Patent · US Expired

Coupling device and the application thereof in particular in an automobile steering device

US4900178A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1988
Grant dateFeb 13, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T403/7062
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A coupling device comprises a shackle (20) mounted to be pivotable about an axis (21) orthogonal to branches (22) of the shackle for surrounding a stem (12), a locking mechanism having a screw (31) and a nut (32), and a clip (40). The nut has a bevel (320), an orientation maintaining arrangement (321) and a cam (322) together with a brake (33). The clip is provided with elastically yieldable legs (41) for maintaining the clip in position, and arm (43) elastically biasing the nut (32) and, optionally, a safety strip (44) having a hook (440). This device permits easily, rapidly and reliably coupling the shackle and the stem associated with driving and driven shafts. The coupling device is applied in the steering device of an automobile wherein the shackle is connected to a yoke of a universal joint associated with a shaft, and wherein the stem is connected to a gear wheel of the steering box.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.