EP2635465B1 - Antitheft device for vehicle steering column with push-in safety function - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to antitheft devices for vehicle steering column.

The document US 5289707 discloses a antitheft device for steering column according to the prior art.

Such devices are known comprising a latch and a bolt mechanism. When the vehicle is stationary, a rotation of the steering wheel causes the deployment of the bolt in a direction not parallel to the axis of the column so that it comes into engagement with the latter and prevents any maneuvering of the steering wheel. When the user enters the ignition key into the lock, the mechanism retracts the bolt to unlock the column and release the steering wheel.

In an improved version of this device, when the vehicle is running, the key can not be extracted from the latch by a simple rotational movement of the key and the rotor in the latch stator. It is necessary to insert the key beforehand into the lock before being able to extract it. This prevents any inadvertent or malicious extraction of the key, especially because of the danger that the extraction of the key would represent when the vehicle is running. In particular, it is avoided that a child transported to a front seat of the vehicle can seize the key during transport.

Nevertheless, the mechanisms provided to date to obtain the aforementioned functionalities are relatively complicated to assemble and expensive.

An object of the invention is to provide a simpler mechanism to assemble and less expensive to obtain these features.

For this purpose, there is provided according to the invention a antitheft device for a vehicle steering column, which comprises a lock comprising a rotor and a stator among which one carries a pin and the other has a shaped pin receiving groove so that, from a predetermined angular position, a rotation of the rotor relative to the stator in a predetermined direction requires a prior depression of the rotor relative to the stator towards the interior of the device.

Thus, the pin performs indexing of the relative position of the rotor in the stator in rotation and sliding. When the vehicle is running, it is the cooperation of the pin with the groove that prohibits removal of the key without first driving the rotor into the stator. The pin may be carried by the rotor or the stator according to the embodiments.

Advantageously, the groove has an abutment face for the pion, radial to an axis of rotation of the rotor and determining the angular position.

Preferably, the position being said to walk and the meaning of said stop, the throat is shaped so that it is possible, without pressing the rotor beforehand, to turn it in a direction opposite to the direction of stop to reach the running position.

Thus, in spite of the fact that the rotor must first be pushed into the stator in order to leave the running position, it is easy to reach the latter from the stopping position of the vehicle insofar as it is not no need to order a prior driving step.

Preferably, the device is arranged so that an action on the rotor to rotate it in a direction opposite to the stop direction is sufficient to place it in the running position.

Thus, the user only controls the rotation of the rotor. The groove cooperates with the pin to slide the rotor into the stator at the appropriate time during the movement of the rotor. The operation of the lock remains simple for the user despite the fact that the rotor moves with different types of movements as it travels its path.

Advantageously, the groove is shaped so that there is at least one angular position of the rotor in which any sliding of the rotor in the stator is impossible.

Preferably, the device comprises a return spring urging the rotor in a direction opposite to the depression.

This facilitates the operation of the lock.

In one embodiment, the groove is formed in a circumferential face of the rotor or stator.

Preferably, the pin is immobilized with respect to the sliding stator parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor and rotating around this axis.

Advantageously, the device comprises a frame, the pin being engaged with the frame rigidly immobilizing the stator relative to the frame.

Thus, the pin ensures not only the aforementioned indexing function but also the rigid positioning of the stator relative to the frame of the device.

Preferably, the rotor has a cavity adapted to receive the pin in a position such that the pin extends into the stator without protruding from an outer face of the latter.

This cavity allows the temporary reception of the pin for mounting the lock in the frame.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues partielles respectivement en perspective et en coupe axiale d'un mode de réalisation du dispositif de l'invention ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues partielles respectivement en perspective éclatée et de côté du verrou du dispositif de la figure 1 sans le châssis ;
• les figures 5 à 8 présentent chacune d'une part le rotor seul avec le pion et d'autre part le dispositif au cours de quatre étapes respectives de fonctionnement de ce dernier ; et
• la figure 9 est une vue à plus grande échelle du rotor et du pion dans la configuration de la figure 8.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the Figures 1 and 2 are partial views respectively in perspective and in axial section of an embodiment of the device of the invention;
• the figures 3 and 4 are partial views respectively exploded perspective and side lock of the device of the figure 1 without the chassis;
• the Figures 5 to 8 each have on the one hand the rotor alone with the pin and on the other hand the device during four respective stages of operation of the latter; and
• the figure 9 is a larger-scale view of the rotor and pion in the configuration of the figure 8 .

We have illustrated Figures 1 to 4 an anti-theft device 2 for a vehicle steering column. The device comprises a frame 4 defining in the device two parts distant from each other, namely a locking portion 6 illustrated in the figures and a locking portion 8 shown only partly to the figure 1 . The locking portion 8 comprises in particular a not shown bolt mounted to slide relative to the frame so as to occupy two positions, namely a locking position and an unlocking position. In the first which is an extended position, the bolt engages a part of the steering column so as to prohibit the rotation of the column relative to the vehicle structure. In the unlocking position or retracted position, the bolt allows rotation of the column relative to the structure. The sliding direction of the bolt from one of these positions is non-parallel to the axis of rotation of the column. The locking portion is of a type known in itself and will not be described here in detail.

The locking portion 6 comprises a latch 10 comprising a stator 12 and a rotor 14 received in a housing of the stator. The rotor 14 is rotatably mounted relative to the stator about an axis 16 of the locking portion 6. It is also slidably mounted relative to the stator along the same axis 16. The rotor is thus mounted in pivot connection sliding relative to the stator.

The device is arranged so that, when the driver actuates the lock by means of an insert such as a key provided for this purpose to start the vehicle, the device passes the bolt unlocked position if it does not it was not there already, so as to allow the maneuvering of the column.

The lock 6 comprises non-illustrated elements such as flakes movably mounted sliding in housings 18 of the rotor and the stator. The rotor has an internal housing 22 having an external axial mouth 23. When the key 20 is inserted into the housing 22 by the mouth 23, it places the movable elements in a configuration such that they extend integrally each in the rotor and allow the rotation of the latter relative to the stator. In the absence of the key, unillustrated return springs place the movable elements in a position where they each extend partially in the rotor and in the stator, thus preventing any relative movement thereof.

The stator 12 being rigidly fixed to the frame 4, in the following movement of the rotor will designate a movement of the rotor relative to the stator.

The lock comprises a peg 24 having a symmetrical shape of revolution about an axis 26 perpendicular and radial to the axis 16. The peg 24 has, in this case, two respectively external outer end 28 and inner end sections 30 one of the other by an annular bead 32 extending radially projecting from the two sections. Each of the sections has a cylindrical outer face.

The cylindrical face of the outer section 28 has a larger diameter than that of the inner section 30. When the device is mounted as shown in FIG. figure 2 , the outer portion 28 extends in a radial hole of the frame 4 by providing a male-female coupling. The bead 32 and the inner portion 30 extend, for their part, in a housing 34 with symmetry of revolution of the stator 12. The pin 24 therefore also carries a male-female coupling with the stator. In certain positions of the stator relative to the rotor, the pin 24 can slide along the axis 26 relative to the rotor as will be seen later. However, in all other positions, this sliding is prohibited so that the pin maintains the stator 12 rigidly fixed to the frame 4. The housing 34 is long enough to allow this mobility of the pin relative to the stator. A compression spring 36 is provided which abuts at one axial end against a shoulder of the housing 34 and at the other end against the bead 32 in order to permanently urge the pin in the direction of the axis 26 and in one direction. opposite the axis 16. Under the effect of this bias, the bead 32 abuts against the frame 4, the orifice of the latter which accommodates the pin having a sufficiently small diameter to prevent the passage of the bead and the exit of the pawn, which keeps the pawn in the stator. The pin is immobilized relative to the stator sliding parallel to the axis 16 and rotated about this axis. The inner portion 30 of the pin also passes through an inner portion of the housing 34 located beyond the shoulder.

The rigid attachment of the stator 12 to the frame has been illustrated on the figure 4 . In this same figure, there is illustrated a crankshaft 40 of the device which is rotatably mounted relative to the frame about the axis 16, any translation of the crankshaft relative to the chassis being prohibited. A compression spring 42, shown in FIG. figure 3 , is interposed in the direction of the axis 16 between the crankshaft 40 and the rotor 14 to urge the latter in the direction of the axis 16 in a direction tending to remove it from the stator, direction indicated by the arrow 44. designates in direction of depression the opposite direction which tends to drive the rotor in the stator towards the crankshaft.

The device 2 has a groove 46 formed in this case in a cylindrical outer circumferential face 48 of the rotor 14. The groove has a profile "U" in a plane radial to the axis 16, the branches of the "U" forming two flanks bearing axially against the pin 24. The groove receives the inner portion 30. The width of the groove in the direction of the axis 16 slightly exceeds the diameter of the inner portion 30 so that the position of the pin in the groove determines the position of the rotor along the axis 16. The groove has a generally annular shape centered on the axis 16 with the exception of a baffle 48. As long as the pin is in the annular part of the groove, the rotor position along the axis remains unchanged. However, as the pawn travels through the baffle, it forces the rotor to slide along the axis.

We will present in more detail the shape of the groove during the following description of the use of the device.

It is assumed, with reference to the figure 5 , that the vehicle is stopped and that the driver enters the key 20 in the rotor to start the vehicle. The pin 24 is then abutted in the circumferential direction against an end-of-stroke end of the groove which is in this case an end of stroke. We will take this angular position of the rotor as a reference position at 0 ° around the axis 16. The lock is arranged in a manner known in itself so that it is only in this configuration that the key can be introduced. in the lock or be extracted along the axis 16. As soon as the rotor leaves the position at 0 °, extraction of the key out of the lock is impossible.

With reference to the figure 6 , the driver rotates the key and the rotor relative to the stator about the axis 16 in the clockwise direction illustrated by the arrow 50. It rotates the rotor at an angle of 20 ° for example. The throat section traversed by the pawn of the position of the figure 5 to that of the figure 6 being an annular section, the movement of the rotor is a strict rotational movement. In other words, from one to the other of these two positions, any sliding movement of the rotor along the axis 16 is impossible.

With reference to the figure 7 it is assumed that the rotation of the key and the rotor continues to reach an angular position of 40 °. To move from position of the figure 6 to that of the figure 7 the pawn traverses the beginning of the baffle 48. On this portion of the groove, the flanks 52 of the groove extend in a non-radial plane to the axis 16, these two flanks being parallel to each other . The term "lifting ramp" designates the section of the groove delimited by the flanks 52. The rotational movement of the rotor impelled by the driver via the key thus also causes the cam to press against the pin. flanks 52 the depression of the rotor 14 in the direction opposite to the arrow 44 against the restoring force of the spring 42.

With reference to the figure 8 it is assumed that the rotation of the rotor continued to reach a position at 60 °. To move from the position of the figure 7 to that of the figure 8 , the pawn travels a short annular section of the groove forming the middle of the baffle, then is opposite the outlet of the latter having crossed a planar face 54 of the groove extending in a radial plane to the axis 16. Since the flank of the groove nearest the crankshaft no longer prohibits the advance of the rotor under the effect of the spring 42, the rotor slides in the direction of the arrow 44. The passage of the rotor from the position of the figure 7 to that of the figure 8 this is done by means of a strict rotational movement, then a strict sliding movement. The pawn 24 is then finally out of the chicane. The device is arranged so that this position of the rotor causes the vehicle to start. The driver therefore stops all movement on the key and the device remains in this so-called walking position under the effect of the spring 42.

From the running position, it is possible to continue the rotation of the rotor in the direction 50 to the extent that the pin is at the entrance of another annular section of the groove. This is a strict rotational movement of the rotor. However, any rotational movement of the rotor, strictly or not, in the opposite direction, is prohibited because it is prevented by the abutment of the pin 24 against the face 54. It is therefore not possible to rotate the rotor voluntarily or involuntarily from the walking position to return to the stop position and remove the key.

Perceived by the driver, the transition from the stop position to the operating position required only to turn the key with the rotor in the direction 50. The groove 46 and the spring 42 caused the rotor to slide when it was necessary.

To make the rotor traverse the path from the running position to the stop position, it is necessary to start by pressing the rotor to give it a strict sliding movement along the axis 16 so as to cross the face 54 to the counter 24.

At the end of this strict sliding movement of the rotor, performed by the voluntary action of the driver on the key by pushing it into the lock, the driver rotates the rotor in the opposite direction to the direction 50 to make him cross the background of the chicane. This is a strict rotation movement.

Then, continuing the rotational movement, the peg traverses the section of the groove defined by the flanks 52 so that, under the effect of the compression spring 42, the rotor slides in the direction of the arrow 44.

Finally, the pin finds the annular section so that the rotor reaches the stop position by a strict rotational movement.

For the passage from the running position to the stop position, the maneuvers performed by the driver are therefore first a strict depression of the rotor, then a rotation of the latter. Given the shape of the groove and the presence of the spring 42, this rotation combines with sliding on part of the path of the pin in the groove.

It can be provided that the sliding of the rotor is effected on a stroke of 2.6 mm for example.

In the present example, over most of the length of the groove 46, the bottom 60 of the groove is sufficiently high in the radial direction to prohibit any movement of the pin 24 towards the axis 16. There is however a zone single 55 of the groove in which the bottom is lower to allow to push the pin radially until the bead 32 abuts against the bottom of the housing 34. In this example, this area is contiguous to the face 54 and is accessible by the pin when the rotor is in the on position.

To assemble the device 2, the rotor 14 is introduced into the stator 12 from the internal axial end 62 of the latter opposite to that contiguous to the opening 23 and the rotor is placed in the on position. The spring 36 and the pin 24 are then placed in the housing 34 until it enters the groove 46 and the zone 55 against the spring 36 so that the external axial end of the pin does not exceed the cylindrical face 48.

This assembly is introduced into the outer axial end of the frame 4. Once the pin arrives opposite the orifice of the frame which is intended for it, it is deployed radially under the effect of the spring 36. The rotor, the stator the pawn and the frame are then assembled.

Of course, we can bring to the invention many changes without departing from the scope thereof.

It could be provided that the groove is carried by the stator and the pin by the rotor.

The groove could be formed on a face perpendicular to the axis 16 of the rotor or the stator and not on a circumferential face.

The shape of the throat may also be modified.

The numerical values of length and angle given above are only by way of example and are not limiting.

Claims (9)

1. Antitheft device (2) for a vehicle steering column, including a lock (10) comprising a rotor (14) and a stator (12) one of which has a pin (24) and the other of which has a groove (46) for receiving the pin and shaped such that, from a predetermined angular position, a rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator in a predetermined direction requires a preliminary pressing of the rotor with respect to the stator in the direction of the inside of the device, with the position referred to as operating and the direction referred to as stopping, and said groove (46) shaped such that it is possible, without prior pressing of the rotor (14), to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of stopping in order to reach the operating position, characterised in that said pin is received in the groove when the rotor (14) rotates in the direction of stopping and in the direction opposite of said stopping direction.
2. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the groove (46) has an abutment face (54) for the pin, radial to an axis (16) of rotation of the rotor and determining the angular position.
3. Device to at least one of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein, the position referred to as operating and the direction referred to as stopping, the device is arranged such that an action on the rotor in order to rotate it in a direction opposite the direction of stopping in sufficient to place it in the position of operation.
4. Device according to at least one of any of the preceding claims, wherein the groove (46) is shaped such that there is at least one angular position of the rotor wherein any sliding of the rotor in the stator is impossible.
5. Device according to at least one of any of the preceding claims which comprises a return spring (42) driving the rotor in a direction (44) opposite the pressing.
6. Device according to at least one of any of the preceding claims, wherein the groove (46) is arranged in a circumferential face (48) of the rotor or of the stator.
7. Device according to at least one of any of the preceding claims, wherein the pin (24) is immobilised in relation to the stator in sliding parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor and in rotation about this axis.
8. Device according to at least one of any of the preceding claims which comprises a frame (4), the pin being engaged with the frame by rigidly immobilising the stator in relation to the frame.
9. Device according to at least one of any of the preceding claims, wherein the rotor has a cavity (55) able to receive the pin in a position such that the pin extends in the stator without exceeding the external face of the latter.

Images