Quote:
Originally Posted by ryan0
the servo drive gear moves the locking bolt, and that's attached to the notched wheel... no?
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The locking bolt is linked to the gear that draws the bolt down, yes, but it's not hardfast connected to it, there's a spring loaded mechanism that allows the bolt to be pushed down further than the gear would move it, and for the bolt to be pushed in even when locked. Presumably so that the unit can be installed in either the locked or unlocked position, or so that while locked, the bolt can be spring loaded against the steering shaft until the wheel is turned far enough for the bolt to drop into the hole.
Otherwise you wouldn't be able to move the bolt
at all, because it's a gear attached to a worm drive gear. You can't turn a worm drive gear by turning the driven gear, only the other way around.
Look at this photo:
A servo motor turns the worm gear (A) which in turn spins the driven gear (B).
But by their very nature, you cannot turn A by simply turning B, as the gear will simply bind. It is a one-way linkage. This effectively LOCKS B in place if A isn't being motivated by the electric servo.
Make sense?
EDIT: Oh and the "notched wheel" as I dubbed it is actually the 'B' gear in that diagram. It is just overly thick and has some depressions cut into the bottom of it that interact with the microswitches.