Wheel Hub Bearing with Supportive Elastic Ring

To enhance the safety of vehicle movement, the bearings supporting the rotation of the front and rear wheel hubs should have high static and dynamic load-bearing capacity. During vehicle operation, the bearing components are subjected to impact loads. The impact loads on the wheel hub bearings of a vehicle arise due to the movement of the vehicle over uneven road surfaces. Sudden impacts caused by hitting protrusions or potholes lead to a decrease in bearing durability. The presence of elastic elements in the vehicle suspension reduces the impact loads, but does not eliminate them entirely. The factors affecting bearing reliability during operation are analyzed, and a bearing design with an elastic support surface is proposed, which reduces impact loads and improves reliability of the bearing. The use of an elastic support ring in the sliding bearing design allows for an even distribution of external forces acting on it, absorption of vibrations, and noise reduction during operation. Mathematical modeling of the suspension system during transitional modes allowed for the selection of optimal parameters for the bearing unit that minimize impact loads in its elements. A rationale is provided for the choice of the optimal geometric dimensions of the rubber support ring in the bearing unit. The paper presents the results of experimental studies on a pendulum test rig for impact loads acting on wheel hub bearings with different designs of rubber support rings. It is shown that the material of the elastic support surface absorbs up to 10% of the energy of the impact. The experimental results confirm the feasibility of using elastic support rings in sliding contact bearings.