# US 2019/0168281 A1 · Method for producing a steering shaft part and steering shaft for a motor vehicle

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- Number: US 2019/0168281 A1
- Document ID: US20190168281A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/321,518
- Filed: 2017-08-01
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-01
- Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG
- Applicants: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG
- Inventors: Achim KRIMMEL; Herbert MÜNTENER; Werner GSTACH; Willem AMBAGTSHEER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168281A1

## CPC

- B21D 39/04: of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods {(crimped pipe joints as such F16L13/14)}
- B21D 39/046: {Connecting tubes to tube-like fittings}
- B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
- B62D 1/16: Steering columns
- F16C 3/02: Shafts; Axles
- F16C 3/03: telescopic (axially displaceable couplings F16D3/06)
- F16D 1/072: involving plastic deformation (plastic welding F16D1/068)
- F16D 1/108: having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling
- F16D 3/06: specially adapted to allow axial displacement
- B21D 9/04: the mandrel being rigid
- B21D 39/048: {using presses for radially crimping tubular elements}
- B21D 39/20: with mandrels, e.g. expandable
- B21D 41/045: {Closing}
- Y10T 29/49913: by constricting outer annulus
- Y10T 29/49927: Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube
- Y10T 29/49929: Joined to rod
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method may be utilized to produce a steering spindle part configured as a hollow shaft and having a connecting portion at its end. At least a part of the connecting portion includes increased wall thickness relative to a portion of the steering spindle part adjoining the connecting portion. The method may involve providing a circular, hollow cylindrical tube with an inner surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction, providing a circular, hollow cylindrical sleeve with an outer surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction, inserting the sleeve into an end portion of the tube, and jointly deforming the end portion of the tube and the sleeve such that a flow of material occurs. This flow may form positively locking elements on the tube and the sleeve that engage into one another in the circumferential direction and generate positive locking in the circumferential direction.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-9. (canceled).

### Claim 10

A method for producing a steering spindle part that forms a portion of a steering spindle for a motor vehicle, wherein the steering spindle part is configured as a hollow shaft with a connecting portion at least at one end of the hollow shaft, wherein at least a portion of a length of the connecting portion has an increased wall thickness relative to a portion of the steering spindle part that adjoins the connecting portion, the method comprising:
providing a hollow cylindrical tube with an inner surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction and that comprises a circular cross section;
providing a hollow cylindrical sleeve that includes an outer surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction and that comprises a circular cross section;
inserting the hollow cylindrical sleeve into an end portion of the hollow cylindrical tube; and
jointly deforming the end portion of the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve, wherein a flow of material of the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve occurs, the flow forming positively locking elements on the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve, which positively locking elements engage into one another in the circumferential direction to generate positive locking that acts in the circumferential direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the joint deformation comprises deforming the circular cross sections of the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve into a non-circular shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the joint deformation comprises reducing outer and inner diameters of the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve at least over a portion of a common length extant of the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the joint deformation is performed by way of cold working.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the joint deformation comprises:
introducing a mandrel with a non-circular cross section into the hollow cylindrical sleeve; and
exerting an external deformation pressure on the hollow cylindrical tube to mold the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve jointly on the mandrel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein a deformation tool exerts the external deformation pressure on the hollow cylindrical tube.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 comprising forming a coupling portion into an inner wall of the hollow cylindrical sleeve after the joint deformation of the end portion of the hollow cylindrical tube and the hollow cylindrical sleeve.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the joint deformation comprises forming
a conical portion that narrows in a direction of an adjacent end of the hollow cylindrical tube of the steering column part, and
a hollow cylindrical portion that is disposed further in the direction of the adjacent end relative to the conical portion.

### Claim 18

A steering spindle comprising a steering spindle part that forms a portion of a steering spindle for a motor vehicle and that is configured as a hollow shaft, the steering spindle part comprising:
a connecting portion disposed at an end of the hollow shaft, wherein at least a part of a length of the connecting portion comprises an increased wall thickness relative to a portion of the steering spindle part that adjoins the connecting portion; and
a sleeve disposed in the connecting portion within the hollow shaft, wherein the sleeve lies against and is connected to an inner wall of the hollow shaft;
wherein the hollow shaft and the sleeve comprise, at least over a portion of the length of the connecting portion, jointly deformed positive-locking elements that engage into one another in a circumferential direction and generate positive locking that acts in the circumferential direction.