Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Transmission control – Engine starting interlock
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-20
2004-07-20
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Transmission control
Engine starting interlock
C070S247000, C070S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06764428
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention generally relates to locks, and more particularly relates to a locking arrangement for preventing a key from being pulled out of an ignition starting switch of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DE 43 32 478 C2 discloses a locking arrangement for preventing a key from being pulled out of an ignition starting switch of a motor vehicle with automatic or manual transmission. The locking arrangement operates depending on the transmission being shifted in the “park” or “locked” gear position in which the driving wheels of the motor vehicle are blocked. In this case, an electromagnetic or electromechanic locking mechanism that is connected to a switching contact of the transmission cooperates with a locking shoulder that is arranged on the rotor of the ignition starting switch and prevents the ignition starting switch from being turned into a position in which the key can be pulled out depending on the gear position of the transmission. The locking mechanism on the ignition starting switch consists of an electromagnet with a spring-loaded plunger that blocks the moving path of the rotor containing the locking shoulder with a projection arranged on its free end in the “key locked” position. In this locking arrangement, the housing of the ignition starting switch which accommodates the locking mechanism needs to be designed relatively large in order to accommodate the corresponding components. In addition, the housing is fixed on the steering column jacket of the motor vehicle. The locking mechanism and the ignition starting switch are also electrically separated from one another. This results in a significant installation expenditure because separate supply lines need to be installed and connected for the locking mechanism, as well as for the ignition starting switch.
EP 0 646 939 A1 also discloses an ignition starting switch for a motor vehicle which contains a receptacle for an auxiliary device that cooperates with the ignition starting switch, e.g., a locking arrangement for preventing pulling of the key out of the ignition starting switch. The housing of the ignition starting switch contains a laterally protruding housing projection that is provided with a receptacle opening, into which an insert with the auxiliary device can be inserted. The insert completely covers the receptacle opening and is fixed on the housing projection by means of a separable snap-on connection. Although a mechanical coupling with the auxiliary device is realized in this ignition starting switch, an electric connection with the auxiliary device is not produced so that separate supply lines for the ignition starting switch and the auxiliary device inserted into its housing also need to be provided in this case.
The invention is based on the objective of developing a locking arrangement of the initially described type for preventing pulling of a key out of an ignition starting switch of a motor vehicle, wherein said locking arrangement can be easily installed, has a compact design and can be inexpensively manufactured.
According to the invention, this objective is attained by respectively inserting the locking mechanism and the ignition starting switch into separate openings in the housing of a steering column switch that is rigidly arranged on the steering column jacket, wherein the locking mechanism is mechanically interlocked with the housing of the steering column switch after being inserted therein and electrically connected to contacts of the ignition starting switch via terminal contacts, and wherein the ignition starting switch is connected to an on-board network via a printed circuit board arranged in the housing of the steering column switch.
These measures result in a locking arrangement that has a very compact design because the locking mechanism and the ignition starting switch are directly inserted into separate openings of the steering column switch housing. The simple installation is achieved due to the fact that the locking mechanism is interlocked with the steering column switch housing after being inserted therein, with the electric connection between the ignition starting switch and the locking mechanism simultaneously being produced. This eliminates the need for additional connecting lines that connect the locking mechanism to the on-board network. The printed circuit board that is connected to the ignition starting switch represents the only connection with the on-board network that also comprises the switching contact of the transmission. In addition, no separate housing needs to be provided for the ignition starting switch held in the steering column switch housing.
The locking mechanism preferably comprises a modular housing that is composed of a lower housing part and an upper housing part and serves for accommodating a coil element with terminal contacts that are realized in the form of tuning fork contacts and arranged on its end face. The tuning fork contacts ensure that a reliable connection with the contacts of the ignition starting switch can be easily produced. Since the components are accommodated in the modular housing of the locking mechanism, they are protected from becoming damaged while there are handled, i.e., while being transported, stored and installed. Due to this design, the locking mechanism can, if so required, also be inserted into the steering column switch housing in the form of a separate module. In this case, the proper function of the ignition starting switch is also ensured if no locking mechanism is inserted.
In order to separably mount the locking mechanism in the steering column switch housing, the lower housing part preferably contains a clip-on arm for being mechanically interlocked with the steering column switch housing. The lower housing part and the clip-on arm are integrally manufactured by means of an injection molding process.
In order to achieve an installation that requires hardly any tools and can be automated relatively easily, the lower housing part and the upper housing part of the modular housing are held together by means of snap-on elements, and the tuning fork contacts protrude from a corresponding opening in the lower housing part.
According to one advantageous additional embodiment of the invention, a spring-loaded locking disk with a catch is rotatably supported in the upper housing part above the tuning fork contacts, wherein the catch protrudes from an opening in the modular housing and cooperates with the detent pawl of the ignition starting switch on one hand and with the locking pin on the other hand in the locked position in which the key cannot be pulled out of the ignition starting switch. The catch that is acted upon by the locking pin cooperates with the detent pawl mounted on the rotor of the ignition starting switch in such a way that the ignition starting switch cannot be turned into a position in which the key can be pulled out. The catch held in the locked position by the locking pin merely prevents the ignition starting switch from being turned into a position in which key can be pulled out. This means that the ignition starting switch can still be turned in the opposite direction, for example, for starting the engine of the motor vehicle.
The modular housing preferably contains a taper in the region of the ignition starting switch, wherein the opening for the catch is arranged in the region of this taper. The taper causes the axis of rotation of the catch to be situated relatively close to the axis of rotation of the detent pawl such that favorable lever ratios and low mechanical stress are ensured. A compact structural shape is simultaneously achieved.
In order to achieve a relatively high stability and functional reliability with a low material expenditure, the catch preferably is realized essentially right-angled, wherein one limb protrudes over the taper of the modular housing in the locked position and acts upon a locking surface of the detent pawl while the locking pin engages behind the other limb.
In order to effectively secure the catch from being turned without
Hulbert Thomas
Rudolph Gerd
Abdelnour Dennis
Bonck Rodney H.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Wood David P.
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