Patent ID: 6068296
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: B62D,F16F

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a contractible, shock absorbing steering column assembly including an outer column member having a female serration formed on an inner peripheral surface portion thereof, and an inner column member having a male serration formed on an outer peripheral surface portion thereof and engaged with the female serration of said outer column member, each of said portions of said outer and inner column members having a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion between the first portion and the second portion, said method comprising:inserting said first portion of said inner column member in said first portion of said outer column member;disposing said first portions between an opposed pair of pressing members having respective pressing surfaces that are flat and opposed in parallel to each other;pressing an outer peripheral surface of said first portion of said outer column member inwardly in a diametral direction thereof with said pressing members under a predetermined pressing load while maintaining said pressing surfaces parallel to each other, so as to plastically deform said first portions of said outer and inner column members; andrelatively displacing said outer column member and said inner column member axially toward each other to bring said first portion of said outer column member and said first portion of said inner column member to positions at which said intermediate portions of said outer and inner column members are in loose engagement with each other, and said first portion of said outer column member and said first portion of said inner column member are in pressure-fitting engagement, under substantially equal fitting strength, with said second portion of said inner column member and said second portion of said outer column member, respectively.