Bearing device for supporting pinion shaft

A bearing device for supporting a pinion shaft having a pinion gear on a second shaft end thereof and a connecting flange on a first shaft end thereof so as to freely rotate with respect to a case, comprising:

• a first tilt-contact rolling bearing provided on a first outer peripheral surface portion of the pinion shaft proximate said first shaft end thereof, and
• a second tilt-contact rolling bearing provided on a second outer peripheral surface portion of the pinion shaft proximate said second shaft end, wherein
• lines of action of the first and second tilt-contact rolling bearings intersect with one another on an outer diameter side,
• the first tilt-contact rolling bearing is comprised of an inner ring fixed to the pinion shaft, an outer ring fixed to the case, rolling bodies interposed between the inner and outer rings, said first tilt-contact rolling bearing being a double row bearing having said rolling bodies disposed in first and second first bearing raceways respectively situated at a flange side and a pinion gear side of the first tilt-contact rolling bearing, said first first bearing raceway having a greater diameter than said second first bearing raceway,
• said first tilt-contact rolling bearing has a first seal member sealing a connecting-flange-side end portion between the inner and outer rings of said first tilt-contact rolling bearing, and no seal member on an opposing side,
• the second tilt-contact rolling bearing constitutes an angular ball bearing formed from an inner ring fixed to the pinion shaft, an outer ring fixed to the case, a group of balls interposed between the inner and outer rings, said second tilt-contact rolling bearing being a double row bearing having said rolling bodies disposed in first and second bearing raceways respectively situated at a flange side and a pinion gear side of the second tilt-contact rolling bearing, said second second bearing raceway having a greater diameter than said first second bearing raceway, and
• said second tilt-contact rolling bearing has a second seal member sealing a pinion-gear-side end portion between the inner and outer rings of said second tilt-contact rolling bearing, and no seal member on an opposing side,
• a sealed space between the first and second seal members is infilled with grease, and
• the connecting flange is fastened in the pinion-gear direction preloading the first and second tilt-contact rolling bearings.