Patent ID: 6053656
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: B62D,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus including:a vehicle steering wheel hub,an end of a steering shaft, anda shaft-hub connection between said hub and said end of said steering shaft connecting said hub and said steering shaft for joint rotation,said shaft-hub connection comprising an annular spring element which forms an interlocking fit between said hub and said end of said steering shaft, said fit blocking relative movement of said hub and said end of said steering shaft in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft,said end of said steering shaft comprising a raised face with an outer diameter, said raised face being integral with said end of said steering shaft and having a face surface area which faces away from said hub,said spring element having an inner diameter which is smaller than said outer diameter of said raised face, andsaid spring element being radially pliable over at least a part of the axial length of said spring element so that at least a part of said spring element can expand due to its pliability over said raised face as said spring element and said hub move in the axial direction of said steering shaft to locate said part of said spring element axially on the side of said raised face which faces away from said hub; andsaid raised face including a rearside tapered surface area which comprises said face surface area which faces away from said hub, and wherein said spring element has a corresponding tapered surface area which engages said rearside tapered surface area and is radially tensioned to produce an axial force,said raised face of said steering shaft further comprising a front-side tapered surface area facing away from said rearside tapered surface area, said hub having a tapered inner surface area, said inner surface area of said hub being biased by said spring element against said front-side tapered surface area;said front-side tapered surface area directly adjoins said rearside tapered surface area.