Steering column and ignition lock for motor vehicle

A lock arrangement for a motor vehicle having a steering column which comprises

• (1) a housing defining an axial bore and a cross bore intersecting therewith,
• (2) a key controlled lock cylinder mounted in the axial bore of the housing for axial displacement between an inwardly and an outwardly displaced position, and for rotation about the axis of the bore in the inwardly displaced position into selected operating positions,
• (3) a lock bolt mounted in the cross bore for displacement between a retracted position and a locking position, the bolt having a keeper engaging the steering column in the locking position,
• (4) actuating means arranged to displace the lock bolt between the retracted and locking positions, the bolt actuating means including
• (a) an operating spring biassed to displace the lock bolt into the locking position and
• (b) a driving member operated by the rotation of the lock cylinder to displace the bolt against the bias of the operating spring into the retracted position to disengage the keeper from the steering column, and
• (5) latch means mounted on the lock bolt for pivoting in the direction of the keeper, the latch means including
• (a) a latch having a wedge face,
• (b) a soft spring biasing the latch in a direction opposite to the pivoting direction, and
• (c) the lock cylinder having an end rim adjacent the bolt, and the latch being arranged to cause the operating spring to wedge the wedge face thereof firmly against the lock cylinder rim when the bolt is in the retracted position and the lock cylinder is in the inwardly displaced position whereby the bolt is securely maintained in the retracted position, the firm wedge being removed on withdrawal of the key from the lock cylinder and the operating spring displacing the lock bolt and correspondingly driving the wedge face of the latch over the end rim to cause outward displacement of the lock cylinder.