Retrofittable Driveshaft Lock With Piggyback Drive Flange Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle security systems are vulnerable to bypassing and tampering, leading to unauthorized vehicle use and theft, as after-market security solutions often require significant alterations and have weaknesses that can be exploited by thieves.
Innovation Solution
A driveshaft lock system that can be retrofitted to vehicles, featuring a rotor with a star-shaped central aperture and mounting formations to piggyback on the drive flange, along with a locking member and actuator housed in a tamperproof casing, preventing angular displacement and rotation of the driveshaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If after-market security devices are installed to enhance vehicle security, then vehicle security is improved, but significant alterations to the vehicle are required
Solution Approach 1:
The security system is divided into separate modular components: a driveshaft lock assembly that can be independently installed on the driveshaft, and a control system. This segmentation allows the security device to be added without requiring comprehensive alterations to the vehicle's existing structure or systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The driveshaft lock assembly is designed to nest onto the existing driveshaft component. The lock body engages with the driveshaft's keyed aperture, allowing the security device to be integrated into the existing driveshaft structure without requiring replacement or major modification of the driveshaft itself.
2Reliability
If after-market security devices are installed to enhance vehicle security, then vehicle security is improved, but weaknesses can be exploited by thieves
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a tamper-detection mechanism that detects attempted tampering or removal of the driveshaft lock and automatically activates an alarm or notification system. This preliminary anti-action counteracts theft attempts before the thief can successfully bypass or remove the security device.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives feedback from sensors monitoring the state of the driveshaft lock and vehicle movement. When tampering is detected or the vehicle is moved without proper authorization, the system provides feedback by activating alarms, notifying owners, or engaging additional security measures, creating a responsive security loop that adapts to threats.
3Reliability
If a driveshaft lock is retrofitted to prevent unauthorized vehicle use, then vehicle theft prevention is improved, but the lock mechanism must be resistant to tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The driveshaft lock employs asymmetric keying with a non-circular keyed aperture that accepts only a specifically shaped key. This asymmetric design prevents unauthorized removal or tampering, as the key can only be inserted and turned in the correct orientation, providing inherent tamper resistance through geometric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes pre-installed sensors and control circuitry that are prepared and configured before the driveshaft lock is installed. This preliminary preparation ensures that tamper detection and alarm functions are already in place and operational, reducing the complexity of integrating these security features after the fact.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a driveshaft lock (10) and to a method (50) of retrofitting the driveshaft lock to a vehicle. The driveshaft lock (10) includes a rotor (17) which defines a star-shaped central aperture (20) which is configured to receive a non-circular, peripheral profile of a drive flange (13) therethrough such that the rotor (17) is configured to piggyback on the drive flange (13). The lock (10) includes a locking member (21) which is configured selectively to engage the rotor (17) in order to lock the rotor in position and prevent angular displacement thereof. Amongst other steps, the method (50) includes aligning the aperture (20) of the rotor with the profile of the drive flange, passing the rotor over the drive flange, rotating the rotor relative to the drive flange, and securing the rotor to the drive flange for rotation together with the drive flange, piggyback-style.