IGNITION SWITCHING DEVICE

• US 3,639,772 A
• Filed: 04/13/1970
• Issued: 02/01/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zade Wilson
• Original Assignee: Zade Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Zade
• Primary Examiner(s): Hohauser, Herman J.
• Application Number:
  US05/027,648
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 307/1AT,10 180/114 340/63,64
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off

Abstract

An ignition switch for vehicles and the like having a housing with a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein and movable in response to a key adapted to be inserted therein to open and close a first electrical circuit adapted to connect an ignition coil to a power source. A pair of electrical solenoids mounted on the housing are respectively operable to open and close a second electrical circuit adapted to separately connect the ignition coil to the power source, one of the solenoids being responsive to the movement of the rotatable lock cylinder, the other solenoid having means responsive to the removal of the key from the rotatable lock cylinder to energize the same.

Claims

1. An ignition switching device comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein and movable in response to a key adapted to be inserted therein;

a first electrical circuit;

a first switching means operable to close and open said first electrical circuit in response to a predetermined positioning of said lock cylinder when said key is inserted therein;

a second electrical circuit;

a second switching means comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, said second electrical circuit being respectively closed and opened by engagement and disengagement of said contacts;

actuating means operable to actuate said second switching means to close and open said second electrical circuit, said actuating means being an electromagnetic means connected to said movable contact and operable to cause engagement with said contacts when said first electrical circuit is closed; and

third switching means responsive to the removal of said key from said lock cylinder to activate said actuating means to open said second electrical circuit.

2. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic means comprises first and second electric solenoids, the armatures of which are connected to said movable contact, said first electric solenoid being adapted to cause engagement of said contacts when said first electric circuit is closed, and said second electric solenoid being adapted tO cause disengagement of said contacts in response to said third switching means.

3. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second electric solenoids are axially aligned and have a common armature connected to said movable contact.

4. An ignition switching device comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein and movable in response to a key adapted to be inserted therein;

a first electrical circuit;

a first switching means operable to close and open said first electrical circuit in response to a predetermined positioning of said lock cylinder when said key is inserted therein;

a second electrical circuit;

a second switching means;

actuating means operable to actuate said second switching means to close and open said second electrical circuit, said actuating means being operable to close said second electrical circuit when said first electrical circuit is closed; and

third switching means responsive to the removal of said key from said lock cylinder to activate said actuating means to open said second electrical circuit, said third switching means comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact adapted to connect said actuating means with a power source when said contacts are engaged, said contacts being carried by said housing, said movable contact engaging said fixed contact in response to the removal of said key from said lock cylinder.

5. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 4 wherein said second switching means comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, said second electrical circuit being respectively closed and opened by engagement and disengagement of said contacts, said actuating means comprising first and second electrical solenoids, the armatures of which are connected to said movable contact, said first electrical solenoid being adapted to cause engagement of said contacts when said first electrical circuit is closed, and said second electric solenoid being adapted to cause disengagement of said contacts in response to said third switching means.

6. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 4, wherein said fixed contact is radially displaced from said lock cylinder, said movable contact being radially displacable toward and away from said lock cylinder respectively as said key is removed and inserted in said lock cylinder;

and means for radially displacing said movable contact towards said lock cylinder when said key is removed, said movable contact engaging said fixed contact during said last-mentioned radial displacement.

7. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 6, wherein said movable contact is radially displaced from said locking chamber by engagement with said key;

and including means biasing said movable contact member toward said lock cylinder.

8. The ignition switch as defined in claim 7, wherein insertion of said key in said lock cylinder radially displaces said movable contact radially beyond said fixed contact, and said biasing means causes said movable contact to be radially displaced toward said lock cylinder to momentarily contact said fixed contacts to connect said actuating means with said power source upon removal of said key from said lock cylinder.

9. The ignition switch as defined in claim 8, wherein said lock cylinder is rotatable from a first position to a second position to close said first switching means, said lock cylinder being rotatable to a third position from said first position in a direction opposite said second position, said lock cylinder having a recess formed therein at said third position, said biasing means radially displacing said movable contact into said recess when said lock cylinder is rotated to said third position, whereby said movable contact momentarily contacts said fixed contact to connect said actuating means with said power source while said key is inserted in said lock cylinder.

10. The ignition switch as defined in claim 7, wherein said biasing means coMprises a spring urging said movable contact member toward said lock cylinder.

11. The ignition switch as defined in claim 10 including a support member mounted to said housing and said support member having a bore extending therethrough in which said movable contact is slidably mounted, said fixed contact being disposed on a point in said bore and adapted to be engaged by said movable contact as said movable contact slides up and down said bore, said movable contact being radially displaced above said fixed contact in said bore when said key is inserted within said lock cylinder, and said movable contact being radially displaced below said fixed contact when said key is withdrawn from said lock cylinder, said movable contact contacting said fixed contact momentarily during its movement from above to below said fixed contact.

12. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second electrical solenoids are axially aligned and have a common aperture connected to said movable contact.

13. An ignition switching device comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein and movable in response to a key adapted to be inserted therein;

a first electrical circuit comprising a source of electrical power and an engine ignition means;

a first switching means operable to close and open said first electrical circuit in response to a predetermined positioning of said lock cylinder when said key is inserted therein, said first electrical circuit being opened by said first switching means when said key positions said lock cylinder in a manner which permits withdrawal of said key from said lock cylinder;

a second electrical circuit in parallel arrangement with said first electrical circuit and adapted to connect said source of electrical power to said engine ignition means;

a second switching means comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, said second electrical circuit being respectively closed and opened by engagement and disengagement of said contacts;

actuating means operable to actuate said second switching means to close and open said second electrical circuit, said actuating means being an electromagnetic means connected to said movable contact and operable to cause engagement with said contacts when said first electrical circuit is closed; and

third switching means responsive to the removal of said key from said lock cylinder to activate said actuating means to open said second electrical circuit.

14. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 13, wherein said third switching means comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact adapted to connect said actuating means with a power source when said contacts are engaged, said contacts being carried by said housing, said movable contact engaging said fixed contact in response to the removal of said key from said lock cylinder.

15. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 14, wherein said fixed contact is radially displaced from said lock cylinder, said movable contact being radially displacable toward and away from said lock cylinder respectively as said key is removed and inserted in said lock cylinder;

and means for radially displacing said movable contact towards said lock cylinder when said key is removed, said movable contact engaging said fixed contact during said last-mentioned radial displacement.

16. The ignition switching device as defined in claim 15, wherein said movable contact is radially displaced from said locking chamber by engagement with said key;

and including means biasing said movable contact member toward said locked cylinder.

17. The ignition switch as defined in claim 16, wherein insertion of said key in said lock cylinder radially displaces said movable contact radially beyond said fixed contact, and said biasing means causes said movable contact to be radially displaced toward said lock cylinder to momentarily contact said fixed contacts to connect said actuating means with said poweR source upon removal of said key from said lock cylinder.

18. The ignition switch as defined in claim 17, wherein said lock cylinder is rotatable from a first position to a second position to close said first switching means, said lock cylinder being rotatable to a third position from said first position in a direction opposite said second position, said lock cylinder having a recess formed therein at said third position, said biasing means radially displacing said movable contact into said recess when said lock cylinder is rotated to said third position, whereby said movable contact momentarily contacts said fixed contact to connect said actuating means with said power source when said key is inserted in said lock cylinder.

19. The ignition switch as defined in claim 16, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring urging said movable contact member toward said lock cylinder.

20. The ignition switch as defined in claim 18 including a support member mounted to said housing and said support member having a bore extending therethrough in which said movable contact is slidably mounted, said fixed contact being disposed on a point in said bore and adapted to be engaged by said movable contact as said movable contact slides up and down said bore, said movable contact being radially displaced above said fixed contact in said bore when said key is inserted within said lock cylinder, and said key being radially displaced below said fixed contact when said key is withdrawn from said lock cylinder, said movable contact contacting said fixed contact momentarily during its movement from above to below said fixed contact.