Apparatus for connecting a vehicle steering wheel to a steering shaft

摘要

An apparatus (10) includes a steering shaft (12) rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels. A steering wheel (14) has a hub (40) for connection to an axial end (20) of the steering shaft (12). The hub (40) has a tapered surface (50) defining an opening (42) into which the axial end (20) of the steering shaft (12) extends. A collet (60) has a tapered radially outer surface (64) engageable with the tapered surface (50) of the hub (40). The collet (60) also has a radially inner surface (62) engageable with the axial end (20) of the steering shaft (12). A fastener (80) connects the steering wheel (14) to the steering shaft (12). The fastener (80) applies force to the collet (60) to force the radially outer tapered surface (64) of the collet into engagement with the tapered surface (50) defining the opening (42) in the hub (40).