Vehicle Locking Bolt Safeguard Against Unauthorized Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for locking and unlocking functionally essential components in motor vehicles, such as steering columns or gear shift levers, often fail to secure the locking pin in its position, especially when the component is misaligned, leading to unauthorized unlocking due to external influences like magnets or impacts.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control lever that includes a safety leg to prevent unauthorized transfer of the locking pin, featuring a mechanical operative connection and detection unit with a signal generator and sensor elements, ensuring the locking pin remains secured in its position through positive and frictional connections, even in misalignment scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking pin is made movable between locking and unlocking positions, then the device can perform locking and unlocking functions, but the locking pin becomes vulnerable to unauthorized manipulation when in intermediate positions
Solution Approach 1:
The control lever acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the locking pin. It includes a safety leg that mechanically couples with the locking pin only when the control lever is in the correct functional position, thereby preventing unauthorized direct manipulation of the locking pin while maintaining the locking/unlocking function
Solution Approach 2:
The safety leg is pre-positioned to engage with the locking pin before the locking pin reaches its final locking position. This preliminary engagement prevents the locking pin from being manipulated into unauthorized intermediate positions, ensuring security is established in advance
2Reliability
If the control lever is added with a safety leg, then security against unauthorized unlocking is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety leg is merged with the control lever as an integrated component rather than a separate part. This combining of functions reduces the number of discrete components and simplifies assembly while maintaining the security function against unauthorized unlocking
Solution Approach 2:
The control lever serves multiple functions: it transmits actuation force to the locking pin, provides security through the safety leg engagement, and enables detection via the signal generator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
3Measurement precision
If the signal generator is positioned close to the sensor element for detection, then detection precision is improved, but the control lever may be manipulated to trigger false detection signals
Solution Approach 1:
The control lever serves as an intermediary mechanical element that must be in the correct functional position for the signal generator to be properly positioned near the sensor element. The safety leg's engagement with the locking pin ensures that the control lever cannot be arbitrarily manipulated to trigger false detection signals, as the mechanical coupling prevents unauthorized position changes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (100) for locking and unlocking a functionally essential component of a motor vehicle, in particular a steering column or a gearshift lever, comprising: - a housing (101) in which: - a locking bolt (10) is movably mounted between a locking position (VP), in which the locking bolt (10) can be engaged with the functionally essential component, and an unlocking position (EP), in which the locking bolt (10) releases the functionally essential component, - a transmission (20) which is in a mechanical operative connection with the locking bolt (10) in order to move the locking bolt (10) between the locking position (VP) and the unlocking position (EP), - and a detection unit (30) which includes a control lever (31) for moving a signal transmitter (32) and at least one first stationary sensor element (33) for detecting at least one position (FS, DS) of the control lever (31),wherein the control lever (31) is movably mounted in the housing (101) between a functional position (FS), in which the signal transmitter (32) is located at a distance from the first sensor element (33), and a detection position (DS), in which the signal transmitter (32) is located within the detection range of the first sensor element (33), and wherein the transmission (20) is in a mechanical operative connection with the control lever (31) in order to move the control lever (31) between the functional position (FS) and the detection position (DS). For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that the control lever (31) has a locking arm (37) which is designed to prevent unauthorized movement of the locking bolt (10) into the unlocking position (EP) in the functional position (FS) of the control lever (31), in particular by a positive and/or force-fit with the locking bolt (10).