| 摘要 |
IMPROVEMENTS TO STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLIES A telescopic steering column assembly (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) comprising an upper shroud portion (101, 301, 501) and a lower shroud portion (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) is supported by the shroud portions (101, 301) through a support bearing assembly (107, 108, 307, 308, 508) that acts between an upper portion of the telescopic steering shaft (103, 303) and a lower portion of the shroud (101, 301) that move relative to one another axially during telescopic adjustment, in which the support bearing assembly (107, 108, 307, 308, 508) comprises: a set of bearings elements, a bearing cage (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) comprising a sleeve that is located between an outer face of the upper shaft (103, 303, 403, 503) and an inner face of the lower shroud portion (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and is free to move axially relative to one of the upper shaft (103, 303, 403, 503) and the lower shroud (101, 301), the cage (110) including pockets (111, 211, 311, 411, 511) that extend through the sleeve, each pocket loosely locating a bearing element (109, 209) such that a portion of the bearing element (109, 209) extends through the cage (110) to engage with a first bearing (309, 409, 509) race surface defined by one of the upper shaft (103, 303, 403, 503) and the shroud (101, 301), an annular bearing race (112, 212) having a tapered second bearing (309, 409, 509) race surface that engages the bearing elements (109, 209, 309, 409, 509), located between the cage (110) and the upper shaft (103, 303, 403, 503) or the cage (110) and the lower shroud (101, 301) so that the annular bearing race (112, 212) is on the opposite side of the cage (110) to the first bearing (309, 409, 509) surface, and a biasing means which applies an axially directed thrust to the bearing elements (109, 209, 309, 409, 509) to force them into engagement with the second bearing (309, 409, 509) surface of the annular bearing race (112, 212), the thrust being reacted by the second bearing (309, 409, 509) surface. |
