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:
Jun. 15, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1997
Frank Robert Keipert, Bay City, MI (US);
James Richard Salois, Midland, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A linear actuator including a socket on a first element of a motor vehicle steering column, an expandable nut loosely disposed in the socket, and a screw shaft rotatably supported on a second element of the steering column. The expandable nut consists of a front segment facing a distal end of the screw shaft and a back segment behind the front segment. An inside screw thread in the back segment of the expandable nut is angularly phased relative to an inside screw thread in the front segment. The expandable nut self-aligns with the screw shaft when the latter is screwed into the inside screw thread in the front segment. An outboard end of the thread groove in the screw shaft defining the outside screw thread thereon spreads apart the front and back segments of the expandable nut to positions resiliently wedged between the screw shaft and the socket to eliminate lash between the screw shaft and the first element of the steering column. In a preferred embodiment, the expandable nut is a molded plastic nut having front and back segments connected by an integral living hinge.