Steering shaft clamp yoke with bolt blocking component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11305808-B2
Application number	US-202016908728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2020
Priority date	Jun 22, 2020
Publication date	Apr 19, 2022
Grant date	Apr 19, 2022

Abstract

A steering assembly includes a pinion shaft. The steering assembly also includes a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke. The steering assembly further includes a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke. The blocking assembly includes a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end. The blocking assembly also includes a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A steering assembly comprising:
a pinion shaft;
a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke; and
a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke, the blocking assembly comprising:
a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end, wherein the resilient member is directly coupled to the clamp yoke, wherein the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member are disposed within respective grooves defined by the clamp yoke; and
a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position.

2. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is located in a slot defined by the clamp yoke.

3. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is formed at least partially with spring steel.

4. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is formed in a U-shape.

5. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member includes at least one retention feature by forming metal material or metal staked to the clamp yoke.

6. The steering assembly of claim 5 , wherein the resilient member has retention features by forming metal material or metal staked to the clamp yoke proximate the connecting end of the resilient member.

7. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a pinch bolt.

8. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the counter bore extends along a bore axis and the central opening extends along an opening axis, the bore axis oriented perpendicular to the opening axis.

9. A steering assembly comprising:
a pinion shaft;
a clamp yoke defining a central opening for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining a counter bore for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke; and
a blocking assembly fixed to the clamp yoke, the blocking assembly comprising:
a resilient member having a first leg, a second leg and a connecting end; and
a blocking member coupled to the first leg and the second leg of the resilient member, the blocking member rotatable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the blocking position blocking the counter bore in an initial position and rotatable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the counter bore in the non-blocking position; and

a clip coupled to the clamp yoke, wherein the resilient member is coupled to the clip.

10. The steering assembly of claim 9 , wherein the clip comprises a first wall, a second wall and a connecting wall, the first wall defining a pair of insertion holes, the second wall defining an outlet hole, and the second wall and the connecting wall defining a cutout portion.

11. The steering assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first leg of the resilient member extends through one of the insertion holes and the outlet hole, wherein the second leg of the resilient member extends through one of the insertion holes and the cutout portion.

12. A method of assembling a steering assembly comprising:
positioning a blocking member within a slot of a clamp yoke to block a counter bore defined by the clamp yoke;
inserting a pinion shaft into a central aperture defined by the clamp yoke;
contacting the blocking member with the pinion shaft;
rotating the blocking member by insertion of the pinion shaft to be out of the counter bore; and
inserting a fastener through the counter bore to fix the axial position of the pinion shaft relative to the clamp yoke; and
coupling the blocking member to a first leg and a second leg of a resilient member, the resilient member indirectly coupled to the clamp yoke with a clip secured to the clamp yoke.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Partyka Michael E
• Cymbal William D
• Knight William

Classifications

• B62D1/20

  Connecting steering column to steering gear · CPC title

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• F16D3/387 Primary

  Fork construction; Mounting of fork on shaft; Adapting shaft for mounting of fork · CPC title