Three segment intermediated shaft

A method of assembling an intermediate shaft assembly, the method comprising:

• providing an upper shaft extending along an axis between a first upper end and a first lower end, said first lower end having a first tubular wall portion with a first inner surface bounding a first hollow bore extending into said first lower end;
• providing an intermediate shaft extending along said axis between a second upper end and a second lower end, said second upper end having a first outer surface and said second lower end having a second tubular wall portion with at least one through opening passing radially therethrough, said second tubular wall portion having a second inner surface bounding a second hollow bore extending into said second lower end;
• providing a lower shaft extending along said axis between a third upper end and a third lower end, said third upper end having a second outer surface with at least one recess extending radially therein;
• disposing said second upper end in said first hollow bore and releasably fixing said upper shaft for controlled movement along said axis relative to said intermediate shaft during a normal operating condition;
• disposing said third upper end in said second hollow bore with said at least one through opening being radially aligned with said at least one recess;
• and
• injecting polymeric material into at least one of said at least one through opening and into said at least one recess and allowing said polymeric material to solidify within said at least one through opening and within said at least one recess to fix said lower shaft against movement along said axis relative to said intermediate shaft during the normal operating condition,
• wherein said polymeric material is configured to shear under a predetermined axial load to allow said lower shaft to move along said axis relative to said intermediate shaft during an abnormal operating condition.