For Hub Patents (Class 384/544)
  • Patent number: 7614795
    Abstract: A rolling bearing assembly includes: an outer ring member; an inner ring member; a hub wheel formed with a flange at one axial end thereof; and a seal member for sealing a space between one axial end of the outer ring member and an inside surface of the flange, which axially opposes the one end of the outer ring member. The seal member includes: a cylindrical core fitted on the one axial end of the outer ring member and axially extended from the one end toward the flange; and an annular lip portion secured to the core and formed from an elastic material as axially extended from the core to the inside surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Adachi, Youichi Tsuzaki, Masaru Deguchi, Tetsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7607838
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus which limits hoop stress generated in the inner ring during caulking, to below a predetermined level, can improve durability and reliability of the inner ring. Radial expansion of the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring, before and after said plastic deformation, is measured so that the amount of radial expansion of the inner ring is controlled based on a predetermined relationship between the hoop stress and the amount of radial expansion of the inner ring. The hoop stress in the inner member is limited below a predetermined level. Thus, it is possible to easily and exactly control the hoop stress in the inner ring caulked onto the hub. This prevents the generation of cracking or delayed fracture of the inner ring, to provide a bearing apparatus with an inner ring with superior durability and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Yasuhiro Aritake
  • Patent number: 7607837
    Abstract: A wheel bearing module in a wheel carrier that has a wheel bearing and a wheel flange. The wheel flange is mounted using the wheel bearing which allows it to rotate relative to the wheel carrier about a rotation axis. The wheel bearing has at least one outer ring. The wheel bearing is supported, at least in areas and via an outer ring, at least radial to the rotation axis in the wheel carrier. The outer ring has, at the axial end of the outer ring, a flange radially pointing away from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Darius Dlugai, Horst Doeppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Publication number: 20090263066
    Abstract: It is possible to obtain best performance in a structure in which moment rigidity can be improved by setting a pitch circle diameter of an outboard row to be larger than a pitch circle diameter of an inboard row. Thermally-hardened layers 16a, 16b are formed, at two locations along an axial direction, in portions of an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring 3 including outer ring raceways 12a, 12b. The thermally-hardened layers 16a, 16b are separated from each other by an unhardened portion 17 in an axially middle portion of the outer ring 3. A non-cylindrical curved portion 18 having an arcuate generatrix is provided on the axially middle portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring 3, between the outer ring raceways 12a, 12b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7604416
    Abstract: The invention relates to an outer ring of a wheel bearing and the axial securing element thereof, which comprises a radial flange. Said radial flange extends radially outward from the axial end of the tubularly embodied outer ring. The flange is provided with recesses which penetrate the flange in an axial direction, are radially open towards the outside, and are used for fastening the flange to a wheel support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Darius Dlugai, Horst Doeppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7600923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing in a wheel carrier. This wheel bearing has at least one outer race with at least one row of roll bodies, whereby the wheel bearing is supported at least on a cylindrical section of the outer race at least radial to the rotation axis in the wheel carrier, and the outer race has a flange radial pointing away from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Darius Dlugai, Horst Doeppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7597405
    Abstract: The wheel bearing joint unit having an inner ring that sits on a hub of the wheel bearing joint unit. The inner ring is axially retained on the hub using a collar that is formed from the hub. The collar is provided with a toothing which meshes with a corresponding opposite toothing on a joint part. The toothing and the opposite toothing are braced against each other by a screw which rests on the hub and engages into a thread on the joint part. The joint has two axial projections, one which has the toothing to engage the toothing on the collar and another with the threading to engage the screw. These two projections are spaced apart by a groove to provide flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Ernst Masur, Ralf Heiss, Benno Fueller, Peter Niebling
  • Patent number: 7594758
    Abstract: A rolling bearing unit includes a resin-made cover attached at the opening of the vehicle inward side edge section of an outer ring. The cover includes a cylindrical portion which is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the opening of the vehicle inward side edge section of the outer ring. A metal ring body is provided at the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Shige
  • Publication number: 20090232435
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member formed, on its inner circumference, with double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member is formed on its outer circumference surface, with double row inner raceway surfaces arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double ball groups are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. It is formed as a double row angular contact ball bearing of back-to-back duplex type where a predetermined contacting angle is applied to each ball. A pitch circle diameter of the outer-side ball group is larger than a pitch circle diameter of the inner-side ball group. The outer-side groove diameter of curvature ratios are smaller than inner-side groove diameter of curvature ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 7585031
    Abstract: A non-drive axle depends from a heavy-duty vehicle. Each one of a pair of wheel end assemblies is mounted on a respective one of the ends of the non-drive axle. Each wheel end assembly includes a pair of bearings mounted on a spindle of the axle, and a wheel hub rotatably mounted on the bearings. A cavity is formed in the wheel end assembly between the bearings. A port is formed in the wheel hub and extends generally parallel to a central axis of the wheel hub, and communicates with the outboard surface of the wheel hub and the cavity. Lubricant for the bearings is introduced into the cavity by means of the port, and the port is tapped to receive a plug to seal it and contain the lubricant in the cavity. The port also receives a bolt that secures a hubcap to the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jay D. White, Larry B. Hester, Kenneth D. Mutzner, Michael W. Wilcheck
  • Publication number: 20090220183
    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: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Steven E. Meeker, David N. Johnson, Connie J. Buynacek, Martin P. Grover
  • Publication number: 20090154864
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a wheel hub and at least one inner ring fit onto a cylindrical portion of the wheel hub or an outer raceway surface of a constant velocity universal joint. Double row rolling element groups are freely rollably contained between said inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member. A pitch circle diameter of the ball element group near to the wheel mounting flange is larger than that of the double row ball group away from the wheel mounting flange. A maximum diameter of the outer raceway surface of the smaller diameter side of the double row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member is substantially the same as an inner diameter of a shoulder portion of the outer diameter side. The size of each rolling element of the group near to the wheel mounting flange is different from that of each rolling element of the group away from the wheel mounting flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Tomoko Baba, Masahiro Kiuchi
  • Publication number: 20090154859
    Abstract: A rolling bearing device for a wheel includes: an inner member; an outer member disposed around an outer peripheral surface of the inner member via rolling elements; and a wheel mounting flange formed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner member or the outer member. A predetermined number of bolt holes are formed in a peripheral edge portion of the wheel mounting flange along a circumferential direction, and a shape between adjacent ones of the bolt holes is constituted by a straight line or a curved line located radially outwardly of a pitch circle diameter of the bolt holes in an outer shape of the wheel mounting flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito Takada, Katsuyuki Harada, Changxin Yu
  • Patent number: 7547147
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit (1) is embodied in a four-rowed angular contact ball bearing form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Fag Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Jens Heim, David Ilgert
  • Publication number: 20090148091
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has a double row angular ball bearing including double rows of ball groups. A pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the outer side is larger than a pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the inner side. The outer member is made of medium carbon steel including carbon of 0.40˜0.80% by weight. It is hardened by high frequency induction quenching so that each of the outer raceway surfaces is formed with a hardened layer having a surface hardness of 58˜64 HRC. The effective depth of hardened layer is set at at least 2 mm. The minimum wall thickness of the outer member at these outer raceway surfaces is set at at least 4 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Kametaka, Hisashi Ohtsuki, Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20090129715
    Abstract: A process for assembling to a knuckle member a bearing unit for driving wheels including a hub, a bearing, and a constant velocity universal joint is simplified. In order to achieve this, a hub (10) and an outer joint member (31) of an out-board side constant velocity universal joint (30) are plastically joined together. An outer peripheral surface (26a) of an outer member (26) is press-fitted into an inner peripheral surface of the knuckle member, and a maximum diameter dimension (D1) of the out-board side constant velocity universal joint (30) is set smaller than a minimum diameter dimension (Dn) of the knuckle member (6). Also, a maximum diameter dimension (D2) of an in-board side constant velocity universal joint (40) is set smaller than the minimum diameter dimension (Dn) of the knuckle member (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Fukumura, Masayuki Kuroda, Hisaaki Kura, Shin Tomogami, Hiroshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7534049
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member and a hub axle having a wheel mounting flange and a raceway surface. The angle of the fiber flow relative to the raceway surface in the hub axle is chosen to be equal to or smaller than 15°. The angle of the fiber flow relative to a raceway surface of the outer member is also chosen to be equal to or smaller than 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Masuo Takaki
  • Publication number: 20090123102
    Abstract: In a rolling bearing device for a road-wheel including an inner shaft 1 that is provided with, on its outer-side end 10, a flange 4 on which a road-wheel member mounted, and an outer ring 2 disposed around the inner shaft 1, the inner shaft has, on its outer side, a hair-line pattern portion 5 that is formed by turning and that permits the manufacturing attribute of the bearing device to be identified based on the difference in the form of hair lines so formed. This permits the manufacturing attribute of the bearing device to be identified after the bearing device is assembled in a vehicle body. Furthermore, the representation of the manufacturing attribute can be readily implemented during a manufacturing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomomasa Kubo, Tatsuya Yokota
  • Publication number: 20090116779
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member and inner member. The inner member includes a wheel hub and inner ring. The outer member and inner member include respective raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. At least the inner side rolling elements of the double row rolling elements are tapered rollers. A pitch circle diameter of the inner side rolling elements is set smaller than a pitch circle diameter of the outer side rolling elements. A substantially conical recess is formed at an outer side end portion of the wheel hub. The depth of the recess extends near to a shaft shaped portion beyond the bottom of the inner raceway surface of the wheel hub. The thickness of a portion of the wheel hub where the inner raceway surface is formed is set within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Kazuhiro Baba, Kazunori Kubota
  • Patent number: 7524115
    Abstract: A rolling bearing including an outer member having an inner peripheral surface formed with raceway surfaces of double rows, an inner member having an outer peripheral surface formed with raceway surfaces opposed to the raceway surfaces of the outer member, and double rows of rolling elements interposed between the opposed raceway surfaces. A surface of at least one of the outer member and the inner member that contacts a member made of an aluminum alloy is provided with an electrocorrosion preventive coating containing hexavalent chrome-free chromate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Publication number: 20090103847
    Abstract: To realize a manufacturing method for a wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit that can establish sufficient parallelism between a rotating side installation surface 14 for fastening to and supporting a disk of a disk brake and a stationary side installation surface 15 for fastening a caliper or support, in the present invention, while rotating a hub 2 comprising the rotating side installation surface 14 with respect to an outer race comprising the stationary side installation surface, a finishing process such as turning is performed on the rotating side installation surface 14 or both side surfaces in the axial direction of the disk which is fastened and supported to and by the rotating side installation surface 14, with the stationary side installation surface 15 as a reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ishikawa, Yasunori Suzuki, Narihito Otake, Tetsu Takehara, Kiyotaka Hirata, Shouji Horike, Tetsuo Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7506940
    Abstract: An axle for a heavy-duty vehicle extends transversely across the vehicle and includes a central portion. Each one of a pail of relatively short and lightweight axle spindles is connected to and extends outboardly from a respective end of the axle central portion. A wheel end assembly is rotatably mounted on each axle spindle. Each wheel end assembly includes spaced-apart inboard and outboard beatings that are immovably mounted on a respective axle spindle, and the bearings preferably ate standard heavy-duty vehicle stock-type bearings that have respective inner diameters that are generally the same size. The assembly optionally includes a bearing spacer having improved length tolerance. A relatively short and lightweight wheel hub is rotatably mounted on the bearings so that the wheel end assembly selectively accommodates a dual-wheel, standard-tire configuration and a single-wheel, wide-tire configuration, including a two-inch offset wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jay D White
  • Publication number: 20090074342
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device includes a hub ring, a double-row bearing and a constant velocity universal joint which are unitized together. At least one of double-row inner raceways of the bearing and a wheel mounting flange are formed on a hub ring. The hub ring and a stem portion of a joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint are fitted through a torque transmission assembly, wherein a pilot member as a separate element having a wheel guide portion and a brake guide portion is fitted to a side-end portion of the wheel mounting flange of the hub ring, and the hub ring and the pilot member are fixed to the joint outer ring by swaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji TAJIMA, Hiroyuki Ogura, Syougo Suzuki, Shigeaki Fukushima, Mitsuru umekida, Akira Torii, Akira Sera, Hisashi Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 7503699
    Abstract: A wheel axle bearing unit for a vehicle is to be made lighter in weight, so as to prolong a life span thereof. A first grooved portion is formed by removing an excess in thickness in a region between dual raceways on an outer circumferential surface of a hub and an inner race which constitute the inner member of the wheel axle bearing unit, for enlarging a space inside the bearing, thereby increasing an amount of grease that can be retained in the region between the dual raceways. Also at a position corresponding to the first grooved portion, a second grooved portion is formed by removing an excess in thickness on an inner circumferential surface of an outer race, which constitutes an outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Morita, Hisashi Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 7497631
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member with an integrally formed mounting body mounting flange and double row outer raceway surfaces formed on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member includes a wheel hub with an integrally formed wheel mounting flange at one end. One inner raceway surface is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the wheel hub. An inner ring is fit onto a cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. One end of the inner ring abuts a shoulder on the wheel hub. The inner ring is formed with the other inner raceway surface on its outer circumferential surface. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained, via a cage, between the inner and outer raceway surfaces, respectively, of the inner and outer members. A corner, between the shoulders of the wheel hub and the cylindrical portion, is defined by a compound curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Shigeoka
  • Publication number: 20090046969
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member with double row outer raceway surfaces on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member includes a wheel hub and at least one inner ring. The wheel hub has a wheel mounting flange formed at one end. A cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange. The inner ring has at least one inner raceway surface arranged opposite to the plurality of outer raceway surfaces. The inner ring is press fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. An outer joint member forms a constant velocity universal joint. The outer joint member has a cup-shaped mouth portion. A shoulder portion forms the bottom of the mouth portion. A shaft portion axially extends from the shoulder portion. The shaft is axially separably and torque transmittably inserted into the wheel hub with the shoulder abutted against the caulked portion to transmit torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Hirai, Takayuki Norimatsu, Hiroya Kato, Akira Fujimura, Kikuo Fukada
  • Publication number: 20090046970
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus for a driven wheel has an outer member integrally formed with a body mounting flange on its outer circumference. The body mounting flange is adapted to be mounted on a knuckle forming part of a suspension apparatus of the vehicle. The outer member inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes a wheel hub and at least one inner ring. The wheel hub has a wheel mounting flange formed at one end portion. A cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange. The inner ring is press fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. The inner member has a plurality of inner raceway surfaces adapted to be arranged opposite to the plurality of outer raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained, via cages, between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Kiyotake Shibata
  • Patent number: 7484892
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly including inner and outer bearing rings, one of which is intended to rotate and the other of which is intended to remain stationary. The assembly also includes two sets of rolling elements between the rings and in angular contact with tracks defined by the rings. Each set of rolling elements is spaced in the direction of the axis of rotation with each set of rolling elements retained by one of two cages. The assembly further includes a sensing arrangement having at least two annular encoders with alternate north and south magnetic poles and at least two sensors operably associated with the encoders and each serving to provide electrical signals generated by the passage of the poles of the arranged encoder. One of the encoders is mounted on the rotatable one of the bearing rings. The other encoder is mounted on one of the cages and each of the sensors and encoders is disposed axially, between the sets of rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Europe Ltd
    Inventors: Carlo Roberto Bianco, Ian Taylor Cook, Anthony Francois Patrick Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20090016662
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly with a hub axle (1) of enhanced strength and a durability under a rotational bending condition as well as weight reduction, and without changing a shape and a dimension of a wheel mounting flange (10) nor deteriorating a surface runout, and a manufacturing method thereof. A surface hardness is set to 20 HRC or more and than 35 HRC or less by applying an air cooling or a thermal refinement after hot forging a raw material of the hub axle (1), and a shot peening treatment is applied to an inner diameter portion of the hub axle (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Kikuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 7470067
    Abstract: A support member (14) for rotatably coupling a first element to a second element. The support member includes a sleeve (50) for rotatably supporting the first element, and a flange (56) having a concave central portion. The flange (56) is coupled to the sleeve (50). The flange (56) has bearing surfaces (68a, 68b) formed thereon along which the flange (56) is mounted to the second element. In one embodiment, the first element is a spindle (12) of a vehicle wheel assembly (11) and is rotatably supported in the sleeve (50) by rollable bearing elements positioned therein. Multiple tapered lobes (64) extend outwardly from the sleeve (50), and the support member (14) is mounted to a vehicle via bearing surfaces (68a, 68b) along the lobes (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kyklos Bearing International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Meeker, David B. Mischler
  • Publication number: 20080310784
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (10) formed with double row outer raceway surfaces (10a, 10a) on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member (1) includes a wheel hub (2) and an inner ring (3). Double row rolling elements (6, 6) are freely rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces (10a, 10a; 2a, 3a), respectively, of the outer and inner members (10 and 1), via cages (7). An annular projection (12) is formed on the outer circumferential surface at an inboard side end of the cylindrical portion (2b) of the wheel hub (2). An annular recess (13) is formed on the inner circumferential surface at the inboard side end of the inner ring (3). The annular recess (13) corresponds to the annular projection (12) and has a difference in height slightly larger than that of the annular projection (12). The inner ring (3) is press fit onto the cylindrical portion (2b) of the wheel hub (2) with the recess (13) engaged by the projection (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 7465233
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device includes a hub ring, a double-row bearing and a constant velocity universal joint which are unitized together. At least one of double-row inner raceways of the bearing and a wheel mounting flange are formed on a hub ring. The hub ring and a stem portion of a joint outer ring of the constant velocity universal joint are fitted through a torque transmission assembly, wherein a pilot member as a separate element having a wheel guide portion and a brake guide portion is fitted to a side-end portion of the wheel mounting flange of the hub ring, and the hub ring and the pilot member are fixed to the joint outer ring by swaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Tajima, Hiroyuki Ogura, Syougo Suzuki, Shigeaki Fukushima, Mitsuru Umekida, Akira Torii, Akira Sera, Hisashi Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 7465102
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cold-formed bearing ring (2) and a wheel bearing unit (1) provided with a bearing ring (2). A radial ring groove (16) is formed on the bearing ring (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Jens Heim, Roland Langer, Horst Doppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7452136
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus which can increase the strength and durability of the hub wheel under rotary bending conditions as well as lighten the apparatus without changing the configuration and dimension of the wheel mounting flange and without causing surface run-out has an outer member formed with double row outer raceway surfaces on its inner peripheral surface. An inner member is formed with double row inner raceway surfaces arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer and inner members. A wheel mounting flange is integrally formed with either one of the outer or inner members. At least one of the outer and inner members, on which the wheel mounting flange is formed, is heat treated and their raceway surfaces are hardened by quenching to a predetermined surface hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Hirai, Takayasu Takubo, Kazuhiko Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20080273824
    Abstract: A bearing device for an axle includes a hub shaft including a flange formed at an outer side portion, and a cylindrical portion formed on an inner side and having a through hole, and a bearing portion including an inner ring, an outer ring, and rolling elements. The bearing portion is press-fitted on the cylindrical portion, and a shaft end portion of the hub shaft is caulked to apply an axial force to the bearing portion. A spacer is interposed between the bearing portion and a caulked portion, and the spacer has a fitting hole fitted on the cylindrical portion, and includes a projecting portion formed at an inner side of an outer periphery, and an inner side end surface of the projecting portion of the spacer is located inwardly of an inner side end surface of the caulked portion in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080258539
    Abstract: A highly compact wheel end (A) for an automotive vehicle includes a housing (2), a hub (4) having a hollow spindle (18) that projects into the housing, and an antifriction bearing (6) located between the housing and the hub spindle. The housing is configured for attachment to a suspension system component (C), whereas the hub has a drive flange (14) for securement of a road wheel (B) The bearing includes an inboard inner race (32) that fits around the hub spindle and has a recess (40) that at least partially receives a formed end (26) at the end of the spindle. In addition, the wheel end has a coupler ring (8) that fits into the inboard end of the spindle and is provided with an enlarged end (52, 86) that projects a short distance from the end of the spindle where it is provided with an external spline (54, 88) for engagement with a slidable clutch ring (66, 90).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20080247700
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (10) formed with double row outer raceway surfaces (10a, 10a) on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member (1) includes a wheel hub (2) with an integrally formed wheel mounting flange (4) at one end and a cylindrical portion (2b) axially extending from the wheel mounting flange (4). An inner ring (3) is press fit onto the cylindrical portion (2b). The inner ring includes one of the double row inner raceway surfaces (2a, 3a) formed on its outer circumferential surface. The double row inner raceway surface (2a) is arranged opposite to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces (10a, 10a). Double row rolling elements (6, 6) are freely rollably retained and held by cages (7, 7) between the double row outer raceway surfaces (10a, 10a) of the outer member (10) and the double row inner raceway surfaces (2a, 3a) of the inner member (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Masahiro Kiuchi, Kazunori Kubota, Yasuhiro Aritake, Takayuki Owada
  • Publication number: 20080205811
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has a pitch circle diameter of an outer side ball group that is larger than a pitch circle diameter of an inner side ball group. Each corner portion of the outer circumferential surfaces of the inner member is rounded as a smooth circular arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Komori, Kazuhiro Baba
  • Publication number: 20080205810
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus for wheel with ensured high durability by including a part with improved fatigue strength in a non-hardened portion includes an outer member, an inner member, and a roller. The inner member includes a hub ring made of steel and having a wheel attachment flange formed. The hub ring has a hardened portion hardened to attain at least 50 HRC as a result of quench hardening and a non-hardened portion which is a portion other than the hardened portion. Compressive stress in a range from at least 50 MPa to at most 500 MPa remains in the surface of the non-hardened portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kikuo Maeda, Hisashi Ohtsuki
  • Publication number: 20080199122
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member formed with double row outer raceway surfaces on its inner circumferential surface. Inner members are each formed with inner raceway surfaces on their outer circumferential surface. The inner raceway surfaces face opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row balls are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces. A counter portion is formed near the bottom of each inner raceway surface. The counter portion has an outer diameter larger than, by a run-over height, a diameter of the bottom of each inner raceway surface. The counter portion is formed by a cylindrical portion that axially extends from each inner raceway surface. A tapered portion converges toward the end face of each inner member. Transitions between the counter portion and the inner raceway surface as well as between the cylindrical portion and the tapered portion are rounded and smoothly continuous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Komori
  • Patent number: 7413349
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit having at least one outer part, at least one inner part and having at least two rows of rolling elements between the outer part and the inner part, on the outer part at least one inner raceway, and on the inner part at least one outer raceway for the rolling elements of a row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fag Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Ernst Masur, Gottfried Ruoff
  • Patent number: 7413261
    Abstract: A wheel hub assembly is fitted to a vehicle axle via a wheel bearing mounted on the axle. The assembly includes a hub mountable on the wheel bearing and rotatable relative to the vehicle axle and fastening members to releasably secure the hub relative to the wheel bearing. The hub can be removed without removing the wheel bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Cameri SpA
    Inventor: Oswaldo De Freitas
  • Publication number: 20080193071
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hub on a wheel bearing unit, comprising at least one inner ring, sitting on the hub, whereby the inner ring is axially retained on the hub by a collar, formed from the hub, said collar comprising a toothing. The inner ring has a radially inward projection on the front face thereof and the projection is filled with plastically displaced material from the collar such that the material of the inner ring at least engages in the projection and the material in the projection is enclosed in the radial direction by the inner ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Ernst Masur, Ralf Heiss, Benno Fueller, Peter Niebling
  • Publication number: 20080187264
    Abstract: Crowing is applied to a side surface of an inner ring which abuts against a side surface of a drive shaft in a radial direction. With this construction, when the two side surfaces abut against each other by a pressing operation of a threadedly-engaged nut at the time of connecting the drive shaft and an inner shaft, a contact pressure distribution of abutting surfaces is made generally uniform, thereby suppressing the occurrence of an edge load. By thus preventing a contact pressure from increasing at part of the abutting surfaces, energy released by a stick-slip phenomenon is reduced, and a sound pressure level of an abnormal sound generated at this time is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kamikawa, Yoshishige Takeda, Naoto Araki, Kazuhisa Kajihara
  • Publication number: 20080182674
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer bell telescopically coupled for rotation with a rotatable hub of a hub bearing unit so as to provide torque transmission thereto. The joint bell is releasably axially coupled to a rotatable member of the hub bearing unit by an annular connector. The connector includes a radially inwardly extending annular flange axially clamped against a rigid annular part fixed to or integral with the hub, and a radially outer portion extending axially around a cylindrical surface of the joint bell. This outer portion has a resiliently radially expansible section with one or more radially inwardly extending protrusions providing a snap connection with a relief or recess formed on the cylindrical outer surface of the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Marco Brunetti, Cristian Concu
  • Publication number: 20080175526
    Abstract: The invention relates to a face spline of a toothed rim running in the circumferential direction around a rotation axis on a wheel-bearing arrangement for a driven wheel hub. The face spline is provided for play-free engagement with the counter-spline, facing the face spline and the teeth of the face spline have a wedge-like embodiment such that the geometrical lines of the face spline meet centrally at a common point on the rotation axis and the teeth thus run in the radial direction on the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Ernst Masur, Ralf Heiss, Benno Fueller
  • Patent number: 7393140
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel rolling bearing has a sealing device integrated with a magnetic encoder. A semi-float type bearing apparatus has said rolling bearing which can protect a magnetic encoder and improve the sensing ability of the detecting sensor. The rolling bearing has an inner member with a wheel hub having a wheel mounting flange and an inner ring formed with inner raceway surfaces. An outer member is formed with double row outer raceway surfaces opposite the inner raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are between the raceway surfaces. Sealing devices include an inboard sealing device with an annular seal fitted on the outer member. A pulsar ring is mounted on the inner member and has an encoder mounted on a cylindrical holding portion. The encoder is arranged opposite to the annular seal. The encoder includes magnetic poles formed by magnetic powder with alternating polarity along its circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Masahiro Muranaka
  • Publication number: 20080152275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle wheel hub bearing unit with the purpose of solving the drawbacks of conventional wheel hub bearing units, such as their complicated structure, which causes difficult assembly, low hardness, strength, and running precision, and high noise and vibration. The vehicle wheel hub bearing unit of the present invention is comprises an outer flange, a small inner ring, a set of rolling elements, a retainer, an inner flange, a seal ring, a gear rim, an ABS wheel speed sensor, and a knurled bolt, wherein a pair of outer channels or races that are engageable with the rolling elements are formed on the outer flange. By utilizing the vehicle wheel hub bearing unit of the present invention, not only is the structure simplified, making the assembly convenient, but also the degree of integration and downsizing is improved. Moreover, the unit is free of servicing for its entire life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: XIANGFAN NEW TORCH AUTO PARTS EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shaowei WU
  • Publication number: 20080131045
    Abstract: A bearing device for a drive wheel having a knuckle member surrounding a part of a cup part through a clearance. An annular first seal member is disposed between the knuckle member and an outer ring member. An opening part is formed between the peripheral edge part of the knuckle member and the large diameter end part of a joint boot. A recessed part formed in the first seal member is installed to be opened toward the joint boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Nagayama, Aya Suzuki, Masanori Kosugi, Yoshihiro Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7380334
    Abstract: A clamping device (1) for receiving and for the clearance-free prestressing of a wheel bearing comprises a clamping mechanism (3) which radially prestresses the wheel bearing (8) from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Lothar Ulmann, Karl Bywalez