Patent ID: 6343993
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: B62D,F16C,F16D

Abstract:
A steering column for an automobile, comprising:(a) an inner shaft (1); (b) a tubular outer shaft (2) arranged in concentrically spaced relation about said inner shaft for relative sliding movement along a common longitudinal axis; (c) a plurality of rolling members (3) arranged between said inner and outer shafts, the adjacent surfaces of said inner and outer shafts containing a plurality of opposed axially-extending circumferentially spaced axial grooves receiving said rolling members, respectively, the grooves contained in one of said shafts comprising first grooves, each of said first grooves having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a bottom wall and a pair of side walls; (d) a pair of axially extending races arranged in spaced relation in each of said first grooves adjacent the side walls thereof, respectively; and (e) a plurality of resilient means each arranged between the bottom wall of each of said first grooves and said races for biasing said races both outwardly toward the side walls of said first groove and upwardly toward the associated rolling members, respectively.