Motor vehicle steering column
US5722300A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2326/24
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A motor vehicle steering column including a first mast jacket element mounted on a body of the vehicle, a second mast jacket element telescoped into a cylindrical passage in the first element, and a split bushing between the first and second elements. The bushing has a lip on an outside surface thereof which seats against the passage in the first mast jacket element to define a closed circumferential chamber around the bushing interrupted by the split in the latter. A plastic shim is molded in place in the closed circumferential chamber by injecting liquid plastic under pressure through a port in the first mast jacket element. Liquid plastic fills the closed circumferential chamber and clamps an inside surface of the bushing against an outer surface of the second mast jacket element to eliminate lash. Shrinkage of the plastic in the closed circumferential chamber reduces the contact pressure between the bushing and the second mast jacket element to minimize frictional drag.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.