Patent ID: 6389924
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A motor vehicle steering column comprising:a tubular mast jacket, a structural housing for a power assist apparatus including an internal chamber exposed through an end wall of the structural housing in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the structural housing, a socket in the end wall of the structural housing including an annular seat in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the structural housing and a cylindrical guide wall around the annular seat machined concentric with longitudinal centerline of the structural housing, an annular end plate rigidly attached to the bottom of the tubular mast jacket in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the tubular mast jacket having a circular edge of a flange portion of the end plate machined concentric with the longitudinal centerline of the tubular mast jacket after the end plate is attached to the tubular mast jacket, the flange portion of the end plate bearing flush against the seat of the socket in the end wall of the structural housing with the circular edge thereof fitted closely against the cylindrical guide wall of the socket so that the longitudinal centerline of the tubular mast jacket coincides with the longitudinal centerline of the structural housing, and a retainer means operable without screw-threaded fasteners to prevent dislodgment of the end plate from the socket in the structural housing and to concurrently thrust the flange portion of the end plate against the seat of the socket to eliminate lash between the structural housing and the tubular mast jacket in the direction of the longitudinal centerlines of the structural housing and the tubular mast jacket.