Clamp yoke error proofing device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11739794-B2
Application number	US-201916666891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2019
Priority date	Nov 1, 2018
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A steering assembly includes a pinion shaft. The steering assembly also includes a yoke defining a space for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining an access path for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke. The steering assembly further includes an error-proofing device fixed to the yoke and having a deflectable portion blocking the access path in an initial position and deflectable upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the access path in a final assembly position to ensure that the pinion shaft is assembled to the yoke at a predetermined axial position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steering assembly comprising:
a pinion shaft;
a yoke defining a space for axially receiving the pinion shaft and defining an access path for receiving a fastener that couples the pinion shaft to the yoke; and
an error-proofing device fixed to the yoke, the error-proofing device comprising a ring portion and a deflectable portion, the ring portion located within a recess defined by an inner wall of the yoke, the recess extending annularly around the inner wall, the deflectable portion blocking the access path in an initial position and deflectable relative to the ring portion upon contact with the pinion shaft to be clear of the access path in a final assembly position to ensure that the pinion shaft is assembled to the yoke at a predetermined axial position.

2. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring portion is located within a ring plane that is perpendicular to a plane that the deflectable portion is within.

3. The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the error-proofing device is formed at least partially from spring steel.

4. A machine comprising:
a yoke;
a shaft that is coupled to the yoke at a predetermined axial location, the yoke defining an access path for receiving a fastener that couples the shaft to the yoke; and
an error-proofing device fixed to the yoke, the error-proofing device comprising a ring portion and a deflectable portion, the ring portion located within a recess defined by an inner wall of the yoke, the recess extending annularly around the inner wall, the deflectable portion blocking the access path in an initial position and deflectable relative to the ring portion upon contact with the shaft to be clear of the access path in a final assembly position to ensure that the shaft is assembled to the yoke at the predetermined axial location.

5. The steering assembly of claim 4 , wherein the ring portion is located within a ring plane that is perpendicular to a plane that the deflectable portion is within.

6. The steering assembly of claim 4 , wherein the error-proofing device is formed at least partially from spring steel.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Partyka Michael E
• Molinar Sergio R
• Castanier Carl R
• Matousek David G

Classifications

• F16D1/0864 Primary

  due to tangential loading of the hub, e.g. a split hub · CPC title

• F16D3/387

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

• Y10T403/1624

  Related to joint component · CPC title

• B62D1/20

  Connecting steering column to steering gear · CPC title

• F16D1/116

  the interengaging parts including a continuous or interrupted circumferential groove in the surface of one of the coupling parts (circlips for retaining hubs on shafts F16B21/18) · CPC title