Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly With Self-Pretensioned Spur Tooth Meshing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of wheel bearing units for motor vehicles is complex, particularly due to the blind assembly of spur toothings, which can lead to a loss of pretension force and potential damage to the toothings if the teeth do not mesh correctly during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A wheel bearing unit design that incorporates a radially pretensionable element and a conical peripheral surface, where the element is accommodated in a circumferential recess and interacts with the conical surface to generate an axial force that braces the wheel bearing hub and constant velocity joint against each other, ensuring proper meshing of the spur toothings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If blind assembly of spur toothings is used to connect wheel bearing hub and constant velocity joint, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to risk of tooth-on-tooth positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The radially pretensionable element is pre-installed in the circumferential recess on the constant velocity joint before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that when the constant velocity joint is inserted into the wheel bearing hub, the pretensionable element automatically engages with the conical peripheral surface to generate axial pretension force, guiding the spur toothings into proper tooth-in-tooth meshing position before final tightening occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially pretensionable element changes its radial dimension parameter by deforming elastically when engaged with the conical peripheral surface. This parameter change generates the axial pretension force needed to maintain proper tooth meshing. The element transitions from a loose state to a pretensioned state, adjusting its radial position to create the necessary axial force that ensures precise tooth engagement throughout the assembly process.
2Manufacturing precision
If axial pretension force is applied during assembly to ensure proper tooth meshing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional pretensioning mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The radially pretensionable element is designed to automatically generate the axial pretension force through its own elastic deformation when engaged with the conical peripheral surface. The element serves itself by converting its radial deformation into axial force without requiring external actuation or additional control mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains manufacturing precision while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially pretensionable element acts as an intermediary component between the constant velocity joint and the wheel bearing hub. It mediates the connection by transforming radial engagement with the conical surface into axial pretension force, which in turn ensures proper tooth meshing. This intermediary element simplifies the overall mechanism compared to direct mechanical pretensioning systems while achieving the desired precision.
3Ease of operation
If radially pretensionable element is used to generate axial pretension force, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The radially pretensionable element is designed as a flexible, elastically deformable component that can be radially compressed and expanded. This flexibility allows it to be easily installed in the circumferential recess and automatically engage with the conical peripheral surface during assembly. The elastic nature of the element enables it to generate continuous pretension force without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, improving ease of operation while adding only a single simple component.
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 simplifies the assembly process by ensuring that the wheel bearing hub and constant velocity joint are properly pretensioned and held in a tooth-in-tooth position, preventing loss of pretension force and potential damage to the toothings.
Implementation Method 1
a radially pretensionable, circumferential element (10) which, in an elastically unstressed state, protrudes at least partially from the recess (9) in the radial direction (R)
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel bearing unit for a motor vehicle includes a wheel bearing hub with a first spur toothing, a constant velocity joint with a second spur toothing, a radially pretensionable element and a conical peripheral surface. The radially pretensionable element is disposed in a recess and protrudes radially from the recess in an unstressed state. The conical peripheral surface is disposed radially opposite the radially pretensionable element in a partially assembled state of the wheel bearing unit. During assembly of the wheel bearing unit, the radially pretensionable element applies an axially acting force to the conical peripheral surface to brace the wheel bearing hub against constant velocity joint. A method for assembling the wheel bearing unit is also disclosed.