Intermediate shaft of vehicle steering apparatus
View Patent ↗An intermediate shaft of a vehicle steering apparatus can prevent foreign matter, for example, moisture, dust or oil, from being introduced into the intermediate shaft even from a process of transporting the intermediate shaft to assemble it to a vehicle, and even when the intermediate shaft is assembled to the vehicle and the vehicle is driven. As a result, it is possible to prevent a component of the intermediate shaft from being deformed or damaged.
1. An intermediate shaft of a vehicle steering apparatus, comprising:
a hollow outer member;
an inner member inserted into the outer member, each end of the inner member being connected with a steering shaft through a universal joint to be rotated; and
an introduction prevention member coupled to an end of the outer member and covering at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the outer member,
wherein the introduction prevention member is formed with an opening extending in an axial direction of the introduction prevention member, said inner member inserted into the opening,
wherein the introduction prevention member is formed with one or more through-holes extending in the axial direction and spaced apart from the opening in a radial direction of the introduction prevention member, and
wherein an inner circumferential surface of the introduction prevention member is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the outer member to define a passage therebetween which communicates with the one or more through-holes.
2. The intermediate shaft of claim 1 , wherein the introduction prevention member comprises a large diameter part covering the portion of the outer circumferential surface of the outer member, a connection unit extending diametrically inward from the large diameter part, and a small diameter part extending through a center of the connection unit and coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the inner member.
3. The intermediate shaft of claim 2 , wherein the introduction prevention member is formed with a protrusion that is formed in a circumferential direction of the introduction prevention member and protrudes in the axial direction of the introduction prevention member.
4. The intermediate shaft of claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more through-holes extends through the connection unit.
5. The intermediate shaft of claim 3 , wherein the one or more through-holes is plural through-holes, wherein the plural through-holes are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the introduction prevention member.
6. The intermediate shaft of claim 3 , wherein the one or more through-holes is plural through-holes, wherein an end of each of the plural through-holes is formed with a protrusion that is formed in a circumferential direction of the through-hole and protrudes in an axial direction of the through-hole.
7. The intermediate shaft of claim 3 , wherein the one or more through-holes is plural through-holes, wherein a discharge slot is formed in an inside of the connection unit as a circumferential recess to be communicated with the plural through-holes.
8. The intermediate shaft of claim 1 , wherein the one or more through-holes is arranged so as to be exposed to an outside of the introduction prevention member.
9. The intermediate shaft of claim 1 , wherein an end of each of the through-holes is formed with a protrusion that is formed in a circumferential direction of the through-hole and protrudes in an axial direction of the through-hole.
10. The intermediate shaft of claim 9 , wherein a circumferential recess is formed in an inside of each of the through-holes to be communicated with the through-hole.