Wheel Bearing Clearance Control via Measured Rolling Element Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing wheel bearing apparatuses face challenges in accurately and efficiently controlling bearing clearance, especially when there are variations in groove diameters, and cannot reassemble structural elements for optimal pre-pressure application.
Innovation Solution
A method involving measuring distances between contacting points on the outer and inner raceway surfaces and hub wheel, using simulated components to correct differences and select rolling elements of optimal diameters for precise clearance control, allowing for reassembly and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bearing pre-pressure is increased to improve bearing rigidity, then bearing rigidity improves, but rotational torque increases and fuel consumption worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls and optimizes the bearing pre-pressure parameter within a specific range (0.5 to 2.0 kN) to achieve the best balance between bearing rigidity and rotational torque. By precisely adjusting this parameter rather than simply increasing it, the invention improves bearing rigidity while avoiding excessive torque that would increase fuel consumption.
2Loss of energy
If bearing pre-pressure is decreased to reduce rotational torque, then fuel consumption improves, but bearing rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention establishes an optimal range for bearing pre-pressure (0.5 to 2.0 kN) that prevents both excessive and insufficient pre-pressure conditions. By maintaining pre-pressure within this optimized range, the invention ensures adequate bearing rigidity while minimizing rotational torque to improve fuel consumption.
3Measurement precision
If conventional pre-pressure monitoring is used to measure rotational torque, then pre-pressure can be measured, but the process is complex and cannot reassemble structural elements for optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pre-pressure control function from the complex monitoring apparatus and implements it through a simpler method using a torque sensor during the fastening process. This separates the measurement function from the fastening operation, allowing independent optimization of each process without requiring complex integrated monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the fastening process itself to generate the pre-pressure measurement data through the torque sensor, rather than requiring a separate monitoring apparatus. The torque applied during nut fastening directly provides the pre-pressure information, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional complex monitoring equipment.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
One object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing apparatus which can easily and efficiently perform the clearance control of the bearing and stably apply an accurate clearance. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a wheel bearing apparatus characterized in that the wheel bearing apparatus is manufactured through steps of measuring a distance Ho from a contacting point between one outer raceway surface of the double row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member and one rolling element of the double row rolling elements to a contacting point between the other outer raceway surface of the double row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member and the other rolling element of the double row rolling elements, a distance Hi from a contacting point between the rolling element and the inner raceway surface of the inner ring to a smaller end face of the inner ring, and a distance Hh from a contacting point between the rolling element and the inner raceway surface of the hub wheel to a shoulder of the hub wheel; comparing a difference Δ H = (Hi + Hh - Ho) with a reference value of a model article; and selecting rolling elements each having an optimum diameter for correcting the difference Δ H between the measured values and the reference values.