Patent US3834727A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3834727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering gears
Assignee: TRW Steering Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1972-03-21
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1992-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle steering gear assembly of the type in which steering movement is imparted from a movable steering member through a tie rod member interconnected therewith by a universal joint; wherein one of the aforementioned members has an undercut part and that member is secured to the universal joint by deformation of a component part of the joint to form an interference fit with the undercut part of that member, preferably by inward deformation of a tubular component part of the joint over the undercut part of that member which the said tubular component part receives.
Inventors
- 👤 F Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:28
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4966; Y10T403/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A vehicle steering gear assembly which comprises a movable steering member, a tie rod member, a universal joint interconnecting said tie rod member with said steering member so that steering moement is imparted from the steering member through said tie rod member, said universal joint having a tubular body element with a radially inwardly directed integral flange providing opposite axially facing shoulders, said tie rod having a ball end located in one end of the tubular body element and a shank portion extending from the ball end through said one end of the tubular body element, bearing means in said one end of the tubular body element enveloping said ball end and bottomed on the shoulder of said flange facing said one end of the tubular body element, said one end of the tubular body element converging radially inward around said shank of the tie rod to cooperate with said flange in maintaining the bearing means around said ball end, said movable steering member having an end portion projecting into the opposite end of said tubular body member with an end face bottomed against the shoulder of the flange opposite the shoulder bottoming the bearing means, said end portion of the steering member having an undercut portion converging from the end face bottomed on said flange, and said opposite end of the tubular body element being deformed inwardly over said undercut portion of the steering member to lock the universal joint against rotation or axial movement relative to said steering member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A vehicle steering gear assembly which comprises a movable steering member, a tie rod member, a universal joint interconnecting said tie rod member with said steering member so that steering moement is imparted from the steering member through said tie rod member, said universal joint having a tubular body element with a radially inwardly directed integral flange providing opposite axially facing shoulders, said tie rod having a ball end located in one end of the tubular body element and a shank portion extending from the ball end through said one end of the tubular body element, bearing means in said one end of the tubular body element enveloping said ball end and bottomed on the shoulder of said flange facing said one end of the tubular body element, said one end of the tubular body element converging radially inward around said shank of the tie rod to cooperate with said flange in maintaining the bearing means around said ball end, said movable steering member having an end portion projecting into the opposite end of said tubular body member with an end face bottomed against the shoulder of the flange opposite the shoulder bottoming the bearing means, said end portion of the steering member having an undercut portion converging from the end face bottomed on said flange, and said opposite end of the tubular body element being deformed inwardly over said undercut portion of the steering member to lock the universal joint against rotation or axial movement relative to said steering member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle steering gear assembly of claim 1 wherein the end portion of the tubular body element receiving the end of the steering member is swaged radially inward on said converging portion of the steering member to bottom said flange against the end of the steering member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the movable steering member is a rack bar of a rack and pinion steering gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
A joint and workpiece assembly which comprises a tubular body member having a radially inward directed flange intermediate the ends thereof, a ball ended stud member having a ball end located in one end of said tubular body element and a shank projecting from said one end of the tubular body element, an elastomeric bearing means in said one end of the tubular body element bottomed on said flange and enveloping said ball end of the stud member, the end of the tubular body element receiving the stud shank therethrough converging inwardly around said shank to cooperate with said flange in holding the bearing means around the ball end and against axial movement in the tubular boDy element, a workpiece extending into the other end of said tubular body element bottomed on said flange, said workpiece having an annular undercut portion, and said other end of the tubular body member swaged into load bearing non-rotating engagement with said workpiece holding the flange against the end of the workpiece to prevent axial movement between the workpiece and ball stud.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
A joint and workpiece assembly which comprises a tubular body member having a radially inward directed flange intermediate the ends thereof, a ball ended stud member having a ball end located in one end of said tubular body element and a shank projecting from said one end of the tubular body element, an elastomeric bearing means in said one end of the tubular body element bottomed on said flange and enveloping said ball end of the stud member, the end of the tubular body element receiving the stud shank therethrough converging inwardly around said shank to cooperate with said flange in holding the bearing means around the ball end and against axial movement in the tubular boDy element, a workpiece extending into the other end of said tubular body element bottomed on said flange, said workpiece having an annular undercut portion, and said other end of the tubular body member swaged into load bearing non-rotating engagement with said workpiece holding the flange against the end of the workpiece to prevent axial movement between the workpiece and ball stud.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein the bearin means includes a first ball seat bottomed on the end of the tubular body element receiving the stud shank therethrough and a second ball seat bottomed on said flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein the annular undercut portion of the workpiece is a frusto-conical head with the base bottomed on said flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein the flange has an interference fit with the end of the workpiece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |