Securing mechanism with remote control actuation of locking/unlocking action, e.g. for vehicle steering column, uses spring and interlocking cam arrangement to engage side arms acting on the secured element

摘要

The element to be secured (1), for example a vehicle steering column, is held by arms (13,14) engaging lower plate (8) on the column. A threaded gripping rod (21) passes through elongated openings(10,19,20 in fig 2) in the arms and plate. The locking mechanism (3) comprises fixed and free cams (22,23) with profiled, interacting teeth. A conical spring (95) compresses the actuating annulus (85) which engages the free cam (22). The annulus is connected to the remote handle (71) by cable (65) running in sheath (67). Actuation of the cable (65) causes annulus rotation against conical spring (95) and movement of free cam against fixed cam to release the arm tension.