Patent ID: 6805637
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: B62D,F16C,F16D

Abstract:
A shaft assembly with recirculating ball roller joint unit for use with an automotive steering column or the like comprising:an elongated tubular outer shaft, an elongated inner shaft extending lengthwise within the outer shaft, and a recirculating ball joint enabling relative axial movement between said shafts, said ball joint comprising a shell assembly secured within the outer shaft and surrounding said inner shaft, said shell assembly and said inner shaft defining closed circuit ball races, balls in said ball races in rolling engagement with the inner shaft wherein said shell assembly comprises two shells, said shells respectively extending about opposite peripheral portions of the inner shaft and both of said shells together extending about an entire periphery of the inner shaft, wherein the closed circuit ball races include a first closed circuit ball race and each of said shells comprises: a radially inner cage, a radially outer cage, and a ball retainer between said cages, a first inner cage groove in said inner cage and a first outer cage groove in said outer cage, the first inner cage groove and the first outer cage groove cooperating to define a portion only of the first closed circuit race leaving open a remaining portion of the first closed circuit race, the retainer having a first retainer groove, said inner shaft having a first longitudinally extending inner shaft groove, and said first retainer groove and said first inner shaft groove cooperating to close the remaining portion of the first closed circuit race.