US 6,443,622 B1 · Spindle and component assembly with formed spindle end portion

Abstract

A hub (2) includes a spindle (14) which projects through a housing (4) and rotates relative to the housing (4) on a bearing (6) that is located between the spindle (14) and the housing (4). The bearing (6) has two sets of raceways (28, 40) that are oblique to the axis x, and in addition rolling elements (36) arranged in two rows between the sets of raceways (28, 40). The inner raceways (28) that fit around the spindle (14) and have back faces (32), with the back face (32) for one of the races (26) being against a shoulder (18) from which the spindle (14) projects. Initially, the end of the spindle (14) projects straight beyond the back face (32) of the outer race—indeed, so that the races (26) can be installed over the spindle (14). But once the housing (4) and races (26) are in a position around the spindle (14), the projecting end portion of the spindle (14) is deformed radially and axially in a rotary forming operation such that it transforms into a formed end (20) that lies behind back face (32) of the race (26). With the two races (26) between the formed end (20) and the shoulder (18). During the rotary forming operation the hub (26) rotates, and the end of its spindle (14) is forced against a rotating forming tool and the force is monitored. The housing (4) is restrained and the torque transferred from the rotating hub (2) to the housing (4) is monitored.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An assembly comprising:

a first component having an opening and an outer end face;
a second component having an outer surface, a rotational axis and a preformed annular end portion surrounding an axial end bore;
the preformed annular end portion being received in and extending through the opening and being radially deformed outwardly with respect to the axis to create a formed end that wraps around the first component in engagement with the outer end face thereof to retain the first component on the second component;
the formed end having an inside surface engaging the outer end face of the first component and merging into the outer surface of the second component at an inside intersection;
the formed end including a curved outside end surface that curves outwardly away from the outer end face of the first component and inwardly toward the axis to merge with a flat outside end surface extending perpendicular to the axis;
the flat outside end surface merging into a first surface that extends back inwardly from the flat outside end surface and toward the axis;
the first surface merging into a second surface at a transition that is diagonally opposite the inside intersection;
the second surface being beveled and extending between the transition and the axial end bore;
and
the second surface being inclined to the axis from the axial end bore to the transition in a direction to displace the transition toward the inside intersection and provide the formed end with a reduced thickness in a direction diagonally across the transition and the inside intersection.

7 more elements

In an assembly wherein a component is secured on a spindle by a deformed spindle end portion:

the spindle having an outer cylindrical spindle surface and an outwardly deformable annular end portion surrounding an axial spindle end bore;
the component having an outer end face and an opening in which the spindle end portion is received for rotation of the component with the spindle about a spindle rotational axis;
the spindle annular end portion being outwardly deformed into engagement with the end face of the component to provide a formed end that secures the component on the spindle;
the formed end extending outwardly at 90° to the spindle axis and having an inside end surface that engages the outer end face of the component and merges into the outer cylindrical spindle surface at an inside intersection;
the formed end having an axially facing outside end surface and an inclined formed surface that cuts across between the spindle end bore and the axially facing outside end surface;
characterized in that the inclined formed surface is not a continuous smooth curve and includes a pair of first and second surfaces that merge at a transition that is diagonally opposite the inside intersection and is displaced toward the inside intersection to provide the formed end with a reduced thickness in a direction diagonally across the transition and the inside intersection.

3 more elements

In an assembly wherein a component is secured on a spindle by a deformed spindle annular end portion, the spindle having an outer cylindrical spindle surface and an inner spindle surface and the annular end portion having an internal surface, the component having an opening in which the spindle is received for rotation of the component with the spindle, the spindle having a formed end that is formed by outward deformation of the annular end portion into engagement with an end face of the component to secure the component on the spindle, the formed end extending outwardly in a direction away from the spindle axis, the formed end having an inside end surface that engages the end face of the component and merges into the outer cylindrical spindle surface at an inside intersection, the formed end having an axially facing outside end surface that merges into the internal surface of the spindle annular end portion along a transition zone, characterized in that the inner spindle surface merges into the internal surface of the deformable annular end portion along an outwardly sloping straight beveled surface and wherein, when the annular end portion is outwardly deformed to provide the formed end, the straight beveled surface merges with the transition zone of the formed end at a location that is generally diagonally opposite from the inside intersection.

In an assembly wherein a component is secured on a spindle by a deformed spindle annular end portion, the spindle having an outer cylindrical spindle surface and an inner spindle surface and the annular end portion having an internal surface, the inner spindle surface merging into the internal surface of the annular end portion along an outwardly sloping straight beveled surface, the component having an opening in which the spindle is received for rotation of the component with the spindle, the spindle annular end portion having a formed end that is outwardly deformed into engagement with an end face of the component to secure the component on the spindle, the formed end extending outwardly at 90° to the spindle axis, the formed end having an inside end surface that engages the end face of the component and merges into the outer cylindrical spindle surface at an inside intersection, the formed end having an axially facing outside end surface that merges into the internal surface of the spindle annular end portion along a transition zone, and wherein the straight beveled surface meets the internal surface of the annular end portion in the transition zone at a comer of transition that is located diagonally opposite from the inside intersection.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spindle and component assembly with formed spindle end portion

Life of this patent

Spindle and component assembly with formed spindle end portion

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28