Device for rapid coupling of a driveshaft and a driven shaft and its application, in particular, to a motor vehicle steering system

A device for coupling a first shaft and a second shaft which are rotatable about a common axis, said device comprising;

• a rod connected coaxially with said first shaft and having an end portion of non-circular cross section with two convergent faces extending parallel to said common axis and inclined relative to each other in a V of which the apex is in a plane passing through said common axis and with a support face opposite said apex,
• a yoke having a first end portion of a U-shaped cross section with two branches which are connected by a bridge and which together bound a longitudinal axial passage which is open to the periphery of said yoke through a longitudinal aperture which is open at one end, said axial passage having two convergent walls which face one another and are inclined relative to one another in a V of which the apex is situated opposite to said aperture, said yoke also having a guide surface on its periphery,
• means at a second end of said yoke for pivotally mounting said yoke on said second shaft for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said common axis between a coupling position in which said non-circular end portion of said rod is received in said axial passage of said yoke and an open position in which said yoke is clear of said rod,
• a sleeve slidable on said guide surface of said yoke between an assembly position in which said aperture of said yoke is free to receive said rod and a coupling position in which said aperture is at least partially closed by said sleeve and said sleeve engages said support face of said rod to press said convergent faces of said end portion of said rod against said convergent walls of said axial passage of said yoke,
• means for resiliently biasing said sleeve for movement from said assembly position to said coupling position, and
• means for releasably holding said sleeve in said assembly position.