Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

George L Hurrell, Ii

Steven Eugene Meeker

Richard Allen Scheufler, Jr

Christopher J Zuck

Scott A Maddox

Donald L Williams

Edward Russell Clark

William M Sandy, Jr

Chad E Law

Raymond Beryl Brough

Richard F Miller

Ellen Christine Stanton

A wheel bearing assembly for supporting a wheel is provided. The assembly includes a spindle defining a rotational axis and a support member for supporting the spindle. A wheel hub has a flange for securing the wheel thereto. The wheel hub is supported on the spindle and is rotatable about the rotational axis. A bearing assembly has first and second bearing members in spaced relationship from one another with a plurality of bearings interposed between the bearing members to permit relative rotation between the bearing members about the rotational axis. The first bearing member is arranged adjacent to the spindle and the second bearing member is arranged adjacent to either the wheel hub or the support member. An inner surface of the first bearing member has an annular counterbore. The spindle is deformed into the counterbore to axially secure the first bearing member to the spindle and prevent relative rotation between the spindle and the first bearing member about the rotational axis. This minimizes both axial bearing length and spindle member distortion.

Self-retained wheel bearing assembly

A ball bearing has an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of balls disposed between the races. The balls are spaced on a pitch diameter to provide a rolling medium between the races to accommodate differential rotation between the races. The ball spacing is maintained by a separator having a pocket for each ball. The pockets are distributed around the pitch diameter in a random manner to reduce vibratory impulses which might be imposed by the surfaces of the races.

Bearing separator with random spacing

A wheel speed sensing device with shape-coupled sensor and exciter ring components reduces the effects of tolerance stack variances in the relative radial and axial locations of the sensor and exciter ring. Additionally, the assembly is readily adapted to installation within the sealed confines of the bearing area of a wheel.

Shape coupled wheel speed sensor

A two row, integral pathway, angular contact ball bearing has a single separator to handle both ball rows, but without significant limitation on the total ball count and load capacity. The theoretical full complement ball count is determined, that is, the largest number of balls that could be installed in the first row. The largest even number equal to or smaller than the full complement count is then determined, and chosen for the total number of separator pockets. The separator pockets are formed by adjacent axial fingers, long enough to reach both ball rows, and joined by circumferentially alternating bights. Therefore, at each end of the separator, half the pockets are open, and half closed. When the first ball row is installed against one pathway of the inner race, there is no access limitation, and all pockets, open and closed, are filled. Then, the separator is shifted back to clear the other pathway, before the outer race is inserted over the inner race. Then, the two races are tilted off access far enough to allow the second ball row, which is half the first row, to be loaded in. After the races are tilted back to a coaxial orientation and the second ball row is evenly spaced out, the balls can be aligned with the open half of the pockets. This allows the separator to be pulled back from its shifted position, moving the remaining balls into the aligned open pockets.

Assembly method for two row ball bearing with integral, angular contact

A disk type wheel has integrally formed air passages that open to the tire and through a central, closed bottom hub. Pressurized air is supplied axially through the bearing to an outlet surrounded by a mounting boss of the wheel bearing. When the wheel is added in conventional fashion to the boss, the central hub forms an air plenum in cooperation with the boss.

Vehicle tire pressure management system with easily removed wheel and

The relative speed of the tires of a vehicle is monitored as an indication of the operating state of the vehicle, wherein if the vehicle is not operating in one of a number of predetermined states, the relative speed is monitored as an indication of relative pressure of the vehicle tires, and further wherein differences in relative speed not related to the predetermined states, and not related to differences in relative pressure, are accounted for.

Tire pressure monitor

A piston type TPM actuator valve has enough clearance between the piston and the wall of the cylindrical passage that it slides to prevent sticking, but still avoids excessive bypass leakage through the same clearance. A plug located in the passage between the piston and the check valve has a vent to atmosphere that prevents leaking air from compressing behind the advancing piston. The plug also carries a seal that is compressed when the piston bottoms out to prevent further venting.

Growing community of inventors

Port Clinton, OH, United States of America

George L Hurrell, Ii