Two-piece bushing for a commercial vehicle

Inventors: Tamara Itani (West Lafayette, IN); Alex Schieler (Otterbein, IN)

Assignee: ZF ACTIVE SAFETY AND ELECTRONICS US LLC

B62D1/16 F16C17/022 F16C43/02 F16C2208/04 F16C2208/60 F16C2326/24

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12679440
App. No.: 19/324,152
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B1

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Abstract

A steering assembly for a vehicle, includes a housing mounted to a firewall. The housing defines a first through hole. A top cap defines a second through hole mounted on the housing. The top cap and housing define a chamber. A portion of the steering shaft within the through holes includes an upper groove and an axially spaced lower groove each circumferentially surrounding the shaft. A bearing is disposed in the chamber and circumferentially surrounding the steering shaft. The bearing has an upper lip that engages with the upper groove, and a lower lip that engages with the lower groove. A convex outer surface of the steering shaft abuts an inner wall of the chamber, and an inner convex surface abuts the intermediate shaft. The bearing limits an axial movement of the steering shaft during operation of the vehicle and to permit rotation of the steering shaft.

Claims (36)

1 . A steering assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to a chassis of the vehicle, at a firewall between a driver cab and an engine bay of the vehicle, wherein the housing defines a first through hole connecting the driver cab and the engine bay;

a top cap defining a second through hole mounted on the housing on a side facing away from the firewall, the top cap and housing defining a chamber therebetween;

a steering shaft disposed in the first and second through holes, having a first end mechanically coupled to an upper steering shaft, and a second end mechanically coupled to a lower steering shaft,

wherein a portion of the steering shaft within the first and second through holes includes an upper groove and an axially spaced lower groove each circumferentially surrounding the steering shaft; and

an annular two-piece bearing disposed in the chamber and circumferentially surrounding the steering shaft, the annular two-piece bearing having:

an upper lip engaging with the upper groove, and a lower lip engaging with the lower groove;

a convex outer surface abutting an inner wall of the chamber;

an inner convex surface that abuts the steering shaft,

wherein the annular two-piece bearing is configured to limit an axial movement of the steering shaft during operation of the vehicle and to permit rotation of the steering shaft.

2 . The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the annular two-piece bearing is composed of a combination of nylon and glass fibers.

3 . The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering shaft has a surface diameter, wherein the upper groove and the lower groove have a groove diameter, and wherein the groove diameter is less than the surface diameter.

4 . The steering assembly of claim 3 , wherein the annular two-piece bearing has an inner diameter based on the upper lip and the lower lip, and wherein the inner diameter of the annular two-piece bearing is less than the surface diameter.

5 . The steering assembly of claim 4 , wherein the inner diameter of the annular two-piece bearing is the same as the groove diameter.

6 . The steering assembly of claim 4 , wherein the upper lip of the annular two-piece bearing interacts with the upper groove of the steering shaft and the lower lip of the annular two-piece bearing interacts with the lower groove of the steering shaft.

7 . The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein each piece of the annular two-piece bearing includes a male snapping member and a female snapping member, and wherein a male snapping member of a first piece of the annular two-piece bearing mechanically interacts with a female snapping member of a second piece of the annular two-piece bearing.

8 . The steering assembly of claim 7 , wherein a female snapping member of the first piece of the annular two-piece bearing mechanically interacts with a male snapping member of the second piece of the annular two-piece bearing.

9 . The steering assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first radius of curvature of the convex outer surface of the annular two-piece bearing is designed based on a second radius of curvature of the inner wall of the chamber.

10 . A method for installing a steering assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

providing a housing configured to be mounted to a chassis of the vehicle, at a firewall between a driver cab and an engine bay of the vehicle, wherein the housing defines a first through hole connecting the driver cab and the engine bay;

providing a top cap defining a second through hole mounted on the housing on a side facing away from the firewall, the top cap and housing defining a chamber therebetween;

providing a steering shaft disposed in the first and second through holes, having a first end mechanically coupled to an upper steering shaft, and a second end mechanically coupled to a lower steering shaft,

providing an annular two-piece bearing disposed in the chamber and circumferentially surrounding the steering shaft, the annular two-piece bearing having:

an upper lip engaging with the upper groove, and a lower lip engaging with the lower groove;

a convex outer surface abutting an inner wall of the chamber;

an inner convex surface that abuts the steering shaft,

wherein the annular two-piece bearing is configured to limit an axial movement of the steering shaft during operation of the vehicle and to permit rotation of the steering shaft.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the annular two-piece bearing is composed of a combination of nylon and glass fibers.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the steering shaft has a surface diameter, wherein the upper groove and the lower groove have a groove diameter, and wherein the groove diameter is less than the surface diameter.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the annular two-piece bearing has an inner diameter based on the upper lip and the lower lip, and wherein the inner diameter of the annular two-piece bearing is less than the surface diameter.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the inner diameter of the annular two-piece bearing is the same as the groove diameter.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the upper lip of the annular two-piece bearing interacts with the upper groove of the steering shaft and the lower lip of the annular two-piece bearing interacts with the lower groove of the steering shaft.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each piece of the annular two-piece bearing includes a male snapping member and a female snapping member, and wherein a male snapping member of a first piece of the annular two-piece bearing mechanically interacts with a female snapping member of a second piece of the annular two-piece bearing.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a female snapping member of the first piece of the annular two-piece bearing mechanically interacts with a male snapping member of the second piece of the annular two-piece bearing.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a first radius of curvature of the convex outer surface of the annular two-piece bearing is designed based on a second radius of curvature of the inner wall of the chamber.