# US 10,369,841 B2 · Wheel hub system including a retainer for positioning components during assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,841 B2 - Document ID: US10369841B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/406,174 - Filed: 2017-01-13 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-13 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Cameron Gibson; Ahmadreza Sedighi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369841B2 ## CPC - B60B 27/065: {characterised by the fixation of the hub to the axle} - B60B 27/0031: {of the axial type, e.g. front teeth} - F16C 35/063: Fixing them on the shaft (with interposition of an element F16C35/07) - F16D 1/076: by clamping together two faces perpendicular to the axis of rotation, e.g. with bolted flanges - F16D 3/223: the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts - B60B 27/0005: {with ball bearings} - B60B 27/001: {with roller-bearings} - B60B 27/0094: {one or more of the bearing races are formed by the hub} - B60B 2320/10: Assembling; disassembling - F16C 19/186: {with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs} - F16C 2326/02: Wheel hubs or castors - F16D 3/16: Universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts - F16D 2003/22326: {Attachments to the outer joint member, i.e. attachments to the exterior of the outer joint member or to the shaft of the outer joint member} - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A wheel hub system is disclosed. The wheel hub system has a hub assembly, a joint component, and a threaded bolt. The hub assembly has a hub having a though-hole, a circumferential groove formed in the through-hole, and a first support surface having a first plurality of teeth. The hub assembly also has a bearing unit positioned on the hub. The joint component is secured to the hub assembly and has a projection positioned in the through-hole and having a threaded bore and a retainer positioned in the circumferential groove. The joint component also has a second support surface having a second plurality of teeth operatively engaging the first plurality of teeth. The retainer positions the hub assembly and the joint component relative to each other during assembly. The threaded bolt is positioned in the threaded bore and secures the hub assembly in the position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hub assembly, comprising: a hub including: a through-hole extending between opposite ends of the hub in an axial direction, a support surface including a plurality of teeth surrounding an opening into the through hole, and a circumferential groove formed in the through-hole; and a bearing unit positioned on the hub, wherein the through-hole includes a plurality of sections having different diameters, the plurality of sections including a first portion having a greater diameter than a second portion, the circumferential groove being formed in the second portion, the second portion having a section with a constant diameter, the circumferential groove being axially positioned in a medial area of the section with the constant diameter, and the circumferential groove being configured to receive a retainer on an outer surface of a projection of a joint component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein the circumferential groove is positioned in a center section between opposing end sections having greater diameters than the center section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein the bearing unit includes an inner ring and an outer ring forming a pair of bearing races for a plurality of rolling elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hub assembly of claim 3, wherein the circumferential groove is axially aligned with the bearing unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hub assembly of claim 4, wherein the inner ring is positioned in a cutout in the hub and the circumferential groove is axially aligned with the inner ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub includes a flange formed at a transition between the first portion and the second portion, the flange configured to contact a head portion or engagement member of a bolt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hub assembly according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential groove is configured to receive a circlip as the retainer. ### Claim 8 A wheel hub system, comprising: a hub assembly including: a hub having a though-hole, a circumferential groove formed in the through-hole, and a first support surface having a first plurality of teeth, and a bearing unit positioned on the hub; a joint component secured to the hub assembly and including: a projection positioned in the through-hole and having a threaded bore and a retainer positioned in the circumferential groove, and a second support surface having a second plurality of teeth operatively engaging the first plurality of teeth; and a threaded bolt positioned in the threaded bore and securing the hub assembly to the joint component, wherein the retainer is, by being positioned in the circumferential groove, configured to hold the joint component to the hub assembly in a position in which the second plurality of teeth engage the first plurality of teeth prior to the threaded bolt being positioned in the threaded bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wheel hub system of claim 8, wherein the retainer is held in a groove formed in an outer surface of the projection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wheel hub system of claim 9, wherein the retainer is a circlip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The wheel hub system of claim 8, wherein the bearing unit includes an inner ring and an outer ring forming a pair of bearing races for a plurality of rolling elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wheel hub system of claim 11, wherein the circumferential groove is axially aligned with the bearing unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The wheel hub system of claim 8, wherein the first support surface faces the second support surface in an axial direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wheel hub system of claim 13, wherein the first support surface is configured to transfer a torque to the second support surface through the operative engagement of the first and second plurality of teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The wheel hub system of claim 8, wherein the joint component further includes a socket configured to receive a second joint component to form a constant velocity joint.