Bearings – Rotary bearing – Antifriction bearing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-31
2003-09-30
Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Antifriction bearing
C384S537000, C384S544000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06626579
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to vehicle wheel end assemblies having aluminum steering knuckles and in particular to an anti-corrosion member adapted for use in such a vehicle wheel end assembly.
One example of a known vehicle wheel end assembly, indicated generally at
10
, is illustrated in prior art FIG.
1
. As shown therein, the prior art vehicle wheel end assembly
10
is associated with a front driven wheel (not shown) of a vehicle and includes a wheel hub
12
, a bearing unit
14
, a steering knuckle
16
, and a brake rotor
18
, and a dust shield
20
.
The wheel hub
12
includes internal splines
12
A for matingly receiving external splines of the axle spindle (not shown) for connecting the wheel hub
12
to the axle spindle for rotation therewith. The wheel hub
12
also includes a generally radially outwardly extending flange
12
B, and a stepped bearing seat
12
C. The wheel hub flange
12
B includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced stud receiving holes
12
D formed therein (only one of such stud receiving holes
12
D is illustrated in prior art FIG.
1
). The stud receiving holes
12
D are adapted to receive studs
24
(only one of such studs
24
is illustrated in prior art FIG.
1
), and nuts (not shown) for securing a rotatable brake component, such as for example the brake rotor
18
or a brake drum (not shown), and a vehicle wheel (not shown), to the wheel hub
12
for rotation therewith.
The bearing unit
14
is carried by the wheel hub
12
and includes a generally radially outwardly extending flange
14
A. The bearing unit flange
14
A includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded mounting bolt receiving holes
14
B formed therein (only one of such mounting bolt receiving holes
14
B is illustrated in prior art FIG.
1
). The mounting bolt receiving holes
14
B are adapted to receive threaded ends of mounting bolts
22
, which extend through corresponding openings
16
A provided in the steering knuckle
16
and corresponding openings (not shown) provided in the dust shield
20
, for securing the bearing unit flange
14
A to the steering knuckle
16
. Alternatively, the dust shield
20
can be attached by other suitable methods. Also, in some instances, the a dust shield
20
is not utilized.
When the bearing unit
14
is secured to the steering knuckle
16
, a first outer surface
14
C of the bearing unit
14
is disposed adjacent an outer surface
16
C of the steering knuckle
16
, and a second outer surface
14
D of the bearing unit
14
is disposed adjacent an outer surface
20
D of the dust shield
20
. Alternatively, if a dust shield is not used, the outer surface
14
D of the bearing unit is disposed adjacent an outer surface
16
D of the steering knuckle
16
.
Typically, the steering knuckle
16
is formed from cast iron and the bearing unit
14
is formed from steel. To reduce the weight of the assembly, it is known to form the steering knuckle
16
from aluminum. Unfortunately, when the steering knuckle
16
is formed from aluminum, galvanic corrosion can occur between the aluminum steering knuckle
16
and the steel bearing unit
14
at the respective adjacent surfaces
16
C and
14
C and
16
D and
14
D (if the dust shield
20
is not used); or if the dust shield
20
is used, galvanic corrosion can occur between the aluminum steering knuckle
16
and the bearing unit
14
and the dust shield
20
at the respective surfaces
16
C and
14
C and
14
D and
20
D. Such galvanic corrosion is undesirable because if the bearing
14
needs to be replaced, the galvanic corrosion can make it very difficult to remove the bearing unit
14
without causing damage to the steering knuckle
16
.
To prevent the galvanic corrosion from occurring, it is known to coat the surfaces
14
C and
14
D of the bearing unit
14
(if the dust shield is not used); or if the dust shield is used, to coat the surface
14
C of the bearing unit
14
and at least the surface
20
D of the dust shield
20
with an anti-corrosive coating material, such as for example, paint, an E-coat, a powder paint or plating. However, the cost to coat the associated surfaces
14
C and
14
D of the bearing unit
14
with the above anti-corrosive coating is rather expensive since this is done after machining of these surfaces of the bearing unit
14
. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a vehicle wheel end assembly which prevents galvanic corrosion between the aluminum steering knuckle and the steel bearing unit and yet is simple and inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an anti-corrosion member adapted for use in a vehicle wheel end assembly vehicle wheel end assembly. The vehicle wheel end assembly includes a bearing unit formed from steel and including a pilot surface and a steering knuckle formed from aluminum and having a portion supported on the pilot surface of the bearing unit. The assembly further includes an anti-corrosion member disposed on the pilot surface of the bearing unit so as to be interposed between the bearing unit and the portion of the steering knuckle when assembled so as to prevent direct contact therebetween whereby galvanic corrosion between the steel bearing unit and the aluminum steering knuckle is prevented. The anti-corrosion member can be formed from plastic or formed from metal and coated with an anti-corrosive material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6017097 (2000-01-01), Weir, III
patent: 2002/0025093 (2002-02-01), Sahashi et al.
patent: 2003/0048966 (2003-03-01), Nomura et al.
Footland Lenard A.
Kelsey-Hayes Company
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
LandOfFree
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