GB2292923A

GB2292923A - Freewheeling steering wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2292923A
Application number: GB9508736A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Petr Prokopius
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-10
Filing date: 1995-04-28
Publication date: 1996-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-28
Also published as: GB2292923B; GB9508736D0

Abstract

A security freewheeling steering wheel 1 for motor vehicles enables the steering wheel 1 to disengage from a steering shaft 2 of a motor vehicle and be locked in the freewheeling position providing a high level of security against theft and unauthorised use. The arrangement is compatible with an inflatable crash bag situated in the centre of the steering wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

SECJRITY FREEWHEELING STEERING WHEEL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES This invention relates to security of motor vehicles in particular to prevention of unauthorised use and theft.

Within the last decade theft of motor vehicles increased to extreme levels and variety of security devices where introduced. Majority of these devices are electronic alarm systems which proved to be unsatisfactory. Some mechanical devices for locking steering wheels were designed by vehicle manufacturers, but also proved inadequate to protect the vehicles from increasing crime; by applying adequate force to steering wheel these locking devices are being broken and do not protect the veiiicles against determined thieves. Also te electronic devices security are easily overcome once the thief is inside the vehicle and different electronic BY--PASSES of vehicle electric are being used to drive away the vehicle.

This invention introduces a device which car protect vehicles in a better, more reliable way by a combination of mechanical locking of a steering wheel in a freewheeling position combined with electronic protection conveniently situated in places difficult to access which immobilize vehicle electrics. The electronics is comprising pairs of electronic activators and electronically coded elements and detectors, code readers or switches for disabling the vehicle's whole or part of the electrical circuit and identifying authorised entry and use and activating vehicle alarm system. The activating elements may be built within the mechanical part or within the locking system under the steering wheel which is difficult to access by a thief.The preferred position of the mechanical freewheeling arrangement for erlgagement for drive position would t)e upwards movement of the engaging element and disengage downwards movement because in this way the freewheeling steering wheel in locked dowtlwards position will be more difficult to force into engagement to upwards position by any means e . g. by impact.

According to the present invention there is provided a mechanical arrangement which allows freewheeling of a steering wheel in locke3 security position, in particular the steering wheel and a steering column connection is possible to engage for tie driving position or disengage to freewheeling for security locked position txy a simple movement of a engagement element which may be a part of the steering wheel or independent part and said engagement element which may be constructed in many different forms.

The engagement element may being held in engaged or disengaged position by a means of a guide stop arrangement which also may be constructed in many different shapes and forms of adequate size and strength, said guide stop being operated for transaction from engaged into disengage position and via versa by some conventional means such as key arid lock mechanically or electrically by a solenoid or similar device. Also, built within the mechanical arrangement may be installed an electrical or electronic detector detecting the engaged, disengaged and intermediate position of the steering wheel and may be controlling tie car part or whole electrics as to disable and enable some parts of electrical arid electronic car system and alarm for providing maximum security against thieves and unauthorized use.

A specific embodiment of the iiiventiori will now be described hy a way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 - 8 in which: Fig. 1 shows an arrangement for converting conventional connection between tile steering wheel 1 and tiie steering column 2 by means of an adaptor 3 showing the form of freewheeling arrangement of the steering wheel in the locked security position.The said adaptor 3 is rigidly connected to the steering column 2 by some conventional means sucti as square, hexagon, octagon, taper, key, groves or splines, tioe said freewheeling arrangement comprising the steering wheel 1 male of a suitable conventional material, said steering wheel may have ari insert or adaptor la from a different material in the centre of the said ;;teer ing wheel, the said insert la being rigidly secured to tlie said steering wheel 1 in some conventional way, the said steering wheel 1 or the said insert or adaptor lao in said centre of ttie steering wheel 1 having a bore of an appropriate size and length and a part of the length of the said bore provided with a plane cylindrical length and a part of the length with a means of a suitably shaped inner circumference 9, such as conventional groves, splines, teeth , square, hexagon, in this case with groves 9 and in this form providing one part of a connection means for a positive radial engagement in driving position between the said steering wheel 1 and said steering column 2 trough the adaptor 3 which has a length of its outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shape and a length of a suitable shaped outer cyl iridrical length 4 as to engage with said suitably sloaped inner circumference 9 in the bore of tiie steering wheel 1 or said insert 3a of ttie steering wheel 1, iii this case with groves 9, the said appropriate length and shape of the engagement means 9 and 4 and meshing together providing said connection between the steering wheel 3 and the steering column 2, the connection being in such a way to allow an axial movement of said steering wheel 1 up and down on said adaptor 3 iri order to engage for driving or disengage for security freewheeling of the steering wheel 1 on the adaptor 3, the suitable shaped inner and outer circumferential surface of the steering wheel 1 and of the said adaptor 3 being in some conventional form such as notches, seration, groves, spl ines, teeth, hexagon, square or octagon in appropriate length and size ensuring the said positive radial engagement between the steering wheel 1 arid the said adaptor 3 in the said engaged position, the preferred position for engagement being the upper position and the movement upwards may be assisted by spring 7, downwards movement may be to disengage, the said steering wheel 1 being positively guided and held in said engaged or disengaged position by at least one guiding stop 5, said guiding stop 5 being adequately sized suitably shaped to engage by radial movement inwards in a circumferential grove 8 or 10 formed in appropriate depth and size in said adaptor 3, this arrangement allowing rotation of the adaptor 3 and securing the steering wheel 1 in selected engaged upwards position or freewheeling downwards position, the movement of the guiding stop 5 inwards and outwards of engagement in or out of the said grove 8 or 10 being operated by a conventional means such as a mechanical or electromechanical locking device wii icto may be combined wi tIo several mechanical or electromechanical safety interlocks operated hy a conventional means such as a lever, key or electrically coded device such as a card or form of a keying 3ev ice, said guiding stop 5 securing the said steering wheel 1 iii the selectecl position, in ttiis case in driving position by engagement of the guiding stop in the grove 10 or in freewheeling position by means of guiding stop 5 engaged in the grove 8, the said lock awl lowing preferably said guiding stop 5 into outwards position only intermittently by releasing the said mechanical or electrical safety interlock operated ty the said conventional key, keying device or electronically coded device or electrically by a solenoid activated by coded switch only during the trans it ion of the steering wheel from engaging to disengaging and via versa position and said key or keying device may be arranged to be removable only in disengaged position.The guiding stop 5 is being guided in bearing block 6 which is stationary and rigidly connected to a relatively strong part of ttie vehicle body.

The position of the said steering wheel l in the engaged or disengaged position and the trans it ion from and to of one of these positions may be detected by a combination of the said mechanical inter lock with at least one pair electrical or electronic detecting means or a switch, the said combination comprising beside the mechanical part at least ollce detector, reader or a switch 11, 12, 13, or 14 which may be electronically coded and is situated in proximity to the steering wheel arrangement described above and at least one signal or code transmitter 15, 16 or 17 situated suitably in or on ariy part within said steering wheel arrangement preferably protected in groves and interconnected into a vehicle alarm arid electrical or electronic operating or warning system for maximum security as to disable or enable said part or whole electric avoiding unauthorized use of the vehicle.Either one part of the detection means 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, 16, 17 may be situated within said steering wheel arrangement and the other permanently attached to some stationary part in proximity to said steering wheel arrangement and may be also protected by mechanical keying interlock device.

Figure 2 shows similar freewheeling arrangement of the said steering wheel 1 uses an adaptor 3 connected to steering column 2 by some conventional means as described in Fig. 1 for conversion of existing arrangement, where tie left side from the arrangement axis is illustrating ttie said arrangement in driving, engaged position and the right side from said axis in freewheeling disengaged position. In this arrangemeiit the steering wheel 1 does not move axially, but stays permanently in one position and engagement and disengagement of the steering wheel 1 is control led by means of several spherical balls 20 situated iii radial holes circumferentially equally or unequally spaced and provided through the cylindrical tubular wall of the said adaptor 3, the cylindrical tubular part of the adaptor 3 having a appropriate wall thickness such as equivalent of approximately one half of the diameter of the tal 1 2) .i1(3 the steering wheel 1 which may have also insert la from a different material as described in Fig. 1 has several ball seat nests 19 equally or unequally circumferentially spaced as to mesh with sa id several: spherical balls 20 in several or only one position, the seat nests 19 being provided in appropriate depth eguivalent to approximately one half of Lhe diameter of tiie ba] Is 20 and situated circumferentially in its inner cylindrical bore of the steering wheel 1 or said insert la.In the said engaged Position of the steering whee] 1 the ha3 ls 20 are forced into the seat nests 19 by axial movement of a locking plug 24 which may be lockabl@ in its locked - freewheeling or unlocked driving position and the said balls 20 providing the said connection between the steering wheel 1 and the steering column 2 through the adaptor 3 which is permanently connected with said steering column 2 by some conventional means.In the disengaged freewheeling security position the lock 21 is moved into downward position and the balls 20 released from the seat nests into suitable radius shaped grove 18 provided in the lock body 24, which may be assembled from several parts or made of one part. The lock 2] has a bolt of suitable shape 5a which is being radially moved by a keying device 22 and as to extend into a grove 5a in the said engaged or into the grove 5b in the said disengaged position of the steering wheel and the lock 21 and the locking plug 24 may he assisted by a spring 7.The position of the lock may be mechanically or electrically or electronically detected by suitable mechanical pair of a switch ant activator or by electronic pair of an traiismitting arid receiving coded switch or reader 11 and 15 and interconnected j into vehicle electrical or warning circuit as to control a part of the said circuit accordingly.

Fig. 3 shows engaged freewheeling safety steering wheel 1 example arrangement with insert 3 which may be from a different material than the steering wheel 1, the steering wheel 1 connected directly to the steering column 2 by means of some coriventi onal way such as notch and grove, splines or groves 4 provided directly circumferentially in inner diameter of the cylindrical bore of the said steering wheel 1 or in its insert 3, said notches, splines or groves mestiiiig with groves, splines or groves 4 provided on a part of outer cylindrical part of the steering column 2 in appropriate length as to provide a positive radial connection between the steering wheel 1 and the steering column 2 in engaged upper position.The said means of positive radial coniiect ion constructed in a way as to allow an axial movement of the steering wheel 1 ori the steering column 2 to engage the steering wheel 1 in grooved upper axial position for driving or disengage in the lower axial position for freewheeling of the steering wheel l ori t)ie steering column wlii cli has appropriate E > lane round diameter and length of a cylindrical part 2a allowing in this position a free rotation of the steering wheel 1 on the cylindrical part 2a of the steering column 2 in the said freewheeling disengaged position. The axial movement of the steering wheel 1 is limited hy some conventional in this care t)y a grove aid circlip at the top arid t)y a shoulder on the steering column at the bottom.The engaged ani disengaged position of the steering wheel 1 may tie arranged in opposite way of upper or lower position and may be assisted by a spring in one of these positions. The guiding stop 5 may have a roller or hearing 3(1 at its engaging cnd and similar way of combinat ion of mechallical and electronic interlocking and detection may be provided in a way as described in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows freewheeling security arrangement of the steering wheel 1 on left side of the axis in disengaged and on r igtit side in engaged position using arrangement of several balls 20 and a collar 24a and b to displace the balls 20 into seat nests 25 which may be equally or unequally spaced by means of a shoulder and a recess formed in said collar 25a and b, the seat nests 25 of a suitable shape and appropriate depth equal approximately to one half of the diameter of the balls 20 to accommodate the balls 20 may be situated directly in the steering column 2 or said steering column 2 may have an adaptor from a different material rigidly connected by some conventional means to the said steering column 2.The collar 24a and 24h is axially movahle to engage and disengage the balls 20 by the means of shoulder and recess and may and may be assisted by spring 7 in one position. The collar 24a and 24b may be activated into dowrlwards position by actuator pi ris 26a and 26b projected over the top of the central part of the steering wheel 1 arid may be connected to a mushroom shape component above the steering wheel 1. The guiding stop 5a and Sb provides similar function as described in Fig. 1 and the position and transition of the collar may be detected also in the similar way as described in Fig.l.

Fig. 5 - shows another possible arrangement of freewheeling arrangement of a vehicle steering wheel in disengaged freewheei ing position - The steering wheel 1 having central cylirldrical bore is freely rotating on the cylindrical top part of steering column 2 and secured axially in this position hy conventional means of a nut and a washer on a threaded projection of the steering column 2 at the top and at the bottom supported by a washer .The engagement between said steering wheel 1 and tiie steering column 3 being provided by the means of an axial liy toothed shoulder 28a formed axially at the bottom part of the steering wheel 1 meshing in engaged position with toothed shoulder 28h formed in engagement sleeve 24 which is radially connected with the steering column 2 by some conventional means, in this case by groves or splines and which is axially movable to engage in upper position or disengage in downwards position the steering wheel 1 with tlie steering column 2.

Fig. 6 -- shows another example of possible arrangement of the security freewheeling concept using pins arid holes 30 for engagement and disengagement of tie steering wheel 1 and ttie steering column 2 working in the same principle as described in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 shows two of another of possible arrangements of the security freewheeling concept working on tlie same principle as described in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 on the left side of the axis in engaged and on the right in disengaged position.The engagement means between the steering wheel 1 and the steering column 2 through the engagement sleeve 24a and 24b being provided liy means of a pair of meshing radially shaped notches or teeth 24a and 24b of which one member of the pair is formed in the steeriricj wheel 1 arid second iii the said engagement sleeve 24 a and 24b.

Any of the arrangements iii this invention may have tlie slime or combined mechanical inter locking 5a, Sb, 6a and 6b and electronic protection by similar means such as described in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows one from typical examples of a security freewheeling steering wheel constructed incorporating in its arrangement protective inflatable crash cushion (31) situated in folded form in an enclosure (32) with a lid (30) in the centre of the steering wheel (1) located in position with a notch (47) against a hole in the adaptor (3) to insure alignment of the hole (45) with the hole (51) provided for a electrical cable connection (46) in the adaptor (3) arid in the enclosure (32), this whole assembly being on the rotatable part of steering mechanism on the steering shaft (2) and the cable connection (46) to a firing charge (49) of the inflatable cushion (31) is made through the hole (45) to orie end of a spiral hair spring (40) arranged around the axis and providing on tile other erid stationary insulated terminal (50) for connection of a signal wire for initiating the inflation of t)ie crash cushion (31).The cable (46) may be a multicore cable connected in the same way to a multicore spiral spring with several terminals (50) providing electrical connection to a switch (36) which may be of mechanical or electronic type and which may be integrated into vehicle's elects icy to enable maneuverability of the vehicle when steering wheel (1) is in engaged position or disable maneuverability when disengaged. Switching ON and OFF the switch (36) may be determined t)y position of a control collar (33) which provides axial movement of the steering wheel (1) into engaged or disengaged position with the adaptor (3) mounted on steering shaft (2) derived from the partial rotational movement of the control collar (33) which has at least two spiral groves (52) c ircumfererltially, through the said spiral groves (52) being shoulder screws (44) screwed in the adaptor (3). The upwards movement into engaged position of the steering wheel (1) with the control collar (33) is @nsured by a connecting ring (39), secured to the steering wheel t (1) with some conventional means such as by screws (54), by engaging with a shoulder (53) provided ori tfici control collar (33) with appropriate clearance to allow the rotation of the c:orltrol collar (33) and may be assisted by a spring (7).A handle (34) or outcuts (55) may be provided around the top circumference of tlie control collar (33) arid the operation of the switch (36) may be determined by the loped edge of the control collar (33) or the spiral grove (52) or alternatively by a notch (37) formed in the control collar (32). The left hand side from the axis shows tlie arrangement in disengaged position where the axial engagement teeth (28b) are formed directly onto the steering wheel (1) while on right hand side the arrangement shown is in engaged position with an insert (41) in steering wheel (1), the insert ( 41) forming at the top the axial engagement teeth (28t)) is made from a different stronger material tha@ steering wheel (1.). The engaged and disengaged position of the steering wheel (1) with the steering shaft (2) is secured in appropriate selected position by a guiding stop (5) engaging wit a circumferential grove (8) in disengaged security position or with a shoulder (56) in engaged steering position or with the top part of a shoulder (57) provided in the insert (41) in disengaged security position and with the bottom of the shoulder (57) in the engaged steering position. Tlie guiding stop (5) may be operated by a mechanical arrangement such as a mechanical lock or by a solenoid and the axial movement (a) of the guiding stop (5) may be limited as indicated by (D) by diameter of the engagement grove (8) or by the shoulder arrangement in the insert (41) in disengaged security position or via versa as to mechanically distinguish between the engaged and disengaged position of the steering wheel (1) and combined mechanical lock .3nd ignition switch which will mechanically recognise the position of the guiding stop (5) may be used to enable or disable switching the vehicle's electric circuit accordingly or combination with an additional electronic detecting device (42,43) integrated into vehicle's electrics together with switch (36) may be used for high security level.

Claims

Claims.

1) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement for motor vehicles and boats in secure parking situations comprising a steering wheel consisting from at least one part, a steering column shaft consisting at least one part, the steering column shaft connected to the vehicle steering mechanism, a means of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft for rotational engagement in a common axis in order to rotationally secure the steering wheel with the steering column shaft in a first, engaged, position of the steering wheel with the steering column shaft for driving situations and in order to release, disengage, the steering wheel from the @otational engagement with steering column shaft to enable freewheeling of the steering wheel in a second, the disengaged position of the steering wheel in secure parking situation. and en arrangement of releasable locking device securing the means of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft in the selected position of the steering wheel - in the first engaged position or in the second, disengaged position of the steering wheel.

2) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 where the means of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft has at least two parts, a first engagement member being rotationally secured to or being a part of the steering wheel, therefore forming the first engagement member together with the steering wheel, and a second engagement member being rotationally secured to or being a part of the steering column shaft, therefore forming the second engagement member together with the steering column shaft.

3) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 where the means of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft comprises also at least one further part an adaptor secured to the first engagement member to the steering wheel - the adaptor than being a part of the first engagement member sharing or providing the function of the first engagement member, therefore forming the first engagement member together with the steering wheel.

4) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and @ where the means of releasable securing the steering whell with the steering column shaft comprises also at least one further part an adaptor secured to the second engagement member, the adaptor than being a part of the second engagement memmber @haring or providing the function of the second engagement member, therefore forming the second engagement member together with the steering column shaft.

5) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 where the mean@ of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft comprises also at least one further part, an engagement sleeve providing a fun@tion of and being a third engagement member, the third engagement member being axially movable in the axis of the second engagement member into two axial positions. into a first and into second axial position of the third engagement member where in the first axial position of the third engagement member is providing the means rotational engagement between the first and second engagement member, therefore the said engaged position of the steering wheel, and into a second axial position of the third engagement member, providing the means of disengagement between the first and second engagement member. therefo@@ the disengaged - freewheeling - position of the steering wheel.

6) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and third engagement member is rotationally secured to the first engagement member, making a first pair of engagement. by a means of meshing geometrical shape in form of a male from formed in one and in a female form formed in the other said engagement member in the first pair of engagement, the geometrical shapes allowing an axial m@@ement of the third engagement member on the body of the first engagement member into two axial poritions. into a first and into second axial position of the thiird engagement member.

7) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 where the third engagement member is rotationally socured to the second engagement member, making a second pair of engagement, by a menas of meshing geometri@al shape in form of a male form formed in one and in a f@male form formed in the other said engagement member in the second pair of engagement, the geometrical shapes allowing an axial movement of the third engagemnt member on the bod@ of the second engagement member into two @@@al positions, into a first and into second axial position of the third engagement member.

8) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 where the means of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft comprises also at least one further part - at least one spherical ball being an auxiliary member, the auxiliary member together with the third engagement member providing the means of engagement between the first and the second engagement member, these said first and second engagement members making a fifth pair of engagement, where one engagement member of the fifth pair of engagment has formed at least one female shaped nest equal approximately to a half diameter of the said auxiliary member in the body of the said one engagement member of the fifth pair of engagement and has formed at least one hole to accommodate the auxiliary member in the other engagement member's tuhular formed section having a wall thickness equal appr@@@imately of a half diameter of the auxiliary member and @@ axial movement of the third engagement member of appropriate size into the first axial position of the third engagement member, where the auxiliary members are for@ed, in appropriate relative angular position of the first and second engagement member, into the female shaped nests in the engagement member, providing the rotational engagement between the first and second engagment member and in the second axial position of the third engagement member the auxiliary members are released out from their nest@ into a recess or a grove provided in the body of the third engagement member thus disengaging the engagement between the first and second engagement member enabling the freewheeling of the steering wheel.

9) A servurity freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and @ where the function of the third engagement member is provided by a mechanical locking device.

10) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 where the means of releasable securing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft. the said first and the second position of steering wheel - the engaged and the disengaged position of the steering wheel with the steering column shaft is provided by axial movement of the first engagement member into a first axial position, the first axial position of the first engagement member providing the function of the said first position of the steering wheel, the engaged position, and into a second axial position of the first engagement member which is providing the function of the said second position of the steering wheel, the disengaged position. and where in the first axial position of the first engagement member, the first engagement member is rotationally connected to the second engagement member, making a third pair of engagement, by a form of a geometrical meshing male shape formed in the one of the said engagement member and a female geometrical shape formed in the other engagement member of the third pair of engagement in order to rotationally engage together, the geometrical shape allowing axial movement of the first engagement member from the first into the second axial position of the first engagement member and via versa and where the second axial position of the first engagement member the said meshing geometrical shape allows disengagement in third pair of engagement from the said engagement of the meshing geometrical shapes in order to allow freewheeling of the first engagement member - the steering wheel in the a@is of the second engagement member.

11) A Security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 9 and 10 where the means of releasabl@ @@curing the steering wheel with the steering column shaft, the said first and the second position of steering wheel - the engaged and the disengaged position of the steering wheel with the steering column shaft - is provid@@ by axial movement of the third engagement member into a first a@ial position, the first axial position of the third engagement member providing the function of the said first position of the steering wheel. the engaged position, and into a second axial position of the third engagement member which is providing the function of the said second position of the steering wheel, the disengaged position. and where in the first axial position of the third engagement member.

the third engagement member, is rotationally connected to the second engagement member, making a forth parir of engagement, by a form of a geometrical meshing male chape formed in the one of the said engagement member and a female geometrical shape formed in the other said engagement member in the forth pair of engagement. in order to rotationally engage @ogether. the geometrical shapes allowing axial movement of the third engagement member from the first into the second axial position of the third engagement member and via @@@sa and where in the second axial position of the third engagement member the said geometrical shape allows disengagement in f@@@h pair of engagement from the engagement of the said meshing geometrical shapes in order to allow freewheeling of the first engagement member, the steering wheel, in the ax@@ of the second engagement member .

12) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 10 where the releasable locking device is securing the @@lected engaged or disengaged position of the steering wheel, is provided by a means of at least one radially releasable guide stop guided in a bearing rigidly connected to some relatively stationary part in proximity to the first engagement member, the guide stop arrangement securing the axially movable first engagement member in selected first or selected second axial position of the first engagement member by engaging into a grove or with a shoulder formed in or on the body of the first engagement member, the guide stop being released or engaged by a locking mechanism.

13) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 11 where the releasable locking device is securing the selected engaged or disengaged position of the steering wheel, is provided by a means of at least one releasable guide stop guided in a bearing @igidly connected to some relatively stationary part in proximity to the third engagement member, the guide stop arrangement securing the axially movable third engagement member in selected first or selected second axial position of the third engagement member by engaging into a grove or with a shoulder formed in or on the body of the third engagement member, the guide stop being released or engaged by a locking mechanism.

14) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims where the first and second position of the steering wheel is detected, recognised by electrical or electronic sen@ing device and provides electrical signal into vehicle electric control circuit to stop the engine if transaction from the first into second position of the steering wheel and via versa is attempted.

15) A sercurity freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims where the position of the guide stop is detected, recognised and provides electrical signal into vehicle electric control circuit to stop the engine if transaction from the engaged to disengaged position of the guide stop and via versa is attempted.

16) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims where @@@ the @@@ond engagement member is mounted an enclosur@ @@@@ing a safety inflatable crash bag an air bag - projecting at tie top of the said arrangement and where the electrical connections to the firing charge are made through the opening or at least through one hole made in the second engagement member or its part and connected to a stationary terminal, situated on a relatively stationary part of the steering column, through a means of a spiraled hair spring.

17) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims where the steering wheel has at the bottom part a skirt projecting to the depth needed for providing protection to the means of releasable securing the steering wheel whole arrangement.

18) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims where the transaction of the appropriate said axially movable engagement member is assisted in transaction from the second into the first axial position by a spring.

19) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims where the transaction of the appropriate said axially movable engagement member is assisted from the first to it lie second axial position and via versa is of a rotatable or partly rotatable axial cam ring situated on the circumferential part of the air bag enclosure.

20) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claims except Claim 19 where the transaction of the appropriate said axially movable engagement member from the first into second axial position of that member is provided by means of a mushroom shape pusher projected over the first engagement member by means of pusher pins.

21) A security freewheeling steering wheel arrangement substantionally as described herein with refer@nce to description and Figures 1 - 8 of the accompanying drawings.