Steering column shaft clamp
US6276865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/7067
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A clamp for securing a torque transmitting coupling between an intermediate shaft and a drive tube in a vehicle steering column consists of a strap wrapped upon itself in a substantially circular form with its ends overlapping, the strap having a radial hole formed through the overlapping ends, and a bolt inserted through the radial hole and threadably engageable with a threaded nut within the circular form of the strap. The bolt preferably has a flared tip for trapping the bolt within the nut and for extending into and through a hole in a wall of the drive tube to engage a recess in the intermediate shaft. It also has an undercut portion above the flared tip for disengaging from threads of the nut when the flared tip is retracted into the wall of the drive tube. Until the shaft is properly positioned in the tube, the threads of the bolt and nut are prevented from engaging to tighten the clamp. The flared tip may have threads to permit easy assembly with the nut and the strap.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.