GB2265126A - Vehicle anti-theft device - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device protected by casings (28 and 29), actuated by keylock (16) which turns a gear (17) via a shaft (20) along annular grooves (19) moving the complete slidable assembly (12, 18, 21, 25 and 23) simultaneously interconnecting two special gears (13, 14) inside the sleeve (12) and releasing locking sockets (26) of the ring (25) from the pin (27) by the links (21) and pins (23) along slots (24) in the casing (28) preventing rotation, however, leaving rotatable movement by the sleeve (12) with interconnected shafts (10 and 11) via a bearing (18). Turning the key in direction C activates security disc (37), this releases spring-loaded shaft (39) by the lobe (40) simultaneously the gear (17), lobe (34) enters the failsafe position on the sleeve (12A) i.e. ON position normal use. When the keylock (16) is turned in direction D the disc (37) moves lobe (40) against shaft (39). When safety shaft (39) is depressed making the way clear for lobe (40) to return and gear (17) teeth (35) to re-enter the annular grooves (19) thus activating the complete internal assembly in reverse, i.e. OFF position immobilised.

Description

THE CHARLOTTE SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a vehicle security device. Various types of vehicle security device have been proposed which interfere with or lock the vehicle's steering and has no fail safe mechanism incorporated should the device malfunction.

One such device comprises a lock which engages with the steering column when the vehicle ignition key, is removed to lock the steering against movement when the vehicle is not in use. These steering locks can easily be broken by applying sufficient turning force to the steering wheel allowing the vehicle to be steered.

I have now devised a security device which alleviates the problems with the known vehicle security devices noted above.

The security device which the invention proposes is based on a completely different philosophy, specifically the SIMULTANEOUS function of the device and the suitability for a wide range of applications.

One such applications substantially described herein.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a security device preferably for mounting to the vehicle's steering column which does NOT affect the integrity of the existing steering wheel assembly or steering mechanism's i.e steering box or rack and pinion assemblies.

The steering column, comprising means for disconnecting the input shaft from the vehicle's output shaft SIMULTANEOUSLY locking the output shaft against steering movement.

Thus if a thief attempts to steal the vehicle he will not be able to steer the vehicle, i.e turning of steering wheel will not give directional movement to road wheels, furthermore he will not be able to apply force to the steering wheel centre shaft section to break the lock which prevents the road wheels from directional movement.

Preferably the vehicle security device is operated by a lock which carries an external security disk together with a safety device if desired. Advantageously the device may also be arranged to operate the electrical ignition switch, all operated simultaneously by the lock key or locking device.

Preferably the security device is connected in series with two parts of the steering column shaft and includes an element which is axially slidable along the steering column shaft between a first position in which the two parts of the steering column are interlocked and simultaneously a second position in which the two parts of the steering column are disconnected.

In one embodiment, an actuating gear engages with teeth formed on the axially slidable element so that rotation of the gear causes the element to slide axially along the centre shaft.

In an alternative embodiment a selector fork is provided for causing axial movement of the slidable element along the centre shaft.

Preferably the axially slidable element carries a member which engages with one of said two parts of the sleeve and centre column shaft when the element is in said second position so as to lock that part of the centre column shaft against rotational movement.

A casing is provided which prevents tampering with the security device. The casing preferably comprises of inner and outer sleeves. The outer sleeve maybe constructed in layers of metal, rubber even urethanes to enhance security and protect the whole mechanism against applied impact force by the would-be thief.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of vehicle security device in accordance with this invention with some parts shown cut-away; Figure 2 is an isometric view of internal components of the vehicle security device of figure 1, with some parts shown cut-away and; Figure 3 is an isometric view of internal components in an alternative embodiment of vehicle security device in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of internal components referring to the fail-safe section in accordance with this invention.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of internal components providing additional security and safety in accordance with this invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a vehicle security device preferably for mounting in series with the vehicles steering column. The steering column comprises an input shaft 10 to which the steering wheel preferably is connected, and an output shaft 11 which preferably is connected to the vehicle's road wheels via a steering mechanism.

As shown in Figure 2, the input shaft 10 is connected to the output shaft 11 via a sleeve 12 which interlocks two face-toface gears 13,14 which are disposed on opposite ends of the shafts 10,11. An alignment pin 9 is disposed along the axis of the two shafts 10,11 in order to prevent misalignment of the two gears and to rotatable interlock the two shafts 10,11.

The sleeve 12 comprises a tubular element having an annulus of axially extending teeth 15 formed on its interior. The teeth 15 engage with the teeth on the gears 13,14 and lock them together so that rotational movement can be transmitted from the input shaft 10 to the output shaft 11. The two gears 13, .18,together with the internal corresponding splines 15 of the sleeve 12 may be provided with an indexing means 8 which prevents the two shafts from being misaligned so that the orientation of the steering wheel would be out of alignment with the direction in which the road wheels are pointing.

The periphery of the sleeve 12 is formed with a plurality of annular grooves 19 which engage with a actuating gear 17 which is mounted transversely relative to the sleeve 12. The actuating gear 17 is supported by a shaft 20 which is connected at one end to a lock 16 and at the other to an electrical ignition switch (not shown). The slidable sleeve 12 has a provided section suitable for a safety device. When the sleeve 12 is engaged with the lower shaft 11 to its full engaged position the actuating gear 17 teeth 35 moves along the annular grooves 19 to the end of the sleeve 12A automatically leaving the lobe 34 of the actuating gear 17 to hold the sleeve 12 in the engaged position allowing the input shaft 10 and the output shaft 11 to rotate in the usual manner. Thus preventing the sleeve 12 from disengaging.

Advantageously the actuating gear 17 may continue to turn in the desired direction C or D to operate the electrical ignition switch (not shown) without causing further axially slidable movement to the sleeve 12.

To disconnect the steering wheel from the road wheels, the driver turns off the vehicle's ignition by turning a key in the lock 16: this acticn also turns the actuation gear 17 in the direction D and the key lock shaft 20 together with the actuating gear teeth 35 engaging with the annular grooves 19 on the sleeve 12, moving 12, 21 and 25 SIMULTANEOUSLY to the off position in direction E as shown in Figure 1. The axial movement of the sleeve 12 serves to disengage the annulus of teeth 15 on the interior of the sleeve 12 from the gear 14 disposed on the end of the output shaft 11: this disconnects the input shaft 10 from the output shaft 11.

Also provided in the security device for simultaneously locking the vehicle's road wheels, via the output shaft 11 when the steering wheel input shaft 10 is disconnected. A pair of links 21, or an alternative tubular section 22 are connected to the sleeve 12 by a rotatable mounted bearing 18.

The outer track of the bearing 18 is prevented from rotational movement by pins e.g 23 which engage with a slot 24 formed in an inner casing 28 of the security device. The pin 23 supports a ring 25 which is slidable mounted on the output shaft 11. The ring 25 has a plurality of sockets e.g 26 which are directed axially towards the sleeve 12. Projections e.g 27 are mounted or formed on the output shaft 11 and engage with the sockets e.g 26 when the ring 25 is moved axially along the output shaft 11. The links 21 or tube 22 serve to simultaneously move the ring 25 when the sleeve 12 is moved by turning the key. It will be appreciated that when the projections e.g 27 are engaged with the sockets e.g 26, the output shaft 11 is prevented from rotational movement. i.e thus the steering wheel is disconnected from the road wheels and furthermore the road wheels are locked against steering movement when the sleeve 12 is moved in the direction E as shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 shown an alternative mechanism for moving the sleeve 12 axially along the input shaft 10 and output shaft 11. A bifurcated selector fork 30 engages with an annular groove 33 formed on the periphery of the sleeve 12. A keyed plate 31 is mounted perpendicularly to the selector fork 30 and connects it to the output shaft 20 of the lock 16.

Advantageously there is provision for additional security and safety components if desired by the manufacturer or user as shown in Figure 5. The security disc 37 prevents the would-be thief from attaching instruments to forceable gain access to the key lock 16.

Advantageously there is a provided lobe 40 attached to the security disc 37 which controls the spring loaded shaft 39 to operate in the direction A when the key lock 16 is operated in the direction C. The coil spring 38 projects the shaft 39 outwardly over a section of the lobe 40 thus preventing the key lock 16 to return to the final off position until the shaft 39 is depressed in the direction B making clear the way for the lobe 40 to continue turning in the direction D to the final off position. This will allow the key to be removed from the lock 16. This safety feature alleviates the problem of accidentally actuating the whole lock mechanism when all is required for the electrical ignition switch to be re operated to restart the vehicle.

A outer casing 29 is mounted co-axially with the steering column and the inner casing 28. An aperture is formed in the side wall of the outer casing 29 for access to the lock 16 by the key. The double casing 28,29 makes it difficult for a would-be thief to tamper with the security device. The casings 28 and 29 can be constructed in a layer or layers of metal, rubber even urethanes to enhance security and protect the whole mechanism against impact applied force and making the device even more difficult to gain access to the internal components of the lock mechanism.

If the would-be thief forces the casing causing it to bend the damage will cause misalignment of the two shafts, thereby making it impossible to move the sleeve 12 in order to reconnect all of the internal moving components SIMULTANEOUSLY.

It is envisaged that electrically or mechanically switches may also be mounted to the device in various positions activated by the complete slidable element of the mechanism.

Considering that this is a full description of the components constituting the improvements for greater security devices to which we have referred. Advantageously the invention describe herein may also be suitable for several applications. It may also be possible to manufacture various components in a variety of materials, sizes and shapes and other constructional variations can be made as found useful in practice to the preferred application, always provided the same are not capable of altering THE ESSENTIAL POINTS of the present filed patent of invention.

Claims (12)

1. A security device designed and built preferably for vehicles comprising of MECHANICAL components which SIMULTA NEOUSLY disengage one said shaft to rotate freely and engage another said shaft to be held in a locked position.

2. According to claims 1 where preferably the shaft is severed into two parts and special gears with indexing means are mounted or formed to inwardly facing ends together with a centre alignment shaft to prevent misalignment.

3. According to claims 1 and 2 where preferably a ring axially slides along to engage the sockets with a stationery pin which is mounted or formed on one said shaft. The ring also has projecting pins to interconnect the ring with the links or tube to the slots provided in the inner security casing placing the device in the locked position.

4. According to claims 1 to 3 where preferably a sleeve element slides axially along with indexing means to SIMULTA NEOUSLY engage the two special gears and release the locking ring to the unlocked position.

5. According to claims 1 to 4 where preferably the slidable element has means for SIMULTANEOUSLY allowing one said sleeve to rotate in any direction with the shaft and via a bearing another said section a pair of links or tube to hold in an immobilised position preventing rotation of the said second shaft constructed as one unit.

6. According to claims 1 to 5 where the periphery of the sleeve has a plurality of annular grooves or groove. The said sleeve also carries a fail safe section.

7. According to claims 1 to 6 where the said selector fork or drive gear with projections or teeth locate into the appropriate annular grooves or groove provided on the periphery of the said sleeve to enable axially slidable operation preferably actuated by the drive shaft projecting from key lock.

8. According to claims 1 to 7 where the drive gear preferably has means for disengaging the drive gear teeth from the annular grooves of the sleeve and may continue turning into its fail safe position automatically engaging the lobe of the drive gear with the provided fail safe section of the sleeve. thus ensuring the main shafts can rotate in the usual manner and the sleeve remains in the engage position allowing the drive gear to continue turning in the desired direction to operate the electrical switch without causing axially slidable movement to the sleeve.

9. According to claims 1 to 8 where preferably a additional security disc is mounted externally to the lock. The disc will preventmauthorised instruments from being attached to the main key lock to forceable gain access.

10. According to claims 1 to 9 where preferably a security disc and spring loaded shaft is provided. The disc can also have mounted or formed to it, a section of lobe. The lobe together with the corresponding spring loaded shaft becomes an additional safety device. Thus allowing the electrical ignition switch to be operated by the key, however, alleviating the problem of accidentally operating the whole lock mechanism.

11.According to claims 1 to 10 where preferably inner and outer casings are provided for additional security.

The inner casing maybe mounted or formed over the shaft lock mechanism which carries slots to receive the said slidable ring pins. The other casing maybe mounted or formed to the whole lock mechanism both held in a fixed stationary position to its application, however, allowing the input shaft and output shaft to rotate in the desired direction through each end.

Preferably the security casings may be constructed in a layer or layers using a combination and variety of materials i.e metal, rubber even urethanes protecting the mechanism against impact, force and unauthorised use. Also provided in the casing is a section (i.e a hole) for access with the correct key. This will operate the complete security device mechanism SIMULTANEOUSLY.

12. A security mechanism designed and built for several applications. One such application substantially as herein - described with reference to the accompanying drawings