# US 12,759,017 B2 · System and method for applying a protective coating to a wheel hub unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,017 B2 - Document ID: US12759017B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/216,262 - Filed: 2023-06-29 - Published: 2024-06-27 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-13 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf - Applicants: Aktiebolaget Skf - Inventors: Marco Romanetto; Fausto Morello; Piero Ballari; Pruthviraj Mandya Shekar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759017B2 ## CPC - B05D 1/32: using means for protecting parts of a surface not to be coated, e.g. using stencils, resists - B05B 12/32: Shielding elements, i.e. elements preventing overspray from reaching areas other than the object to be sprayed (nozzles with integral shielding elements B05B1/28) - B05B 13/0228: {the movement of the objects being rotative (B05B13/0242 takes precedence)} - B60B 27/0094: {one or more of the bearing races are formed by the hub} - B60B 2310/614: Painting - B60B 2380/70: Arrangements - B60B 2900/20: Avoidance of - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - 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 ## Abstract A method for applying a protective coating to a wheel hub unit includes mounting the wheel hub unit on a platform and applying a layer of the protective coating to a front surface of a mounting flange of the wheel hub unit. A shield covers a central annular portion of the front surface of the wheel hub unit to protect the central annular portion from the layer of protective coating, which can damage markings and magnetic components formed on the central annular portion. A handling arm attaches to the shield to hold the shield in place an axial distance away from the central annular portion of the front face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for applying a protective coating to a wheel hub unit, comprising: mounting the wheel hub unit on a platform; and applying a layer of the protective coating to a front surface of a mounting flange of the wheel hub unit, wherein a shield covers a central annular portion of the front surface to protect the central portion from the layer of protective coating; wherein the shield is positioned a predetermined axial distance apart from the central annular portion of the front surface so as to noncontact the wheel hub unit when applying the layer of protective coating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shield is disc-shaped and a mounting arm holds the disc-shaped shield at the predetermined axial distance from the front surface when applying the layer of the protective coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the mounting arm is formed integral with the disc-shaped shield. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising, prior to applying the layer of the protective coating, performing at least one mechanical operation on the front surface of the wheel hub unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the disc-shaped shield comprises a radial length equal to a radial length of the central annular portion of the front surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the radial width of the disc-shaped shield is within a range of 95% and 105% of the radial length of the central annular portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising washing the disc-shaped shield in a washing tank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the disc-shaped shield is made of metallic material and the disc shaped shield comprises a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 5.0 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the disc-shaped shield is comprised of non-metallic material and comprises a thickness of between 1.0 mm and 5.0 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the central annular portion of the front surface of the mounting flange comprises one or more markings. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the layer of protective coating further comprises: applying the layer of protective coating to a radially outer surface of a radially outer element of the wheel hub unit; and applying the layer of protective coating to a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface of a collar of the wheel hub unit, wherein the collar projects axially from the front surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: applying the layer of protective coating to the radially outer surface of the radially outer element further comprises spraying the radially outer surface of the radially outer element with the protective coating, a point contact between the radially outer surface of the radially outer element and the protective coating being tangent to the radially outer surface of the radially outer element, and applying the layer of protective coating to the radially outer surface and the radially inner surface of the collar further comprises spraying the radially outer surface and the radially inner surface of the collar with the protective coating, a point of contact between the radially outer surface and the radially inner surface of the collar and the protective coating being tangent to the radially outer surface and the radially inner surface of the collar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the layer of protective coating further comprises spraying the front surface of the mounting flange with the protective coating such that a point of contact between the front surface and the protective coating is tangent to the front surface of the mounting flange.