Steering Column Antitheft Bolt Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-theft devices for motor vehicle steering columns are fragile at the connection between the lever, pull tab, and bolt, and require complex mechanisms to maintain the bolt in the unlocked position, which can be unreliable and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A robust and simplified anti-theft device design where the bolt is held in the unlocked position using a single piece holding device that cooperates directly with the rotor, activated and deactivated by the presence or absence of a key insert, with a cam and bolt configuration where the longitudinal axes of the bolt, cam, and rotor are coplanar but not collinear, utilizing an elastic return mechanism and a contact end to ensure effective locking and unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lever-operated locking system is used to hold the bolt in the unlocked position, then the bolt can be retained in the unlocking position as required by regulations, but the connection point between the lever, pull rod, and bolt becomes fragile and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bolt retaining device with the lock rotor by directly coupling the retaining device to the rotor, eliminating the need for separate lever and pull rod components. This integration reduces the number of connection points and eliminates the fragility associated with multiple articulated components working together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate lever and pull rod components from the system, creating a direct relationship between the rotor and bolt retaining mechanism. This removal of unnecessary components simplifies the system and eliminates the weak connection points that plagued the lever-operated system.
2Reliability
If a lever-operated locking system with multiple components is used, then the bolt can be held in the unlocked position, but the system becomes difficult to implement and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated retaining device that directly couples to the rotor, eliminating the need for separate lever and pull rod assemblies. This merger significantly reduces manufacturing complexity and assembly requirements while maintaining the necessary bolt retention functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the longitudinal axes of the bolt, cam, and rotor are coplanar and not collinear, then the anti-theft device can accommodate general Y-shape configurations, but the transmission and transformation methods must be adapted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cam mechanism that dynamically transforms the rotational movement of the rotor into translational movement of the bolt, accommodating the coplanar but non-collinear arrangement of axes. The cam profile is specifically designed to achieve the necessary bolt displacement while working within the constrained geometric relationships of the Y-shape configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust and effective mechanism to maintain the bolt in the unlocked position with reduced complexity, enhancing reliability and ease of implementation by minimizing the number of kinematic elements while ensuring secure locking and unlocking functionality.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an elastic return mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An antitheft device (1) for a steering column notably of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a lock (2) comprising a rotor (3) that is rotatable about an axis of rotation (4) extending along its longitudinal axis and is housed in a stator (5) that is fixed with respect to the rotor (2), said rotor (2) having a housing able to receive a key insert, - a cam (7) configured to be controlled by said rotor (3), - a bolt (8) that is driven by said cam (7) in order to take up a position immobilizing the steering column and a position freeing the latter, and - a device (100) for holding the bolt (8), which is configured to detect the presence of the key insert in the housing by a movement between a position holding the bolt (8) in the freeing position when the key insert is in the housing and a standby position in which the holding device (100) is away from the bolt (8) when the key insert is not in the housing.