Nsk Corporation

Shoji Oka

Sakae Matsumoto

Takahiro Minamigata

Kiyoharu Higashino

Shinichi Fuchigami

An elastic shaft joint comprises a shaft with a pair of outer-diameter side engagement surfaces which are substantially parallel to each other at two positions on the opposite sides of the outer peripheral surface in the radial direction, a rotary member with a pair of restraint plate portions which are substantially parallel to each other, having an opening on a lateral side thereof, and a vibration absorbing member provided between the rotary member and the shaft. The vibration absorbing member is constituted by an elastic member disposed on the inner peripheral surface of a part fixed to the rotary member and a sliding sleeve which is supported by the inner peripheral surface of the elastic member and which inner peripheral surface is in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft.

Elastic shaft joint

A shock absorbing type steering apparatus comprises in combination, a tubular outer shaft with a female serration on the inner peripheral surface at one end portion thereof and an inner shaft with a male serration engaged with said female serration on the outer peripheral surface at one end portion thereof, the male serration and the female serration being in the state of interference-fitted engagement with each other to be contractable based on a load in the axial direction. A film of solid lubricant is formed on the surface of at least one of the male and female serrations.

Shock absorbing type steering shaft

A steering apparatus for a car, comprises a steering shaft provided with a steering wheel at one end thereof, a steering column for supporting the steering shaft to be freely rotatable, an upper support mechanism fixed to the car body side for supporting the steering column, having an operating lever capable of taking a state for allowing the steering column to move in the axial direction and a state for fixing the steering column, so as to selectively take one of these two states and a lower support mechanism fixed to the car body side for supporting the steering column. The lower support mechanism comprises, a lower bracket fixed to the car body, a frictional member provided between the lower bracket and the steering column, capable of taking a first position for frictionally engaging with the lower bracket and the steering column to prevent a movement of the steering column and a second position for releasing the frictional engagement, and a link mechanism for moving the frictional member between the first position and the second position in interlocking with the operating lever.

Steering apparatus for a car

An elastic shaft joint of the present invention comprises an elastic member, a slide sleeve and a stopper. The elastic member is composed of an elastic material such as rubber, elastomer etc and held on an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion fixedly provided on the cylindrical member. The slide sleeve is made using a low-friction material such as a synthetic resin, an oil-impregnated metal etc, held on an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member and elastically pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the shaft by an elasticity of the elastic member. The stopper is provided between the shaft and the cylindrical member, permits the shaft and the cylindrical member to slightly displace in the axial and rotating directions, and hinders the displacement in the rotating direction beyond a predetermined angle enough to damage the elastic member and the slide sleeve.

A steering intermediate shaft has an inner shaft member and an outer tube member so engaged with each other as to be capable of transmitting rotation and to be slidable in an axial direction. The outer tube member includes slits so formed at one end as to extend in the axial direction. An annular fastening member is provided at a portion of the outer tube member formed with the slits to exert a fastening action inwards in a radial direction. The fastening member includes a disengagement preventing member for preventing the outer tube member from disengaging from the inner shaft member against an axial force within a predetermined value by engaging with the inner shaft member.

Growing community of inventors

Gunma-ken, Japan

Shoji Oka