Sleeve bearing for collapsible steering column

A bushing for facilitating telescopic relative motion and providing support between outer and inner shaft tubes of a telescopically collapsible vehicular steering column assembly, said bushing having a carrier body, a plurality of radially biased clearance compensators, a plurality of axially spaced generally annular journal bearings,

• said bushing defining a longitudinal separation extending along an entire length of said bushing and defining a continuous gap through said carrier body, clearance compensator, and journal bearing;
• said clearance compensator comprising a plurality of nubs extending outwardly from said carrier body when non-compressed, the nubs being disposed and spaced circumferentially about each end of said carrier body, each nub being frustum-shaped, said generally annular journal bearing being coupled to the carrier body, said bushing having a diameter in a free-state condition that is reduced in response to said clearance compensator being subjected to a compressive force reactive to its radially outward bias, two of said bearings being disposed proximate respective ends of said carrier body, each of said clearance compensators being positioned axially proximate a respective one of said-journal bearings,
• said bushing defining a longitudinal separation extending along an entire length of said bushing and defining a continuous gap through said carrier body, clearance compensators, and journal bearings,
• each said clearance compensator comprising a plurality of nubs extending outwardly from said carrier body when non-compressed, the nubs being disposed and spaced circumferentially about each end of said carrier body, each nub being frustum-shaped and formed in a thinned section of said carrier body.

A telescopically collapsible vehicular steering column assembly comprising:

• an outer shaft tube defining a longitudinal axis, said outer shaft tube presenting an axially extending receiving chamber;
• an inner shaft tube including a guide head axially, slideably disposed within said receiving chamber of said outer shaft tube;
• and
• a bushing disposed between said guide head and said receiving chamber, telescopic relative sliding motion between said outer and inner shaft tubes being facilitated by said bushing, said bushing having a carrier body, first and second clearance compensators, and first and second axially spaced journal bearings,
• said first and second journal bearings each being disposed proximate respective ends of said carrier body, each of said first and second clearance compensators being positioned axially proximate a respective one of said-journal bearings,
• said bushing defining a longitudinal separation extending along an entire length of said bushing and defining a continuous gap through said carrier body, clearance compensators, and journal bearings,
• said first and second clearance compensators each comprising a plurality of nubs extending outwardly from said carrier body when non-compressed, the nubs being disposed and spaced circumferentially about each end of said carrier body and formed in a thinned section of said carrier body, each nub being frustum-shaped, said first journal bearing being coupled to said carrier body, and said second journal bearing being coupled to said carrier body, said first and second journal bearings in sliding contact with said guide head, such that a radial force is applied by said first and second clearance compensators against said first and second journal bearings, respectively, to remove lash between said inner and outer shaft tubes.