| 摘要 |
A collapsible steering shaft assembly for a collapsible steering column assembly is disclosed as comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member projecting from within the sleeve member which are rotatably mounted within a collapsible steering column. A joining member for joining the sleeve and shaft members is located intermediate thereof and is fixed against both axial and angular movement relative to one of the members. The joining member and the other of the steering shaft members have a first detent which normally prevents inward collapse of the steering shaft assembly and a second detent which normally prevents outward telescoping of the steering shaft assembly. The first detent of the joining member is shearable and the second detent of the joining member is yieldable to permit inward collapse of the steering shaft assembly upon an end impact of the steering column assembly of a predetermined magnitude. The joining member and the other of the steering shaft members also have a third detent which normally prevents relative angular movement between the sleeve and shaft members. Further, the sleeve and shaft members have structures providing a joint therebetween thatoperates during and after the inward collapse of the steering shaft assembly to maintain the locked angular relationship therebetween. that operates
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