Abstract: A shaft assembly having an inner shaft extending lengthwise within an outer shaft, and a slip joint enabling relative axial movement between the shafts. The slip joint includes roller tracks on the outer shaft, and rollers on the inner shaft in rolling engagement with the roller tracks.

Abstract: A shaft assembly with recirculating ball roller joint unit for use with an automotive steering column or the like has an inner shaft extending lengthwise within an outer shaft. A recirculating ball joint is provided between the shafts. The ball joint includes a shell assembly having two shells which together surround the inner shaft. Each shell has an outer cage, an inner cage and a retainer defining ball races, with balls recirculating in the races in rolling engagement with the inner shaft.

Abstract: A shaft assembly with recirculating ball roller joint unit for use with an automotive steering column or the like has an inner shaft extending lengthwise within an outer shaft. A recirculating ball joint is provided between the shafts. The ball joint includes a shell assembly having two shells which together surround the inner shaft. Each shell has an outer cage, an inner cage and a retainer defining ball races, with balls recirculating in the races in rolling engagement with the inner shaft.

Abstract: A shaft assembly having an inner shaft extending lengthwise within an outer shaft, and a slip joint enabling relative axial movement between the shafts. The slip joint includes roller tracks on the outer shaft, and rollers on the inner shaft in rolling engagement with the roller tracks.

Abstract: An intermediate steering shaft including a tubular shaft element, a solid shaft element telescoped into the tubular shaft element, a pair of universal couplings for connecting the tubular and solid elements to respective ones of a steering shaft and a steering gear input shaft, and a torsionally elastic coupling between the solid shaft element and the corresponding one of the universal couplings. The torsionally elastic coupling includes a torsion sleeve on the solid shaft element, a bushing cavity around the torsion sleeve in a yoke of the universal coupling, and an elastomeric bushing on the torsion sleeve interference fitted in the bushing cavity. A pair of long radial lugs on the torsion sleeve are disposed in respective ones of a pair of notches in the universal coupling yoke with separation therebetween. The elastomeric bushing is relatively soft for maximum torsional vibration isolation at high vehicle speed.

Abstract: An intermediate steering shaft including a tubular shaft element, a solid shaft element telescoped into the tubular shaft element, a pair of universal couplings for connecting the tubular and solid elements to respective ones of a steering shaft and a steering gear input shaft, and a torsionally elastic coupling between the solid shaft element and the corresponding one of the universal couplings. The torsionally elastic coupling includes a torsion sleeve on the solid shaft element, a bushing cavity around the torsion sleeve in a yoke of the universal coupling, and an elastomeric bushing on the torsion sleeve interference fitted in the bushing cavity. A pair of long radial lugs on the torsion sleeve are disposed in respective ones of a pair of notches in the universal coupling yoke with separation therebetween. The elastomeric bushing is relatively soft for maximum torsional vibration isolation at high vehicle speed.