Joints and connections – Interfitted members – Clamped members
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-30
2001-08-21
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Interfitted members
Clamped members
C403S234000, C403S236000, C403S258000, C403S259000, C403S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276865
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to clamping devices for connecting steering column components and more particularly to clamps for coupling an intermediate steering shaft to a drive tube.
Assembly of steering columns in vehicles is often very difficult due to limited space in which to work and the requirement for installing several parts in order to connect and hold the steering shaft and steering drive tube together. This is especially true for connecting the intermediate shaft to the steering drive tube in the cramped space between the dashboard and the firewall, in which it is difficult to see the parts and to properly manipulate them for assembly. This leads to dropped parts, improperly located and oriented parts, and unreliable connections.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present clamps for steering column intermediate shaft assemblies. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, this is accomplished by providing a clamp for securing a torque transmitting coupling between an intermediate shaft and a drive tube with a hole through its wall in a vehicle steering column, the clamp comprising a strap wrapped upon itself in a substantially circular form with its ends overlapping, said strap having a radial hole formed through the overlapping ends; and a bolt inserted through said radial hole and threadably engageable with a threaded nut within the circular form of the strap, said bolt extending past said nut into the hole in the wall of the drive tube to capture the clamp on the tube and to engage with a recess on said shaft to secure the shaft within the tube, and having means for preventing said bolt from engaging with said shaft until said shaft is properly positioned within said tube.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3737839 (1973-06-01), Marechal
patent: 4877364 (1989-10-01), Sorrentino
patent: 5588773 (1996-12-01), Friedrichs et al.
patent: 5816734 (1998-10-01), Wahlin
patent: 5950499 (1999-09-01), Hosoi et al.
patent: 6033145 (2000-03-01), Xu et al.
patent: 6074121 (2000-06-01), Medeiros et al.
DeBisschop James G.
Korzan William E.
Bigler John C.
Browne Lynne H.
Palermo Robert F.
The Torrington Company
Walsh John B.
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