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US 5,551,919 AGranted
Steering column assembly
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorBerci Cherpician
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering column assembly having a steering wheel connected to a steering box by upper and lower shafts. A universal joint having a flexible cross member connects the upper and lower shafts.
Claims3
A steering column assembly comprising:
- a steering wheel connected to an upper shaft member having an axis, the upper shaft member being connected to a first yoke;
- a steering box connected to a lower shaft member having an axis, the lower shaft member being connected to a second yoke;
- and
- one flexible elastomeric disc cross member having a perimeter and disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the first and second shaft members, two pairs of pins spaced around the perimeter of the elastomeric disc cross member in one plane, each pin being spaced 90.degree. from adjacent pins and each set of non-adjacent pins acting as pivot points and defining an axis of pivot for, respectively, the first and second yokes so that each yoke is pivotally connected to the flexible elastomeric disc cross member in a plane parallel to the flexible elastomeric disc cross member, the pins and the elastomeric disc cross member being joined together so that any torque applied around the axis of a shaft member is transmitted through the elastomeric member to the pins, wherein the axis of pivot of the first yoke is 90.degree. to the axis of pivot of the second yoke and the axis of pivot of the first yoke intersects the axis of pivot of the second yoke.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.