Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
  • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
  • B60R25/02—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism
  • B60R25/021—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
  • B60R25/02134—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch comprising a locking member axially moved along the steering column
  • B60R25/02139—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch comprising a locking member axially moved along the steering column key actuated
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
  • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
  • B60R25/02—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
  • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
  • B60R25/02—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism
  • B60R25/021—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch

Definitions

• Anti-theft device for a steering column assembly for example of a motor vehicle /
• the present invention relates to an anti-theft device for a steering column assembly, for example of a motor vehicle.
• the invention relates to anti-theft devices for steering column assemblies, which comprise a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a column body, and in which means are provided for blocking the rotation of the shaft relative to the body, movable by a locking mechanism between an active blocking position and a retracted position for releasing the shaft relative to the body.
• these devices include a locking mechanism fixed on the column body and controlled for example by a locking key actuated by a user, to obtain the displacement of a locking bolt between a retracted position and an active position, wherein this bolt engages through a lumen of the body and cooperates with means for blocking the rotation of the shaft relative to this body.
• These means for blocking the shaft can for example be constituted by slots or grooves made therein or in a ring carried by this shaft and connected to it, for example by means of means of friction, allowing the shaft to rotate relative to the ring when a very high torque is applied to it in order to avoid any degradation of the column assembly.
• An improved lock for this type of anti-theft device is known from document FR-A-2 679 504.
• This lock includes means for automatically locking the bolt in the active position for immobilizing the shaft in the event of the lock being forced .
• Document US-A-1 487867 also discloses an anti-theft device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, in which a blocking sleeve is interposed between the shaft and the column body.
• the object of the invention is therefore to solve these problems by proposing an anti-theft device which is simple and reliable.
• the subject of the invention is an anti-theft device for a steering column assembly, for example of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a steering shaft mounted to rotate in a column body and means for blocking the rotation of 1 'shaft relative to the body, interposed between the shaft and the column body and displaceable by a locking mechanism fixed on the body, between an active locking position and a retracted position for releasing the shaft relative to the body, characterized in that it comprises means for blocking the movement of the locking means towards their retracted position, in the event of the locking mechanism being forced.
• - Fig.l shows a sectional view of an anti-theft device for a steering column assembly, in which means for blocking the rotation of the shaft relative to the body are shown in the active position;
• - Fig.2 shows a partial sectional view similar to that of Fig.l, in which the locking means are shown in the retracted position;
• FIG.3 shows a partial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of such an anti-theft device
• - Fig.4 shows a sectional view of such an anti-theft device
• - Fig.5 schematically illustrates a phase of engagement of coupling means and complementary means, respectively of a sleeve and a shaft, forming part of such an anti-theft device
• - Fig.6 shows a top view of a connection between a sleeve and a locking mechanism, forming part of such an anti-theft device
• Fig.7 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of means for immobilizing a sleeve in the active position, entering the consti ⁇ tution of an anti-theft device according to the invention
• Fig.8,9 and 10 show schematic views illustrating another embodiment of means for immobilizing a sleeve in the active position, forming part of an anti-theft device according to the invention
• FIG.l1A and 11B show schematic sectional views illustrating yet another embodiment of means for immobilizing a sleeve in the active position, forming part of an anti-theft device according to the invention.
• FIG.12, 13 and 14 show schematic sectional views illustrating yet another embodiment of means for immobilizing a sleeve in active position, forming part of an anti-theft device according to the invention.
• a steering column assembly in particular for a motor vehicle, generally comprises a steering shaft designated by the reference 1 rotatably mounted in a steering column body 2, for example by the guide bearings 3.
• An anti-theft device designated by the general reference 4 is also provided for blocking the shaft in rotation in the body.
• this device comprises blocking means displaceable by a mechanism of ver ⁇ rusting between an active blocking position and a retracted position for releasing the shaft relative to the body.
• the locking mechanism can have any suitable known structure, it will not be described in more detail below. Note however that this mechanism comprises for example a finger 5 for axial displacement of the locking means which are designated by the reference 6 in these figures.
• this mechanism may also include a pinion adapted to cooperate with a cremail ⁇ lère locking means to ensure the movement thereof.
• the locking means 6 comprise a sleeve interposed between the shaft 1 and the column body 2 and comprising for example on its internal and external surfaces first and second coupling means adapted to cooperate with first and second complementary means of the tree and the body respectively.
• the first and second means of coupling of this sleeve are designated by the references 6a and 6b respectively.
• the first complementary means of the shaft are designated by the reference la, while the second complementary means of the body are designated by the reference 2a.
• this sleeve, these coupling means and these complementary means are suitable for locking the shaft in rotation relative to the body when the locking means are in the active position and allow axial movement from the sleeve of this active position shown in Figure 1 to a retracted position shown in Figure 2 under the control of the locking mechanism.
• these coupling and complementary means can be constituted by protruding and recessed parts of the body, of the sleeve and of the shaft, adapted to cooperate with each other as will be described in more detail. thereafter.
• the locking sleeve 6 is mounted axially displaceable between an active position shown in Figure 1 in which the first coupling means 6a of this sleeve 6 cooperate with the first complementary means of the shaft 1 to block the shaft in rotation in the body by cooperation of its second coupling means 6b with the second complementary means 2a of the body, and a retracted position.
• the first coupling means 6a of the locking sleeve 6 are disengaged from the first means complementary to the shaft, so that the latter can rotate freely relative to the sleeve and so compared to the column body.
• the torque applied to the shaft is distributed over several protruding and recessed parts of this shaft, of the sleeve and of the body so that the risks of degradation of the 'column set are reduced compared to conventional structures.
• the anti-theft device always comprises the sleeve 6 movable axially between an active position and a retracted position and provided for example on its external surface with second coupling means 6b adapted to cooperate with the second complementary means 2a of the body 2 and for example on its internal surface of the first coupling means 6a adapted to cooperate with first complementary means 10a of a ring 10 carried by this shaft 1 and connected to the latter by means of friction means 11.
• This ring structure and means of friction forms means for limiting the transmission of torque between the shaft and the body, for example by uncoupling the steering shaft 1 from the ring 10 when the torque appends liqué on this tree is greater than the resistance of the connection between this shaft and the ring generated by the friction means 11.
• the shaft can rotate in a braked manner, in this ring 10, to avoid any degradation of the rest of the column assembly.
• FIG. 4 An exemplary embodiment of the projecting and recessed portions of the body, the shaft and the sleeve is shown in FIG. 4, in which the body 2, the sleeve 6 and the steering shaft 1 are recognized.
• the first and second coupling means and the first and second complementary means can be constituted by projecting and recessed parts complementary to this shaft, the sleeve and the body, adapted to block the shaft in rotation in the body while allowing axial displacement of the sleeve between its active and retracted positions by the locking mechanism.
• the first coupling means 6a of the sleeve 6 and the complementary means 1a of the shaft 1 are constituted by portions of complementary grooves adapted by engaging the one inside the other when the sleeve is in the active position as shown in this figure.
• the second coupling means 6b of the sleeve 6 and the complementary means 2a of the body can be constituted by axial grooves 6b of the sleeve in which engage tabs projecting towards the interior 2a of the body, these tabs being obtained for example by stamping the body and for guiding the axial movement of the sleeve in the body while blo ⁇ when it in rotation.
• an angular clearance is provided between the body and the sleeve and more particularly between the coupling means and the complementary means thereof as can be seen in FIG. 4, to allow this sleeve to move over a determined angular travel between the body and the shaft as will be described in more detail below.
• the corresponding ends of the coupling means and complementary means corresponding to the disengageable of the sleeve and of the body and / or of the shaft are preferably tapered and the sleeve has a determined course of angular displacement ⁇ between the body and the shaft as illustrated in FIG. 5.
• this stroke ⁇ corresponds to the pitch of these coupling and complementary means in order to facilitate the engagement of these means in the position of blocking of the shaft in the body whatever their relative position when the locking mechanism is triggered by the user.
• means may also be provided for elastic biasing of the sleeve in the intermediate position of its angular displacement stroke.
• these elastic means designated by the reference 20 can be interposed between the locking mechanism and more particularly the finger 5 thereof and the sleeve 6 and more particularly the edges of a recess of this one intended to receive this finger, to urge it in the intermediate or neutral position of its stroke and allow it to move angularly in one direction or in the other to obtain immediate engagement of the disengageable coupling and complementary means of the sleeve and the shaft when the locking mechanism is triggered by the user, which guarantees immediate blocking of the shaft in the body, that is to say without the need for angular displacement of the shaft as it was the case with the prior art devices.
• the anti-theft device also comprises means for preventing the displacement of the locking means towards their retracted position, in the event of the locking mechanism being forced.
• These locking means are also interposed between the shaft and the column body and include means for axially immobilizing the sleeve in the active position in the body, which can be moved between a retracted position and an active immobili ⁇ sation of the sleeve when forcing the locking mechanism.
• These means are arranged for example on one side or the other of the sleeve.
• immobilization means can also be arranged around a portion of this sleeve.
• these immobilization means are urged towards their active position by elastic means, and are held in the retracted position by at least one holding member disposed in a recess of the column body and whose one end cooperates with the locking mechanism and the other end of which cooperates with these immobilization means to keep them in the retracted position.
• This holding member is advantageously movable between an active position for holding the immobilization means in the retracted position and a retracted position when the locking mechanism is forced, in order to allow movement of the immobilization means towards their active position in which they cooperate with the sleeve to immobilize it in the active locking blocking position
• the rotating shaft in the body is advantageously movable between an active position for holding the immobilization means in the retracted position and a retracted position when the locking mechanism is forced, in order to allow movement of the immobilization means towards their active position in which they cooperate with the sleeve to immobilize it in the active locking blocking position
• the rotating shaft in the body is advantageously movable between
• Fig.7 there is shown a first embodiment of these immobilization means in which these means are angularly movable between their retracted position and their active position.
• the sleeve 6 is movable from its active position shown in solid lines in this figure, towards its retracted position shown in dotted lines in this figure, by moving away from the immobilization means 30 and in in this case, these immobilization means and the sleeve comprise complementary hooking means 31 for retaining this sleeve 6 in the active position when the immobilization means are in the active position.
• attachment means may comprise at least one hook 32 integral with one of the elements, sleeve or immobilization means and adapted to cooperate with a complementary abutment surface 33 of the other element, immobilization means or sleeve, by engagement by angular displacement of one relative to the other element.
• the hook 32 integral with one of the elements, sleeve or immobilization means and adapted to cooperate with a complementary abutment surface 33 of the other element, immobilization means or sleeve, by engagement by angular displacement of one relative to the other element.
• these immobilization means 30 comprise for example a first ring 34 connected to the body 2 and a second ring 35 angularly displaceable relative to the first, between a retracted position shown in solid lines in this figure and allowing an axial displacement of the sleeve 6 between its active and retracted positions, this second ring 35 comprising the hook 32.
• Elastic means 36 constituted for example by a helical spring are disposed between these rings to urge the second ring 35 to move angularly from its retracted position to its active position.
• a holding member designated by the general reference 37 in this figure allows this second ring 35 to be maintained in the retracted position to maintain the immobilization means in the retracted position.
• this holding member 35 passes through a recess in the body and has an end adapted to cooperate with the second ring 35 in order to keep it in the retracted position and in this case with the hook of the latter. ci and another end bearing for example on an abutment surface of the locking mechanism, which keeps it in the active position for holding the immobilization means in the retracted position.
• the triggering of the immobili ⁇ sation means is obtained automatically as soon as the locking mechanism is forced.
• the steering shaft 1, the steering column body 2 and the sleeve 6 are recognized, which is always movable between an active position of immobilization in rotation of 1 'shaft in the column body and a position retracted by axial movement between the shaft and the body under the control of a locking mechanism.
• the means for immobilizing the sleeve in the active position during the forcing of the locking mechanism are designated by the general reference 40.
• the sleeve was movable from its active position to its retracted position away from the immobilization means 30, in the exemplary embodiment shown in these Figures 8,9 and 10, the sleeve is movable from its active position to its retracted position by approaching the immobilization means 40 and these immobilization means and this sleeve in this case comprise complementary axial stop means of holding the sleeve in the active position when the immobilization means are in the active position.
• the immobilization means 40 always include for example a first ring 41 connected to the column body 2 and a second ring 42 displaceable angularly with respect to the first ring between a retracted position and an active position for immobilizing the sleeve, shown respectively in FIGS. 9 and 10.
• This second ring 42 and the sleeve 6 have protruding parts and axial recesses complementary to them designated for example by the references 43, 44 and 45.46 respectively, adapted to cooperate with one another with the others to allow axial movement of the sleeve 6 between its active position and its retracted position when the immobilization means are in the retracted position (Fig. 9) and prohibit any axial movement of this sleeve 6 from its active position to its position retracted when the immobilization means are in the active position (Fig. 10).
• Elastic means designated by the reference 47 are arranged between these two rings to urge the second ring 42 towards its active position for immobilizing the sleeve, by angular displacement relative to the first ring 41.
• a retaining member 48 passing through a recess in the column body 2 makes it possible to maintain this second ring 42 in the retracted position in normal operation, while as has been explained above, when the locking mechanism is forced, this retaining member moves from its active position shown in these figures to a retracted position, for release of the second ring 42 and allowing an angular displacement of the latter, from its retracted position shown in FIG.
• the retaining member 48 connected to the locking mechanism allows the second ring to be held in the retracted position while in the event of a forced locking mechanism, this retaining member 48 releases the second ring 42 and allows the latter to move from its retracted position to its active position for immobilizing the sleeve in the active position for blocking the rotating shaft in the column body.
• the means for immobilizing the sleeve in the active position of blocking the rotation of the shaft in the column body 2 when the locking mechanism is forced are designated by the general reference 50.
• these immobilization means can be moved axially between their retracted position shown in FIG. 11A and their active position shown in FIG. 11B.
• these immobilization means also comprise a first ring 51 connected to the body and a second ring 52 movable axially in the direction of the sleeve 6 under the action of elastic means 53 interposed between these two rings.
• a holding member 54 connected to the locking mechanism makes it possible to block the second ring 52 in the retracted position as long as the locking mechanism is not forced. It can therefore be seen that during the forcing of this locking mechanism, this holding member 54 retracts and allows the displacement of the second ring 52 from its retracted position towards its active position of immobilisation of the sleeve in the active blocking position.
• this second ring 52 acts as an axial stop member for the sleeve and may include means for preventing its movement towards its retracted position, constituted for example by one or more elastic tongues 55 of this second ring adapted for cooperate with the edge of the first ring 51 when the second ring 52 is in the active position in order to prohibit the return of this second ring to its retracted position.
• means for preventing its movement towards its retracted position constituted for example by one or more elastic tongues 55 of this second ring adapted for cooperate with the edge of the first ring 51 when the second ring 52 is in the active position in order to prohibit the return of this second ring to its retracted position.
• elastic tongues 55 of this second ring adapted for cooperate with the edge of the first ring 51 when the second ring 52 is in the active position in order to prohibit the return of this second ring to its retracted position.
• other embodiments of these means can be envisaged.
• the sleeve has a portion in the form of rack 60 adapted to cooperate with a toothed portion 61 of a displacement member thereof designated by the general reference 62, comprising another toothed portion 63 cooperating with a displacement member 64 connected to a maneuver locking barrel assembly of this body, designated by the general reference 65.
• the means for immobilizing the sleeve 6 in the active position for blocking the shaft in the body are designated by the general reference 70 in these figures.
• these means can be moved radially between their retracted position and their active position and advantageously comprise a clip-shaped member 71 connected to the body and adapted to cooperate in the active position with the shaft and / or the sleeve to immobilize it in the active position.
• this member can come to bear on the shaft in front of the sleeve to immobilize it.
• This clip-shaped member comprises, as can be seen more particularly in FIG. 14, two approximately symmetrical jaws 72 and 73 elastically urged towards one another, for example by an elastic ring 74, arranged in a throat of these jaws.
• the jaws are held in the separated position by a holding member 75 interposed for example between the free ends thereof.
• this retaining member 75 may for example be in the form of a stop rod disposed in the housing 66 and don 1'une ends passes through a recess of the column body and is engaged between the two jaws of the immobilizing means and the other end of which is supported on the abutment means of the locking mechanism comm for example on the barrel assembly 65 as illustrated.
• Elastic means such as a spring 7 can be provided in the housing for receiving a locking mechanism, to urge this holding member towards its retracted position.
• the parts in contact with the immobilization means and the holding member may also have ramps so that the immobilizing means also urge the holding member towards its retracted position under the action of the means of solicitio of these towards their active position.
• this holding member 75 is locked in the positive position of holding the immobilization means in position positively retracted by the locking mechanism.
• the anti-theft device according to the invention has improved tamper-evident properties compared to conventional devices of the state of the art only in so far as it is provided between the column body and the shaft, means of immobilization in the active position of the shaft locking sleeve, the operation of which is triggered during the forcing of the locking mechanism.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Steering Controls (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9459748

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (8)

• 1994
  • 1994-02-03 FR FR9401229A patent/FR2715618B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1995
  • 1995-02-01 KR KR1019950704286A patent/KR960701762A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-02-01 WO PCT/FR1995/000122 patent/WO1995021076A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-02-01 EP EP95908297A patent/EP0690801A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1995-02-01 JP JP7520420A patent/JPH08511496A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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