LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device (70), in particular a steering wheel lock (70), for a vehicle, for a functionally-essential component (74), in particular in the form of a steering column or a gearshift lever or the like, having at least one manually actuable, in particular rotatable, operating part (10), wherein at least two rotational positions (0, III) can be assumed by the operating part (10), namely an off position (0) and a start position (III), wherein in the off position (0), at least one engine of the vehicle can be turned off and/or the functionally-essential component (74) can be fixed by a blocking pin (71) in a locked position, and in the start position (III), at least one consumer, in particular a starter of the vehicle can be turned on and/or the functionally-essential component (74) can be released by a blocking pin (71) in an unlocked position.

It is provided according to the invention that a mechanical reset barrier (15) is provided, which prevents a reset of the operating part (10) at least from the start position (III) into the off position (0), by a, in particular simple, rotation of the operating part (10), into a blocking position (S), wherein the mechanical reset barrier (15) is formed by a control element (72), which mechanically interacts at least with the operating part (10), and a stationary guide cam, which jointly fix the operating part (10) at least in a formfitting manner in the blocking position (S).

Claims

1. A locking device, in particular a steering wheel lock for a vehicle, for a functionally-essential component, in particular in the form of a steering column or a gearshift lever or the like, having at least one manually actuable, in particular rotatable, operating part, wherein at least two rotational positions can be assumed by the operating part, namely an off position and a start position, wherein in the off position, at least at least one engine of the vehicle can be turned off or the functionally-essential component can be fixed in a locked position by a blocking pin, and in the start position, at least at least one consumer, in particular a starter of the vehicle, can be turned on or the functionally-essential component can be released in an unlocked position by a blocking pin, characterized in that a mechanical reset barrier is provided, which prevents a reset of the operating part at least from the start position into the off position by a, in particular simple, rotation of the operating part into a blocking position, wherein the mechanical reset barrier is formed by a control element, which mechanically interacts at least with the operating part, and a stationary guide cam, which jointly fix the operating part at least in a formfitting manner in the blocking position.

2. The locking device, in particular in the form of a steering wheel lock for a vehicle, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable operating part is embodied in the form of a lock cylinder, which is actuable by a key, wherein the lock cylinder has at least one cylinder housing and one cylinder core, and the cylinder core is at least rotatably accommodated in the cylinder housing, wherein at least one blocking element is provided in the cylinder core which, in a blocking position, prevents a rotation of the cylinder core in the cylinder housing and, in a release position, releases a rotation in the cylinder housing, and wherein a key channel extends through the cylinder core, into which the key is insertable and using which the blocking element is movable between the blocking position and the release position, and wherein at least two rotational positions can be assumed by the cylinder core, wherein the key is insertable into and removable from the key channel in the off position.

3. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to the operating part or the cylinder core, wherein in particular a driver is provided between operating part or cylinder core and control element for the rotationally-fixed connection.

4. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element is mounted so it is axially displaceable in relation to the operating part or the cylinder core, in particular by a driver, wherein in particular the driver is embodied as a multi-tooth axis on the operating part or cylinder core and interacts with a recess, which is embodied as geometrically complementary, on the control element, in order to form the rotationally-fixed connection.

5. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element has a blocking curve, in which the stationary guide cam engages, whereby the mechanical reset barrier is formed, and wherein in particular a projection is provided in the blocking curve to hold the guide cam in the blocking position in a formfitting manner.

6. The locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the blocking curve is arranged on the outside of the control element, wherein in particular the control element has a cylindrical region, to which the blocking curve is worked.

7. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one first control cam for an actuation of a blocking pin is provided on the control element, wherein in particular the control cam is arranged radially on a transmission part.

8. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one second control cam, which is provided for an actuation of a blocking pin, in particular in the blocking position, is arranged in a longitudinally displaceable and rotationally-fixed manner on a transmission part of the control element, which is embodied as axle-shaped in particular, wherein in particular a spring element is provided between the second control cam and the control element.

9. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that a transmission part of the control element transmits a rotational movement of the control element to an ignition switch.

10. The locking device according to claim 7, characterized in that at least the first and second control cams are arranged axially offset on the transmission part of the control element and both interact with the blocking pin to move it back and forth between a locked and unlocked position or hold it.

11. The locking device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least the first and second control cams are arranged axially offset on the transmission part of the control element and both interact with the blocking pin to move it back and forth between a locked and unlocked position or hold it.

12. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that a movement direction of the blocking pin is arranged transversely in relation to the rotational axis of the control element, wherein in particular the blocking pin is supported by a spring element and is pressed into the locked position.

13. The locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that a control contour, in particular for the blocking position, is provided on the control element, which interacts with a counter stroke contour on the lock cylinder, in particular on the cylinder housing, to cause an axial displacement of the control element upon a rotation of the operating part or the cylinder core.

14. The locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that an (in particular solely mechanical) key withdrawal safeguard (26) is provided, to hold the blocking pin in the unlocked position until the key is withdrawn in the position from the lock cylinder, wherein in particular the key withdrawal safeguard is formed on the lock cylinder and fixes the control element axially in its displaced location at least in the off position, for which in particular an extendable fixing cam is provided on the key withdrawal safeguard.

15. The locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating part or the cylinder core is mounted so it is rotatable and axially displaceable in its release position, in particular using the matching key for the cylinder housing, wherein in particular only an axial displacement is possible in the region of the blocking position due to a control curve.

16. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that an axial displacement of the operating part or the cylinder core is used to overcome the form fit of the reset barrier in the blocking position.

17. The locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the form fit between the projection in the blocking curve and the stationary guide cam can be canceled out by the axial displacement of the operating part or the cylinder core in relation to the cylinder housing in the blocking position, whereby a reset of the operating part or the cylinder core in the direction of the off position is implementable.

18. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock cylinder is arranged so it is replaceable in the housing of the steering wheel lock by way of a replacement barrier, wherein in particular the replacement barrier is only actuable in the blocking position of the cylinder core, and wherein in particular the replacement barrier forms a form fit between the lock cylinder, in particular the cylinder housing, and the housing of the lock device to secure the lock cylinder.

19. The locking device according to claim 18, characterized in that the stationary guide cam is formed as stationary in relation to the housing of the locking device and in particular at least is fixedly connected thereto or is formed by the housing itself.

20. The locking device according to claim 18, characterized in that the stationary guide cam is stationary in its position in relation to the housing, wherein in particular the guide cam is embodied as spring-loaded and retractable.

21. The locking device according to claim 9, characterized in that a starting repetition barrier is provided on or in the ignition switch to block a repeated rotation of the operating part or the cylinder core into the start position without reset.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further measures and advantages of the present invention result from the claims, the following description, and the drawings. The disclosed features of the operating part also apply to the lock cylinder and vice versa. The invention is illustrated in different exemplary embodiments in the drawings. In this case, the features mentioned in the claims and the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any arbitrary combination. In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the locking device according to the invention in a quasi-exploded view of the individual components,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the activation of the locking pin on a functionally-essential component by a first or second control cam of the control element,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the control element with the first and second control cams,

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a cutaway housing of a locking device,

[0038] FIGS. 5a-b show detail views of the lock cylinder or the operating part with a control curve for the release of a blocking position by a stroke movement,

[0039] FIG. 5c shows a detail view of a key withdrawal safeguard in the region of the lock cylinder,

[0040] FIG. 6a shows a schematic top view of an operating part or a lock cylinder in an off position,

[0041] FIG. 6b shows a comparable top view from FIG. 6a with an inserted key in the lock cylinder in the off position of the cylinder core, and

[0042] FIG. 6c shows a comparable top view to FIGS. 6a and 6b in a further exemplary embodiment in a travel position of the lock cylinder.

[0043] In the following figures, identical reference signs are also used for the same technical features of different exemplary embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of the locking device 70 according to the invention in an overview exploded illustration for clarification. In this case, a functionally-essential component 74, in particular a steering column or the like, can be blocked by a schematically illustrated blocking pin 71. The blocking pin 71 itself has a guide part 71.1, which is directly loaded using a spring element 76, see FIG. 2 in this regard. The blocking pin 71 is activated via a control element 72, in particular the control cams 72.3 and/or 75 provided for this purpose.

[0045] The more precise mechanical functionality of the blocking pin drive results from FIG. 2. It can be seen in this case that the first control cam 72.3 or the second control cam 75 executes a rotational movement (see arrow) about an axis of rotation of the control element 72. In this case, the control cams 72.3 or 75 contact an L-shaped shoulder on the guide part 71.1 of the spring-loaded locking pin 71. This is pushed back and forth between its locked and unlocked position by the rotational movement in the longitudinal direction (see longitudinal arrow adjacent to the guide part). In the locking position, the blocking pin 71 blocks or fixes the functionally essential part 74 in a formfitting manner, in that it extends between two teeth of the functionally-essential component, see FIG. 4. A backward rotation of the control element 72 results in a rotation of the two control cams 72.3 and 75, which are arranged in a rotationally-fixed manner on a transmission part 72.2. Finally, the rotational movement of the control element 72 is initiated by way of the operating part 10 or the lock cylinder 10, which is actuable by a matching key 14, see FIGS. 1 and 4. The individual rotational positions of the operating part 10 or the cylinder core 12 of the lock cylinder 10 in the cylinder housing 11 are shown and described in greater detail in FIGS. 6a to c. To increase the security of the locking device 70 according to the invention, a reset barrier 15 is provided. As can be seen well from FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the reset barrier 15 is formed by a blocking curve 15.1 on the control element 72 and a stationary guide cam 15.3. The stationary guide cam 15.3 can be arranged for this purpose in the housing 70.1 of the locking device 70. In the present figures, the locking device 70 is shown as a steering wheel lock.

[0046] The reset barrier 15 prevents a reset of the operating part 10 or the cylinder core 12 from a start position III directly into the off position 0 from being possible. Rather, the reset barrier 15 has to be performed by a press on the operating part 10 or the cylinder core 12 in a blocking position S to be able to cancel out an existing form fit (see blocking location A or release location B of the reset barrier) between the stationary guide cam 15.3 and a projection 15.2 in the blocking curve 15.1. The blocking position S can correspond in this case to the rotational position I or II, which will be described in greater detail hereafter. The manually initiated pressure on the operating part 10 or the key 14 results (only in the blocking position S as a result of the control curve 10.1) in a longitudinal movement (in particular of the cylinder core 12), which is transmitted to the control element 72, whereby the form fit between the projection 15.2 of the blocking curve 15.1 and the stationary guide cam 15.3 is canceled out and a further reset, this means a rotational movement, from the blocking position S in the direction of the off position 0 is released (release location B). The corresponding blocking curve 15.1 is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 in interaction with the indicated stationary guide cam 15.3.

[0047] In order that the operating part 10 or the cylinder core 12 may be pressed into the cylinder housing 11, the control curve 10.1 is provided. A longitudinal displacement of the cylinder core 12 in relation to the cylinder housing 11 is therefore only provided in the blocking position S. The control curve 10.1 consists of a recess (on the cylinder core 12), which interacts with a cam-shaped bulge (on the cylinder housing 11) and therefore only permits a longitudinal displacement in the blocking position S, because only in this case can the bulge plunge into the recess of the control curve 10.1. Otherwise, the control curve 10.1 prevents a longitudinal displacement of the cylinder core 12 in relation to the cylinder housing 11 outside the blocking position S. In FIGS. 5a and 5b, the functionality of the control curve 10.1 of the operating part 10 or the lock cylinder 10 is shown. In FIG. 5a, a distance a or gap a between the cylinder core 12 and the cylinder housing 11 is clearly recognizable, which is reduced by a pressure movement on the operating part 10 or the cylinder core 12 and results in a longitudinal movement, in particular of the control element 72, to reach a release location B for the reset barrier 15 (disengagement of the form fit).

[0048] To be able to replace the lock cylinder 10 inside the locking device 70, a replacement barrier 28 is provided. This interacts in a formfitting manner between the lock cylinder 10, in particular the cylinder housing 11, and the housing 70.1 of the locking device 70. For this purpose, a curved blocking part 28.1 is provided in a lateral surface 11.1 of the cylinder housing 11, which protrudes out of the lock cylinder 10 (in the installed state) and plunges into a corresponding inner recess in the housing 70.1 to secure the lock cylinder 10. This curved blocking part 28.1 can be retracted in the blocking position S by a tool in the lock cylinder 10, so that the existing form fit (between lock cylinder 10 and housing 70.1) is canceled out and the lock cylinder 10 is replaceable.

[0049] To transmit the rotational movement of the cylinder core 12 to the control element 72, a driver 29 is provided. This driver 29 is integrally joined to the cylinder core 12 and has an axial extension. This driver 29 protrudes into a recess 30, which is embodied as geometrically complementary, on the control element 72 and forms a rotationally-fixed connection. A rotational movement is therefore transmitted from the lock cylinder 10 or the operating part 10 to the control element 72. To generate a longitudinal displacement of the control element 72 by way of a rotation of the operating part 10 or the lock cylinder 10, in particular the cylinder core 12, a counter stroke curve 11.5 for a control contour 72.6 on the control element 72 is provided on the cylinder housing 11. In addition, a key withdrawal safeguard 25 is provided, which holds the control element 72 in its longitudinal position via an extendable fixing cam 26.1. This extendable fixing cam 26.1 can interact in this case with a key sensor 26.2 for the key 14, whereby the extendable fixing cam 26.1 is blocked in the off position 0 by the key until it is guided past the key sensor 26.2, in which it is withdrawn from the key channel, see, inter alia, FIGS. 1 and 5c in this regard. In FIG. 5c, the blocking elements 13 of the lock cylinder 10 are also shown inside the blocking element receptacles 12.8 thereof of the cylinder core 12. As long as the matching key 14 is not inserted in the key channel 12.1 of the cylinder core 12 through an insertion opening 12.2, the blocking elements 13 form a form fit between the cylinder core 12 and the cylinder housing 11.

[0050] As can be seen well from FIGS. 1 and 3, a first control cam 72.3 is arranged, in particular integrally joined, at the opposing end of the control element 72 in relation to the lock cylinder 10. The transmission part 72.2 is also provided here, on which the second control cam 75 is also pushed on axially, spring-loaded by the spring element 76. For better comprehension, the spring element 73 is shown by dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 3, although it is arranged inside the ring-shaped recess in the sleeve-shaped region 75.1 of the second control cam 75. To hold the second control cam 75 on the axially embodied transmission part 72.2 in spite of the spring element 73, on the one hand, a bulge 72.4 is provided for the axial securing. On the other hand, the transmission part 72.2 also has a ring-shaped shoulder 72.5, on which the spring element 76 can be supported. As can also be seen from the schematically indicated section A-A of the transmission part 72.2, the transmission part 72.2 is also constructed from a multi-tooth or polygonal section, to be able to form a rotationally-fixed movement between the control element 72 and the ignition switch 50. The ignition switch 50 itself has a starting repetition barrier 27 (see FIG. 1).

[0051] FIG. 6a shows a schematic top view of a locking device 70 according to the invention having an operating part 10 or a lock cylinder 10. In this case, the individual predefined rotational positions 0 to III of the operating part 10 or a cylinder core 12, which is rotatably mounted in the cylinder housing 11 of the lock cylinder 10, can be seen well. For this purpose, a key channel 12.1 is provided in the cylinder core 12, into which the key 14 is insertable with its key bit. For this purpose, an insertion opening 12.2 is provided frontally on the lock cylinder 10 for the key 14 in the cylinder core 12, wherein the cylinder core 12 can be covered using a cap 12.6. Using the matching key 14, the cylinder core 12 can be rotated into at least three stable rotational positions, namely the off position 0, the ACC position I , and the travel position II. In addition, still a further rotational position exists, namely the start position III, which represents an unstable rotational position for the cylinder core 12 or the operating part 10, however, because in this rotational position, a counter rotational force acts on the cylinder core 12 to move it back into the travel position II. As can be seen well from FIG. 6, the cylinder core 12 is typically rotated clockwise from the off position 0 into the following rotational positions I, II, and III. The reset of the cylinder core 12 from the travel position II into the ACC position I or additionally into the off position 0 is blocked by the existing reset barrier 15 from the blocking position S. To nonetheless reach the ACC position I or off position 0, an actuation of the reset barrier 15 has to be performed via an actuating element 19, in the form of the key 14 or the operating part 10, so that the reset barrier 15 is transferred from its blocking location A into a release location B, where the cylinder core 12 can again be actuated by a simple backward rotation. In FIG. 6a, the cylinder core 12 is used simultaneously as the actuating element 19 and operating part 10 for the reset barrier 15. In this case, the cylinder core 12 can be pressed in in the travel position II to overcome the reset barrier 15.

[0052] In FIG. 6b, the above-mentioned actuating element 19 is provided as a button. This actuating button is to be pressed in the present example, in order to actuate the reset barrier 15 so that the cylinder core 12 can be rotated counterclockwise by the matching key 14 from its travel position II to the ACC position I or even the off position 0. In FIGS. 6b and 6c, a key 14 is also inserted into the key channel 12.1 for illustration. However, in FIG. 6b, the cylinder core 12 is still in the off position 0, so that the key 14 is inserted into the cylinder 12, but clockwise rotation has not yet been performed. In this case, most electrical consumers are typically turned off in a steering wheel lock 70 for a vehicle. Furthermore, the blocking position S of the reset barrier 15 is optionally provided in the ACC position I or the travel position II.

[0053] In FIG. 6c, a differently embodied actuating element 19 is used for the reset barrier 15. The actuating element 19 is specifically embodied as a ring or cap 12.6. This ring or the cap 12.6 also has to be pressed in to actuate the reset barrier 15. In FIG. 6c, the cylinder core 12 is at the travel position II, so that a simple backward rotation counterclockwise to the ACC position I is only possible by an actuation (this means by a press) of the reset barrier 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 10 operating part/lock cylinder

[0055] 10.1 control curve

[0056] 11 cylinder housing

[0057] 11.1 lateral surface

[0058] 11.5 counter stroke contour for 72.6

[0059] cylinder core

[0060] 12.1 key channel for 14

[0061] 12.2 insertion opening for 14

[0062] 12.6 cap

[0063] 12.8 blocking element receptacle

[0064] 13 blocking element for 12

[0065] 14 key

[0066] 15 reset barrier

[0067] 15.1 blocking curve

[0068] 15.2 projection in 15.2

[0069] 15.3 stationary guide cam, can also be used as a transport safeguard

[0070] 19 actuating element

[0071] 26 key withdrawal safeguard

[0072] 26.1 extendable fixing cam

[0073] 26.2 key sensor

[0074] 27 starting repetition barrier

[0075] 28 replacement barrier

[0076] 28.1 curved blocking part

[0077] 29 driver

[0078] 30 recess

[0079] 50 ignition switch

[0080] 70 locking device, in particular steering wheel lock

[0081] 70.1 housing of 70

[0082] 71 blocking pin for functionally-essential component

[0083] 71.1 guide part for 71

[0084] 72 control element for 71

[0085] 72.1 cylindrical region

[0086] 72.2 transmission part for 50

[0087] 72.3 first control cam (primary control cam)

[0088] 72.4 bulge for axially securing 75

[0089] 72.5 ring-shaped shoulder for 73

[0090] 72.6 control contour for counter stroke 11.5

[0091] 73 spring element

[0092] 74 functionally-essential component, in particular steering column or the like

[0093] 75 second control cam (secondary control cam, optionally to 72.3)

[0094] 75.1 sleeve-shaped region having recess for 73

[0095] 76 spring element

[0096] a distance between 11 and 12

[0097] Locations of the Reset Barrier

[0098] A blocking location of 15

[0099] B release location of 15

[0100] Positions of Cylinder Core:

[0101] 0 off position

[0102] I ACC position

[0103] II travel position

[0104] III start position

[0105] S blocking position