US 12,644,488 B1Granted

Sliding contact bearing with lash reduction

AssigneeKB Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG

InventorsCarlos Henrique Ferrari Martins, Vinicius Cidade Silva, Rodrigo Araujo

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Abstract

A sliding contact bearing includes a body configured for insertion within, and movement along, a slot of a fixed structure. The body includes a bore disposed about an axis that receives a shaft and first and second flats on a radially outer surface that engage opposed surfaces formed in the slot. First, second, third and fourth legs project radially from the body, the first and second legs on opposite circumferential sides of the first flat and engaging the first surface formed in the slot and the third and fourth legs on opposite circumferential sides of the second flat and engaging the second surface formed in the slot. Insertion of the bearing into the slot causes movement of the first and second legs in a first direction and movement of the third and fourth legs in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from an unstressed position to a stressed position.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A sliding contact bearing, comprising:

a bearing body configured for insertion within, and movement along, a slot of a fixed structure, the bearing body defining
a bore disposed about an axis and configured to receive a shaft;
and
a first flat on a radially outer surface of the bearing body and configured to engage a first surface formed in the slot;
and,
a second flat on the radially outer surface of the bearing body, diametrically opposite the first flat and configured to engage a second surface formed in the slot opposing the first surface;
first and second legs projecting radially from the bearing body and disposed on opposite circumferential sides of the first flat, the first and second legs configured for engagement with the first surface formed in the slot and insertion of the bearing body into the slot causing movement of each of the first and second legs in a first direction from an unstressed position to a stressed position;
and,
third and fourth legs projecting radially from the bearing body and disposed on opposite circumferential sides of the second flat, the third and fourth legs configured for engagement with the second surface formed in the slot and insertion of the bearing body into the slot causing movement of each of the third and fourth legs in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from an unstressed position to a stressed position.

6 more elements

An apparatus for mounting a steering column in a vehicle, comprising:

a steering column body configured to couple a steering column mounting bracket in a fixed position relative to the steering column body, the steering column mounting bracket configured to support the steering column;
a first side bracket configured for coupling to a vehicle body mounting bracket and coupled to a first side of the steering column body in a manner permitting translational movement of the steering column body relative to the first side bracket along a first axis and rotational movement of the steering column body relative to the first side bracket about a second axis, the first side bracket defining a first elongate slot;
a first pivot pin extending from the first side of the steering column body;
a first sliding contact bearing disposed within the first elongate slot of the first side bracket, the first sliding contact bearing having
a bearing body configured for insertion within, and movement along, the first elongate slot, the bearing body defining
a bore disposed about the second axis and configured to receive the first pivot pin;
and
a first flat on a radially outer surface of the bearing body configured to engage a first surface formed in the first elongate slot;
and,
a second flat on the radially outer surface of the bearing body, diametrically opposite the first flat and configured to engage a second surface formed in the first elongate slot opposing the first surface;
first and second legs projecting radially from the bearing body and disposed on opposite circumferential sides of the first flat, the first and second legs configured for engagement with the first surface formed in the first elongate slot and insertion of the bearing body into the first elongate slot causing movement of each of the first and second legs in a first direction from an unstressed position to a stressed position;
and,
third and fourth legs projecting radially from the bearing body and disposed on opposite circumferential sides of the second flat, the third and fourth legs configured for engagement with the second surface formed in the first elongate slot and insertion of the bearing body into the first elongate slot causing movement of each of the third and fourth legs in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from an unstressed position to a stressed position.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.