Patent ID: 6314833
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:a vehicle steering wheel including a hub portion having a splined inner surface and diametrically opposed first and second angled surface portions;a vehicle steering shaft rotatable about a first axis to effect vehicle steering, said steering shaft including an end portion having an outer surface with splines that mesh with said splined inner surface of said hub portion to connect said steering shaft non-rotatably with said steering wheel for joint rotation about said first axis,said end portion of said steering shaft including an inner surface defining a passage through said end portion that extends transverse to said first axis;a bolt having a head portion at a first end and a threaded outer surface adjacent a second end, said bolt including a shank portion between said head portion and said threaded outer surface, said shank portion being disposed in said passage through said end portion of said steering shaft and engaging said inner surface defining said passage, said head portion of said bolt having a first frustoconical surface; anda nut having a threaded inner surface engaging said threaded outer surface of said bolt, said nut including a second frustoconical surface,said first frustoconical surface on said bolt and said second frustoconical surface on said nut engaging said diametrically opposed first and second angled surface portions, respectively, on said hub portion of said steering wheel to create a compressive reaction load between said hub portion and said steering shaft and block relative movement between said steering wheel and said steering shaft along said first axis.