# US 2019/0316635 A1 · Steering shaft for a motor vehicle

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- Number: US 2019/0316635 A1
- Document ID: US20190316635A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/346,908
- Filed: 2017-11-15
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-18
- Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG
- Applicants: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG
- Inventors: Paul SCHWARZHANS; René Marco SCHMIDT
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190316635A1

## CPC

- F16D 3/065: {by means of rolling elements}
- B62D 1/20: Connecting steering column to steering gear
- F16C 3/035: with built-in bearings
- F16C 29/04: Ball or roller bearings
- F16C 39/02: using mechanical means
- F16C 2326/24: Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- 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

## Abstract

A steering shaft for a motor vehicle includes a hollow outer shaft with a longitudinal axis. An inner shaft is arranged coaxially within the outer shaft. The inner shaft telescopes longitudinally relative to the outer shaft and is connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the outer shaft via a rolling body. The rolling body can roll in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the rolling body bearing in a positively locking manner in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis between rolling body raceways on the inner and outer shaft. The steering shaft includes a securing element with a supporting body arranged between supporting faces configured on the inner shaft and on the outer shaft, which at least one supporting body can be supported in a positively locking manner in the circumferential direction. The supporting body is spaced apart in the circumferential direction from the supporting faces.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-11. (canceled)

### Claim 12

A steering shaft for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a hollow outer shaft;
an inner shaft arranged coaxially in the outer shaft;
the inner shaft configured to telescope relative to the outer shaft in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft, the inner shaft connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the outer shaft via rolling bodies,
wherein the steering shaft is configured to permit the rolling bodies to roll in the direction of the longitudinal axis,
wherein the rolling bodies bear in a positively locking manner in the circumferential direction with regard to a rotation about the longitudinal axis between rolling body raceways formed on the inner shaft and on the outer shaft; and
a securing element including a supporting body arranged between supporting faces configured on the inner shaft and on the outer shaft and supported in a positively locking manner in the circumferential direction,
wherein the supporting body is spaced apart in the circumferential direction from the supporting faces.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The steering shaft of claim 12, wherein the securing element is connected fixedly to the inner shaft or the outer shaft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The steering shaft of claim 12, wherein the supporting body is arranged between the rolling body raceways, the supporting faces being configured in the region of the rolling body raceways.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The steering shaft of claim 12, wherein the supporting body has a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction between rolling faces of the rolling bodies on at least one of the rolling body raceways than a rolling body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The steering shaft of claim 12, wherein the securing element has a carrier part, to which the supporting body is attached.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The steering shaft of claim 16, wherein the carrier part extends in a laminar manner in a cross-sectional plane perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the supporting body projects from the carrier part in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The steering shaft of claim 16, wherein at least two supporting bodies are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner relative to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The steering shaft of claim 16, wherein at least two supporting bodies are pressed by the carrier part with respect to one another in a sprung manner against the inner shaft or the outer shaft.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The steering shaft of claim 12, wherein the securing element is a single-piece shaped sheet metal construction, the supporting body being configured as a bent portion.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The steering shaft of claim 16, wherein the carrier part extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the supporting body is formed on a section which is bent over in a clip-like U-shaped manner from the carrier part, a free end of the outer shaft being received between the carrier part and the supporting body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 12)

The steering shaft of claim 12, wherein the at least one rolling body is secured such that it is permitted to roll in a cage which is movable relative to the inner shaft and to the outer shaft in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the supporting body being attached to the cage.