A corner module for an automotive vehicle includes a suspension upright, a wheel end, and a CV joint. The wheel end has a housing that is secured to the suspension upright and a hub that is provided with a flange to which a road wheel is attached and also spindle that projects from the flange into the housing. In addition, the wheel end has a tapered roller bearing located between the housing and the hub spindle. The CV joint drives the hub through a coupler ring or an inboard bearing cone that fits around and is engaged with the hub spindle, all through mating splines. The CV joint may have a stub shaft that projects from the bell through the hub spindle to clamp the CV joint and hub spindle together. Torque is transferred to the hub spindle at a large diameter through the bell of the CV joint. When present, the stub shaft serves merely to hold the CV joint and hub spindle together and thus may exist at a small diameter. Because the bearing transfers radial and thrust loads through tapered rollers, it and the wheel end of which it is a part may exist in configurations smaller than their counterparts in traditional wheel ends.

 
Web www.patentalert.com

< Cage for antifriction bearings with rollers

> Combination mounting ring

> Compact surface self-compensated hydrostatic bearings

~ 00585