# US 2014/0193107 A1 · Bearing unit for a vehicle wheel

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- Number: US 2014/0193107 A1
- Document ID: US20140193107A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/150,435
- Filed: 2014-01-08
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08
- Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf
- Applicants: Aktiebolaget SKF
- Inventors: Paolo Baratti; Andrea Serafini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193107A1

## CPC

- B60B 27/0073: {characterised by sealing means}
- B60B 27/0005: {with ball bearings}
- B60B 27/0068: {the element being a sensor}
- F16C 33/723: {Shaft end sealing means, e.g. cup-shaped caps or covers}
- F16C 33/768: {between relatively stationary parts, i.e. static seals}
- F16C 41/007: {Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles}
- 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
- 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

## Abstract

A bearing unit having an axis of rotation and provided with a stationary ring and a rotatable ring arranged coaxially with respect to one another, a magnetic encoder fixed onto the inner ring and extending in front of an annular surface of the stationary ring; and a protective cover mounted on the external ring to protect the encoder and close off a space defined between the two rings; an annular channel being formed in the stationary ring and sealing means being arranged between the side wall and the axial lug within the annular channel so as to seal the cover and prevent the infiltration of impurities between the cover and the axial lug.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bearing unit (1) for a vehicle wheel, the bearing unit (1) having an axis of rotation (A) and comprising:
a radially outer stationary ring (10) provided with a tubular axial lug (14′) delimited by an outer cylindrical surface (12), and with a flange (14) transverse to the axis of rotation (A) and axially delimited, on the side where the axial lug (14′) is located, by an axial front surface (15);
a radially inner rotatable ring (20) defining, together with the stationary ring (10), a space (3);
an encoder (30) fixed onto the inner ring (20) and extending outside of the space (3) and in front of the axial lug (14′); and
a protective cover (40) mounted on the axial lug (14′) so as to protect the encoder (30) and close off the space (3) and having a side wall (42) mounted on the outer cylindrical surface (12); wherein
the stationary ring (10) provides a first shaped annular channel (16) formed through the axial surface (15) and delimited axially by a bottom surface (17); wherein
a second annular channel (18)(18′) is arranged between the side wall (42) and the axial lug (14′); wherein
the side wall (42) of the cover (40) is provided with an edge (43) arranged axially in abutment against the bottom surface (17) of the first annular channel (16); and wherein
sealing means (50) are positioned between the side wall (42) and the axial lug (14′) inside the second annular channel (18)(18′) to seal the cover (40), thus preventing the infiltration of impurities between the cover (40) and the axial lug (14′).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bearing unit according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means (50) further comprises a liquid sealant deposited and metered, before the cover (40) is mounted in the second channel (18)(18′).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The bearing unit according to claim 2, wherein the sealing means (50) also possesses adhesive properties for fixing, at the same time the cover (40) is sealed on the axial lug (14′).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bearing unit according to claim 3, wherein the second channel (18) is formed through the outer cylindrical surface (12) of the axial lug (14′).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The bearing unit according to claim 4, wherein the cover (40) further comprises at least two radial holes (44) made through the side wall (423) at the second channel (18): a first of the two holes (44) allowing for the sealing means (50) to be injected into the inside of the channel (18), a second of the two holes (44) allowing for the air to escape from the channel during the injection.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bearing unit according to claim 5, wherein the two holes (44) are made in positions which are diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of rotation (A).

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The bearing unit according to claim 3, wherein the second channel (18′) is formed through the side wall (42) of the cover (40).