Bearing device for vehicle wheel and method for manufacturing said device

A bearing device for a vehicle wheel,

• the bearing device comprising:
• an outer member having, on its inner circumference, double-row outer raceway surfaces integrally formed on the outer member;
• an inner member including
• a wheel hub having a vehicle wheel-mounting flange integrally formed thereon, and having, on its outer circumference, a cylindrical portion extending axially, and
• at least one inner ring press-fit on the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub,
• the inner member having, on its outer circumference, double-row inner raceway surfaces facing the double-row outer raceway surfaces;
• and
• double-row rolling elements rollably disposed between the double-row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member and the double-row inner raceway surfaces of the inner member, respectively,
• wherein
• the outer member is formed by plastic working that involves widening by press an opening in an outer-side end of the outer member from an inside of the outer member, and
• the outer member has, on its outer circumference, a thick portion bulging radially outward.

A method for manufacturing a bearing device for a vehicle wheel,

• the bearing device including:
• an outer member having, on its inner circumference, double-row outer raceway surfaces integrally formed on the outer member;
• an inner member including
• a wheel hub having a vehicle wheel-mounting flange integrally formed thereon, and having, on its outer circumference, a cylindrical portion extending axially, and
• at least one inner ring press-fit on the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub,
• the inner member having, on its outer circumference, double-row inner raceway surfaces facing the double-row outer raceway surfaces;
• and
• double-row rolling elements rollably disposed between the double-row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member and the double-row inner raceway surfaces of the inner member, respectively,
• the method comprising:
• widening by press an opening in an outer-side end of the outer member from an inside of the outer member by a forging method to form a thick portion on an outer circumference of the outer member, the thick portion bulging radially outward.

A method for manufacturing a bearing device for a vehicle wheel,

• the bearing device including:
• an outer member having, on its inner circumference, double-row outer raceway surfaces integrally formed on the outer member;
• an inner member including
• a wheel hub having a vehicle wheel-mounting flange integrally formed thereon, and having, on its outer circumference, a cylindrical portion extending axially, and
• at least one inner ring press-fit on the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub,
• the inner member having, on its outer circumference, double-row inner raceway surfaces facing the double-row outer raceway surfaces;
• and
• double-row rolling elements rollably disposed between the double-row outer raceway surfaces of the outer member and the double-row inner raceway surfaces of the inner member, respectively,
• the method comprising:
• widening by press an opening in an outer-side end of the outer member from an inside of the outer member by a rolling method to form a thick portion on an outer circumference of the outer member, the thick portion bulging radially outward.