Intermediate shaft axial retention device
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsMichael E. Partyka, Daniel P. Cook, David G. Matousek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering shaft assembly includes a male shaft having a plurality of splines formed thereon, each of the splines terminating at a spline end, wherein each of the spline ends form an angle of about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal direction of the splines. The steering shaft assembly also includes a female shaft including a plurality of stakes located proximate an end of the female shaft, the stakes retaining the male shaft at an interface between the stakes and the spline ends.
Claims16
A steering shaft assembly comprising:
- a male shaft having a plurality of splines formed thereon, each of the splines terminating at a spline end, wherein each of the spline ends form an angle of about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal direction of the splines;
- and
- a female shaft including a plurality of stakes located proximate an end of the female shaft, the stakes retaining the male shaft at an interface between the stakes and the spline ends.
A steering shaft assembly comprising:
- a male shaft having a plurality of splines formed thereon, each of the splines terminating at a spline end;
- and
- a female shaft having a splined portion and an end region, the splined portion defined along an interior surface of the female shaft and mated with the splines of the male shaft, wherein the end region has a smaller thickness than the splined portion, the female shaft having a plurality of stakes located within the end region, the stakes retaining the male shaft at an interface between the stakes and the spline ends.
A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly comprising:
- axially inserting an end region of a female shaft into a stake forming tool aperture of a stake forming tool;
- stopping axial insertion of the end region into the stake forming tool aperture with a step to prevent insertion of a splined portion of the female shaft into the stake forming tool aperture;
- and
- forming a plurality of stakes within the end region of the female shaft to provide a retention feature on the female shaft for a male shaft inserted therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.