Device for Blocking the Steering Shaft of a Motor Vehicle

Disclosed is a device for blocking the steering shaft ( 1 ) of a motor vehicle against rotation by means of a locking bolt ( 2 ) which can be axially moved back and forth between a locked position and a released position in a housing ( 10 ) via a two-directionally rotatable control member ( 34 ) and comprises a locking element ( 6 ) and an actuating element ( 7 ). The control member ( 34 ) surrounds the actuating element ( 7 ) and is provided with two interior grooves ( 42, 43 ) that extend in a helical manner and a planar end surface ( 44 a , 44 b) which adjoins the grooves and extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation ( 11 ) of the control member ( 34 ). A transverse pin ( 40 ) which can be axially displaced in a transverse bore ( 41 ) of the actuating element ( 7 ) cooperates with said grooves ( 42, 43 ) and said end surface ( 44 a , 44 b). The locking element ( 6 ) can be pushed into the actuating element ( 7 ) against the action of a helical compression spring ( 8 ). According to the invention, said helical compression spring ( 8 ) is supported on the actuating element ( 7 ) via a plunger ( 56 ) which is provided with an oblong hole ( 57 ) through which the transverse pin ( 40 ) of the actuating element ( 7 ) extends and which plunger can be axially displaced in the actuating element ( 7 ) by means of a stop ( 58 ) fixed to the housing so that the helical compression spring ( 8 ) presses the transverse pin ( 40 ) of the actuating element ( 7 ) against the end surface ( 44 a , 44 b) of the control member ( 34 ) via the locking element ( 6 ) and the actuating element ( 7 ) in the released position of the locking bolt ( 2 ).