STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED BEARING ASSEMBLY

摘要

A steering column bearing assembly is disposed between an upper column jacket and a steering control shaft, supporting the steering control shaft for rotation within the upper column jacket. The steering column bearing assembly comprises an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the inner race and the outer race, each ball bearing having a ball bearing diameter. The inner race and the outer race define an annular cavity in which the plurality of ball bearings is disposed. The annular cavity has an interior column opening defined between an outer edge surface of the inner race and an inner edge surface of the outer race. The outer edge diameter is less than a sum of the inner edge diameter and the ball bearing diameter.

主权项

1. A steering column assembly comprising:
an upper column jacket, through which a steering control shaft is supported for rotation about a longitudinal column axis; and a steering column bearing assembly disposed between the upper column jacket and the steering control shaft for supporting the steering control shaft for rotation about the longitudinal column axis within the upper column jacket, the steering column bearing assembly, comprising:
an inner race;an outer race; anda plurality of ball bearings disposed between the inner race and the outer race, each ball bearing having a ball bearing diameter;the inner race and the outer race defining an annular cavity there-between, and the plurality of ball bearings being disposed in the annular cavity;the annular cavity being having an interior column opening at an inner axial end of the annular cavity and an extra-column opening at an exterior axial end of the annular cavity;the interior column opening being defined between an outer edge surface of the inner race and an inner edge surface of the outer race;the outer edge surface having an outer edge diameter, and the inner edge surface having an inner edge diameter;wherein the outer edge diameter is less than a sum of the inner edge diameter and the ball bearing diameter.