Methods and apparatus for retaining a steering shaft
Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for retaining a steering shaft are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a seal, a steering shaft extending through the seal, and means for retaining the steering shaft in a retained position relative to the seal, the means for retaining configured to be release the steering shaft to an assembled position.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a steering shaft; and
a seal surrounding the steering shaft, the steering shaft extending through the seal, the steering shaft having a retained position and an assembled position relative to the seal, the assembled position axially displaced from the retained position, the seal to form an interference fit with a portion of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is in the retained position, the seal spaced apart from the portion of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is in the assembled position.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal is an elastic seal.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion has a tapered profile.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the steering shaft includes a yoke, the portion of the steering shaft abuts the yoke.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the yoke is to form a universal joint with an input shaft of a steering gear.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a dash seal.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a floor seal.
8 . An assembly including:
a panel to separate a first vehicle compartment from a second vehicle compartment, the panel including an opening;
a seal in the opening; and
a steering shaft extending through the panel, the seal surrounding the steering shaft, the steering shaft movable between a first axial position relative to the panel and a second axial position relative to the panel, the steering shaft retainable in the first axial position via an interference fit formed between the seal and a portion of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is in the first axial position, the seal spaced apart from the portion of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is in the second axial position.
9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seal is an elastic seal.
10 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the steering shaft has a tapered profile.
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the steering shaft includes a yoke and the portion of the steering shaft is spaced from the yoke.
12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the yoke is to form a universal joint with an input shaft of a steering gear.
13 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the panel is a dash panel.
14 . A vehicle including:
a first compartment;
a second compartment;
an assembly including:
a panel to separate the first compartment from the second compartment, the panel including an opening;
a seal in the opening; and
a steering shaft extending through the panel, the seal surrounding the steering shaft, the steering shaft movable between a first axial position relative to the panel and a second axial position relative to the panel, the steering shaft retainable in the first axial position via a press fit formed between the seal and a portion of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is in the first axial position, the seal spaced apart from the portion of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is in the second axial position.
15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first compartment is a passenger compartment, and the second compartment is a front component compartment.
16 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the seal is an elastic seal.
17 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the panel is a dash panel and the seal is a dash seal.
18 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the portion of the steering shaft has a tapered profile.
19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the steering shaft includes a yoke and the portion of the steering shaft abuts the yoke.
20 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the seal is a floor seal.