Manufacturing method for vehicle hub unit

Abstract

There is provided a manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit in which a hub wheel is arranged radially inward of an outer ring via rolling elements, an inner ring member is fixed to an end portion of a hub spindle of the hub wheel by clinching, a spline tooth portion that meshes with a tooth portion of a constant velocity joint that transmits driving force to the hub unit is formed at a clinched portion of the hub spindle, and a protruding portion is formed at a radially inner side portion of a bottom of the spline tooth portion. The clinched portion is formed by plastically deforming a cylindrical end portion of the hub spindle outward with a clinching tool. The clinching tool includes a punch and an oscillating spindle to which the punch is non-rotatably attached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit in which a hub wheel is arranged radially inward of an outer ring via rolling elements, an inner ring member is fixed to an end portion of a hub spindle of the hub wheel by clinching, a spline tooth portion that meshes with a tooth portion of a constant velocity joint that transmits driving force to the hub unit is formed at a clinched portion of the hub spindle, and a protruding portion is fowled at a radially inner side portion of a bottom of the spline tooth portion, wherein:
 the clinched portion is formed by plastically deforming a cylindrical end portion of the hub spindle outward with a clinching tool;   the clinching tool includes a punch that is configured to be inserted into the cylindrical end portion and that has a guide portion that is configured to contact the cylindrical end portion with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to an inner peripheral surface of the end portion, and an oscillating spindle to which the punch is non-rotatably attached;   the guide portion is formed in a projecting shape so as to project from a center portion of one end surface of the punch;   a tooth profile for plastically machining the spline tooth portion is formed in the one end surface of the punch, at a portion radially outward of a base of the guide portion; and   the guide portion of the punch is inserted into the end portion of the hub spindle, the punch is pressed against the end portion of the hub spindle with predetermined pressing force, and a spindle that is coaxial with the hub spindle is rotated to oscillate the clinching tool, so that the clinched portion and the spline tooth portion are formed at the same time through plastic deformation while plastic deformation of the end portion of the hub spindle toward a radial center of the hub spindle is suppressed by the guide portion.   
     
     
         2 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a restraining member that prevents the inner ring member from deforming radially outward during oscillating clinching is arranged radially outward of the inner ring member so as to be in contact with the inner ring member.   
     
     
         3 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a seal member is arranged between an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring member, and the restraining member is arranged so as to be in contact with a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring member, at which the seal member is arranged.   
     
     
         4 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the restraining member is formed of an annular member, and has a guide on an inner peripheral surface of the restraining member, the guide protruding radially inward, and   the guide contacts an end surface of the inner ring member to determine a position of the restraining member in an axial direction of the restraining member.   
     
     
         5 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the restraining member is formed of an annular member, and has a guide on an inner peripheral surface of the restraining member, the guide protruding radially inward, and   the guide contacts an end surface of the inner ring member to determine a position of the restraining member in an axial direction of the restraining member.   
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an applicator made of spongy porous material is used to apply lubricant in advance to the end portion of the hub spindle, the end portion being subjected to oscillating clinching.   
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 an applicator made of spongy porous material is used to apply lubricant in advance to the end portion of the hub spindle, the end portion being subjected to oscillating clinching.   
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 an applicator made of spongy porous material is used to apply lubricant in advance to the end portion of the hub spindle, the end portion being subjected to oscillating clinching.   
     
     
         9 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 4 , wherein
 an applicator made of spongy porous material is used to apply lubricant in advance to the end portion of the hub spindle, the end portion being subjected to oscillating clinching.   
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing method for a vehicle hub unit according to  claim 5 , wherein
 an applicator made of spongy porous material is used to apply lubricant in advance to the end portion of the hub spindle, the end portion being subjected to oscillating clinching.