Locking device for the steering system of motor vehicles

[0002] The present invention relates to a locking device for steering systems of motor vehicles.

[0003] It is well known that motor vehicles may be equipped with devices for preventing unauthorized use. For this purpose, some motor vehicles may have a mechanical locking device for the steering system.

[0004] In this connection, a steering system is mechanically locked and unlocked using the ignition key, which actuates a cam (an eccentric) and a spring-loaded slide bar. The slide bar is moved axially by turning the ignition key in the ignition lock, on whose end an eccentric disk is seated. A spring continuously presses this slide bar into the locked end position. In turn, a nose on the slide bar moves a locking gear rim into gear teeth of the steering gear shaft (a pitman arm shaft). Depending on the end position of the slide bar, the steering system is either freely rotatable or locked. If the ignition key is pulled out, the steering system is locked. This ensures that the key cannot be mistakenly pulled out in the unlocked position.

[0005] If the steering system is to be unlocked, the key must first be slid into the steering lock. After the key is inserted and turned, the eccentric disk presses the slide bar out of its spring-actuated, locked end position. The pitman arm shaft is released and is, therefore, freely rotatable. The steering system is locked by pulling the ignition key out of the ignition lock. In this way, the eccentric disk releases the slide bar, which is slid into the locked end position by a spring.

[0006] Since such steering locking systems are operated in a purely mechanical manner, and also need a key having a conventional bit in order to be operated, they may not be integrable into an electronic driving-authorization system with code input.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of producing a locking device for motor-vehicle steering systems, which is simply constructed and distinguishes itself through a high level of operator-friendliness.

[0008] The locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of to the present invention offers the advantage of a locking device produced with few mechanical parts, which is electromechanically controlled, preferably using electromagnets, and which therefore becomes advantageously accessible to an electronic control system. And also it can be integrated into an electronic immobilizer system without requiring a conventional ignition key along with a lock cylinder.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view indicating the component parts of a steering system lock.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a representation of the locking of a steering column.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view showing the arrangement of the component parts of a steering system lock. Two electromagnets 2 and 12 can be seen in FIG. 1, whose lifting axes are at an angle of 90° to each other. In this case, electromagnet 2 is dimensioned larger than electromagnet 12. For example, the lifting force of magnet 2 can be approximately 20 N, while that of magnet 12 can be approximately 3 N. Both electromagnets 2 and 12 are fixed in a common housing 1, which is securely joined to vehicle body 24. However, this connection is not shown here in further detail. Electromagnet 2 is operatively joined to an oblong slide bar 3 and can move this axially by applying a voltage. Slide bar 3 has two openings 4 and 5 that are, for example, in the form of bores. A locking bolt 14, which is joined to electromagnet 12 and can be moved axially by it, can engage with each of openings 4 and 5. Only when a voltage is applied to electromagnet 12, does it pull locking bolt 14 against the spring force of a compression spring 16, which is supported between a shoulder 15 of locking bolt 14 and an end face 13 of the housing of electromagnet 12, and is expediently designed as a helical spring. In this manner, locking bolt 14 releases slide bar 3. Only then can electromagnet 2 move slide bar 3 axially. To sense the actual position of slide bar 3, this has an angular bracket 6, which presses or releases head 10 of a pressure switch 11. In the same manner, a pressure switch 18 is mounted at locking bolt 14, head 19 of the pressure switch being pressed down by shoulder 15 of locking bolt 14 in response to electromagnet 12 being switched off. Head 19 of switch 18 is only released when a voltage is applied to electromagnet 12. In this manner, switch 18 supplies information on the current position of locking bolt 14. Slide bar 3 has a head 7 at its end.

[0012] As shown more precisely in FIG. 2, this head 7 is joined via a spring 22 to a slide bar 26, which is fastened to the steering column and can be moved parallelly to the axis of pitman arm shaft 30. Slide bar 26 moves a locking ring 28, which embraces pitman arm shaft 30, and whose internal gear teeth 29 can mesh with matching external gear teeth 31 applied to (or put onto) pitman arm shaft 30.

[0013] Starting from the original position of an unlocked steering system, the following is intended to elucidate the operation of the steering system lock, using FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0014] In order to lock the steering system, a voltage must initially be applied to electromagnet 12. As a result, locking bolt 14 is moved against the spring force of spring 16 and consequently releases slide bar 3. The current end position of locking bolt 14 is permanently sensed by switch 18. Slide bar 3, which is guided in housing 1, executes a longitudinal stroke after electromagnet 2 is switched on. Slide bar 26, which is seated in the steering column and engages with locking ring 28, is moved axially on pitman arm shaft 30 and, therefore, locks pitman arm shaft 30. If the applied voltage is switched off, spring 23 pushes the entire mechanism back into its original position again. If the “reaching of the end” position is signaled at switch 11 after slide bar 3 executes the stroke, the voltage at magnet 12 must be switched off. Spring 16 presses locking bolt 14 into its front end position and thus secures slide bar 3 in its attained end position. A switch 18 signals this. The consequently reached end position of the locked steering system is simultaneously the new starting position.

[0015] To unlock the steering system, a voltage is initially applied to electromagnet 2, and then to electromagnet 12. After the voltage at electromagnet 2 has been switched off, the mechanism travels back into its starting position. Now the voltage at electromagnet 12 can also be switched off. Spring 16 presses locking bolt 14 into its front end position, and consequently secures slide bar 3 in its attained end position. This, in turn, is signaled by switch 18. Thus, the steering system is released again.

[0016] Apart from these two provided states, the situation can occur during operation, in which the control device triggers a locking of the steering system, but the gear teeth on pitman arm shaft 30 and locking ring 28 are not aligned with each other, and therefore cannot intermesh. However, the steering system must also be lockable in such a position. First, the steps are carried out as described above. If the special case now occurs, in which the gear teeth do not intermesh, locking ring 28 contacts the gear teeth of pitman arm shaft 30 under the initial force of spring 22. The next time the steering wheel is turned in any direction, locking ring 28 meshes with the gear teeth of pitman arm shaft 30. In this case, the spring force of spring 22 is noticeably greater than that of spring 23 to ensure that the mechanism does not recoil.