Wheel bearing spacers for racing automobiles

A wheel bearing assembly for a wheel assembly of a motor vehicle, wherein the wheel bearing assembly includes a wheel hub having inner and outer bearing race shoulders for receiving respective inner and outer roller bearing races and roller bearing housings with roller bearings therein, the wheel bearing assembly adapted for being mounted on a wheel axle. The wheel bearing assembly comprises an annular spacer body having a central opening for permitting the spacer body to be positioned onto the axle between one of the inner or outer roller bearing housings for exerting an axial compression thereon, a spacer cap having a central opening for permitting the spacer cap to be positioned onto the axle between the inner and outer roller bearing housings and in engaging coaxial alignment with the spacer body for engaging the other of the inner or roller bearing housings, and an annular shim having a central opening for permitting the shim to be positioned onto the axle between the spacer body and the spacer cap. The shim has an axially-extending dimension predetermined to produce with the spacer body and the spacer cap a combined axially-extending dimension suitable to create and maintain a predetermined amount of axial compression on the inner and outer roller bearing housings against the respective inner and outer bearing races sufficient to prevent rotation of the bearing races relative to the roller bearing housings.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates to a wheel bearing spacer for automobiles. The
 invention as described and claimed was designed and intended for racing
 automobiles, but could be used on any vehicle. The spacers save shop time
 in setting up hub assemblies when preparing a racing vehicle for a race.
 The spacers includes shims which permit exact tolerances to be easily and
 repetitively achieved.
 As is well known, both front and rear automobile wheel hub assemblies
 include tapered, caged roller bearings which permit low-resistance
 rotation between the wheel hub and the spindle (front assembly) and the
 axle (rear assembly). In both street and racing vehicles the roller
 bearings rotate against tapered races fitting into shoulders in the wheel
 hub. In street vehicles, the roller bearing housings themselves may rotate
 to some degree as well as the roller bearings in the housings. This is
 ordinarily not a problem. In racing vehicles, however, rotation of the
 bearing housing itself can cause serious damage due to the extreme speeds
 and related abuse imposed on the wheels as a result of heating of the
 spindle or axle by contact with the bearing housing.
 One prior art solution was to insert a single-sized spacer around the
 spindle or axle to put a desired amount of axial compression on the inner
 and outer bearing housings to keep them stationarily seated against the
 races. This did not account for minor variations in bearing dimensions and
 tolerances.
 Another prior art solution was to use a spacer with a shim positioned on
 the front face of the spacer. While better tolerances could be obtained in
 principle, tightening the spacer into resulting in bending and crimping of
 the shims.
 The present invention solves these problems.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a spacer assembly
 for a motor vehicle which speeds set-up time.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spacer assembly which
 permits quick and easy adjustments to account for variations in bearing
 assembly and wheel assembly spaces and tolerances.
 It is another object of the invention to provide a spacer assembly which
 avoids damage to the shims during tightening of the bearing assemblies
 against the spacer.
 These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the
 preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a wheel bearing
 assembly for a wheel assembly of a motor vehicle, wherein the wheel
 bearing assembly includes a wheel hub having inner and outer bearing race
 shoulders for receiving respective inner and outer roller bearing races
 and roller bearing housings with roller bearings therein, the wheel
 bearing assembly adapted for being mounted on a wheel axle. The wheel
 bearing assembly comprises an annular spacer body having a central opening
 for permitting the spacer body to be positioned onto the axle between one
 of the inner or outer roller bearing housings for exerting an axial
 compression thereon, a spacer cap having a central opening for permitting
 the spacer cap to be positioned onto the axle between the inner and outer
 roller bearing housings and in engaging coaxial alignment with the spacer
 body for engaging the other of the inner or roller bearing housings, and
 an annular shim having a central opening for permitting the shim to be
 positioned onto the axle between the spacer body and the spacer cap. The
 shim has an axially-extending dimension predetermined to produce with the
 spacer body and the spacer cap a combined axially-extending dimension
 suitable to create and maintain a predetermined amount of axial
 compression on the inner and outer roller bearing housings against the
 respective inner and outer bearing races sufficient to prevent rotation of
 the bearing races relative to the roller bearing housings.
 According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel bearing
 assembly is adapted to be mounted on the front wheel assembly of the motor
 vehicle.
 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel
 bearing assembly is adapted to be mounted on the rear wheel assembly of
 the motor vehicle.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer
 body includes a cylindrical body portion and a frustoconical body portion.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the
 frustoconical body portion includes an end opening for receiving a portion
 of the spacer cap therein.
 Preferably, the invention includes a plurality of shims having different
 axially-extending dimensions for being used singly or in combination with
 each other for form a shim assembly having an axially-extending dimension
 predetermined to produce with the spacer body and the spacer cap a
 combined axially-extending dimension suitable to create and maintain a
 predetermined amount of axial compression on the inner and outer roller
 bearing housings against the respective inner and outer bearing races
 sufficient to prevent rotation of the bearing races relative to the roller
 bearing housings.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer
 cap includes a sleeve portion for being received into the spacer body, and
 further wherein the shim is adapted to be received and supported on the
 sleeve.
 According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer
 cap includes a sleeve portion for being received into the spacer body, and
 further wherein the shims forming the shim assembly are adapted to be
 received and supported on the sleeve.
 An embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the steps
 of mounting a spacer body on the axle between the inner and outer roller
 bearing housings and engaging one of the inner and outer roller bearing
 housings, mounting a spacer cap on the axle between the inner and outer
 roller bearing housings and engaging the other of the inner and outer
 roller bearing housings, mounting at least one shim on the axle between
 the spacer body and the spacer cap. The at least one shim has an
 axially-extending dimension predetermined to produce with the spacer body
 and the spacer cap a combined axially-extending dimension suitable to
 create and maintain a predetermined amount of axial compression on the
 inner and outer roller bearing housings against respective inner and outer
 bearing races sufficient to prevent rotation of the bearing races relative
 to the roller bearing housings.
 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of mounting
 at least one shim on the axle comprises the step of mounting a plurality
 of shims defining a shim assembly on the axle. The shim assembly has an
 axially-extending dimension predetermined to produce with the spacer body
 and the spacer cap a combined axially-extending dimension suitable to
 create and maintain a predetermined amount of axial compression on the
 inner and outer roller bearing housings against respective inner and outer
 bearing races sufficient to prevent rotation of the bearing races relative
 to the roller bearing housings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
 Referring now specifically to the drawings, a front wheel spacer assembly
 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
 illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown generally at reference numeral 10. Spacer
 assembly 10 includes a spacer body 11, a plurality of annular shims 12A-E,
 and a spacer cap 14. The spacer body 11, shims 12A-E and spacer cap 14
 each define an axially-extending through bore to permit the spacer
 assembly 10 to be fitted onto a front wheel spindle, as shown and
 explained below.
 The spacer body 11 includes a cylindrical portion 11A, a fustoconical
 portion 11B and a flat, annular front face 11C. The spacer cap 14 includes
 a cap body 14A, and a reduced diameter sleeve 14B for being fitted into
 the front opening of spacer body 11. Spacer cap 14 also includes a flat,
 annular front face 14C.
 Cross-sectional and end views of the spacer body 11 are shown in FIGS. 2
 and 3.
 Cross-sectional and end views of the spacer cap 14 are shown in FIGS. 4 and
 5.
 Referring now to FIG. 6, spacer 10 is shown in place in a front wheel
 assembly 20 of a motor vehicle. The front wheel assembly 20 includes a
 wheel hub 21 including a plurality of lug nuts 22 for securely mounting a
 wheel (not shown) to the hub 21. Hub 21 includes inner and outer bearing
 race shoulders 23 and 24 in the hub 21, and which receive respective inner
 and outer tapered roller bearing races 26 and 27. Tapered roller bearing
 assemblies 28 and 29 are received onto the bearing races 26 and 27, as
 shown.
 The entire wheel assembly 20 is mounted on the front wheel spindle 30. The
 wheel assembly 20 is held on the spindle 30 by an axle nut 31 received on
 a threaded end portion 33 of spindle 30. The term "spindle" is a term of
 art which refers specifically to the elongated support onto which a front
 wheel assembly is mounted, as distinct from the term "axle" which is
 typically used to refer specifically to an elongated support onto which a
 rear wheel assembly is mounted. In the claims the term "axle" is used to
 mean both the front and rear supports onto which the respective front or
 rear wheel assembly is mounted. In description of the preferred
 embodiment, the terms are used in their usual context to refer separately
 to front and rear wheel assemblies.
 Spacer assembly 10 is positioned on spindle 30 between the inner and outer
 roller bearing assemblies 28 and 29. The spacer assembly 10 permits
 precise adjustment of the torque between the roller bearing assemblies 28
 and 29 and their respective bearing races 23 and 24. Thus, sufficient
 torque can be applied to prevent rotation of the roller bearing assemblies
 28 and 29 on the spindle 30, while at the same time insuring proper
 spacing and torque between the roller bearing assemblies 28 and 29, and
 respective bearing races 26 and 27.
 Shims 12A-E can be furnished in any thickness, and combined to achieve the
 required spacing. One preferred embodiment of the spacer assembly 10
 includes five shims 12A-E having axially extending dimensions of 0.001,
 0.002, 0.003, 0.004 and 0.005 inches from which the selection of the
 proper spacing can be made. As shown in FIG. 6, two shims 12A and 12B are
 positioned between the spacer body 11A and spacer cap 11C and add 0.003
 inches to the overall length of the spacer assembly 10.
 Referring now to FIGS. 7-12, a rear wheel spacer assembly according to a
 preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown at reference
 numeral 40. Rear spacer assembly 40 includes a spacer body 41, a plurality
 of annular shims 42A-E, and a spacer cap 44. The spacer body 41, shims
 42A-E and spacer cap 44 each define an axially-extending through bore to
 permit the spacer 40 to be fitted onto a rear wheel axle, as shown and
 explained below.
 The spacer body 41 includes cylindrical and includes a flat, annular front
 face 41A. The spacer cap 44 includes a cap body 44A, and a reduced
 diameter sleeve 44B for being fitted into the front opening of spacer body
 11. Spacer cap 14 also includes a flat, annular front face 14C.
 Cross-sectional and side elevation views of the spacer body 41 are shown in
 FIGS. 8 and 9.
 Cross-sectional and side elevation views of the spacer cap 44 are shown in
 FIGS. 10 and 11.
 Referring now to FIG. 12, spacer 40 is shown in place in a rear wheel
 assembly 60 of a motor vehicle. The rear wheel assembly 60 includes a
 wheel hub 61 including a plurality of lug nuts 62 for securely mounting a
 wheel (not shown) to the hub 61. Hub 61 is mounted and rotates on a rear
 axle 80 by means of an axle nut 81 threaded onto a threaded end portion
 the axle 80.
 Wheel assembly 60 includes inner and outer bearing race shoulders 63 and 64
 in the hub 61, and which receive respective inner and outer tapered roller
 bearing races 66 and 67. Tapered roller bearing assemblies 68 and 69 are
 received onto the bearing races 66 and 67, as shown.
 Spacer assembly 40 is positioned on axle 80 between the inner and outer
 roller bearing assemblies 68 and 69. The spacer assembly 40 permits
 precise adjustment of the torque between the roller bearing assemblies 68
 and 69 and their respective bearing races 63 and 64. Thus, sufficient
 torque can be applied to prevent rotation of the roller bearing assemblies
 68 and 69 on the axle 80, while at the same time insuring proper spacing
 and torque between the roller bearing assemblies 68 and 69, and respective
 bearing races 66 and 67.
 Shims 42A-E can be furnished in any thickness and combined to achieve the
 required spacing. One preferred embodiment of the spacer assembly 40
 includes five shims 42A-E having axially extending dimensions of 0.001,
 0.002, 0.003, 0.004 and 0.005 inches from which the selection of the
 proper spacing can be made. As shown in FIG. 12, two shims 42A and 42B are
 positioned between the spacer body 41A and spacer cap 41C and add 0.003
 inches to the overall length of the spacer assembly 40.
 A spacer assembly for a motor vehicle is described above. Various details
 of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope.
 Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
 invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for
 the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.