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A hub flange is a device used to support a wheel, pulley or sprocket on a machine. It provides a location for mounting the component and also provides a bearing location to allow the flange to rotate smoothly. The flange must be perfectly flat and plumb to prevent wobbling and premature wear. Hub flanges can be cast or machined as an inner or outer bearing race, reducing manufacturing costs. Non-greasable designs have sealed bearings that operate for long periods without maintenance, but require replacement of the entire assembly if a problem arises.
A hub flange is a device used to support a wheel, pulley or sprocket on a machine. Consisting of a flat steel plate fitted with mounting studs around the perimeter, the hub flange provides a location for mounting the pulley, wheel or gear and also provides a bearing location to allow the flange to rotate smoothly . It is common for a hub flange to be used as a component in a bearing assembly, making replacement of a faulty bearing a simple, one-step procedure.
The purpose of a hub flange is not only to seat the mounting studs for the wheel, pulley or sprocket, but also to provide a smooth, flat surface that is machined perfectly plumb to provide a straight fitting that follows properly. . By creating the flange perfectly flat and plumb, the wheel or sprocket will not wobble or drift off-center when mounted to the hub assembly. This increases efficiency and significantly increases the life expectancy of the bearing in the assembly. In the case of a belt or chain, these components also receive increased life by sliding directly on the assembly and not suffering premature wear from rubbing against the side of a wobbly assembly.
To create a hub flange that is part of a bearing assembly, the flange is often cast or machined as an inner or outer bearing race, depending on the application. This type of production design, popular in both machine and automobile manufacturing and design, greatly increases the overall strength of the flange assembly and reduces the manufacturing cost of constructing the assembly. These cost savings can be passed on to the customer, making the design popular with discount auto shops and auto and machinery manufacturers.
While some hub flange designs use a hub with regreasable bearings, the vast majority do not. The sealed bearing used in the non-greasable design allows the unit to operate for long periods without the need for maintenance. The downside to this type of assembly is that once a problem is found with the drive, the entire assembly needs to be changed. With a regreasable unit, the bearing is lubricated before and during each working cycle. Not only does this provide just the right amount of lubrication to give the hub flange a long life, but it also forces the worker to watch the assembly and check it for problems with every startup.
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