Patent ID: 9662937
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: B60B,F16C

Claim:
1. A vehicle hub bearing unit comprising: an outer ring, wherein the outer ring is stationary in use; a wheel hub, rotating in use about a common symmetry axis of the outer ring and of the wheel hub, the wheel hub being arranged within the outer ring and comprising a wheel flange that extends radially from the wheel hub and radially beyond an outside of the outer ring; a plurality of rolling bodies interposed between the outer ring and the wheel hub; a sealing assembly comprising at least one annular lip, the sealing assembly being interposed between the wheel hub and the outer ring; the wheel flange being delimited between a first face and a second face that are mutually opposing and radial extending, the first face facing the outer ring and the second face facing a direction opposite to that of the first face, the first face of the wheel flange is provided with a first annular step that axially protrudes towards the outer ring and which is arranged in a radial position between the at least one annular lip of the sealing assembly and a radially outer peripheral edge of the wheel flange; and a protective ring which surrounds the outer ring and which radially extends from the outer ring in a position facing the first face of the wheel flange, the protective ring comprising a fixing portion and a flange portion, wherein the fixing portion is fixed to a radially outer lateral surface of the outer ring and is radially aligned with and axially opposed to the first annular step of the wheel flange, the flange portion faces the wheel flange and extends radially from a first end of the fixing portion; the flange portion further comprises a radially inner section and a radially outer section, the radially inner section extends radially from the first end of the fixing portion in a direction parallel to the first face of the wheel flange, the radially outer section extends from a radially outer end of the radially inner section in a direction radially outwardly and axially away from the outer ring and axially towards the wheel flange such that the radially outer section is arranged obliquely to the first face of the wheel flange, the radially outer section of the protective ring has a radially outer peripheral end rim which axially extends towards the first face of the wheel flange so as to form therewith a labyrinth seal oriented in a radial direction, parallel to the first face, an obtuse angled bend being present between the radially outer section and the radially inner section of the protective ring, the obtuse angled bend is arranged radially on the outside of the first annular step; wherein: the radially outer section of the protective ring extends in an axial direction and also in the radial direction so that the radially outer peripheral end rim thereof is arranged beyond the first annular step in the axial direction such that the protective ring axially overlaps on the first annular step, and the flange portion of the protective ring radially extends from the fixing portion beyond the first annular step such that the radially outer peripheral end rim is arranged in a radial position which is spaced from the first annular step and such that it exerts no labyrinth seal action therewith.