Wheel Hub Bearing Inner Ring Metal Insert Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel hub bearing units for vehicles are bulky in the axial direction, costly, and prone to sealing issues due to relative movement between screens and rolling bearing rings, leading to rapid wear and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A compact wheel hub bearing unit design featuring a flanged inner ring with a metal insert made of corrosion-resistant, low-friction austenitic stainless steel, integrated into the inner ring's flange area, eliminating the need for a second screen and enhancing the sealing mechanism with a labyrinth seal configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a two-screen sealing device is used, then sealing protection is provided, but axial dimensions increase and relative movement between screens and rolling bearing rings causes wear and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the second screen from the sealing device, retaining only the first screen. This extraction eliminates the relative movement between two screens and their supports, thereby preventing wear and corrosion while reducing axial dimension. The single screen is retained on the inner ring flange, providing necessary sealing protection without the complexity of a dual-screen arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a metal insert made of corrosion-resistant, low-friction austenitic stainless steel on the inner ring flange where the sealing lips contact. This composite material solution provides both corrosion resistance and low friction properties, eliminating the need for a second screen while maintaining sealing reliability and preventing wear.
2Reliability
If a two-screen sealing device is used, then sealing protection is provided, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the second screen and its support structure, the patent simplifies the sealing device design, reducing the number of components to be manufactured and assembled. This extraction directly lowers manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate sealing protection through the optimized single-screen configuration with improved material properties.
3Length of moving object
If sealing lips directly contact the inner ring, then axial dimensions are reduced, but rapid wear and corrosion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a metal insert made of austenitic stainless steel with corrosion-resistant and low-friction properties on the inner ring flange surface where the sealing lips contact. This composite material solution maintains compact axial dimensions while providing excellent wear and corrosion resistance, eliminating the drawbacks of direct sealing lip contact with the base inner ring material.
4Length of moving object
If a compact single-screen design is used, then axial dimensions are reduced, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to lack of protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced protection capability of a single screen by applying a metal insert with superior corrosion-resistant and low-friction properties. This material enhancement provides the necessary durability and protection, ensuring sealing reliability is maintained or improved despite the simplified single-screen configuration.
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
The solution reduces axial dimensions, improves sealing reliability, and reduces costs while preventing wear and corrosion, ensuring a longer working life and effective sealing without the need for additional components or assembly steps.
Implementation Method 1
a metal insert (15) which is formed integrally as one piece with the first end (4) of the inner ring (3)... an elastomeric annular sealing element (10) provided with a plurality of elastically deformable sealing lips (11) configured to engage, preferably with contact, against the radially outer surface (12) of the first end (4) of the inner ring (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel hub bearing unit including an outer ring, rolling bodies and an inner ring provided with a flange at a first end thereof, the inner ring being made with a sliding surface for sealing lips of a sealing device arranged so as to protect the rolling bodies, defined by a metal insert formed integrally with the first end and arranged astride a base portion of the flange and a portion of the first end immediately adjacent to the base portion of the flange. The metal insert has a thickness of between 0.2 and 2 mm and being made, using a material different from the material with which the inner ring is manufactured and consisting of an austenitic stainless steel, by means of additive manufacturing.