For Hub Patents (Class 384/544)
  • Patent number: 8961027
    Abstract: A hub bearing may include a hub provided with a disc-shaped wheel coupling portion which is coupled to a wheel and a bearing mounting portion which passes through and protrudes from the wheel coupling portion, first face splines being formed on a protruding surface; and a bearing formed with a lower end fixed to the bearing mounting portion such that one side of the lower end comes into contact with the wheel coupling portion and an upper end fixed to a vehicle body, second face splines being formed on one surface of the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8961026
    Abstract: A flanged bearing ring is made up of two different materials joined together as a single piece, namely a radially inner annular insert and a flanged, radially outer lightweight body formed around the insert. The insert forms one or more raceways and is made of a hard material, such as bearing steel. The outer body is made of a lightweight material, such as aluminium alloy, with a higher thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of the hard material which the inner insert is made of. A relief formed by the insert extends into a groove of the outer body. Another relief, formed by the outer body, extends into a further groove of the insert. These reliefs and grooves interlock the insert and the outer body together against relative movement under all temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo A Re, Cornelius Petrus Antonius Vissers
  • Patent number: 8956054
    Abstract: An inner raceway (3) having a rolling element raceway facing radially outward, for an angular contact bearing arrangement, and particularly an angular ball bearing arrangement, where a cylindrical surface which is situated at the furthest outward position radially is included as a seal seat. Such inner raceways are used in wheel bearing units, for example, which have an orbital rivet bond, which in turn can also form an end-face gearing (7). The orbital rivet bond and the axial extension (8) of the inner raceway form an annular gap (20) which leads to a configuration where a decoupling of loads from the inner raceway (3) prevents an undesired deformation of the same. In addition, advantages result from the sealing of the region of the orbital rivet bond and/or the end-face gearing (7) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Roland Langer
  • Patent number: 8944694
    Abstract: A bearing device for a driving wheel includes an outer race having an inner periphery in which double-row outer raceway surfaces are formed; a hub wheel and an inner race having outer peripheries in which double-row inner raceway surfaces opposed to the outer raceway surfaces are formed; and double-row rolling elements interposed between the outer raceway surfaces and the inner raceway surfaces. A shaft hole of the hub wheel is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a male spline is formed on an outer periphery of a stem section of the outer joint member so that the stem section of the outer joint member is press-fit into the shaft hole of the hub wheel. With this, recesses caused to fit on the male spline with interference are formed in the shaft hole of the hub wheel, whereby the hub wheel and the outer joint member are separably coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Fukumura, Masayuki Kuroda, Hisaaki Kura, Shin Tomogami, Hiroshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Fukushima, Masahiro Ozawa, Yuichi Asano
  • Patent number: 8944523
    Abstract: A flanged bearing ring (10) for the wheel of a motor vehicle includes two different materials joined as a single piece: a tubular core (15) and an outer body (16) around the core. The outer body forms a radial flange (17) and is made of a lighter material than that of the core. At the axially outer end of the ring, at the side where the flange (17) is provided, the interface surfaces between the outer body (16) and the core (15) terminate in a groove (21) formed partly in the outer body and partly in the core. The groove (21) accommodates a sealing ring (22) made of rubber-like or elastomeric material which presses against both the outer body (16) and the core (15) so as to seal continuously, along an entire circumference around the axis (x), a separation line (23) between the core (15) and the outer body (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Re, Cornelius Petrus Antonius Vissers
  • Patent number: 8944522
    Abstract: A flanged bearing ring (10) for the wheel of a motor vehicle includes two different materials joined as a single piece: a tubular core (15) and an outer body (16) around the core. The outer body forms a radial flange (17) and is made of a lighter material than that of the core. At the axially outer end of the ring, at the side where the flange (17) is provided, the interface surfaces between the external body (16) and the core (15) terminate in a groove (21) formed partly in the outer body and partly in the core. The groove (21) accommodates a sealing ring of polymeric material (22) which is cast and continuously covers a circular separation line (23) at the axially outer end of the interface between the core (15) and the outer body (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Andreas Knopf, Paolo Re
  • Patent number: 8936321
    Abstract: A flanged bearing ring for a motor vehicle wheel includes two different materials joined as a single piece: a tubular core and an outer body around the core. The outer body forms a radial flange and is made of a lighter material than that of the core. The ring further includes an element of generally tubular shape, which contacts both the outer body and the inner core to cover and seal with continuity a circular line of separation at the end of the interface surface between the core and the outer body at the axially outer side of the ring. The tubular element further forms a cylindrical axial edge which extends in an axially inner direction and is fixed in the axially outer end of the core cavity, and a cylindrical tubular portion, projecting in an axially outer direction beyond the flange, for centering the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Re, Andreas Knopf
  • Publication number: 20150010260
    Abstract: A passenger automotive vehicle wheel bearing assembly having improved impact Brinell resistance is provided. Due to a controlled gap between a rotating component and a non-rotating component or a vehicle suspension structure, the non-rotating component or the vehicle suspension structure is permitted to share impact loads caused by a sufficient radial or side impact (such as a pothole or curb impact) to the rotating component, thus preventing excessive loads from being transmitted to rolling elements, and providing greater resistance against Brinell impact damage that would generate a noise and/or vibration condition in the bearing assembly. Wheel bearing assemblies according to the invention provide increased impact Brined resistance while avoiding excessive contact between the rotating component and the non-rotating component or the vehicle suspension structure during extreme cornering maneuvers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: KYKLOS BEARING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Meeker, David N. Johnson, Kelly S. Hinds, Connie J. Buynacek, Martin P. Grover
  • Patent number: 8915649
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a protecting cover formed from non-magnetic steel sheet with a cup-shaped configuration. The protective cover has a cylindrical fitting portion, a disk-shaped shield portion, a radially reducing portion, a stepped portion and a bottom portion. The cylindrical fitting portion is press-fit into the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member. The disk-shaped shielding portion extends radially inward from the fitting portion, via the radially reducing portion. The inner-side surface of the shielding portion is arranged close to or in contact with a rotation speed detecting sensor. The bottom portion is continuous with the shielding portion, via the stepped portion to close the inner-side end of the inner member. A full deflection of the side surface of the shielding portion that is caused by a load the same as that applied to the protecting cover when it is press-fit into the outer member is limited to a predetermined value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Seki, Yasuhiro Aritake, Tomoko Baba, Tadashi Mitsuishi
  • Patent number: 8915274
    Abstract: A spindle includes an inner bearing shoulder to seat an inner bearing and an outer bearing shoulder to seat an outer bearing. The inner and outer bearing shoulders are spaced apart by a controlled distance such that the outboard bearing is accurately positioned relative to the inboard bearing to control endplay and preload without requiring bearing adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Eschenburg, David Gonska
  • Patent number: 8915651
    Abstract: An inner ring member having multiple flange portions is formed by cold forging. A tapered surface is formed in a state of a forged surface on the inner ring member so as to gradually increase in diameter from an inner side toward an outer side in a vehicle lateral direction over a region from a position near root portions of inner side faces of the flange portions in the vehicle lateral direction to a position radially outward of an outer periphery of an outer end portion of an outer ring member in the vehicle lateral direction. A seal member is attached to the outer periphery of the outer end portion of the outer ring member. A seal lip that is in sliding contact with the tapered surface in the state of a forged surface is formed at a distal end portion of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Masuda, Tatsuya Yokota
  • Patent number: 8905645
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, and double row rolling elements are contained between the outer raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. A shoulder height H of the inner raceway surface of the inner ring is set with a range of 0.4-0.8 times a diameter “d” of the ball (H/d=0.4-0.8). A shoulder height ? of a smaller diameter portion formed on the outermost circumference of the inner ring is set to a value ?/d?0.35. A corner, formed by the tapered surface and the inner raceway surface, is rounded to have a circular arc cross-section. A shoulder height H1 of the inner raceway surface from its bottom to the corner is set within a range of 0.40-0.50 times a diameter of the ball (d) (H1/d=0.40-0.50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Yasushi Shibata
  • Patent number: 8882359
    Abstract: A wheel rolling bearing unit capable of preventing grease leak even if the interference of the sealing member for sealing the clearance between the inner and outer rings is made small. The wheel rolling bearing unit according to the present invention is equipped with an inner shaft; an outer ring disposed concentrically on the outer peripheral side of the inner shaft; a plurality of balls disposed between these; and a pair of cages for retaining the balls in the circumferential direction. On the inner peripheral surface of each of the pair of cages, a concave section being dented to the outside in the radial direction to hold grease is formed in the range from the axial outside end section to the inside end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8881405
    Abstract: A raceway member (6) of a wheel support hub unit, having wheel or vehicle body fixing portions (7) extending radially outward from a solid or hollow shaft portion, and a wheel or vehicle body positioning cylindrical portion (9) extending concentrically with the shaft portion, the fixing portion (7) being formed by the cold side extrusion so that the fixing portion is integral with the shaft portion (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kobayashi, Kiyoshi Ootuka, Yuu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8882358
    Abstract: Construction is achieved that is able to prevent strain deformation in the axial direction of a flat plate section 21 of a cover 19a when a cylinder section 20 of the cover 19a, which covers the opening on the inside end in the axial direction of an internal space where an encoder 1 is located, is fitted into and fastened to the inside end section in the axial direction of an outer ring 7. A non-contact section 26a is formed all the way around the inside end section in the axial direction of the cylinder section 20 such that the outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the inside end section in the axial direction of the outer ring, and the dimension L26 in the axial direction is two times or more the thickness dimension t19 of a plate member of the cover 19a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyunya Inohae, Yoshio Kaneko, Masato Nagano
  • Patent number: 8876427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spur toothing on at least one coupling element for transmitting torques about a rotational axis, said spur toothing axially engaging with a corresponding mating cutting. The face cutting is provided with teeth from a material of the coupling element that has been plastically shaped in an at least partially non-cutting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Ernst Masur, Ralf Heiss, Benno Fueller, Peter Niebling
  • Patent number: 8864243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing unit (1) for a vehicle wheel, comprising a hub element (2, 3, 2?) which has an axially (a) extending cylindrical section (4) to be supported by a bearing arrangement (5) and which has a radially (r) extending flange section (6) for fixing the vehicle wheel and/or a brake disk at a face side (7) of the flange section (6), wherein the bearing arrangement (5) has an outer ring (8). To ensure a firm and cost effective axial connection between the hub element and the outer ring, the invention is characterized in that the outer ring (8) has a radially extending insection (9) at its a outer circumference (10), wherein the axially (a) extending cylindrical section (4) of the hub element (2, 3, 2?) is deformed partially (11) so that a section of it interferes in the insection (9) for axially fixing the hub element (2, 3, 2?) relatively to the outer ring (8). The invention also relates to a method for producing a wheel bearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Berthold Beyfuss, Alfred Radina, Jonas Schierling, Hans-Juergen Friedrich, Fred Fuchs, Armin Olschewski, Carl Vissers
  • Patent number: 8864382
    Abstract: A preload measuring device for a double row rolling bearing unit includes an outer bearing ring member having double rows of outer ring raceways on an inner circumferential surface, an inner bearing ring member having double rows of inner ring raceways on an outer circumferential surface, rolling elements rollably arranged between the outer ring raceways and the inner ring raceways in each of the rows such that contact angles given to the respective rows are opposite to one another, axial displacement measuring means for obtaining an axial relative displacement between the outer bearing ring member and the inner bearing ring member, inclination angle measuring means for obtaining an inclination angle between center axes of the outer bearing ring member and the inner bearing ring member, and preload calculating means for obtaining a preload applied to the rolling elements based on the inclination angle and the axial relative displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ono, Takeshi Takizawa, Mamoru Aoki
  • Patent number: 8851757
    Abstract: A bearing unit has an axis of rotation and a stationary ring and a rotatable ring, these rings being coaxial with each other and axially delimited on one side by respective axial surfaces which are transverse to the axis. An encoder is fixed to an outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring, and a protective cover is mounted on the outer ring to protect the encoder and to close off a space formed between the two rings. The axial surface of the outer ring and the protective cover jointly delimit a compartment for housing the encoder that is positioned substantially outside the space and that extends radially from the outer cylindrical surface to a boundary in the proximity of an outer cylindrical surface of the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 8855944
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting the load acting on the bearing assembly is provided. The sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit in an outer member that serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors for detecting strain in the strain generating member. The contact fixing segments are spaced from each other in a direction circumferentially of the stationary member at the same axial positions. An estimating section is provided in the bearing assembly for estimating load thereon based on the difference between respective output signals from the sensors by calculating amplitudes of the output signals or values corresponding to such amplitudes from the difference between the respective output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Hiroshi Isobe, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8845203
    Abstract: A bearing assembly having improved impact Brinell resistance is provided. Due to a controlled gap between a rotating component and a non-rotating component or a vehicle suspension structure, the non-rotating component or the vehicle suspension structure is permitted to share impact loads caused by a sufficient side impact to the rotating component, thus preventing excessive loads from being transmitted to rolling elements, and providing greater resistance against Brinell impact damage that would generate a noise and/or vibration condition in the bearing assembly. The width of the controlled gap and of the area of potential contact between the rotating component and the vehicle suspension structure or the non-rotating component are optimized to increase impact Brinell resistance while avoiding excessive contact between the rotating component and the non-rotating component or the vehicle suspension structure during extreme cornering maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kyklos Bearing International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Meeker, David N. Johnson, Connie J. Buynacek, Martin P. Grover
  • Patent number: 8840313
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (2, 30) formed with double row outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b) on its inner circumferential surface. Inner members (1, 20, 29, 35, 38) are each formed with double row inner raceway surfaces (4a, 5a, 31a) on its outer circumferential surface arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b). Double row ball groups (3) are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b) and inner raceway surfaces (4a, 5a, 31a) of the inner members (1, 20, 29, 35, 38) and the outer member (2, 30). A pitch circle diameter (PCDo) of a ball group (3) near a wheel mounting flange (6) is larger than a pitch circle diameter (PCDi) of a ball group (3) away from the wheel mounting flange (6). Each corner of the shoulders of the outer and inner raceway surfaces (2a, 2b, 4a, 5a, 31a) is rounded as a smooth circular arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Masahiro Kiuchi, Kazuhiro Baba
  • Patent number: 8826542
    Abstract: In summary, the invention relates to a method for forming an end-side toothing arrangement of a roiling bearing, in particular a wheel bearing. The aim is to improve the uniformity of the end-side toothing arrangement and to allow a greater tooth depth. This is achieved by two method steps in that, in a first step before the reshaping of an end piece of a hub, a die is axially arranged on the rolling bearing in a preassembled state and, in a second step during the reshaping of the end piece and the shaping of the end-side toothing arrangement, the die radially delimits a radial recess of the rolling rivet collar as it forms. In addition, the die reduces or prevents radial widening of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Sebastian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8814435
    Abstract: A bearing unit includes an outer ring member having an outer periphery on which a flange portion is formed, the flange portion being fitted to a vehicle body side; an inner ring member that is rotatably inserted in the outer ring member; and rolling elements in double rows, which are rollably arranged between the outer ring member and the inner ring member, wherein bolts are press-fitted in bolt holes formed in a peripheral edge portion of a wheel fitting flange that is formed on an outer periphery of the inner ring member, and a recessed portion is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the wheel fitting flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Takimoto, Ryoichiro Kotani
  • Patent number: 8814278
    Abstract: When an inner ring of a driving-wheel supporting hub unit is fixed to a hub, a pressing die is displaced downward and an annular working surface at a lower end surface of the pressing die is pressed against a front end of a cylindrical portion over its whole periphery. Further, in this state, the pressing die is pressed downward toward the hub without rocking the pressing die relative to the hub. Thus, the cylindrical portion is plastically deformed radially outward along the working surface simultaneously over its whole periphery. By adopting this method, the operation of plastically deforming the cylindrical portion at the inner end of the hub to form a caulking portion, can be easily and performed accurately. Accordingly, the structure of the caulking portion forming apparatus can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Enomoto, Nobuyuki Hagiwara, Masahiro Yasumura
  • Patent number: 8801294
    Abstract: A bearing device for a wheel is capable of suppressing radial play and allowing firm and easy connection between a hub and an outer ring of a constant velocity universal joint. Axially extending projections are provided on a shaft portion of a joint outer ring, and the shaft portion is press-fitted into a hole of a hub. Through this press-fitting, recesses held in close fit-engagement with the projections are formed by the projections in an inner diameter surface of the hub, forming a recess/projection fit-engagement structure in which the projections and the recesses are held in close contact with each other over an entire fit-engagement region thereof. A press-fitting margin (?d) of the projections with respect to the hub and a height (h) of the projections are set to the following range: 0.3<?d/2h<0.86.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Nakagawa, Yuichi Asano, Masahiro Ozawa, Masayuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8794844
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member; an inner member and double row balls freely rollably contained between outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces. An inner ring is axially secured relative to a wheel hub by a caulked portion. The caulked portion is formed by plastically deforming the cylindrical portion radially outward. The wheel hub is formed from medium-high carbon steel including carbon of 0.40-0.80% by weight and with a ferrite grain size number selected larger than #3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8794842
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and an inner ring. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces, respectively, of the inner member and the outer member. Seals are mounted in annular openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. The inner side seal of these seals comprises an annular slinger and an annular sealing plate. The sealing plate includes a steel plate metal core and a sealing member bonded to the metal core, via vulcanized adhesion. A plurality of sealing lips extends from the sealing member and is in sliding contact with the slinger. An outer circumferential lip is formed on the periphery of the sealing member. The outer circumferential lip extends radially outward. It has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and is adapted to fit into a gap between the outer member and a flange portion of a knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 8790017
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has a cylindrical pilot portion adapted to be fit into a knuckle. The pilot portion has a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion. A fitting width (A) of the first guiding portion with the knuckle is set larger than a fitting width (B) of the second guiding portion with the knuckle (A>B). An outer diameter D1 of the first guiding portion is set smaller than an outer diameter D2 of the second guiding portion (D1<D2). A seal ring, in elastic contact with the inner circumference of the knuckle, is arranged on either one of the first or second guiding portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Natsuko Nagai
  • Patent number: 8786150
    Abstract: A rotor shaft is supported in a rotatable manner at both ends by bearings respectively disposed to a housing forming a part of a stator and provided with a positioning portion of the bearing in at least one shaft end. The positioning portion is formed of an annular step-like rise portion that abuts on a circular arc surface provided to an inner ring corner of the bearing. A rotor shaft capable of holding the bearing in a stable manner over a long period is thus obtained without increasing the number of components and the numbers of working processes and assembly man-hours for the shaft. It thus becomes possible to solve problems, such as an increase in cost due to a large amount of working margin and increases of the direct material cost and in weight due to a larger finishing diameter of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Minami, Takahiro Kimura, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8783963
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements. A wheel mounting flange is integrally formed on a driving side of the inner member for mounting a wheel via a brake rotor. Through apertures are formed on the wheel mounting flange. Hollow pins, having a chamfered portion, are press-fit into the through apertures. The brake rotor is formed with insert apertures to receive the pins, at positions respectively corresponding to the hub bolts and pins. The brake rotor can be temporarily mounted on the wheel mounting flange by inserting or press-fitting the chamfered end sides of the pins into the insert apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Yamamoto, Nobukatsu Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8783964
    Abstract: A driving-wheel bearing device includes an outer race having double-row outer raceway surfaces formed on an inner periphery thereof, a hub wheel and an inner race having a wheel attachment flange at one end thereof and double-row inner raceway surfaces on an outer periphery thereof, and double-row rolling elements interposed between the outer raceway surfaces of the outer race and the inner raceway surfaces of the hub wheel and the inner race, the hub wheel having a shaft hole into which a stem section extending from an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint is spline-fitted by being press-fitted, in which a plate having a molybdenum coating layer or a fluorine-resin coating layer formed thereon and having a plate thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 2 mm is interposed between opposite surfaces of a shoulder portion of the outer joint member and an crimped portion of the hub wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Ishijima, Hiroshi Teduka, Manabu Hoshino, Kazuhiro Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8777492
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus of a semi-floating type has a pilot portion 21 on an outer member 20. The pilot portion includes a cylindrical portion 21a and a tapered portion 21b. The tapered portion 21b gradually decreases in diameter from the cylindrical portion 21a to an end surface of the inboard side. A fitting portion 16 of an axle housing 14 corresponds to the shape of the pilot portion 21. An annular groove 22 is formed at the tapered portion 21b of the pilot portion 21. A seal ring 23 is mounted in the annular groove 22. An outer diameter d3 of the seal ring 23, after mounting, is set smaller than an inner diameter d4 of the cylindrical portion 16a of the axle housing 14. The seal ring elastically contacts the axle housing 14. A slight gap of a fitting portion between the outer member 20 and the axle housing 14 is blocked off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Yamamoto, Kazuhisa Shigeoka
  • Patent number: 8777491
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes a wheel hub, a knuckle member defining a bore, and a bearing arranged in the bore and configured to rotatably support the wheel hub. The bearing includes a seal member configured to cover internal workings of the bearing. The wheel bearing assembly also includes an annular slinger arranged on the wheel hub and configured to at least partially screen the seal member to minimize ingestion of contaminants by the bearing from the ambient. The wheel bearing assembly additionally includes an annular shield configured to at least partially shield the slinger from the contaminants and generate a labyrinth path from the ambient to the seal member for any of the contaminants. A vehicle employing the above described wheel bearing assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wenshui Wang, Robert G. Sutherlin
  • Patent number: 8777329
    Abstract: A wheel carrier for a motor vehicle in which the wheel carrier is typically manufactured from aluminum. The wheel carrier comprises a recess (1) for receiving an outer ring (2) of a wheel bearing (3). An inner ring (4) of the wheel bearing (3) is fixed in a hub (15) of a wheel flange (12) of a vehicle axle. An axial end of the outer ring (2) of the wheel bearing (3) abuts against a shoulder of the wheel carrier (6), and a rim section (5) of the wheel carrier (6) is at least partially deformed to abut an opposite axial end of the outer ring (2) of the wheel bearing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Werries, Metin Ersoy
  • Patent number: 8770851
    Abstract: To provide a wheel rolling bearing apparatus which can reinforce a proximal end portion of a first flange portion of an outer race member effectively. A first flange portion (21) is provided on an upper portion side of an outer circumference of an outer race member (11). A first reinforcement portion (26) is provided which connects a proximal end portion (21b) of the first flange portion (21) with the outer circumferential surface (11c) of the outer race member (11). The first flange portion (21) is reinforced by the first reinforcement portion (26) by connecting the proximal end portion of the first flange portion (21) with the outer circumferential surface (11c) by a convexly curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Onizuka
  • Patent number: 8770850
    Abstract: An asymmetric wheel hub assembly with two rows of rolling elements of different pitch diameters has a central axis of rotation and inner raceway and outer raceways for each row of elements, the associated inner and outer raceways being axially displaced in accordance with a respective angle of contact and along a respective load line such that the assembly is capable of accommodating combined loading. The raceways of each row of rolling elements have osculation ratios which are defined by the ratio between the radius of curvature of the raceways and the outside diameters of the rolling elements of the associated row of rolling elements. The angle of contact and the osculation ratios of a first one of the two rows of the rolling elements is different than the angle of contact and osculation ratios of a second one of the two rows of the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Luca Ciulla
  • Patent number: 8770672
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel end assembly includes a hub bearing assembly with an inner member having a first side defining a throughbore and a second side defining an inner raceway, a shaft extending through the throughbore of the inner member and configured to receive a torque and to transfer the torque to the inner member such that the inner member rotates with the shaft; and a seal positioned within the throughbore between the shaft and the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Avissai Alcantara Burguete, Ricardo Guerrero Melendez
  • Patent number: 8764299
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a rotational speed detecting apparatus has an axially extending through bore formed in a mounting portion. A bottomed cylindrical sensor receptacle is integrally molded with the through bore. The sensor receptacle is press-formed from a non-magnetic steel sheet. The bottom portion of the sensor receptacle is arranged to oppose the pulser ring via a predetermined axial gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Torii
  • Patent number: 8764303
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing which has at least one inner ring and at least one outer ring. A relative movement is possible between the outer ring and the inner ring, and the at least one outer ring having has at least one flange for fastening to a rotatable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Baumann, Lothar Spitzmüller
  • Patent number: 8757887
    Abstract: A bearing device for a wheel prevents backlash in a circumferential direction and has excellent workability for connecting a hub wheel and an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint. The bearing device includes a recess-projection fitting structure in which the hub wheel and a shaft section, which is fitted in a hole of the hub wheel of the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint, are unitized together. In the recess-projection fitting structure, entire fitting regions among projections on the outer surface of the shaft section of the outer joint member and recesses, which fit on the projections, are brought into intimate contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Hiroshi Kawamura, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Tohru Nakagawa, Yuichi Asano, Mitsuru Umekida, Hisaaki Kura, Shin Tomogami
  • Patent number: 8753018
    Abstract: A wheel bearing useful for automobiles includes an axle shaft and an axle tube around the shaft, inner and outer bearing races defined respectively at the outer periphery of the shaft and the inner periphery of the tube. A circumferential row of balls and a circumferential set of rollers disposed axially apart between the inner and outer bearing races to form a ball bearing and a roller bearing, in parallel, for supporting the axle shaft within the axle tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Lawrence Cislo
  • Patent number: 8746985
    Abstract: A rolling bearing device for a wheel includes a fixed bearing ring in a tubular shape which is fixed to a vehicle side, and a rotary bearing ring which is rotatably passed through the fixed bearing ring, and includes a plurality of flange portions for mounting the wheel formed on an outer periphery at one end side thereof in an axial direction, and a spigot joint portion in an annular shape protruding in the axial direction formed in a one end part thereof in the axial direction. A circular recess is formed in the one end part of the rotary bearing ring in the axial direction. Thick wall parts for reinforcement are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the spigot joint portion at positions corresponding to regions between a part between the respective flange portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Takanobu Murakami, Takaaki Onizuka
  • Patent number: 8745874
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel support bearing assembly having a plastically deformed portion engageable with an inclined surface portion of an annular stepped area in the inner race segment. The method includes that the plastically deformed portion, which is of a cylindrical configuration before it is deformed, is formed by pressing a crimping punch, of which front end portion outer peripheral surface is a tapered shape, axially into an inner peripheral surface of the inboard end portion of the hub axle to allow the cylindrical plastically deformed portion to be crimped in the diameter expanded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Kubota, Kazuo Komori, Hiroshi Matsunaga, Akira Fujimura, Tetsuya Hashimoto, Masahiro Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 8740467
    Abstract: A knuckle-hub assembly including a knuckle and wheel bearing, and a retainer that is preferably arranged within a radial recess of the knuckle and a radial recess of the wheel bearing. The knuckle includes an inner radial surface defining a passage, the inner radial surface having a first radial recess. The first radial recess is preferably located in an intermediate region along a longitudinal axis of the passage. The wheel bearing includes an outer radial surface defining a second radial recess that is located in an intermediate region along the length of the bearing. The radial recesses of the knuckle and wheel bearing are generally axially-aligned upon installing the bearing in the knuckle's passage. The retainer has a generally constant cross-sectional profile about its circumference and includes an inner wall surface having a second portion and the first portion that is disposed at an angle relative to a first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Diversified Machine, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Ravenna, Cory A. Ryner
  • Patent number: 8740468
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a first component mounted for rotation with the wheel and a second component spaced from the first component by a predetermined gap and not connected for rotation with the wheel. One of the first and the second components is displaced relative to the other upon a force to close the gap and contact the other component to form a load path for the force. The load path is a secondary load path that bypasses the bearing races, preventing excessive plastic deformation of the races. The apparatus is configured with at least one feature to inhibit corrosion of the first and second components at the gap. The feature may be an extension of the second component that localizes the gap to just a portion of the second component. Alternatively, coatings, shims, lubricants, and seals may be used alone or in combination to prevent corrosion at the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Sutherlin, Douglas N. Reed
  • Patent number: 8714830
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit which has an outer ring, one or two inner rings and load-transmitting rolling elements arranged between the two rings. An orbitally formed shoulder of a wheel hub is provided for the pre-stressing of the wheel bearing unit via the inner ring, and a toothed ring which has an outward-facing radial tooth system is arranged on the inner ring, as is usual in wheel bearing units with all-wheel drive capability. The wheel bearing unit has a small axial width which benefits the handling characteristics of a vehicle by attaching the toothed ring to the orbitally formed shoulder and transmitting the drive torques via this attachment. Welding and a plastically formed tooth system on the orbitally formed shoulder are proposed as examples of such fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Florian Koeniger, Berthold Krautkraemer, Johannes Schottdorf, Frank Eichelmann, Andreas Becker
  • Patent number: 8714573
    Abstract: A first side-face spline of a hub spindle and a second side-face spline of a constant velocity joint each has a tooth tip formed by tip tilted surfaces tilted from tooth flanks constituting a tooth chevron, an internal angle of the tooth tip is set to be less than 180 degrees, and a tooth tip-side perpendicular distance, which is a perpendicular distance between a tooth tip virtual intersection and a first virtual plane is set larger than a bottom land-side perpendicular distance, which is a perpendicular distance between a bottom land virtual intersection and a second virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 8714829
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member and an inner member, each having a raceway surface. The inner member is made up of a combination of a rotatable ring, having its outer periphery formed with a vehicle body fitting flange, and a separate member. Each of the outer member and the flanged rotatable ring has a surface region representing a thermally refined structure formed by means of martensite hardening and high temperature tempering and also has a core region representing an as-forged structure made up of ferrite and pearlite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirai
  • Patent number: 8714828
    Abstract: A wheel hub assembly with two rows of rolling elements has a central axis of rotation and inner raceway and outer raceways for each row of elements, the associated inner and outer raceways being axially displaced in accordance with a respective angle of contact and along a respective load line such that the assembly is capable of accommodating combined loading. The raceways of each row of rolling elements have osculation ratios which are defined by the ratio between the radius of curvature of the raceways and the outside diameters of the rolling elements of the associated row of rolling elements. The osculation ratios of a first one of the two rows of the rolling elements are different than the osculation ratios of a second one of the two rows of the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Luca Ciulla