DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE BEARING PLAY OF COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOUNTED SUCH THAT THEY CAN ROTATE COAXIALLY IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, AND ASSEMBLY OF COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOUNTED SUCH THAT THEY CAN ROTATE COAXIALLY IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER

Abstract

A device for adjusting the bearing play of components that are mounted such that they can rotate coaxially in relation to one another, which components are rotatably joined to one another via two roller bearings arranged at an axial distance to one another, is operatively connected to one of the two roller bearings by an end side, and is operatively connected to a counter bearing by the opposing end side. The device is formed by two rings that are arranged next to one another, in a coaxial manner on one of the components. The opposing end surfaces thereof each have at least one contour projecting from the plane of the end surfaces. At least one of the contours is provided with an incline on which the at least one opposing contour slides. One ring is operatively connected to the counter bearing by the other end surface, and the other ring is operatively connected to the roller bearing. A device for the mutual radial rotation and a device for the locking of the axially moving ring in the assumed axial position are provided on both rings.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An apparatus for adjustment of the bearing play of components mounted so as to rotate coaxially relative to one another, which components are connected with one another so as to rotate, by way of two roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15) disposed at an axial distance from one another, wherein a component is accommodated by an accommodation, for example a housing, rack, vehicle frame or a vehicle fork, and wherein the apparatus stands in interaction, with one face side, coaxially with one of the two roller bearings (5, 15), and exerts an axial pressure on one of the roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15), wherein the apparatus comprises two rings (30, 31), which are disposed next to one another, coaxially, on the component connected with the accommodation, the face surfaces of which components, which surfaces face one another, have at least one contour (32, 33) that projects out of the plane of the face surfaces, in each instance, and at least one of the contours (32) is provided with an incline on which that at least one opposite contour (33) slides, and means for reciprocal radial rotation are provided on both rings (30, 31), as the result of which a ring (31) moves axially in the direction of the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15), in each instance, and means are provided for locking the ring (31) that moves axially in place in the axial position it has assumed, wherein as means for rotation, the one ring (30, 31) has a stop element (37) that projects axially out of its face surface, and the other ring (31, 30) has a recess (34) into which the stop element (37) projects, wherein the recess (34) is widened in the circumference direction of the ring (30) and an adjustment element (36) projects into this recess (34), essentially over a range of tangentially to at a slight slant, which element can be moved and locked against the stop element (37), wherein the ring (30) that faces away from the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15) is disposed on the component connected with the accommodation, in axially movable manner, in the installed state, and lies against the accommodation of this component with its other face surface, wherein the accommodation for this ring (30) forms a counter-bearing.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the counter-bearing with which the fixed component of the roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15) is connected is formed by a housing, a rack, a vehicle fork or a vehicle frame.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the counter-bearing with which the fixed component of the roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15) is connected is formed by an end cap (7, 8, 25, 26) firmly disposed on a bicycle axle (6, 16).

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ring (31) that stands in interaction with the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15) has the stop element (37) that projects axially out of its face surface and, on the opposite side, the ring (30) that stands in interaction with the accommodation has the recess (34) and the adjustment element (36).

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the stop element is a pin (37) and the adjustment element is an adjustment screw (36).

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ring (30) that accommodates the adjustment element comprises a polymer material.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the adjustment screw (36) has a self-locking thread.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ring (31) that stands in interaction with the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15) has an inner seal (38) on the inner circumference of its face surface that lies against the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15) and an outer seal (39) on the outer circumference of this face surface.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the inner seal (38) and the outer seal (39) are laid in or injection-molded on.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ring (31) that stands in interaction with the roller bearing (5, 15) acts on the inner ring of the roller bearing (5, 15) by way of an axially displaceable cone.

24. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the face side of the ring (31) that faces the roller bearings (5, 15) has a running groove for the balls of the roller bearing (5, 15) and lies against the balls with this groove.

25. An arrangement of a rotatable mounting of a hub body (1, 11) of a bicycle on an axle (6, 16), by means of two roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15) that are disposed in the hub body (1, 11) at an axial distance from one another, wherein the axle (6, 16) can be firmly clamped in a fork or a frame of the bicycle, and a device for adjustment of the axial bearing play of these roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15), referred to hereinafter as bearing play adjustment apparatus, is disposed between one of the two roller bearings (4, 5, 14, 15) and the shank of the fork and/or of the frame that lies closest to it, which apparatus exerts an axial pressure on the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15), wherein the bearing play adjustment apparatus (9, 27) comprises two axially movable rings (30, 31) that are disposed next to one another coaxially on the axle (6, 16), the face surfaces of which rings, which face one another, have at least one contour (32, 33) that projects out of the plane of the face surfaces, in each instance, and at least one of the contours (32) is provided with an incline, on which the at least one opposite contour (33) slides, wherein the one ring (30) stands in interaction with the fork or the frame of the bicycle with its other face surface, and the other ring (31) stands in interaction with the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15), and means for reciprocal radial rotation, as the result of which a ring (31) moves axially in the direction of the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15), in each instance, and means for locking the ring (31) that moves axially in the axial position assumed by it are provided on both rings (30, 31).

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein as means for rotation, the one ring (31) has a stop element (37) that projects axially out of its face surface, and the other ring (30) has a recess (34) into which the stop element (37) projects, wherein the recess (34) is widened in the circumference direction of the ring (30) and an adjustment element (36) projects into the recess (34), over a range of essentially tangentially to at a slight slant, which element can be moved and locked against the stop element (37).

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the one ring (30) stands in interaction with the fork or the frame of the bicycle with its other face surface, by way of an end cap (7, 8, 25, 26) firmly disposed on the axle (6, 16).

28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the bearing play adjustment apparatus (9, 27) acts on the inner ring of the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15) with its ring (31) that stands in interaction with the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15), by way of an axially displaceable cone.

29. The arrangement according to claim 25, wherein the ring (31) that stands in interaction with the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15) has an inner seal (38) on the inside circumference of its face side that lies against the roller bearing (4, 5, 14, 15), and an outer seal (39) on the outer circumference of this face surface.

Description

DRAWING

[0017] The apparatus according to the invention, for adjustment of axial bearing plays, is represented in the drawing using the example of the front wheel hub and rear wheel hub of a bicycle, and will be explained in greater detail below. The figures show:

[0018] FIG. 1 a front wheel hub of a bicycle in a spatial half-section with the apparatus according to the invention, for adjustment of axial bearing plays, installed,

[0019] FIG. 2 the rear wheel hub of a bicycle in a spatial half-section with the apparatus according to the invention, for adjustment of axial bearing plays, installed,

[0020] FIG. 3 the apparatus for adjustment of axial bearing plays in an exploded representation, with a view onto the screw ring that lies against the counter-bearing,

[0021] FIG. 4 the apparatus assembled, as a spatial half-section, and

[0022] FIG. 5 the apparatus in an exploded view, with a view onto the pressure ring that lies against the roller bearing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a front wheel hub of a bicycle, consisting of a hub body 1 and a right and left spoke flange 2, 3, viewed in the direction of travel, and a hollow axle 6 mounted in the hub body 1 by means of a right and a left ball bearing 4, 5. The ball bearing 4 is pressed into the hub body 1 with its outer ring, in the region of the right spoke flange 2, the left ball bearing 5 is pressed into the hub body 1 with its outer ring in a region that is guided out axially by way of the left spoke flange 3, while the hollow axle 6 is connected with the inner ring of each ball bearing 4, 5 by way of a sliding seat. The hollow axle 6 is provided with an end cap 7, 8 on both sides, wherein the right end cap 7 is screwed onto the hollow axle 6, the left end cap 8 is pressed onto or glued onto the hollow axle 6. The apparatus according to the invention for bearing play adjustment 9 is pushed onto the hollow axle 6 between the left end cap 8 and the left ball bearing 5.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a rear wheel hub of a bicycle, consisting of a hub body 11 having a right and a left spoke flange 12, 13, viewed in the direction of travel, and a hollow axle 16 mounted in the hub body 11 by means of a right and a left ball bearing 14, 15. The right ball bearing 14 is pressed into the hub body 11 with its outer ring, in the region of the right spoke flange 12, the left ball bearing 15 is pressed into the hub body 11 with its outer ring, in a region that is guided out axially by way of the left spoke flange 13, while the hollow axle 16 is connected with the inner ring of each ball bearing 14, 15 by way of a sliding seat.

[0025] On the drive side, in other words on its right side, the hub body 11 is connected with a free-running body 17, in torque-proof manner, in an axial extension in one direction, wherein a lock washer 18 is disposed between their opposite face surfaces. The free-running body 17 is mounted on the hollow axle 16 by way of a right and a left free-running body bearing 19, 20, wherein the axle accommodates the two inner rings here, too, in the manner of a sliding seat. For this reason, the two free-running body bearings 19, 20 are secured, relative to one another, by means of an inner and an outer spacer sleeve 21, 22 axially relative to one another, and, secured axially in the hub body 11 by means of a further spacer sleeve 23 between the left free-running body 20 and the right ball bearing 14 of the hub body 11. The right free-running body bearing 19 is axially secured by means of a clamping ring 24. The hollow axle 16 is provided with a right and a left end cap 25, 26 on both sides, wherein here, too, the right end cap 25 is screwed onto the hollow axle 16, the left one is pressed on or glued on.

[0026] The apparatus according to the invention for bearing play adjustment 27 is disposed between the left ball bearing 15 of the hub body 11 and the left end cap 26 in the case of the rear wheel axle, as well. The force flow between the two ball bearings 14, 15 is represented as a black free-hand line in FIG. 2, and provided with the reference number 28. It can be seen that for proper functioning of the bearing play adjustment apparatus 27, the spacer sleeve 23 disposed between the right ball bearing 14 and the left free-running body bearing 20, as well as the inner and outer spacer sleeves 21, 22 disposed between the right and left free-running bodies 19, 20 are required, in order to introduce the pressure force exerted by the bearing play adjustment apparatus 27 on the left ball bearing 15 into the right end cap 25, so that the bearing play present in the right ball bearing 14 is eliminated, as well.

[0027] Because the structure and the method of functioning of the two bearing play adjustment apparatuses 9, 27 are the same, they will be described together using FIGS. 3 to 5. They serve for simple manual adjustment of the respective bearing play that exists between the right and the left ball bearing 4, 5 of the front wheel hub and the right and the left ball bearing 14, 15 of the rear wheel hub, which play results from production and/or installation.

[0028] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, the bearing play adjustment apparatuses 9, 27 according to the invention consist of a screw ring 30 and a pressure ring 31, which are disposed coaxial to one another and have an inside diameter that makes it possible to easily push them onto the hollow axles 6 and 16. Their face surfaces, which face one another, have two wedge-shaped elevations 32, 33 that project out of their ring surface, in each instance, wherein the two wedge-shaped elevations 33 of the pressure ring 31 are disposed offset from the complementary wedge-shaped elevations 32 of the screw ring 30, so that the wedge-shaped elevations 32 of the screw ring 30 are accommodated by the complementary depressions of the pressure ring 31, and, vice versa, the wedge-shaped elevations 33 of the pressure ring 31 are accommodated by the complementary depressions of the screw ring 30. In this position, the bearing play adjustment apparatuses 9, 27 possess their smallest axial dimension (thickness), as they are also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the state in which they are installed in the front wheel hub and the rear wheel hub, respectively. It is also remarkable that the screw ring 30 completely surrounds the pressure ring 31, up to its outer face side, with its mantle surface so that in the case of a relative movement between screw ring 30 and pressure ring 31, the surfaces of the wedge-shaped elevations 32, 33 that slide on one another when this happens are protected against contamination (FIG. 4).

[0029] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the ring space of the screw ring 30 is provided with a recess 34 that extends in arc shape, into which recess a bore 35 that proceeds from the outer circumference of the screw ring opens. If the screw ring 30 consists of a plastic, as in the present case, then the bore 35 does not need to be provided with a thread. Then the adjustment screw 36 has a self-tapping thread, which furthermore is also self-locking, so that the adjustment screw 36 cannot come loose on its own. When using harder materials for the screw ring 30, for example metals or ceramic, however, the bore 35 has to be configured as a threaded bore or have other suitable adjustment means that allow axial movement into the recess 34. In this case, securing of the adjustment screw 36 takes place using known means, for example a self-locking thread or a counter-nut.

[0030] Furthermore, it can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5 that the pressure ring 31 has a pin 37 that extends out of the face surface in the axial direction, which pin projects into the recess 34 in the installed state of pressure ring 31 and screw ring 30.

[0031] From the view of the face side of the pressure ring 31 that lies against the left ball bearing 5, 15 of the front wheel hub or rear wheel hub, in each instance, shown in FIG. 5, as well as the half-section of the installed bearing play adjustment apparatuses 9, 27 shown in FIG. 4, an inner seal 38 injection-molded onto the inside diameter of the pressure ring 31 can be seen, which lies against the inner ring of the left ball bearing 5, 15, in each instance, in the installed state of the bearing play adjustment apparatuses 9, 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2). A lip seal 39 that is injection-molded on in this face side of the pressure ring 31 and extends all the way to its outside circumference seals the outer ring of the left ball bearings 5, 15 off, in each instance. The two seals 38, 39 already keep a major portion of the dirt that comes from the outside away from the left ball bearing 5, 15, so that the seal of the ball bearing 5, 15 only has to keep smaller dirt particles away from the bearing interior.

[0032] In the following, installation and functioning of the apparatus according to the invention for adjustment of axial bearing plays will be described in greater detail:

[0033] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and has already been mentioned above, the bearing play adjustment apparatuses 9, 27 are disposed between a left end cap 8, 26 and the left ball bearing 5, 15 situated on the same side, in each instance, in such a manner that the pressure ring 31 lies against the inner ring of the ball bearing 5, 15, in each instance. In the case of ball bearings without an inner ring, the pressure ring 31 lies directly against the balls. For this purpose, its face surface has a track, for example in the form of a contact cone. Of course, it is also possible to dispose the bearing play adjustment apparatus 9 on the right side of the hubs, in each instance, but this is more difficult in the case of rear wheel hubs than in the case of front wheel hubs, because of the restricted construction space. In this case, the left end cap 8 is screwed onto the hollow axle 6, while the right end cap 7 is applied as a press seat or glued on. The following description of installation and functioning, however, relates only to the arrangement shown in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, on the left side in the direction of travel.

[0034] First, the left end cap 8, 26 is glued onto the hollow axle 6, 16; afterward, the bearing play adjustment apparatus 9, 27 is pushed on and the assembly pre-assembled in this manner is pushed into the hub body 1, 11 completed with the ball bearings 4, 5, 14, 15. Finally, the right end cap 7, 25 is screwed on. Afterward, the front wheel or rear wheel completed in this manner can be inserted into the fork or the frame and locked in place in the fork or the frame using quick-release mechanisms or other known means of attachment. In the finished, installed state of the wheels, the shanks of the bicycle fork or of the bicycle frame pressed on the screw ring 30 by way of the left end cap 8, 26, so that these shanks serve as a counter-bearing for the screw ring 30. Finally, only the adjustment screw 36 on the screw ring 30 is still turned into the recess 34 to such an extent until it makes contact with the pin 37 of the pressure ring. As the adjustment screw 36 continues to be screwed in further, the pressure ring 31 moves about the hollow axle 6, 16, causing the wedge-shaped elevations 32, 33 to slide on one another and thereby to press the pressure ring, in the axial direction, against the inner ring of the left ball bearings 5, 15. In this way, the ball bearing 5, 15 is subjected to axial stress, and a force flow occurs between the track of the inner ring, the balls, and the track of the outer ring.

[0035] In the same manner, the balls of the ball bearing 4, 14 situated on the right side are pressed against the tracks of the outer ring of the right ball bearing 4, 14, by way of the force flow through the hub body 1, 11 toward the right end cap 7, 25 firmly screwed into the hollow axle 6, 16, so that the play in each ball bearing 4, 5, 14, 15 approaches zero. If the adjustment screw 36 continues to be turned, a defined preload, also referred to as negative play, can be adjusted within the ball bearings 4, 5, 14, 15.

[0036] The placement of the screw rings 30 and the pressure ring 31 can also be interchanged, i.e. the adjustment screw 36 is then situated in the ring that lies against the ball bearing 4, 5, 14, 15, while the ring that lies against the counter-bearing has the pin 37 that projects into the recess 34 of the screw ring 30.

[0037] All the characteristics represented here can be essential to the invention both individually and in any desired combination with one another.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0038] 1 hub body, front wheel

[0039] 2 right spoke flange

[0040] 3 left spoke flange

[0041] 4 right ball bearing

[0042] 4 left ball bearing

[0043] 6 hollow axle right

[0044] 7 end cap

[0045] 8 left end cap

[0046] 9 bearing play adjustment, front wheel hub

[0047] 10

[0048] 11 hub body, rear wheel

[0049] 12 right spoke flange

[0050] 13 left spoke flange

[0051] 14 right ball bearing

[0052] 15 left ball bearing

[0053] 16 hollow axle

[0054] 17 free-running body

[0055] 18 lock washer

[0056] 19 right free-running body bearing

[0057] 20 left free-running body bearing

[0058] 21 inner spacer sleeve

[0059] 22 outer spacer sleeve

[0060] 23 spacer sleeve

[0061] 24 clamping ring

[0062] 25 right end cap

[0063] 26 left end cap

[0064] 27 bearing play adjustment, rear wheel hub

[0065] 28 force flow line

[0066] 29

[0067] 30 screw ring

[0068] 31 pressure ring

[0069] 32 wedge-shaped elevation, screw ring

[0070] 33 wedge-shaped elevation, pressure ring

[0071] 34 recess

[0072] 35 bore

[0073] 36 adjustment screw

[0074] 37 pin

[0075] 38 inner seal

[0076] 39 lip seal