Patent Publication Number: US-2023160427-A1

Title: Clamping configuration for wheel bearing assembly

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/282,418, which was filed on Nov. 23, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to vehicular wheel bearings, and more specifically is related to a wheel bearing face spline and constant velocity joint (CVJ) interface. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rolling bearings are widely used in various mechanical applications, including the automotive field. Some types of bearings include a tandem rolling bearing, which includes a double row bearing and has two rows of rolling elements, a two-row bearing assembly, three-row bearing assembly, ball bearing assembly, tapered bearing assembly, etc. In a two-row bearing assembly, the two rows are generally arranged in a stepped-manner, and can be axially offset in relation to one another. 
     Face spline wheel bearing assemblies are well known and generally include an interface between an inner ring of a bearing assembly and an end face of a CVJ. One known configuration for connecting these components includes using a bolt to keep the two components engaged. It is critical to provide a clamping or securing configuration to ensure that the spline teeth on axial end faces of the inner ring and the CVJ remain engaged. However, using a bolt presents problems in higher torque applications because the bolt can deform. 
     It would be desirable to provide a joining assembly or interface that provides a reliable and durable connection between a bearing assembly and a CVJ. 
     SUMMARY 
     A wheel bearing assembly is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a joint element having a first spline portion defined on an axial surface and a nose. An inner ring is provided that includes a through hole configured to receive at least a portion of the joint element and an abutment flange defined within the through hole. The inner ring includes a second spline portion configured to matingly engage with the first spline, and the nose of the joint element is configured to extend axially within the abutment flange. A connection assembly is configured to connect the inner ring and the joint element, and a portion of the connection assembly abuts a first axial end of the abutment flange. 
     The nose of the joint element can include a first threaded portion. 
     The connection assembly can include a lock nut having a second threaded portion configured to matingly engage with the first threaded portion on the nose. 
     The first threaded portion can be formed on a radially outer surface of the nose of the joint element. 
     The connection assembly can further include a lock washer. The lock washer can include external tabs configured to be bent to engage within corresponding grooves on the lock nut. The lock washer can include internal tabs configured to engage within corresponding grooves formed on the first threaded portion of the joint element. 
     The wheel bearing assembly can further include a double row bearing, and the abutment flange can be configured to overlap with a portion of the double row bearing in a radial direction. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the disclosed configuration can be adapted for use in a three-row bearing assembly, or any ball bearing or tapered bearing arrangement. 
     The abutment flange can be formed on a radially innermost portion of the inner ring. 
     The joint element can be a constant velocity joint, in one aspect. 
     A method of assembling a wheel bearing assembly is also disclosed herein. The method can include providing: an inner ring including a first spline portion and a through hole with a radially inner surface defining an abutment flange extending radially inwardly therefrom, and a joint element including a nose having a first threaded portion, and a second spline portion. The method can include engaging the first and second spline portions with each other, and inserting the nose within the through hole defined by the inner ring until the two spline portions are fully engaged. The method can include inserting a lock nut within the through hole of the inner ring and fastening the lock nut onto the first threaded portion of the nose of the joint element. The method can include applying torque to at least one of the joint element or the lock nut until the lock nut engages against an axial surface of the abutment flange. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure are described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing Summary and the following Detailed Description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a cross-section of a wheel bearing assembly. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded assembly view of a portion of  FIG.  1   , including a lock nut and lock washer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. “Axially” refers to a direction along an axis (X) of an assembly. “Radially” refers to a direction inward and outward from the axis (X) of the assembly. “Circumferentially” refers to a direction extending along a curve or circumference of a respective element relative to the axis (X) of the assembly. A reference to a list of items that are cited as “at least one of a, b, or c” (where a, b, and c represent the items being listed) means any single one of the items a, b, or c, or combinations thereof. The terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , a wheel bearing assembly is disclosed herein. The wheel bearing assembly generally includes an inner ring  1 , an outer ring  2 , and a plurality of rolling elements  3   a,    3   b.  In one aspect, a secondary inner ring  3   c  can be provided, and the rolling elements  3   a,    3   b  are supported between the inner rings  1 ,  3   c  and the outer ring  2 . A split inner ring or two inner rings can be provided in order to aid with assembly of the wheel bearing assembly. 
     The outer ring  2  can be non-rotationally fixed to the vehicle structure. “Non-rotationally fixed,” in this context means that the outer ring  2  does not rotate about a central axis. It may translate as part of a vehicle suspension system and rotate through a limited range about a vertical axis as part of a vehicle steering system. In alternative embodiments, the inner ring  1  may be non-rotationally fixed to the vehicle structure and the outer ring  2  may rotate about a central axis. 
     In one aspect, the inner ring  1  includes a through hole  12 , dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a joint element  4 , which can be a constant velocity joint (CVJ). As shown in  FIG.  1   , one axial end of the joint element  4  can be configured to be completely enclosed within the inner ring  1 . The joint element  4  is axially inserted or pushed relative to the inner ring  1  until engagement occurs between splines  1   a  on the inner ring  1  and splines  4   a  on the joint element  4 . 
     The joint element  4  can include a threading on one axial end or nose  4   b.  For example, the joint element  4  can include a first threaded portion  5  on the axial end or nose  4   b.  The first threaded portion  5  can be formed on a radially outer surface of the nose  4   b  of the joint element  4 . One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the first threaded portion  5  can be formed on other surfaces of the joint element  4 . 
     Within the through hole  12  of the inner ring  1 , an abutment flange  10  can be provided. A first axial end  10   a  of the abutment flange  10  can be configured to abut the connection assembly and a second axial end  10   b  of the abutment flange  10  can be configured to be adjacent to a portion of the joint element  4 . In one aspect, the second axial end  10   b  of the abutment flange  10  can be spaced away from the joint element  4 . The abutment flange  10  can have a different shape or profile than illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     In one aspect, the abutment flange  10  overlaps with a portion of the one of the sets of rolling elements  3   a,    3   b.  The abutment flange  10  can be formed on a radially inner surface of the inner ring  1 , in one aspect. In one aspect, a radial plane can intersect both the abutment flange  10  and the secondary inner ring  3   c.  By arranging the abutment flange  10  on an end of the inner ring  1  adjacent to the splines  1   a,  the overall axial footprint or envelope of the assembly can be reduced. Based on this configuration, the size and thickness of the inner ring  1  can be reduced. 
     A connection assembly is also provided that is configured to connect the inner ring  1  and the joint element  4 . The connection assembly generally is provided to ensure that the spline portions  1   a,    4   a  on the respective axial ends of the inner ring  1  and the joint element  4  remain engaged with each other. The connection assembly can include multiple components or elements, such as a lock washer  7  and a lock nut  6 . In one aspect, the lock nut  6  includes a second threaded portion  6   a  that is configured to matingly engage with the first threaded portion  5  formed on the joint element  4 . In one aspect, the first axial end  10   a  of the abutment flange  10  can be configured to abut the lock nut  6 . In one aspect, the first axial end  10   a  directly engages an axial face of the lock nut  6 . 
     The lock washer  7  can be arranged around the first threaded portion  5  and can include internal tabs  7   b  configured to engage within corresponding grooves  5   a  formed on the first threaded portion  5 . The lock washer  7  can also include external tabs  7   a  that are configured to be bent after the lock washer  7  is arranged in place relative to the first threaded portion  5  and the lock nut  6 . The lock nut  6  can include grooves  6   b  configured to receive the external tabs  7   a  formed on the lock washer  7 . One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various types of engagement features can be provided between the lock washer  7  and the lock nut  6 , as well as the adjacent components. 
     Based on the configuration disclosed herein, a clamping configuration is provided via the connection assembly in which the abutment flange  10  is clamped on one side by the connection assembly, i.e. the lock nut  6 . 
     A method of assembling a wheel bearing assembly is also disclosed herein. In one aspect, the method includes providing an inner bearing ring or inner ring  1  including a first spline portion  1   a,  and providing a joint element  4  including a nose  4   b  having a first threaded portion  5 , and also including a second spline portion  4   a  configured to mate with the first spline portion  1   a.    
     The method includes engaging the splines  1   a,    4   a  and insertion of the nose  4   b  within a through hole defined by the inner ring  1 . An abutment flange  10  is defined on a radially inner surface of the inner ring  1 . The method includes inserting a lock nut  6  within the through hole  12  of the inner ring  1  and fastening the lock nut  6  onto the first threaded portion  5  of the nose  4   b  of the joint element  4 . Prior to insertion of the lock nut  6 , the method can include inserting a lock washer  7  inside the through hole  12  of the inner ring  1 . Torque is applied until the lock nut  6  engages against an axial surface of the abutment flange  10 . Next, the method includes locking the lock nut  6  in place via the lock washer  7 . In one aspect, the lock washer  7  includes protrusions, tabs, or flanges that are configured to engage with a portion of the nose  4   b  as well as a portion of the lock nut  6 . This ensures that the lock nut  6  remains in place and will not become loose or otherwise disengage from the threaded portion  5  of the nose  4   b  of the joint element  4 . 
     The configuration disclosed herein provides multiple advantages as compared to known arrangements. As compared to other known connection means, the configuration avoids the use of elongated bolts or fasteners, which are prone to plastic deformation and failure due to high torque loads. As a result, the joint torque capacity is increased. Additionally, by providing a relatively shorter connection assembly as compared to elongated bolts and fasteners, the overall size and weight of the wheel bearing assembly can also be reduced. The locking system disclosed herein can prevent the joint from loosening and thereby also prevent disengagement of the splines. 
     Having thus described the present disclosure in detail, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description of the invention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. 
     It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. 
     The present embodiment and optional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respects as exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the embodiments being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all alternate embodiments and changes to this embodiment which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embraced therein. 
     LOG OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     inner ring  1   
     second spline portion  1   a    
     outer ring  2   
     rolling elements  3   a,    3   b    
     secondary inner ring  3   c    
     joint element  4   
     first spline portion  4   a    
     nose  4   b    
     a first threaded portion  5   
     grooves  5   a    
     lock nut  6   
     second threaded portion  6   a    
     grooves  6   b  on the lock nut 
     lock washer  7   
     external tabs  7   a    
     internal tabs  7   b    
     abutment flange  10   
     first axial end  10   a  of the abutment flange 
     second axial end  10   b  of the abutment flange 
     through hole  12