Method of assembling a double row taper-bearing

Abstract: The present invention provides a double row taper-roller bearing and a method of assembling a double row taper-roller bearing, which are, when in an assembly, capable of assembling and being assembled by controlling a negative axial gap after the assembly. The present invention provides also a wheel support structure and a method of the assembling the same structure.

Description: The present invention relates to a method of assembling a double row taper-roller bearing. In a conventional double row taper-roller bearing, the control of a negative axial (axial direction) gap has hitherto involved such a construction that two pieces of inner rings are disposed side by side on a cylindrical member facing to one single outer ring having two tapered track surfaces, and a spacer is interposed between two inner rings. More specifically, so to speak, two sets of completed taper-roller bearings are disposed side by side in the axial direction, the spacer is interposed therebetween, a pre-load is controlled by fastening the two bearings from the axial direction, and the double row taper-roller bearing is assembled. The double row taper-roller bearing, however, tends to be a part of an apparatus using this type of bearing rather than a single unit of bearing, wherein an inner ring and an outer ring of the bearing are being made integral with the members which have supported so far the inner ring and the outer ring. For example, in the double row taper-roller bearing for the hub unit for fitting a wheel of an automobile, it has been proposed that the conventional inner ring and outer ring be united into one unit integral with a flanged member formed with a bolt hole, which has hitherto supported the inner ring and the outer ring and fixedly joined to the wheel or the car body. What is proposed above is, however, unable to control in fact the negative axial gap and can be therefore neither assembled nor used. FIG. 13 shows a double row taper-roller bearing 100 which has been broadly used so far for supporting the wheel. This double row taper-roller bearing 100 is constructed in such a way that a pair of inner rings 103, 103 are each so supported by a plurality of taper-rollers 104, 104 as to be rotatable on a minor-diameter side of one single outer ring 102. Double row outer ring tracks 105, 105 each taking a configuration of tapered concave surface are formed along an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 102, and inner ring tracks 106, 106 each assuming a configuration of tapered convex surface are formed along outer peripheral surfaces of the respective inner rings 103, 103. The taper-rollers 104, 104 are sandwiched in between the outer ring tracks 105, 105 and the inner ring tracks 106, 106 in a state the rollers 104, 104 are so held by cages or holders 107, 107 as to be reliable. Further, combined seal rings 108, 108 are attached between an inner peripheral surface at two side ends of the outer ring 102 and outer peripheral surfaces of side ends of the inner rings 103, 103, thereby closing openings at two axial side ends of an air space 109 in which the taper-rollers 104, 104 are set. The above-described double row taper-roller bearing 100, which has hitherto been widely used, is assembled in procedures shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. To be specific, at first, as shown in FIG. 14, the taper-rollers 104, 104 are arranged along circumferences of the inner rings 103, 103 in the state of being so held by the cages or holders 107, 107 as to be reliable. Then, the inner rings 103, 103 are inserted inside of the outer ring 102 while remaining in this state, and, as shown in FIG. 15, the taper-rollers 104, 104 are brought into contact with the outer ring tracks 105, 105 and the inner ring tracks 106, 106. Then, finally, the combined seal rings 108, 108 are attached between the outer peripheral surfaces of the side ends of the inner rings 103, 103 and the inner peripheral surface at the two side ends of the outer ring 102. The double row taper-roller bearing 100 itself, which is shown in FIG. 13, has no particular problem. In recent years, however, for the purpose of reducing the number of assembly steps by decreasing the number of parts, a so-called third-generation hub unit structure has been contrived, wherein the double row taper-roller bearing for supporting the wheel is provided integrally with the hub for supporting and fixing the wheel. If this type of third-generation hub unit structure is adopted, a flange for supporting the wheel is provided on an outer peripheral surface of one side end of the hub body, and a first inner ring track taking a configuration of tapered convex surface and serving to configure the taper-roller bearing of the first row, is formed directly along an outer peripheral surface of an intermediate portion. Then, an inner ring, having a second inner ring track taking a configuration of tapered convex surface, for configuring the taper-roller bearing of the second row, is fixedly fitted to an outer portion of small-diameter stepped portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the other side end of the hub body. In the case of this structure, the flange provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hub body becomes an obstacle, and the seal ring on the side of the flange cannot be attached afterward. Accordingly, it is required that this seal ring be, before assembling the hub body and the outer ring together, fixedly fitted inside the side end of the outer ring. Then, it is necessary for the taper-rollers constituting the taper-roller bearing of the first row to be inserted into the hub body on the minor-diameter side of the outer ring while being kept in the state of being disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. It might be required for smoothing this inserting operation that the taper-rollers do not shift on the minor-diameter side when performing the inserting operation. In the case of the proposed structure shown in FIG. 13, however, this problem does not occur, and therefore no contrivance against this problem is given. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method of assembling a double row taper-roller bearing, which is assembled by controlling a negative axial gap after the assembly. This objective is solved according to the present invention by a method of assembling a double row taper-roller bearing comprising an outer ring having first and second track surfaces which are formed along an inner peripheral surface thereof and respectively configure some proportions of tapered shapes opened opposite to each other outwards in the axial direction; a first inner ring member extending over an entire length of said outer ring in the axial direction and having a first outer track surface formed along an outer periphery thereof and configuring a part of a tapered shape, facing to said first track surface of said outer ring and opened in the same direction, a portion of the first inner ring member facing to said second track surface of said outer ring being formed as a fitting surface; a second inner ring member having a second outer track surface formed along an outer periphery thereof, facing to said second track surface of said outer ring and configuring a part of a tapered shape opened in the same direction, the second inner ring member being fixedly fitted on the fitting surface of said first inner ring member; a first roller row including a plurality of taper-rollers interposed between said first track surface of said outer ring and said first outer track surface of said first inner ring member, and rolling while being kept in contact with said track surfaces, and a first holder for holding said first taper-rollers; and a second roller row including a plurality of taper-rollers interposed between said second track surface of said outer ring and said second outer track surface of said second inner ring member, and rolling while being kept in contact with said track surfaces, and a second holder for holding said second taper-rollers, said method comprising, after assembling said outer ring, said first roller row, said first inner ring member and said second roller row, the steps of: measuring a tentative axial gap, with a tentative bearing body being assembled by inserting into an air space, for inserting said second inner ring member formed between the fitting surface of said first inner ring member and said second roller row, a master for said second inner ring member having the known dimensions serving as a positive axial gap with respect to this air space; and calculating dimensions of said second inner ring member, from which a desired negative axial gap is obtained based on the measured tentative axial gap, and selecting and assembling said desired second inner ring member on the basis of a result of the calculation. Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are laid down in the further subclaims. In the following, the present invention is explained in greater detail by means of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an axially central sectional view showing a double row taper-roller bearing for a hub unit for an automobile which is assembled in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory flowchart showing steps of the assembly in the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view as viewed from rightward in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a first holder taken out; FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a second holder taken out; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a first step in the assembling operation, showing a state where some taper-rollers are held by the first holder; FIG. 10 is a sectional view similarly showing a next step thereof; FIG. 11 is a sectional view similarly showing a subsequent step; FIG, 12 is a sectional view similarly showing a last step; FIG. 13 shows a proposed double row taper-roller bearing; FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing an assembling step; and FIG. 15 is a sectional view similarly showing a next step. A first embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a method of controlling an axial gap when assembling a taper-roller bearing of a hub unit for fitting a driving front wheel of an automobile by way of the first embodiment of the present invention. A hub 1 of the hub unit integrally includes, as the integral parts, a flange 11 for fixing a rim (not shown) of the front wheel, and a cylindrical member 12 extending in an axial direction, to be formed with the taper-roller bearing along an outer periphery thereof and to fix along an inner periphery thereof an axle (unillustrated). The flange 11 is formed with a proper number of bolt holes 13, and the rim of the wheel (not shown) is fixed by bolts 14. The axle is, as described above, inserted into a central hole 15 of the cylindrical member 12 extending in the axial direction, and the hub 11 is fixed to the axle by bolts (unillustrated) in a bolt hole 16 formed in the central portion of the hub 11. The hub and the wheel, i.e., the wheel and the axle integrally rotate. The cylindrical member 12 serving as a first inner ring member extends in the axial direction, of which an outer periphery is formed with a first track surface 17 configuring a part of a tapered shape opened toward the flange. The cylindrical member 12 has a large collar portion 18 extending from a side end on a large-diameter-side of the first track surface 17. An outer ring 20 is disposed outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical member 12. The outer ring 20 is formed with a first inside track surface 21 constituting a part of the tapered shape, facing to the first track surface 17 formed along the cylindrical member 12 serving as a first inner ring member. A predetermined number of first taper-rollers 40 held by a first cage or holder 30 are interposed between the first track surface 17 of the first inner ring member defined as the cylindrical member 12 and the first inside track surface 21 of the outer ring 20. The first holder 30 and the first taper-rollers 40 are combined to constitute a first roller row. The outer ring 20 is formed with a second inside track surface 22 configuring a part of the tapered shape opened opposite to the first inside track surface 21, and spaced at a predetermined axial distance away from the first inside track surface described above. On the other hand, a first inner ring member constructed of the cylindrical member 12 has a small-diameter cylindrical portion 12a, formed at a portion facing in the axial direction to the second inside track surface 22 of the outer ring 20, of which an outer periphery is formed with a cylindrical surface with a substantially uniform diameter. A second inner ring member 12b is fixedly fitted to this small-diameter cylindrical portion 12a. An outer periphery of the second inner ring member 12b is formed with a second track surface 12c constituting a part of the tapered shape, facing to the second inside track surface 22 of the outer ring 20. A predetermined number of second taper-rollers 50 held by a second cage or holder 51 are interposed between the second inside track surface 22 of the outer ring 20 and the second track surface 12c of the second inner ring member 12b in such a way that the rollers 50 roll while being kept in contact with these track surfaces. The second taper-rollers 50 and the second holder 51 are combined to constitute a second roller row. The outer ring 20 has a flange 25 substantially at the center of the outer periphery thereof. The flange 25 is formed with a hole 26 through which a bolt (not shown) is inserted to fix the outer ring to a knuckle of a suspension system on the car body side. Thus, the hub unit is formed with the double row taper-roller bearing. Next, the method of assembling the double row taper-roller bearing will be explained. To start with, the first roller row composed of the first taper-rollers 40 held by the first holder 30, is fitted onto the first track surface 17 of the first inner ring member 12, and then the outer ring 20 is fitted to the outer portion thereof. Next, the second roller row composed of the second taper-rollers 50 held by the second holder 51 is so fitted as to come into contact with the second inside track surface 22 of the outer ring 20. Subsequently, a master member of the second inner ring member, which has the known dimensions and a positive axial gap with respect to the assembled taper-roller bearing, is inserted into a space formed between the second roller row and the small-diameter cylindrical portion 12a. In this state, a tentative axial gap is measured, and, as a next step, dimensions of the second inner ring member for obtaining a negative axial gap on a desired specification are arithmetically obtained based on a measured result of the tentative axial gap. A second inner ring member 12b having proper dimensions is chosen out of a stocker of the second inner ring members, corresponding to this arithmetic result, and the second inner ring member selected as a substitute for the master member is incorporated, thereby obtaining the double row taper-roller bearing based on the desired specification. Note that the second inner ring member 12b may be selected and incorporated either by a manual work or by an automatic operation. In accordance with the first embodiment, the negative axial gap of the double row taper-roller bearing, which cannot be ensured after the assembly, can be controlled by use of the master member before the assembly. FIGS. 3-8 illustrate a second embodiment with a modification of the hub unit for the automobile. The hub unit 10 for the automobile is constructed of a hub body 11a, an Inner ring member 12 externally fitted to the hub body 11a, an outer ring 20 disposed along the peripheries of the hub body 11a and of the inner ring member 12b, a plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50 provided between outer peripheral surfaces of the hub body 11a and of the inner ring member 12b and an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 20, a first seal ring 15a for hermetically sealing between an inner peripheral surface of one side end of the outer ring 20 and an outer peripheral surface of an intermediate portion of the hub body 11a, and a second seal ring 15b for hermetically sealing between an inner peripheral surface of the other side end of the outer ring 20 and an outer peripheral surface of a side end of the inner ring member 12b. In the embodiment illustrated, a single seal ring is used as the first seal ring 15a, and a combined seal ring is used as the second seal ring 15b. The hub body 11a among those components has a flange 11 for supporting the wheel on an outer peripheral surface of one side end (an outer side end in the widthwise direction in a state of being assembled to the car body, corresponding to a left side end in FIG. 1). Further, a first inner ring track 17, taking a configuration of tapered convex surface; for configuring the taper-roller bearing 18a of the first row, is formed directly on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the hub body 11a. Furthermore, a small-diameter stepped portion 12a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the other side end (an inner side end in the widthwise direction in the state of being assembled to the car body, corresponding to a right side end in FIG. 3) of the hub body 11a. An outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter stepped portion 12a takes a cylindrical shape concentric with the hub body 11a. Further, in the embodiment illustrated, the automobile hub unit 10 for supporting the driving wheel is provided, and hence a spline hole 21 a for spline-engaging with a side end of a drive axle is provided in a central portion of the hub body 11a. Further, the inner ring member 12b includes a second inner ring track 12c assuming a configuration of tapered convex surface and formed along the outer peripheral surface, for configuring the taper-roller bearing 22a of the second row, and fixedly fitted to an outer portion of the small-diameter stepped portion 12a of the hub body 11a. An inclined direction of the second inner ring track 12c is set opposite to an inclined direction of the first inner ring track 17. Further, a proximal end (a right side end in FIG. 3) of the inner ring member 12b protrude slightly from the other side end surface (a right side end surface in FIG. 3) of the hub body 11a in a state of letting a front side end surface (a left side end surface in FIG. 3) of the inner ring 12b impinge upon a stepped surface 24 of the small-diameter stepped portion 12a. In the state of being assembled to the car body, a side end surface of a constant velocity joint or a stepped portion formed at the side end portion of the drive axle, impinge upon the side end surface of the proximal end of the inner ring 12b which thus protrudes from the hub body 11a, thereby preventing the inner ring 12b from disengaging from the small-diameter stepped portion 12a. Moreover, the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 20 is formed with first and second outer ring tracks 21, 22, each taking a configuration of tapered concave surface, for configuring the taper-roller bearings 18a, 22a of the first and second rows. Inclined directions of the first and second outer ring tracks 21, 22 are set opposite to each other, corresponding to the first and second inner ring tracks 17, 12c. Further, the axially intermediate portion of the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring 20 is provided with an outward-flange-like fitting portion 25 for fixing the outer ring 20 to an unillustrated suspension. Further, some taper-rollers 40, 40 (a left half in FIG. 3) among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50 are disposed between the first inner ring track 17 and the first outer ring track 21 in a state of being so held by the first holder as to be reliable. While on the other hand, the remaining taper-rollers 50, 50 (a right half in FIG. 1) among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50 are disposed between the second inner ring track 12c and the second outer ring track 22 in a state being so held by the second holder 51 as to be reliable. Then, the first holder 30, in a state of holding some taper-rollers 40, 40 among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50, prevents the respective taper-rollers 40, 40 from coming off inward in the diametrical direction. Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated, what takes a configuration as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is used as the first holder 30. The first holder 30 is formed in a partially tapered cylindrical shape on the whole by injection-molding a synthetic resin exhibiting elasticity, and has pockets 30b, 30b and columns 31, 31 which are provided alternately in the circumferential direction. The taper-rollers 40, 40 are so disposed in the pockets 30b, 30b as to be reliable. Further, an outer peripheral surface of each of the columns 31, 31 is positioned more outwards in the diametrical direction than a pitch circle a of each ot the taper-rollers 40, 40, and similarly an inner peripheral surface thereof is positioned more inwards than the pitch circle α. Then, widths, extending in the circumferential direction, of two major- and minor-diameter-side openings of the pockets 30b, 30b are set well smaller than a diameter of each of the taper-rollers 40, 40 on the major diameter side, and set slightly smaller than this diameter on the minor diameter side. Accordingly, an operation of setting the taper-rollers 40, 40 into the pockets 30b, 30b is performed while elastically deforming the columns 31, 31 in the circumferential direction from the minor-diameter side of the first holder 30. The columns 31, 31 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are, when the pockets accommodate the rollers, elastically deformed in such directions as to get apart from each other in the circumferential direction, and permit the taper-rollers 40, 40 to pass through. On the other hand, in the state where the pockets 30b, 30b completely accommodate the taper-rollers 40, 40, a spacing (corresponding to a circumference-directional width W 30 of each of the two minor-diameter-side openings of the pockets 30b, 30b) between the columns 31, 31 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, is smaller than a major diameter D 14 of each of the taper-rollers 40, 40. As a result, the first holder 30 prevents the taper-rollers 40, 40 from unexpectedly coming off inwards in the diametrical direction. Note that the width W 30 and the major diameter D 14 gradually change in the axial direction of each of the taper-rollers 40, 40, however, the dimensional relationship described above is met in positions aligned with each other. On the other hand, the second holder 51 assumes a configuration as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and, in the state of holding in a reliable manner the remaining taper-rollers 50, 50 among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50, prevents these taper-rollers 50, 50 from coming off outwards in the diametrical direction. The second holder 51 itself is the same as the holder 107 incorporated into the proposed structure shown in FIGS. 13 - 15. The second holder 51 is formed in a partially tapered cylindrical shape on the whole by injection-molding a synthetic resin, and has pockets 30a, 30a and columns 31 a, 31 a which are provided alternately in the circumferential direction. Both of the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the columns 31 a, 31 a are positioned more outwards in the diametrical direction than a pitch circle β of each of the taper-rollers 50, 50. Then, widths, extending in the circumferential direction, of two major-diameter-side openings of the pockets 30a, 30a are set well smaller than a diameter of each of the taper-rollers 50, 50, and set larger than this diameter on the minor diameter side. Accordingly, an operation of setting the taper-rollers 50, 50 into the pockets 30a, 30a is carried out from the minor-diameter side of the second holder 51. The taper-rollers 50, 50 are set into the pockets 30a, 30a, and the inner ring 12b is inserted on the minor-diameter side of each of the taper-rollers 50, 50, in which state these taper-rollers 50, 50 are so held in the pockets 30a, 30a that these taper-rollers cannot come off. Next, the method of assembling the automobile hub unit 10 having the construction described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 - 12 in addition to FIGS. 3 - 8. To start with, as illustrated in FIG. 9, some taper-rollers 40, 40 among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50 are held by the first holder 30. In this state, these taper-rollers 40, 40 are held by the first holder 30 without being separated. It is therefore feasible to easily carry it in the factory. Then, the taper-rollers 40, 40 in this state are, as illustrated in FIG. 10, disposed inside the first outer ring track 21 on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 20. Further, after some taper-rollers 40, 40 have been disposed inwardly of the first outer ring track 21, the first seal ring 15a is fixedly fitted to the inner peripheral surface of one side end of the outer ring 20. In this state, the taper-rollers 40, 40 and the first holder 30 are combined without being separated. Accordingly, it is still possible to facilitate the carrying operation in the factory. Thus, some taper-rollers 40, 40 are disposed on the inner-diameter side of the outer ring 20, and the first seal ring 15a is fixedly fitted inside, in which state as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 the hub body 11a is inserted inside the outer ring 20. This inserting operation, as shown in FIG. 11, continues till there is attained a state where the first inner ring track 17 is positioned inwardly of some taper-rollers 40, 40 among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50, and the first seal ring 15a comes into contact with an entire periphery of an area, between the flange 11 and the first inner ring track 17, of the surface of the outer ring 20. During this inserting operation, some taper-rollers 40, 40 held by the first holder 30 remain attached to the first outer ring track 21 without coming off inwards in the diametrical direction of the first holder 30. Accordingly, the inserting operation can be smoothly executed with no necessity especially for such a laborious work as to press the taper-rollers 40, 40. Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the inner ring member 12b is inserted inside the outer ring 20 in a state where the remaining taper-rollers 50, 50 among the plurality of taper-rollers 40, 50 are held among the circumference of the second inner ring track 12c by the second holder 51. Then, with this inserting operation, the inner ring member 12b is fixedly fitted to the outer portion of the small-diameter stepped portion 12a of the hub body 11 a. Then, finally, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 3, the second seal ring 15b is attached between the outer peripheral surface of the side end of the inner ring member 12b and the inner peripheral surface of the side end of the outer ring 20. Note that a pre-load applied to each of the taper-roller bearings 18a of the first and second rows may be arbitrarily readily adjusted by changing a grinding quantity of a part of the inner ring 12b. As discussed above, according to the assembling method of the automobile hub unit according to the present invention, the costs for the automobile hub unit can be reduced by assembling the third-generation automobile hub unit at a high efficiency.

Claims: A method of assembling a double row taper-roller bearing comprising: an outer ring (20) having first and second track surfaces (21,22) which are formed along an inner peripheral surface thereof and respectively configure some proportions of tapered shapes opened opposite to each other outwards in the axial direction; a first inner ring member (1,10) extending over an entire length of said outer ring (20) in the axial direction and having a first outer track surface (17) formed along an outer periphery thereof and configuring a part of a tapered shape, facing to said first track surface (21) of said outer ring (20) and opened in the same direction, a portion of the first inner ring member (1,10) facing to said second track surface (22) of said outer ring (20) being formed as a fitting surface; a second inner ring member (12b) having a second outer track surface (12c) formed along an outer periphery thereof, facing to said second track surface (22) of said outer ring (20) and configuring a part of a tapered shape opened in the same direction, the second inner ring member (12b) being fixedly fitted on the fitting surface of said first inner ring member (1,10); a first roller row including a plurality of taper-rollers (40) interposed between said first track surface (21) of said outer ring (20) and said first outer track surface (17) of said first inner ring member (1,10), and rolling while being kept in contact with said track surfaces (21,17), and a first holder (30) for holding said first taper-rollers (40); and a second roller row including a plurality of taper-rollers (50) interposed between said second track surface (22) of said outer ring (20) and said second outer track surface (12c) of said second inner ring member (12b), and rolling while being kept in contact with said track surfaces (22,12c), and a second holder (51) for holding said second taper-rollers (51), said method comprising, after assembling said outer ring (20), said first roller row, said first inner ring member (1,10) and said second roller row, the steps of: measuring a tentative axial gap, with a tentative bearing body being assembled by inserting into an air space, for inserting said second inner ring member (12b) formed between the fitting surface of said first inner ring member (1,10) and said second roller row, a master for said second inner ring member (12b) having the known dimensions serving as a positive axial gap with respect to this air space; and calculating dimensions of said second inner ring member (12b), from which a desired negative axial gap is obtained based on the measured tentative axial gap, and selecting and assembling said desired second inner ring member (12b) on the basis of a result of the calculation.

Inventors: KOBAYASHI KATSUMI, KOMABA MICHIO, SHIBUYA EISHI, KOBAYASHI, KATSUMI, KOMABA, MICHIO, SHIBUYA, EISHI
Applicants: NSK LTD
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F16C19
IPC codes: F16C19, F16C43, F16C25