Vehicle steering assembly having an axially compliant intermediate shaft

摘要

A steering assembly has a yoke and an axially compliant intermediate shaft having an elastomeric coupling fitted concentrically to the yoke for rotation about an axis. Preferably, a rigid sleeve of the shaft has a cylindrical portion that fixes concentrically to an end portion of a shaft element that extends longitudinally along the axis. Two diametrically opposite tabs of the sleeve project radially outward from the cylindrical portion. A resiliently flexible isolator is preferably molded to the sleeve and circumferentially covers the tabs and the cylindrical portion. The isolator preferably has two diametrically opposite ears located circumferentially between two diametrically opposite cover segments that substantially cover the tabs. The tabs generally prevent rotation of the shaft with respect to the yoke in case of isolator failure due to the excessive torque. Each ear preferably has a lobe that projects axially beyond the sleeve for enhancing axial compliancy of the intermediate shaft.