Patent ID: 8313245
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
Classification: B60B,F16C,F16D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus for a vehicle comprising: an outer member integrally formed, on its inner circumference, with double row outer raceway surfaces; an inner member including a wheel hub and at least one inner ring, the wheel hub integrally formed on one end with a wheel mounting flange, a cylindrical portion is formed on the other end of the wheel hub, the inner ring is press fit onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, the inner member is formed with double row inner raceway surfaces arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces; double row rolling elements are rollably contained between the double row inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member; a constant velocity universal joint connected to the wheel hub; the inner ring is axially immovably secured relative to the wheel hub by a caulked portion, the caulked portion is formed by plastically deforming an end of the cylindrical portion radially outward; an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint includes a shoulder portion, a stem portion extending from the shoulder portion is fit into the wheel hub for torque transmission between each other via serrations, and the wheel hub and the outer joint member are axially separably connected, the shoulder portion abuts against the caulked portion; a cap, formed as a low friction member, is interposed between the caulked portion and the shoulder portion, the cap includes a disc shaped abutting portion, a cylindrical portion and an anchoring portion, the disc shaped abutting portion is adapted to abut against the caulked portion and the shoulder portion, the cylindrical portion extends axially from the radially outermost portion of the disc shaped abutting portion, the anchoring portion extends radially inward from a free end of the cylindrical portion, a radially inner diameter of the anchoring portion is formed slightly smaller than a radially outer diameter of the caulked portion so that the cap can be mounted on the caulked portion in a snap-fitting manner; and a small gap is formed between the cap and the larger end face of the inner ring to form a labyrinth seal therebetween.