An intermediate shaft assembly for a steering column is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a first shaft defining a cavity and a first bearing raceway, a second shaft arranged at least partially within the cavity of the first shaft, a sleeve arranged on an axial end of the second shaft and defining a second bearing raceway, and a bearing assembly including at least two rows of rolling elements and a cage. The rolling elements are supported between the first bearing raceway of the first shaft and the second bearing raceway of the sleeve. The sleeve can be heat treated, and formed from sheet metal. The sleeve can be secured to the axial end of the second shaft by a direct rotational connection such that the sleeve is rotationally fixed to the second shaft.

A movable center-of-gravity tube comprising a tube body (41), a center-of-gravity body (42) accommodated inside the tube body and balls (43) held on the center-of-gravity body (42) is provided, in which the center-of-gravity body (42) has a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of an inner surface of the tube body and comprises three or more rows of ball circulation grooves (44) on its outer surface in parallel with each other, in which the ball circulation grooves (44) accommodate the balls in a circulation manner, and each of which comprises two rows connected to each other, in such manner that the balls in one groove of the ball circulation grooves rotate and circulate in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tube body, while the balls in another groove rotate and circulate in no contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tube body, when the center-of-gravity body moves.

An axially adjustable steering column assembly includes a first support structure. The axially adjustable steering column assembly also includes a second support structure, wherein the first support structure is axially adjustable relative to the second support structure in a telescoping manner. The axially adjustable steering column assembly further includes a plurality of telescope interface assemblies disposed between the first support structure and the second support structure. Each of the telescope interface assemblies include a track formed in at least one of the first support structure and the second support structure. Each of the telescope interface assemblies also includes a plurality of metal balls disposed in the track to provide a rolling interface between the first support structure and the second support structure during axial adjustment therebetween.

A drive device comprises at least one tubular linear motor (M1; M1; M2) which has a cylindrical armature (20; 120) and a tubular stator (10) with a cylindrical magnetic yoke (11) and a through-hole (13) coaxial with the magnetic yoke (11). Electric drive coils (12; 112) are arranged in the magnetic yoke (11). The armature (20; 120) has a non-magnetic armature tube (21) in which permanent magnets (23) are arranged. The armature (20; 120) extends coaxially through the through-hole (13) and is mounted so as to be movable in its longitudinal direction relative to the stator (10). The drive device comprises linear ball bearings (15; 115), and the armature (20; 120) of the tubular linear motor (M1; M1; M2) is mounted in the linear ball bearings (15; 115).

A linear guideway includes a rail, a slider disposed on the rail, and a load passage formed between the rail and the slider. The slider has two non-load passages penetrating through two opposite end surfaces of the slider. Each of two ends of each non-load passage is provided with a force sensor. Two end caps are disposed on two opposite end surfaces of the slider respectively and each have two circulation grooves. Each circulation groove is connected to an end of the load passage and an end of the non-load passage to form a circulation channel for balls to move therein. As a result, the linear guideway of the present invention employs force sensors to sense the force-receiving state of two ends of the non-load passages when they are impacted by the balls, so that it can be determined that if the balls have an abnormal pressing state.

A movable center-of-gravity tube comprising a tube body (41), a center-of-gravity body (42) accommodated inside the tube body and balls (43) held on the center-of-gravity body (42) is provided, in which the center-of-gravity body (42) has a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of an inner surface of the tube body and comprises three or more rows of ball circulation grooves (44) on its outer surface in parallel with each other, in which the ball circulation grooves (44) accommodate the balls in a circulation manner, and each of which comprises two rows connected to each other, in such manner that the balls in one groove of the ball circulation grooves rotate and circulate in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tube body, while the balls in another groove rotate and circulate in no contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tube body, when the center-of-gravity body moves.

A linear guideway includes a rail, a slider disposed on the rail, and a load passage formed between the rail and the slider. The slider has two non-load passages. Besides, a first end cap and a second end cap are disposed on two opposite end surfaces of the slider respectively. The first end cap has two first circulation grooves. The second end cap has a circulation member and a seal sheet. The circulation member has two second circulation grooves. The load passage, non-load passage, first circulation groove and second circulation groove collectively form a circulation channel for balls to move therein. A force sensor is disposed between the circulation member and the seal sheet. As a result, through the rigidity difference between the first and second end caps accompanied with the force sensor, it can be determined that if there is an abnormal circulation state.

A connection rod assembly is provided that includes a connection rod, a first ball lock connector including an outer pin slidably mated with an inner spindle, including an aperture, and coupled to the connection rod, a ball lock bearing at least partially positioned within the aperture, an actuation interface coupled to the inner spindle, slidable with regard to the outer pin, and including a sleeve at least partially surrounding the outer pin, and a spring positioned within the outer pin. In a locked configuration the spring is unloaded and the ball lock bearing radially extends beyond an outer surface of the outer pin and engages with a detent in a first component. On the other hand, in an unlocked configuration the spring is loaded and the ball lock bearing is retained in a groove in the inner spindle.

A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a load bearing plate structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein, each of said plurality of open axial ball tracks comprised of at least two concentric ball tracks. The ball tracks including an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. At lease one load bearing plate is axially positioned adjacent said load bearing plate structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. Various outer housing sleeves are disclosed including a structure split axially and a monolithic structure.