An equipment locking and de-energization management system (7) is configured to guarantee safety during the locking and de-energization of a power source (6) of an item of equipment (7) during maintenance thereof. The system includes an intelligent lock (1) to be inserted into the power source (6) and perform the locking thereof, a control device (2) configured to manage and sort the locking steps and a central server (15) to assist with the communication between the elements of the locking and de-energization management system. Also described is an equipment locking and de-energization management method (7) which makes use of the locking and de-energization management system, enhancing the safety, efficiency and productivity during locking and de-energization of the power source (6) of an item of equipment (7) undergoing maintenance.

A locking device having a guard lock for safety doors includes a mechanical actuator which can be fastened on a movable door part and a housing which interacts with the actuator and can be fastened to a door counterpart. The housing includes a receptor to which the actuator can be inserted, and the housing comprises a locking element which is displaceable between an unlocked position, in which the actuator can be released, and a locked position, in which the actuator can be fixed relative to the receptor. The actuator comprises an engagement tongue having an engagement recess for mechanical operative engagement with a head end of a locking element in form of an engagement plunger, the engagement plunger being guided in the housing so as to be longitudinally displaceable in a spring-biased manner in the in a plunger longitudinal direction relative to an inner fixed bearing.

A switch comprises a switching device (3) housing switching means adapted to be operatively connected to one or more circuits of the plant, an actuator device (2) to interact with the switching means at the time of opening/closing of the access, a push-button station (12) provided with one or more controls (13) designed to operate on one or more of the circuits of the plant. The push-button panel (12) comprises a shell (14) provided with the controls (13) and means for anchoring to the fixed part (F) of the access (A) adapted to allow the rotation of the shell (14) around a rotation axis (R), so as to vary its orientation with respect to said switching device (3) and/or to control and/or signalling circuits.

A switch comprises a switching device (3) housing switching means adapted to be operatively connected to one or more circuits of the plant, an actuator device (2) to interact with the switching means at the time of opening/closing of the access, a push-button station (12) provided with one or more controls (13) designed to operate on one or more of the circuits of the plant. The push-button panel (12) comprises a shell (14) provided with the controls (13) and means for anchoring to the fixed part (F) of the access (A) adapted to allow the rotation of the shell (14) around a rotation axis (R), so as to vary its orientation with respect to said switching device (3) and/or to control and/or signalling circuits.

A key storage device for storing a key provided with an identification code, including a locking unit which has an unlocked state in which the key can be removed from the key storage device, and a locked state in which the key is locked in or on the key storage device. The key storage device includes a control unit connected to the locking unit and having a data interface, the control unit operable to read out the identification code of the key and to provide the identification code of the key at the data interface.

A key storage device for storing a key provided with an identification code, including a locking unit which has an unlocked state in which the key can be removed from the key storage device, and a locked state in which the key is locked in or on the key storage device. The key storage device includes a control unit connected to the locking unit and having a data interface, the control unit operable to read out the identification code of the key and to provide the identification code of the key at the data interface.

A safety switch comprises a switching device having a casing housing electric and/or electronic control means adapted to be connected with one or more circuits, an operating device adapted to be anchored to a movable part of the access to interact with the switching means when the access is opened/closed for the opening/closure of the circuits, means for detecting the opening of the access associated with the switching device and with the operating device for sending a stop command of the machine or plant upon the detection or request for the opening of the access, driving means for sending activation/deactivation and/or signalling controls and that comprise a touch monitor provided with one or more virtual controls and at least one microprocessor suitable for associating the virtual controls with a control and/or signalling function.

A safety switch (2) with a latching unit (12), by means of which an associated actuator (3) is held in a latched position. The latching unit (12) has an arrangement of latching jaws (14). Each latching jaw (14) is spring-mounted by means of a spring unit (15). The latching jaws (14) are concentrically arranged and each face one another with a first free end and delimit an insertion opening (A). The latching jaws (14) are held in latched position by the spring forces generated by the spring units (15). The latching jaws (14) can be displaced against the spring forces of the spring unit (15), which serves to enlarge the insertion opening (A).

A safety switch (2) with a latching unit (12), by means of which an associated actuator (3) is held in a latched position. The latching unit (12) has an arrangement of latching jaws (14). Each latching jaw (14) is spring-mounted by means of a spring unit (15). The latching jaws (14) are concentrically arranged and each face one another with a first free end and delimit an insertion opening (A). The latching jaws (14) are held in latched position by the spring forces generated by the spring units (15). The latching jaws (14) can be displaced against the spring forces of the spring unit (15), which serves to enlarge the insertion opening (A).

An apparatus is described for energy-efficient execution of a safety function used for safeguarding a technical installation. A safety device detects a triggering event of the safety function, and a processing unit executes a safety-related reaction of the safety function based on the detection by the safety device. The apparatus is selectively operable in a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the safety device and the processing unit operate according to a first quality level, and, in the second operating mode, at least one of the safety device and the processing unit operates according to a second quality level. The second quality level is lower than the first quality level and at least one of (a) the safety device and (b) the processing unit is operable with a reduced capacity in the second operating mode to save energy.