GB1275594A - A device suitable for securing a part of an automobile and for controlling an electric circuit of the automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

1275594 Anti-theft devices L C H JUY 21 May 1969 [21 May 1968 30 Sept 1968] 25871/69 Heading B7J [Also in Divisions E1-E2] A device, suitable for securing a part of an automobile and for controlling an electric circuit of the automobile, comprises a body 1; a bolt 6 slidably mounted in an aperture in said body; biasing means for biasing said bolt from an inoperative position towards an operative position in which operative position the bolt is adapted to secure the part of the automobile; switching means adapted, when in use, to switch the electric circuit of the automobile; control means for controlling the operation of said bolt and said switching means and comprising a lock mechanism and a key capable of moving said lock mechanism between a first condition and a second condition; and a stop member 9 pivotally mounted on said bolt for engagement by the key: the arrangement being such that (a) when said lock mechanism is in its second condition said control means engages said bolt to maintain said bolt in its inoperative position and said switching means, in use, switches the electric circuit from a first state to a second state; (b) when the lock mechanism is moved from its second condition into its first condition by the key the control means is disengaged from the bolt but the key engages said stop member to prevent said bolt from being moved by said biasing means to its operative position, removal of the key from the lock mechanism causing the key to disengage said stop member thereby allowing the bolt to move under the action of said biasing means to its operative position and said switching means in use switching the electric circuit from said second state to said first state; and thereafter (c) when the key is reinserted in the lock mechanism the key is able to pivot the stop member out of its path and to move the lock mechanism into its second condition. In the construction shown the lock mechanism includes a cylinder 2a and a housing 2, in the body 1; the key slidably engages in an axial slot in the cylinder so that an end portion 4a projects beyond the cylinder, and the key can rotate the cylinder between the first condition in which the steering column is locked in use, the second condition in which in use the ignition circuit is closed, a third condition in which in use the starter circuit is closed and a fourth condition between the first and second conditions in which the bolt is inoperative but the ignition circuit is open, the lock mechanism also includes driving member 5 axially and angularly rigid with the cylinder, pins 5b, 5c eccentrically carried by the driving member on the side facing away from the cylinder and a rod 5a coaxially rigid with the cylinder. The switching means is controlled by the outer portion of said rod 5a. The bolt is provided with a slot 6b parallel with the direction of its sliding motion and through which said rod 5a passes and with shaped projections 6d, 6f co-operating with said pins to hold the bolt in its inoperative position. To move the bolt from its locking position, the pin 5b engages a slope 6e of the projection 6d and moves the bolt against the bias of its spring. During the movement of the cylinder to the second condition the bolt is first held in the releasing position by the engagement of the pin 5c with the projection 6f and finally by the engagement of a projection 5d of the driving member with the projection 6f. When the cylinder is rotated by the key back to the first condition, the end portion 4a of the key is disposed above the stop member 9 as shown in Fig. 13 so preventing the bolt moving to the operative position until the key is withdrawn. Two modifications are described in which the lock mechanism is provided with means for preventing the starter circuit being closed twice in succession without first rotating the cylinder back to the condition in which the ignition circuit is broken; this prevents the starter being operated while the engine is running. In the first modification this is achieved by providing a cam 12, Fig. 22, between the driving member 5 and the bolt 6; this is engaged by a spring biased detent 13 which also engages an adjacent surface of the driving member, the shapes of the cam and the surface are such that the desired sequence of operations is achieved. The second modification is similar except that the cam is positioned between the driving member and the cylinder.