Abstract: A linear vibration isolator between a pair of shaft segments of a motor vehicle intermediate steering shaft including an outer member rigidly connected to one of the shaft segments, an inner member rigidly connected to the other of the shaft segments and cooperating with the outer member in defining an annular chamber therebetween, and an axially flexible and torsionally stiff disc pack in the annular chamber. The disc pack includes a plurality of flat outer spacer rings, a plurality of flat inner spacer rings nested inside of the outer spacer rings, and a plurality of elastomeric isolator discs stacked between the nested pairs of inner and outer spacer rings. The outer spacer rings with the isolator discs therebetween are clamped against a shoulder on the outer member and coupled to the outer member for unitary rotation therewith. The inner spacer rings with the isolator discs therebetween are clamped against a shoulder on the inner member and coupled to the inner member for unitary rotation therewith.

Abstract: A shaft coupling including a socket, a first shaft, a plug on a second shaft seated in the socket, and a clamp operative to clamp together the first and the second shafts in the direction of a longitudinal centerline of the shaft coupling to prevent dislodgment of the plug from the socket. The clamp includes an annular first flange on the first shaft, an annular second flange on the second shaft facing the first flange, oppositely facing frustoconical shoulders on the first and the second flanges, a plurality of clamp jaws pivotally mounted on the first shaft arrayed symmetrically around the first and the second flanges each having a closed position inducing radial thrust on the oppositely facing frustoconical shoulders, and springs biasing each of the clamp jaws toward its closed position.