Patent ID: 8845203
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: B60B,F16C

Abstract:
1. An automotive vehicle wheel bearing assembly comprising a wheel mounting component defining an axis; a non-rotating component fixed with respect to a vehicle suspension structure; and bearing elements rotatably coupling the wheel mounting component to the non-rotating component to allow the wheel mounting component to rotate relative to the non-rotating component about the axis; wherein the bearing elements include a first outer raceway and a first inner raceway, the first outer raceway and the first inner raceway rollably retaining a plurality of first rolling elements, wherein a portion of the wheel mounting component is spaced axially from a non-rotating surface fixed with respect to the vehicle suspension structure in an outboard direction by an axial clearance of at least about 0.04 mm, but no more than about 0.30 mm, so that a side impact displacing the wheel mounting component in the inboard direction by a distance equal to the axial clearance does not cause an impact indentation from the first rolling elements in the first outer raceway or the first inner raceway deeper than about 3 microns, to avoid a noise or vibration condition when the wheel mounting component rotates relative to the non-rotating component during continued operation of the wheel bearing assembly, wherein displacement of the wheel mounting component in the inboard direction by a distance greater than the axial clearance is inhibited by the wheel mounting component contacting and transmitting a load to the vehicle suspension structure through the non-rotating surface, to inhibit deepening of any impact indentation from the first rolling elements in the first outer raceway or the first inner raceway, wherein the portion of the wheel mounting component is an annular surface inclined with respect to the wheel mounting component axis, and the non-rotating surface is an annular surface inclined with respect to the wheel mounting component axis, both surfaces being centered on the axis of the wheel mounting component and inclined with respect to the axis at approximately the same oblique angle, and wherein the portion of the wheel mounting component is configured to contact the non-rotating surface at a contact area having a radial width of from about 2 millimeters to about 5 millimeters.