Lightweight Hub Unit With integrated Bearing Rings And Process For Its Manufacture
AssigneeAktiebolaget Skf
InventorsDavide Antonio Olivieri, Laura Sguotti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hub unit is provided with a hub made of an aluminum alloy for plastic processing, which forms, in a single piece, an axially extending cylindrical portion and a radial flange; two bearing rings are mounted axially aligned around the cylindrical portion, an axially inner edge of the cylindrical portion is plastically deformed in a radially outer direction against the axially inner bearing ring.
Claims8
A hub unit with integrated bearing rings, the unit comprising:
- a hub forming, in a single piece:
- a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction,
- a flange extending radially outwardly from an axially outer end of the cylindrical portion, and
- a first and a second bearing ring mounted axially aligned around the cylindrical portion, wherein the second bearing ring is axially inner with respect to the first bearing ring and provides an end face facing an axially inner direction;
- the cylindrical portion forming an axially inner end edge plastically deformed in a radially outer direction against the end face of the second bearing ring;
- characterized in that the hub is made of a wrought aluminum alloy.
A method of manufacturing a hub with integrated bearing rings, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) forging a hub in a single piece of wrought aluminum alloy, the hub forming:
- a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and providing an axially inner tubular end, and
- a flange extending radially outwardly from an axially outer end of the cylindrical portion, and
- b) subjecting the forged hub to a hardening heat treatment;
- c) fitting a first and a second bearing ring axially aligned around the cylindrical portion of the hub, so that the second ring is axially inner and provides an end face facing an axially inner direction, and the tubular end of the axially inner cylindrical portion protrudes at least partially beyond the end face of the second bearing ring;
- d) plastically deforming the tubular end in a radially outer direction against the end face of the second bearing ring, so as to form a plastically deformed edge which locks and axially preloads the first and second bearing rings towards the flange of the hub.
A hub bearing unit for a motor vehicle wheel, the unit comprising:
- a hub forming, in a single piece:
- a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction,
- a flange extending radially outwardly from an axially outer end of the cylindrical portion, and
- a first and a second bearing ring mounted axially aligned around the cylindrical portion, wherein the second bearing ring is axially inner with respect to the first bearing ring and provides an end face facing an axially inner direction;
- the cylindrical portion forming an axially inner end edge plastically deformed in a radially outer direction against the end face of the second bearing ring;
- characterized in that the hub is made of a wrought aluminum alloy,
- wherein the hub bearing unit is adapted for use with a motor vehicle wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.