Radial telescope bushing for steering column

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252133-A1
Application number	US-201514633714-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bushing assembly for a steering column having a fixed jacket and a telescope jacket is provided having a set screw configured for insertion into the fixed jacket, and a radial telescope bushing co-acting with the set screw and having a post and a curved bushing portion configured to pre-load the radial telescope bushing against the telescope jacket to provide a lash-free interface between the fixed jacket and the telescope jacket.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1 . A bushing assembly for a steering column having a fixed jacket and a telescope jacket, the bushing assembly comprising:
a set screw configured for insertion into the fixed jacket; and a radial telescope bushing co-acting with the set screw and having a post and a curved bushing portion configured to pre-load the radial telescope bushing against the telescope jacket to provide a lash-free interface between the fixed jacket and the telescope jacket.

2 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set screw includes an aperture formed therein.

3 . The bushing assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the post is inserted into the aperture.

4 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set screw includes a threaded outer surface.

5 . The busing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the curved bushing portion has a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the telescope jacket.

6 . A steering column assembly comprising:
a steering column shaft; a fixed jacket having a jacket aperture formed therein; a telescope jacket configured for telescopic movement relative to the fixed jacket; and a bushing assembly comprising:
a set screw disposed in the jacket aperture; and
a radial telescope bushing co-acting with the set screw and having a post and a curved bushing portion configured to pre-load the radial telescope bushing against the telescope jacket to provide a lash-free interface between the fixed jacket and the telescope jacket.

7 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the set screw includes an aperture formed therein.

8 . The steering column assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the post is inserted into the aperture.

9 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the set screw includes a threaded outer surface.

10 . The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the jacket aperture is threaded to receive the set screw threaded outer surface.

11 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the curved bushing portion has a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the telescope jacket.

12 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the curved bushing portion is disposed between the telescope jacket and the fixed jacket.

13 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the radial telescope bushing is disposed radially outward of an outer surface of the telescope jacket.

14 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a telescope actuator assembly configured to telescopically move the telescope jacket relative to the fixed jacket.

15 . The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the post and the curved bushing portion are formed integrally as a single component to form the radial telescope bushing.

16 . A method of fabricating a bushing assembly for a steering column having a fixed jacket and a telescope jacket, the method comprising:
providing a set screw configured for insertion into the fixed jacket; and forming a radial telescope bushing having a post extending within the set screw and a curved bushing portion configured to pre-load the radial telescope bushing against the telescope jacket to provide a lash-free interface between the fixed jacket and the telescope jacket.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Caverly Jacob A

Classifications

• F16C29/001

  adjustable for alignment or positioning · CPC title

• F16C43/02

  Assembling sliding-contact bearings · CPC title

• F16C29/02 Primary

  Sliding-contact bearings · CPC title

• B62D1/185 Primary

  adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/181

  with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory · CPC title