Method of assembling a vehicle wheel hub bearing to a respective upright, and bearing-upright unit so formed

Abstract

A bearing-upright unit supporting a rotary hub of a vehicle wheel, wherein the bearing has the inner ring fitted to the rotary hub of the wheel, and the outer ring locked stably to the upright; and the outer ring has an asymmetrical tubular projection extending from only one side of the outer ring, and which is interference-fitted to the upright and locked axially by cold rolling the outer edge of the projection. Advantages: assembly is simplified by involving fewer operations; the outer ring is of simple design, small size, and cheap to produce; the upright may be of simpler design, lighter in weight, and therefore cheaper to produce; and, in the case of an aluminium upright, the outer ring remains safely and firmly locked to the upright at high temperature, by virtue of the greater axial expansion of the upright with respect to the outer ring compensating for any reduction in radial interference.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.