Importance

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Abstract

A telescopic steering column assembly comprising an upper shroud portion and a lower shroud portion is supported by the shroud portions through a support bearing assembly that acts between an upper portion of the telescopic steering shaft and a lower portion of the shroud that move relative to one another axially during telescopic adjustment, in which the support bearing assembly comprises: a set of bearings elements, a bearing cage comprising a sleeve that is located between an outer face of the upper shaft and an inner face of the lower shroud portion and is free to move axially relative to one of the upper shaft and the lower shroud, the cage including pockets that extend through the sleeve, each pocket loosely locating a bearing element such that a portion of the bearing element extends through the cage to engage with a first bearing race surface defined by one of the upper shaft and the shroud, an annular bearing race having a tapered second bearing race surface that engages the bearing elements located between the cage and the upper shaft or the cage and the lower shroud so that the annular bearing race is on the opposite side of the cage to the first bearing surface, and a biasing means which applies an axially directed thrust to the bearing elements to force them into engagement with the second bearing surface of the annular bearing race the thrust being reacted by the second bearing surface.

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First Claim