Component assembly with formed spindle end portion

The process of any of claims 14 wherein the spindle and the forming too are engaged with one another by moving at least one of the spindle and the forming tool toward the other at a first velocity during the initial and intermediate stages of the forming operation and

• at a second velocity that is slower than the first velocity in the final stages of the forming operation during which the formed end is worked against the end face of the inner bearing race.

The apparatus of any of claims 10 or 111 wherein the forming tool and the spindle support are rotated in the same direction.

An assembly comprising:

• a first component having an opening, a second component having an axial bore and an end portion received in and extending through the opening, wherein the end portion is radially deformed with respect to the axis to create a formed end that wraps around the first component, wherein the formed end includes a curved outside end surface that merges with a flat outside end surface, perpendicular to the axis, which merges into a first beveled surface, formed at an oblique angle to the axis, which merges into a second beveled surface, formed at a steeper angle to the axis than the first beveled surface, which merges into the axial bore.

In a process for securing a component on a spindle, the component having an opening in which the spindle is received for rotation of the component with the spindle, the spindle having a deformable spindle end portion extending beyond the opening, the spindle end portion being engaged with a forming tool that rotates about a tool axis that is inclined to the spindle axis to gradually deform the spindle end portion and create a formed end that lies against an end face of the component to secure the component on the spindle, characterized in that during the forming operation both the forming tool and the spindle are rotated in the same direction.

In a process for securing a component on a spindle, the component having an opening in which the spindle is received for rotation of the component with the spindle, the spindle having a deformable spindle end portion extending beyond the opening, the spindle and portion being engaged with a forming tool that rotates about a tool axis that is inclined to the spindle axis to gradually deform the spindle end portion and create a formed end that lies against an end face of the component to secure the component on the spindle, characterized in that during the forming operation the forming tool and the spindle are brought together with a force that is not greater than 12 tonnes.

In a process for securing a component on a spindle, the component having an opening in which the spindle is received for rotation of the component with the spindle, the spindle having a deformable spindle end portion extending beyond the opening, the spindle end portion being engaged with a forming tool that rotates about a tool axis that is inclined to the spindle axis to gradually deform the spindle end portion and create a formed end that lies against an end face of the component to secure the component on the spindle, characterized in that at least one of the forming tool and the spindle is moved toward the other at a first velocity during the initial and intermediate stages of the forming operation and at a second velocity that is slower than the first velocity in the final stages of the forming operation during which the formed end is worked against the end face of the component.

In an assembly wherein a component is secured on a spindle by a deformed spindle end portion, the spindle having an outer cylindrical spindle surface and an internal axial cylindrical spindle bore, the component having an opening in which the spindle is received for rotation of the component with the spindle, the spindle having a formed end that is outwardly deformed into engagement with an end face of the component to secure the component on the spindle, the formed end extending outwardly at 90° to the spindle axis, the formed end having an inside end surface that merges into the outer cylindrical spindle surface at an inside intersection, the formed end having an axially facing outside end surface that merges into the surface of the cylindrical spindle bore at an outside intersection, characterized in that the outside intersection is not a smooth curve and cuts across the spindle bore surface and the axially facing outside end surface of the formed end closer to the inside intersection to provide the formed end with a reduced thickness in a direction diagonally across the inside and outside intersections.

A spindle having an outer cylindrical surface and an axial bore with an inner cylindrical surface, the spindle having a deformable end portion that has a terminal end surface, and a steep tapered surface extending along a portion of the length of said deformable end portion from the terminal end surface toward the inner cylindrical surface.