For Hub Patents (Class 384/589)
  • Patent number: 11865863
    Abstract: A sensorized hub bearing unit having at least one strain sensor for detecting, in real time, forces and moments applied to an outer ring of the hub bearing unit, in which a radially outer ring of the hub bearing unit is formed by a coupling of a first annular element and a second annular element arranged coaxially, the second annular element radially fitted and integrally inside the first annular element and at least one strain sensor arranged in line with an interface between the first annular element and the second annular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Mathieu Hubert, Alessandro Garrone
  • Patent number: 11794522
    Abstract: An axle assembly of a vehicle including a differential assembly, a first axle tube including a proximal end adjacent the differential assembly, an opposite distal end, and an axle bore extending therebetween, a first axle shaft rotatably received in the first axle tube, the first axle shaft including a proximal end disposed in the differential assembly, and an opposite distal end extending outwardly from the distal end of the first axle shaft, and a radial bearing assembly including an inner cup, an outer cup and a plurality of roller elements rotatably received therebetween, the outer cup being axially fixed within the axle bore of the first axle tube and the inner cup being axially fixed to the first axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT Bearings North America LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Abreu
  • Patent number: 11731456
    Abstract: A wheel hub bearing for motor vehicles providing a hub and a bearing unit in turn comprising a radially outer ring, at least one radially inner ring, at least one crown of rolling bodies between the radially outer ring and the radially inner ring. The hub has a radial stiffening. The radial stiffening of the hub has a misalignment respect to a seat. Accordingly, a distance between a centerline axis of the seat of the radially inner ring on the hub and a center line of the radial stiffening, less than or equal to 25% of a length of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Maurizio Bertola, Fausto Morello, Abhijeet Somwanshi
  • Patent number: 11415178
    Abstract: A method for assembling a tapered roller bearing includes providing a first rolled-on surface element having a raceway and an axial end surface and mounting a plurality of tapered rollers separated by a plurality of bearing cage segments or by a plurality of roller spacers on the raceway, where each of the plurality of tapered rollers has a frustoconical rolling surface and a circular end surface meeting at a junction. Also placing at least one assembly ring around the plurality of tapered rollers to hold the plurality of tapered rollers against the first rolled-on surface element, and moving a second rolled-on surface element coaxially toward the first rolled-on surface element such that a portion of the second rolled-on surface element contacts the at least one assembly ring and pushes the at least one assembly ring axially off the plurality of tapered rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Dominik Fritz, Denny Fritze, Michael Reugels
  • Patent number: 11192399
    Abstract: A caster hub is provided that includes a housing having a wall with internal and external surfaces and an axial bore defined by the wall. First and second bearings are disposed coaxially in the bore of the housing. Each bearing has a cylindrical inner race and a cylindrical outer race, with the races separated by rolling elements, and the races defining interior and exterior radial end faces of the bearings. A seat is disposed in the bore that is connected to the internal surface of the wall between the first and second bearings. The seat is engageable with the outer races of the bearings at the confronting interior end faces of the bearings. An inner spacer is disposed in the bore between the first and second bearings, the inner spacer being engageable with the inner races of the bearings at the confronting interior end faces of the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Peer Bearing Company
    Inventors: Rikin B. Parikh, Daniel N. Mazzarella, Waclaw W. Szatan, Renato Luccas da Costa, Christopher Joseph Larson
  • Patent number: 10919338
    Abstract: A unitized wheelend is provided. The unitized wheelend includes a hub having an inboard side bounded by an oil seal and an outboard side bounded by a retainer releasably coupled to the hub. The unitized wheelend assembly includes an inboard bearing assembly, a spacer, an outboard bearing assembly, and a spindle nut assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Stemco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jimenez, Monte Pearson, Yang Julia Xiang
  • Patent number: 10753398
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a vehicle includes a support member; a first bearing rotatably supporting a first rotation shaft with respect to the support member; a second bearing, provided adjacent to the first bearing, rotatably supporting a second rotation shaft with respect to the support member, the second rotation shaft being rotated around an axis line same as an axis line of the first rotation shaft; and a partition wall formed in the support member and including a notch. Further, the support member includes an oil gallery to supply lubricating oil into a space formed between the first bearing and the second bearing, the space is partitioned into a first space on a side of the first bearing and a second space on a side of the second bearing by the partition wall, and the oil gallery is formed to eject the lubricating oil toward the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Baba, Toru Shibamoto
  • Patent number: 10578151
    Abstract: A rolling bearing includes an outer ring supported by a fixed body, an inner ring which supports a rotating shaft, and rolling elements between an inner groove of the outer ring and an outer groove of the inner ring, wherein a curvature radius R of at least the inner groove of the outer ring is in a range of 2r×0.53?R?2r×0.55 in relation to a radius r of one of the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Umeda, Shuichi Isayama, Hiroyuki Tani, Shigeyuki Mori, Shinya Nakamura, Toshihiro Omae
  • Patent number: 10544833
    Abstract: A roller bearing assembly (100) including an outer cup (110) having a first end, a second end, a body (116) extending therebetween defining an outer raceway (118), a first flange (112) disposed on the first end of the body and a second flange (114) disposed on the second end of the body, a plurality of rollers (130), each roller including a first projection (134) extending along its longitudinal center axis, and a first retainer ring (140a) having a base side wall, an inner side wall and an outer side wall, the inner side wall and the outer side wall extending outwardly from the base wall, wherein the base wall of the first retainer ring is disposed adjacent an inner surface of the first flange and the first projection of each roller is rotatably disposed between the inner side wall and the outer side wall of the first retainer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Koyo Bearings North America LLC
    Inventor: Scott Abrahamson
  • Patent number: 10300740
    Abstract: In some examples, an aircraft wheel assembly includes an axle, a bearing assembly, and a hub defining a bearing bore. The bearing bore may be configured such that the dynamic radial and axial thrust bearing reactions between the axle and the hub results in a first reaction force FR applied to the hub, the first reaction force FR having a radial component, and a second reaction force FN applied to the hub, the second reaction force FN having both a radial and an axial component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Champion
  • Patent number: 10252749
    Abstract: A spindle sleeve and washer for adjusting the camber, toe, or thrust angle of a vehicle wheel to a desired predetermined angle which allows for use of existing hub and spindle assembly without permanent modification to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Zachary Alexander Merrill, Matthew J Hanlon
  • Patent number: 10119571
    Abstract: A sealing device configured to seal a gap on a flange portion side between an outer member and an inner member by being attached to the outer member. A circular plate portion of a metal ring has an extending portion extending opposite to a flange portion. A seal body has a projecting portion and a weir portion, the projecting portion being positioned inward in a diametrical direction from the extending portion and extending toward the flange portion, the weir portion being positioned outward in a diametrical direction from the extending portion and extending toward the flange portion. The projecting portion and the weir portion overlap the extending portion in a diametrical direction, the projecting portion and the weir portion being provided adjacent to the extending portion, thereby forming a labyrinth. The labyrinth has a plurality of labyrinth constituting portions folding back along inner and outer faces of the extending portion in a diametrical direction, and the labyrinth is configured to meander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: UCHIYAMA MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Seno, Ai Shiotsuka
  • Patent number: 9939020
    Abstract: A bearing ring of a rolling-element bearing includes a raceway for rolling elements and at least one flange for guiding the rolling elements, the flange merging into a bearing ring shoulder and extending to a height above the raceway. A free space such as a recess is formed between the bearing ring shoulder and the flange such that the flange is freestanding over its entire height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Gerhard Wagner, Martina Sticht
  • Patent number: 9863477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing assembly that provides a magnetic sensor; a shaft; and a bearing. One of the shaft and the bearing is provided with a surface having a bearing steel and including a magnetic pattern disposed thereon for indicating a rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing. The magnetic pattern is provided by the microstructure of the surface; and the sensor is arranged to sense the pattern and output a signal indicative of a rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Hendrik Anne Mol, Babak Hosseinkhani, Hendrik Johannes Krock
  • Patent number: 9834038
    Abstract: An axle assembly having a preload bolt. The preload bolt may couple an output flange that may be supported by a roller bearing assembly to a planet carrier. A preload force may be exerted on the roller bearing assembly when the preload bolt is tightened to the planet carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: I-Chao Chung
  • Patent number: 9689424
    Abstract: A tiered bearing assembly including first and second pluralities of tapered rolling elements and a common center ring arranged between the first and second pluralities of tapered rolling elements with a Z-shaped profile in cross-section is provided. A taper direction of the first plurality of tapered rolling elements is opposite to a taper direction of the second plurality of tapered rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dennis Roffe, Michael Heaton
  • Patent number: 9512874
    Abstract: A bearing device with an arrangement of at least two bearings is provided. A filling made of an amorphous/solid active medium as a mechanism of compensating for axial loads is arranged between a bearing race of at least one of the bearings and a surrounding component of the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: Sebastian Hennig
  • Patent number: 9511627
    Abstract: A hub-bearing unit for rotatably is provided with a stationary radially outer ring, a radially inner ring, an annular gasket, and a second metal insert. The radially inner ring includes a flange for mounting a wheel and a sealing device having a first metal insert, annular shaped, steadily fixed at an end portion of the outer ring facing the flange. The annular gasket includes a plurality of elastomeric sealing lips and steadily fixed to the metal insert. The second metal insert is steadily fixed on an axial cylindrical surface of the inner ring. The gasket presents a first axial contacting lip. The first axial contacting lip slidingly contacts a substantially frustoconical portion of the metal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9039286
    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: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Hiroshi Kawamura, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Tohru Nakagawa, Yuichi Asano, Mitsuru Umekida, Hisaaki Kura, Shin Tomogami
  • Patent number: 8992092
    Abstract: A flanged bearing ring has a tubular core of steel and an outer flange of a light metal in which there are formed axial through bores for accommodating bolts for mounting a wheel to the ring; fixed in each bore is a steel insert which forms a threaded inner cylindrical cavity extending between two opposite faces of the flange, and one or two transverse shoulders which are in contact with the material of the flange so as to oppose relative axial movements of the steel insert with respect to the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Carmelo Gulli
  • Patent number: 8992093
    Abstract: A wheel bearing for aircraft, that has a long service life and is reliable. The wheel bearing has a small number of individual parts and components that are simple to handle, to mount or to dismount. The wheel bearing of an aircraft landing gear has a wheel rim that is rotationally mounted about an axis over two roller bearings of a bearing arrangement. The external rings of the roller bearings are received together in a single-piece external ring bearing housing. The wheel rim can be detachably connected to the bearing arrangement in such a manner that it can be mounted or dismounted independently from the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Torsten Dotzel, Robin Lang, Christian Proeschel, Wilhelm Sebald, Gerhard Kreiselmeier
  • 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: 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: 8888372
    Abstract: A sensor-carrier cap for a bearing of a wheel hub, the cap being made of plastic material and having a bottom wall arranged transversely to a central axis and providing a seat for accommodating a sensor, a cylindrical mounting wall extending axially from one side of the bottom wall around the axis; snap locking means projecting in a radially outer direction from the cylindrical wall, for locking the sensor-carrier cap on a tubular appendage of a wheel hub-bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Luca Ciulla, William Finetti, Philippe Weber
  • 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: 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: 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: 8793878
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rolling-element bearing includes forming an inner ring from a steel having a sulfur content of 0.002 to 0.015 mass % and an oxygen content of less than 15 ppm, subjecting the inner ring to a hardening heat treatment that ends by performing a final heat treatment step at a predetermined temperature, cold working the inner-ring raceway to generate compressive residual stresses at least in a surface layer of the inner-ring raceway, subjecting the inner ring to a bluing treatment and subjecting the blued inner ring to a thermal post-treatment process at a temperature below the predetermined temperature of the final hardening heat treatment step. The resulting rolling-element bearing may exhibit compressive residual stresses having an absolute value of at least 200 MPa at 0.1 mm beneath the outer surface of the inner-ring raceway and a maximum value of 1500 MPa or less throughout the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Juergen Gegner, Wolfgang Nierlich, Armin Olschewski, Kenred Stadler, Arno Stubenrauch, Markus Volkmuth
  • 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: 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: 8770848
    Abstract: An axle bearing system includes a bearing portion which includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of rolling elements which are interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring and which is installed on a hub shaft with seal portions which are each formed by a slinger, a core metal and a non-conductive seal provided therebetween mounted in annular opening portions formed between the inner ring and the outer ring. A conductive body is attached to the seal portion so as to provide an electrical conducting state between the outer ring and the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Koma, Shigeaki Furusawa, Keiichi Furukawa, Shigeru Inoue
  • Patent number: 8764300
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor hub bearing where the series of mobile members include more than two annular series of such members whereof at least two have different median diameters which are arranged in more than two rows scaled along the bearing rotational axis, with two end rows each comprising a series of roller bearings having individually a rotational axis transversal to the axis and at least an intermediary row of mobile members comprising balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Defontaine
    Inventors: Germain Errard, Eric Jacquemont, Jean-Michel Delacou
  • Patent number: 8764305
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit having two mirror-symmetrically arranged tapered roller bearings (02), each having one inner ring (04) and one outer ring (03). The tapered roller bearings are connected via the inner rings. The wheel bearing unit includes an inner intermediate ring (08) and an outer intermediate ring (07), each of which are arranged in the axial direction between the inner rings or between the outer rings of the tapered roller bearing. The wheel bearing unit is connected via a latching connection (16, 17) between the inner rings and the inner intermediate ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram Henneberger
  • 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: 8690441
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device for a motor vehicle, having an inner ring arrangement, formed for rotationally fixed reception of a first rotary partner, particularly an axle stump, or a shaft, an outer ring arrangement, which is connected and/or connectable and rotationally fixed with a second rotary partner, a multitude of rolling elements, which roll between the inner ring arrangement and the outer ring arrangement, so that inner ring arrangement and outer ring arrangement and/or the rotary partners are rotatable against each other, and an electric sensor device, which, using mechanical contact, is arranged and/or formed for detecting an operating status of the wheel bearing device. The sensor device has a stationary sensor element and a rotating sensor element, which can work together to form the mechanical contact. One of the sensor elements is connected with the inner ring arrangement without the interposition of the first rotary partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Heim, Christian Mock, Ralf Hund, Tilman Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8690448
    Abstract: There is provided a rolling bearing apparatus which can more disperse stress which concentrates on a root portion of a flange portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of an outer ring as compared with a related art. In a rolling bearing apparatus 1, a surface which continues from a vehicle outer side end face 220 of an outer ring flange portion 22 to an outer circumferential surface 210 of an outer ring main body portion 21 is formed to have a smoothly continuing curved surface 200, and a protruding curved surface 203 which protrudes radially outwards is formed on a part of the curved surface 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Shitsukawa
  • Patent number: 8678662
    Abstract: A drive wheel bearing device is provided with an outer member, an inner member, double-row rolling elements and a constant velocity joint. The inner member includes double-row inner races opposite outer races of the outer member, a first inner member, and a second inner member formed with at least one of the double-row inner races, the first inner member and the second inner member being inseparably coupled together at a flange-like swaged portion. The constant velocity joint includes an outer joint member press-fitted to an inner periphery of the first inner member with torque transmission means formed therebetween that transmits torque by engagement of a plurality of axially extending teeth, wherein the torque transmitting teeth of the first inner member have a tooth profile that is controlled within a specified range over the entire axial length of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Tajima, Hisashi Ohtsuki, Akira Torii, Motoharu Niki
  • Patent number: 8678406
    Abstract: Vehicles and systems are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, for example, a vehicle may include, but is not limited to, an axle, a bearing coupled to the axle, a knuckle coupled to the bearing, and an isolation sleeve coupled between the bearing and the knuckle. In one embodiment, for example, the isolation sleeve may be composed of solid zinc. In another embodiment, for example, the isolation sleeve may include a zinc coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Todd D. Albertson
  • Patent number: 8636418
    Abstract: A wheel bearing arrangement, especially for utility vehicles, having a rotating outer ring (5, 6), a stationary inner ring (3, 2) and rolling elements rolling between these rings, the inner ring being fixed on a stationary axle journal (4) and the outer ring inside a wheel hub (1) having a signal transmitter (9). In order to make it easier to fit a sensor arrangement to the wheel bearing arrangement and to increase driving safety, a sensor (13) interacting with the signal transmitter is arranged so as to axially abut on the inner ring and is then fastened to the spindle by a fastening element (12, 16), thereby allowing, once the bearing rings are mounted, the sensor to be positioned on the inner ring via a stop surface formed onto the sensor and then to be permanently immobilized by a screw or other fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jens Heim
  • Patent number: 8631581
    Abstract: A method for forming a wheel bearing apparatus where the end portion of the cylindrical portion is pre-formed as a cylinder prior to its plastic deformation to form the caulking portion. A caulking tool with a punch and a swing shaft abuts against the end portion of the cylinder at a predetermined inclined angle relative to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder. Teeth on the punch form the face-spline by plastically deforming the end face of the caulking portion. The swing shaft central axis is inclined at an angle relative to a central axis of the wheel hub. The face-spline is formed simultaneously with the formation of the caulking portion by advancing the caulking tool toward the wheel hub. A main shaft is rotated to cause a swing motion of the caulking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Sera, Jun Numamoto
  • Patent number: 8590657
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a wheel assembly is provided for a vehicle. The wheel assembly includes a knuckle having a tapered inner surface to interface with an outer flange of a bearing. A threaded fastener retains the bearing within the knuckle. A wheel hub couples to an inner flange of the bearing permitting rotation of the wheel hub relative to the knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James A. Webster, Tomasz Warzecha
  • Patent number: 8540582
    Abstract: A bearing device for a wheel suppresses backlash in a circumferential direction, has excellent coupling workability with a hub wheel and an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, and has excellent strength owing to stable fitting between the hub wheel and the outer joint member. Projecting portions extending in an axial direction are provided on one of an outer surface of a shaft section of the outer joint member and an inner surface of a hole portion of the hub wheel. The projecting portions are press-fitted into the other along the axial direction, and recessed portions are formed in the other through press-fitting of the projecting portions. Thus, a recess-projection fitting structure is formed, in which the projecting portions and the recessed portions are held in close contact with each other through an entire region of fitting contact regions therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ozawa, Yuichi Asano, Masayuki Kuroda, Tohru Nakagawa, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Mitsuru Umekida
  • Patent number: 8534924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing unit (1) for a vehicle wheel, comprising a hub element (2, 3) which has a 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). To ensure a simple design with high stability the invention is characterized in that the hub element (2, 3) consists of a first part (2) comprising the cylindrical section (4) and the flange section (6) and of a second part (3), wherein the second part (3) has means (8) for centering a wheel rim of the vehicle wheel and/or the brake disk and wherein the first part (2) and the second part (3) are connected by connection means (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Jacobus Zwarts, Cornelius Petrus Antonius Vissers, Laurens Verhulst, Jan Hendrikus Kapaan
  • Patent number: 8523447
    Abstract: A wheel bearing arrangement that has a wheel hub, which is operatively connected to an outer ring by way of rolling elements and a wheel flange. The wheel flange, together with a protective ring forms a first gasket. The protective ring surrounding the outer ring of the wheel hearing arrangement. This approach is of particular interest for non-driven wheel bearing arrangements in which the side of the wheel bearing facing the vehicle can be protected by a cover used on the vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Langer, Peter Niebling, Sebastian Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8511902
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device for a motor vehicle, having an inner ring arrangement, formed for rotationally fixed reception of a first rotary partner, particularly an axle stump, or a shaft, an outer ring arrangement, which is connected and/or connectable and rotationally fixed with a second rotary partner, a multitude of rolling elements, which roll between the inner ring arrangement and the outer ring arrangement, so that inner ring arrangement and outer ring arrangement and/or the rotary partners are rotatable against each other, and an electric sensor device, which, using mechanical contact, is arranged and/or formed for detecting an operating status of the wheel bearing device. The sensor device has a stationary sensor element and a rotating sensor element, which can work together to form the mechanical contact. One of the sensor elements is connected with the inner ring arrangement without the interposition of the first rotary partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Heim, Christian Mock, Ralf Hund, Tilman Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8511903
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device of the invention includes a flanged shaft member that includes a shaft portion to which a rolling bearing is assembled, a fitting shaft portion that is formed on one end side of the shaft portion and that is fitted to a center hole of a wheel, and a plurality of flange portions that extend radially outward on an outer peripheral surface located between the shaft portion and the fitting shaft portion and each of which has a through bolt hole in which a hub bolt for fastening the wheel is arranged. Each flange portion of the wheel bearing device is formed by side extrusion when a forged recess is formed at a center of an end surface of the fitting shaft portion by cold forging. An edge portion of a cross-sectional shape taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of each flange portion is formed in an R-chamfered shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Masuda, Tatsuya Yokota, Motonori Nakao
  • Patent number: 8480306
    Abstract: A bearing unit for driving wheels, and a manufacturing method thereof, includes a hub, a bearing, and a constant velocity universal joint, such that a process for assembling the bearing unit to a knuckle member 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Fukumura, Masayuki Kuroda, Hisaaki Kura, Shin Tomogami, Hiroshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8465210
    Abstract: A rolling bearing unit for a wheel includes an outer ring member having a flange portion formed on its outer periphery and fitted to a vehicle body-side member, an inner ring member rotatably fitted in the outer ring member, and double-row rolling elements arranged between the outer ring member and the inner ring member. The flange portion includes a first flange portion formed on the upper-side portion of the outer periphery, and a second flange portion and a third flange portion formed on the lower-side portion of the outer periphery. Each of the first, second and third flange portion has a bolt-hole used to fit the outer ring member to the vehicle body-side member. The first flange portion is formed in such a manner that the bolt-hole thereof is positioned on the vertical line that passes through the rotational center of the outer ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Yamamoto, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Syuuji Nagata, Changxin Yu