FR2587949A1 - DEVICE FOR LOCKING A STEERING SHAFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A STEERING LOCKING DEVICE SUITABLE FOR LOCKING A STEERING SHAFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT THE SAID ROTATING PART 46 HAS ON ITS EXTERNAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE A SENSITIVELY ELONGATED DOUBLE ACTION REVERSIBLE CAM ZONE, EXTENDING BETWEEN A LOCKING POSITION AND A STARTING POSITION AND COOPERATING WITH A FOLLOWING PORTION 52 FROM A HAND-OPERABLE 48 CONTROL SLIDER AND ABLE TO SLIDE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE said BARREL 24, THE GRADUAL SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE SAID PORTION OF THE CAM TRACKER 52 ALONG THE CAM ZONE BEGINNING AT THE POSITION LOCKING AND ENDING IN THE START POSITION, IS CARRIED OUT GRADUALLY WHILE THE RETURN SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE SAID CAM TRACKER PORTION IS NECESSARILY CARRIED OUT BY GOING THROUGH AN INTERMEDIATE STOP ZONE WHICH MAY BE EXCEEDED BY THE EXCLUSIVE MANNER CHECK 48.

Description

The invention relates generally to devices for

  steering lock for a wheeled motor vehicle, and more particularly steering locks of the type comprising a safety mechanism, by which, during the running of the vehicle, an unexpected and dangerous locking of the vehicle is positively prevented, the steering shaft as a result of inadvertent manipulation of the

  mechanical or ignition key placed in the barrel.

  Until now, different types of steering locks have been proposed and implemented.

practical use.

  For theft prevention issues, these devices operate by locking the steering column to avoid manipulation of this column when the key placed in the barrel is turned inconsiderately or accidentally in the

  lock position (L) or removed from the barrel.

  Some of the devices are equipped with a safety system to avoid unintentionally turning the key to the locking position and / or removing this key, and thus to cause a dangerous locking of the steering shaft

while driving the vehicle.

  However, some of them are constructed in such a way that they require the operator or driver to

  tedious operation to manipulate the security system.

  An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a steering lock device having a mechanism

  advanced security that can be handled easily.

  To achieve the above object, as well as others, the steering lock device according to the invention, adapted to lock the steering shaft of a wheeled motor vehicle by holding a cylinder in one selected particular angular position called locking position (L), from which said steering shaft is unlocked by bringing said cylinder into different positions of said specified position and in particular in the successive positions of accessory stop (0) , of the accessories (M), of the ignition (C) and of the start (S), by means of a part rotating in unison with it and operably connected to a locking bolt mechanism of the shaft, the said device being characterized by the fact that the said rotating part has, on its peripheral surface, an elongated zone forming a cam substantially in one direction, with double reversible action extending between the locking position and another remote position, called the starting position, and cooperating with a cam follower portion of a maneuverable control slider, which can slide in a direction parallel to the axis of said barrel , the relative sliding movement along the cam of said cam follower portion starting at the locking position and ending at the starting position and being capable of being progressively performed, while the sliding movement in return of said cam follower portion is effected, necessarily, passing through a stopping zone which can be relined exclusively by manipulation

  slide of the control slider.

  The said elongated cam zone comprises a first elongated section starting in the said locking position, a second elongated section terminating in the starting position, these two sections being parallel to each other, and a connecting section connecting the ends

  within and adjacent to said first and second sections.

  The junction section has an inclined limit surface serving as a regular guide to said cam follower portion, from said first cam section and a substantially transverse stop wall for at least temporarily immobilizing the sliding movement of said cam follower portion.

  follower portion along the cam.

  Manually operable control slide serves to prevent inadvertent and accidental locking

of the tree.

  The control slider is formed with an enlarged functional end which is apparent outside the housing of the locking device and which can be manipulated from the outside and arranged so that at the moment o, in the connecting section of the camming surface, this control slide is pulled towards the driver of the vehicle, the said zone

  temporary shutdown of this control slide is released.

  The junction section can preferably be positioned

  in or near the "accessory" walking position (M).

  Alternatively, the junction section can be positioned in the off position or near the latter. The device of the invention may further comprise a ratchet mechanism for informing the driver of the instant when the control slider passes over the section of

  junction by giving a ratcheting sensation.

  The ratchet mechanism may comprise two mutually spaced notches formed in said control slider and a spring-loaded ball mounted on the steering column of the vehicle so as to bring the notch (s) in cooperation with the ball in the case where the ratchet mechanism

is put into operation.

  Alternatively, the pawl mechanism may comprise a resilient lug integrally formed on the control slider and a projection formed on a fixed piece and provided to slidably engage with said elastic lug during movement of the slider. The fixed part may preferably be a cylindrical support in which the cylinder is mounted

way to turn.

  The cam follower portion of said control slider can be selectively positioned according to the will of the driver of the vehicle in said first camming zone when the barrel takes one of the "lock" (L), "off" ( 0) and "accessory in operation" (M) and wherein said cam follower portion of said control slider is placed in said second cam area when the barrel takes one of the positions "accessory on" (M )

  "ignition contact" (C) and "starter running".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional steering lock assembly mounted on a steering column and shown in a position where the steering shaft

is locked.

  Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line

II-II of fi gure 1.

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  FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a steering lock device according to the

present invention.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an essential portion of the locking device of the

direction of the invention.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic expanded view of the guide cam portion formed on the outer surface of a

rotating part.

  FIG. 6 is a front view taken in the direction of the arrow VI of FIG. 3 but on which the

  command button 50 has been removed.

  FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a ratchet mechanism that can be applied to the assembly of

  locking the direction of the invention.

  In the following, a detailed description of a mode of

  Substantially preferred embodiment of the invention will be presented by comparison with an embodiment of a comparable conventional arrangement comprising a portion of a steering shaft of the automobile as an object to be locked and unlocked. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a steering lock device as a whole, which is removably installed on the steering column.

  direction 12 of a motor vehicle not shown.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a conventional steering shaft and reference numeral 16 represents a conventional steering column consisting of a hollow tube and mounted

parallel to the tree.

  Reference number 18 indicates a rotating collar

  adapted to be mounted on the shaft 14.

  A housing 20 is formed in the collar 18.

  The steering lock device 10 comprises a housing 22 which is rigidly fixed at its lower portion to the column 12; a barrel 24 which is rotatably mounted in a hollow and fixed cylindrical support 21, rigidly fixed to the housing 22 in its upper portion; and a fixed switching device 26 placed near the end

  interior of said harillet 24 and rigidly fixed to the housing 22.

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  A rotating member 28 is installed between the inner end of the barrel 24 and the inner and front surface of the switch device 26 and rotatably mounted in the interior of the housing 22 to control the switching device. Thanks to the manual rotation of a mechanical part constituting an adapted key K introduced into the receiving opening of the keys of the barrel 24 and held in position, as indicated in FIG. 2, this barrel can be rotated at will, its movement rotation being transmitted through the rotating part 28, to the useful part of the switching device 26 which is controlled in a corresponding manner as is well known to all

specialists in the art.

  The piece 28 slid on the inner end of the barrel 24 is machined with a cam portion 28a which is held in sliding contact with a cam follower 30a, a motion receiver formed on a slider 30 capable of reciprocating in the direction vertical when we

look at figure 1.

  This slider 30 is pushed downwardly by a thrust spring 32 which is held in the housing 22. The slider 30 is articulated at its lower end

  with the upper end of a locking bolt 34.

  When the rotating part 28 takes its specifically chosen angular position and shown in FIG. 1, called the locking position, the lower end of the locking bolt 34 is held engaged in the housing 20 of the collar 18, the steering shaft 14 being thus maintained in his

  locked position to prevent vehicle theft.

  Referring now to Figure 2, there can be seen a key detector 36 in the form of a pivoting lever 38 disposed along the barrel 24, generally a short distance from the barrel and in the space inside a

  preriier hollow lateral extension 22a of the box 22.

  A second hollow Drolonoement 22b plays the role of

  partial support bushing for the switching device 26.

  : A first outer end 36a of the lever 36 is widened and bent laterally, in order to engage in

  a housing 24a formed on the barrel 24.

  A second inner end 36b of the lever 36 is slightly bent laterally to engage the

  slider 30 when the occasion may be desirable.

  A thrust spring 40 is placed between the lever 36 and the extension 22a of the housing, in order to elastically push the first end of the lever 36a downwards of FIG. 2. Thus, when the key K is inserted into the hole of FIG. barrel lock 24, as can be seen clearly in Figure 2, the key detector 36 is urged to rotate in the direction of clockwise so as to engage the second

  end 36b of the lever in the suspension stirrup 30.

  Thus, the suspension stirrup 30 and the locking bolt 34 are held in a position - of unlocking the shaft in which the lower end of the bolt 34 is kept free of the housing 20 provided in the

necklace 18.

  Thus, the steering shaft 14 is kept unlocked as long as the key is functionally engaged in the

Barrel 24.

  However, when the key is removed from the barrel 24, the first end 36a of the key detector 36 is, under the action of the spring 40, introduced into the housing 24a of the barrel 24, thus releasing the second end 36b of the key detector 36

of the suspension stirrup 30.

  Thus, in this position, the locking bolt 34 has the possibility of moving towards the housing 20 of the collar 18 and is finally brought into engagement with

  locking with this collar as shown in Figure 1.

  The locking device of the steering shaft having the structure described briefly above is rather old-fashioned and has a serious disadvantage of the fact that if the key K once introduced into the barrel, is turned, accidentally or inadvertently, until at the locking position or removed completely from the barrel during the

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  period of operation of the vehicle, the locking bolt 34 will be pushed by a spring down in Figure 1 and

  finally made to engage in the logemeht 20 of the collar 18.

  In this case, the driver could no longer manipulate the steering wheel, not shown, which is naturally fixed to the steering control shaft 14, and this, although the

vehicle rolls.

  Naturally, such a running position of the vehicle is very dangerous and a serious traffic accident could

result.

  A proposal to solve this problem is to use what is called a double action type directional lock as presented in the

US Patent 3,673,829.

  With this improved locking device, once the key has been inserted into the barrel, it is positively prevented from rotating at the same time as the barrel to the locking position or from being removed from the barrel, unless a control lever installed separately has been manually operated to ensure that a dangerous steering lock of the above type can no longer occur. Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, we will describe

  in more detail improvements to the above.

  As can be seen clearly in FIG. 3, the improved locking device generally designated by the reference numeral 42 comprises a stationary box 22 'having a general external configuration substantially identical to that which has been designated 22 in the foregoing, and also fixed

  to a steering column 16 shown in Figure 1.

  Reference numeral 44 denotes a substantially cylindrical fixed support securely fixed to a housing 22 ', a conventional cylinder designated 24' having a configuration and mechanism similar to those shown in 24 above, it is mounted in the support 44 so as to rotate. A switching unit 26, preferably operated by the ignition key, is mounted on a fixed partial sleeve 22b of the

  case 22 in the same way as in the previous montace.

  A rotating part 46 and acting as a cam, as in the previous assembly, is mounted so as to be rotatable in unison with the barrel 24 'and between this barrel and the switching unit 26, to control the rotation of this unit, substantially in the same manner as above. A manually movable control slide 48 is, parallel to the barrel, mounted in the housing 22 ', this control slide also appears in perspective on

Figure 4.

  A knob 50 is attached to the outer end of the control slider 48 so that the driver of the vehicle pulls or pushes the slider 48 as required.

  grabbing the button with your fingertips.

  As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control slider 48 has at its end a lateral projection 52 capable of acting as a cam follower portion held in sliding contact and thus cooperating with a camming zone machined on the periphery. of the rotating part 46. For a better understanding of the cam zone, the latter is still shown in FIG.

developed representation.

  The cam zone comprises a first section 56 and a second section 54 slightly offset from each other and a junction section 58 connecting these two sections. The first section has a lock function, while the second acts to unlock as will be described

more completely thereafter.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical fixed support 44 carries on its front surface various indications such as "L", "0", "M", "C" and "S" corresponding to

  respective angular positions of the barrel 24.

  Anyone skilled in this art can easily understand that these symbols more precisely correspond to direction (L), accessory (0), accessory (M), ignition (C) and starter

narche (S).

  The unlocking section 54 of the cam includes the positions for accessories in operation, ignition and start contact, which cooperate with the projection of the cam follower

52 or 52 '.

  These positions are effective when the barrel 24 or 24 'takes the accessory positions in operation, ignition switch, and start engine, while the cam lock zone 56 comprises the stop positions, more precisely accessory stop, and lock positions adapted to respectively cooperate with the projection 52 of the cam follower, these positions being taken when the cylinder is in the respective angular positions of "M" (specifically accessory market), "0" (specifically accessory stop), and "L"

  (more precisely directional lock).

  Thus, the junction section 58 may include the

  position "M", accessories in operation.

  The inner end of the section of the unlocking cam 54 has a substantially laterally oriented stop wall 54a, while the inner end of the locking cam section 56 has an inclined boundary surface 56a that the projection 52 or 52 'of the cam follower can

follow fairly regularly.

  The inclined boundary surface may preferably be inclined at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the

locking cam section.

  It is quite desirable that at the moment when the rotating part 46 and thus the barrel 24 take the locking position, it is up to. say by positioning the projection of the cam follower 52 or 52 'of the control slider 48 or 48' respectively on the front end of the cam locking section 56, the key once introduced can be

  removed from the barrel with absolute security.

  It should also be noted that at the moment the rotating part 46 is partially rotated, towards the starting position while running, the projection 52 or 52 'of the cam follower of the control slide 48 or 48' will move to the right on FIG. 5 and come into contact with the inclined boundary surface 56a, that is to say where it can progress substantially freely in

  transferring to the cam unlock zone 54.

  - 7. Thus, the cam follower will eventually arrive at the outer end of section 54 where the start position is. When the rotating part 46, with the barrel, is turned in the opposite direction from the start position to the locking position, the cam follower 52 or 52 'will be

  temporarily stopped in contact with the stop wall 54a.

  In this position, the driver will have to pull the

slide towards him.

  The cam follower projection 52 or 52 'will then be forced to shift downward in FIG. 5, as indicated by another small arrow "B", and the cam follower will be able to move from its adaptation to section 54 of FIG. the cam of

  unlocking at section 56 of the lock cam.

  A ratchet mechanism, or more precisely a ratchet mechanism, is employed to give the driver or other concerned person a sense of

  ratchet during handling of the control slider 48.

  This mechanism comprises a first and a second notch 60 or 62 spaced apart and formed in the main portion of the longitudinal inner edge of the control slider. The support 44 comprises a blind lateral hole 66, in which is mounted a spiral spring 68 pushing towards

  outside and acting on a steel ball 64.

  With the above mechanism, it is possible to manually shift the control slider 48 from the engaged position shown in solid line in FIG. 3 to the triggered position represented here in dotted line and this in

  giving a reliable feeling of the ratchet.

  In other words, said selective positioning engaged and triggered the control slider 48 can be provided safely. As a replacement for the previous ratchet mechanism, the slightly modified mechanism represented on the

figure 7.

  In this modified type, an elastic lug 70 is integrally formed on the inner longitudinal edge of the control slider 48 'which corresponds to the previous piece 48, in order to cooperate with a small triangular projection 72 formed on the cylindrical support 44. the sliding movement back and forth from the control slide 48 ', the lug 70 slides elastically and frictionally on the triangular projection to give the driver the sensation of a ratchet similar to the device which

above.

  With this modification, the control slider includes a follower 52 'cam follower

the previous.

  In addition, the head 50 'of the button has a massive cylindrical configuration so as to allow more maneuvering

  easily the control slider by removing it.

  The operation of the steering lock device of the invention will now be described by

referring to Figure 5.

  To facilitate the description that follows, we will

  start in the state where the barrel 24 or 24 'is in the locked position. In this condition, the projection of the cam follower 52 or 52 'of the control slider 48 or 48' is placed at the front end of the locking cam section 56 as shown in FIG. 5 and thus the knob or head 50 or 50 '

  the control slide is in the engaged position.

  As a result of manipulation of the ignition key, the barrel and therefore the rotating part 46 turn towards the starting position while running, the projection of the cam follower of the control slide 48 or 48 'slides in the junction secti-on cams 58 and comes into contact with the inclined boundary surface 56a thereby shifting the projection 52 or 52 '

  to the unlocking cam section 54.

  Thus, an additional rotation of the barrel in the same direction leads the projection of the cam follower to

  the front end of the unlocking cam section 54.

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  It should thus be noted that, in view of the disposition of the inclined limit surface 56a, the rotation of the barrel towards the starting position while running is authorized whatever the

  position in which the barrel is located before this rotation.

  If, on the other hand, the barrel 24 or 24 'is turned in the opposite direction, from the ignition position in order to stop the motor, the projection 52 slides in the section 54 of the unlocking cam towards the junction section 58 and comes into contact with the stop wall 54a, this

  which prevents any further rotation of the barrel 24.

  In this position, the operation of the motor is stopped. Then, when the button 50 or 50 'of the control slider is brought into the engaged position, the projection of the cam follower of this slider is shifted with a sensation

  ratchet up to the section of the locking cam 56.

  Thus, in this condition, an additional rotation of the barrel to the locking position is allowed and when finally the barrel arrives in the locking position of

  direction, the key can be removed from the barrel.

  It should be noted that once the projection 52 or 52 'of the control slider 48 is shifted into the lock cam section 56 because the button 50 or 50' has been pulled, the lock slider is held in the shifted position or position engaged, due to the function of the ratchet mechanism. Thus, once the button is moved, another rotation of the barrel towards the locking position can be obtained without

act on the button.

  As has been described above, by providing the inclined boundary surface 56a in the cam region of the rotating member 46, rotation of the barrel to the starting starter position is permitted directly from any position taken by the barrel 24 or 24 'before this

rotation.

  This advantageous function is not proposed in the case of classic steering lock devices known hitherto and a representative embodiment of which

has been described above.

Claims (8)

  A steering lock device (42) adapted to lock a steering shaft (14) of a wheeled motor vehicle by holding a cylinder (24 or 24 ') in a specifically selected angular position. said steering shaft (14) being unlocked by bringing said barrel (24, 24 ') into other positions than said specified position and via a rotating part (46) operating in unison with this barrel (24, 24 ') and operatively connected to a bolt mechanism (34) shaft lock, the said device (42) being CHARACTERIZED in that the said rotating part (46) has its outer peripheral surface a substantially reciprocating double-action cam zone extending between a locking position and a starting position and cooperating with a follower cam portion (52) of a control slider (48, 48 ') operable at the hand and being able to slide in a direction parallel to the axis of said cylinder (24 '), the progressive sliding movement of said cam follower portion (52) along the camming zone starting at the locking position and ending at the starting position is progressively performed while the return sliding movement of said cam follower portion (52 ') is necessarily effected through an intermediate stopping zone (54a) which can be passed exclusively by   manipulating the control slider (48, 48 ').   Steering lock device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said cam zone comprises an elongated section (56) starting at the said locking position, a second elongated section (54) ending in the said position. these two sections being parallel, and a junction section (58) connecting the adjacent ends of said first (56) and second (54) sections. 3. Locking device according to claim 2 characterized in that said junction section (58) has zJne inclined limit surface (56a) serving as a progressive guide to said cam follower portion (52) from the first section (56). ) to the second cam section (54) and a substantially transverse control slider wall (54a) (48, 48 ') for at least temporarily immobilizing the sliding movement of said portion of the cam follower (52).   4. Locking device according to claim 1 characterized in that said control slide (48, 48 ') operable by hand is used to prevent the appearance of a   inadvertent and accidental locking of the shaft (14).   Steering lock device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the control slide comprises an enlarged operating end (50) which appears on the outside of a housing (22, 22 ') of the said locking device. and which can be manipulated from outside and arranged so that at the moment when the control slider (48, 48 ') is, in the junction section (58) of the cam surface, pulled voluntarily towards the driver of the vehicle, the control slider (48, 48 ') is clear of the stop wall (54a).   6. A steering lock device according to claim 2 characterized in that said connecting section (58) is positioned on or near the position accessory in operation (M).   7. A steering lock device according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises a pawl mechanism (60 to 70) by means of which the movement of said control slide (48, 48 ') operated by hand is made   giving a ratcheting sensation.   Steering lock device according to claim 7, characterized in that said ratchet mechanism (60 to 70) comprises two spaced notches (60, 62) formed in said control slider (48, 48 ') operated by hand and a ball (64) pushed by a spring (68) and partially inserted into a hole (65) of the steering column (14) of the vehicle and pressed against a notch (60,   62) formed in said control slider.