Steering column assembly

• US 5,538,282 A
• Filed: 10/03/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: White, David A., Eaton, Rodney L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/317,065
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/777, 280/779, 74/492, 74/493, 384/517, 384/518, 384/535, 384/536, 267/141.3, 267/141.7, 267/150
• US Class Current: 280/779
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/08 self-adjusting

Abstract

A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle has a bearing which supports the steering shaft and a spring wedge unit for supporting the bearing. The spring wedge unit is in the form of an integral one-piece ring of flexible resilient material, preferably urethane, and encircles the shaft. The ring has an annular wedge and an integral annular spring flange. The wedge has a cylindrical radially inner surface in bearing contact with the shaft, and a conical radially outer surface providing a radially inner support for the bearing. The spring flange is tapered and abuts a tapered portion of the shaft under pressure which resiliently flexes the spring flange and resists axial movement of the ring to dampen vibration and suppress noise.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising an elongated steering shaft,

a housing having a passage through which said shaft extends,

bearing means supporting said shaft for rotation in said housing comprising an annular bearing encircling said shaft,

said housing having a wall providing a radially outer support for said bearing and for retaining said bearing against axial movement in a first axial direction relative to said shaft,

and a spring wedge unit providing a radially inner support for said bearing and retaining said bearing against axial movement in a second axial direction relative to said shaft,

said spring wedge unit comprising an integral one-piece ring of flexible resilient material encircling said shaft,

said ring having a first end and a second end,

said ring having an annular wedge adjacent said first end and an integral annular spring flange adjacent said second end,

said wedge having a cylindrical radially inner surface of uniform circular cross-section in bearing contact with said shaft,

said wedge having a conical radially outer surface concentric with said radially inner surface providing a radially inner support for said bearing,

said radially outer surface tapering toward said radially inner surface and substantially intersecting said radially inner surface at the first end of said ring,

said spring flange being frusto-conical in shape and inclined radially outwardly from a point intermediate said first and second ends of said ring wherein it merges into said wedge,

said shaft having annular portion opposed to said spring flange adjacent the second end of said ring,

said spring flange abutting said annular portion of said shaft under pressure resiliently flexing said spring flange and resisting axial movement of said ring in said second axial direction,

wherein said ring further comprises an integral annular stop spaced axially from the first end of said ring and projecting radially outwardly from the conical surface of said wedge.

2. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said radially outer surface of said wedge extends at an angle of about 20°

to said radially inner surface, and said spring flange has radially inner and outer surfaces both extending at an angle of about 30°

to said radially inner surface of said wedge.

3. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said stop has axially spaced surfaces facing in said first and second directions respectively and both extending perpendicular to said radially inner surface of said wedge.

4. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring flange has an end wall at the second end of said ring which is perpendicular to said radially inner surface of said wedge.

5. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said entire ring is made of urethane.

6. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said radially outer surface of said wedge extends at an angle of about 20°

to said radially inner surface.

7. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring flange extends at an angle of about 30°

to said radially inner surface of said wedge.

8. A steering column assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said ring is made of urethane.