EP3517714A1 - Holder and safety device with small dimensions - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tumbler 10 and a safety device with a tumbler 10 and a method for locking a tumbler. The tumbler 10 comprises an actuator part 14 with two receptacles 22a, 22b lying opposite one another and a tumbler part 12 with two bolt elements 20a, 20b. These can each be displaced along a common movement axis A, at least between an inner retraction position in which the bolt elements 20a, 20b are located outside the receptacles 22a, 22b and an outer locking position in which the bolt elements 20a, 20b in at least one of the receptacles 22a, 22b are included. In order to enable a guard locking with a particularly high holding force with a small size, a spring element 30a, 30b is provided to act on the bolt elements 20a, 20b in the direction of the closed position, and a locking element 50a, 50b which is movable between a release and a lock position. In the release position, the bolt elements 20a, 20b are movable between the closed position and the retracted position. In the locking position, the bolt elements 20a, 20b are locked in the locking position.

Description

The invention relates to a tumbler, a safety device with a tumbler and a method for locking a tumbler. In particular, the invention relates to a tumbler in which act between an actuator part and a tumbler part two bolt elements which are displaceable between a retracted position and a closed position.

For a simple closure for the storage compartment of a motor vehicle is from the DE 10 2008 041724 B4 a device is known in which two rack elements are in engagement with a gear. At the ends of the rack elements locking elements are fixed. Each rack member is acted upon by a spring in the direction of a locking position, wherein the locking elements engage in corresponding recesses. An electromagnet can be activated via an actuation switch, whereby the toothed wheel is moved so that the toothed rack elements are moved against the restoring forces of the springs, wherein the locking elements are movable from a locking position to an unlocking position.

A tumbler is generally understood to mean any form of mechanism that is capable of holding a separating device, such as a door, in a closed position. The preferred field of application for the relevant guard locking is safety technology, especially in the machine and plant sector. There are danger areas secured by movable guards, z. B. swivel or sliding doors. At these safety-related tumblers are provided, in particular to prevent access to hazardous areas of machinery and equipment until dangerous machine movements are stopped.

It can be regarded as an object of the invention to propose a tumbler, which is particularly suitable as a safety-related tumbler and allows for small size high holding power.

The object is achieved by a tumbler according to claim 1, a safety device according to claim 14 and a method for locking a tumbler according to claim 15. Dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The tumbler according to the invention comprises an actuator part and a tumbler part, which are provided for attachment to two mutually separate, mutually movable parts. Actuator and tumbler can be attached, for example, on the movable and on the fixed part of a guard, for example. On a movable door part and fixed frame or stop member. In this case, the actuator part is preferably provided for attachment to the movable part of a separating protective device, for example a protective door, and for this purpose is particularly preferably designed autonomously, d. H. without wired electrical supply. The tumbler part is preferably provided for attachment to the fixed part of a separating protective device and can, as will be explained in more detail below, have a wired supply line for electrical supply, transmission of data on the state of the tumbler and / or the receipt of control commands, in particular control to enable or locking the tumbler.

The actuator part of the tumbler according to the invention has two mutually opposite receptacles, while the tumbler part has two bolt elements which are displaceable along a common axis of movement. In an extended closure position, the bolt elements are accommodated in at least one, preferably two receptacles. In an inner retraction position, the bolt elements are located outside the seats. Thus, in the closed position, the pin members are engaged with the seats, thereby closing the tumbler, i. Actuator and tumbler are set against each other. When attaching the tumbler to a guards separation then access, for example. To a danger area, blocked.

The receptacles are preferably arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the distance is preferably only by a small amount greater than the width of a housing part of the tumbler part receiving the bolt elements. The recordings may, for example, as cavities, Recesses, openings are formed and take a bolt member preferably so that it is locked by the engagement formed in at least one, preferably in all transverse to the axis of movement directions against movement. As will be explained in more detail below in connection with preferred embodiments, the receptacles may preferably be formed as wells.

The bolt elements are preferably mounted movably independently of one another along the common movement axis. In particular, they can have a head part, which projects out of a housing of the tumbler part in the closed position and a subsequent shaft part, which always remains within a housing of the tumbler part. Preferably, the bolt elements are formed of metal. The bolt members are preferably elongate, i. their extension in the direction of the axis of motion is greater than in the transverse direction. For the bolt elements different cross-sectional shapes are possible, for example. Rectangular or polygonal cross-sections, with a round cross-sectional shape is particularly preferred.

According to the invention, at least one spring element is provided in order to act on the bolt elements in the direction of the closure position. It can also be provided on each of the bolt elements each have a separate spring element whose spring force acts to the outside. Stops for the bolt elements are preferably formed on the tumbler part, so that they can only be pushed out to a stop position to the outside and are held in the stop position.

Furthermore, at least one locking element is provided according to the invention. The locking element is movable at least between a release position in which the bolt elements are movable and in particular can be displaced from the locking position to the retracted position, and a locking position in which the bolt elements are locked in the locking position, i. are preferably blocked by the locking element. In this case, as will be explained in more detail below, separate locking elements may be provided for the two bolt elements, or the two bolt elements are locked by a common locking element.

The tumbler according to the invention is particularly suitable for a very compact arrangement.

Particular advantages result in this context by the combination of spring-loaded in the direction of the closure position bolt elements with a locking element. Thus, a force required for the movement of the bolt can preferably be applied at least predominantly or even completely by the spring element, so that no actuator, motor drive or the like is required to cause this movement of the bolt elements. The mere locking of the already in the closed position bolt elements requires significantly less effort and forces than the movement of the bolt elements, especially when the lock is passive, i. a movement by means of an actuator is used only for a displacement of the locking element, while the locking element is positioned self-locking in the locking position, so that no action by an actuator is necessary for the whereabouts in the locking position.

In addition, results from the two-sided locking effect of two acting in opposite directions pin elements a particularly high holding force of tumbler. Forces which are applied in the closed position between the actuator part and the tumbler part, for example when attempting to open a door, are distributed favorably by the two-sided action of the bolt elements, whereby twisting and tilting can be largely avoided.

As a development of the invention, a controllable drive for the locking element is provided. This may particularly preferably comprise an electromechanical actuator, such as, for example, an electric motor, electromagnets, etc. With the controllable drive, the locking element between the closed position and retracted position can be actively moved by a control command. As already stated, the locking element is preferably arranged self-locking, so that it remains in the locking position even without active force by the actuator.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the locking element may be formed as a threaded element. It is then possible to move the threaded element between the release position and the locking position by rotation of the threaded element relative to an engagement element. In particular, the coupling device can be formed by the thread self-locking, so that of the bolt elements forces acting on the locking element do not lead to a rotation and thus movement of the locking element.

A rotation of the locking element can, for example, be done by a controllable drive. Particularly preferably, both a first and a second threaded element may be provided as locking elements which, for example, are each assigned to the two bolt elements. A drive for the rotation of the threaded elements can then preferably be arranged between the threaded elements, wherein preferably both drive elements can be driven simultaneously with one drive, preferably synchronously.

In this case, the threaded elements can preferably be arranged and designed such that they can be moved in the direction of the movement axis by rotation about an axis of rotation which corresponds to the axis of movement of the bolt elements or is at least parallel thereto.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the threaded element may have an external thread and be formed on a housing which surrounds the bolt elements at least in the retracted position, as an engagement element a matching internal thread. The internal thread can, for example, be provided integrally with the housing in order to form a particularly resilient construction. A threaded element with external thread allows a relatively large threaded surface for the transmission of larger forces while still compact design.

Alternatively or in addition to the preferred embodiment of a threaded locking element, other interlocking measures are possible. In a further embodiment, for example, an engagement may be provided on the bolt elements, for example a notch, bore, etc. The engagement may, however, also be formed by a depression, edge, etc. A locking element may be arranged to be movable transversely to the axis of movement of the bolt elements and engage in the locking position in the engagement, so as to produce the lock. Particularly preferably, the bolt elements in the closed position can have aligned engagements, so that both bolt elements can be locked in the closed position with a single locking element.

The actuator part may be formed in a preferred embodiment as a clip with two spaced-apart clamp jaws, in which the recordings are formed. Preferably, a connecting part is provided which extends between the staple jaws and connects them. Staple jaws and connecting part can also be integrally formed to provide a particularly simple way suitable for receiving high forces device.

It has proved to be advantageous if at least one of the bolt elements, preferably both bolt elements, at the front, in the direction of a receiving end arranged have a rounding or bevel. It is likewise advantageous if a rounding or beveling is formed on the actuator part on at least one edge region surrounding the receptacles, whereby rounding or bevelling in the edge region of the receptacles is to be provided both inside and outside. Such chamfers or rounding off are preferably arranged such that upon movement of the actuator part and the tumbler part in the transverse direction to the axis of movement of the bolt elements, an interaction between the border of the seats and the bolt elements causes the bolt elements to be pressed in the direction of the return position against the force of the spring element become. Thus, in a particularly simple manner, a relative positioning of actuator part and tumbler part with recording of the bolt elements can be achieved in the recordings. In this case, bevel angles with respect to the movement axis of preferably more than 15 °, more preferably 30 ° or more are preferred. In the case of a rounding off, it may be sufficient if the said bevel angles are achieved at least in sections by the corresponding tangent.

At Zuhaltungssteil a housing is preferably provided in which the bolt elements are arranged displaceably, wherein the housing has at opposite ends openings for the exit of the bolt elements. Within the housing, the spring element is preferably also provided and more preferably a drive for the movement of the locking element. A connection for a cable for the electrical power supply and / or control can be provided on the housing.

Furthermore, a sensor for the position of at least one of the bolt elements and / or the locking element can be provided on the tumbler, preferably on the tumbler part. The sensor is preferably designed to provide a position of the signal with an electrical signal respective element, in particular, whether the bolt elements are in the closed position. As a sensor, various devices can be used, in particular buttons or other contact devices. Preference is given to contactless sensor devices, for example by optical, capacitive and / or inductive sensor principle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a coil may be provided on the receptacles whose inductance changes as a result of the reception of a metallic bolt element within the receptacle and leads to a changed sensor value, so that an enable signal can preferably be emitted in the receptacles received on both sides of the receptacles, to allow, for example, the operation of a machine or system.

The safety device according to the invention comprises a separating guard to block access to a machine or plant. Guard part and actuator part are arranged on a movable and a fixed part of the protective device, wherein each arrangement is possible, but the arrangement of the actuator part is preferred to the moving part.

The guard locking is connected directly or indirectly with a control system for the machine or system. By appropriate design of the control can be achieved so that an opening of the tumbler is possible only in a safe mode of operation of the machine or system. In particular, when signaling an access request - for example, by a manual trigger - the closed tumbler remain locked first, activated a safe mode and only after reaching the safe mode by unlocking the opening of the tumbler be enabled.

• Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung eine erste Ausführungsform einer Zuhaltung mit Anordnung von Zuhaltungsteil und Betätigerteil an einer Schutzeinrichtung;
• Fig. 2 die Zuhaltung aus Fig. 1 mit voneinander getrennten Zuhaltungs- und Betätigerteilen;
• Fig. 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht von Elementen der Zuhaltung aus Fig. 1, Fig. 2 ohne das Gehäuse eines Zuhaltungsteils;
• Fig. 4 eine Schnittansicht der Zuhaltung aus Fig. 1, Fig. 2;
• Fig. 5 eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung von Elementen der Zuhaltung aus Fig. 1 bis 4;
• Fig. 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Zuhaltung aus Fig. 1, 2 mit geöffnetem Gehäuse;
• Fig. 7a - d eine schematische Darstellung von Elementen der ersten Ausführungsform einer Zuhaltung in verschiedenen Positionen,
• Fig. 8a-c in schematischer Schnittansicht eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Zuhaltung.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to drawings. Showing:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tumbler with arrangement of tumbler and actuator part on a guard;
• Fig. 2 the tumbler Fig. 1 with separate tumbler and actuator parts;
• Fig. 3 a perspective view of elements of the tumbler Fig. 1, Fig. 2 without the housing of a guard locking part;
• Fig. 4 a sectional view of the tumbler Fig. 1, Fig. 2 ;
• Fig. 5 an exploded perspective view of elements of the tumbler Fig. 1 to 4 ;
• Fig. 6 a perspective view of the tumbler Fig. 1, 2 with the housing open;
• Fig. 7a - d a schematic representation of elements of the first embodiment of a tumbler in different positions,
• Fig. 8a-c in a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a tumbler.

Fig. 1 shows a tumbler 10, which includes a tumbler 12 and an actuator part 14. To form a safety device, the tumbler 10 is attached to parts 16, 18 of a separating movable guard for a machine or plant (not shown). For example. can the actuator part 14 on the movable part 16, z. As a door, and the tumbler 12 on the fixed part 18, z. B. a door stop or frame of a movable, separating protective device attached.

While the tumbler 10 in Fig. 1 is shown in the closed state, in which the tumbler 12 and actuator member 14 are engaged and locked against each other, shows Fig. 2 the tumbler 10 in the open state, in which the tumbler part 12 is separated from the actuator part 14.

In the closed state, the engagement between the actuator part 14 and the tumbler part 12 is produced by bolts 20a, 20b which protrude from the housing 24 of the tumbler part 12 and positively engage in receiving cavities 22a, 22b on the actuator part 14.

The actuator part 14 has, as in particular Fig. 2 it can be seen a clamp-like structure with two spaced apart jaws 26a, 26b and a connecting part 28 extending therebetween.

The inner structure of the tumbler part 12 and the interaction of the bolts 20a, 20b with the actuator part 14 are in particular made Fig. 3 to 6 clearly visible. In particular from the sectional view in Fig. 4 becomes clear, the housing 24 of the tumbler 12 has on both sides openings 32 for receiving and guiding the bolts 20a, 20b. The bolts 20a, 20b are movable independently of each other along a common axis of movement A within the housing 24. By springs 30a, 30b, the bolts 20a, 20b are applied to the outside and are held in the outer position by rings 34a, 34b as stops.

Within the housing 24, a motor 40 is further provided, which drives the locking elements 50a, 50b.

The locking elements 50a, 50b each have external threads, which are in engagement with female threaded portions 42 of the housing 24, so that by rotation of the locking elements 50a, 50b, these can be moved in the direction of the axis A.

The coupling between the motor 40 and the locking elements 50b takes place in the embodiment shown by way of driver 44 of non-round, here for example. Rectangular cross-section, the mating holes 46 in the locking elements 50a, 50b positively and thus rotatably, but axially are added slidably.

By rotation of the protruding on both sides shaft of the motor 40, the both sides arranged driver 44 rotate and thus drive the locking elements 50a, 50b rotationally, so that they move in the axial direction, depending on the direction of rotation either to the outside or to the inside.

The operation of the lock between the receptacles 22a, 22b on the actuator part 14 and the bolt elements 20a, 20b of the tumbler part is from the schematic diagrams of various positions in Fig. 7a to 7d can be seen, with only a bolt element 20a is shown for simplicity, with the representation can also be transferred to the other bolt element by the symmetrical structure.

In Fig. 7a the tumbler is initially open; Actuator and Zuhaltsteil are spaced transversely to the axis A.

In the illustrated position, the bolt member 20 a is pressed by the spring 30 a to the stopper 34 a, so that the head of the bolt member 24 a protrudes from the housing 24. The locking element 50a is in an inner, retracted, retracted position, so that the bolt element 20a can be pushed into the interior 32 of the housing 24 against the force of the spring 30a.

Starting from the in Fig. 7a shown starting position are now as in Fig. 7b shown actuator part and tumbler part in the direction transverse to the axis A pushed one into the other. In this case, first a chamfer 46 at the outer edge of the receptacle 22a in contact with the also obliquely to the axis A extending, namely rounded head portion of the bolt member 20a, so that it comes to a force acting in the direction of the axis A force against the force of Spring 30a, the bolt member 20a in the housing 24 einschiebt. At the other end of the housing 24 is the same between the receptacle 22b and the bolt member 20b (not shown).

After the head of the bolt element 20a has overcome the border of the receptacle 22a ( Fig. 7b ), upon further movement in the transverse direction, the rounded head shape of the bolt element 20a cooperates with the rounded trough shape of the receptacle 22a, so that as in Fig. 7c shown, the bolt member 20a extends again and is positively received in the extended position in the receptacle 22a. The rounding at the head of the bolt member 20a and the trough 22a thereby automatically results in a centering.

As long as the locking element 50a as in Fig. 7c shown still located in the rear retraction position, the coupling between the tumbler part and actuator part is indeed engaged spring-loaded, but would still be solved by applying a corresponding force in the transverse direction. The guard locking is thus initially closed, but not yet locked.

To produce a lock, the motor 40 is operated by appropriate activation, so that the locking element 50a is rotated relative to the housing thread 42 via the driver 44 and thus moved into an outer locking position (FIG. Fig. 7d ) brought becomes. In this case, the driver 40 is slidably mounted in the inner bore 46 of the locking element 50a.

In the locking position ( Fig. 7d ), the locking element 50a is located immediately behind the bolt element 20a and thus locks it in the extended locking position.

The tumbler 10 is then closed and locked, so that it can not be opened even when applying a force on actuator and tumbler part. The engagement between the housing thread 42 and the external thread of the locking element 50a acts self-locking, so that no movement of the locking element 50a is achieved with a resultant force in the axial direction without rotation of the motor shaft.

In this case, the motor 40 serves only for the movement of the locking elements 50a, 50b, which in positioning the bolt elements 20a, 20b in the closed position (FIG. Fig. 7c ) can be force-free. The motor 40 can thus be dimensioned very small, since he neither applies a holding force still required for the engagement of the tumbler force. Accordingly small, the entire arrangement can be designed.

A second embodiment of a tumbler 11 is shown in FIG Fig. 8a-c shown. The second embodiment corresponds in many details to the first embodiment, so that only the differences are explained in more detail below. In this case, matching elements between the embodiments are identified by the same reference numerals.

The tumbler 11 according to the second embodiment, as well as the tumbler 10 according to the first embodiment of bolts 21 a, 21 b, which can be moved along the axis A independently within a guide in the housing 24. The bolts 21a, 21b coincide in a head portion with the bolts 20a, 20b according to the first embodiment. However, in a rear shaft portion, the bolts 21a, 21b have engagement holes 25a, 25b for engaging with a locking member 51, respectively. The locking element is displaced in a direction transverse to the axis A by an actuator which is designed as a lifting magnet 41 and arranged in a separate section of the housing 24.

The functioning as in Fig. 8a-c is shown as in the first embodiment. As long as the locking element 51 is arranged in the rear retracted position ( Fig. 8a, 8b ), the bolts 21a, 21b are freely movable and in particular retractable against the force of the springs 30a, 30b. In the extended locking position ( Fig. 8c ) the interventions 25a, 25b are aligned. By driving the lifting magnet 41a, the locking element 51a is extended and engages in the interventions 25a, 25b, so that the bolts 21a, 21b are locked in the closed position.

The above description of embodiments relates primarily to possible embodiments of the tumbler with bolt and locking elements. Both deviations and changes in the bolt and locking elements as well as additional elements are possible. In particular, elements of the individually described embodiments can also be combined, for example, in addition to the locking with a screw element 50a by means of the motor 40, a locking by means of a lifting magnet can also be provided.

Preferably, a sensor device is provided on the tumbler for detecting the open or closed state of the tumbler and / or for the detection of the locked or released state. In particular, a sensor device for the position of the bolts 20a, 20b may be provided, preferably an inductive sensor device.

For a safety device in which the tumbler is arranged on a separating protective device, an electrical (signal) connection with a machine or system control (not shown) is preferably provided, with which it can be ensured that a machine or system (likewise not shown), whose access is blocked by the movable separating safety device in the closed position is operated or turned off with open tumbler only in a safe operating mode, and / or vice versa opening the tumbler only in a safe operating mode (or when the machine or system ).

Claims (15)

Tumbler, with - An actuator part (14) with two opposing receptacles (22a, 22b), - And a tumbler part (12) with two bolt elements (20a, 20b) which are displaceable along a common axis of movement (A) at least between an inner retraction position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) outside of the receptacles (22a, 22b ) and an outer closure position, in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are accommodated in at least one of the receptacles (22a, 22b), - wherein at least one spring element (30a, 30b) is provided in order to act on the bolt elements (20a, 20b) in the direction of the closure position, - And wherein at least one locking element (50 a, 50 b) is movable at least between a release position in which the bolt elements (20 a, 20 b) are movable between the closed position and the retracted position, and a locking position in which the bolt elements (20 a, 20 b) in the locking position are locked. A tumbler according to claim 1, wherein - A controllable drive (40) for the locking element (50 a, 50 b) is provided. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which - The locking element (50 a, 50 b) is a threaded member which is movable by rotation between the release position and the locking position. A tumbler according to claim 3, wherein a first and a second threaded element (50a, 50b) are provided as locking elements, - And between the threaded elements (50 a, 50 b), a drive (40) for rotating the Threaded elements is arranged. A tumbler according to claim 4, wherein - Between the drive (40) and the threaded elements (50 a, 50 b) a rotationally fixed sliding coupling is formed. A tumbler according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein - The threaded element (5a, 50b) has an external thread, - And on a housing (24), which surrounds the bolt elements (20 a, 20 b) at least in the retracted position, a matching internal thread is formed. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) have at least one engagement (25a, 25b), - And the locking element (41) is movable transversely to the axis of movement of the bolt elements, wherein the locking element (41) engages in the locking position in the engagement (25a, 25b). A tumbler according to claim 7, wherein - The engagement (25 a, 25 b) is designed as a notch or bore. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which - The bolt elements (20 a, 20 b) are mounted independently movable. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which - The actuator (14) is formed as a clamp with two spaced-apart clamp jaws (26a, 26b), in which the receptacles (22a, 22b) are formed, - And with a connecting part (28) extending between the clamp jaws (26a, 26b). Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which - At least one of the bolt elements (20a, 20b) at the front, in the direction of a receptacle (22a, 22b) arranged end has a rounding or bevel. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which - The bolt elements (20a, 20b) in a common housing (24) are arranged displaceably, wherein the housing (24) at opposite ends openings for the exit of the bolt elements (20a, 20b). Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which - A sensor device for the position of at least one of the bolt elements (20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) and / or the locking element (50a, 50b, 51) is provided. Safety device with a tumbler (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with - A movable part (16) and a fixed part (18) of a separating protective device, wherein in each case one of the tumbler part (12) and actuator part (14) on the movable part (16) and the other on the fixed part (18) of the protective device is mounted . - wherein the separating guard is arranged to block access to a machine or plant, - And wherein a controller for the machine or system with the guard (10) is connected and designed so that an opening of the tumbler (10) takes place only in a safe mode of operation of the machine or system. Method for locking a tumbler, in which - On an actuator part (14) two opposing receptacles (22a, 22b) are arranged, - And a tumbler part (12) has two bolt elements (20a, 20b) which are displaceable along a common axis of movement (A) at least between an inner retraction position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) outside the receptacles (22a, 22b ) and an outer closure position, in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are received in at least one of the receptacles (22a, 22b), wherein at least one spring element (30a, 30b) is provided to engage the bolt elements (20a, 20b) in To apply the direction of the closing position, wherein, for closing the tumbler (10), the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are moved under the action of the spring element (30a, 30b) into the closed position, - and for locking the tumbler (10) at least one locking element (50 a, 50 b) from a release position in which the bolt elements (20 a, 20 b) are movable between the closed position and the retracted position is moved to a locking position in which the bolt elements ( 20a, 20b) are locked in the closed position.

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