Gearless offset steering shaft coupling
AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorStephen F. Burns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering shaft coupling device and method providing a gearless, offset steering arrangement. The device includes a housing having an first section and a second section forming a compartment having two adjacent openings therein, a first and a second CV joint, each CV joint seated within each one of the openings of the housing compartment, and a linkage joining the first and second joints. The CV joints may also function as slip joints.
Claims21
A steering shaft coupling device comprising:
- a housing having an first section and a second section forming a compartment having two adjacent openings therein;
- a first and a second CV joint, each CV joint seated within each one of the openings of the housing compartment;
- and,
- a linkage joining the first and second joints.
A steering shaft coupling device for use in a vehicle, the device comprising;
- a housing having a first section and a second section forming a compartment therein;
- at least two openings formed adjacent to one another within the housing compartment;
- an input joint and an output joint, each joint seated within each of the openings in the housing compartment;
- a track formed within the housing compartment and surrounding the openings containing the input joint and the output joint;
- and
- a linkage positioned within the track and capable of engaging and driving each of the input joint and the output joint.
A method of providing a gearless offset steering shaft coupling, the method including the steps of:
- providing a housing having a first section and a second section forming a compartment having at least two adjacent openings therein;
- providing an input joint and an output joint;
- seating each joint within each one of the openings;
- and,
- providing a linkage surrounding the openings and seated joints, the linkage capable of engaging with and driving each of the input joint and the output joint.
The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a track formed within the housing compartment and surrounding the openings, wherein the track receives the linkage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.