GB2070734A - Hub and shaft assembly - Google Patents

Hub and shaft assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2070734A
GB2070734A GB8006869A GB8006869A GB2070734A GB 2070734 A GB2070734 A GB 2070734A GB 8006869 A GB8006869 A GB 8006869A GB 8006869 A GB8006869 A GB 8006869A GB 2070734 A GB2070734 A GB 2070734A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shaft
hub
aperture
section
end portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8006869A
Other versions
GB2070734B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ford Motor Co Ltd
Ford Motor Co
Original Assignee
Ford Motor Co Ltd
Ford Motor Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ford Motor Co Ltd, Ford Motor Co filed Critical Ford Motor Co Ltd
Priority to GB8006869A priority Critical patent/GB2070734B/en
Priority to DE19813105825 priority patent/DE3105825A1/en
Publication of GB2070734A publication Critical patent/GB2070734A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2070734B publication Critical patent/GB2070734B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D1/00—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements
    • F16D1/06—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end
    • F16D1/08—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key
    • F16D1/09—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key with radial clamping due to axial loading of at least one pair of conical surfaces
    • F16D1/092—Couplings for rigidly connecting two coaxial shafts or other movable machine elements for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key with radial clamping due to axial loading of at least one pair of conical surfaces the pair of conical mating surfaces being provided on the coupled hub and shaft
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
    • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
    • B62D1/04—Hand wheels
    • B62D1/10—Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)

Abstract

A hub (2) has a central aperture (6) with a tapered part (8) of non- circular radial cross-section, e.g. hexagonal, and a shaft (10) has a tapered part (15) of complementary shape, which is retained by a lock nut (17). To prevent assembly in misalignment, a hexagonal parallel- sided guide section (16) on the shaft and a guide recess (9) of complementary shape in the hub (2) co-operate to prevent the shaft (10) from fully entering the hub (2) except when the non-circular tapered parts (8, 15) of the shaft (10) and hub (2) are in registry with each other, and the length (A) of the end portion of the shaft (10) in relation to the depth of the aperture (6) is such that the nut (17) cannot be threaded on to the end of the shaft (10) when the guides (16, 9) are in orientation which prevents full entry of the shaft. The hub may form part of motor vehicle steering wheel (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hub and shaft assembly DESCRIPTION This invention relates to hub and shaft assemblies, particularly in steering column assemblies.
Hub and shaft assemblies of steering columns usually comprise a hub having a central axial aperture therethrough and a shaft received in the aperture and projecting through the hub. Parts of the end portion of the shaft and the aperture have non-circular complementary cross sections, being for example splined, so that the hub cannot rotate relative to the shaft assembly thereon. A retaining member, e.g. a threaded nut, is mounted on the end of the shaft to retain the hub on the shaft.
According to the present invention, there is provided a hub and shaft assembly comprising a hub having a central aperture therethrough, at least part of which is of noncircular radial cross-section, a shaft having an end portion received in the hub and extending through the aperture, part of the end portion being of complementary shape to and engaged with the said part of the central aperture, and a retaining member mounted on the end of the shaft for retaining the hub thereon, characterised in that the hub and the shaft include guides which are engageable with each other to prevent axial movement of the end portion of the shaft through the aperture except when the parts of non-circular crosssection are in registry with each other, and in that the end of the shaft does not project from the hub sufficiently to permit the retaining member to be mounted thereon when the guides are engaged.
The guides therefore ensure that the retaining member can only be mounted on the shaft when the parts of complementary radial cross section on the hub and shaft are in registry with each other.
This is of particular importance where the parts of the end portion of the shaft and the aperture of complementary cross-section are polygonal, e.g. hexagonal, in radial crosssection and taper axially towards the end portion of the shaft. With this construction it is comparatively easy to mount the hub on the shaft in an apparently stable condition but with the polygonal parts out of registry with each other. For example where the surfaces are hexagonal, the hub an appear to be lo- cated on the shaft with the parts 30 out of alignment. In a steering column assembly where the hub forms part of a steering wheel, and the shaft part of a steering column of a motor vehicle, assembly of the hub and shaft in such a condition can be particularly dangerous.
The guide elements may take any suitable form e.g. interengaging teeth and grooves.
Preferably however they comprise a portion of the shaft of polygonal cross-section and a recess in the hub having a complementary radial cross-section.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an axial cross-section through part of a steering column incorporating a hub and shaft assembly in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an view similar to Fig. 1 showing part of the assembly.
Referring to the drawings, a steering column comprises a steering wheel 1 which comprises a die-cast hub 2, composed of aluminiun, a rim 3 connected to the hub 2 by spokes 4, and a covering 5, composed of an integral-skin polyurethane foam.
The hub 2 has a central aperture 6 therethrough which, as best seen in Fig. 2, includes an upper end part 7 of uniform circular radial cross-section, a central part 8 of hexagonal radial cross section, which tapers axially towards the upper end part 7, and an end recess 9 of uniform hexagonal radial crosssection.
A tubular steering column shaft 10 (Fig. 1) has an upper end portion 1 2 which terminates in a threaded end part 14 of a size sufficient to pass through the upper end part 7 of the aperture 6. Adjacent the end part 1 4 is a central part 1 5 of hexagonal cross-section which tapers axially towards the end of the shaft 1 0 and is complementary in shape with the central part 8 of the aperture 6. The lower part 1 6 of the end portion 1 2 has a uniform hexagonal radial cross-section complementary in shape to the end recess 9 of the aperture 6 and in the same angular orientation relative to the central part 1 5 as is the end recess 9 of the aperture 6 to the central part 8 of the aperture 6.The axial length A of the threaded portion 1 4 and the central part 1 5 is not greater than the axial depth B (Fig. 2) of the aperture 6 so that the end portion 1 4 only projects from the aperture 6 when the lower end part 1 6 is received in the recess 9.
When the hub 2 and shaft 10 are assembled, the end portion 1 2 of the shaft 10 is received in the hub 2 and extends through the aperture 6 with the threaded end part 1 4 projecting from the other side of the hub. The hub 2 is retained on the shaft 10 by means of a nut 1 7 threaded on to the end portion 1 2 of the shaft 10. A diametrical bore for a split pin may also be provided in the end part 1 4 to prevent accidental removal of the nut 1 7.
In the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the shaft 10 is prevented from rotating and moving axially relative to the hub 2 by the engagement of the he'.'agonaksection parts of the shaft and hub. The complementary tapered polygonal parts 8, and 14 prevent rotation of the hub 2 on the shaft 10 and also act as abutments which limit the movement of the hub downwardly on to the column 10. This construction is particularly advantageous where the hub 2 is formed of a material, such as aluminium, which has low shear strength.
Since the central part 8 of the aperture 6 is capable of withstanding higher shear forces than for example a similar hub provided with axial splines machined directly into the material of the hub. Moreover the hub 2 is cheaper to manufacture than a similar hub with splines. Since the lower end part 1 6 of the shaft 10 and the recess 9 of the aperture 6 in the hub 2 are of complementary hexagonal cross-section, they act as guides when the steering wheel 1 is fitted on to the end portion 1 2 of the shaft 10 and prevent axial movement of the shaft 10 into the aperture 6 except when the central part 8 of the aperture 2 is in registry with the central part 1 5 of the end portion 1 2 of the shaft 1 0. Thus, if the central parts 8 and 1 5 of the aperture 2 and end portion 1 2 were circular in cross-section, the wheel 2 could be mounted on the end portion 12 of the shaft 10 30 out of alignment with the edges 1 5a of the hexagonal-section central part 1 5 engaged with the faces 8g of the hexagonal section central part 8 of the aperture 2. This represents a relatively stable configuration, and could lead to the hub 2 and shaft 10 being incorrectly assembled.However, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, if an attempt is made to fit the wheel 2 over the end portion 1 2 in this orientation, the lower part 1 6 of the end portion 25 will engage the recess 9 and prevent the end portion 1 2 of the shaft from entering further into the aperture 6. In this position, since the distance A is not greater than the distance B, the threaded end portion 14 does not project beyond the hub 2 sufficiently to allow the nut 1 7 to be threaded on to the end of the shaft 10. The only condition in which the lower part 1 6 can enter the recess 9 is when the central part 1 5 of the end portion 1 2 is in registry with the central part 8 of the aperture 2. The assembler can therefore immediately appreciate that the wheel 1 and shaft 10 are incorrectiy aligned and adjust their relative positions accordingly. The risk of faulty assembly of the wheel 1 on the shaft 10 is therefore reduced.

Claims (6)

1. A hub and shaft assembly comprising a hub having a central aperture therethrough, at least part of which is of non-circular radial cross-section, a shaft having an end portion received in the hub and extending through the aperture, part of the end portion being of complementary shape to and engaged with the said part of the central aperture, and a retaining member mounted on the end of the shaft for retaining the hub thereon, characterised in that the hub and the shaft include guides which are engageable with each other to prevent axial movement of the end portion of the shaft through the aperture except when the parts of non-circular cross-section are in registry with each other, and in that the end of the shaft does not project from the hub sufficiently to permit the retaining member to be mounted thereon when the guides are engaged.
2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the said part of the aperture is polygonal in radial cross-section and tapers axially towards the end of the shaft.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the retaining member comprises a nut threadedly mounted on the end portion of the shaft.
4. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the guide elements comprise a portion of the shaft of polygonal cross-section and a recess in the hub of complementary cross-section.
5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the hub comprises part of a steering wheel and the shaft comprises a steering column.
6. A hub and shaft assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
GB8006869A 1980-02-29 1980-02-29 Hub and shaft assembly Expired GB2070734B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8006869A GB2070734B (en) 1980-02-29 1980-02-29 Hub and shaft assembly
DE19813105825 DE3105825A1 (en) 1980-02-29 1981-02-18 STEERING COLUMN ARRANGEMENT WITH A STEERING WHEEL HAVING A STEERING WHEEL HUB

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8006869A GB2070734B (en) 1980-02-29 1980-02-29 Hub and shaft assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2070734A true GB2070734A (en) 1981-09-09
GB2070734B GB2070734B (en) 1984-01-11

Family

ID=10511769

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8006869A Expired GB2070734B (en) 1980-02-29 1980-02-29 Hub and shaft assembly

Country Status (2)

Country Link
DE (1) DE3105825A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2070734B (en)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1225622A (en) * 1916-09-13 1917-05-08 Charles Sybil Hall Automobile steering-wheel.
GB1236264A (en) * 1968-09-12 1971-06-23 Leslie Leston Kit of parts for a steering wheel attachable to the steering column shaft of a motor vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3105825C2 (en) 1989-03-02
DE3105825A1 (en) 1982-01-07
GB2070734B (en) 1984-01-11

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19990228