US1867831A - Automobile lock - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1932. o. s, HERSHEY -1',s67,s31

' AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed May 23. 1930 Patented i July 19, 1932 UNITED sTATas PATENT OFFICE ORVILLE S. HERSHEY, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO"OAKES PRODUCTS COR- PORATION, OF NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK Application med may 2a,

with a consequent reduction in manufacturing cost. With such a lock I may associate an electrical switch adapted to control the niotor ignition circuit, for example. 'lhe lock herein shown is of the two-stage type in that the switch and bolt are sequentially operated, it being impossible to advance the bolt until after the switch is opened, and vice-versa.

A suggestive embodimcntof this invention is set forth in the accompanying drawing in the manner following.:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through a steering column with which is associated the present lock and switch, theformer of which is also shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough on line 2 of Fig. l;

Fin'. 3 is alongitudinal section through the lock body on line 3 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken centrally through the switch per se;

F ig. 5 is a transverse section through the switch on line 5 of Fig. 4;

F ig. 6 is a similar view in section on line 6 of Fig. 4; and l Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe thrust plate for the central rod.

The present lock may be contained within a casing A which, in the form shown, is provided with a collar 10 adapted to surround a steering column B. Extending within the column is the usual post C for connecting' the steering wheel with the swiveled running wheels at the front of the vehicle. Secured 'fast to the post C is a bushing D wherein is a groove or socket 11 which maybe brought into register with a corresponding opening formed in the column. Extending laterally from the lock casing is an arm 12 forming a bracket for connection with a dash or instrument board,.or other fixed part of the vehicle, whereby to provide a support tor the column.

Within the lock casing is a cylindrical aperture in which is mounted a hollow plunger l5 wherein is slidingly received a locking bolt 17 iattened at one side to provide a re- 1930. Serial N0. 454,955.

cess having at one end a stop shoulder with which may engage a plate"18 carried by the plunger. By this means I limit the movement of the bolt outwardly from the plunger. A compression spring 19- within the lunger bears with pressure against one endpof the bolt so as to project the same yieldingly to locking position. Reciprocatory movements of' the plunger are controlled b a lock cylin der 20 operable with a key 21 w lich is specially designed therefor. The cylinder is disposed with its aXis transversely to that of the plunger, and carries upon its rear or inner end an eccentric 22 slidably disposed within a cross slot 23 in the plunger whereby to impart longitudinal movements thereto when the locking cylinder is rotated. It is contemplated that the key shall be removable from the lock cylinder only in either of its extreme positions, which, as shown, are 180 degrees apart.

Extending through the lock body between its front and rear faces and in partial intersection with the plunger is a control rod 425, the upper end of which is turned to provide an operating head 26 b which the rod may be conveniently rotate In order that the plunger and rod may clear each other while remaining in intersecting relation, I provide in the former an arc-shaped surface cut 27 and in the. latter a cooperating ilat surface cut 28 which provide in effect a pair of independently acting cams. By turning the rod so as to face its cut 28 directly toward the plunger (see Figure 3), the latter is free to advance in response to rotation of the lock cylinder; and when the plunger is so ad.

vanced tomove the bolt 17 .into locking position, the plunger cut 27 is removed from the control rod so that 'the latter is locked against rotation (see Figure 2). With thel parts so related, the plunger only can be operated through the medium of the lock cylinder key 21.` A reverse condition obtains, however, when the plunger is retracted and the control 10d is rotated to turn its cut 28 awa f trom the plunger. In this condition of t e parts, the plunger is locked, and ad- Figure 5. Secured to the proximate face of the lock body is a switch unit E,in which is comprised a drag plate 32 having a cross slot 33 wherein the lug 31 may engage. By this connection, rotary movements of the control rod 25 are transformed into reciprocations of the drag plate to move an associated switch block 34 into and out of contact with termi p nals 35.

vals

The switch block, as shown, consists of a plate of insulating material 36 having openings 37, and into which are fitted projectionsfrom the drag plate, and a conductor plate 38 attached, as by a rivet 39, to theinsulating plate 36. The ends .of the conductor plate are cup-shaped to receive coil springs 40, the

opposite ends of each spring being received within suitable sockets 41 in the lnsulating plate.

I'provlde with the switch plate ahousing 50 which is generally box-shaped having lug extensions 42 from its side walls to clamp -over the edges of a cover 43, which ma be made of insulating material, and to w ich are attached the terminals 35. The bottom of the switch housing is cut away at 44 to permit the lug 31 to enter therein and coact with the drag plate 32. A plate 45 (see Figure 7) may be interposed'between the switch unit E and the proximate face of the lock body to close the opening provided therein for the washer 30 and to act as a thrust plate Afor thecontrol rod 25. Formed in this plate is an opening 46 to permit the lug 31 to extend into the switch unit, and other openings 47 `are made therein to receive the bolts 48 which secure the switch tothe lock body.'

The switch may be operated through the medium of the control rod25 when the plun er 7 in the position shown in Figs. 1 an j 3,

ut with the plunger advanced to locked position, as shown in Fig. 2, this control rod isso that the switchprevented `from turnin block 34 is retained in tlie open position.

The present device is extremely easy to assemble, is simple in construction, is positive in its action, and provides a simple means for. sequential operation of the lock and switch controls.

I claim:

1. In combination with a lock mechanism, an electrical switch in which is comprised a housing furnishing aninsulated mounting for fixed contacts, a conductor platemovhaving a depending eccentric lug 31 which projects outwardly as shown in having a notch located in .prised a housing furnishing an insulated mounting for a pair of fixed contacts, a conductor late movable to a position for engaging bot contacts, insulated means to which the conductor plate is inseparably joined and from which it is projected by spring means, a control in operative connection with the insulated means for operating the conductor plate, and means interconnecting the control with the lock mechanism in a manner whereby the former is subject to operation oi the latter. l

3. In an automobile lock, the combination with a steeringpost of an axially shiftable y locking bolt therefor, a switch, -a controlling rod for saidv switch extending transversely of said locking bolt, said switch being controlled by the axial rotation of said rod, said locking bolt having a transverse notch, said switch controlling rod extending in one position thereof into said notch to prevent shifting of said bolt, said switch controlling rod another position of said rod to be opposite said locking bolt to permit reciprocation -of said bolt, said bolt when shifted to displace its notch from said rod engaging in the rod notch to lock' said rod a ainst rotation. j

4. combination with a lock mechanism, a control, means interconnecting the lock mechanism with the control in a manner whereby the latter is subject to operation of j the former, an electrical switch operatively 105 associated with the control mechanism, there bein an opening in the housing through whic the control may pass to establish operative connection with the switch, a pair of fixed contacts for the switch having an in 116 vsulated mounting' within said housing, a` movable conductor -plate for the switch, adapted to close a circuit between the two contacts when moved to one position by the control, and means ,independent of the con- 115.

able to a position for engaging the contacts,

a drag means or urging the conductor plate away from the drag plate toward the contacts, a

late for the conductor plate, spring f

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