TELESCOPIC SHAFT AND TELESCOPIC SHAFT FOR VEHICLE STEERING

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a telescopic shaft having a simple and inexpensive structure.;SOLUTION: An intermediate shaft 5 serving as the telescopic shaft is provided with an inner shaft 12 and a cylindrical outer shaft 13 fitted with each other so as to be slidable in the axial direction X1 and enable torque transmission. Balls 14 as torque transmission elements are interposed in a row between corresponding axial grooves 15, 16 of the inner shaft 12 and the outer shaft 13. An elastic member 18 held on the axial groove 15 of the inner shaft 12 so as to be immovable in the axial direction X1 applies preload to the balls 14. The elastic member 18 includes a gutter-shaped main body 19 forming a track of the balls 14, an extension part 20 extended from the main body 19 to the longitudinal direction, and a tongue piece 40 as a projection bent from the extension part 20. The tongue piece 40 abuts on the ball 14 positioned at the end of the row when the intermediate shaft 5 is extended. As a result, axial movement of the balls 14 is regulated.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT