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US 10,882,070 B2Granted
Method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsGregory D. Brzezinski, Terry E. Burkhard, Chase A. Szostak, Harold J. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes heating an inner shaft and heating an outer shaft. The method also includes applying a plastic coating to at least a portion of the inner shaft. The method further includes cooling the plastic coating and pressing the outer shaft and the inner shaft together.
Claims10
A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly, comprising:
- providing an inner shaft;
- heating the inner shaft;
- providing an outer shaft;
- heating the outer shaft;
- applying a plastic coating to at least a portion of the inner shaft with an electrostatic spraying process;
- cooling the inner shaft having the plastic coating for a predetermined time;
- in response to the outer shaft achieving a predetermined temperature and the inner shaft being cooled for a predetermined time, pressing the outer shaft and the inner shaft together;
- forming a line-to-line fit between the plastic coating on the at least one portion of the inner shaft and the outer shaft;
- and
- wherein cooling the inner shaft with the plastic coating includes mist quenching the plastic coating until a surface of the plastic coating at least partially solidifies while the remaining plastic coating between the surface and the inner shaft remains soft.
7 more elements
A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly, comprising:
- heating an inner shaft and an outer shaft;
- applying a plastic coating to at least a portion of the inner shaft with an electrostatic spraying process;
- cooling the plastic coating, wherein cooling the plastic coating includes mist quenching the plastic coating until a surface of the plastic coating at least partially solidifies while the remaining plastic coating between the surface and the inner shaft remains soft;
- in response to the plastic coating being cooled, pressing the outer shaft and the inner shaft together;
- and
- forming a line-to-line fit between the plastic coating on the at least one portion of the inner shaft and the outer shaft.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly, comprising:
- providing an inner shaft;
- heating the inner shaft;
- providing an outer shaft;
- heating the outer shaft;
- applying a plastic coating to at least a portion of the inner shaft with an electrostatic spraying process;
- cooling the inner shaft having the plastic coating for a predetermined time;
- in response to the outer shaft achieving a predetermined temperature and the inner shaft being cooled for a predetermined time, pressing the outer shaft and the inner shaft together;
- forming a line-to-line fit between the plastic coating on the at least one portion of the inner shaft and the outer shaft;
- and
- forming a second plastic coating on the outer shaft before forming the line-to-line fit.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.