WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY

• Main Authors: MEEKER STEVEN E, JOHNSON DAVID N, BUYNACEK CONNIE J, GROVER MARTIN P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.05.2010
• Subjects: AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; BEARINGS; BLASTING; CASTORS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE WHEELS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheel bearing assembly having an improved impact Brinell resistance. SOLUTION: The wheel bearing assembly having the improved impact Brinell resistance is provided. Due to the controlled gap between a rotating component and a non-rotating component or a vehicle suspension structure, the non-rotating component or the vehicle suspension structure is permitted to share impact loads caused by a sufficient side impact to the rotating component, thereby preventing excessive loads from being transmitted to the rolling element, and providing greater resistance against Brinell impact damage that generates noise and/or vibration in the bearing assembly. The controlled gap between the rotating component and the vehicle suspension structure or the non-rotating component are optimized to increase the impact Brinell resistance while avoiding the excessive contact between the rotating component and the non-rotating component or the vehicle suspension structure during extreme cornering maneuvers. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT