The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1981
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1979
Leonard F Kopich, Madison Heights, MI (US);
James A Steele, Brighton, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An independently suspended steering wheel has a hub lock for connecting and disconnecting the steering wheel to a variable length drive axle which includes a universal joint at each end. One hub lock part is connected to a wheel stub shaft journalled in the wheel hub. The other part of the hub lock is connected to a skirt portion of one universal joint which slides in a counterbore of the wheel hub. A spring plunger in the other universal joint normally biases the drive axle to an extended position where the hub lock is disengaged. The hub lock is engaged by a fluid motor incorporated in the wheel hub or an external selector which retracts the drive axle. A pneumatically controlled hydraulic pressure system operates the fluid motor.