# US 11,305,808 B2 · Steering shaft clamp yoke with bolt blocking component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,808 B2 - Document ID: US11305808B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/908,728 - Filed: 2020-06-22 - Published: 2021-12-23 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-22 - Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Applicants: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Inventors: Michael E. Partyka; William D. Cymbal; William Knight - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305808B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - F16D 3/387: {Fork construction; Mounting of fork on shaft; Adapting shaft for mounting of fork} - B62D 1/20: Connecting steering column to steering gear - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A steering assembly includes a pinion shaft. The steering assembly also includes a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke. The steering assembly further includes a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke. The blocking assembly includes a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end. The blocking assembly also includes a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering assembly comprising: a pinion shaft; a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke; and a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke, the blocking assembly comprising: a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end, wherein the resilient member is directly coupled to the clamp yoke, wherein the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member are disposed within respective grooves defined by the clamp yoke; and a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is located in a slot defined by the clamp yoke. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is formed at least partially with spring steel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is formed in a U-shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient member includes at least one retention feature by forming metal material or metal staked to the clamp yoke. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The steering assembly of claim 5, wherein the resilient member has retention features by forming metal material or metal staked to the clamp yoke proximate the connecting end of the resilient member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a pinch bolt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the counter bore extends along a bore axis and the central opening extends along an opening axis, the bore axis oriented perpendicular to the opening axis. ### Claim 9 A steering assembly comprising: a pinion shaft; a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke; and a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke, the blocking assembly comprising: a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end; and a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position; and a clip coupled to the clamp yoke, wherein the resilient member is coupled to the clip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The steering assembly of claim 9, wherein the clip comprises a first wall, a second wall and a connecting wall, the first wall defining a pair of insertion holes, the second wall defining an outlet hole, and the second wall and the connecting wall defining a cutout portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The steering assembly of claim 10, wherein the first leg of the resilient member extends through one of the insertion holes and the outlet hole, wherein the second leg of the resilient member extends through one of the insertion holes and the cutout portion. ### Claim 12 A method of assembling a steering assembly comprising: positioning a blocking member within a slot of a clamp yoke to block a counter bore defined by the clamp yoke; inserting a pinion shaft into a central aperture defined by the clamp yoke; contacting the blocking member with the pinion shaft; rotating the blocking member by insertion of the pinion shaft to be out of the counter bore; and inserting a fastener through the counter bore to fix the axial position of the pinion shaft relative to the clamp yoke; and coupling the blocking member to a first leg and a second leg of a resilient member, the resilient member indirectly coupled to the clamp yoke with a clip secured to the clamp yoke.