Electric steering lock device

Abstract

Provided is an electric steering lock device, which is not necessary to increase the cost to prevent heat fault resulted from overheating of motors. The electric steering lock device controls the motor to implement unlocking operation in the normal mode based on the predetermined power-on maintain time for the electric motor and power-on suspension time of power suspension. Under the circumstance that the unlocking instruction from a driver is received and the unlocking operation in the normal mode is implemented but the movement of the locking bolt toward the unlocking position is not detected, according to the unlocking operation of the driver for the next time, the unlocking operation mode is switched into a motor overheating protection mode that the power-on maintain time is set to be shorter than power-on maintain time in the normal mode, so that the load ratio calculated from the power-on maintain time and the power-on suspension time is smaller than the load ratio in the normal mode.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to an electric steering locking device for locking the rotation of a steering wheel in an electric manner when a vehicle is parked. Background technique [0002] In recent years, in order to prevent theft, some vehicles are equipped with an electric steering lock device, which is used to lock the steering wheel electrically when parking. Such an electric steering lock device includes: a lock bolt capable of moving between a locked position engaged with the steering shaft of the vehicle and an unlocked position released from such engagement; A control device for performing locking / unlocking processing, and a position detection device electrically connected to the control device to detect at least that the locking bolt is in the unlocked position. [0003] With the above-mentioned electric steering lock device, once the driver turns off the engine on / off switch while the engine is working, the upper ECU on the vehicle body that det...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In this case, the locking bolt cannot be pulled out from the steering shaft by the driving force of the motor, and the motor becomes overloaded and an excessive current flows into the motor, so the motor generates heat.

In addition, if the unlocking operation is repeated until the lock bolt is pulled out from the steering shaft, the motor will become hot, and thermal failures such as coil disconnection of the motor may occur.

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, it has been considered to equip the motor with an overheat protection device composed of bimetal, etc., but this will make the motor bulky and cost increased.

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