Security system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A security system has a key including a transmitter for emitting a coded signal and a receiver for the signal and connected to a latch of the vehicle for unlocking a door secured by the latch only when the coded signal is received. A column bolt is displaceable in a housing fixed around the steering column between a locking position preventing the column from rotating and a freeing position. A barrel rotatable in the housing is formed with an axially open pocket generally complementary to the key. A switch is actuatable in one end position of the barrel for starting the vehicle and a locking pin is displaceable in the barrel and engageable into the pocket and into a lateral recess of the key when same is fitted in the pocket. A lever can engage in the recess of the barrel in the other of the end positions and can also engage in this other end position with the pin to push same into the pocket and into the recess of the key therein. A spring urges the lever into a normal position engaged in the recess and pulled away from the pin, so that, in the normal position of the lever and the other end position of the barrel, the barrel cannot rotate in the housing and the key can be moved axially out of the pocket. A solenoid is connected to the lever and energizable only when the coded signal is received in the other end position of the barrel for pulling the lever out of the barrel recess and pushing the pin into the key recess.