| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To support rotatably a steering shaft, by resiliently supporting the steering shaft against a steering column. CONSTITUTION:A bearing for a steering shaft 2 is constructed needle rollers 3, a retainer 4 holding the needle rollers 3 in place, a track ring 5 contacting the outer extremities of the rollers 3, and an elastic rubber ring 6 fitted on the outer surface of the ring 5. The track ring 5 is made of a thin-walled cylinder defining a slit 51 extending in the form of a slant straight line over the entire axial length of the ring 5. The elastic ring 6 is provided with a cylindrical portion 61 fitted on the outer surface of the track ring 5 and a flange portion 62 protruding radially and inwardly from each longitudinal end of the cylindrical portion 61. The inner diameter of each flange portion 62 is slightly larger than the diameter of each needle roller 3. The elastic ring 6 is force-fit within the inner wall of a steering column 1. Thereafter, the steering shaft 2 is inserted as a roller transfer surface and a sealing clearance is formed between the inner circumferential surface of each flange portion 62 and the steering shaft 62, whereby to achieve various effects such as prevention of rattling noise and increase of steering torque, smooth operation of the bearing, and maintenance of the sealing effect. |
