DEVICE PROTECTING A MOTOR VEHICLE AGAINST THEFT

Abstract: The invention provides a device for protecting a motor vehicle against theft, said device comprising a controlling member in form of an electronic key, recognizing on its input a set memory code from an infrared or radio wave, an output of said electronic key being connected to a final control unit in a form of an electromagnet. The control member (56) and the final control member (57) are mounted and closed in the joint body (55) permanently fastened to the gearbox housing (50), and moreover the final control member (57) is coupled with an element (53) to be locked in the gearbox.

Description: Device protecting a motor vehicle against theft This invention relates to a device for protecting a motor vehicle against theft, said vehicle having an automatic or manual gearbox. Among the known devices protecting motor vehicles against theft, 5 used alone or combined with an alarm installation having a tone and/or light signalling, the most common are different kinds of mechanical locking devices for break pedals and gear shifting levers, as well as mechanical devices locking steering arrangements, provided with outer and inner locks. o Arrangements are also known for protecting cars against theft, preventing a motor from being started through opening its ignition circuit by means of relays and electromagnetic switches controlled by hidden switches, as well as by interrupting fuel supply to a carburetor by means of valves controlled manually or remotely. 5 But the effectiveness of those known arrangements and devices in protecting motor vehicles against theft is strictly connected with accessibility for unauthorized people to individual elements in protecting arrangements. It should be mentioned here that this accessibility for unauthorized people to elements in known protecting arrangements is o substantially unlimited, especially when overcoming locks in car doors. Thus, in many countries, in reply to the avalanche increase in a number of cars theft, there are even undertaken law forms to determine conditions which have to be met by systems for protecting vehicles against theft; especially, taking into account the many years experience in the area 5 of the effectiveness of said systems, attempts are undertaken to force the manufacturers of such systems to produce obligatorily safety devices acting onto drive transmitting arrangements, especially onto the gear change control system. From the Polish Patent Application no. P 306 744, filed on January 0 11, 1995, there is known an arrangement for protecting against theft a car having a manual or automatic gearbox, according to which application, inside the gearbox housing there is installed an electronic key as a controlling member recognizing on its input a determined memory code from an infrared or radio wave. The output of said electronic key, in the case of 5 a manual gearbox, is connected with an electromagnet comprising an armature in form of a mandrel, supported by a return spring, and mounted, when no voltage is present on the electromagnet coil, in notches of two adjacent gear shifting sliders, which results in locking their movement, and thus in the locked state of the gearbox. In the case of an automatic gear- o box, the output of the electronic key is connected with an electric valve, acting as a final control member, installed in a high pressure pipe of an oil pump, and connecting it with an overflow, when no voltage is applied to the electric valve, which results in immobilizing the planetary gear units as well as the coupling and brake units, whereas said electric valve is also 5 mounted inside the gearbox housing. In both cases, that means in a manual gearbox and in an automatic one, a controlling member and a final control member are installed inside the gearbox, which practically makes it impossible to eliminate blocking from a vehicle protected against theft in such a way. However, the protect- o ing arrangement of this kind, though fully effective, has the essential disadvantage that it requires interference into the factory-made construction of a certified gearbox for a given car type. It has been unexpectedly discovered that the similar level of protecting the blockade of a controlling member and a final control member 5 against forcing them, may be obtained by means of a device installed outside the conventional gearbox housing by using means for permanent and impossible to remove in non-workshop conditions, the coupling of the body, containing and protecting both members in a practically inaccessible manner, with the existing gearbox housing in a motor vehicle. The subject-matter of a device for protecting a motor vehicle against theft, said device comprising a controlling member in form of an electronic key, recognizing on its input a set memory code from an infrared or radio wave, whereas an output of the electronic key is connected with a final control member in form of an electromagnet, is that the controlling member and a final control member are mounted and closed in a joint body permanently fixed to the gearbox housing, and moreover, the final control member is coupled with an element to be locked in the gearbox. A reverse gear slider or the highest forward gear slider is advantageously used as an element to be locked in the gearbox. Alternatively, sliders in neutral position are used as an element to be locked in the gearbox. Said body is connected to the gearbox housing in the place on it where there is mounted a typical spring supported ball of the selected gear slider, advantageously reverse gear slider or the highest forward gear one. A pusher is located between the ball and the locking tip being an extension of the armature of the electromagnet. The body is fastened to the gearbox housing by means of bolts, and additionally it is fastened advantageously to the gearbox housing by means of positioning and fixing units. Each of the positioning and fixing units comprises a fastening sleeve connected with the body, a hole of said sleeve having a symmetry axis aligned with the symmetry axis of the bolt with the head, being the typical gearbox equipment; whereas in said hole there is mounted a rotary and axially movable link having the sleeve part with radial openings and balls placed in them, and an axial opening for receiving the mandrel having a fixing groove for balls, and moreover, in the body part of the link there is located a socket having its contour fitted to the shape of the head of said bolt. Alternatively, the reverse gear wheel is an element to be locked in the gearbox. When the reverse gear wheel is locked, a catch is coupled with the gear rim of that wheel, said catch being the end part of the free arm of the lever mounted swayably on the axle simultaneously biased with the return spring, and moreover said lever is coupled with a driver connected with the armature of the electromagnet. The object of the invention is explained in details on the basis of its embodiments shown in the drawing in which fig. 1 illustrates a protecting device in its first embodiment in front view on the typical reverse gear wheel, fig. 2 - the device from fig. 1 in a view according to the arrow U marked in fig. 1 , fig. 3 - the device from fig. 1 in a view according to the arrow W marked in fig. 1 , fig. 4 - the device from fig. 1 in a cross-section along the axis A-A marked in fig. 2, fig. 5 - the protecting device in its second embodiment viewed from the side of the gearbox housing, fig. 6 - the device from fig. 5 in a cross-section along the line B-B marked in fig, 5, fig. 7 - the device from fig. 5 in a partially sectioned perspective view, fig. 8 - the protecting device in its third embodiment viewed from its bottom, fig. 9 - the device from fig. 8 in a cross-section according to the line C-C marked in fig. 8, fig. 10 and fig. 11 - the device from fig. 8 in cross- sections along the line D-D marked in fig. 8, respectively when the gearbox is locked, and when it is unlocked, fig. 12 - components of the protecting device from fig. 8 in exploded isometric views, fig. 13 - a slider in the gearbox when locked, in enlarged view, fig. 13a - a slider in the gear- box in its unlocked status, also in enlarged view, fig. 14 - a locking arrangement for a key in a car ignition switch when the reverse gear position is not achieved, in a partially sectioned axial view, and fig. 15 illustrates, in a partially sectioned axial view, an alternative embodiment of the locking arrangement for the key in the car ignition switch when the reverse gear position is not achieved. - 5 - As shown in figs. 1 to 4, a body 5 of the protecting device according to the invention is firmly fixed, e.g. by fastening with bolts having heads to be torn off and/or by gluing, optionally by welding, to a cap 1 for the back part of the gearbox housing, in which the reverse gear wheel 3 is located. Said device is provided with a control member in form of an electronic unit 6 controlling an electromagnet 7 as a final control unit. An armature 8 of said electromagnet 7, together with a driver 9 fixed in it are coupled with a lever 10 mounted swayably on an axis 1 1 , and effected by a return spring 12, whereas a free end of the lever 10 formed as a catch 13 is pushed by means of the return spring 12 into a rim of the gear wheel 3 when no voltage is applied to the electromagnet 7. Operation of the device shown in figs. 1 to 4 consists in that the ignition circuit is switched off after stopping a car and shifting to the reverse gear. Thereby released lever 10 rests by its catch 13 on a rim of a gear wheel 3, causing immobilizing of said gear wheel. It is then impossible to switch off the reverse gear by moving the gear shift lever. The device according to the invention is unlocked by switching on the ignition circuit, and in result of that the electronic unit 6 is set in the standby status in which a proper (i.e. accepted by the electronic unit 6) unlock code can be introduced. When this condition is satisfied, a control signal is transmitted to supply the electromagnet, causing the movement of the lever 10 together with the catch 13, and unlocking the reverse gear wheel 3 in the gearbox, and in result of that the gearbox can be normally operated and a car can be normally driven. As shown in figs. 5 to 7, in the place in the gearbox housing 20, where typically a spring supported latch ball 21 is used for fixing the slider 23 of 5-th and reverse gears, there is fastened by means of bolts 24, having torn off heads, a body 25 of the protecting device according to the invention. In this second embodiment said device comprises the electronic unit 26 recognizing a control code of the electromagnet 27, the armature of - 6 - which is coupled with the bolt 29 biased with the return spring. Locking tip 30 of the bolt 29 cooperates with a pusher 31 of the latch ball 21 supported by the spring 32, whereas, said part of the device comprises a rubber gasket separating the gearbox from the device according to the inven- tion, said device having in addition a closing wall 34, advantageously in a form of a thermal screen insulating thermally the contents of the body 25 from the gearbox. Operation of the device in its second embodiment consists in that on stopping a car, setting a gear lever in the reverse gear position, and switching the igmtion circuit off, the bolt 29 together with the armature of the electromagnet 27, having no voltage on it, is shifted forwards together with the locking tip 30 by means of the return spring 28. In result of that, the outward end of the pusher 31 of the ball 21 abuts against the blocking tip 30, causing immobilizing of the reverse gear slider 23. By switching the igmtion circuit on and introducing the proper code into the electronic unit 26, the electromagnet 27 is supplied, and the gearbox begins its normal operation. A protecting device based on similar operation principles is shown in figs. 8 to 12. It comprises the body 55 connected to the gearbox housing 50 in the place on the latter where there is typically applied a spring supported latch ball 51 fixing the position of the slider 53 for the 5th and reverse gears. The body 55 is fastened to the gearbox housing 50 by means of fastening bolts 54 having torn off heads, said bolts passing through the holes 55a in a bottom part 55c of the body 55 of the protecting device according to the invention, said part being strengthened by means of a welded strap 55b. The electronic unit 56 is mounted in the body 55, said unit recognizing the control code for the electromagnet 57 the armature of which is coupled with a lock 59. The locking tip 60 of the lock 59 cooperates with the pusher 61 of the latch ball 51 supported by the spring 63. The pusher 61 is guided in the opemng of the sealing unit 64 mounted - 7 - on the assembling block 55d, to which there is also fastened the electromagnet 57, as shown in fig. 12. Independently of the use of two fastening bolts 54, it is advantageous to apply two additional positioning and fixing units 65, which fulfill their function thanks to making use of heads 66 of 5 two bolts typically belonging to the gearbox as made in a factory. Each of these positioning and fixing units 65 comprises a fixing sleeve 67 fastened by welding to the side surface of the body 55, the hole of said sleeve having a symmetry axis x aligned with the symmetry axis of said bolt with the head 66. In said hole of the fastening sleeve 67, there is mounted a link 68 o movable axially and rotary, the sleeve part 69 of which has three radial openings 70 spaced by 120° and designed for receiving balls 71 , and the axial hole of it is designed for receiving the mandrel 72 having a fixing groove 73 for balls 71. The body part 74 of the link 68 has a socket 75 of a contour fitted to the shape of the head 66 of the bolt typically belonging 5 to the gearbox, in this case having a hexagonal contour. The notch 76 in the sleeve part 69 is designed for causing the angle movement of the linker 68 in order to fit the position of the contour of the socket 75 to the head 66 of the bolt screwed into a hole in the gearbox housing. Operation of the protecting device in the third embodiment consists 0 in that, on stopping the car, shifting to the reverse gear and switching the ignition circuit off, the lock 59 together with the armature 58 of the electromagnet 57 with no voltage on it, are pushed out by the return spring supporting said armature, and in result of that the pusher 61 takes the forward position in which the ball 51 causes locking of the slider 53. Thus, 5 in this position the gearbox is locked in reverse gear. By switching on the ignition circuit and introducing the proper code into the electronic unit the electromagnet 57 is supplied and the gear box can operate normally. Using of the protecting device according to the invention, in some o cases can result in that the control of the gearbox may be locked in for- -8- ward gears; especially when acting onto the 5th and reverse gear slider, as it is described above, and when the failure occurs in the electromagnet supply circuit during driving, some difficulties may occur, as in the table below: Pos. Driving gear Gears accessible on failure 1 1 1,2,3,4 2 2 1,2,3,4 3 3 1,2,3,4 4 4 1,2,3,4 5 5 5 and no shift possibility 6 R R and no shift possibility 7 NEUTRAL 1,2,3,4 When using the embodiment shown in fig.13, where the slider in the gearbox is shown in its locked position, said embodiments consisting in modifying the depth of the notches in the slider 80 so that the notch 81 for the reverse gear position R is considerably deeper than the rest of the notches, that means b>a, when the electromagnet coil has no supply voltage, the properties are obtained as in the following table: Pos. Driving gear Gears accessible on failure 1 1 1,2,3,4,5,R* 2 2 1,2,3,4,5,R* 3 3 1,2,3,4,5,R* 4 4 1,2,3,4,5,R* 5 5 1,2,3,4,5,R* 6 R R and no shift possibility 7 NEUTRAL 1,2,3,4,5,R* R* - on shifting to reverse gear R there is no possibility to switch it off. Fig. 13a, unlike fig. 13, illustrates the slider in the gearbox in its unlocked status in which the ball pusher is in its upper position raised by the distance "c". In order to install the protecting device according to the invention in a motor vehicle, it is necessary to use in the electronic control member, some elements signalling, before switching the ignition circuit off, that the reverse gear is on. Additionally, it is advantageous when conditions are provided in which it is impossible to remove a key from the ignition switch of a motor vehicle if the reverse gear is still on. Particularly, as it is illustrated in fig. 14, there is especially provided an electromagnet 102, fastened to the body 100 of the ignition switch 101 , said electromagnet being constructed analogously to the formerly described electromagnet, but having smaller overall dimensions. In a typical cylindrical drum 103 of the ignition switch, having a keyhole 104, there is made a groove 105 extended on a part of its perimeter. The lock 106 is introduced in said groove, pushed by a spring 107 of the electromagnet 102. Because typical igmtion switches in motor vehicles are constructed in such a manner that a key can be removed after turning it to the neutral position (the ignition circuit being switched off while turning the key), in an arrangement illustrated in fig. 14 this is possible only when the following signal sequence has been received by the microprocessor circuit controlling the locking arrangement: a) voltage for reversing light bulbs switched on, and b) ignition circuit switched on, and in result of that a coil of the electromagnet 102 receives voltage for a required period of time and it raises the lock 106 from a position in which it penetrates the groove 105, which enables turning the key and removing the same from the ignition switch 101. As it is illustrated in fig. 15, in an embodiment alternative to the one shown in fig. 14, there is provided a slide 110 supported by the return - 10 - spring 111 and connected by the pull string 112 to the double-sided lever 113. The slide 110 is permanently biased by the return spring 1 1 1 so that it is located in the groove 105 of the drum 103 in the ignition switch 101 , making it impossible to turn it into a position in which a key may be removed from the ignition switch. On shifting to the position of the reverse gear R, slide 1 10 is pulled by means of the pull string 112 by the double-sided lever 1 13, pushed by the gear change lever 114 set in the reverse gear position R, as shown in the drawing.

Claims: - 1 1 - Claims 1. A device for protecting a motor vehicle against theft, comprising a controlling member in form of an electronic key, recognizing on its input a set memory code from an infrared or radio wave, an output of said elec- tronic key being connected to a final control unit in a form of an electromagnet, characterized in that the control member (6, 26, 56) and the final control member (7, 27, 57) are mounted and closed in the joint body (5, 25, 55) permanently fastened to the gearbox housing (20, 50), and moreover the final control member (7, 27, 57) is coupled with an element (3, 23, 53) to be locked in the gearbox. 2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that, the element to be locked in the gearbox (23, 53) is a reverse gear slider or the highest forward gear one. 3. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that, the element to be locked in the gearbox (23, 53) are sliders in neutral position. 4. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that, the body (25, 55) is connected to the gearbox housing in the place on it where there is mounted a typical spring supported ball (21 , 51) of the reverse gear slider (23, 53) or the highest forward gear one. 5. A device according to claim 1 or 4 characterized in that, a pusher (31 , 61) is located between the ball (21 , 51) and the locking tip (30, 60), being an extension of the armature of the electromagnet (27, 57). 6. A device according to claim 1 or 4 characterized in that, the body (5, 25, 55) is fastened to the gearbox housing by means of bolts (24, 54). 7. A device according to claim 1 or 4 characterized in that the body (5, 25, 55) is fastened additionally to the gearbox housing (20, 50) by means of positioning and fixing units (65). - 12 - 8. A device according to claim 7 characterized in that, the positioning and fixing unit (65) comprises the fastening sleeve (67) connected with the body (55), the hole of said sleeve having the symmetry axis (x) aligned with the symmetry axis of the bolt with the head (66) being the typical 5 gearbox equipment; whereas in said hole there is mounted the rotary and axially movable link (68) having the sleeve part (69) with radial openings (70) and balls (71) placed in them, and an axial opening for receiving the mandrel (72) having the fixing groove (73) for the balls (71), and moreover in the body part (74) of the link (68) there is located a socket (75) l o having its contour fitted to the shape of the head (66) of said bolt. 9. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that, the element to be locked in the gearbox is a reverse gear wheel (3). 10. A device according to claim 9 characterized in that, when the reverse gear wheel (3) is locked a catch (13) is coupled with the gear rim 15 of that wheel, said catch being the end part of the free arm of the lever (10) mounted swayably on the axle (11) simultaneously biased with the return spring (12), and moreover said lever is coupled with the driver (9) connected with the armature (8) of the electromagnet (7). 20

Inventors: BAK TADEUSZ, CHMIELEWSKI RAFAL, B&AOGON, CHMIELEWSKI, RAFAD
Applicants: BAK TADEUSZ, CHMIELEWSKI RAFAL, B&AOGON, CHMIELEWSKI, RAFAD
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R25