Preassembled Wheel Hub Assembly with Retained Spindle Nut
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Partially preassembled wheel hub assemblies have loose components like separate spindle nuts and disposable caps, which can become dislodged during shipment and require manual adjustment during installation, complicating the process.
Innovation Solution
A preassembled hub assembly with a pre-positioned spindle nut assembly, where the spindle nut and washer are affixed inside the hub using a bore retaining ring, retaining the outboard bearing and spacer, allowing the assembly to be shipped and installed as a single component with minimal manual adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate spindle nuts and disposable caps are used to retain hub assembly components, then the components can be retained in their factory assembled position, but the hub assembly has loose components that can become dislodged during shipment and require manual adjustment during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle nut assembly is merged with the hub assembly by pre-positioning the spindle nut and washer inside the hub bore, and integrating the retaining ring structure into the hub. This combines previously separate components (spindle nut, washer, retaining ring) into a single integrated assembly that cannot become dislodged during shipment, while eliminating the need for separate disposable caps and multiple loose components.
2Reliability
If a disposable cap is bolted to the hub to retain the outboard bearing, then the outboard bearing and spacer are affixed inside the hub, but the cap and cap mounting bolts must be removed during installation and are considered loose components
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable cap and its mounting bolts are completely extracted/removed from the hub assembly design. Instead of using a separate cap that needs to be installed and then removed, the patent integrates the retaining function directly into the hub structure through the bore retaining ring, which permanently retains the spindle nut assembly and bearing components without requiring any removable caps.
3Productivity
If the hub assembly is shipped with all components preassembled, then the assembly can be installed as a single component with minimal manual adjustment, but the components may become dislodged during shipment
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle nut assembly and bearing components are pre-positioned and secured inside the hub bore using the bore retaining ring before shipment. This preliminary securing action ensures that all components remain in their correct installation positions during transportation, eliminating the risk of dislodgment while maintaining the benefits of quick installation as a single preassembled unit.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A preassembled hub assembly is presented having components including the inboard and outboard bearings (30, 40), spacer (24), and lubricant seal (14) preassembled inside the hub at the manufacturing facility. In addition, the manufacturing facility also affixes a pre-positioned spindle nut assembly (50) to the hub assembly, the assembly being held in place by a retaining ring (16). The preassembled hub assembly (with the pre-positioned spindle nut assembly affixed to the hub) has no separate or loose parts, facilitating shipment and installation of the hub assembly. Installation only requires placement of the novel hub assembly on the spindle and the tightening of the factory installed, pre-positioned retaining nut (70).