WHEEL BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A wheel bearing arrangement for a motor vehicle, including a wheel support and a wheel hub which is rotatably mounted on the wheel support by a wheel bearing in order to secure a wheel and to which a shaft is rotationally fixed, wherein a wheel bearing seal sealingly lies, on the one hand, against an inner ring of the wheel bearing, said inner ring sitting on the wheel hub, and, on the other hand, against an outer ring of the wheel bearing, said outer ring being secured to the wheel support. It is provided here that a wheel bearing pre-seal is rotationally fixed to the shaft adjacently to the wheel bearing and engages by a seal protrusion in a pre-seal receiving area formed in at least some sections between the outer ring and the wheel support.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A wheel bearing arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising: a wheel support and a wheel hub which is rotatably mounted on the wheel support by a wheel bearing in order to secure a wheel and to which a shaft is rotationally fixed, wherein a wheel bearing seal sealingly lies, on the one hand, against an inner ring of the wheel bearing, said inner ring sitting on the wheel hub, and, on the other hand, against an outer ring of the wheel bearing, said outer ring being secured to the wheel support, wherein a wheel bearing pre-seal is rotationally fixed to the shaft adjacently to the wheel bearing and engages by a seal protrusion in a pre-seal receiving area formed in at least some sections between the outer ring and the wheel support.

12. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, viewed in longitudinal section with respect to a rotation axis of the wheel hub, the wheel bearing pre-seal comprises a first arm engaging on the shaft and a second arm which forms a seal protrusion and is angled with respect to the first arm.

13. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, peripherally with respect to the rotation axis of the wheel hub, the wheel bearing pre-seal continuously surrounds the shaft.

14. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the pre-seal receiving area is interrupted in a particular angular range for the formation of a drain channel.

15. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the outer ring is designed as asymmetric at least in the angular range and comprises in particular a drain bevel.

16. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, on the wheel bearing pre-seal, a peripherally continuous rotation angle encoder ring comprising at least one rotation angle encoder element is secured, in particular on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal facing away from the wheel bearing.

17. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein a sensor device for detection of the rotation angle encoder element is arranged adjacently to the rotation angle encoder ring.

18. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the sensor device is annular and forms a labyrinth seal together with the rotation angle encoder ring.

19. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein, on the wheel bearing pre-seal, an additional seal is secured, in particular on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal facing the wheel bearing, which is in sealing contact with the outer ring.

20. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the sealing contact is established by means of a sealing element arranged on the outer ring.

21. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 12, wherein, peripherally with respect to the rotation axis of the wheel hub, the wheel bearing pre-seal continuously surrounds the shaft.

22. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the pre-seal receiving area is interrupted in a particular angular range for the formation of a drain channel.

23. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the pre-seal receiving area is interrupted in a particular angular range for the formation of a drain channel.

24. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the outer ring is designed as asymmetric at least in the angular range and comprises in particular a drain bevel.

25. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the outer ring is designed as asymmetric at least in the angular range and comprises in particular a drain bevel.

26. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the outer ring is designed as asymmetric at least in the angular range and comprises in particular a drain bevel.

27. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 12, wherein, on the wheel bearing pre-seal, a peripherally continuous rotation angle encoder ring comprising at least one rotation angle encoder element is secured, in particular on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal facing away from the wheel bearing.

28. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 13, wherein, on the wheel bearing pre-seal, a peripherally continuous rotation angle encoder ring comprising at least one rotation angle encoder element is secured, in particular on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal facing away from the wheel bearing.

29. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 14, wherein, on the wheel bearing pre-seal, a peripherally continuous rotation angle encoder ring comprising at least one rotation angle encoder element is secured, in particular on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal facing away from the wheel bearing.

30. The wheel bearing arrangement according to claim 15, wherein, on the wheel bearing pre-seal, a peripherally continuous rotation angle encoder ring comprising at least one rotation angle encoder element is secured, in particular on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal facing away from the wheel bearing.

Description

[0033] The invention is explained in further detail below in reference to the embodiment examples represented in the drawing, without any limitation of the invention occurring. The drawing shows:

[0034] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic partial longitudinal sectional representation of a wheel bearing arrangement for a motor vehicle in a second embodiment, and

[0035] FIG. 2 a partial longitudinal sectional representation of the wheel bearing arrangement in a second embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a wheel bearing arrangement 1 of a motor vehicle, not represented in further detail. The wheel bearing arrangement 1 comprises a wheel support 2 which is here represented only in some sections. The wheel support 2 is coupled, for example, via at least one suspension link to a body of the motor vehicle. The wheel support 2 is used for mounting a wheel hub which is not represented here. The wheel hub is mounted rotatably around a rotation axis 5 by means of a wheel bearing 4 with respect to the wheel support 2. In addition to the wheel hub, a shaft 6 is provided, which is also mounted rotatably around the rotation axis 5. In the embodiment example represented here, the shaft 6 is, for example, in the form of a universal shaft. The shaft 6 is preferably rotationally fixed to the wheel hub, for example, by means of a toothing. The shaft 6 can in principle assume any form and shape.

[0037] The wheel bearing 4 is designed as a roller bearing. It comprises an inner ring 7 and an outer ring 8. The inner ring 7 is rotationally connected to the wheel hub, in particular it is designed so as to form a single piece and/or to be of uniform material with the wheel hub. Between the inner ring 7 and the outer ring 8, several roller bodies 9 are rotatably arranged. The inner ring 7 and the outer ring 8 are spaced apart from one another in radial direction with respect to the rotation axis 5, forming a bearing gap 10. For the sealing of the bearing gap 10 with respect to an outside environment, a wheel bearing seal 11 is associated with the wheel bearing 4. Viewed in the longitudinal section represented here, said wheel bearing seal lies in radial direction inward against the inner ring and in radial direction outward against the outer ring 8, in each case sealingly. For example, the wheel bearing seal 11 which preferably consists of an elastic material is rotationally fixedly connected to the inner ring 7 or the outer ring 8 and it lies slidingly peripherally against the respective other ring, that is to say either the outer ring 8 or the inner ring 7.

[0038] To further improve the sealing of the wheel bearing 4 with respect to the outside environment, a wheel bearing pre-seal 12 is provided. This wheel bearing pre-seal is arranged adjacently to the wheel bearing 4 and rotationally connected to the shaft 6 and thus in a rotationally fixed manner to the wheel hub. The wheel bearing pre-seal 12 has a seal protrusion 13 which engages in a pre-seal receiving area 14 which is formed between the outer ring 8 and the wheel support 2. Here, the pre-seal receiving area 14 is limited, on the one hand, by the outer ring 8 and, on the other hand, by the wheel support 2 or a wall 15 of the wheel support 2.

[0039] The wheel bearing pre-seal 12 preferably consists of a reshaped plate. For example, it comprises a first arm 16 and a second arm 17. The first arm 16 is secured, on the one hand, on the shaft 6, in particular via and/or by means of a third arm 18. On the other hand, starting from the first arm 16 is the second arm 17, which in turn forms the seal protrusion 13. The second arm 17 and the third arm 18 are preferably angled in each case with respect to the first arm 16.

[0040] The first arm 16 is arranged in axial direction spaced apart from the wheel bearing 4, in particular from the outer ring 8. In contrast, the second arm 17 extends in the form of a seal protrusion 13 into the pre-seal receiving area 14 which is limited by the outer ring 8. To that extent, viewed in longitudinal section or in axial direction, the second arm 17 is present at least partially in a manner so that it overlaps the wheel bearing 4, in particular the outer ring 8. The seal protrusion 13 is present in a contactless manner in the pre-seal receiving area 14, that is to say it is spaced both from the wheel bearing 4 and from the wheel support 2 or the wall 15.

[0041] The wheel bearing pre-seal 12 surrounds the shaft 6 continuously peripherally with respect to the rotation axis 5. Here, in addition, it preferably has a constant longitudinal section or cross section. The pre-seal receiving area 14, on the other hand, is interrupted in a particular angular range which can only be seen partially here, for the formation of a drain channel 19. In addition, it is possible to provide that the outer ring 8 of the wheel bearing 4 has a drain bevel 20, that is to say a slanted surface, at least in the angular range. The drain bevel 20 is formed on said outer ring on the side of the outer ring 8 facing the wheel bearing pre-seal 12.

[0042] Moreover, it is possible to provide that, on the wheel bearing pre-seal 12, a rotation angle encoder ring 21 is secured. This rotation angle encoder ring is preferably designed to be continuous peripherally and uniform. On the rotation angle encoder ring 21, at least one rotation angle encoder element can be arranged. Preferably, the rotation angle encoder ring 21 is present on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal 12 facing away from the wheel bearing 4. Opposite the rotation angle encoder ring 21, a sensor device 22 is arranged, which is used for detecting the rotation angle encoder element and thus for determining a rotation angle position of the wheel hub or of the shaft 6. As represented here, the sensor device 22 can be present peripherally only in some sections. However, alternatively, it is also possible to provide that the sensor device 22 is designed to be continuous peripherally, analogously to the rotation angle encoder ring 21. In this case together with the rotation angle encoder ring 21, it can form an additional labyrinth seal.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic partial longitudinal sectional representation of the wheel bearing arrangement 1 in a second embodiment. It is designed basically analogously to the first embodiment, so that reference is made to the above explanations. Below, only the differences are discussed. These differences lie in the fact that an additional seal 23 is secured on the wheel bearing pre-seal 12. Preferably, the additional seal 23 extends in radial direction starting from the second arm 17 up to the third arm 18. The third arm 18 can here protrude in another direction in axial direction in comparison to the first embodiment. Correspondingly, the arms 17 and 18 protrude starting from the first arm 16 in the same direction, namely in the direction of the wheel bearing 4. To that extent, the additional seal 23 is present between the arms 16, 17 and 18 or on each of the arms 16, 17 and 18.

[0044] The additional seal 23 is arranged on the side of the wheel bearing pre-seal 12 facing the wheel bearing 4. It is here in sealing contact with the outer ring 8 of the wheel bearing 4. The sealing contact is present via a sealing element 24 which is arranged or secured on the outer ring 8. For example, the sealing element 24 is held clamped between the wheel bearing seal 11 and the outer ring 8. It is also possible to provide that the sealing element 24 is part of the wheel bearing seal 11. The sealing element 24 extends in radial direction up to the additional seal 23. The sealing element 24 preferably consists of a harder material than the additional seal 23 or conversely the additional seal 23 consists of a softer and/or more elastic material than the sealing element 24.

[0045] To that extent, during an operation of the wheel bearing arrangement 1, a working area in the additional seal 23 is cut free or ground free from the sealing element 24. Such a design enables a sealing of the wheel bearing 4 with minimal tolerances, which is designed individually and as sealingly as possible for each wheel bearing arrangement 1.