US1266161A - Automobile-lock. - Google Patents

Description

M. R. ROSEN 84 R. E. FISCHEL.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. I917.

Patented May 14, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEEI I.

M. R. ROSEN & R. E. FtSCHEL. ALIIOMDIBILE LOCK.

APPLICATIOM FILE!) OCT- I. 1911- Patented May 14,

2 SHEEN-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

MAURICE R. ROBEN AND RUDOLPH E. FISCHEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, MAUmcn R. Roses and RUDOLPH E. Frscnnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates particularly means adapted to prevent the theft of auto mobiles; and the primary object is to provide an improved steering-wheel and lock equipment adapted to secure the steeringwheel in inoperative condition, when desired.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in whichtional view of a steering-column equipped ken plan view of Fig. 3, an enlarged broken secindicated at line 8 of Fig. 2, and showing the steering-wheel in inoperative condition; Fig. 4, a broken sectional view similar to Fig.1), but showing the steering-wheel in operative condition, that is, locked to the steering-shaft; Fig. 5, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a broken plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7, a sectional view of the lock-chamber, showing the lock therein, partly in section.

In the illustration given, A represents the tubular stationary steering column of a well known automobile, which is equipped with a cap A, in which is journaled the steeringshaft A and B, the improved steeringwheel and lock mounted upon the upper end of the shaft A The shaft A is equipped, as is usual in this make of machine, with a pinion 1. through which motion is communicated in the usual manner to the shaft-section (not which actuatcs the steering-knuekles (not shown) of the automobile.

The shaft A, the pinion 1. and the cap A constitute a part of the regular equipment of an automobile of the make referred to.

In practice, the cap A is firmly secured to the upper end of the stationary tubular Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 1 1917.

.for the lock B Patented May 14, 1918. Serial No. 184,168.

column A, as by screw connection. The is equipped at its upper side with a reduced sleeve portion 2, in which is journaled an enlarged portion 3 of the shaft A. Above the enlarged portion 3 the shaft has a portion 3 of smaller diameter than the portion 3, and extending upwardly from the poi tion 3" is a reduced threaded portion 3", which receives a nut 4.

Firmly secured on the portion 3* of the shaft is a journal-collar B, which is pro \idcd circumferentially with a series of sockets 5.

The journal-collar 5 is preferably secured upon the upper extremity of the shaft A W means of a key S gournal-collar having an internal which rests upon the upper end of the enlargement or integral collar 3 of the shaft A". The shoulder at the upper end of the portion 3 is substantially flush with the upper end of the sleeve but preferably projects sul'liciently above the sleeve 2 to enable the member B to he clamped between the shoulder on the shaft and the nut 4. The journal-collar B is further provided, preferably, with a sleeve-portion 8, which freely encircles the upper portion of the sleeve 2.

The steering-wheel has an enlarged hub-- portion B and a lock B, the chamber of which is formed integrally with the huh portion 13 and one of the spokes of like steering-wheel.

In the illustration given. the steering wheel is provided with four arms or spoken 9. which radiate from an intermediate portion of the hub B and have their outer ends curved downwardly and connected with the circle 10 of the steering-wheel. The spokes and the lock are thus disposed above the plane of the circle or rim of the wheel. so that the lock is readily accessible.

The hub B is somewhat in the form of a cap, having a sleeve-portion 11. which is journaled on the journal-collar B and has a dome-portion 11. which houses the nut 4 and the up er end of the journal-collar B One of t e arms 9 of the Steering-\\'heel is specially formed to provide the chamber his particular arm of the wheel is made tubular, thus providing a bore 12, in which is reciprocably mounted a locking-bolt 13, whose inner end is adapted shoulder and the nut 4. said to enter any one of the sockets 5 with which the journa -collar B is provided. lhe tu bular arm 9 has formed integrally therewith a tubular boss 14, in which, is secured a lock-casin 15 of a lock. Said lock is provided wit a rotatable, key-actuated barrel 16, which is adapted to be locked in a position corresponding with the retracted position of the bolt 13 by means of the usual tumblers 17 (one shown), with which the lock is provided. The lock-casing 15 is held in position in its chamber by means of a pin 18. The lock-casing is so secured that the barrel 16 is eccentrically positioned, or fpositioned somewhat below the center 0 the locking-bolt or plunger 13. The rear end of the key-barrel 16 is provided with a rectangular extension 16, which has firmly secured thereon a bolt-actuating disk or cam 19.

The locking-bolt or plunger 13 has a re duced intermediate portion 13, thus )10- vidin a longitudinal recess 13 in the olt 13, w rich accommodates the actuating disk 19. The disk 19 is :idditionally secured to the key-barrel by rivets or screws 19. The actuating member 19 is of somewhat elliptical shape, being provided at one edge with an arm 19".

When the bolt 13 is in the engaging position, the arm 1'5) rests upon the shoulder afforded by the lower wall of the bore 12, as will be understood from Fig. 4. The member 19 is essentially eccentrically positioued with reference to the barrel 16, and is confined between the shoulders tIll OIClBd by the bolt at the ends of the reduced inter mediate portion 13. Thus, the member 19 is adapted to hold the bolt 13 either in the operative position or in the retracted position; and it will be understmnl that the bolt may be positively retracted or projects by turni the key-barrel through the medium of a suitable key (not shown).

It is preferred to provide a substantial coil spring 20, which aids in holding the bolt 13 in the operative. position, that is, in the position connectin the steerin -whee to the shaft. This spring is insert in the bore 12, between the outer end of the bolt 13 and a plug 21, which is secured in the bore 12 by means of a pin "22. The key may, if desired, remain in the lock when the bolt 13 is in the operative position shown in Fig. 4; and by means of the key the barrel 16 may be rotated to retract the bolt 13 against the force of the spring 20, to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the tumblers 17 will lock the barrel 16 in a position corresponding with the retracted position of the bolt 13. The key may then be withdrawn, leavin the steering-wheel secured in inoperative condition upon the steering-shaft.

Toequip a machine of the character referred to against loss by theft, it is only necessary to remove the ordinary steeringwheel, apply the journal -collar 13 to the upper extremity of the steering-shaft; and then apply the steering-wheel equipped with the locking mechanism, as illustrated. The steering-wheel is preferably secured rotatively to the journal-sleeve B by means of a pin 23, which extends into the hub-portion B of the wheel and engages an annular groove 23 with which the upper portion of the member B is provided (Fig. 6).

From the description given, it will be understood that ouninvention provides a substitute steering-wheel equipped with locking mechanism, which can be readily applied to the steering-shaft of an 3111.01110- bile; that by means of this improvement, the steeringwvheel may be effectively locked in inoperative or disconnected condition; and that when desired, the steering-wheel may be securely locked to the steering-shaft, thus enabling the vehicle to be steered as usual. If desired, the construction described may b adopted in the regular manufacture of the automobile. However, when the automobile is equipped with the usual fixedly mounted steering-wheel, such steering-wheel may be remove and the improved device applied by sup lying the im roved steeringwheel provide with the loc and the associated journal-collar B.

As has been explained, the central portion of the spider of the steering-wheel, which comprises the cap-shaped hub B and the radial arms formed integrally therewith, is disposed above the plane of the rim 10 of the steering-wheel. This contributes to the accessibility of the lock; and, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, the whole device presents a neat a pearance.

The foregoing detai ed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What We regard as new and desire to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a steerin -shaft having its upper end provided wit a reduced extension and a projecting threaded stud, a journal-collar mounted on said reduced extension and provided with a boltsocket and with a circumferential groove a nut securing said journal-collar to sai shaft, a steering-wheel havin a spider provided with a cap-she ed hu mounted on said journal-collar an pin in said hub enga ing said circumferential groove, and a ock mounted in said spider and equi ped with 1 bolt adapted to engagli a said soc et.

. he combination of a steering shaft, provided with a threaded extremity, a jourrial-collar fitted on said shaft, a, nut seeming said collar in position. a steering-Wheel havin a spider provided with a carshaped hu journaled on said j0urnal-co lar and ousing said nut, means securing said hub romlively on said journal-collar, a boltohnmbor and a lock-casing chamber formed inn-grab with said spider, a reciprocable cnslng mounted in the loc k-easmg chamber, 10

and a key-actuated member mounted in said lockbolt.

casing and adapted MAURICE RUDOLPH to reciprocate said R. ROSEN. E. FISOHEL.

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