Wheel Hub/Universal Joint Assembly With Securing Ring For Axially Supporting The Clamping Means

Abstract

A wheel hub/universal joint assembly (11) comprising a rotatably supported wheel hub (21) which is provided with a wheel flange (22) for bolting on a vehicle wheel and which comprises a central through-aperture (29) with inner shaft teeth (30), and a universal joint (41) with an outer joint part (42) to which there is attached a driving journal (43) with outer shaft teeth (53), wherein the driving journal (43) is inserted into the through-aperture (29) and wherein the wheel hub (21) and the outer joint part (42) are connected to one another in a rotationally fast way by inter-engaging inner and outer shaft teeth (30, 53), and wherein, between the wheel hub (21) end facing the joint and an end face (50) of the outer joint part (42), which end face (50) faces the wheel, there is provided an axial free space (81), wherein between the wheel hub (21) and the driving journal (43), there includes a clamping element which load the wheel hub (21) towards the outer joint part (42) and wherein, for supporting the wheel hub (21) on the driving journal (43), a securing ring (86) is inserted into an outer annular groove (85) against which there rests an end face of an inner widening (32) in the wheel hub (21).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood on reading the following description given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of an inventive wheel hub/universal joint assembly in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of a portion of the wheel hub/universal joint assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through an inventive wheel hub/universal joint assembly in a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the securing ring illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the clamping element illustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 which correspond to one another as far as the subject matter is concerned will be described jointly below. They show a longitudinal section of an inventive wheel hub/universal joint assembly 11 whose main components are a wheel hub 21 with a formed-on wheel flange 22, a torque transmitting universal joint 41 with an outer joint part 42 with a formed-on driving journal 43 and a wheel bearing 61 slipped on to the wheel hub 21. The common longitudinal axis of the wheel hub 21, the outer joint part 42 and the wheel bearing 61 has been given the reference symbol A. With the exception of torque transmitting balls 49 and outer ball tracks 44 in the outer joint part 42 and inner ball tracks 45 in the inner joint part 46, which ball tracks 44, 45 are associated with one another as well as a ball cage 47 with circumferentially distributed cage windows 48, the components as illustrated are substantially rotationally symmetric relative to the longitudinal axis A. It should be understood that, with reference to the wheel bearing 61, the arrangement of the bearing balls and the design of the bearing cages, which has yet to be explained in greater detail, need not be perfectly rotationally symmetric.

The wheel bearing 61 comprises an outer bearing race 62 with a formed-on bearing flange 63 for bolting on a wheel carrier. The outer bearing race 62 comprises two outer ball grooves 65, 66 in which there run rings of bearing balls 67, 68. The wheel bearing 61 (rolling contact bearing) is completed by an inner bearing race 72 which may be produced so as to be integral with the wheel hub 21 or may be produced so as to be separate from said wheel hub 21 and axially slid on to the wheel hub 21 from the universal joint end. The inner bearing races 71, 72 form inner ball grooves 73, 74. On the side of the wheel hub 21 which is positioned axially opposite the wheel flange 22 of the wheel hub 21, there is provided a beading 24 which was produced by a beading operation only after the inner bearing race 71, the bearing balls 67, 78 and the outer bearing race 62 have been axially slid on and which axially clamps on the radial bearing 61. An outer joint end face 50 is positioned at an axial distance from a wheel hub end face 28 of the beading 24.

The end of the assembly 11, which is characterised by the wheel flange 22 is referred to as the wheel end. The end of the assembly 11 characterised by the universal joint 41 is referred to as the joint end.

The driving journal 43 comprises a first region adjoining the end face 50, which first region, hereafter, is referred to as the journal base 51. This is followed by a further region with outer shaft teeth 53 which extend as far as the end of the driving journal 43. The wheel hub 21 comprises a through-aperture 29 which carries inner shaft teeth 30. The inner shaft teeth 30, at the wheel end, are followed by a widened region 31 of an internally cylindrical shape. At the joint end, there follows a widened region 32 of an internally cylindrical shape.

The above-described assembly which, by means of the bearing flange 63, can be bolted to a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle has to transmit driving moments from a sideshaft which, in a rotationally fast way, can be inserted into the inner joint part 44 and axially secured therein, to a vehicle wheel whose rim has to be bolted to the flange face 27 of the wheel flange 22. The universal joint 41 allows variable angular positions between the sideshaft and the wheel carrier, which result from compression and steering movements of the wheel carrier.

In FIG. 1, at the wheel end of the driving journal 43, the present invention includes a clamping element 77 engaging the wheel hub 21 axially to the driving journal 43. In this embodiment, the clamping element 77 comprises a bolt 82 threaded into a central threaded bore 55 of the driving journal 43. The bolt head 83 of the bolt 82, by means of a planar flank 184 (disc or washer), rests on an end face of the wheel hub 21 which is formed by a radial widened region 31 in the through-bore 29. In other contemplated embodiments, the bolt head 83 may be directly retained or supported by a recess 99 or other portion of the radial widened region 31.

A holding force acting against the pretensioning force of the bolt 82 is generated by a securing ring 86 which is inserted into an outer groove 85 in the driving journal 43 between the outer shaft teeth 53 and the journal base 51 and which is contacted by the end face of the internally cylindrical widened region 32 of the wheel hub. The securing ring is provided in the form of a round cross section ring and can easily be mounted before the driving journal 43 is inserted into the through-aperture 29 of the wheel hub.

FIGS. 3 to 5, which correspond to a second embodiment, will be described jointly below. They illustrate a longitudinal section of an inventive wheel hub/universal joint assembly 11 whose main components are a wheel hub 21 with a formed-on wheel flange 22, a torque transmitting universal joint 41 with an outer joint part 42 with a formed-on driving journal 43 and a wheel bearing 61 slipped on to the wheel hub 21. The common longitudinal axis of the wheel hub 21, the outer joint part 42 and the wheel bearing 61 has been given the reference symbol A. With the exception of torque transmitting balls 49 and outer ball tracks 44 in the outer joint part 42 and inner ball tracks 45 in the inner joint part 46, which ball tracks 44, 45 are associated with one another as well as a ball cage 47 with circumferentially distributed cage windows 48, the components as illustrated are substantially rotationally symmetric relative to the longitudinal axis A. It should be understood that, with reference to the wheel bearing 61, the arrangement of the bearing balls and the design of the bearing cages, need not be perfectly rotationally symmetric.

The wheel bearing 61 comprises an outer bearing race 62 with a formed-on bearing flange 63 for bolting on a wheel carrier. For this purpose, there are provided threaded holes 64. The outer bearing race 62 comprises two outer ball grooves 65, 66 in which there run rings of bearing balls 67, 68. The balls are spaced by bearing cages 69, 70. The wheel bearing 61 is completed by two inner bearing races 71, 72 which are axially slid on to the wheel hub 21 from the universal joint end. The inner bearing races 71, 72 form inner ball grooves 73, 74. At the end of the wheel hub 21 which is arranged axially opposite the wheel flange 22 of the wheel hub 21, there is provided a beading 24 which was produced by a beading operation only after the inner bearing races 71, 72, the bearing balls 67, 78 and the outer bearing race 63 have been axially slid on and which axially clamps on the radial bearing 61. An outer joint end face 50 of the outer joint part is positioned at an axial distance 81 from a wheel hub end face 28 of the beading 24.

The end of the assembly 11, which is characterised by the wheel flange 22 is referred to as the wheel end. The end of the assembly 11 characterised by the universal joint 41 is referred to as the joint end.

The driving journal 43 comprises a first region adjoining the end face 50, which first region, hereafter, is referred to as the journal base 51. This is followed by a further region with outer shaft teeth 53 which extend as far as the end of the driving journal 43. The wheel hub comprises a through-aperture 29 which carries inner shaft teeth 30. The inner shaft teeth 30, at the wheel end, are followed by a widened region 31 of an internally cylindrical shape. At the joint end, there follows a widened region 32 of an internally cylindrical shape.

The above-described assembly which, by means of the bearing flange 63, can be bolted to a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle has to transmit driving moments from a sideshaft—which, in a rotationally fast way, can be inserted into the inner joint part 44 and is axially secured therein—to a vehicle wheel whose rim has to be bolted to the flange face 27 of the wheel flange 22. The universal joint 41 allows variable angular positions between the sideshaft and the wheel carrier which result from compression and steering movements of the wheel carrier.

In FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of clamping element 77 is provided. At the wheel end of the driving journal 43, which wheel end projects beyond the inner shaft teeth 30 of the wheel hub 21, there is cut in an outer groove 12 which comprises a wedge-shaped cross-section and into which there is inserted a clamp securing ring 13 whose cross-section, in its inner region, is also wedge-shaped. The clamp securing ring 13 is a standard spring ring divided at the circumference. Via a planar flank on the right-hand side, the clamp securing ring 13 rests against an end face of the wheel hub 21. On the left-hand side, by means of a wedge face, it rests against the corresponding wedge shape of the clamp outer groove 12. Because of its radial residual pretensioning force after having been widened and slid on up to the point of spring deflection in the clamp circumferential groove 12, the clamp securing ring 13 generates an axial pretensioning force acting on the wheel hub 22 which is supported on the driving journal 43 and acts towards the right, as a result of which the assembly is free of play in the axial direction. The clamp securing ring 13 is secured against being removed by a cylindrical plate metal cap 15 which, a short distance from its inner open end, comprises an inner annular fold 16 which axially rests against the securing ring. The formed-on base 17 ensures that, at the same time, the shaft teeth are protected from any dirt which may enter.

A holding force acting against the residual pretensioning force of the clamp securing ring 13 is generated by a securing ring 86 which is inserted into an outer groove 85 in the driving journal 43 between the outer shaft teeth 53 and the journal base 51, and which is contacted by the end face of the internally cylindrical widened region 32 of the wheel hub. The securing ring 86 is preferably provided in the form of a round cross section ring and can easily be mounted before the driving journal 43 is inserted into the through-aperture 29 of the wheel hub.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly comprising: a rotatably supported wheel hub including a wheel flange adapted for bolting on a vehicle wheel, said rotatably supported wheel hub comprises a central through-aperture including inner shaft teeth;a universal joint comprising an outer joint part and a driving journal including outer shaft teeth, said driving journal is positioned within said through-aperture, said wheel hub and said outer joint part connected to one another in a rotationally fast way by inter-engaging inner and outer shaft teeth;an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face of said outer joint part and a wheel hub end face of said wheel hub;a clamping element in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said clamping element loading said wheel hub towards said outer joint part; anda securing ring positioned with an outer annular groove, an inner widened region of said wheel hub resting against said securing ring.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said securing ring comprises a round cross section ring rotatably held in said outer annular groove.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wheel hub end face is formed by a beading which axially rests against a slid-on inner bearing race of a rolling contact bearing held on said wheel hub.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamping element comprises a bolt axially threaded into said driving journal and includes a bolt head supported by said wheel hub.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said bolt head is supported on a disc which rests on said wheel hub.

6. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said bolt head is supported on a recess in the through-aperture.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamping element comprises a clamp securing ring inserted into a clamp outer annular groove formed in said driving journal, said clamp securing ring resting against said wheel hub, and along said wheel hub towards said outer joint part.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said clamp outer annular groove is inwardly wedge-shaped and said clamp securing ring comprises at least one inner portion with a wedge-shaped cross-section.

9. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said clamp securing ring is radially secured by an annular cap slid-on after said clamp securing ring has been inserted into said clamp outer annular groove.

10. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly comprising: a wheel hub comprising a central through-aperture including inner shaft teeth;a universal joint including a driving journal having outer shaft teeth, said driving journal positioned within said central through-aperture, said inner shaft teeth engaging said outer shaft teeth;an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face and a wheel hub end face;a clamping element in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said clamping element biasing said wheel hub towards said driving journal; anda securing ring positioned within an annular groove, said securing ring in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said securing ring opposing said clamping element bias.

11. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly as described in claim 10, further comprising: an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face and a wheel hub end face.

12. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said securing ring comprises a round cross section ring rotatably held in said outer annular groove.

13. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said wheel hub end face is formed by a beading which axially rests against a slid-on inner bearing race of a rolling contact bearing held on said wheel hub.

14. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said clamping element comprises a bolt axially threaded into said driving journal and includes a bolt head supported by said wheel hub.

15. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said bolt head is supported on a disc which rests on said wheel hub.

16. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said clamping element comprises a clamp securing ring inserted into a clamp outer annular groove formed in said driving journal, said clamp securing ring resting against said wheel hub, and along said wheel hub towards said driving journal.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said clamp outer annular groove is inwardly wedge-shaped and said clamp securing ring comprises at least one inner portion with a wedge-shaped cross-section.

18. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said clamp securing ring is radially secured by an annular cap slid-on after said clamp securing ring has been inserted into said clamp outer annular groove.

19. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly comprising: a wheel hub including a wheel flange adapted for bolting on a vehicle wheel, said wheel hub including a central through-aperture;a universal joint comprising an outer joint part and a driving journal, said driving journal positioned within said central through-aperture and rotationally fast engaging said wheel hub;a clamping element in communication with said wheel hub and said driving journal, said clamping element loading said wheel hub towards said outer joint part; anda securing ring positioned within an outer annular groove, said driving journal and said wheel hub resting against said securing ring.

20. A wheel hub/universal joint assembly as described in claim 19, further comprising: an axial free space formed between an outer joint end face and a wheel hub end face.