Steering shaft assembly
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsMatthew L. Messing, Douglas M. Schneider, Steven R. Burk, Robert J. Smith, Phillip D. Beckman, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering shaft assembly includes a shaft having an end region to be coupled to another component with a mechanical fastener, the shaft comprising a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the shaft within the end region of the shaft. The steering shaft assembly also includes a ring flag coupleable to the end region of the shaft, the ring flag comprising a recess positioned to receive the protrusion of the shaft at a desired relative axial position of the ring flag and the shaft to rotationally align the ring flag and the shaft at a desired rotational position.
Claims12
A steering shaft assembly comprising:
- a yoke;
- a shaft having an end region to be coupled to the yoke with a mechanical fastener, the shaft comprising a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the shaft within the end region of the shaft, and including a lead-in taper positioned at the end region, a retention shoulder, and a groove;
- and
- a ring flag coupleable to the end region of the shaft, the ring flag comprising a ring portion defining an aperture to receive the shaft, the ring portion having an inner wall that defines a recess positioned to receive the protrusion of the shaft at a desired relative axial position of the ring flag and the shaft to rotationally align the ring flag and the shaft at a desired rotational position, and a retention lip positioned on the inner wall of the ring portion, wherein the retention lip is snap-fit over the lead-in taper and snaps into the groove to define the desired relative axial position.
A method of assembling a steering shaft assembly comprising:
- aligning a protrusion extending radially outward from an end portion of a shaft with a recess defined by an inner wall of a ring portion of a ring flag, the shaft including a lead-in taper and a groove;
- inserting a shaft through an aperture defined by a ring flag with the protrusion disposed within the recess to provide a desired rotational position of the ring flag relative to the shaft;
- axially moving the shaft to a desired axial position relative to the ring flag;
- and
- snap-fitting a retention lip positioned on the inner wall of the ring portion over the lead-in taper and into the groove to define the desired axial position;
- and
- coupling the shaft to a yoke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.