Abstract: A spider for use in a compact universal joint, includes a spider body having a hollow cylindrical portion and two opposed tenons projecting radially outward from the hollow cylindrical portion along a common axis. The hollow cylindrical portion is adapted for installation of bearings therein for pivotal support of the cross body on a pin mounted in a first yoke of the universal joint, and the tenons are adapted for mounting within bearings in a second yoke thereof.

Abstract: A clamp for securing a torque transmitting coupling between an intermediate shaft and a drive tube in a vehicle steering column consists of a strap wrapped upon itself in a substantially circular form with its ends overlapping, the strap having a radial hole formed through the overlapping ends, and a bolt inserted through the radial hole and threadably engageable with a threaded nut within the circular form of the strap. The bolt preferably has a flared tip for trapping the bolt within the nut and for extending into and through a hole in a wall of the drive tube to engage a recess in the intermediate shaft. It also has an undercut portion above the flared tip for disengaging from threads of the nut when the flared tip is retracted into the wall of the drive tube. Until the shaft is properly positioned in the tube, the threads of the bolt and nut are prevented from engaging to tighten the clamp. The flared tip may have threads to permit easy assembly with the nut and the strap.

Abstract: A slap yoke, for connection to a non-cylindrical shaft in a rotary-drive device, has an axially extending non-cylindrical socket for radially receiving the non-cylindrical shaft, the socket having two laterally opposed holes in its walls for transverse installation of a clamp bolt. A threaded clamp bolt having a drive head for bearing against the outer surface of one wall of the non-cylindrical socket extends through the opposed holes and carries a cylindrical jacket fitted over the bolt. The jacket has longitudinally centered features for causing radial expansion of the jacket under an axial compressive load. The yoke has a threaded member at one of the opposed holes for receiving the clamp bolt and for causing a compressive axial load on the cylindrical jacket when the clamp bolt is threaded thereinto.

Abstract: A clamp yoke formed from a flat piece of metal. The flat piece being approximately T-shaped which is bent into the clamp yoke. The top portion of the T forming the yoke ears and the vertical portion forming two approximately parallel shaft portions. The yoke ears each having a bearing bore and the shaft portions each having a shaft receiving bore. The clamp yoke can be provided with a bolt having a reduced diameter middle which allows a shaft to be inserted into the shaft receiving bores without removing the bolt. The bolt is then tightened, drawing the larger diameter portion into the center of the clamp yoke where the bolt engages a transversely relieved portion on the shaft to axially retain the shaft.

Abstract: A clamp yoke formed from a flat piece of metal. The flat piece being approximately T-shaped which is bent into the clamp yoke. The top portion of the T forming the yoke ears and the vertical portion forming two approximately parallel shaft portions. The yoke ears each having a bearing bore and the shaft portions each having a shaft receiving bore. The clamp yoke can be provided with a bolt having a reduced diameter middle which allows a shaft to be inserted into the shaft receiving bores without removing the bolt. The bolt is then tightened, drawing the larger diameter portion into the center of the clamp yoke where the bolt engages a transversely relieved portion on the shaft to axially retain the shaft.

Abstract: This is a plastic thrust washer strip consisting of a plurality of plastic thrust washers integrally interconnected by thin plastic webs. The plastic webs and integral plastic tabs on each washer of the strip serve to locate and hold the washer strip on the hub of a universal joint.