GB2061370A

GB2061370A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2061370A
Application number: GB8030832A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sodex Magister Societe dExploitation des Brevets Neiman SA
Current assignee: Sodex Magister Societe dExploitation des Brevets Neiman SA
Priority date: 1979-10-19
Filing date: 1980-09-24
Publication date: 1981-05-13
Also published as: ES263115U; AR224027A1; ES263115Y; DE3037980A1; IT8025414A0; IT1133701B; SU1102489A3; BR8006666A; GB2061370B

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti- theft device for an automobile vehicle comprising a bolt 13 for locking an element essential to the running of the vehicle, the said bolt being arranged to slide between a locking position and an unlocking position, the sliding of the said bolt being controlled by the rotation of a cylinder lock 2 the axis of which is not parallel to the axis of the bolt. A draw rod 6 sliding parallel with the axis of the lock under the action of a cam fast 4 with the cylinder and subject to the action of a return spring 7, the extremity 15 of the bolt draw rod opposite to the lock and the extremity 9 of the bolt opposive to its locking extremity comprising an inclined plane transmission system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle anti-theft device The invention relates to an anti-theft device for an automobile vehicle, comprising a bolt for locking an element essential to the running of the vehicle, the said bolt being arranged sliding parallel with its axis between a locking position and an unlocking position, the sliding of the said bolt being controlled by the rotation of a cylinder lock, the axis of which is not parallel to the axis of the bolt.

In known anti-theft devices of this type, called transverse bolt anti-theft devices, a cam or an eccentric fast in rotation with the cylinder acts upon the bolt to cause its translation from the locking position to the unlocking position, in the course of the rotation of the cylinder. These known anti-theft devices, if they give every satisfaction, possess however the disadvantage of necessitating different component parts for practically every vehicle, in accordance with the dimensions, angles, distance from the steering column, etc. Moreover they are relatively bulky.

The present invention aims at obtaining an antitheft device of the above type in which many parts are standard, permitting of reducing the cost price.

Moreover the anti-theft device according to the invention is of reduced bulk.

To this end the anti-theft device according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises a draw rod sliding parallel with the axis of the lock under the action of a cam fast in rotation with the cylinder and subject to the action of a return spring, the extremity of the bolt draw rod opposite to the lock and the extremity of the bolt opposite to its locking extremity comprising an inclined plane transmission system, the anti-theft device further comprising an element for guidance of the bolt.

The rotation of the lock cylinder thus produces a translation of the draw rod of the bolt parallel with the axis of the lock, this translation, through the intermediary of the inclined plane transmission system, producing a translation of the bolt in a direction imposed by the guidance of the bolt and the incline of the planes, which direction is not parallel to the axis of the lock. The assembly constituted by the lock and the bolt draw rod, with in addition the electric switch usually controlled by the lock, can be a standard assembly. For the various types of vehicles only the bolt and the bolt guide element have to be adapted to the particular data of the vehicle.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view, partially in elevation, along the axis of the lock of an anti-theft device according to an example of embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a view of a detail of the anti-theft device according to Figure 1 representing the connection between the bolt draw rod and the bolt, FIGURE 3 is a simplified diagrammatic plan view of the anti-theft device according to Figure 1, the lock not being represented, in the bolt unlocking position, FIGURE 4 is analogous with Figure 3, the bolt being in the locking position, FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a part of an anti-theft device according to a variant of the invention, FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a part of the anti-theft device according to Figure 5, FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an anti-theft device according to a further variant of the invention, FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the anti-theft device according to Figure 7, FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view, partially in elevation, of an anti-theft device according to one example of embodiment of the invention, in the locking position on a vehicle steering column, FIGURE 10 is a sectional view along the line Il-lI in Figure 9, FIGURE 11 is a partial view analogous with that in Figure 9, the anti-theft device being in the unlocking position, FIGURE 12 is a sectional view along the line lV-lVin Figure 11,and FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partially in section, illustrating the fitting of the anti-theft device according to Figures 9 to 12.

Reference will be made firstly to the form of embodiment according to Figures 1 to 8.

The anti-theft device comprises a lock formed by a body 1 and a cylinder 2 controlled by a key 3.

A cam 4 is keyed on the end of the cylinder 2 opposite to the key 3 and co-operates with a nipple 5 fast with a draw rod 6 moving parallel with the axis of the cylinder 2. The draw rod 6 is subject to the action of a return spring 7 pressing upon the bottom of a recess of the body 1. A rotary switch 8 is mounted coaxially with the cylinder 2 and is actuated directly by the latter.

The assembly as just described is standard and can be utilised as component of an anti-theft device having a bolt parallel to the axis of the lock.

The extremity of the draw rod 6 opposite to the nipple 5 comprises a radial dog 9 and slides in a recess 10 of a casing 11 containing the lock 1-2.

The recess 10 communicates with a transverse bore 12 of the casing 11 and a locking bolt 13 slides in the bore 12. For this purpose the bolt 1 3 is provided, at its extremity opposite to its locking tip 14, with an oblique groove 1 5 in which the dog 9 of the draw rod 6 is engaged. In the example as represented the groove 1 5 is at 45 in order to ensure displacement of the bolt 1 3 at right angles to the movement of the draw rod 6. The angle can be modified in order to ensure a non-orthogonal transmission.

When the nipple 5 of the bolt draw rod 6 is on the apex of the cam 4 (Figure 3) the draw rod 6 occupies a retracted position and the operative extremity 14 of the bolt is spaced from the steering column 1 6. If the nipple 5 is on a low part of the cam 4 (Figure 4) the bolt draw rod can move, if it is otherwise unlocked, towards the left (in the drawing) under the action of its spring 7.

The bolt 13 then moves upwards (in the drawing) in such manner that its extremity 14 comes to engage in a recess 1 7 of a ring 1 8 fast with the steering column 1 9. The steering is then locked.

It will be noted that the element for guiding the bolt 13, constituted by the bore 12, is formed directly in the casing 11 enclosing the whole of the anti-theft device. This casing is fixed to the steering column 16 by a strap 20 by means of screws having break-away heads (not shown).

In the example of embodiment as represented the draw rod 6 is of sheet metal and the dog 9 is constituted by a folded tongue so as to facilitate manufacture and fitting. It is in fact sufficient to push back the bolt beyond the position according to Figure 3 and likewise to pull upon the draw rod 6 in order to be able to cause the tongue 9 to penetrate into the groove 1 5. After release the assembly comes to occupy the position according to Figure 3. Any accidental separation is impossible by reason of the fact that the draw rod 6 cannot withdraw beyond the position according to Figure 3 in normal operation.

In the form of embodiment according to Figures 5 and 6 the bolt draw rod 6.is terminated by an inclined plane 6' which co-operates with an oblique face 21 formed in the bolt 13.

In the variant according to Figures 7 and 8 the groove 15 extends through and the dog 9 is constituted by a spindle passing through the groove, for example a rivet.

The anti-theft device as described in Figure 9 to 13 comprises a bolt draw rod 30 controlled in translation by a lock cylinder (not shown) through the intermediary of a cam, and subject to the action of a return spring 31. The draw rod 30 slides in the body 32 of the lock. The bolt draw rod 30 contrc!s the bolt 33 through the intermediary of an inclined cutaway portion 34 in which there slides a spindle 35 fast with the bolt 33. The bolt 33, which is subject to the action of a spring 36 returning it into the locking position (Figure 9) is guided in a bolt guide 37. The bolt guide 37 is fixed to the body 32 of the lock by screws 38 which cannot be unscrewed, or screws with break-away heads.

The assembly as just described, which constitutes a complete anti-theft device, is mounted in a support 39 itself made fast with the steering column 40 by a steel strap 41 and screws with break-away heads. On the steering shaft 43 a ring 44 provided with a slot 45 is fixed. In the locking position (Figures 9 and 10) the bolt 33 penetrates into the slot 45 and locks the steering shaft43.

The inclined slot 34 is downwardly terminated (in the drawing) by a portion 46 opening to the exterior and parallel to the bolt 33. In the bolt guide 37, in extension of the bolt 33, a recess 47 is formed. In the unlocking position (Figures 11, 12 and 13) the bolt can be pushed back buy a fitter's finger (Figure 13) in order to retract completely into the bolt guide 37, it being then possible for the anti-theft device to be introduced into the body 39 by simple translational movement. During this driving in of the bolt 33 its extremity adjacent to the spring 36 penetrates into the recess 47.

The portion 46 of the inclined slot 34 likewise comprises a portion 48 opening to the exterior and parallel with the bolt draw rod 30. This portion 48 permits assembling of the bolt guide 37 on the lock body 32, the bolt 33 being driven manually into the recess 47, permitting the passage of the spindle 35 in the portion 48. Once assembly is effected the bolt 33 is released and, under the action of its spring 36, comes into the unlocking position (Figure 11), the spindle 35 abutting on the shoulder 49 formed between the portions 46 and 48 of the slot 34. During this assembling the bolt guide 30 is held in the unlocking position by a blade 30' controlled by the lock.

At its extremity to the portions 46 and 48 the inclined slot 34 comprises a cutaway portion 50 substantially parallel to the bolt 33 and forming an abutment protuberance 51. When the bolt is in the locking position (Figure 9 and 10) and an attempt is made to push it back towards its unlocking position (theft attempt), the spindle 35 comes to lodge at the bottom of the cutaway portion 50, preventing the bolt from being caused to come into the unlocking position.

Claims

1. Antttheft device for automobile vehicle, comprising a bolt for locking an element essential to the running of the vehicle, the said bolt being arranged to slide parallel with its axis between a locking position and an unlocking position, the sliding of the said bolt being controlled by the rotation of a cylinder lock that axis of which is not parallel to the axis of the bolt, characterised in that it comprises a draw rod sliding parallel with the axis of the lock under the action of a cam fast in rotation with the cylinder and subject to the action of a return spring, the extremity of the bolt draw rod opposite to the lock and the extremity of the bolt opposite to its locking extremity comprising an inclined plane transmission system, the antitheft device further comprising an element for guidance of the bolt.

2. Anti-theft device according to Claim 1, wherein the transmission systen is constituted by an inclined groove formed on one of the parts and a dog carried by the other part and co-operating with the said groove.

3. An anti-theft device according to Claim 2, wherein the groove extends throughout and the dog is constituted by a spindle passing through the said groove.

4. Anti-theft device according to Claim 2, wherein the groove is carried by the bolt and is open at its two extremities, the draw rod is of sheet metal and the dog is constituted by a tongue cutout and folded from the sheet metal.

5. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the element for guiding the bolt is constituted by a bore formed in a casing containing the anti-theft device assembly.

6. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection between the bolt and the bolt shank comprises a clearance permitting the bolt, in at least one position of the lock, to be thrust back inwards beyond its unlocking position in such a manner as to be retracted to the interior of the bolt guide element.

7. Anti-theft device according to Claim 6, wherein the bolt draw rod comprises an inclined slot with which there co-operates a spindle fast with the bolt, this slot opening to the exterior at one extremity by a portion parallel to the bolt, a recess being formed in the bolt guide element in extension of the bolt.

8. Anti-theft device according to Claim 7, wherein the said extremity of the inclined slot likewise comprises a portion opening to the exterior parallel with the bolt guide.

9. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 7 and 8, wherein the extremity of the slot opposite to the first extremity comprises a cut-away portion substantially parallel to the bolt and forming an abutment.

10. Anti-theft device according to Claim 6, wherein the movement of the bolt into its retracted position is controlled by the lock.

11. Anti-theft device for automobile vehicle, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.