Ignition module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9228558-B2
Application number	US-201213675001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

An ignition module includes a housing, a cam, a first lever, a second lever, and an electromagnet is provided. The cam is rotatably supported by said housing between an OFF position and an ON position. The first lever is movable between a first state restricting movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position and a second state permitting movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position. The second lever is movable between a locked state restricting movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state and an unlocked state permitting movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state. The electromagnet is movable between an extended state and a retracted state. The electromagnet movable into said extended state when energized to position and maintain said second lever in said locked state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ignition module comprising:
a housing;
a cam rotatably supported by said housing between an OFF position and an ON position;
a first lever movable between a first state restricting movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position and a second state permitting movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position;
a second lever movable between a locked state restricting movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state and an unlocked state permitting movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state; and
an electromagnet movable between an extended state and a retracted state, said electromagnet movable into said extended state when energized to position and maintain said second lever in said locked state,
further comprising a first biasing element operable to bias said second lever into said unlocked state.

2. The ignition module of claim 1 , wherein said first biasing element moves said second lever into said unlocked state when said electromagnet is de-energized.

3. The ignition module of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing element operable to bias said first lever into said first state.

4. The ignition module of claim 3 , wherein said cam includes a cam surface operable to move said first lever from said first state to said second state when said second lever is in said unlocked state.

5. The ignition module of claim 1 , wherein said cam includes a cam surface operable to move said first lever from said first state to said second state when said second lever is in said unlocked state.

6. The ignition module of claim 1 , wherein said electromagnet is a solenoid.

7. The ignition module of claim 1 , wherein said cam includes a channel and said first lever includes an extension, said extension slidably received within said channel when said cam is moved from said OFF position to said ON position and said first lever is in said first state.

8. The ignition module of claim 7 , wherein said first lever is biased into said first state.

9. An ignition module for a vehicle having an energy source, the ignition module comprising:
a housing;
a cam rotatably supported by said housing between on OFF position and an ON position;
a first lever movable between a first state restricting movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position and a second state permitting movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position;
a second lever movable between a locked state restricting movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state and an unlocked state permitting movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state;
an electromagnet movable between an extended state and a retracted state, said electromagnet movable into said extended state to position and maintain said second lever in said locked state; and
a release mechanism operable to permit movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position when power from said energy source is insufficient to move said electromagnet between said extended state and said retracted state,
wherein said release mechanism is a biasing element that biases said second lever into said unlocked state.

10. The ignition module of claim 9 , wherein said release mechanism includes a first angled surface associated with said first lever and a second angled surface associated with said second lever, said first angled surface in contact with said second angled surface to permit said first lever to move said second lever from said locked state to said unlocked state against said electromagnet when said first lever moves from said first state to said second state.

11. The ignition module of claim 10 , wherein said first lever moves from said first state to said second state in response to movement of said cam from said ON position to said OFF position.

12. The ignition module of claim 9 , wherein said second lever includes an extension operable to restrict movement of said first lever from said second state to said first state.

13. The ignition module of claim 12 , wherein said extension prevents movement of said first lever into said first state until said cam is in said ON position, said first lever permitted to return to said second state if said cam is not fully moved from said OFF position to said ON position.

14. The ignition module of claim 9 , wherein said second lever includes a main body and an extension, said main body in contact with said electromagnet and said extension moveable relative to and along a longitudinal axis of said main body.

15. The ignition module of claim 14 , wherein said extension is biased away from a distal end of said main body.

16. The ignition module of claim 14 , wherein said extension moves along said longitudinal axis toward said main body when said cam is moved from said ON position to said OFF position and said second lever is in said locked state to permit movement of said first lever from said first state to said second state.

17. The ignition module of claim 9 , wherein said electromagnet moves said second lever into said unlocked state when energized.

18. The ignition module of claim 9 , wherein said electromagnet moves said second lever into said locked state when energized.

Assignees

• Agaram Venkatesh
• Hertweck Stefan
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Agaram Venkatesh
• Hertweck Stefan

Classifications

• B60R25/248

  Electronic key extraction prevention · CPC title

• B60R25/2063 Primary

  Ignition switch geometry · CPC title

• F02N99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in the other groups of this subclass · CPC title