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US 12,486,873 B2Granted
Toothed connection for mating steering system components
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsMichael E. Partyka, William J. Knight, Marcus Braem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection assembly includes a male component having a male connection end portion. The connection assembly also includes a female component having a female connection end portion for receiving the male connection end within a bore defined therein, wherein the male component and the female component each have a non-circular cross-section within a connection assembly thereof. The connection assembly further includes a first plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the male component. The connection assembly yet further includes a second plurality of teeth formed on an inner surface of the female component.
Claims20
A connection assembly comprising:
- a male component having a male connection end portion;
- a female component having a female connection end portion for receiving the male connection end within a bore defined therein, wherein the male component and the female component each have a non-circular cross-section within a connection assembly thereof and are secured to each other to prevent relative axial displacement between the male component and the female component;
- a first plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the male component;
- and
- a second plurality of teeth formed on an inner surface of the female component, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the male component comprises a flat surface on an outer surface thereof, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the female component comprises a flat surface on an inner surface thereof to partially define the bore of the female component, wherein the first plurality of teeth are formed on the flat surface of the male component and the second plurality of teeth are formed on the flat surface of the female component, wherein the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are in contact with each other.
2 more elements
A connection assembly comprising:
- a male component having a male connection end portion;
- a female component having a female connection end portion for receiving the male connection end within a bore defined therein, wherein the male component and the female component each have a non-circular cross-section within a connection assembly thereof and are secured to each other to prevent relative axial displacement between the male component and the female component;
- a first plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the male component;
- and
- a second plurality of teeth formed on an inner surface of the female component, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the male component comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface on opposing sides of the male component from each other, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the female component comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface on opposing sides of the bore to partially define the bore of the female component, wherein the first plurality of teeth are formed on the first flat surface of the male component, the second plurality of teeth are formed on the first flat surface of the female component, further comprising a third plurality of teeth formed on the second flat surface of the male component and a fourth plurality of teeth formed on the second flat surface of the female component, wherein the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are in contact with each other, wherein the third plurality of teeth and the fourth plurality of teeth are in contact with each other.
2 more elements
A vehicle steering system comprising:
- a steering input shaft;
- an output gear translatable to adjust the position of road wheels of a vehicle;
- and
- an intermediate shaft assembly operatively coupled to the steering input shaft and the output gear, wherein the intermediate shaft comprises:
- a male component having a male connection end portion, a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the first flat surface and the second flat surface on opposing sides of the male component at the male connection end portion;
- a female component having a female connection end portion for receiving the male connection end within a bore defined therein, the female component further comprising a first flat surface and a second flat surface on opposing sides of the bore to partially define the bore of the female component, wherein the male component and the female component are secured to each other to prevent relative axial displacement between the male component and the female component;
- a first plurality of teeth formed on the first flat surface of the male component;
- a second plurality of teeth formed on the first flat surface of the female component;
- a third plurality of teeth formed on the second flat surface of the male component;
- and
- a fourth plurality of teeth formed on the second flat surface of the female component, wherein the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are in contact with each other, wherein the third plurality of teeth and the fourth plurality of teeth are in contact with each other.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.