Motor Vehicle Axle Bearing Shell Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing axle devices for motor vehicles face challenges with high manufacturing tolerances and weight due to numerous fitting and joining surfaces, leading to increased costs and complexity in assembly.
Innovation Solution
The axle device features an inner bearing shell formed by a surface portion of the wheel receiving unit and an outer bearing shell formed by a sleeve body, with rolling bodies between them, allowing for reduced components, lower axial play, and weight reduction by using light metals for the support body and rolling bearing steel for the sleeve body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the bearing unit is entirely pressed into the support body, then the assembly is simplified, but the tolerance field of the preload is increased due to different compressions
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit is divided into two separate parts: the inner bearing shell (16) that is pressed onto the wheel receiving unit (4), and the outer bearing shell (18) that is formed by the support body (10). This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently, with the inner bearing shell being precisely pressed onto the wheel receiving unit while the outer bearing shell remains fixed in the support body, thereby maintaining precise preload tolerances while simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If numerous fitting and joining surfaces are used to join separate components, then the axle device can be assembled from modular parts, but the manufacturing tolerances must be very low which increases costs and assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the inner bearing shell (16) directly with the wheel receiving unit (4) by pressing it onto the unit, and merges the outer bearing shell (18) with the support body (10) by forming it as an integral part. This merging eliminates numerous separate fitting and joining surfaces, reducing the number of interfaces that require tight tolerances. The bearing unit thus becomes a integrated assembly rather than a collection of separate modular parts, significantly reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining assembly flexibility.
3Reliability
If rolling bearing steel is used for both the wheel receiving unit and support body to form the bearing unit, then the bearing has low friction and high durability, but the weight of the axle device is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by using rolling bearing steel (18) specifically for the outer bearing shell formed on the support body (10), where high durability and low friction are critical for bearing operation. The wheel receiving unit (4) can be made from lighter materials since it does not require the same bearing properties. This localized application of high-performance material optimizes the bearing's reliability while minimizing the overall weight of the axle device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces manufacturing tolerances, axial play, and weight while simplifying assembly, achieving lower friction and higher durability with reduced component complexity and cost-effective production.
Implementation Method 1
which comprises a plurality of rolling bodies (20) arranged between the inner bearing shell (16) and the outer bearing shell (18)
Data Source
AI summary
An axle device for a motor vehicle includes an axle shaft, a wheel receiving unit fixed on an end of the axle shaft, and a support body on which the wheel receiving unit is supported from rotation fixed about an axis of rotation. A bearing unit is arranged between the support body and the wheel receiving unit. The bearing unit includes an inner bearing shell at least partially formed by a surface portion of the wheel receiving unit, an outer bearing shell at least partially formed by a sleeve body abutting the support body, and a bearing assembly arranged between the inner bearing shell and the outer bearing shell.