Abstract: A monobloc coupling is formed from a sheet and is adapted to be connected, on the one hand, to a torque transmitting device, and on the other hand, to a receiving device. This coupling includes three sections along an axis. A linking section for lining the coupling with the torque transmitting device is provided and includes a hub which is axially split and which is connected to the torque transmitting device by a fastening unit. An intermediate section is provided and is formed with two claws having longitudinal rims. The rims have complementary profiles which fit together and absorb the stresses on the coupling unit. An angle is formed between two claws 6 and 7 so that the rims fit one another. A linking section 3 for linking the coupling with the receiving device is provided and includes linking or fastening legs. The coupling is useful in the steering units of automotive vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering column device for motor vehicles, including a steering-wheel shaft mounted in a body tube by means of two bearings disposed substantially at each end of the body tube. The body tube is supported by a holder near its front end and by a holder near its rear end. The body tube is supported near its front end by a flexible holder, and it is supported near its rear end by a holder that is adapted to permit vertical movement of the body tube in such a manner as to place the steering wheel in a desired vertical position. The steering wheel is locked in the desired vertical position by a locking system.

Abstract: A steering-column body tube for a motor vehicle is provided from a blank cut-out of a single metal sheet with which is formed two front fixing lugs, two rear fixing lugs, and a tube. The elements of the blank cut-out are rolled over in such a manner as to bring the edges of the tube together to form a tube possessing a front opening and a rear opening at the location of the front and rear fixing lugs. The fixing lugs, together with the tube, are a single part made as one piece. A linkage arm connects a front element of the tube with a rear element of the tube.

Abstract: A telescopic coupling for use in applications such as the steering systems of heavy trucks. The coupling has modes and includes a female member, a male member, and an interposed member which are connected together in a main sliding system operable in a first operating mode in which the male and female members are axially slidable relative to one another and the coupling is rotatable substantially without circumferential play. The female member, the male member, and the interposed member are joined together in a second sliding system operable in a second operating mode in which the male and female members are axially slidable relative to one another and the coupling is rotatable with a limited amount of circumferential play. The secondary sliding system ensures the safety of the main sliding system in the event of wear of the latter by the appearance of circumferential play in the coupling.

Abstract: A shaft retaining device having a shaft selectively retained as to translation and rotational movement. A sleeve coaxial with the shaft encloses a length of the shaft. The shaft has an outwardly projecting cam within the sleeve. A cam follower carried by the sleeve has a part thereof within the sleeve in a plane normal to the shaft axis and is cammed away from the shaft by the cam. The cam and cam follower have complementary profiles, one of which is a male profile and the other is a female profile, in which the cam and cam follower engage other effectively selectively immobilizing the shaft and sleeve as to relative translation movement when the cam and cam follower engage each other.

Abstract: A device comprises a single motor (30) and a transmission (40) associated with the motor (30) and with a sleeve (22) and which has an input (410) connected to the motor (30) and two outputs (421, 422) which are associated with a movable body (222). One of these outputs (421) is connected to a sliding element (2221) in order to cause it to move translationally, and the other of these outputs (422) is connected to a pivoting element (2222) in order to cause it to be inclined. The two outputs (421, 422) are activated at paired relative speeds in order to ensure the adjustment in terms of depth of the two elements (2221, 2222) of the movable body (222), and of sections (211, 212) of a shaft (21) which these elements carry, and so that only the output (422) connected to the pivoting element (2222) is activated in order to ensure adjustment in terms of inclination of the pivoting element ( 2222) and of the shaft section (211) which it carries.

Abstract: A rod with an increased capacity for buckling under length-wise load has a central portion bent in the form of an omega with a central bend joined to end portions by elbows. The cross-section of the central portion is formed, for example by plastic deformation, into the shape of a bow-tie or the mathematical symbol "infinity" which consists of two lateral lobes connected by a thin central core and which is inscribed in a rectangle of which the length is equal to at least twice its width. Such rod is used as a shaft in a motor vehicle safety steering column.

Abstract: The device for coupling a shaft provided with a rod (10) having a noncircular end (11) and a shaft provided with a yoke (20) having a U-shaped fork (21) capable of pivoting in a direction (25) perpendicular to their common axis (X--X) comprises a guide surface (321) on the yoke, a sleeve (330) at least partially enclosing the yoke and movable relative to the latter so as to unmask or mask the U of the fork, a resilient coil spring (340) normally biasing the sleeve to mask the fork, and a locking bolt (350) retaining the sleeve against the resilient bias.Application to motor vehicle steering systems when the rod is fastened to a pinion and the yoke is fastened to a universal joint jaw.

Abstract: The lock keeper intended to be mounted on the periphery (11) of a shaft (10) comprises discs (21), each pierced through with a central orifice (210) intended for receiving this shaft (10) in order to stack them on it, and is made integral in terms of rotation with this shaft (10) by means of an interlock (30) consisting of at least one projection (31)/notch (32) pair, of which one is formed in this central orifice (210) and the other is formed on the periphery (11) of this shaft (10), some of these discs (21) being equipped at their edge (211) with at least one indentation (212), these indentations (212) being intended to be aligned longitudinally so as to produce a receptacle (23) for receiving a bolt (12).The invention is used in the motor-vehicle industry.

Abstract: A hub (10) of a steering wheel and a terminal element (20) of a shaft are adapted to be interconnected by a wedging locking device (100) employing male and female cones and an axial clamping mechanism (200) employing a screw and a nut. A fine adjustment device includes at least one couple of pair of a groove (31) and a tongue (32) which extend longitudinally, are cooperative and complementary and adapted to be engaged one inside the other with confronting radial faces (301, 302) spaced apart from each other by a predetermined clearance, a toothed sector (33) and a confronting cavity (34) adapted to act as a semi-bearing for a gear pinion (35) capable of meshing with the toothed sector.

Abstract: A coupling device comprises a shackle (20) mounted to be pivotable about an axis (21) orthogonal to branches (22) of the shackle for surrounding a stem (12), a locking mechanism having a screw (31) and a nut (32), and a clip (40). The nut has a bevel (320), an orientation maintaining arrangement (321) and a cam (322) together with a brake (33). The clip is provided with elastically yieldable legs (41) for maintaining the clip in position, and arm (43) elastically biasing the nut (32) and, optionally, a safety strip (44) having a hook (440). This device permits easily, rapidly and reliably coupling the shackle and the stem associated with driving and driven shafts. The coupling device is applied in the steering device of an automobile wherein the shackle is connected to a yoke of a universal joint associated with a shaft, and wherein the stem is connected to a gear wheel of the steering box.

Abstract: A dog clutch includes complementary cooperative male and female connection parts, one of which parts is defined by a hub integral with a wheel while the other part is carried by an end part of a shaft and which have such configuration as to define a series of cylindrical peripheral bearing surfaces and to provide between two successive bearing surfaces radial abutments which define therebetween projections engaged in cavities. A centrifugal expansion device is disposed directly and at least partly in the end part so as to produce a radial expansion of the series of male bearing surfaces and normally achieve an immobilization by the effect of friction of the hub on the end part, and exceptionally achieve a locking against rotation by contact of the abutments.

Abstract: The device comprises, mounted on the steering column, a sleeve (2) in the outer surface of which are provided cavities (3) for receiving the bolt (4) of a locking system (5) for preventing rotation of the column. The sleeve is mounted on the column with a tight fit which produces the deformation of at least one of the two parts beyond the elastic limit of the material from which it is made.

Abstract: A shaping device for corrugating a tube includes at least one mandrel which is radially expansible and has a body associated with at least one relatively resilient arm which carries on its surface an impression whose profile corresponds to the profile of the corrugation to be obtained, and an axially movable locking member for causing the mandrel to move from a retracted position to an outer position in which the locking member immobilizes the mandrel, and hammers. The hammers, the tube and the mandrel-locking member are adapted to be subjected to relative rotations about their common longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A separable connecting device, in particular of a steering column for a motor vehicle, includes two shaft sections having end portions which overlap and each carrying a flange. The flanges are interconnected by connecting pins whcih are separable in the event of impact. The flanges carried by each shaft section are of identical shape, and the connecting pins are fixed to each flange and are slidably engaged in openings provided in the other flange.

Abstract: The device comprises a steering column support tube (1) connected to a housing (2) of rectangular section and mounted to be angularly movable by means of an articulation line connected to the body of the vehicle, between the wings (3) of a fixed bracket (4). The device further comprises locking means including a toggle system, a rod (7) extending through the housing and engaged in apertures (8) in the wings (3) of the bracket, the rod being provided at one end with abutment means (11, 11a) for abutment against one of the wings (3) of the bracket, and being provided at its opposite end with a head (12) between which head and the other of the wings (3) of the bracket (4) there is interposed at least one element (13, 14) of a toggle system provided with an actuating lever (14).

Abstract: A coupling collar comprising a body in which are formed a passage 5, 6 for an element 12 to be coupled and means 8, 15 and 17 for clamping said collar to the element 12, wherein there is provided on said body a lateral tongue portion 9 constituting means for immobilizing the collar axially and as concerns rotation relative to the element to be coupled.

Abstract: The double universal joint comprises two end yokes (1,2) each of which is connected by a spider element to an intermediate connecting device comprising an outer part (14) and an inner part (15) which are interconnected by an elastically yieldable element (16) interposed between the outer part and the inner part. Each of the outer and inner parts (14,15) is made from a curled and welded sheet metal blank or from a tube and includes a corresponding yoke (19,20) for connection of the part with a corresponding spider element (8,7) associated with an end yoke (1,2) of the joint.

Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a coupling element having a split hub 3 provided with ears 6 constituting a clamping means clamping the hub to the shaft 13 or other torque transmitting element, the ears 6 having throughway apertures 7 for receiving a tightening screw for the clamping means. The device comprises a resiliently yieldable element 8 mounted between the ears 6 and extending across the apertures 7 formed in the ears for preventing the positioning of the tightening screw in the absence of the shaft 13. The element 8 is retractable by the insertion of the shaft 13 in the hub 3 of the coupling element.

Abstract: The yoke formed by the blanking and rolling of a blank comprises branches 1, 2 and a hub 23 which is provided at the end thereof remote from the branches of the yoke with a guiding chamfer for a shaft adapted to receive the yoke. The chamfer 10, 12, 16, 17 is formed by a cold stamping operation.