JPS62247943A - Steering locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability while simplifying construction by enabling a key to be freely operated to the start position without returning the key to the locked position even after once operating a manual operating member. CONSTITUTION:A steering locking device 42 fixed to a steering column device comprises a key cylinder 24' rotatably supported in a hollow cylindrical holder 44 fitted in the upper portion of a casing 22' and a switch unit 26 disposed coaxially with said key cylinder 24'. Then, a rotatable cam 46 is supported rotatably in synchronization with the key cylinder 24' to controllably rotate said unit 26. Also, a manual latch member 48 is provided to be parallel to the key cylinder 24'. To the outer end of the latch member 48 is fixed a cap-like knob 50, and a lateral projection 52 provided on the end of latch member 48 is adapted to slidably cooperate with the cam 46.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering lock device for an automobile, and more particularly to a two-behavior steering lock that prevents a steering shaft from being locked due to an unexpected key operation while driving. Regarding equipment.

1. Prior Art As is well known, in a conventional steering lock device, a key cylinder and an ignition switch are assembled in a casing attached to a steering column, and the key cylinder, which is operated by a predetermined mechanical key, controls the position and position of a rotatable member. Controls the ignition switch. A spring-loaded hanger is engaged with the rotatable member, and a locking bolt or bar connected to the hanger is inserted into the collar of the steering shaft to secure the steering shaft. For the key inserted into the key cylinder, a key sensing lever is provided to keep the hanger in the unlocked position at all times, and when the key is pulled out of the key cylinder, the hanger is released and the locking bolt is locked into the collar. It's like entering.

By the way, with the above-mentioned steering lock device, if the key were to be pulled out of the key cylinder while driving, the steering shaft would be suddenly fixed by the locking bolt, making it impossible to steer. For example, a so-called two-action steering lock device that prevents the key from being pulled out of the key cylinder after the key is inserted unless another manual operation member is operated is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-1190, for example.
This has been proposed in Publication No. 8, etc. However, in this steering lock device, the tip of a manual operating member biased in one direction by a spring is driven along a plurality of stepped cam surfaces partially formed on the circumferential surface of a rotating member. Once the operating member is operated, the rotating member must be completely returned to the locked position before it can be started again.
There is an inconvenience that key operations in the positional direction cannot be performed. Furthermore, since the stepped cam surfaces used are composed of a large number of curved cams adjacent to each other in the length direction of the rotating member, the rotating member is difficult to manufacture and the manufacturing cost is relatively high.

1. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 1. In view of the problems of the conventional steering lock device as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering lock device that allows users to freely “START” even after operating the manual operation member without returning the key to the locked position.
``To obtain a steering lock 72K that allows key operation in the position direction and has a simple structure.

-Structure of the Invention- To achieve this object, the gist of the present invention is as described in the claims in the header.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT - A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In particular, in FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 10 indicates the entire steering lock device. Although the meaning of the name "steering lock" is very accurate, the expression is too redundant, so it will simply be abbreviated as "steering lock", as those skilled in the art today usually abbreviate it. However, this excludes the scope of claims and descriptions corresponding thereto.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a steering column device fixed to the body of an automobile (not shown). This is a very well-known device, and a steering shaft 14 is rotatably supported in the center of the device, which is also very well known. Since it is a known member, illustration of the supporting device is omitted.

16 is a rotatable collar member mounted on the steering shaft 14. A recess 20 is provided in this, and a locking or unlocking operation is achieved by fitting or removing a conventional locking bolt 34, which will be described later and is movable up and down. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a situation in which the shaft is locked, and the stroke is achieved.

The steering device 10 is provided with a casing 22 which is rigidly and integrally fixed to the steering column device 12 at its lower end.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a known key cylinder, which is rotatably supported in a hollow cylindrical holder 2.1 which is fixedly arranged. The holder 21 is fixedly fitted onto a first cylindrical projection 22a that projects toward the front of the vehicle at a position slightly below the upper end of the casing 22.

z6 is a known fixed electrical switching device, which is very well known, and includes a second cylindrical protrusion 22b provided on the casing 22 opposite to the first cylindrical protrusion 22a. A casing 26a is placed in place.

28 is a rotatable member called a rotator,
It is rotatably supported within the casing 22 between the inner end of the key cylinder 24 and the inner end and front face of the switching device 26 .

The internal mechanism of the switching device 26 can be operated by an operating protrusion 28a that protrudes concentrically to the right in FIG. It is known per se.

K is a schematically shown engine key or a similar mechanical operation key, which is inserted into the key insertion opening 24a (see FIG. 2) of the key cylinder 24 as is known in the art. If you push it in until the end and turn it clockwise or counterclockwise, the rotational movement
The signal is transmitted to the internal mechanism (not shown) of the switching device 26 via the operating protrusion 28b, and the latter is appropriately operated in a known manner.

As can be seen especially from FIG. 2, the rotator 28 is
In Fig. 2, the left side (that is, the back) is configured in a cylindrical flange shape, and the key cylinder (also known as rotor) 2
Since it is press-fitted into the inner end of 4, the two rotate together. Also, this rotator 28 has a cam portion 28a.
is integrally formed, and this cam portion 28a is connected to the cam follower 3.
It is pressed against 0a. In FIG. 1, the cam follower 30a is formed on a sliding hanger rod 30 that can reciprocate in the vertical direction. It is constantly pressed downward by the acting force of a pressing spring 32 disposed in the internal space of the housing 22. The lower end of the hanger rod 30 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the locking bolt 34 by a hinge pin 100, but if the lengths of both are not very long, they may be directly connected.

The rotator 28 is at the specific position shown in FIG.
When placed in the OCK position, the lower end of the locking bolt 34 is properly or substantially engaged with the recess 20 of the collar member 18, so that the steering shaft 14 is locked and theft-proofing of the vehicle is achieved. Ru.

In FIG. 2, 36 is a mechanical key sensor commonly referred to as a check lever, which is pivotable around a pivot pin 38 and located at a certain distance from the key cylinder 24. They are arranged in parallel in the casing 22. Although the support for the pivot pin 38 is not shown in the drawings in order to prevent movement from sticking during rotation, it is preferable to fit it into a slot so as to hold the pivot pin 38 in place.

The rear lever portion 36a of the key sensor 36 has a curved and enlarged shape, as shown in FIG. 2, so that it can engage with a recess 24a formed on the key cylinder 24. It has become. Further, the inner end lever part 36b of the key sensor 36 is located at the casing 2 when seen in FIG.
2, and is configured to be bent inwardly so that it can be engaged with a hanger rod 30 as required.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a coil spring, which is inserted between the key sensor 36 and the cylindrical projection 22a of the casing 22, so that the inner end lever part 36a of the key sensor 36 is always connected to the second
In the figure, it is receiving a downward pressing force.

Therefore, when the key K is pushed into the key insertion slot of the key cylinder 24 as shown in FIG. 2, the key sensor 36 pivots clockwise in FIG. engage with. Thus, the hanger rod 30 and the locking bolt 34 are held in the unlocked position for anti-theft purposes. In this case, it goes without saying that the lower end of the locking bolt 34 is out of the recess 20 of the collar member 18.

Thus, as can be seen from the above explanation, the steering shaft is operated when the key K is inserted into the key cylinder 24.
As long as you are working with it, it will remain unlocked.

However, when the key K is pulled out from the key cylinder 24, the front end lever part 36a of the key sensor 36 pivots counterclockwise under the force of the spring 40, and the key cylinder 2
4, and the rear end lever portion 36b of the key sensor 36 is thus disengaged from the engagement state with the hanger rond 30. In this state, the locking bolt 34 is allowed to move in the direction of the recess 20 in the collar member 18 and eventually comes into engagement with the recess 20 as shown in FIG. It will be brought soon.

The part of the locking device having the above structure and operation is very well known, but if the key K, which has been inserted while the car is running, is turned to the "LOCK" position due to carelessness or some kind of accident, Or, if the key K is pulled out by mistake, the locking bolt 34
is moved downward in FIG. 1 by the pressing force of the spring 32, and finally comes into engagement with the recess on the collar member 1B, and the steering shaft 14 is brought into the locked state.

In this case, the driver of the vehicle will be unable to operate the steering wheel even though the vehicle is in motion, and the vehicle will be forced to drive in an extremely dangerous condition.

A proposal for overcoming the drawbacks of the above-mentioned known devices was made in US Pat. No. 3,673,829.

This is referred to by those skilled in the art as a "two-acting sterok."

In this improved device, once the key is inserted into the key cylinder, the key is "
In order to rotate the key to the ``LOCK'' position or to pull out the key from the key cylinder, a separately provided latch lever must be manually operated in advance.

The present invention is a further improvement of the above-mentioned known device, and specific embodiments thereof will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

The improved apparatus of the present invention is designated by the numeral 42. This device 42 is provided with a fixed casing 22'. This casing 22' has an external profile roughly the same as that of the casing 22 described above, and is fixed to the steering column 16 shown in FIG. 1.

44 is a generally cylindrical fixed holder fixed to the casing 22'.

Reference numeral 24' denotes a conventional key cylinder, which has the same shape and function as the key cylinder 24 described above, and is rotatably supported within the holder 44.

26 is a known switch unit, preferably an engine key operated type.

This is arranged within the sleeve-shaped part 22b of the casing 22, which is no different from the known device described above.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a rotatable member which acts as a cam, and its structure and operation are essentially the same as those of the previously-mentioned known example. As mentioned above, this is rotatably supported synchronously with the key cylinder 24', is disposed between the key cylinder 24' and the switch unit 26, and thereby controls the rotation of the switch unit 26. There is no difference from the publicly known example. Reference numeral 4B is a manually operable latch member formed in the shape of a slide, and is mostly disposed within the casing 22'. This launch member 48 is also shown in FIG. 4, but in this case in a perspective view. As shown in FIG. 3, this latch member 48 is arranged parallel to the key cylinder 24'.

50 is a cap-shaped knob fixed to the outer end of the latch member 4B. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle can easily grasp the knob 50 and manually operate the launch member 48 according to the situation by pushing or pulling.

As is clear from FIG. 4, a lateral protrusion 52 is provided at the end of the launch member 4B, the tip of which slideably cooperates with the cam surface 46 provided on the rotatable member 46. is equipped to work.

FIG. 5 shows this cam surface 46 in a developed view.

This cam surface 46 consists of a first section 56, a second section 54 extending slightly offset from the first section 56, and a joint 56 disposed between these two sections and connecting them. There is.

The first section 56 is for locking operation, and the second section 58 is for unlocking operation. Note that these will be explained in detail below.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, on the front side of the fixedly arranged cylindrical holder 44, there are LOCK; OFF;
There is a display such as C; ON; START, which indicates the rotational position of the key cylinder 24, respectively. And these displays are 5TEERING LOCK;5
WITCHOFF;ACCESSARY 5WITC
HON.

Each corresponds exactly to STARTERMOTORON.

The second section 54 for unlocking is ACC;
ON; and START position, cooperating with said transverse projection 52 or 52' acting as a cam follower.

These positions are such that the key cylinder 24 or 24' is A.
CCESSARY 5WITCHON;IGNITT
ON swrrcHON and STARTERMOT
Corresponds to the position of ORON. Also, the first locking section 56 is OFF (i.e. ACC, 0FF).
and [, ○CK (details include 5TEERI NGLOC
K) is used when taking.

Therefore, the joint 58 includes the ACC position.

The unlocking cam section 54 terminates in a perpendicularly extending stop wall 54a;
A slanted wall portion 56a is provided at the inner end of the locking cam section 56, through which the lateral protrusion 52 or 52' serving as a cam follower can smoothly pass. It is very convenient if the slope of the inclined wall portion 56a is approximately 45''.

In a preferred embodiment, the wall surface 54a and the inclined wall portion 56a are preferably included in the joint portion 58, but this does not necessarily mean that this must always be the case.

The rotatable member 46 is LOCKed together with the key cylinder 24.
When in the (locked) position, the transverse projection 52 or 52' acting as a follower is located at the leading end of the locking cam section 56, so that the inserted key has no absolute After safely pulling the key from the cylinder (can be removed).

A member 46 that can be rotated counterclockwise when viewed from the left side of FIG.
Partially rotate it in the direction shown by small arrow A in Figure 5,
When moved toward the STARTER MOTORON position, the lateral protrusion 52 or 52' of the latch member 48 or 48' is moved to the right in FIG. The cam section 54 moves smoothly in a diagonal lateral direction along the cam section 54 for unlocking. The transverse projection 52 or 52', which thus serves as a cam follower, reaches the outer end of the cam section 54 where the START position is located.

Move the rotatable member 46 in the opposite direction from the START position to LO.
When turned together with the key cylinder 24' in the direction of the CK position,
The transverse projection 52 or 52' acting as a cam follower comes to the transverse wall surface 54a acting as a stop and temporarily stops there. When this happens, the driver of the vehicle grasps the cap-shaped part 50 of the sliding latch member 48 with his/her fingers and pulls it toward his/her body.

The transverse projection 52 or 52' is then moved downwardly in FIG. 5, as indicated by another small arrow B, and thus passes over the unlocking cam section 54 towards the locking cam section 56.

In the present invention, a detent mechanism is provided to provide a positive window when the driver manually operates the latch member.

This mechanism is provided in the main part of the inner edge of the eldest of the launch members 48, with two pieces slightly separated from each other), Chiro 0 and 6.
2. A blind hole 66 is provided in the holder 44 in the direction of the cap, into which a coil spring 68 and a steel ball 64 are inserted.

Using this mechanism, the operator manually moves the launch member 48 from IN (push-in position W) shown by a solid line in FIG. Moreover, since a fixed window is provided for the operation, malfunctions can be prevented.

In place of the detent mechanism described above, some alternative embodiments may be employed. This is shown in FIG.

In this modification, the elastic claw 70 is attached to the latch member 48.
It is integrally provided on the inner edge of '. In other respects,
This latch member 48' is substantially the same as the latch member 48 described above, and a small triangular protrusion 72 is provided on a cylindrical holder 44, which cooperates with an elastic claw 70. When the latch member 48' reciprocates in the longitudinal direction, the elastic claw 70 effortlessly moves over the triangular protrusion 72 while experiencing strong friction and mechanical resistance.
The operator receives almost the same detent anger as in the case described above.

Note that the latch member 48' is provided with a lateral protrusion 52' that functions as a follower similar to that described above. Its effect is as described above.

The operation of the device described so far will be explained below with reference to FIG.
' is assumed to be at LOCK (lock position).

In this state, the latch member 48 acts as a follower.
Alternatively, the transverse protrusion 52 or 52' of 48' is located at the leading end of the locking cam section 56, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the button-shaped cap 50 or 50' of the latch member is in the IN position.

By operating the engine key K, the rotatable member 4
6 is turned toward the STARTER MOTORON position, the lateral projection 52 of the launch member 48 or 48'
Alternatively, the cam section 52' slides on the cam section 56 toward the abutting portion 58, and finally comes into contact with the oblique wall portion 56a, and the lateral protrusion extends over the unlocking cam section 54.

Further rotation of the key cylinder (with the same direction of rotation as described above) brings the transverse projection to the outer end of the cam section 54. Therefore, by providing the inclined wall portion 56a, the key cylinder can be moved from STARTER MOTORO.
The key cylinder can be rotated toward the N, (7) position, and this operation can be performed no matter what position the key cylinder was previously in.

Contrary to the above, the key cylinder 24 or 24'
GN [Tl0N 5WITCHON When the engine is turned in the opposite direction from the WITCHON (engine ignition switch on) position to stop the engine, the lateral protrusion 52 slides on the unlocking cam section 54 toward the joint 58 and closes the stopper. The key cylinder 24 is brought into contact with the horizontal wall surface 54a which acts as described above, and further rotation of the key cylinder 24 is thus prevented.

In this position the engine stops operating.

In this case, when the driver of the vehicle grasps the button-shaped cap 50 or 50' and pushes in the launch member, the transverse protrusion will move towards the cam section 56 for the locking action while providing a detent effect.

Therefore, under this condition, the key cylinder should be LOC
It can be further rotated to the K position. In this way, the key cylinder is finally 5TEERING LO
When the key is brought to CK (state 0), the key can be pulled out from the key cylinder.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view (partially shown as an elevational view) showing the steering shaft being rotated by the steering device installed on the steering column device, and Figure 2 is the same as Figure 1. FIG. 3 is a partially longitudinal sectional view taken along the line ■-■, FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing a part of the STEROK device according to the present invention in cross section, and FIG. 4 shows a part of the STEROK device according to the present invention. 5 is an exploded plan view showing the cam surface or cam groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member, and FIG. 6 is an exploded plan view showing the cam surface or cam groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member. 3 is a front view seen from the direction of arrow ■ in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification of the detent mechanism that can be applied to the steroc 'ji' l of the present invention. In these drawings, lO ... Steering device 12 ... Steering column "A Z14 ... Steering shaft 16 ... Collar member 20 ... Recess 21 ... Holder 22 ... Casing 22a ... Cylindrical protrusion 24 ... -Key cylinder 26...Electrical switching device 26a...Casing 2nd...Rotator 30...Hanger iron 34...Locking bolt K...Mechanical operation key. Patent applicant: Kokusan Metal Industry Co., Ltd. FIG, 7 FIG, 2 FIG, 3 FIG, 4 Procedural amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] The steering shaft is locked by holding the key cylinder at a certain angular position, and when the key cylinder is brought to another angular position other than the above-mentioned specific angular position, the steering shaft is unlocked, and it is integral with the key cylinder. an apparatus for a motor vehicle configured such that the rotatable member is rotatable to a shaft locking bar, the rotatable member being operatively connected to a shaft locking bar; and S
It is provided extending over the above-mentioned rotatable member so as to cover the space between the key cylinder and the TART position, is configured as a reciprocating motion type, double acting type, and is slidable in a direction parallel to the central axis of the key cylinder. configured to cooperate with a follower type lateral protrusion provided on a sliding check member,
Although the above-mentioned axial sliding movement of the follower starting from the lock position and ending at the START position is performed smoothly,
The sliding movement of the follower in the return direction necessarily takes place past an intermediate transversely arranged stop action, which stop action is released by pulling the check member in the direction of the driver. A steering lock device characterized by: