Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Patent
1983-11-09
1986-04-29
Wolfe, Robert L.
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
70252, B60R 2502
Patent
active
045848572
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is based on and claims the benefit of a prior national application No. P 32 08 375.0 filed Mar. 9, 1982 in the Federal Republic of Germany, and of a corresponding prior international application No. PCT/EP83/00039 filed Feb. 18, 1983.
The invention relates to a device for blocking the rotary movement of a steering column of a motor vehicle by means of a clamping lock acting in the two directions of rotation and having axis-parallel rollers which are guided in a coaxial cage rotatable about the steering-column axis and which in a first position are clamped between a cylindrical running track and clamping surfaces inclined relative to the running track and in a second position run freely.
Such a device is known from FR-A No. 2,456,644. In this known clamping lock, each roller blocks the two directions of rotation, and the cage guiding the rollers is dragged along by the steering column or a bush resting on the steering column from a first blocking position, in which one direction of rotation is locked, into a second blocking position in which the other direction of rotation is locked. Between the two blocking positions, there is, therefore, a play of the steering column and of the steering wheel, so that limited steering is possible. Furthermore, the known device is of relatively large construction both radially and axially.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,443,958 discloses a clamping lock for a steering column of a motor vehicle, which blocks in one direction of rotation only and which has an inner part fastened to the steering column and possessing ballshaped clamping parts and sloping surfaces, and an outer race which surrounds the inner part and on the inner rolling tracks of which the balls run. In this device, a blocking effect occurs only when the outer race running freely in the position which is not closed off is blocked by a radial bolt engaging into outer recesses in the race. Consequently, in this known device, as in the previous state of the art, a bolt engaging with a blocking action in specific rotary positions only is required for locking the steering column. So that the bolt can assume its blocking position, the race has to be rotated by means of the steering wheel until one of the recesses in the race is located opposite the bolt. This results in a complicated mode of operation which makes handling difficult. In the case of the hitherto conventional bolt of the previous state of the art, which engages into the steering column, this complicated handling is improved by the bolt having a play and being pressed by means of a spring against the shell of the steering column or against a bush resting on the steering column, until the recess for the bolt is reached. However, the result of this is that a play of the steering column, allowing limited steering of the vehicle, exists until the bolt has engaged.
The object of the invention is to improve a clamping lock of the type mentioned in the introduction, in such a way that, whilst being easy to handle, having a small design and a higher capacity for absorbing forces, it locks in the blocking position immediately without play.
This object is achieved, according to the invention, when a first cage with rollers is provided between the running track and clamping surfaces for blocking the first direction of rotation, when a second cage with rollers is provided for blocking the second direction of rotation, and when the two cages are adjustable in terms of rotation in opposite directions.
Such a device blocks or locks the steering column in the blocking position immediately, without requiring subsequent engagement or allowing slight steering in one or both directions of rotation. The locking position is reached immediately without having to be sought after the key has been withdrawn, so that the device is especially easy to handle and has a high degree of protection against theft. The device has a very small construction both axially and radially and because of the arrangement of cages can receive a large number of rollers, so that high forces can be
REFERENCES:
patent: 1443958 (1923-02-01), Lampert
patent: 1531325 (1925-03-01), White
patent: 3648813 (1972-03-01), Walters et al.
Dubno Herbert
Neiman S.A.
Ross Karl F.
Wolfe Robert L.
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