Patent ID: 8556736
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: B62D,F16C,F16D

Abstract:
1. A steering column comprising: an inner shaft comprising an axial groove; an outer shaft comprising a bore with an axial groove having the inner shaft disposed therein so that the two axial grooves face one another and the inner and outer shafts defining a common axis; a row of balls received between the two axial grooves; the axial groove of one of the inner and outer shafts including two concave support surfaces located on either side of a median plan passing through the common axis and the balls; a rigid rolling track member comprising a convex pivot portion with a convex pivot surface and a bearing portion with a bearing surface provided on each side of the median plan with the convex pivot surface in contact with the concave support surface and the bearing surface bearing against each of said balls; an elastic member located in the axial groove of one of the inner and outer shafts and pushing the two rolling track members against the balls such that at rest, when there is no torque transmission, and in operation, when there is a torque transmission, each of said balls simultaneously contacts the two rolling track members and the axial groove of one of the inner and outer shafts; and wherein the convex pivot surface of each of the two rolling tracks comprises a radius that is greater than a radius of the concave support surface that it contacts so as to define two contact areas that determine a pivot axis parallel to the common axis, the pivot axis being closer to the two contact areas than to the balls.