# US 8,770,672 B2 · Vehicle wheel end assemblies with hub bearing seals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,672 B2 - Document ID: US8770672B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/889,909 - Filed: 2010-09-24 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-24 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Avissai Alcantara Burguete; Ricardo Guerrero Melendez - Inventors: Avissai Alcantara Burguete; Ricardo Guerrero Melendez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770672B2 ## CPC - B60B 27/00: Hubs (non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00) - B60B 27/0005: {with ball bearings} - B60B 27/0031: {of the axial type, e.g. front teeth} - B60B 27/0073: {characterised by sealing means} - B60B 2900/511: Sealing - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A vehicle wheel end assembly includes a hub bearing assembly with an inner member having a first side defining a throughbore and a second side defining an inner raceway, a shaft extending through the throughbore of the inner member and configured to receive a torque and to transfer the torque to the inner member such that the inner member rotates with the shaft; and a seal positioned within the throughbore between the shaft and the inner member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle wheel end assembly, comprising: a hub bearing assembly comprising an inner member having a first side defining a throughbore, and a second side opposite the first side and defining an inner raceway, a shaft extending through the throughbore of the inner member and configured to receive a torque and to transfer the torque to the inner member such that the inner member rotates with the shaft, the shaft having a circumferential surface; a first seal positioned within the throughbore directly engaging the circumferential surface of the shaft and the first side of the inner member such that the first seal is rotatably fixed relative to the circumferential surface of the shaft and rotates with the inner member and the shaft; and a second seal positioned within the throughbore directly engaging the circumferential surface of the shaft and the first side of the inner member such that the second seal is rotatably fixed relative to the circumferential surface of the shaft and rotates with the inner member and the shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub bearing assembly further comprises an outer member having a first side defining an outer raceway, the outer member extending from an outboard end to an inboard end, and a roller element positioned within the inner raceway and the outer raceway such that the inner member is rotatable relative to the outer member, and wherein the first seal is positioned axially between the inboard end and the outboard end of the outer member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a circumferential surface and the first seal extends about the circumferential surface of the shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft is a half shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the first seal creates a first watertight interface with the shaft and a second watertight interface with the inner member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the first seal is an O-ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the first seal has a rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the second seal is a grommet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the second seal comprises an axial flange and a radial flange in cross-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the first seal is an inboard seal and the second seal is an outboard seal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 10, wherein the inboard seal is an O-ring and the outboard seal is a grommet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 10, wherein the half shaft defines a first groove for receiving the inboard seal and a second groove for receiving the outboard seal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel end assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a body portion that engages the inner member, and wherein the first seal and the second seal are configured to seal an area between the body portion and the inner member. ### Claim 14 A method for sealing a vehicle wheel end assembly having a hub bearing assembly and a half shaft, comprising the steps of: mounting a first seal directly on a circumferential surface of the half shaft; mounting a second seal directly on a circumferential surface of the half shaft; and installing the hub bearing assembly on the half shaft such that the first seal creates a first watertight interface with the hub bearing assembly and a second watertight interface with the half shaft and such that the second seal creates a third watertight interface with the hub bearing assembly and a fourth watertight interface with the half shaft, wherein the first seal, the half shaft, and the hub bearing assembly are rotatably fixed relative to one another and wherein the second seal, the half shaft, and the hub bearing assembly are rotatably fixed relative to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the mounting step includes mounting an O-ring on the half shaft as the first seal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the mounting step includes mounting a grommet on the half shaft as the second seal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the step of mounting the first seal includes mounting an O-ring on the half shaft and the step of mounting the second seal includes mounting a grommet on the half shaft. ### Claim 18 A vehicle wheel end assembly, comprising: a hub bearing assembly comprising: an inner member having a first side defining a throughbore and a second side opposite the first side and defining an inner raceway, an outer member having a first side defining an outer raceway, and a roller element positioned within the inner raceway and the outer raceway such that the inner member is rotatable relative to the outer member; a half shaft including a body portion extending through the throughbore of the inner member and engaging the inner member to transfer torque, the body portion having an inboard side and an outboard side; an O-ring configured to form a first seal between the half shaft and the first side of the inner member at the inboard side of the body portion by directly engaging the half shaft and the first side of the inner member such that the O-ring, the half shaft, and the inner member are fixed relative to one another during rotation; and a grommet configured to form a second seal between the half shaft and the first side of the inner member at the outboard side of the body portion by directly engaging the half shaft and the first side of the inner member such that the grommet, the half shaft, and the inner member are fixed relative to one another during rotation.