INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AXIAL RETENTION DEVICE

摘要

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the intermediale shaft 10 is in the fully collapsed position of FIG. 1, a breakaway load retention device is engaged to increase the breakaway load of the intermediate shaft 10. In particular, the stationary portion 12 defines a pocket 14 that has an inner diameter. In some embodiments, the stationary portion 12 is a slip seal. The intermediate shaft 10 includes an engagement structure 16 that has an outer diameter. In some embodiments, the engagement structure 16 is a concentric isolator that is operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the intermediate shaft 10. The outer diameter of the engagement structure 16 is larger than the inner diameter of the pocket 14. This relative sizing, combined with the materials of the components, allows the engagement structure 16 to be gripped by the inner diameter of the pocket 14 in an interference fit condition when engaged, as shown in FIG. 1. The friction between the engagement structure 16 and the inner diameter of the pocket 14 determine the breakaway load of the intermediate shaft 10. Therefore, the component materials and the dimensions of the pocket 14 and/or the engagement structure 16 can be changed to tune the breakaway load at the fully collapsed position of FIG. 1. The pocket 14 may be angled in some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, to receive the engagement structure 16 in a smooth manner.