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CN-121993501-A - Suspension thrust bearing unit

CN121993501ACN 121993501 ACN121993501 ACN 121993501ACN-121993501-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a suspension thrust bearing unit (1) for use in an automotive suspension assembly, and the suspension thrust bearing unit comprises a bearing (5) having an upper ring (50) mounted inside an upper annular cap (3), a lower ring (51) mounted inside a lower annular cap (4), and at least one row of rolling elements (52) positioned between raceways defined by the lower ring (51) and the upper ring (50). The lower annular cap (4) comprises at least one annular circumferential groove (60; 64) and the upper cap (3) comprises an annular skirt (32) forming a tortuous chamber defining a labyrinth seal (6). According to the invention, the groove (60; 64) is provided with a plurality of ribs (65; 66).

Inventors

  • Bruno Munbov
  • Jonathan Rapeshy
  • Jordan Renoden

Assignees

  • 斯凯孚公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20251029
Priority Date
20241107

Claims (7)

  1. 1. Suspension thrust bearing unit (1) for use in an automotive suspension assembly, comprising a bearing (5), said bearing (5) having an upper ring (50) mounted inside an upper annular cap (3), a lower ring (51) mounted inside a lower annular cap (4) and at least one row of rolling elements (52) positioned between raceways defined by the lower ring (51) and the upper ring (50), the lower annular cap (4) and the upper annular cap (3) being provided with sealing means (6) to prevent contaminants from entering the unit (1), said lower annular cap (4) comprising at least one annular circumferential groove (60; 64) provided between a first sealing flange (61; 62) and a second sealing flange (62; 63) extending radially outwards from said lower cap (4), said upper annular cap (3) comprising an annular outer skirt (32) extending axially from said upper cap (3) towards said lower cap (4), at least one of the flanges (62; 63) of the lower annular cap (4) being surrounded by said sealing flange (62; 62) in a radial direction by said skirt (32), said labyrinth (62; 64) and said labyrinth (32; 32) defining said sealing means (32; 64), Characterized in that the annular circumferential groove (60; 64) is provided with a plurality of ribs (65; 66), the ribs (65; 66) being such that the ribs (65; 66) are circumferentially spaced within the groove (60; 64), the ribs (65; 66) extending radially outwardly from the lower cap (4), the ribs (65; 66) being axially delimited between the first and second sealing flanges (61, 62; 63), and the ribs (65; 66) being at least partially radially surrounded by the skirt (32).
  2. 2. The unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs (65; 66) are equally spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
  3. 3. Unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange (61) extends radially beyond the second flange (62) of the lower annular cap (4).
  4. 4. A unit as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the axial skirt (32) of the upper annular cap (3) radially surrounds the second flange (62) of the lower annular cap (4) and is directed axially towards the first flange (61) of the lower annular cap (4).
  5. 5. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower annular cap (4) comprises a third flange (63) extending radially outwards from said cap (4), an annular circumferential groove (64) being defined between the second flange (62) and the third flange (63), and said third flange (63) being surrounded by an axial skirt (32, 35) of the upper annular cap (4).
  6. 6. Unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the second flange (62) extends radially beyond the third flange (63) of the lower annular cap (4).
  7. 7. Unit according to claim 6, wherein the upper annular cap (3) comprises a second axial skirt (35) extending from the cap (3) axially towards the second flange (62) of the lower annular cap (4), the second axial skirt (35) radially surrounding the third flange (63) of the lower annular cap (4), the second axial skirt (35) being radially surrounded by the first axial skirt (32) of the upper annular cap (3).

Description

Suspension thrust bearing unit Technical Field The present invention relates to the field of suspension thrust bearing units, and in particular to the field of suspension thrust bearing units of macpherson type. Such suspension thrust bearing units are equipped for suspension assemblies in motor vehicles. Background Generally, motor vehicle suspension systems include a suspension assembly that supports an axle (axle) and a vehicle wheel. A suspension thrust bearing unit is disposed in an upper portion of the suspension assembly opposite the wheel and the ground, and is disposed between a suspension spring and an upper support block (upper support block) attached to the vehicle body. The suspension thrust bearing unit comprises at least one rolling bearing. The suspension thrust bearing unit is capable of transmitting axial forces between the spring and the vehicle body while allowing relative angular movement (relative angular movement) between the rotationally movable spring and a fixed support block attached to the body. For this purpose, the spring is supported by a spring seat (SPRING SEAT) provided on the suspension thrust bearing unit. More precisely, the suspension thrust bearing comprises a lower support surface resting (resting on) on the end coil of the spring. The spring support surface includes a radial surface for supporting an axial force. The spring support surface may also include a tubular axial surface for supporting radial deformation and ensuring spring centering (centering). Suspension thrust bearing units are used in environments that are often affected by contaminants (especially dust, particles, water). EP 1000 781, US 6 186 507, WO 07/037308 are examples of disclosed suspension thrust bearing units provided with sealing means to prevent any contaminants from entering the unit. The sealing member includes a contact lip. However, such sealing members are not entirely satisfactory because friction is generated between the two members that relatively rotate in the unit. It is also known from WO 2010/063205 or JP 2006 322505 to provide a labyrinth seal, but without any contact between the relatively rotating parts. Friction is reduced but the sealing function must be optimized, in particular against severe contamination, in particular water jets (water jet). Disclosure of Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a suspension thrust bearing unit with improved labyrinth seal, which has an optimized sealing performance while limiting rotational friction, is easy and economical to manufacture. To this end, the invention relates to a suspension thrust bearing unit for use in an automotive suspension assembly. The suspension thrust bearing unit (/ suspension thrust bearing unit) (suspension thrust bearing unit) includes a bearing having an upper ring (upper ring) mounted inside an upper annular cap (upper annular cap), a lower ring mounted inside a lower annular cap, and at least one row of rolling elements positioned between raceways defined by the lower and upper rings. The lower annular cap and the upper annular cap are provided with sealing means to prevent contaminants from entering the unit. The lower annular cap includes at least one annular circumferential groove disposed between a first sealing flange (flange) and a second sealing flange extending radially outwardly from the lower cap. The upper annular cap comprises an annular outer skirt (annular outer skirt) extending from the upper cap axially towards the lower cap, at least one of the sealing flanges of the lower cap being radially surrounded by the skirt (surrounded). The groove, flange and skirt form a tortuous chamber (sinuous chamber) defining a labyrinth seal. According to the invention, the annular circumferential groove is provided with a plurality of ribs. The ribs are circumferentially spaced apart within the groove. The rib extends radially outwardly from the lower cap, the rib is axially defined between the first and second sealing flanges, and the rib is at least partially radially surrounded by the skirt. Thanks to the invention, the inside of the suspension thrust bearing unit is sealed, i.e. dust, particles, water from the outside is prevented from entering. The radial flange forms a physical barrier for the water jet directed substantially axially or obliquely from the vehicle bottom towards the suspension thrust bearing unit. The use of multiple radial flanges enables continuous blocking of contaminant ingress that successfully passes through the preceding flange. An axial skirt of the upper cap surrounds the flange and ensures protection against radial projection of contaminants (radial projections). The labyrinth seal component of the present invention ensures improved water tightness in the axial direction, the radial direction and the oblique direction. The continuous sealing members allow for a reduced amount of contamination after each sealing member. Furthermore, the plurality of ribs en