Nissan Motor Company Limited

Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.

Shigeru Saitoh

Mitsuharu Hamada

Naoki Yuzuriha

Tomoyuki Maruyama

Tooji Takemura

Satoshi Osawa

Atsushi Narue

Hideya Yamashita

Shogo Kachi

An intermediate shaft comprising a shaft body including an axle portion and a portion having an approximately elliptic shape of cross section, both major and minor axes of the elliptical cross-section portion being longer than a diameter of the axle portion, and a ring-shaped member with a cross-sectional shape analogous to the elliptic cross-section portion. A method for assembling this shaft provides for a vibration damping member intervened between the housing member and elliptic cross-section portion for damping vibrations transmitted from the steering gear box. This method also ensures that the housing and the vibration damping members and the elliptic cross-section portion are fitted into an outer tubular envelope, and the ring-shaped member normally has a gap against the outer tubular envelope and transmits rotational torque from the outer tubular envelope to the elliptic cross-section portion when the ring-shaped member is contacted with the outer tubular envelope. A universal joint yoke portion is linked to the outer tubular envelope so as to face opposing ends of the housing and vibration damping members and is contactable against the ends of the housing and vibration damping members. A stopper member is extended from the end edge of the outer tubular envelope so as to prevent the ring-shaped member from coming out of the elliptic cross-section portion.

Stroke absorbing type intermediate shaft for vehicular steering column

A universal joint yoke is obtained from a flat blank of sheet metal whose general shape is that of a cruciate form having a circular base and two diametrically opposing small semielliptical extensions. The blank of sheet metal is pressed in a forming apparatus so that the two extensions are bent perpendicularly to the circular base in the same direction with a given angle with respect to the circular base and two ribs or contiguous rib are formed along axes of bending to prevent a springback action of the two extensions which constitute two ear portions of the finished yoke. In addition, recesses are extended along a rear surface(s) of the rib(s) so that fasteners such as bolts and nuts for fastening a rubber coupling constituting a lower joint to a lower shaft of a steering system is nestled into the respective recesses. Both ends of the circular base have holes through which the fasteners for fastening the universal joint yoke to the rubber coupling is inserted. Distal ends of the two ear portions have also coaxial holes through which two trunnions of a universal joint cross member is journalled.

Universal joint yoke

A guide follower of a vehicle for a transportation system is coupled to an onboard steering linkage by a bendable cable or equivalent. The bendable cable is taut to transfer the guide following movement of the guide follower to the steering linkage and is relaxed to disconnect the movement transmitting connection between them.

Guide followable and manually steerable vehicle of a transportation

Growing community of inventors

Shizuoka, Japan

Shigeru Saitoh