Claims
- 1. A universal joint (10) for use in a steering wheel assembly (10), said assembly (10) comprising; a first shaft (12) having a first universal end (14), a second shaft (28) having a second universal end (30), said first universal end (14) including oppositely disposed faces (16) with a pin (20) extending from each of said faces (16), cap members (22) rotatably disposed on said pin (20) and in facing relationship to said faces (16) for allowing relative rotational movement about the axis of said pin (20) between said first shaft (12) and said cap members (22), each of said cap members (22) having a semi-circular periphery away from said faces (16) in the plane containing the axis of said pin (20) and including flat sides perpendicular to said faces (16) extending between said faces (16) and said semicircular peripheries, and socket members (34) clamped about said second universal end (30) of said second shaft (28) and including a circular pocket (36) disposed about said cap members (22) having flat bottoms (38) in sliding engagement with said flat sides of said cap member (22) for limiting movement of said cap members (22) in said plane relative to said socket members (34) so that universal movement occurs between said shafts (12, 28) as said circular cap members (22) rotate in said pocket (36) along with said pin (20) and relative rotation occurs about the axis of said pin (20) between said first shaft (12) and said cap members (22) at said faces (16), a fastener (50) connected between said socket members (34) within said pocket (36), and said cap members (22) having said semi-circular periphery extending beyond said first universal end (14) and including reliefs (26) extending away from said first universal end (14) therein for defining a clearance about said fastener (50) for allowing rotational movement of said cap members (22).
- 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said socket members (34) mating in a plane containing said axis of said pin (20).
- 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said first universal end (14) of said first shaft (12) having sides (17) extending laterally from said flat sides of said cap members (22), said socket members (34) defining an outwardly flared recess (40, 41) extending into the bottoms (38) of said circular pocket (36) to accommodate said sides of said first shaft (12) during rotational movement of said cap members (22) in said circular pocket (36).
- 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said socket members (34) presenting an upper surface (42), said circular pocket (36) intersecting and terminating at said upper surface (42) on a chord of the circle thereof for retaining said cap members (22) therein.
- 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said outwardly flared recess (40, 41) intersecting said upper surface (42) at the intersections (43) of said circular pocket (36) and said upper surface (42).
- 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by including a second fastener (52) for independently connecting said socket members (34) to said second shaft (28).
- 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by said socket means (34) including a first fastener hole (48), and said first fastener (50) extending through said socket members (34) at the bottoms (38) of said circular pockets (36).
- 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further characterized by said socket members (34) including guide means (44, 46) for aligning said socket members (34) during assembly and preventing relative angular movement therebetween.
- 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 further characterized by said socket members (34) being identical in configuration.
- 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by said guide means (44, 46) including a guide pin (44) disposed laterally of said pocket (36) of each socket member (34) and a guide hole (46) on the opposite side of each socket member (34) for receiving the guide pin (44) of the other socket member (34).
- 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by first shaft (12) including a pin hole extending from one of said faces (16) to the other for supporting said pin (20) to extend away from each of said faces (16).
- 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by said socket members (34) including a generally rectangular pocket (54) for receiving said second shaft (28).
- 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by said second shaft (28) including a rectangular end (30) and a securing hole (32) extending through said rectangular end (54).
- 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further characterized by said socket members (34) including second fastener holes (56) extending through said rectangular pocket (54), said second fastener (52) extending through said second fastener holes (56) and said securing hole (32).
- 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by said rectangular pocket (54) and said rectangular end (30) of said second shaft (28) having mating rounded side surfaces (16) extending in the direction of said second fastener (52).
- 16. A universal joint assembly (10) for use in a steering wheel assembly (10), said assembly (10) comprising; a first shaft (12) having a first universal end (14), a second shaft (28) having a second universal end (30), said first universal end (14) including oppositely disposed faces (16) with a pin (20) extending from each of said faces (16), cap members (22) rotatably disposed on said pin (20) and in facing relationship to said faces (16) for allowing relative rotational movement about the axis of said pin (20) between said first shaft (12) and said cap members (22), said cap members (22) having a semi-circular periphery away from said faces (16) in a plane containing the axis of said pin (20), socket members (34) clamped about said second universal end (30) of said second shaft (28) and including a circular pocket (36) disposed about said cap members (22) for limiting movement of said cap members (22) in said plane relative to socket members (34) so that universal movement occurs between said shafts (12, 28) as said circular cap members (22) rotate in said pocket (36) along with said pin (20) and relative rotation occurs about the axis of said pin (20) between said first shaft (12) and said cap members (22) at said faces (16), fastener means (50) connected between said socket members (34) within said pocket (36), characterized by said cap members (22) having said semi-circular periphery extending beyond said first universal end (14) and including reliefs (26) extending away from said fastener (50) for allowing rotational movement of said cap members (22).
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 943,500, filed 12-19-86.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
943500 |
Dec 1986 |
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