Patent ID: 11879500
Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 12:
13. A method of assembling a wheel bearing assembly, the method comprising:
(i) providing:
an inner ring including a first spline portion and a through hole defining an abutment flange extending radially inwardly therefrom, and
a joint element including a nose having a first threaded portion, and a second spline portion;
(ii) engaging the first and second spline portions with each other, and inserting the nose within the through hole defined by the inner ring;
(iii) inserting a lock nut within the through hole of the inner ring and fastening the lock nut onto the first threaded portion of the nose of the joint element;
(iv) applying torque to at least one of the joint element or the lock nut until the lock nut engages against an axial surface of the abutment flange; and
(v) inserting a lock washer inside of the through hole prior to step (iii), and then locking the lock nut in place via the lock washer after step (iii);
wherein the lock washer includes a plurality of tabs, and a first set of the plurality of tabs are configured to engage with a portion of the nose and a second set of the plurality of tabs are configured to engage with the lock nut.