Patent ID: 7178624

Claim:
A steering system release device for a motor vehicle equipped with electric power-assisted steering, the steering system release device comprising: a locking mechanism that acts on a steering column or on another part of a steering system, an electric assist motor for the steering system, a controller which receives signals from at least one vehicle status and/or initiating event detector so as to activate the electric assist motor and to rotate the steering column or translationally drive or otherwise move another part of the steering system, through the action of the electric assist motor, until a zero torque or load or a virtually zero residual torque or load has been achieved, in return for which the locking mechanism can be released, wherein the vehicle status and/or initiating event detector is a detector which detects insertion of an ignition key or of a magnetic card or other means used for starting the vehicle, wherein the activation of the electric assist motor to release the locking mechanism the steering system is automatically interrupted by the controller after a predetermined time in the event that the zero or virtually zero torque or load has not been achieved after this time.