Electrical steering lock device and related method
AssigneesAlpha Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsYoshio Watanuki, Ryuichi Yoshida, Katsuji Konii
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical steering lock device and a related method are disclosed wherein a plate cam 17 has a contoured profile determined such that a lock shaft 15 moves inside a lock groove 13 at a travel speed (first speed) lower than a travel speed (second speed) at which the lock shaft 15 moves outside the lock groove 13, enabling the lock shaft 15 to disengage from the lock groove 13 with increased torque. This results in a capability of reliably disengaging the lock shaft 15 from the lock groove 13.
Claims6
An electrical steering lock device comprising:
- a lock shaft operative to protrude into and retract from a lock groove, formed on a steering shaft, such that the lock shaft assumes a protruding position to engage with the lock groove for blocking rotation of the steering shaft while assuming a retracting position to disengage from the lock groove for unlocking rotation of the steering shaft;
- a drive unit for protruding and retracting the lock shaft;
- and
- a drive member linked with the drive unit in engagement with the lock shaft, which serves as a cam follower, to protrude and retract the lock shaft with respect to the lock groove,
- wherein the drive member includes a cam having a cam surface with a contour shape to allow the lock shaft to move at a first speed, at which the lock shaft moves from inside the lock groove, to be slower than a second speed, at which the lock shaft moves outside the lock groove, and
- wherein a surface area of a sliding surface between the drive member and the cam follower includes a first surface area associated with the first speed and a second surface area associated with the second speed which is narrower than the first surface area.
An electrical steering lock device comprising:
- lock means operative to protrude into and retract from a lock groove, formed on a steering shaft, such that the lock means assumes a protruding position to engage with the lock groove for locking rotation of the steering shaft while assuming a retracting position to disengage from the lock groove for unlocking rotation of the steering shaft;
- drive means for protruding and retracting the lock means;
- and
- a cam means linked with the drive means in engagement with the lock means, which serves as a cam follower, to protrude and retract the lock means with respect to the lock groove,
- wherein the cam means includes a cam having a cam surface with a contour shape to allow the lock means to move at a first speed, at which the lock means moves from inside the lock groove, to be slower than a second speed, at which the lock means moves outside the lock groove, and
- wherein a surface area of a sliding surface between the cam means and the cam follower includes a first surface area associated with the first speed and a second surface area associated with the second speed which is narrower than the first surface area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.