# US 4,396,236 A · Bearing unit

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- Number: US 4,396,236 A
- Document ID: US4396236A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/303,428
- Filed: 1981-09-18
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1980-11-06
- Assignees: SKF Indutries, Inc.
- Inventors: Sture Asberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396236A

## CPC

- F16C 19/187: {with all four raceways integrated on parts other than race rings, e.g. fourth generation hubs}
- B60B 27/0005: {with ball bearings}
- F16C 19/52: with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
- F16C 33/581: {integral with other parts, e.g. with housings or machine elements such as shafts or gear wheels}
- F16C 33/586: {outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring}
- F16C 43/06: Placing rolling bodies in cages or bearings
- F16C 2233/00: Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
- F16C 2326/02: Wheel hubs or castors
- F16D 2003/22326: {Attachments to the outer joint member, i.e. attachments to the exterior of the outer joint member or to the shaft of the outer joint member}
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- 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
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES

## Abstract

The invention refers to a bearing unit for driven or non-driven wheels of vehicles. The unit incorporates an inner member (5), an outer member (1) with intermediary rolling bodies (2) and retainer (10) and seals (11). The inner member (5) is provided with a flange-like member (7) for attachment of the unit to a wheel or to a vehicle. The invention is characterized thereby that the flange-like member (7), which extends radially outside the rolling bodies (2), has recesses (14), which make it possible to mount and inspect the retainer (10) and/or the seal (11) from the exterior of the flange-like member (7).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bearing unit for driven or non-driven wheels of vehicles comprising inner and outer relatively rotatable members having confronting spaced raceways for a plurality of rolling elements, seal means adjacent opposite ends of an annular space between said inner and outer members, said inner member having a flange-like portion for mounting the bearing unit to the wheel or the vehicle, said flange-like portion comprising a hub located radially inwardly of the annular space and being of a configuration defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs extending radially outwardly from the hub in a spoke-like array, said lugs defining a plurality of relatively large open areas, said lugs projecting radially beyond the rolling elements and spaced axially from said seal means a predetermined distance to permit mounting of said seal means, said lugs having means for mounting the wheel or vehicle thereto and means defining open areas between the lugs facilitating inspection or mounting of said seal means from exteriorly of said flange-like portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A bearing unit as claimed in claim 1 including at least one retainer for circumferentially spacing the rolling elements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A bearing unit according to claim 1, characterized thereby, that the radially inner member incorporates one half of a driving joint.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A bearing unit according to claim 1, characterized thereby, that the radially inner member is provided with a tubular projection for guiding of wheel and possibly brake disc or brake drum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A bearing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rolling elements comprise two axially spaced rows of balls which together with the inner and outer members form a double row angular contact ball bearing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A bearing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lugs are provided with bores for bolt fasteners for mounting the wheel of a vehicle and said outer member includes a flange for bores for bolts for attachment of the outer member to the vehicle.