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  Asymmetric hub assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Bearings, Rotary Bearing, Plain Bearing, Specified Sleeve Or Liner, Lubricant Distributing, For Rotary MemberThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070086687. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a Continuation of pending Shevket application Ser. No 10/964,013 filed Oct. 13, 2004 and entitled Asymmetric Hub Assembly. The parent Shevket et al application Ser. No. 10/964,013 claims the benefit of Ser. No. 60/511,004 filed Oct. 14, 2003. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to improvements in hub units for vehicles and more specifically to a novel asymmetric bearing arrangement for rotatably supporting a wheel of a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Hub units for vehicle wheels are not new per se. Typical of the prior are units are shown in patents such as the OSHIAKI, U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,371 for ROLLING BEARING UNIT FOR VEHICLE WHEEL issued Mar. 14, 2000 and the Evans, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,695 for ROLLING BEARING issued Jan. 8, 1982. As shown in these patents, the hub units typically comprise a generally cylindrical hub having a radially outwardly directed flange for mounting to a wheel of a vehicle via a series of circumferentially spaced bolt holes accommodating lugs or studs for supporting the wheel. A pair of axially spaced rows of bearings support the wheel for rotation between an outer ring having internal raceways for the rolling elements. In the Yoshiaki '371 patent, the bearing support comprises a row of balls and a row of tapered rollers. [0004] Even though these hub assemblies are generally satisfactory for the intended purpose, the present invention is an improvement in hub assemblies of this general type and is characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement providing functional advantages over the prior art such as a more balanced load distribution on the bearings and what is termed a "stiffer" hub reducing bending moments particularly beneficial in cornering maneuvers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention provides an asymmetric unit wherein the diameterof the pitch circle of the bearing in the outboard row adjacent the radial flange of the hub is of a greater diameter than the diameter of the pitch circle of the bearing at the inboard end. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer rows of the bearings are angular contact ball bearings and the diameter of the row at the outboard or wheel end is preferably at least five mm greater than the diameter of the pitch circle of the row at the inner suspension end. By this arrangement the distance between the pressure centers where the contact angle of the two bearing rows intercept the axis of the hub can be maximized to provide high camber stiffness. Further the outboard row preferably intercepts the hub axis outboard of the hub flange which balances the loads on the system more evenly between the inner and outer bearing rows. Additionally, by reason of the asymmetric design, the outboard row can accommodate more balls and thereby increase the capacity of the bearing without changing the package geometry. With this design, the outboard pressure center can be placed further outboard than a symmetrical unit without having to increase the contact angle and reducing bearing radial dynamic capacity [0006] In other words, comparing the symmetrical ball units of the prior art with the asymmetrical unit of the present invention, the asymmetric arrangement provides more capacity without impacting the knuckle or axial flange geometry. Thus bearing designers can utilize ball bearings in applications which would normally require tapered bearings thus providing an economy without jeopardizing performance. As noted above, increasing hub stiffness by the asymmetric design improves noise and vibration harshness, enhances steering accuracy and vehicle dynamic behavior and also improves brake wear due to true running of the rotors. [0007] With the enhanced stiffness of the asymmetrical design, the hub unit can accommodate large diameter wheels which apply a heavier bending moment on the hubs. The asymmetric designs allows wheel size increases without any changes in the hub design. [0008] In summary, the present invention improves hub flange strength and increases robustness and enhances safety of hubs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein; [0010] FIG. 1. is a transverse sectional view of an asymmetric hub assembly in accordance with the present invention; [0011] FIG. 2. is a transverse sectional view of another embodiment of asymmetric hub assembly in accordance with the present invention; [0012] FIG. 2a. is a view of still another embodiment of asymmetric hub assembly in accordance with the present invention; [0013] FIG. 3. is a transverse sectional view of an asymmetric hub in accordance with the present invention showing balancing the loads and a reduction in the radial load component on the outer row as compared to the prior art symmetric arrangement; [0014] FIG. 4. is a free body diagram comparing load distribution for symmetric prior art system and the asymmetric hub assembly of the present invention; and [0015] FIG. 5. is a free body diagram comparing bending moment of asymmetric hub design of the present invention verses prior art asymmetric systems. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an asymmetric hub assembly in accordance with the present invention generally designated by the numeral (10). The hub assembly (10) includes an elongated hub (12) having a splined center opening running axially of the hub (12) and having at its outboard or wheel end a circumferentially extending radially outwardly directed flange (16) having a series of circumferentially spaced holes (18) to mount a wheel of a vehicle by means of studs (20). [0017] The hub assembly (10) has an outboard and an inboard row of the ball bearings, Ro, Ri which ride on outer raceways (22), (24) of an outer ring (26). The inner raceway (28) for the outboard row Ro is formed integrally with the hub (12) and the inner raceway (30) for the inboard row of ball bearings R.sub.i is formed on a annular insert (32) held in place after assembly of the balls in the two rows R.sub.o, R.sub.i by a circumferentially extending lip (34) at the inner axial end of the hub (12). Conventional seals S are provided at the opposing axial ends of the annular space between the hub (12) and the outer ring (26). Further, the outer ring (26) has means (27) at its inboard or suspension end for securing it to a frame or steering mechanism of a vehicle. A sensor (38) is also mounted in the outer ring (26) which confronts a sensing ring (40) on the hub to measure speed of rotation in the conventional way. [0018] The present invention is characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement providing an asymmetric bearing which has functional advantages over the prior art. To this end, the diameter D.sub.o of the pitch circle of the outboard row of balls R.sub.o is preferably greater than the diameter D.sub.i of the pitch circle of the inboard row of balls R.sub.i. The difference in the diameters D.sub.o, D.sub.i is preferably at least five (5) mm. Further, the contact angle .alpha. of the bearings intersect the rotational axis A-A of the hub at points defined herein as pressure centers P.sub.o, P.sub.i. The pressure centers P.sub.o, P.sub.i lie outside the flange (16) at the outboard end of the hub assembly and outside the hub (12) at the inboard end to provide enhanced performance such as higher load carrying capability and better distribution of the load on the bearings R.sub.o, R.sub.i. The asymmetric hub assembly shown in FIG. 2a is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 2 except that the rolling elements for both rows R.sub.i and R.sub.o are tapered rollers. Continue reading... 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