Patent ID: 7364198

Claim:
A locking mechanism for a vehicle steering column, said locking mechanism comprising: a housing defining a chamber; a piston located within said chamber in said housing, said piston being movable between first and second positions relative to said housing, said locking mechanism being in an engaged condition locking the steering column against movement relative to a frame of the vehicle when said piston is in the first position, said locking mechanism being in a disengaged condition in which said locking mechanism is ineffective to lock the steering column against movement relative to the frame of the vehicle when said piston is in the second position; a first apparatus which is operable to continuously apply first fluid pressure to a first side of said piston to retain said piston in said first position relative to said housing; and a second apparatus which is operable to apply second fluid pressure to a second side of said piston to move said piston from said first position to said second position against the influence of said first fluid pressure.