Methods and apparatus for retaining a steering shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12311997-B2
Application number	US-202318313884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2023
Priority date	May 8, 2023
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for retaining a steering shaft are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a seal, a steering shaft extending through the seal, and means for retaining the steering shaft in a retained position relative to the seal, the means for retaining configured to be release the steering shaft to an assembled position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an elastic seal;
a steering shaft extending through the elastic seal, the elastic seal fully circumscribing the steering shaft; and
means for retaining the steering shaft in a retained position relative to the elastic seal, the means for retaining configured to release the steering shaft to an assembled position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastic seal is a dash seal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assembled position includes an interface between an end of the steering shaft and a steering gear.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining includes:
a retention slot on the elastic seal; and
a boss extending from the steering shaft, the retention slot and the boss forming a bayonet interface in the retained position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining includes a tapered surface of the steering shaft, the tapered surface forming an interference fit with the elastic seal in the retained position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining includes a first flange formed on the steering shaft and a second flange formed on the elastic seal, the first flange abutting the second flange in the retained position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining includes a bracket including a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the elastic seal in the retained position, and the second end coupled to the steering shaft in the retained position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining includes a flexible member extending between a first location on the elastic seal and a second location on the elastic seal, the flexible member abutting the steering shaft, the abutment of the flexible member and the steering shaft retaining the steering shaft in the retained position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining includes:
a first hole in the steering shaft; and
a pin extending through the first hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the means for retaining further includes a second hole in the elastic seal, the pin extending through the second hole.

11. A vehicle including:
a first compartment;
a second compartment;
a panel separating the first compartment from the second compartment; and
an assembly including:
at least one retention feature;
an elastic seal coupled within a hole of the panel; and
a steering shaft extending through the elastic seal, the elastic seal fully circumscribing the steering shaft, the steering shaft movable between a first axial position relative to the panel and a second axial position relative to the panel, the steering shaft retainable in the first axial position via the at least one retention feature, the first axial position having a first length of the steering shaft in the first compartment, the second axial position having a second length in the second compartment, the first length different that the second length.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first compartment is a passenger compartment, and the second compartment is a front component compartment.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the panel is a dash panel and the elastic seal is a dash seal.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , further including:
a steering gear;
an input shaft coupled to the steering gear; and
a joint coupled to an end of the steering shaft, the first axial position enabling a coupling of the steering gear to the vehicle, the second axial position enabling a coupling of the joint to the input shaft.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes:
a retention slot formed on the elastic seal; and
a pin extending from the steering shaft, the retention slot and the pin forming a bayonet interface in the first axial position.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes a tapered surface of the steering shaft, the tapered surface to form an interference fit with the elastic seal in the first axial position.

17. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes:
a first flange formed on the steering shaft; and
a second flange formed on the elastic seal, the first flange abutting the second flange in the first axial position.

18. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes a bracket including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm coupled to the elastic seal in the first axial position, and the second arm coupled to the steering shaft in the first axial position.

19. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes flexible member extending between a first location on the elastic seal and a second location on the elastic seal, the flexible member to retain the steering shaft in the first axial position.

20. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes:
a hole in the steering shaft; and
a pin extending through the hole, the pin to retain the steering shaft in the first axial position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lawther Robin Ivo
• Hawkins Christopher
• Mata Humberto
• Soderlind Erik William
• Schaus Eric
• Putnam Todd

Classifications

• B62D1/20

  Connecting steering column to steering gear · CPC title

• B62D1/16 Primary

  Steering columns · CPC title