Lower bearing assembly including spring retaining ring for an automotive steering shaft

A lower bearing assembly for supporting a steering shaft within a tubular jacket of an automotive steering column wherein the steering shaft is of double-D configuration having two diametrically opposite, arcuate side walls formed with the same radius of curvature and two diametrically opposite, parallel flats between said side walls, comprising:

• a cup fitted within the jacket having a bottom wall formed with a hole through which the steering shaft extends,
• an annular bearing within said cup sleeved on the steering shaft and supporting the steering shaft for rotation,
• means holding said bearing seated on the bottom wall of the cup comprising a wedge tube sleeved on the steering shaft,
• said wedge tube having an inner double-D configuration matching that of the steering shaft and having a tapered nose wedged between said bearing and said steering shaft,
• said wedge tube having an annular radially outwardly extending flange adjacent said tapered nose,
• a compression coil spring encircling said wedge tube and bearing on said flange to hold the nose of said wedge tube held tightly between said bearing and said steering shaft, and
• a retaining ring sleeved on the steering shaft and holding the spring under compression,
• said retaining ring having a radially inner double-D configuration formed with two diametrically opposite, arcuate side edges of the same radius of curvature as the arcuate side walls of the steering shaft and frictionally engaging said arcuate side walls, and also formed with two diametrically opposite, parallel, straight edges frictionally engaging the flats of the steering shaft,
• said retaining ring having an annular radially extending base formed with two diametrically opposite, arcuate flanges bent to an acute angle relative to the base in a direction away from the spring and terminating in said arcuate side edges.