| 摘要 |
<p>A steering column comprises inner and outer hexagonal-shaped shafts (12, 16), the inner shaft (12) being disposed within a bore (14) of the outer shaft (16). A mechanism for eliminating lost motion or "lash" between the two shafts comprises a plurality of slots (20) located in the outer shaft (16), the slots being circumferentially offset relative to one another. Wedges (22, 23) are located in respective slots (20) and abut corresponding polygonal surfaces of the inner shaft (12), with a collar (28) telescoped over the inner and outer shafts and having inclined ramps (30) at the interior thereof in alignment with respective wedges (22, 23) and slots (20), the ramps loading and causing inward movement of the wedges against the surfaces of the inner shaft (12) upon axial movement of the collar (28) relative to the outer shaft (16). A spring member (29) telescoped over the inner and outer shafts biases the collar member (28) axially into engagement with the wedges (22, 23) whereby a plurality of surfaces (13,17) of the inner shaft (12) engage in surface-to-surface contact a plurality of adjacent surfaces (18, 21) of the outer shaft (16).</p> |
