LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

A locking device including: a locking pin movable in a linear direction; a tappet movable in the linear direction; and a clamping device connecting the tappet to the locking pin. Wherein the clamping device having an inner spring and an outer spring arranged coaxially relative to each other in the linear direction, and the inner spring is at least partially surrounded by the outer spring in a radial direction orthogonal to the linear direction.

Claims

1. A locking device comprising: a locking pin movable in a linear direction; a tappet movable in the linear direction; and a clamping device connecting the tappet to the locking pin; wherein the clamping device having an inner spring and an outer spring arranged coaxially relative to each other in the linear direction, and the inner spring is at least partially surrounded by the outer spring in a radial direction orthogonal to the linear direction.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein one end of the tappet is arranged in a receiving chamber of the locking pin.

3. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the inner spring is mechanically decoupled from the outer spring.

4. The locking device according to one of claim 1, wherein the inner spring and the outer spring are arranged concentrically to one of the tappet or to the axis of motion of the tappet.

5. The locking device according to one of claim 4, wherein the inner spring and the outer spring surround the tappet.

6. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling body formed in a sleeve shape arranged between the inner spring and the outer spring in the radial direction.

7. The locking device according to claim 6, wherein the inner spring is arranged between the tappet and the coupling body .

8. The locking device according to claim 6, wherein the outer spring is arranged between the coupling body and the locking pin surrounding the tappet.

9. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising a first stop provided on the tappet for a first end of the inner spring and a second stop provided on the coupling body for a second end of the inner spring.

10. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising a first stop provided on the coupling body for a first end of the outer spring and a second stop provided on the locking pin for a second end of the outer spring.

11. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the inner spring and the outer spring are configured as a compression spring.

12. The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the compression spring is a helical compression spring.

13. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the inner spring and the outer spring are arranged on the tappet such that the tappet passes through the one or more of the first spring and the second spring.

14. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic drive for moving the tappet in the linear direction.

15. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic drive is configured as a bistable lifting magnet.

16. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the tappet is linearly guided in the locking pin.

17. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising a is locking body, wherein the locking pin is configured to engage in the locking body in a locked position of the locking pin.

18. The locking device according to claim 17, wherein the locking body is rotatable.

19. An electrical appliance comprising: the locking device according to claim 1; and a closable door configured to be locked by the locking device.

20. A method for locking an appliance, the method comprising: providing a locking pin movable in a linear direction; providing a tappet movable in the linear direction; connecting the tappet to the locking pin; wherein the connecting comprises: providing an inner spring and an outer spring arranged coaxially relative to each other in the linear direction and providing the inner spring to at least partially surround the outer spring in a radial direction orthogonal to the linear direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further features of the embodiments will become apparent from the description of embodiments, together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments may fulfil individual features or a combination of a plurality of features.

[0031] The embodiments are described hereinafter without limiting the general inventive idea by exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein relative to all of the details, which are not described in more detail in the text, reference is expressly made to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a perspective view of a locking device; and

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a cross-sectional view of a locking device in the open state.

[0034] In the drawings, in each case the same or similar elements and/or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that in each case a repeated introduction is omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] A perspective view of a locking device 10 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows schematically a cross section through the locking device 10 which is used, for example, for washing machines, such as for industrial washing machines.

[0036] The locking device can also be used for closing doors, flaps or the like in further electrical appliances.

[0037] The locking device 10 is arranged, for example, in a housing (not shown here). The locking device 10 has a bistable lifting magnet 12 which is used as a drive or, respectively, lifting drive for a linearly movable tappet 16. An armature 14 is arranged on the tappet 16 in the interior of the lifting magnet 12. The tappet 16 passes through the bistable lifting magnet 12, wherein when the respective end-side coils of the bistable lifting magnet 12 are energized, the tappet 16 is moved with reciprocal motion between the end positions by the armatures 14 which are movable in the lifting magnet 12. In the position of the tappet 16 or, respectively, the armature 14 shown in FIG. 2, this tappet or, respectively, armature is arranged in the upper end position thereof. The lifting magnet 12 can be configured as a reversible lifting magnet.

[0038] Outside the bistable lifting magnet 12 one end of the tappet 16 is arranged in the interior of a locking pin 18, wherein the tappet 16 is partially received in the locking pin 18. The tappet 16 is provided in this case for actuating the locking pin 18.

[0039] The locking pin 18 is configured at the end opposite the bistable lifting magnet 12 with a front-side locking stud 20 which engages in a locking groove 22 of a rotatable rotary segment 24 for locking a door hook 26 (see FIG. 1). In this case, the door hook 26 of a door (not shown here) is rotatably mounted and is introduced into a door hook receiver 28 of the rotary segment 24.

[0040] In FIG. 1 the rotary segment 24 is arranged in an unlocked position. In FIG. 2 the rotary segment 24 is arranged in a locked position.

[0041] In the interior of the locking pin 18, the end of the tappet 16 received therein is surrounded by a first compression spring 30 and a second compression spring 32, wherein the first compression spring 30 and the second compression spring 32 are coaxially arranged and the first inner compression spring 30 is surrounded by the second outer compression spring 32.

[0042] A sleeve-like coupling body 34 is arranged between the first compression spring 30 and the second compression spring 32, whereby the first compression spring 30 and the second compression spring 32 are separated from one another. The coupling body 34 is arranged between the compression springs 30 and 32, wherein the springs 30, 32 in contact with the coupling body 34, and the coupling body 34, are arranged to be linearly movable relative to the locking pin 18.

[0043] For the inner compression spring 30, an upper end-side locking ring 36 which faces the lifting magnet 12 is configured on the tappet 16 as a stop for the inner spring 30, such that the inner compression spring 30 pushes the coupling body 34 against a second locking ring 38, which is opposite the lifting magnet 12, on the tappet 16. In this case, the locking ring 38 serves as a stop for the coupling body 34. The locking pin 18 is pushed upwardly or, respectively, in the direction of the bistable lifting magnet 12 by the second compression spring 32 which is arranged between the coupling body 34 and the locking pin 18. The first compression spring 30 and the second compression spring 32 are pretensioned in each case.

[0044] The first compression spring 30 and the second compression spring 32 are coaxially arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the tappet 16 or, respectively, the axis of motion of the tappet 16, wherein the compression springs 30, 32 are arranged inside one another. The first compression spring 30 and the second compression spring 32 form a clamping device between the linearly movable tappet 16 and the linearly movable locking pin 18, so that due to the pretensioning of the compression springs 30, 32 the tappet 16 is connected or, respectively, coupled to the locking pin 18.

[0045] In normal operation, the rotatable door hook 26 is introduced into the door hook receiver 28 of the rotary segment 24 (see FIG. 1), wherein the rotary segment 24 is subsequently rotated clockwise into a locked position until the locking groove 22 of the rotary segment 24 is arranged below the locking stud 20 of the locking pin 18 (see FIG. 2). The armature 14 is subsequently moved together with the tappet 16 out of an end position (upper position in FIG. 2) into the second end position (lower position), whereby the locking stud 20 is moved in the direction of the locking groove 22 and engages therein. As a result, the rotary segment 24 is blocked together with the door hook 26.

[0046] In the event that the rotary segment 24 is not positioned in the locked position for the locking process, as shown in FIG. 1, the locking pin 18 may be brought into a waiting position for the locking process, by the lifting magnet 12 being energized, whereby the tappet 16 is moved (downwardly), such that the first compression spring 30 is pretensioned further or, respectively, pretensioned even further. In this position, the locking pin 18 pushes against the rotary segment 24. In order to lock the rotary segment 24, said rotary segment is rotated clockwise such that due to the pretensioned first (inner) compression spring 32 the locking stud 20 of the locking pin 18 is brought into the locking groove 22 of the rotary segment 24.

[0047] When unlocking or, respectively, locking the rotary segment 24, when opening or, respectively, closing the locking device 10, the tappet 16 and the locking pin 18 are moved in the direction or, respectively, counter to the direction of the lifting magnet when the bistable lifting magnet 12 is energized, whereby the locking pin 18 is correspondingly moved due to the compression springs 30, 32 simultaneously engaging on the tappet 16.

[0048] In a locked position, in which the locking stud 20 of the locking pin 18 engages in the locking groove 22 of the rotary segment 24, and in the event that the rotary segment 24 is rotated by an external manual force against the engaging locking stud 20 such that a free linear movement of the locking pin 18 is impeded, it is possible for the tappet 16 to be moved in the direction of the lifting magnet 12 by the lifting magnet 14 being energized, whereby the second outer compression spring 32 is pretensioned (even further), wherein the locking pin 18 is held or is to be held in the locked position. If the locking of the locking pin 18 is subsequently released, the blocked locking pin 18 is linearly moved into the unlocked position by the pretensioned compression spring 32.

[0049] While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0050] 10 Locking device [0051] 12 Lifting magnet [0052] 14 Armature [0053] 16 Tappet [0054] 18 Locking pin [0055] 20 Locking stud [0056] 22 Locking groove [0057] 24 Rotary segment [0058] 26 Door hook [0059] 28 Door hook receiver [0060] 30 Spring [0061] 32 Spring [0062] 34 Coupling body [0063] 36 Locking ring [0064] 38 Locking ring