Locking device and method for fixation of components to tubes

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device designed to lock objects to tubes or other elongated elements. The locking device generally comprises one or more lock plates and lock housings. In one exemplary embodiment, when assembling the locking device to a tube, two lock housings are put together with open sides against each other around a tube with a dimension corresponding to approximately half of a recess which is found on the lock housing's sides and are oriented in the tube's axial direction. The two lock housings form a closed geometry around the tube. Lock plates are used to connect the two lock housings together. By applying a screw in a threaded hole in one of the lock housings' cover, the through tube is pressed against an opposite lock housing at substantially the same time as the lock plates hold the lock housings together.

Claims

1. A lock housing adapted to be fixated to an elongated element, the lock housing comprising: a first side having a through hole adapted to receive a screw; and second and third sides substantially perpendicular to the first side, wherein: the second and third sides each comprise a recess with an opening along its periphery, said recess being adapted to receive the elongated element; the second and third sides are opposite to each other such that the elongated element is permitted to move through the lock housing, the second and third sides each comprise at least two through holes adapted to be connected to corresponding holes or protrusions on a lock plate, and a direction of the at least two through holes is perpendicular to a direction of the at least one hole of the first side, wherein the lock housing is configured to be assembled with a second identical lock housing such that the openings along the periphery of the recesses of the second and third side of the lock housing is placed opposite to the openings along the periphery of the recesses of the second and third side of the second lock housing to form a geometry, wherein said geometry, once assembled, comprises through holes formed by the recesses in the lock housings, wherein said through holes correspond to a geometry of the elongated element, and wherein the through hole of the first side is positioned such that a screw placeable in the through hole can engage the elongated element when placed in the through holes formed by the recesses.

2. The lock housing according to claim 1, further comprising a rounded edge placed between the first and second sides.

3. The lock housing according to claim 1, further comprising a rounded edge placed between the first and third sides.

4. The lock housing according to claim 1, wherein the recesses of the second and third sides are semi-circular.

5. The lock housing according to claim 1, wherein the recesses of the second and third sides are identical.

6. The lock housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least two through holes of the second side are aligned with the at least two through holes of the third side.

7. A locking device adapted for fixation to an elongated element, the locking device comprising a first and a second lock housing, wherein each lock housing comprises: a first side having a hole positioned on the first side and adapted to receive a screw; and second and third sides perpendicular to the first side, wherein: the second and third sides each comprise a recess with an opening along its periphery, said recess being adapted to receive the elongated element; the second and third sides are opposite to each other and the recesses have substantially the same dimension and shape such that the elongated element is permitted to move through the lock housing, the second and third sides each comprises at least two through holes adapted to be connected to corresponding holes or protrusions on a lock plate, and a direction of the at least two through holes is perpendicular to a direction of the hole positioned on the first side, wherein the first lock housing is configured to be assembled with the second lock housing such that the openings along the periphery of the recesses of the second and third side of the first lock housing are placed opposite to the opening along the periphery of the recesses of the second and third side of the second lock housing to form a geometry, wherein said geometry, once assembled, comprises through holes formed by the recesses in the first and second lock housings, wherein said through holes correspond to a geometry of the elongated element, and wherein the hole positioned on the first side is positioned such that a screw placeable in said hole can engage the elongated element when placed in the through holes formed by the recesses, and wherein the locking device further comprises a first and second lock plate, each lock plate comprising at least two features for connecting the first and second lock housings, wherein each feature comprises at least one of a hole and a protrusion.

8. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein the first and a second lock housing each comprises a rounded edge placed between the first and second sides.

9. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein the first and a second lock housing each comprises a rounded edge placed between the first and third sides.

10. The lock housing according to claim 7, wherein the recesses of the second and third sides are semi-circular.

11. The lock housing according to claim 7, wherein the recesses of the second and third sides are identical.

12. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second lock plates comprises at least one protrusion having a cylindrical shape.

13. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second lock plates comprises at least one protrusion configured to be placed in one of the through holes of the second and third sides.

14. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second lock plates comprises at least one protrusion having a hole with internal threads to connect one or more accessories to the locking device.

15. The lock housing according to claim 7, wherein the at least two through holes of the second side are aligned with the at least two through holes of the third side.

16. A material rack comprising: a) an elongated element; and b) the locking device of claim 7 fixed to the elongated element.

17. A method for connecting tubes using the locking device according to claim 7, the method comprising the steps of: a) assembling the first and second lock housings around a tube; b) connecting the first and second lock plates to the first and second lock housings by connecting the at least two features of each lock plate with the at least two through holes of the second and third sides of the first and second lock housings.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising assembling several locking devices of claim 7 with tubes for forming a material rack.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention is described in detail below by means of enclosed exemplifying embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a lock housing

(3) FIG. 2 shows a lock plate

(4) FIG. 3 shows locking device assembled on a tube

(5) FIG. 4 shows locking device assembled on a tube including assembled accessories (tubes in telescopic connection)

(6) FIG. 5 shows locking device assembled on a tube including mounted accessories (tubes in x-coupling)

(7) FIG. 6 shows locking device with accessories (tubes) assembled on all sides

(8) FIG. 7 shows example of a lock housing with cover in the shape of a hexagon

(9) FIG. 8 shows an inner profile and an outer profile

(10) FIG. 9 shows roller organ with axle

(11) FIG. 10 shows roller organ with axle assembled to connecting organ

(12) FIG. 11 shows connecting organ with roller organ assembled to the profiles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) In the following, a description of embodiments will be made in reference to the enclosed drawings. It should be noted that the figures are only for illustrating embodiments and shall not be considered to limit the scope of protection. Directional specifications shall be viewed only as directional specifications in the drawings.

(14) By means of the invention, different variants of lock functions can be created by combining two different types of components with each other. The modular based design makes it very simple to do re-constructions/re-assemblies of e.g. a tubular rack or relocation of accessories on this tubular rack.

(15) The invention includes two different components: Lock housing Lock plate

(16) Two lock housings and two lock plates together create a locking device.

(17) FIG. 1 shows a lock housing according to one embodiment, wherein the lock housing is a component shaped as a shell with an open side and a closed side in the form of a cover 5. On the cover there is an interface with a hole pattern that forms the same pattern as the pins 1 form on the lock plate. In addition to this, there are holes with threads 7.

(18) There are recesses 8 on all sides of the lock housing which are perpendicular to the cover's surface 5. Opposite sides of the lock housing always have the same dimensions of the recesses 8. On these sides, there are also half as many holes 6 as there are pins 1 on the lock plate. These holes form half the interface that fit the pins 1 which are on the locking plate.

(19) When two lock housings are assembled together with the open sides toward each other a closed geometry is formed with a pattern of holes 6 on all sides of the closed geometry. The same pattern is formed by the pins 1 which is on the lock plate.

(20) When two lock housings are assembled, with the open sides toward each other, it forms in addition, by the recesses 8, through holes on all sides that are perpendicular to the covers 5 on the two assembled lock housings. The dimensions of the through holes correspond to the dimension of the tubes that the locking device shall be locked to.

(21) The number of sides that are perpendicular to the cover side of the lock housing divided by two, will determine how many different tube dimensions the locking device can handle. For example, a lock housing with a cover in the form of a square, has four sides that are perpendicular to the cover and it can handle two different tube dimensions. A lock housing with a cover in the form of a hexagon, has six sides which are perpendicular to the cover and can thus handle three different tube dimensions.

(22) FIG. 2 shows a lock plate according to an embodiment in which the plate has an interface with a number of pins 1 with internal thread 3 and a number of holes 2. Two lock plates are used to hold together two lock housings when locking. The lock plate has a hole 4 in the centre with a dimension larger than the dimension of the through half-holes in the lock housing. Accessories such as hooks, tubes, roller conveyors etc. can be connected to the lock plate, with screws through the internal threads in the pins 3.

(23) A lock plate does not need to be flat. The important thing is that its function regarding through holes and pins, exists. The lock plate can also be integrated in an accessory.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a locking device which components can be fixed to tubes with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the through hole formed by the recesses 8 on the lock housing.

(25) Assembling of a locking device on a tube is made by assembling two lock housings around a tube with the open sides toward each other. The recesses 8 on the lock housings with dimension corresponding to the tube dimension shall be oriented in the tube's axial direction. Lock plates are connected to two sides of the closed geometry that is formed when two lock housings are assembled. The lock plates are connected by fitting the pins 1 on the lock plate in the holes 6 that are on the sides of the closed geometry, which are perpendicular to the two lock housing's covers 5. Locking is done by tightening a screw 9 in the thread 7 in the middle of the cover. When tightening the screw it will press the tube against the surface of the recess 8 on the opposite lock housing, simultaneously as the lock plates hold the lock housings together. The lock plates are held in place by means of contact pressure and friction between pins 1 on the lock plate and holes 6 in the lock housing. The tube is fixed to the locking device by means of contact pressure and friction in three points, screw 9 against the tube and the two surfaces in the recesses 8 of lock housing against the tube.

(26) When a locking device consists of two lock housings and two lock plates that are fixed to a tube, the locking device is in its basic design. In its basic design, accessories can be connected to the two sides that the lock plates are assembled to.

(27) FIG. 4 shows lock plates assembled on the sides of the closed geometry, formed by two lock housings, which are perpendicular to the tube's axial direction and perpendicular to the covers 5 on the closed geometry, and this may for example be used to lock two tubes of different dimensions to each other in the axial direction when using telescopic function. The inner tube 15 runs through the closed geometry and the outer tube 16 runs on the inner tube and is attached to one of the lock plates.

(28) FIG. 5 shows that when lock plates are connected on the two sides that are parallel to the tube and perpendicular to the cover 5 in the closed geometry, a coupling in the form of a T or an X can be created, if a tube is attached to the lock plate.

(29) FIG. 6 shows one embodiment where more accessories are connected through lock plates assembled to the other sides of the locking device. They could also be assembled through the thread 7 in the cover.

(30) FIG. 7 shows an alternative geometry in which the locking device is intended to handle many different tube dimensions depending on geometry. For example, a locking device consisting of lock housings with hexagonal covers can handle three different tube dimensions.

(31) By means of a telescopic roller conveyor different lengths of roller conveyors can be created by that the profile to which the roller organs are assembled, includes a telescopic function. The modular based design allows rebuilding of e.g. a rack very easily and enables the roller conveyor to be reused even if the dimensions of the rack are changed.

(32) According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor includes three different modules: Inner profile, Outer profile and Connection organ with roller organs.

(33) An inner profile and an outer profile combined with connection organ with roller organs, creates a telescopic roller conveyor.

(34) FIG. 8 shows the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102 according to one embodiment, in which the profiles are in the form of a C-profile. The inner profile 101 can run inside the outer profile 102, and thereby creates a telescopic function.

(35) In alternative embodiments, the profiles 101, 102 can be in any other geometry as long as the inner profile 101 can run freely in the outer profile 102 and as long as there are recesses for axles and roller organs.

(36) The profiles 101, 102 has a first side 103 comprising at least one first recess 108 where the width of the recess is equally wide on the inner profile 101 as on the outer profile 102. The width of the recess determines the maximum width of the rolling organs that can be assembled to the profiles.

(37) In alternative embodiments the roller organs may comprise e.g. wheels, rollers or balls.

(38) The first side 103 of the profiles 101, 102 comprises at least a second recess 104 intended to receive the axle 105 to which the roller organs 106 are assembled. The other recesses 104 are separated by the same distance as the distance between the roller organs' 106 center in the roller conveyor. The distance between the other recesses 104 also determines the maximum diameter of the roller organs 106 that can be assembled to the profiles.

(39) When roller organ 106 with its axle 105 is placed in the profiles' the other recesses 104, the profiles are locked to each other in the longitudinal direction.

(40) FIG. 10 shows roller organs 106 in the form of a wheel with axle 105 assembled to a connecting organ 107. Roller organ 106 with axle 105 is assembled to the connecting organs 107 with the same distance as between the other recesses 104 on the profiles. By having roller organs 106 with axle 105 assembled to a connecting organ 107, all roller organs 106 with axle 105 can be assembled or disassembled to the profiles simultaneously. Although the connecting organs have been cut in order to be adjusted for the length of the roller conveyor, it is always possible to reuse the connecting organs by placing several connecting organs 107 containing roller organs 106 and axle 105, along the length of the profiles.

(41) The roller organs being assembled to a connecting organ 107 may e.g. refer to that they are connected with string, tape, elastic band or anything else that intends to link the wheels together with a predetermined distance from each other.

(42) A telescoping roller conveyor is shown, characterized by that the telescopic roller conveyor includes an inner profile 101, and an outer profile 102, wherein the inner profile 101 is designed to run inside the outer profile 102 so that the telescopic function is obtained, and wherein the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102 at a first side 103 comprises: at least a first recess 108 designed to partially contain a roller organ 106, and a second recesses 104 designed to receive an axle 105 connected to the roller organ 106, and wherein the axle 105 is designed to lock the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102 to each other in the profiles' 101; 102 longitudinal direction.

(43) According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor can as described above have other recesses 104 designed to partially contain a wheel assembled on the axle 105.

(44) According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor can, as described above, have a first side 103 comprising a first recess 108 having a longitudinal slit with a width intended to partially contain the roller organ 106.

(45) According to one embodiment, the telescopic roller conveyor can include at least two axles 105, each one connected to roller organs 106 as described above, wherein the axles 105 include a first and second end, and wherein at least one of the first or the second ends are assembled to a connecting organ 107 at the same distance as the recesses 104 in the inner profile 101 and the outer profile 102, so that at least two axles 105 and roller organs 106 on the roller conveyor's length can be assembled and disassembled to the profiles 101; 102 simultaneously.

(46) Further, the invention includes a material rack comprising telescopic roller conveyor as described above.

(47) The abovementioned description of embodiments shall not be understood as limiting, but can be freely combined within the scope of the claims.