Method For Controlling Bearing Clearance Of Wheel Bearing Apparatus

摘要

A method for controlling bearing clearance of a wheel bearing apparatus that has an axial distance T0 and an initial axial clearance δ0 measured between reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the inner ring. A press-fitting operation is temporally stopped while under a positive bearing clearance state during press-fitting of the inner ring onto the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub. An axial distance T1 is measured between the reference surfaces after continuing and completing the press-fitting operation. An axial clearance is obtained δ1 under this state from a formula δ1=δ0−(T0−T1). An axial distance T2 is obtained, after the caulking operation, between the reference surfaces from a formula T2=δ2−δ1−T1. Thus, the axial distance T2 becomes a target value of the bearing clearance δ2, after the caulking operation. A completion end position of the caulking operation of a caulking apparatus is changed.

主权项

1. A method for controlling bearing clearance of wheel bearing apparatus, the wheel bearing apparatus comprising:
an outer member, inner member and double row rolling elements, the outer member outer circumference includes a body mounting flange to be mounted on a body of a vehicle, the outer member inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces; the inner member includes a wheel hub and an inner ring or an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, the wheel hub formed on its one end with a wheel mounting flange, a cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange, the inner ring or the outer joint member is press-fit onto or into the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub, the inner member outer circumference includes double row inner raceway surfaces that oppose the double row outer raceway surfaces, the double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces of the outer member and the inner raceway surfaces of the inner member, the inner ring or the outer joint member is secured on the wheel hub by a caulked portion, the caulked portion is formed by plastically deforming the end of the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub or the end of the outer joint member radially outward, the method comprises steps of: measuring an axial distance (T0) and an initial axial clearance (δ0) between reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the inner ring or reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the outer joint member; temporally stopping a press-fitting operation under a positive bearing clearance state during press-fitting of the inner ring or the outer joint member onto or into the cylindrical portion of the wheel hub; measuring an axial distance (T1) between the reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the inner ring or the reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the outer joint member; further continuing and completing the press-fitting operation; obtaining an axial clearance (δ1) under this state from a formula δ1=δ0−(T0−T1); obtaining an axial distance (T2) after the caulking operation between the reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the inner ring or the reference surfaces of the wheel hub and the outer joint member from a formula T2=δ2−δ1−T1 so that the axial distance (T2) becomes a target value of the bearing clearance (δ2) after the caulking operation; and changing a completion end position of a caulking apparatus.