US 6,779,371 B1Granted

Steering column lock for motor vehicles

AssigneeHuf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG

InventorFriedrich Pieper

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Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a steering column lock with improved break-up safety. To this end, a spring-loaded locking pin (30) is integrated into the peripheral cam (12), said locking pin being co-rotated when a rotor (10) pertaining to the steering column lock is rotated. In the test position (30.1) of the locking pin (30), the pin is aligned with a locking recess (38) in the housing (1) while in a working position of the motor (10) that is obtained by access authorization means, it is not. Normally, the locking pin (30) is inactive since it is maintained in a retracted position by a spring-loaded (47) feeler (40). When the rotor (10) is missing, the feeler (40), due to its spring load (27), releases the locking pin (30). If in this case the rotor (10) is in the rest position, the locking pin (30) engages in the locking recess (38) of the housing (11) and blocks rotation. In a working position of the rotor (10), rotation is not blocked, thereby allowing authorized persons disposing of the access authorization means to mount or dismount the rotor (10).

Steering column lock for vehicles,

with a rotor (10) supported in a stationary housing (11), which rotor can be rotated from its home position (10.1) into at least one working position (10.2) after being activated by access authorization means (28);
with a control cam (12) held in the housing (11), which cam rotates along with the rotor when the rotor is turned (17);
with a locking bar (20), which can be moved with respect to a steering column (25) by the control cam (12) between a locking position (20.1) and a releasing position (20.2);
and
with an anti-theft device (30, 40) for the lock, which has a spring-loaded locking pin (30);
wherein, in the normal case, the locking pin (30) is in a retracted position (30.1), in which a securing element grips a shoulder of the locking pin (30) and allows the locking bar (20) to change position,
whereas, if the rotor (10) has been torn out, the securing element releases the locking pin (30), whereupon this pin, because of its spring-loading (31), moves into an extended position (30.2) and thus prevents the locking bar (20) from moving out of its locking position (20.1) and into the releasing position (20.2), wherein
the locking pin (30) is integrated into the control cam (12) and can always rotate along with the rotation (17) of the rotor;
in that
the locking pin (30) is aligned with a locking recess (38) in the housing (11) when the rotor (10) is in the home position (10.1), but not when the rotor is in the working position (10.2);
in that
the securing element consists of a sensor element (40), spring-loaded (47) at one end, which element, after the rotor (10) has been installed, is supported (15) at least indirectly on the rotor (10) and holds the locking pin (30) in its retracted position (30.1);
in that
when the rotor (10) is not present, the sensor element, as a result of its spring loading (31), moves into the housing space (36) left free by the rotor (10) and thus releases the locking pin (30);
and in that
if the rotor (10) is in the home position (10.1), the released locking pin (30) travels into the locking recess (38) in the housing (11) and blocks its rotation, but, if the rotor (10) is in the working position (10.2), the pin is supported on an inside surface (48) of the housing and allows the control cam (12) to turn.

13 more elements

Abstract

Claims9