# US 12,181,001 B2 · Plastic bearing for steering column > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,001 B2 - Document ID: US12181001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/914,762 - Filed: 2021-09-16 - Published: 2024-07-25 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-23 - Assignees: C&U Company Limited. - Applicants: C&U Company Limited. - Inventors: Xinwang Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181001B2 ## CPC - F16C 35/067: Fixing them in a housing (with interposition of an element F16C35/07) - B62D 1/16: Steering columns - F16C 19/163: {with angular contact} - F16C 33/412: {Massive or moulded comb cages, e.g. snap ball cages} - F16C 33/586: {outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring} - F16C 33/62: Selection of substances - F16C 19/06: with a single row or balls - F16C 33/80: Labyrinth sealings {(F16C33/761 takes precedence)} - F16C 2208/00: Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers - F16C 2226/76: with tongue and groove or key and slot - F16C 2240/46: Gap sizes or clearances - F16C 2326/24: Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - 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) ## Abstract A plastic bearing for a steering column includes a housing, an inner race, and a middle race. A retainer and balls are arranged between the middle race and the inner race. An accommodating cavity is formed in the housing; the middle race is arranged in the accommodating cavity. Guide protrusions are arranged on an inner wall of the accommodating cavity. Two positioning protrusions are arranged on an outer wall of the middle race, and an insertion groove is formed between the two positioning protrusions. The guide protrusion is matched with the insertion groove. Buckles are arranged on the inner wall of the accommodating cavity. Clamping blocks are arranged on the outer wall of the middle race, and the clamping blocks are clamped in the buckles. The overall structure of the plastic bearing for a steering column is more compact and simple and can be easily and conveniently assembled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plastic bearing for a steering column comprising: a housing, an inner race, and a middle race, wherein the middle race is sleeved outside the inner race; wherein a retainer and balls are arranged between the middle race and the inner race, and the balls are rotatably mounted on the retainer; wherein the housing, the inner race, and the middle race are made of plastic; wherein an accommodating cavity is in the housing; the middle race is arranged in the accommodating cavity; and a plurality of guide protrusions are arranged on an inner wall of the accommodating cavity; wherein two positioning protrusions are arranged on an outer wall of the middle race, and the two positioning protrusions correspond to two sides of each of the plurality of guide protrusions; wherein an insertion groove is between the two positioning protrusions; each of the plurality of guide protrusions is matched with the insertion groove in an insertion manner; wherein a plurality of buckles are arranged on the inner wall of the accommodating cavity; clamping blocks are arranged on the outer wall of the middle race, and the clamping blocks correspond to the plurality of buckles; and wherein the clamping blocks are clamped in the plurality of buckles to fix the housing and the middle race together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 1, wherein a side of each of the plurality of buckles faces the clamping blocks, and a convex block is arranged on the side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 2, further comprising positioning ribs, wherein the positioning ribs are arranged on the inner wall of the accommodating cavity, and the positioning ribs correspond to each side of the two positioning protrusions, so that there are two positioning ribs for each of the two positioning protrusions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 3, wherein the positioning ribs and the two positioning protrusions are in a wedge shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 4, wherein an outer wall of the positioning ribs is attached to an outer wall of the two positioning protrusions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 5, further comprising a positioning flange and a dust-proof groove, wherein the positioning flange is arranged on a bottom surface of the accommodating cavity, wherein the dust-proof groove is arranged on an end face of the inner race, and the dust-proof groove corresponds to the positioning flange, and wherein the positioning flange is clamped in the dust-proof groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 6, wherein the positioning flange is in a clearance fit with the dust-proof groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 2, wherein the convex block is in contact with each of the clamping blocks, and a contact surface of the convex block and each of the clamping blocks is inclined, each of the clamping blocks is in contact with an outer edge of the accommodating cavity, and a contact surface of the clamping block and the outer edge is inclined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 8, further comprising positioning ribs, wherein the positioning ribs are arranged on the inner wall of the accommodating cavity, and the positioning ribs correspond to each side of the two positioning protrusions, so that there are two positioning ribs for each of the two positioning protrusions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 9, wherein the positioning ribs and the two positioning protrusions are in a wedge shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 10, wherein an outer wall of the positioning ribs is attached to an outer wall of the two positioning protrusions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 11, further comprising a positioning flange and a dust-proof groove, wherein the positioning flange is arranged on a bottom surface of the accommodating cavity, wherein the dust-proof groove is arranged on an end face of the inner race, and the dust-proof groove corresponds to the positioning flange, and wherein the positioning flange is clamped in the dust-proof groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 12, wherein the positioning flange is in a clearance fit with the dust-proof groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 1, further comprising positioning ribs, wherein the positioning ribs are arranged on the inner wall of the accommodating cavity, and the positioning ribs correspond to each side of the two positioning protrusions, so that there are two positioning ribs for each of the two positioning protrusions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 14, wherein the positioning ribs and the two positioning protrusions are in a wedge shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 15, wherein an outer wall of the positioning ribs is attached to an outer wall of the two positioning protrusions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 16, further comprising a positioning flange and a dust-proof groove, wherein the positioning flange is arranged on a bottom surface of the accommodating cavity, wherein the dust-proof groove is arranged on an end face of the inner race, and the dust-proof groove corresponds to the positioning flange, and wherein the positioning flange is clamped in the dust-proof groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 17, wherein the positioning flange is in a clearance fit with the dust-proof groove. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 1, furthering comprising a plurality of assembly ribs and a guide rib, wherein the plurality of assembly ribs are circumferentially arranged on an outer wall of the housing, and wherein the guide rib is configured for assembly guidance and is arranged on the outer wall of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The plastic bearing for the steering column according to claim 1, wherein an inner radial surface of the inner race is cog-shaped.