EP3517714B1 - Holder and safety device with small dimensions - Google Patents

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 two bolt elements, which can be displaced between a retracted position and a closed position, act between an actuating part and a tumbler part.

For a simple closure for the storage compartment of a motor vehicle is from the DE 10 2008 041 724 B4 a device is known in which two rack elements are in engagement with a gear. Locking elements are fixed to the ends of the toothed rack elements. Each toothed rack element is acted upon by a spring in the direction of a locking position, in which the locking elements engage in corresponding recesses. An electromagnet can be activated via an actuating switch, as a result of which the toothed wheel is moved in such a way that the toothed rack elements are moved against the restoring forces of the springs, with the locking elements being movable from a locking position into an unlocking position.

From the DE 32 42 152 A1 a suitcase lock with a spring-loaded locking bolt that can be moved in a lock housing and whose closed position can be blocked by a locking device that is also arranged in the lock housing is disclosed. This includes an electric motor that can be reversed in direction of rotation and is equipped with a reduction gear, to whose drive shaft a crank member is attached, to which a locking bolt that selectively blocks or releases the locking bolt is articulated. The case can be locked at two mutually spaced points by means of a lock if two locking bolts are articulated in opposite directions on the crank member diametrically opposite one another and each of which is assigned a locking bolt.

From the DE 103 50 683 A1 a device for locking a pivotable flap of a storage box for a motor vehicle is known. The device has a closure element, which is mounted parallel to an x-axis and is displaceable relative to the flap a control element for opening the flap. The closure element can be shifted at least indirectly via the operating element into a position releasing access. Furthermore, in a position closing the flap, the closure element engages in a closure opening in the wall area of the storage box. The closure element has a recess and a blocking element is assigned to the recess. The blocking element can be displaced into at least one position blocking the closure element and one position releasing the closure element. Furthermore, the blocking element engages in the blocking position in the recess of the closure element.

A tumbler is generally understood to mean any form of mechanism that is suitable for holding a separating device, such as a door, in a closed position. The preferred area of application for the relevant locking device is safety technology, particularly in the area of machines and systems. Danger areas are secured there by movable guards, e.g. B. pivoting or sliding doors. Safety locking devices are provided on these, in particular to prevent access to hazardous areas on machines and systems until dangerous machine movements have stopped.

It can be seen as an object of the invention to propose a locking device that is particularly suitable as a safety-related locking device and allows a high holding force with a small size.

The object is achieved by a tumbler according to claim 1, a safety device according to claim 11 and a method for locking a tumbler according to claim 12. Dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The tumbler according to the invention comprises an actuating part and a tumbler part, which are provided for attachment to two parts that are separate from one another and can move in relation to one another. The actuator part and guard locking part can be attached, for example, to the moving and to the fixed part of a guard, for example to a moving door part and a fixed frame or stop part. In this case, the actuating part is preferably provided for attachment to the moving part of a separating protective device, e.g. protective door, and is particularly preferably designed autonomously for this purpose, i. H. without wired electrical supply. The guard locking part is preferably provided for attachment to the fixed part of a guard and, as will be explained in more detail below, can have a wired supply line for electrical supply, transmission of data on the status of the guard locking and/or for receiving control commands, in particular actuation for release or locking the tumbler.

According to the invention, the actuating part of the tumbler has two receptacles located opposite one another, while the tumbler part has two bolt elements which can be displaced along a common axis of movement. In an extended closed position, the bolt elements are accommodated in at least one, preferably both, receptacles. In an inner retracted position, the bolt members are outside of the sockets. The bolt elements are thus in the locking position in engagement with the receptacles, as a result of which the tumbler is closed, i.e. the actuating part and tumbler part are fixed against one another. When the tumbler is attached to a separating protective device, access, for example to a danger area, is then blocked.

The receptacles are preferably arranged at a distance from one another, with the distance preferably being only slightly greater than the width of a housing part of the tumbler part that accommodates the bolt elements. The recordings can, for example, as cavities, Recesses, openings can be formed and preferably receive a bolt element in such a way that it is locked against movement by the formed engagement in at least one, preferably in all, directions running transversely to the axis of movement. As explained in more detail below in connection with preferred embodiments, the receptacles can preferably be in the form of troughs.

The bolt elements are preferably movably mounted independently of one another along the common axis of movement. In particular, they can have a head part, which projects out of a housing of the locking part in the closed position, and an adjoining shaft part, which always remains inside a housing of the locking part. The bolt elements are preferably made of metal. The bolt elements are preferably elongate, i.e. their extension in the direction of the movement axis is greater than in the transverse direction. Various cross-sectional shapes are possible for the bolt elements, for example rectangular or polygonal cross-sections, a round cross-sectional shape being 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 closed position. A separate spring element can also be provided on each of the bolt elements, the spring force of which acts outwards. Stops for the bolt elements are preferably formed on the tumbler part, so that these can only be pushed outwards as far as a stop position 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 moved from the locking position to the retracted position, and a locking position in which the bolt elements are locked in the closed position, i.e. are preferably blocked by the locking element. As will be explained in more detail below, separate locking elements can 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 connection from the combination of the bolt elements, which are spring-loaded in the direction of the closed position, with a locking element. A force required for moving the bolts 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 bring about this movement of the bolt elements. The mere locking of the bolt elements that are already in the locking position requires significantly less effort and forces than the movement of the bolt elements, especially if the locking is passive, i.e. a movement by means of an actuator is only used to move the locking element while the locking element is in the locking position is positioned self-locking, so that no action by an actuator is necessary to remain in the locked position.

In addition, the two-sided locking effect of two bolt elements acting in opposite directions results in a particularly high holding force of the tumbler. Forces that are applied in the closed position between the actuating part and the locking part, for example when trying to open a door, are distributed favorably due to the action of the bolt elements on both sides, with twisting and canting being largely avoided.

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

According to the invention, the locking element is designed as a threaded element. By rotating the threaded element relative to an engagement element, the threaded element can be moved between the release position and the locking position. In particular, the coupling device can, for example, be designed to be self-locking due to the thread, so that the bolt elements forces acting on the locking element do not lead to rotation and thus movement of the locking element.

The locking element can be rotated, for example, by a controllable drive. Particularly preferably, both a first and a second threaded element can be provided as locking elements, which are assigned, for example, to the two bolt elements. A drive for rotating the threaded elements can then preferably be arranged between the threaded elements, with both threaded elements preferably being able to be driven simultaneously, preferably synchronously, with one drive.

The threaded elements can preferably be arranged and designed in such a way that they can be moved in the direction of the axis of movement by rotation about an axis of rotation that corresponds to the axis of movement of the bolt elements or is at least parallel to it. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the threaded element can have an external thread and a matching internal thread can be formed as an engagement element on a housing that surrounds the bolt elements at least in the retracted position. The internal thread can, for example, be provided in one piece with the housing in order to form a particularly strong structure. A threaded element with an external thread allows a relatively large thread surface for the transmission of larger forces while still having a compact design.

In a further embodiment not according to the invention, an engagement can be provided on the bolt elements, for example a notch, bore, etc. However, the engagement can also be formed by a trough, edge, etc. A locking member may be movably mounted transversely to the axis of movement of the bolt members and may be engaged in the locking position so as to establish the lock. In this embodiment, which is not according to the invention, the bolt elements can have aligned engagements in the closed position, so that both bolt elements can be locked in the closed position with a single locking element. In a preferred embodiment, the actuating part can be designed as a clamp with two spaced clamp jaws in which the receptacles are formed. A connecting part is preferably provided which extends between the clamping jaws and connects them. Clamping jaws and connecting part can also be designed in one piece in order to create a device suitable for absorbing high forces in a particularly simple manner.

It has proven to be advantageous if at least one of the bolt elements, preferably both bolt elements, have a rounding or bevel at the front end arranged in the direction of a receptacle. It is also advantageous if a rounding or bevel is formed on at least one edge area surrounding the receptacles on the actuating part, with roundings or bevels particularly preferably being provided in the edge area of the receptacles both on the inside and on the outside. Such bevels or roundings are preferably arranged in such a way that when the actuating part and the locking part move in the direction transverse to the axis of movement of the bolt elements, interaction between the border of the receptacles and the bolt elements results in the bolt elements being pressed in the direction of the retracted position against the force of the spring element become. In this way, a relative positioning of the actuating part and the tumbler part can be achieved in a particularly simple manner, with the bolt elements being accommodated in the receptacles. Bevel angles relative to the movement axis of preferably more than 15°, more preferably 30° or more, are preferred. In the case of a rounding, it can be sufficient if the bevel angles mentioned are achieved at least in sections by the corresponding tangent.

A housing is preferably provided on the tumbler part, in which the bolt elements are displaceably arranged, the housing having openings at opposite ends for the bolt elements to exit. The spring element is preferably also provided inside the housing, as well as more preferably a drive for the movement of the locking element. A connection for a cable for 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 use an electrical signal to determine the position of the to signal each element, in particular whether the bolt elements are in the closed position. Various devices can be used as sensors, in particular buttons or other contact devices. Contactless sensor devices are preferred, for example based on the optical, capacitive and/or inductive sensor principle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a coil can be provided on the receptacles, the inductance of which changes due to the receptacle of a metal bolt element within the receptacle and leads to a changed sensor value, so that a release signal can be emitted, preferably when bolt elements are received in the receptacles on both sides, to enable the operation of a machine or system, for example.

The safety device according to the invention comprises a separating protective device in order to block access to a machine or system. The locking part and the actuating part are arranged on a movable part and a fixed part of the protective device, any arrangement being possible, but the arrangement of the actuating part on the movable part being preferred.

The guard locking is connected directly or indirectly to a controller for the machine or system. Appropriate design of the controller can ensure that the guard locking can only be opened when the machine or system is in a safe operating mode. In particular, when an access request is signaled--e.g. by a manual trigger--the closed tumbler can initially remain locked, a safe operating mode can be activated and the opening of the tumbler can only be made possible by unlocking after the safe operating mode has been reached.

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, nicht erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Zuhaltung, als Vergleichsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to drawings. show:

1

a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tumbler with arrangement of tumbler part and actuator part on a protective device;

2

the tumbler off 1 with separate locking and actuating parts;

3

a perspective view of elements of the tumbler Figure 1, Figure 2 without the housing of a locking part;

4

a sectional view of the tumbler Figure 1, Figure 2 ;

figure 5

a perspective exploded view of elements of the tumbler Figures 1 to 4 ;

6

a perspective view of the tumbler Figures 1, 2 with open case;

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, a second embodiment of a tumbler, not according to the invention, as a comparative example.

1 shows a tumbler 10 comprising a tumbler part 12 and an actuating part 14 . To form a safety device, the tumbler 10 is attached to parts 16, 18 of a movable protective device for a machine or system (not shown). For example, the actuator part 14 can be attached to the movable part 16, e.g. B. a door, and the tumbler part 12 on the fixed part 18, z. B. a door stop or frame of a movable guard.

While the tumbler is 10 in 1 is shown in the closed state, in which the tumbler part 12 and the actuating part 14 are engaged and locked against one another 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 actuating part 14 and the locking part 12 is produced by bolts 20a, 20b which protrude from the housing 24 of the locking part 12 and positively engage in receiving recesses 22a, 22b on the actuating part 14.

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

The internal structure of the tumbler part 12 and the interaction of the bolts 20a, 20b with the actuating part 14 are in particular Figures 3 to 6 clearly visible. How in particular from the sectional view in 4 becomes clear, the housing 24 of the locking part 12 has openings 32 on both sides for receiving and guiding the bolts 20a, 20b. The bolts 20a, 20b are movable along a common axis of movement A within the housing 24 independently of one another. The bolts 20a, 20b are urged outwards by springs 30a, 30b and are held in the outer position by rings 34a, 34b as stops.

A motor 40 is also provided within the housing 24 and drives the locking elements 50a, 50b.

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

In the embodiment shown as an example, the coupling between the motor 40 and the locking elements 50b takes place via drivers 44 of non-round, here for example rectangular cross-section, which are positively locked in matching bores 46 in the locking elements 50a, 50b and are therefore non-rotatable, but axial are relocatably included.

By rotating the shaft of the motor 40 protruding on both sides, the drivers 44 arranged on both sides also rotate and thus drive the locking elements 50a, 50b in rotation, so that they move in the axial direction, depending on the direction of rotation either outwards or inwards.

The way in which the locking mechanism works between the receptacles 22a, 22b on the actuating part 14 and the bolt elements 20a, 20b of the tumbler part is shown in the schematic representations of various positions in FIG Figures 7a to 7d visible, with only one bolt element 20a being shown for simplification, the representation also being able to be transferred to the other bolt element due to the symmetrical structure.

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

In the position shown, the bolt element 20a is pressed by the spring 30a up to the stop 34a, so that the head of the bolt element 24a 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 space 32 of the housing 24 against the force of the spring 30a.

Starting from the in Figure 7a shown starting position are now as in Figure 7b shown actuator part and locking part pushed into each other in the direction transverse to the axis A. First, a bevel 46 on the outer edge of the receptacle 22a comes into contact with the rounded head section of the bolt element 20a, which also runs obliquely to the axis A, so that there is a force acting in the direction of the axis A, which counteracts the force of the Spring 30a pushes the bolt element 20a into the housing 24. At the other end of the housing 24, the same occurs between the socket 22b and the bolt element 20b (not shown).

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

As long as the locking element 50a moves as in Figure 7c shown is still in the rear retracted position, the coupling between the tumbler part and the actuating part is spring-loaded into place, but would still be solvable by applying a corresponding force in the transverse direction. The tumbler is thus initially closed, but not yet locked.

To create a lock, the motor 40 is operated by appropriate control, so that the locking element 50a is rotated relative to the housing thread 42 via the driver 44 and thus into an outer locking position ( Figure 7d ) brought becomes. The driver 40 is slide-mounted in the inner bore 46 of the locking element 50a.

In the locked position ( Figure 7d ) the locking element 50a is located directly 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 cannot be opened even when a force is applied to the actuating part and the tumbler part. The engagement between the housing thread 42 and the external thread of the locking element 50a is self-locking, so that no movement of the locking element 50a is achieved in the event of a resultant force in the axial direction without rotation of the motor shaft.

In this case, the motor 40 is used only to move the locking elements 50a, 50b, which occurs when the bolt elements 20a, 20b are positioned in the closed position ( Figure 7c ) can be done without force. The motor 40 can thus be dimensioned very small, since it applies neither a holding force nor a force required for the tumbler to engage. The entire arrangement can be designed to be correspondingly small.

A second embodiment of a tumbler 11 not according to the invention is in Fig. 8a-c shown as a comparative example. The second embodiment corresponds in many details to the first embodiment, so that only the differences are explained in more detail below. Elements that match between the embodiments are marked with the same reference symbols.

Like the tumbler 10 according to the first embodiment, the tumbler 11 according to the second embodiment has bolts 21a, 21b, which can be displaced independently of one another along the axis A within a guide in the housing 24. The bolts 21a, 21b agree in a head portion with the bolts 20a, 20b according to the first embodiment. In a rear shaft section, however, the bolts 21a, 21b each have engagement openings 25a, 25b for producing an engagement with a locking element 51. 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 is arranged in a separate section of the housing 24 .

The functionality as in Fig. 8a-c is shown as in the first embodiment. As long as the locking member 51 is located in the rear retracted position ( Figures 8a, 8b ), the bolts 21a, 21b are freely movable and in particular can be retracted against the force of the springs 30a, 30b. In the extended shutter position ( Figure 8c ) the engagements 25a, 25b are aligned. By activating the lifting magnet 41a, the locking element 51a is extended and engages in the engagements 25a, 25b, so that the bolts 21a, 21b are locked in the closed position.

A sensor device is preferably provided on the tumbler for detecting the open or closed state of the tumbler and/or for detecting the locked or released state. In particular, a sensor device for the position of the bolts 20a, 20b can 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 to a machine or system controller (not shown) is preferably provided, with which it can be ensured that a machine or system (also not shown), access to which is blocked by the movable separating safety device in the closed position, is only operated or switched off in a safe operating mode when the guard locking is open, and/or vice versa, the guard locking is only opened in a safe operating mode (or when the machine or system is switched off ) is enabled.

Claims (12)

1. A guard-locking device, with

   - an actuating part (14) with two receivers (22a, 22b) which oppose one another,

   - and a guard-locking part (12) with two bolt elements (20a, 20b) which are displaceable in each case along a common axis of movement (A) at least between an inner retracted position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are located outside the receivers (22a, 22b) and an outer closed position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are received in at least one of the receivers (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 closed position,

   - and wherein at least one locking element (50a, 50b) is movable at least between a released position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are movable between the closed position and the retracted position, and a locked position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are locked in the closed position, wherein

   - the locking element (50a, 50b) is a threaded element which is movable by rotation between the released position and the locked position.
2. The guard-locking device according to claim 1, in which

   - a controllable drive (40) is provided for the locking element (50a, 50b).
3. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

   - a first and a second threaded element (50a, 50b) are provided as locking elements,

   - and a drive (40) for rotating the threaded elements is arranged between the threaded elements (50a, 50b).
4. The guard-locking device according to claim 3, in which

   - a sliding coupling which is fixed in terms of rotation is formed between the drive (40) and the threaded elements (50a, 50b).
5. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

   - the threaded element (50a, 50b) has an external thread,

   - and a suitable internal thread is formed on a housing (24) which surrounds the bolt elements (20a, 20b) at least in the retracted position.
6. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

   - the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are mounted so as to be movable independently of one another.
7. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

   - the actuator part (14) is configured as a clamp with two clamping jaws (26a, 26b) which are configured so as to be spaced apart, the receivers (22a, 22b) being formed therein,

   - and with a connecting part (28) which extends between the clamping jaws (26a, 26b).
8. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

   - at least one of the bolt elements (20a, 20b) comprises a rounded portion or chamfered portion at the front end which is arranged in the direction of a receiver (22a, 22b).
9. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

   - the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are arranged so as to be displaceable in a common housing (24), wherein the housing (24) comprises at opposing ends openings for the exit of the bolt elements (20a, 20b).
10. The guard-locking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which

    - a sensor device is provided for the position of at least one of the bolt elements (20a, 20b) and/or the locking element (50a, 50b).
11. A safety device with a guard-locking device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with

    - a movable part (16) and a fixed part (18) of a separating guard, wherein in each case one of the guard-locking part (12) and actuator part (14) is attached to the movable part (16) and the other is attached to the fixed part (18) of the guard,

    - wherein the separating guard is arranged so as to block the access to a machine or plant,

    - and wherein a controller for the machine or plant is connected to the guard-locking device (10) and is configured such that the guard-locking device (10) is only opened in a safe operating mode of the machine or plant.
12. A method for locking a guard-locking device, in which

    - two receivers (22a, 22b) which oppose one another are arranged at an actuator part (14),

    - and a guard-locking part (12) comprises two bolt elements (20a, 20b) which are displaceable in each case along a common axis of movement (A) at least between an inner retracted position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are located outside the receivers (22a, 22b) and an outer closed position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are received in at least one of the receivers (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 closed position,

    - wherein for closing the guard-locking device (10) the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are moved into the closed position by the action of the spring element (30a, 30b),

    - and for locking the guard-locking device (10) at least one locking element (50a, 50b) is moved from a released position, in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are movable between the closed position and the retracted position, into a locked position in which the bolt elements (20a, 20b) are locked in the closed position, wherein

    - the locking element (50a, 50b) is a threaded element which is movable by rotation between the released position and the locked position.

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