JP2008138865A - Bearing device for wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a long-life bearing device for a wheel by preventing muddy water and the like from entering the bearing. <P>SOLUTION: A double-row bearing 2 comprises: an outer ring 4 in which double-row outside rolling surfaces 4a, 4a are formed in the inner periphery; a pair of inner rings 5, 5 in which double-row rolling surfaces 5a, 5a are formed opposite to the double-row outside rolling surfaces in the outer periphery; and double-row rolling elements (balls) 6, 6 housed between both the rolling surfaces rotatably. The outer ring 4 and the inner ring 5 are made of stainless steel flat plate or pipe material having rust prevention performance, and formed by press working or rolling working. Seals 13, 13 are mounted in an opening of annular space formed between cylinders 4c, 4c of the outer ring 4, and second cylinders 5d, 5d of the inner rings 5, 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheel bearing device that rotatably supports a wheel of an automobile or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wheel bearing device for supporting a wheel of an automobile or the like is such that a hub wheel for mounting a wheel is rotatably supported via a rolling bearing, and there are a drive wheel and a driven wheel. For structural reasons, an inner ring rotation method is generally used for driving wheels, and an inner ring rotation method and an outer ring rotation method are generally used for driven wheels. As the wheel bearing device, a double-row angular ball bearing having a desired bearing rigidity, exhibiting durability against misalignment, and having a small rotational torque from the viewpoint of improving fuel efficiency is often used.

  The bearing includes an inner member having a rolling surface formed on the outer side, an outer member having a rolling surface formed on the inner side, and a rolling element that is arranged to freely roll between both rolling surfaces. Become. Conventionally, the inner member and the outer member are formed by turning or the like, but a method of press-molding the inner member and the outer member from a plate material or a pipe material has been devised with the aim of reducing the weight and cost. .

Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 show examples in which the inner member and the outer member are formed of a plate material or a pipe material. In Patent Document 1, the inner member is composed of a pair of inner rings, and a ball is rotatably disposed between the inner ring and the outer member. In this example, a preload is applied by placing a weight on the inner ring from the axial direction. Further, in Patent Document 2, double rows of balls are arranged in an annular shape at the annular curved portion of the inner member, and an annular recess is formed in the outer member by a hydraulic press roller. A preload is applied between the inner member, the outer member, and the ball during the press forming.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-1835 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-210612

  However, when muddy water or the like is applied to the wheel bearing device shown in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, the muddy water or the like enters the bearing from the gap between the inner member and the outer member, which adversely affects the life of the bearing. give. Also, the lubricating grease sealed inside the bearing may leak and adversely affect the life of the bearing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a long-life wheel bearing device that prevents muddy water and the like from entering the bearing.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention has an outer ring in which a double row outer rolling surface is formed on the inner periphery, and a double row inner rolling surface that faces the outer rolling surface of the double row on the outer periphery. A pair of inner rings and a double-row rolling element that is slidably accommodated between both rolling surfaces, and at least one of the outer ring or the inner ring is pressed from a plate material or a pipe material or A cylindrical portion that is formed by a rolling process and that extends outward in the axial direction is formed in the outer ring and the inner ring, and is formed by an inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the outer ring and an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the inner ring A configuration in which a seal is attached to the opening of the space is adopted.

  As described above, since the seal is attached to the opening of the annular space formed by the outer ring and the inner ring, leakage of the lubricating grease sealed inside the bearing and rainwater, dust, etc. enter the bearing from the outside. Therefore, a long-life wheel bearing device can be provided. Further, by providing cylindrical portions on the outer ring and the inner ring, a space for mounting the seal can be secured, and the seal can be suitably performed. Furthermore, by adjusting the length of the cylindrical portion, the bearing device can be assembled without changing the design of the outer joint member of the conventional hub wheel or constant velocity universal joint, so that the device can be made inexpensive.

  According to the present invention, a hub ring fitted into the inner ring and an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint fitted to the hub ring are fixed by fixing means, and a shoulder portion of the hub ring is fixed. Preload can also be applied to the pair of inner rings with the shoulder of the outer joint member. Thereby, since the preload can be applied simultaneously with the assembly of the bearing device, it is not necessary to provide a preload step separately, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since an appropriate preload can be applied, stable bearing performance can be maintained, and the life of the bearing device can be extended.

  Further, according to the present invention, both the outer ring and the inner ring are formed by pressing or rolling from a plate material or pipe material having a rust-preventing ability, so that the outer ring and the inner ring are rusted and the bearing performance is reduced. The life of the equipment is not shortened.

  Further, in the present invention, since the rolling surfaces of the outer ring and the inner ring have a hardened layer by quenching, friction occurs when the rolling elements roll on the rolling surface, and the rolling surface is scraped or deformed. Can be reduced.

  The wheel bearing device according to the present invention has an outer ring having a double row outer raceway formed on the inner periphery and a double row inner raceway facing the outer row raceway on the outer periphery. A pair of inner rings and a double-row rolling element accommodated so as to be able to roll between the rolling surfaces, and at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring is pressed or rolled from a plate material or a pipe material. An annular space that is formed by machining, and that is formed by an inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the outer ring and an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the inner ring, wherein the outer ring and the inner ring are formed with a cylindrical portion extending outward in the axial direction. Since a seal is attached to the opening of the bearing, it is possible to prevent leakage of lubricating grease sealed inside the bearing and prevent rainwater and dust from entering the inside of the bearing from the outside, providing a long-life wheel bearing device can do.

  An outer ring having a double row outer raceway formed on the inner periphery, a pair of inner rings having a double row inner raceway facing the outer row of the double row on the outer periphery, and the both races A plurality of rolling elements accommodated in a rollable manner between the surfaces, and at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring is formed by pressing or rolling from a plate material or a pipe material, and the outer ring A cylindrical portion extending outward in the axial direction is formed on the inner ring, and a seal is attached to an opening of an annular space formed by an inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the outer ring and an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the inner ring. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a wheel bearing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. In the following description, the side closer to the outer side of the vehicle when assembled to the vehicle is referred to as the outer side (left side of the drawing in FIG. 1), and the side closer to the center is referred to as the inner side (right side of the drawing in FIG. 1).

  In the wheel bearing device according to the present invention, the hub wheel 1, the double row rolling bearing 2 and the constant velocity universal joint 3 are detachably unitized.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the double-row rolling bearing 2 is opposed to the outer ring 4 in which double-row outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a are formed on the inner circumference, and the double-row outer rolling surface on the outer circumference. It is composed of a pair of inner rings 5 and 5 in which double row inner rolling surfaces 5a and 5a are formed, and double row rolling elements (balls) 6 and 6 accommodated so as to be freely rollable between both rolling surfaces. ing. The outer ring 4 and the inner ring 5 are made of a stainless steel flat plate or pipe material having a rust prevention ability, and are formed by pressing or rolling.

  The outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is press-fitted and fixed to the knuckle 7. A protrusion 7 a is formed on the inner side of the knuckle 7 in the radial direction. The protrusion 7 a abuts against the side surface of the outer ring 4 so that the outer ring 4 is aligned. The cross-sectional height of the protrusion 7 a is substantially equal to the height of the side surface of the outer ring 4.

  An annular convex portion 4b that protrudes radially inward is formed by pressing or rolling at a substantially central portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 4. Double row outer rolling surfaces 4a, 4a having a substantially arc-shaped cross section are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces on both sides of the annular convex portion 4b. Cylindrical portions 4c and 4c extending in the axial direction are formed on both sides of the outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a. The thickness of the cylindrical portions 4c and 4c is thinner than the thickness of the outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a. At least both outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a of the outer ring 4 are subjected to surface hardening treatment such as carburizing and quenching.

  The inner rings 5 and 5 are arranged so that the same shape is abutted symmetrically. There is no gap in the butting portion 5b. The inner rings 5 and 5 are formed with first cylindrical portions 5c and 5c extending in the axial direction from the butted portion 5b. Inner rolling surfaces 5a and 5a having a substantially arc-shaped cross section are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces on the sides of the first cylindrical portions 5c and 5c, respectively. Second cylindrical portions 5d and 5d extending in the axial direction are formed on both sides of the inner rolling surfaces 5a and 5a. At least both inner rolling surfaces 5a and 5a of the inner rings 5 and 5 are subjected to surface hardening treatment such as carburizing and quenching.

  Between the outer rolling surfaces 4a, 4a and the inner rolling surfaces 5a, 5a, double-row rolling elements 6, 6 are accommodated, respectively. The rolling elements 6 and 6 are held by the cages 8 and 8 so as to freely roll. In this example, a ball is used as the rolling element 6. However, a double row tapered roller bearing using a tapered roller as the rolling element 6 may be used.

  Seals 13 and 13 are attached to the openings of the annular space formed between the cylindrical portions 4 c and 4 c of the outer ring 4 and the second cylindrical portions 5 d and 5 d of the inner rings 5 and 5. The seals 13 and 13 include core bars 11 and 11 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and seal members 12 and 12 joined to the core bars 11 and 11. The metal cores 11 and 11 are formed by press working from a plate material or a pipe material having rust prevention ability. The outer peripheral surfaces of the core bars 11 and 11 are press-fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical portions 4 c and 4 c of the outer ring 4. The seal members 12 and 12 include joint portions 12a and 12a that are joined to the cores 11 and 11, two seal lips 12b and 12b, and seal lips 12c and 12c. The end portions of the seal lips 12b, 12b and the seal lips 12c, 12c are in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the second cylindrical portions 5d, 5d of the inner rings 5, 5. Since the seal lips 12b and 12b and the seal lips 12c and 12c are elastic, and the core bars 11 and 11 are formed in a cross-sectional shape, the seals 13 and 13 are formed of the cylindrical portion 4c of the outer ring 4, 4c and the second cylindrical portions 5d and 5d of the inner rings 5 and 5 are mounted in a state of suitable elastic deformation, so that leakage of the lubricating grease sealed inside the bearing and the inside of the bearing from the outside It is possible to suitably prevent rainwater and dust from entering.

  On the inner side of the hub wheel 1, a small-diameter step portion 1a having a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction is formed. Inner rings 5 and 5 are fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter step portion 1a. The outer peripheral surface of the small diameter step portion 1a and the first cylindrical portions 5c and 5c of the inner rings 5 and 5 are fitted with no gap.

  A wheel mounting flange 1 b for mounting a wheel (not shown) is formed at the outer end of the hub wheel 1. Hub bolt insertion holes 1c are equally formed in the circumferential direction of the wheel mounting flange 1b. A hub bolt (not shown) for fixing the wheel is planted in the hub bolt insertion hole 1c. On the inner periphery of the hub wheel 1, a serration (or spline) 1d for torque transmission is formed. The shoulder 1e of the hub wheel 1 is in contact with the side surface of the inner ring 5 on the outer side. The hub wheel 1 is made of medium carbon steel containing 0.40 to 0.80 wt% of carbon such as S53C, and at least the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter stepped portion 1a is hardened by induction hardening to a surface hardness of 58 to 64 HRC. Has been.

  The constant velocity universal joint 3 includes an outer joint member 14, a joint inner ring 15, a cage 16 and a torque transmission ball 17. The outer joint member 14 includes a cup-shaped mouth portion 18, a shoulder portion 19 that forms the bottom of the mouth portion 18, a hollow shaft portion 20 that extends in the axial direction from the shoulder portion 19, and an axially extending member. And a threaded portion 21. Curved track grooves 18 a and 15 a extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner periphery of the mouse portion 18 and the outer periphery of the joint inner ring 15, respectively. A torque transmission serration (or spline) 20 a is formed on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 20 of the outer joint member 14. The shoulder 19 of the outer joint member 14 is in contact with the side surface of the inner ring 5 on the inner side. The outer joint member 14 is made of medium carbon steel containing carbon 0.40 to 0.80 wt% such as S53C, and the outer circumferential surface extending from the shoulder portion 19 to the shaft portion 20 including the track grooves 18a and 15a is induction-hardened. The surface hardness is set in the range of 58 to 64 HRC.

  The shaft portion 20 of the outer joint member 14 is fitted to the inner periphery of the hub wheel 1. Torque is transmitted when the serration 20 a of the shaft portion 20 of the outer joint member 14 meshes with the serration 1 d of the hub wheel 1. The outer joint member 14 fitted in the hub wheel 1 is fixed with a constant torque by screwing a spindle nut 22 into the male thread portion 21 thereof. At this time, the shoulder 1e of the hub wheel 1 is in contact with the side surface of the inner ring 5 on the outer side, and the shoulder 19 of the outer joint member 14 is in contact with the side surface of the inner ring 5 on the inner side. When the inner rings 5 and 5 are raised, pressure is applied from both sides, and a preload is applied to the bearing 2.

Next, a method for manufacturing the outer ring 4 and the inner ring 5 will be described.
3A and 3B are diagrams showing a method of manufacturing the outer ring 4, in which FIG. 3A shows a state before processing, and FIG. 3B shows a state during processing. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a method for manufacturing the inner ring 5, in which FIG. 4A shows a state before processing, and FIG. 4B shows a state during processing.

  In the center of FIG. 3 (a), a cross section of a pipe member 31 made of stainless steel having a rust-proofing ability as a base material of the outer ring 4 is shown. The pipe material 31 is formed by cutting a long pipe material to a desired length, deburring both ends of the cut pipe material, and turning the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface. A mandrel 32 extending in the axial direction is inserted into the pipe material 31 with a clearance from the inner peripheral surface of the pipe material 31. On the outer peripheral surface of the mandrel 32, molds such as convex portions 32a and 32b for forming the outer rolling surfaces 4a and 4a of the outer ring 4 are formed. A molding roll 33 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the pipe material 31 is disposed outside the pipe material 31. On the outer peripheral surface of the molding roll 33, a mold such as a convex portion 33a for forming an annular convex portion 4b protruding inward in the radial direction of the outer ring 4 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the pipe material 31 is sandwiched between the molding roll 33 and the mandrel 32 when processing. Thus, by rotating at least one of the forming roll 33 and the mandrel 32, a desired shape can be formed over the peripheral surface of the pipe 31. Finally, unnecessary portions at the ends of the processed pipe material 31 are removed by machining. The outer ring 4 is formed by such a cold rolling process.

  In the center of FIG. 4 (a), a cross section of a pipe member 41 made of stainless steel having a rust-proofing ability as a base material for the inner ring 5 is shown. The pipe material 41 is formed by cutting a long pipe material to a desired length, deburring both ends of the cut pipe material, and turning the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface. An inner die 42 extending in the axial direction is inserted into the pipe material 41 with a clearance from the inner peripheral surface of the pipe material 41. A die for forming the inner peripheral surface of the inner ring 5 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner die 42. An outer mold 43 that is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe material 41 is disposed outside the pipe material 41. The outer mold 43 is formed with a mold such as a convex portion 43 a for forming the inner rolling surface 5 a of the inner ring 5.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when processing, a desired shape can be formed over the peripheral surface of the pipe 41 by sandwiching and pressing the pipe material 41 between the inner mold 42 and the outer mold 43. it can. Finally, unnecessary portions at the ends of the processed pipe material 41 are removed by machining. The inner ring 5 is formed by such pressing.

  In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the outer ring 4 and the inner ring 5 are processed using a pipe material as a base material, but the present invention can be formed by a similar processing method using the outer ring 4 and the inner ring 5 as flat plates. . In this embodiment, the outer ring 4 is formed by rolling and the inner ring 5 is press-molded. However, in the present invention, the outer ring 4 can be press-molded and the inner ring 5 can be formed by rolling. . Furthermore, it is sufficient that at least one of the outer ring 4 or the inner ring 5 is formed from a plate material or a pipe material by pressing or rolling, and the other can be processed by forging or the like.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and is merely an example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the scope of claims, and further, the equivalent meanings described in the scope of claims and all modifications within the scope of the scope of the present invention are included. Including.

  The wheel bearing device according to the present invention can be applied to a so-called second-generation wheel bearing device that rotatably supports a wheel of an automobile or the like.

It is a longitudinal section showing an embodiment of a wheel bearing device concerning the present invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing method of the outer ring | wheel 4, (a) shows the state before a process, (b) shows the state in process. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing method of the inner ring | wheel 5, (a) shows the state before a process, (b) shows the state in process.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... hub wheel 1a ... small diameter step 1b ... wheel mounting flange 1c ... hub bolt insertion hole 1d ... ··· Serration 1e ······················································································· 4a ... Outer rolling surface 4b ... Annular projection 4c ... Cylindrical part 5 ... Inner ring 5a ... -Inner rolling surface 5b .... Butting part 5c ... ... First cylindrical part 5d ... ... Second cylindrical part 6 ... Rolling element 7 ... Knuckle 7a ... Projection 8 ... Retainer 11 ... Core 12 ... · Sealing member 12a ··· Joints 12b, 12c ··· Seal ·································································································· Tracks 16・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Torque transmission ball 18 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Mouse part 19 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Shoulder part 20 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Shaft part 20 a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Serration 21 ・ ・... Screw thread 22 ... Spindle nuts 31, 41 ... Pipe material 32 ... Mandrels 32a, 32b ... Projections 33 ...・ Molding roll 33a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Convex part 42 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Inner mold 43 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ External mold 43a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Convex part

Claims (4)

An outer ring having a double row outer raceway formed on the inner periphery, a pair of inner rings having a double row inner raceway facing the outer row of the double row on the outer periphery, and the both races A double row rolling element housed between the faces in a freely rolling manner,
At least one of the outer ring and the inner ring is formed by pressing or rolling from a plate material or pipe material,
A cylindrical portion extending outward in the axial direction is formed on the outer ring and the inner ring, and a seal is attached to an opening of an annular space formed by the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the outer ring and the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the inner ring. A bearing device for a wheel.   A hub ring fitted into the inner ring and an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint fitted to the hub ring are fixed by fixing means, and a shoulder portion of the hub ring and a shoulder of the outer joint member The wheel bearing device according to claim 1, wherein a preload is applied to the pair of inner rings by a portion.   The wheel bearing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both the outer ring and the inner ring are formed by pressing or rolling from a plate material or pipe material having rust prevention ability.   The wheel bearing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rolling surfaces of the outer ring and the inner ring have a hardened layer formed by quenching.

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