshaft positively engaged in the direction of rotation and rotationally fixed to the flange body by means of a toothed connection (preferably face teeth), wherein the driveshaft is secured against (axial) falling out of the flange body by means of a disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped locking element. The invention further relates to a tool for mounting (assembling) and / or dismounting (disassembling) the wheel bearing device. The invention also relates to the locking element itself.

[0003] It is generally known to mount wheel bearing assemblies with the corresponding bearings / wheel bearings on a flange body and subsequently connect this to other shafts, in particular drive shafts. When mounting the drive shaft to the flange body, it is important, firstly, that the teeth / tooth sections engage correctly with each other, especially while avoiding tooth-to-tooth contact. Secondly, the drive shaft must be reliably secured against falling out of the flange body. It has been found that previously used securing elements, such as those known from DE 102020 117 721 B3 or DE 195 43436 A1, are either relatively complex in design or require time-consuming installation.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wheel bearing device that can be easily assembled and disassembled, while at the same time having the simplest possible design.

[0005] This is solved according to the invention by the fact that the locking element has several circumferentially distributed, radially projecting clamps which are at least partially pressed / inserted / embedded into the flange body and / or the drive shaft, with axial support of the flange body relative to the drive shaft.

[0006] The clamps represent claw plate areas. They grip the corresponding mating component, be it the driveshaft, the axle carrier, or a wheel bearing-side component such as the flange body. This eliminates the need for a groove or other positive locking mechanism on the mating component, simplifying its machining. However, it can be advantageous for the clamps or clamping ring to be supported by a shoulder, flange, or other edge of the component. Alternatively, these edges can serve only as positioning aids; unlike a groove or slot, they can be machined directly into the tool and require no further machining. Furthermore, tightly toleranced diameters on the bearing and driveshaft are no longer necessary.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the clamps of the clamping ring dig into the counter-component to be clamped in such a way that the clamping ring cannot be removed without leaving residue.

[0008] This locking element with integrated clamps is a simple, one-piece locking device that can be easily inserted into the gap between the driveshaft and the flange body. The clamps eliminate the need for separately machined receiving contours, such as grooves or other radial shoulders. This significantly simplifies the manufacturing of the driveshaft and the flange body. The clamps are designed to be directly embedded into the respective material of the flange body or the driveshaft, thus axially securing the two components to each other.

[0009] Further advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims and are explained in more detail below.

[0010] Accordingly, it is also advantageous to have several first terminals that are in the

[0011] flange bodies are pressed in, on a radial outer side of a ring body of the

[0012] The locking element is arranged in a circumferential direction. The first clamps are arranged circumferentially and preferably form axially compliant / elastically deformable / bendable tabs. This allows the locking element to be manufactured as a single-piece component as easily as possible.

[0013] Similarly, it is advantageous if several secondary clamps, pressed into the drive shaft, are arranged on a radial inner surface of an annular body of the locking element. These secondary clamps are also arranged circumferentially and preferably form axially compliant / elastically deformable / bendable tabs.

[0014] Furthermore, to make the manufacture of the wheel bearing device as simple as possible, it is advantageous if the locking element is arranged on a receiving area of ​​the flange body and / or the drive shaft that is at least axially open on one side.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to a tool for assembling and / or disassembling a wheel bearing device according to the invention according to at least one of the embodiments described above, which tool has a holding area that can be attached axially fixed to the drive shaft, a projection arranged radially outside the holding area and designed for pressing the locking element, and a handle connected / coupled with the holding area and the projection.

[0016] The operation of the tool is further simplified if the projection is coupled to a lever mechanism arranged on or connected to the handle, and the projection can be adjusted between at least two axial positions via a soft lever mechanism.

[0017] It is also advantageous if the handle has a locking indicator designed to clearly distinguish between a first assembly state, in which the driveshaft is not yet positively connected to the flange body via the teeth, and a second assembly state, in which the driveshaft is positively connected to the flange body via the teeth. This further simplifies assembly and disassembly for the operator. Similarly, it is also advantageous if the handle has a locking indicator designed to clearly distinguish between a first locking state, in which the driveshaft is not yet axially secured relative to the flange body by the locking element, and a second locking state, in which the driveshaft is axially secured relative to the flange body by the locking element.

[0018] Fixing the drive shaft to the tool is also easily possible if the holding area has a threaded snap that is adjustable between a first position fixing the drive shaft axially to the handle and a second position releasing the drive shaft for axial movement relative to the handle, and engages positively in a thread of the drive shaft.

[0019] Accessibility of the threaded snap is further improved if the threaded snap can be adjusted by means of a switching rod attached to or embedded in the handle.

[0020] Furthermore, the invention relates to the ring-shaped locking element (also referred to as a locking disc) itself with the several circumferentially distributed, radially projecting (generally star-shaped / arranged) clamps.

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail below using figures.

[0022] They show:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a wheel bearing device according to a first embodiment in the connection area between a flange body receiving a bearing and a drive shaft connected to the flange body in a rotationally fixed manner via a toothed connection, wherein the coupling of the flange body with the drive shaft via a locking element designed according to the invention is particularly clearly visible.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the wheel bearing device according to Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the locking element.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a top view of the locking element used in Fig. 1,

[0026] Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a wheel bearing device according to the invention, designed according to a second embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in particular with regard to its locking element.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows a top view of the locking element used in Fig. 4,

[0028] Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement consisting of the wheel bearing device of Figure 4 and a tool designed according to a first embodiment for its assembly / disassembly, wherein the tool has a projection to unlock the locking element relative to the flange body,

[0029] Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement consisting of the wheel bearing device of Figure 4 and a tool designed according to a second embodiment for its assembly / disassembly, wherein the existing projection can now be actuated by means of a lever mechanism.

[0030] Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement consisting of the wheel bearing device of Figure 4 and a tool designed according to a third embodiment for its assembly / disassembly, wherein, in addition to the lever mechanism for the projection, an adjustment mechanism for a holding area that fixes the drive shaft is also provided.

[0031] Figures 9 and 10 each show a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement consisting of a wheel bearing device of Figure 4 and a tool designed according to a fourth embodiment for its assembly / disassembly, wherein an adjustable locking indicator is provided between a first position (Figure 9) and a second position (Figure 10), and Figures 11 and 12 each show a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement consisting of a wheel bearing device of Figure 4 and a tool designed according to a fifth embodiment for its assembly / disassembly, wherein a locking indicator is provided that is adjustable between a first position (Figure 11) and a second position (Figure 12).

[0032] The figures are purely schematic and serve solely to illustrate the invention. The same elements are identified by the same reference numerals. The various features of the different embodiments can, in principle, be freely combined.

[0033] Figure 1 clearly shows a wheel bearing device 1 according to the invention. The wheel bearing device 1, implemented according to a first embodiment, serves in the usual way to support a wheel of a motor vehicle relative to a component fixed to the vehicle frame. One component of a bearing 2 is the flange body 3, which is rotationally fixed to a driveshaft 5 / a first part of a driveshaft 5.

[0034] It should be noted that the directional terms used here refer to a rotational axis 23 of the flange body 3, which is aligned coaxially with the rotational axis of the drive shaft in Figure 1. Axial direction therefore refers to a direction along / parallel to the rotational axis 23, radial direction to a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis 23, and circumferential direction / direction of rotation to a direction along a circle running coaxially around the rotational axis 23.

[0035] The further construction of the flange body 3 and the drive shaft 5 largely corresponds to previously known designs, so for the sake of brevity, this construction will not be discussed further. It should merely be noted that the flange body 3 serves in the usual manner to accommodate the bearing 2, which here is designed as a rolling bearing, namely a multi-row ball bearing. Furthermore, it can be seen that the flange body 3 and the drive shaft 5 are rotationally connected to each other by means of a face gear 4. For this purpose, a first tooth section 21 of the face gear 4 is present on the flange body 3, and a second tooth section 22 of the face gear 4 is present on the drive shaft 5. Both tooth sections 21 and 22 mesh directly with each other, forming a positive-locking connection / face gear in the direction of rotation.

[0036] Furthermore, a locking element 6 designed according to the invention is inserted in a radial gap 24 between the drive shaft 5 and the flange body 3. This locking element serves to axially support / secure the drive shaft 5 relative to the flange body 3. This radial gap 24 is formed (radially) between an axially projecting sleeve section 25, arranged radially within the face teeth 4, and the flange body 3. Thus, the locking element 6 is also located radially between the sleeve section 25 and the flange body 3 / a radial inner surface of the flange body 3.

[0037] The locking element 6, as can be clearly seen from Figures 1 to 3, is designed as an annular element comprising a continuous ring body 8 and several clamps 7 arranged circumferentially and attached to a radial outer surface 9 of the ring body 8. According to Figure 2, the ring body 8 can have a hook shape in cross-section. The ring body 8 is inserted into a radially outwardly opening groove 26 of the drive shaft 5 / sleeve area 25 and axially secured.

[0038] The clamps 7 are designed as axially deformable / bendable tabs / noses (relative to the ring body 8). The clamps 7 are preferably formed integrally with the ring body 8, with the entire locking element 6 preferably being made of sheet metal. The clamps 7 can be made of hardened steel.

[0039] Figure 2 further shows that the clamps 7 are designed to be at least sufficiently rigid that, in a fully assembled position of the drive shaft 5, they are at least partially pressed / embedded / elastically embedded in the base material of the flange body 3. Figures 4 and 5 further illustrate a second embodiment of the wheel bearing device 1 according to the invention. It should be noted that its basic structure corresponds to that of the first embodiment, so for the sake of brevity, only the differences from the first embodiment are described below.

[0040] Figure 5 shows that the locking element 6 not only has several (first) clamps 7a on a radial outer surface 9 of the ring body 8, but also several (second) clamps 7b on a radial inner surface 10 of the ring body 8. The second clamps 7b can be designed similarly or differently with regard to elastic deformability, stiffness, and fine geometry in the contact area, since there is more free space available when assembling the locking element 6.

[0041] Due to the second clamps 7b, it is now also possible to arrange the locking element 6 on an axially open receiving area 12 of the drive shaft 5. The receiving area 12 of the drive shaft 5 is again formed directly on the sleeve area 25, while the receiving area 11 of the flange body 3, which is also axially open at least on one side, is still located on a radial inner surface of the flange body 3.

[0042] As a result, the second clamps 7b are also pressed into / embedded in the sleeve area 25 / the drive shaft 5.

[0043] In conjunction with Figures 6 to 12, different tools 15 for assembling and disassembling the wheel bearing device 1, in particular for attaching and removing the drive shaft 5 to / from the flange body 3, are shown.

[0044] Figure 6 shows the basic structure of a first embodiment of this tool 15. The tool 15 thus has a holding area 13 that can be axially fixed to the drive shaft 5. The holding area 13 is implemented as a threaded section. This threaded section is preferably screwed into the sleeve area 25 from the inside to fasten the drive shaft 5 to the tool 15.

[0045] Radially outside the pin-shaped holding area 13, a projection 14 of the tool 15 is formed for pressing the locking element 6. This projection 14 can either represent a continuous circumferential ring area or be designed as one of several axially projecting pins, each of which is used to actuate a tab / a first clamp 7a.

[0046] Provided that the tool 15 is screwed far enough into the driveshaft 5, the projection 14 bends the first clamps 7a slightly elastically inwards in a radial direction, thus disengaging them from the flange body 3. In this state, as shown in Figure 6, the driveshaft 5 is therefore movable axially relative to the flange body 3 and thus unlocked. If the tool 15 is unscrewed from the driveshaft 5 relative to the position shown in Figure 6, the respective first clamp 7a comes into contact with the flange body 3 and ultimately secures the flange body 3 axially relative to the driveshaft 5.

[0047] Holding area 13 and projection 14 are here connected in one piece with a handle 16, which always protrudes from the flange body 3 to one side facing away from the drive shaft 5.

[0048] It should also be noted that, although the application is shown here for the second embodiment, tool 15 will of course also work for the first embodiment.

[0049] Figures 7 to 12 show further developments of the tool 15, which, however, function in a similar way in principle.

[0050] Building upon Figure 6, in Figure 7 the projection 14 is connected to the handle 16 by means of a lever mechanism 17. Via this lever mechanism 17, the projection 14 is adjustable between its two axial positions and thus relatively displaceable relative to a base body of the tool 15 which includes the handle 16.

[0051] Building on Figure 7, the holding area 13 in Figure 8 is also implemented by an actuator / movable element. For this purpose, the holding area 13 has a threaded snap 20 which is adjustable between a first position that fixes the drive shaft 5 axially relative to the handle 16 and a second position that releases the drive shaft 5 for axial movement relative to the handle 16.

[0052] The threaded snap 20 is adjustable by means of a shift rod 27 which is incorporated into the handle 16.

[0053] Building on Figure 8, Figures 9 and 10 illustrate how a position-dependent locking mechanism functions on the handle 16. This mechanism is designed to create a first assembly state in which the drive shaft 5 is not yet positively connected to the flange body 3 by means of the face teeth 4, and a second assembly state in which the drive shaft 5 is positively connected to the flange body 3 by means of the face teeth 4, whereby the locking element 6 is automatically released via a lever mechanism 17 with a tactile nose (projection 14).

[0054] This eliminates the need for handle 16, and locking and unlocking the locking element 6 regardless of position is no longer possible.

[0055] Based on Figures 9 and 10, the embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12 includes a locking indicator 19 on the handle 16. This indicator is designed to distinguish between a first locking state, in which the drive shaft 5 is not yet axially secured relative to the flange body 3 by means of the locking element 6, and a second locking state, in which the drive shaft 5 is axially secured relative to the flange body 3 by means of the locking element 6. The locking indicator 19 replaces the detent indicator 18.

[0056] In other words, a device designed according to the invention is thus

[0057] A locking washer (locking element 6) is inserted between a bore of the wheel bearing (flange body 3) and a threaded stud of the joint housing (drive shaft 5).

[0058] The use of the locking washer, which, due to its shape and hardness, grips the bore of the wheel bearing, offers the following advantages: No need for tighter tolerance diameters on the bearing and CV joint housing; no additional grooves, lugs, or gap dimensions with corresponding tolerance chains are necessary; teeth on the bearing bore can be unlocked with a suitable tool; the driveshaft can be removed using a special tool or simply by driving it out (hammer + punch); using a locking washer with teeth on the inside and outside: pre-assembly on the driveshaft or in the wheel bearing is possible; no groove is necessary in the CV joint housing, the shoulder is sufficient for positioning; using a washer analogous to a locking washer with teeth on the outside and a rolled contour on the inside.

[0059] The extended scope preferably includes (e.g. in a kit, in addition to the wheel bearing device 1) an assembly tool (tool 15) for pulling in the joint bell.

[0060] The assembly tool may be designed with a nose for locking and unlocking the locking washer.

[0061] The assembly tool can be equipped with a manually operated locking and unlocking mechanism (lever mechanism 17).

[0062] The assembly tool can be equipped with a manually operated locking and unlocking mechanism and a threaded snap fastener 20. The threaded snap fastener 20 can interact with a retaining spring. The threaded snap fastener 20 can also have an actuating button for releasing it.

[0063] The assembly tool can be equipped with a position-dependent locking mechanism and threaded snap fastener 20. The assembly tool can be equipped with a position-dependent locking mechanism and threaded snap fastener 20 with a locking indicator.

[0064] List of reference signs

[0065] Wheel bearing device

[0066] Storage

[0067] Flange body

[0068] Front teeth

[0069] driveshaft

[0070] Safety element

[0071] Terminal a first terminal b second terminal

[0072] Ring body

[0073] Outer side 0 Inner side 1 Flange body receiving area 2 Cardan shaft receiving area 3 Holding area 4 Projection 5 Tool 6 Handle 7 Lever mechanism 8 Snap indicator 9 Locking indicator 0 Threaded catch 1 First tooth section 2 Second tooth section 3 Axis of rotation 4 Radial gap 5 Sleeve area 6 Groove 7 Shift rod

Claims

Patent claims 1. Wheel bearing device (1) for a motor vehicle with a wheel bearing which is connected to a driveshaft (5) by means of a face toothing (4), wherein an annular locking element (6) is arranged between the wheel bearing and the driveshaft (5) which secures the driveshaft (5) to the wheel bearing, characterized in that the locking element (6) is designed as a clamping ring which has clamps (7) which are clamped outside a groove.

2. Wheel bearing device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking element (6) has a ring body (8) with a radial outer surface (9) on which several first clamps (7a) are arranged which are pressed into a flange body (3) of the wheel bearing.

3. Wheel bearing device (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element (6) has a ring body with a radial inner surface (10) on which several second clamps (7b) are arranged which are pressed into the drive shaft (5).

4. Wheel bearing device (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking element (6) is arranged on a receiving area (11 , 12) of the flange body (3) and / or the drive shaft (5) which is at least axially open on one side.

5. Wheel bearing device (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint bell (5) or the flange body (3) has a shoulder against which the clamps (7) rest.

6. Tool (15) for mounting and / or dismounting a wheel bearing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a holding area (13) that can be axially fixed to the drive shaft (5), a projection (14) arranged radially outside the holding area (13) and designed to press the locking element (6), and a handle (16) connected to the holding area (13) and the projection (14).

7. Tool (15) according to claim 6, characterized in that the projection (14) is coupled to a lever mechanism (17) arranged on or connected to the handle (16), and the projection (14) is adjustable between at least two axial positions via a lever mechanism (17).

8. Tool (15) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a locking indicator (18) is provided on the handle (16) which is designed in such a way that it indicates a first assembly state in which the drive shaft (5) is not yet positively connected to the flange body (3) by means of the face teeth (4) and a second assembly state in which the drive shaft (5) is positively connected to the flange body (3) by means of the face teeth (4) differently.

9. Tool (15) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a locking indicator (19) is provided on the handle (16) which is designed in such a way that it indicates a first locking state in which the drive shaft (5) is not yet axially fixed relative to the flange body (3) by means of the locking element (6) and a second locking state in which the drive shaft (5) is axially fixed relative to the flange body (3) by means of the locking element (6).

10. Tool (15) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the holding area (13) has a threaded snap (20) which is adjustable between a first position fixing the cardan shaft (5) axially to the handle (16) and a second position releasing the cardan shaft (5) for axial movement relative to the handle (16).

11. Tool (15) according to claim 10, characterized in that the threaded snap (20) is adjustable by means of a switching rod (27) received on or in the handle (16).

12. Securing element (6) of a wheel bearing device (1 ) with radially outwardly projecting first clamps (7a) and radially inwardly projecting second clamps (7b).

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