US1617840A - Automobile lock - Google Patents

Description

'FEb. 15,

1,617,840 F. M. FURBER AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed Dec. 11, 1924 i F 2 1? O {g J v l 16 I I? 1a I I '1 16 j [7222622 Zak Patented Feb. 15. 1927.

UNITED STATES innate PATENT orr cs.

FREDERICK M. FURBER, OF REVERE, MASSACHUSE'ITS; SAMUEL It. CUTLER, OF

REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, ADMINISTRATOR 0F SAID FURBER, DECEASED.

AUTOMOBILE Loon.

Application filed December 11, 1524. Seria1Nof755A62.

This invention relates to mechanisms for locking'automobiles against theft, and is especially concerned with a lock for the steering mechanism of a Ford car. I

It is the chief object of the invention to devise a lock which will effectually prevent the operation of the steering mechanism, which can be manufactured economically, and which can be installed quickly'and easily and with only ordinary tools.

The nature of the invention will be readi ly understood from the following descrip tion when read in connection with the ac companying drawings, and the novel fea tures will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a looking mechanism embodying this invention, certain of the parts being broken away to disclose the construction more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a locking sleeve which forms a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View showing the locking bolt and adjacent parts.

In the drawings the steering column of a Ford car is shown at 2, and the stationary casing secured to the upper end of this column is indicated at 3. This casing houses a planetary gearing which is connected with the steering wheel shaft 4: that projects through the top of the casing. The steering wheel is keyed to this shaft and is normally held in its operative position by means of a nut 5 threaded on the upper end of the shaft 4. In order to permit access to the gearing in the housing '3, the top 6 of this housing is made removable. That is, it is screw threaded to the lower part 3 of the housing. All of the construction so far described. is that found in the well known Ford car.

In installing the locking mechanism pro vided. by this invention, the steering wheel and the top 6 are removed. A locking sleeve 7 is then slipped over the lower part 3 of the casing and is secured rigidly to this casing by means of a series of cup point set screws 8, the sleeve being made of such dimensions as to comfortably accommodate the casing 3. The top 6 is next replaced its normal position, the upper part ofthe sleeve being cut away or counter-bored to receive the top,

A cap 9 is next slipped over the sleeve'7,

this cap having an integral key or lug to it in the key-way 10 in the shaft i so that the cap is compelledto rotate with this shaft. The internal diameter of the eapis only slightly greater than the external diameter of the sleeve 7 so that asuitable clearance is provided between these parts, and the cap is of such dimensions that it encloses the sleeve and the housing 3 and effectually prevents access to the set screws 8. Slidably mounted in the cap 9 isa bolt 12, Fig. 3, having a head 13 against the under surface of which two spiral springs 14: hear, these springs serving to hold the bolt 12 normally in an elevated or retracted position. This head 13 slides in the lower part of a bore which is formed in a boss 14 integral with the cap 9. 'A lock 15 of the revolving barrel or pin tumbler type is mount- 'ed in this bore and is secured therein by a set screw 16, thehead of which is ground off flush with the outer surface 'of the cap 9. Projecting from the lower end of the barrel of the lock is a lug or finger 16 which engages the upper inclined surface of the bolt head 13. Consequently, when the key 17 is turned to rotate the barrel of the lock in the proper direction, the finger 16 will depress the bolt 12 and project it into one of the recesses or notches 18 which are formed in the upper edge of the locking sleeve 7 When this occurs the cap 9 and sleeve 7 will be securely locked against relative rotatiom and consequently, the steering mechanism will be rendered inoperative. In other words, the steering wheel will be locked to the stationary steering column and will be rendered useless.

In order to prevent the cap 9 from being slipped vertically off the steering wheel shaft 1 when theparts are in their locked relationship, a lug 18, Fig. 1, is riveted to the inner surface of the cap 9 near its lower edge where it will project under the lower edge of the sleeve 7 A vertical groove 19 is formed in the wall of this sleeve to admit the lug and permit the cap to he slipped upwardly and removed from the shaft 4, or to permit its movement in the opposite direction. This lug is so spaced, however, with reference to the bolt 12 that it is impossible to register it with the groove 19 when the bolt is in any one of t e recesses or notches 18 in the sleeve '1?! Qeaseqaently, so long as the parts are locked the lug 18 arevents the removal of the cap 9, but when the parts are unlocked the cap can then be turned tobring the lug 18 into registration with the groove 19, and the cap can then be removed. This is desirable in order to permit the removal of the top 6 for the purpose of lubricating the gears contained in the housing or casing It will be understood, of course, that the hub of the steering wheel, when in its operative position, bears on the top of the cap 9 and is held in. that position by the nut 5.

The method of using this locking mechanism will be obvious from what has been said above. That is, the steering mechanism is used exactly as it would be without the look so long as the parts remain unlocked. lVhen the car to be left, however, the operator turns the key 17, thus locking the cap 9 and sleeve 7 together, as above described, and the parts remain in this condition until the operator returns to the car, inserts his key in the lock, and unlocks the mechanism. The sleeve 7, cap 9, set screw 16, and the lug l'Svand its rivet, are all preferably made of steel and are hardened so that when the parts are assembled, as shown, it is impossible to drill, tile, or hacksaw them. Consequently, this mechanism effectually. prevents the operation of the steering mechanism except by a person provided with a key to lit the lock 15. Attention is also called to the fact that the mechanism is very simple in construction and not only comprises few parts, but these parts are so designed that they can be manufactured very economically. Furthen more, the installation of this mechanism on a Ford car requires no tools whatever except a screw driver. No cutting or drilling of any of the parts is required. The mechanism can, therefore, be installed very quickly and by anyone who can handle a screw driver. The fact that this mechanism permits ready access to the gears contained in the housing 3 is also an important practical advantage for the. reason that these gears require lubrication, and it is sometimes necessary to make replacement or repairs in this gear mechanism.

While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of my invention that I have so far devised, it will. be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1.. In an automobile, the combination with a casing secured on the upper end of a steering column and a steering wheel shaft prQ ectmg above the top of said casing, of

a sleeve fitting on said casing, means for.

securing said sleeve rigidly to said casing, a cap secured to said shaft and enclosing said sleeve, key operated means carried by said cap for locking said cap and sleeve against relative rotation, and a lug carried by said cap and cooperating with said sleeve to prevent the removal of the cap therefrom when the parts are locked, said sleeve having a groove toadmit the lug and permit such removal when the parts are unlocked.

2. In an automobile, the combination with a casing secured on the upper end of a steering column and a steering wheel shaft projecting; above the top of said casing, of a sleeve fitting on said casing, means for securing said sleeve rigidly to said casing, a cap secured to said shaft and enclosing said sleeve, a bolt carried by said cap, the upper edge of said sleeve being notched to icceive said bolt, a spring norn'ially holding said bolt in a retracted position, and a key operated lock for moving said bolt in opposition to said spring, said lock con'iprising a revoluble barrel mounted in said cap.

3. In an automobile, the combination with a casing secured 011 the upper end of a steering column and a steering wheel shaft projecting above the top of said casing, of a sleeve fitting on said casing, 21 series of set screws for securing said sleeve to said casing, a cap keyed to said shaft and snugly enclosing said sleeve and preventing access to said screws, a bolt slidably mounted in said cap, said sleeve having notches in its upper end to receive said bolt, akey operated lock for operating said bolt, and a lug secured to said cap and overlap 'iing the lower edge of said sleeve whereby it prevents the removalv of said cap from said sleeve, said sleeve having a groove to rcceive said lngand permit such removal but being so located as to prevent the lug from entering the groove when the bolt is in any one of said notches.

l. In an automobile lock. the combination of a'sleeve adapted to be secured to a sla tionarv part of the steering mechanism, a cap adapted to be secured to the steering wheel shaft, said cap enclosing said sleeve, key operated means carried by said sleeve for locking said cap and sleeve against relative rotation, and additional means independent; of said key operated means for p! cventing the separation of said cap and, slccrr when they are locked, but permitting such separation when they are unlocked.

FREDERICK M. FURBER.

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