Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – With drive or brake attachment
Patent
1986-03-17
1987-10-27
Scherbel, David A.
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
With drive or brake attachment
301105R, 384277, 384476, B60C 2318, B60B 3514, B60B 2700
Patent
active
047025263
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a hub assembly for a drivable wheel of a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising a hub member, e.g. in the form of a driving flange, adapted to have a wheel and a brake member, e.g. a disc, secured thereto, bearing means for rotatably supporting the hub member, and a constant velocity ratio universal joint by which the hub member can be driven.
Such hub assemblies have been manufactured and proposed with many different arrangements of components. Recently, much attention has been paid to so-called integrated hub assemblies, in which numbers of separate components are reduced by combining functions in one or more components. One problem which arises in such hub assemblies is that of transmission of heat generated during braking to the bearing means and universal joint, with consequent degradation of lubricant therein and accelerated wear of the parts. Integrated hub assemblies usually present an easier path for heat flow to the bearing means and universal joint. It is the object of the present invention to overcome or reduce this disadvantage.
According to the invention, I provide a hub assembly for a drivable wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a hub member adapted to have a wheel and a brake member secured thereto, bearing means comprising an outer race adapted to be connected to a suspension component of the vehicle, an inner race supporting said hub member and rolling bearing elements therebetween, and a constant velocity ratio universal joint comprising inner and outer members and means for torque transmission while permitting relative articulation therebetween, wherein a torque transmitting connection between the hub member and one of said joint members is established through the intermediary of an element of a thermally insulating material. Preferably the element of thermally insulating material also provides thermal insulation between the hub member and bearing inner race.
In a hub assembly according to the invention, the inter-position of the element of thermally insulating material restricts the rate at which heat can be transferred from the hub member and associated brake member to the universal joint. It is not essential that such transfer of heat is completely prevented, since excessively high brake member temperatures are generally a relatively short lived occurance, and provided that heat transfer can be slowed down during the period of high brake temperatures this is usually adequate to protect the universal joint and bearing means.
Preferably said element of thermally insulating material is loaded substantially in compression in said torque transmission between the hub member and joint member. This enables materials such as some ceramics to be used, which have good insulation properties and compressive strength but are not so strong in shear or tension.
Preferably the thermally insulating element also provides insulation between the hub member and bearing inner race.
These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section through part of a hub assembly according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a part section on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
The illustrated hub assembly comprises a hub member in the form of a driving flange 10. In use it carries a wheel, part of which is shown at 11, secured thereto by a plurality of circumferentially distributed nuts 12 on studs 13. A brake disc 14 is secured to the hub member, being positioned on a flange portion of the hub member with the studs 13 extending through it, and held thereto by the wheel 11.
The hub assembly further comprises a constant velocity ratio universal joint of known type, which has an outer member 16, an inner member 17, and a plurality of circumferentially distributed torque transmitting balls 18 engaging in grooves in the inner and outer members. A splined end portion of the drive shaft 19 is received in a splined bore in the inner joint member 17. It will be appreciated that other types of universal joi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2403397 (1946-07-01), Rankin
patent: 2566715 (1951-09-01), Bessiere
patent: 2714538 (1955-08-01), Hornbostel
patent: 4493388 (1985-01-01), Welschof et al.
Hardy Spicer Limited
Marshall O'Toole, Gerstein, Murray & Bicknell
Scherbel David A.
Stormer Russell D.
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