LOCKING PIN WITH PROTECTED LOCKING MECHANISM

Abstract

A locking pin with a locking mechanism (8, 27, 28) that has a guide sleeve (3) that can be attached to a machine part, and a pin (2) connected to an actuator button (6), which passes through a central bore (14) in the actuator button (6), and which can be axially displaced and secured in a hole in the guide sleeve (3) counter to and by means of the force of a compression spring (7) by actuating the actuator button (6), wherein the pin (2) can be brought into at least two locking positions in the guide sleeve (3) by means of the locking mechanism (8, 27, 28) located in the central bore (17), wherein the locking mechanism (8, 27, 28) is sealed in the central bore (14) of the actuator button (6) in the region of a second guide sleeve (12) that is coaxial to the first guide sleeve (3) and connected thereto, and is composed of a locking sleeve (8) secured to the actuator button (6), the sleeve extension (15) of which forms a locking contour (28) in conjunction with a locking recess (27) located in the region of the second guide sleeve (12).

Claims

1. A locking pin comprising a locking mechanism that has a guide sleeve that can be attached to a machine part, and a pin connected to an actuator button, the pin passes through a central bore in the actuator button, and the pin can be axially displaced and selectively secured in a hole in the guide sleeve counter to and by means of a spring force of a compression spring by actuating the actuator button, wherein the pin can be brought into at least two locking positions in the guide sleeve by the locking mechanism located in the central bore, wherein the locking mechanism is sealed in the central bore of the actuator button in the region of a second guide sleeve that is coaxial to the first guide sleeve and connected thereto, and comprises a locking sleeve secured to the actuator button, the locking sleeve including a sleeve extension which forms a locking contour in conjunction with a locking recess located in the region of the second guide sleeve.

2. The locking pin according to claim 1, wherein a rod seal is located at a base end of the actuator button, the rode deal displaceable axially with the actuator button and sealed to an outer circumference of the guide sleeve.

3. The locking pin according to claim 1, wherein the locking locking sleeve is attached to an inner end surface region of the actuator button, the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve positioned in the coaxial, second guide sleeve of the guide sleeve.

4. The locking pin according to claim 3, wherein the locking sleeve includes a lower axial end surface forming the locking contour, which interacts with the locking recesses in the guide sleeve.

5. The locking pin according to claim 1, wherein the actuator button can be rotated 90 from a locked position to unlock it, until the locking contour of the locking sleeve is disengaged from the locking recess fixed in relation to the housing on the guide sleeve to an unlocked position, in the unlocked position the actuator button can be automatically slid into a raised position by the spring force of the compression spring.

6. The locking pin according to claim 5, wherein there are a total of two locking positions between the locking sleeve and the guide sleeve.

7. The locking pin according to claim 1, wherein the locking contour comprises a plurality of locking lugs formed on a lower end surface of the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve.

8. The locking pin according to claim 7, wherein the locking contour of the locking sleeve comprises a pair of diametrically opposing locking lugs, which each form locking regions, the locking sleeve further comprising a plurality of curved segments between the locking lugs that do not form locking regions.

9. The locking pin according to claim 4, wherein the locking contour is formed in the region of a bevel running at a diagonal to a longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the bevel forms an approach incline to a locking contour on the guide sleeve, such that is it not necessary to raise the actuator button to actuate it.

10. The locking pin according to claim 2, wherein the locking sleeve is attached to an inner end surface region of the actuator button, the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve positioned in the coaxial, second guide sleeve of the guide sleeve.

11. The locking pin according to claim 2, wherein the actuator button can be rotated. 90 from a locked position to unlock it, until the locking contour of the locking sleeve is disengaged from the locking recess fixed in relation to the housing on the guide sleeve to an unlocked position, in the unlocked position the actuator button can be automatically slid into a raised position by the spring force of the compression spring.

12. The locking pin according to claim 3, wherein the actuator button can be rotated. 90 from a locked position to unlock it, until the locking contour of the locking sleeve is disengaged from the locking recess fixed in relation to the housing on the guide sleeve to an unlocked position, in the unlocked position the actuator button can be automatically slid into a raised position by the spring force of the compression spring.

13. The locking pin according to claim 4, wherein the actuator button can be rotated. 90 from a locked position to unlock it, until the locking contour of the locking sleeve is disengaged from the locking recess fixed in relation to the housing on the guide sleeve to an unlocked position, in the unlocked position the actuator button can be automatically slid into a raised position by the spring force of the compression spring.

14. The locking pin according to claim 2, wherein the locking contour comprises a plurality of locking lugs formed on a lower end surface of the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve.

15. The locking pin according to claim 3, wherein the locking contour comprises a plurality of locking lugs formed on a lower end surface of the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve.

16. The locking pin according to claim 5, wherein the locking contour comprises a plurality of locking lugs formed on a lower end surface of the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve.

17. The locking pin according to claim 6, wherein the locking contour comprises a plurality of locking lugs formed on a lower end surface of the sleeve extension of the locking sleeve.

18. The locking pin according to claim 5, wherein the locking contour is formed in the region of a bevel running at a diagonal to a longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the bevel forms an approach incline to a locking contour on the guide sleeve, such that is it not necessary to raise the actuator button to actuate it.

19. The locking pin according to claim 6, wherein the locking contour is formed in the region of a bevel running at a diagonal to a longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the bevel forms an approach incline to a locking contour on the guide sleeve, such that is it not necessary to raise the actuator button to actuate it.

20. The locking pin according to claim 7, wherein the locking contour is formed in the region of a bevel running at a diagonal to a longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the bevel forms an approach incline to a locking contour on the guide sleeve, such that is it not necessary to raise the actuator button to actuate it.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The exemplary embodiments of the disclosure shall be explained below on the basis of drawings illustrating just one embodiment. Further features and advantages substantial to the disclosure can be derived from the drawings and their descriptions.

[0042] Therein:

[0043] FIG. 1: shows a section through a locking pin according to the disclosure in the unlocked state;

[0044] FIG. 2: shows the section through the locking pin in the locked state;

[0045] FIG. 3: shows a perspective view of the actuator button with the illustration of the locking mechanism in the locked state;

[0046] FIG. 4: shows the same illustration in FIG. 3, in the unlocked state;

[0047] FIG. 5: shows the same illustration of the actuator button in FIG. 4, in the locked state;

[0048] FIG. 6: shows a perspective view of the locking sleeve;

[0049] FIG. 7: shows an end view of the locking sleeve along arrow VII in FIG. 6;

[0050] FIG. 8: shows a section through the locking sleeve according to FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0051] FIG. 9: shows a longitudinal section through the guide sleeve;

[0052] FIG. 10: shows an end view of the guide sleeve along arrow X in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] A locking button is shown in general in FIGS. 1 and 2, composed substantially of an upper actuator button 6 in the exemplary embodiment shown therein, which can be made of any material, preferably a metal or plastic material.

[0054] The locking mechanism is located in the central bore 14 of the actuator button 6, which is substantially composed of a locking sleeve 8 in the exemplary embodiment, which is received in the interior of the actuator button 6 such that it cannot be rotated or displaced, and interacts with a dedicated, basically cylindrical guide sleeve 3, wherein the guide sleeve 3 can likewise be made of an arbitrary material, e.g. metal or plastic.

[0055] In order to satisfy the hygiene requirements, it is provided that the locking mechanism, composed of the locking sleeve 8, is located in the central bore 14, and that also there are no components projecting radially from the guide sleeve 3 of the locking mechanism that could be prone to contamination.

[0056] The guide sleeve 3 can accordingly be attached to any mounting surface with any type of screw fastener or attachment. In the exemplary embodimentwhich is not limiting to the scope of the disclosureit is provided that the guide sleeve 3 has a circumferential sealing ring 5 on its lower end, which is embedded in a radial lip on the guide sleeve 3.

[0057] A sealing nut 1 is provided opposite this lip, with its radially enlarged diameter accommodating the sealing ring 5, which is likewise provided with a sealing ring 5 on its outer radial circumference, which is likewise embedded therein.

[0058] The sealing nut 1 is also screwed onto a dedicated external thread on the guide sleeve 3 with a further sealing ring 4.

[0059] A clamp 10 is formed in the space between the two opposing sealing rings on the guide sleeve 3 and the sealing nut 1 (such that it is sealed off), in which a mounting plate 11 can engage, for example, by means of which the entire locking pin can be fastened to a mounting plateshown only in partand secured in a hole therein.

[0060] Instead of the sealed screw attachment of the locking button to the sealing nut 1 shown in the drawings, any other type of sealing attachment can also be used, e.g. a sealed screwing into a dedicated cylindrical hole in a mounting plate, or wedge, clamp or adhesive connections as well.

[0061] In the exemplary embodiment in the drawings, the guide sleeve 3 has a central bore 17, in which a spring-loaded pin 2 that can be displaced axially by the force of a compression spring 7 is located.

[0062] In the exemplary embodiment in the drawings, the pin 2 passes through the hole in the sealing nut 1 in a sealed manner, thus forming an actuating end, by means of which the pin 2 can lock into a hole in a machine housing, not shown, or can be disengaged from this hole.

[0063] In order to satisfy the increased hygiene requirements described in the general description, it is also provided that a radially inward facing rod seal 9 is integrated in the lower end of the actuator button 6, which bears in a sealing manner with its inner circumference on the outer circumference of the guide sleeve 3, such that the entire spring-loaded actuator button 6 can be moved axially (in the direction of arrow 23, and back) in a sealed manner on the cylindrical guide sleeve 3.

[0064] Instead of an integrated rod seal 9, other sealing measures can also be used, e.g. an O-ring, cord ring, or the rod seal 9, or with lower hygiene requirements, these can be omitted entirely.

[0065] What is important here is that there are no longer any components of the locking mechanism on the outer circumference of the guide sleeve 3, because the locking mechanism is entirely integrated in the central bore 19 of the actuator button 6.

[0066] For this purpose, the guide sleeve 3 enters, with a second guide sleeve 12, which is open at the top and is an integral component of the first guide sleeve 3, the central bore of the actuator button, and the outer circumference of the second guide sleeve 12 forms a sliding surface 13 for the inner circumference of the actuator button in the region of the central bore 14.

[0067] The hygienic design is obtained in that the locking mechanism 27, 28 is sealed in the central bore of the actuator button 6 at the inner end surface 35 of the central bore 17 by rod seal 9 located at an axial spacing thereto, and the guide sleeve 3 extends with the coaxial, second axial guide sleeve 12, into the central bore 14 of the actuator button 6, sealed by the rod seal 9.

[0068] The pin 2 is connected to an upper threaded bolt 19 in a material bonded or non-material bonded manner, which is screwed into a dedicated hole 18 on the inner surface of the actuator button 6.

[0069] Instead of this threaded connection, other connections can be used, e.g. an adhesive or welded connection. It is likewise possible for the threaded bolt 19 to be a rivet stud, riveted to the actuator button 6.

[0070] The locking mechanism is substantially composed of a sleeve-shaped locking sleeve 8, which is secured in a blind hole 21 in the actuator button 6 in the inner end wall 35 with its acentric, axially aligned detent pin 22, and retained there such that it cannot be displaced. It is thus non-rotatably and non-displaceably connected to the actuator button 6.

[0071] The sleeve-shaped locking sleeve 8 forms a sleeve extension 15 that extends axially downward, which likewise defines a central bore 17 (see FIG. 8).

[0072] The central bore 17 with the indicated central radial tolerance can also be entirely eliminated, because the sleeve extension 15 of the locking sleeve can also bear in a form fitting manner on the outer circumference of the pin 2.

[0073] The locking mechanism itself is formed by an end stop surface 16 in the guide sleeve 3, which interacts with a dedicated locking contour 28 of the locking sleeve 8, as shall be explained below based on the drawings in FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0074] FIG. 1 shows the unlocked position of the locking pin and FIG. 2 shows the locked position. These figures differ in that the actuator button 6 is moved upward, in the direction of the arrow 23 in FIG. 2, and in that it is pulled upward, compressing the compression spring 7.

[0075] It is also pulled upward into its locked position, counter to the force of the compression spring 7, in the direction of the arrow 23, and rotated 90, specifically in the direction of the arrow 24, about its longitudinal axis 25.

[0076] In comparison, FIG. 2 shows the actuator button 6 rotated 90. Note that the section plane of FIG. 1 is perpendicular to the section plan of FIG. 2.

[0077] Instead of a 90 rotation to reach the two locking positions, other angles of rotation can be used, e.g. 30, 60, 120, etc. This depends on the type of locking contour 28, 34, which shall be described based on FIGS. 6 to 8. There can also be more than two locking positions.

[0078] It should be added that a central threaded hole 20 is formed on the inner surface of the actuator button 6, into which the threaded bolt 19 of the pin 2 is screwed.

[0079] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the same components with the same reference symbols, wherein FIG. 3 shows the locked state shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows the unlocked state shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5, in turn, shows the locked state shown in FIG. 2.

[0080] Identical components are given the same reference symbols, such that the explanations for FIGS. 1 and 2 also apply to the terminology and components in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows the perspective view of a locking sleeve 8, substantially composed of a cylindrical annular lip, which has a central bore, through which the pin 2 passes.

[0082] A detent pin 22 is formed acentric to the central bore 18, which engages in a dedicated blind hole 21 in the interior of the actuator button 6 and is anchored there in the accordance with the exemplary embodiments described above.

[0083] Such an attachment has the advantage that a particularly operationally secure and simple securing of the locking sleeve 8 in the interior of the actuator button 6 is ensured.

[0084] A locking contour 28 on the locking sleeve is formed on the lower end surface of the sleeve extension 15, wherein the locking lug 31 of the locking contour 28 extends into the sleeve extension 15.

[0085] In another design, the sleeve extension 15 can also be cylindrical, such that the opposing locking lugs 31 projecting radially therefrom are only formed at the bottom in the region of the locking contour 28.

[0086] FIG. 7 shows the special design of the locking contour 28 of the locking sleeve 8 at the lower end surface, where it can be seen that the two diametrically opposed locking lugs 31 form a locking region, and that there are curved segments therebetween that do not form locking sections.

[0087] It is preferred thereby that the locking lugs 31 are formed in the region of an angled bevel 32, as can be seen in FIG. 8.

[0088] FIG. 8 shows that the locking contour is formed in the region of the bevel 32 running at an angle to the longitudinal axis.

[0089] The formation of the locking contour 28 as a diagonal bevel 32 in accordance with FIG. 8 has the advantage that it is not necessary to first raise the actuator button 6 counter to the force of the compression spring 7, and instead, it can be rotated directly from one locking position to the other, without having to raise it.

[0090] The bevel 32 thus forms an approach incline to the housing-side locking contour 34, such that it is not necessary to raise the actuator button.

[0091] Instead of a diagonal bevel 32, as is shown in FIG. 8, the preferred, simple rotational movement, which requires no lifting movement, is replaced in another embodiment by a combined pulling and rotating movement. In the latter case, the bevel 32 is omitted, leaving a smooth end surface, that is not diagonal to the vertical plane.

[0092] In this case, the actuator button 6, with the bolt 2 secured thereto, must be raised, counter to the force of the compression spring 7.

[0093] Instead of the straight, diagonal bevels 32, rounded bevels can also be used, i.e. the diagonal line in FIG. 8 forming the bevel 32 can also be curved.

[0094] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the opposing locking contours 34 of the guide sleeve 3, wherein the same reference symbols have been used for identical components.

[0095] FIG. 10 shows the end view of the guide sleeve 3 viewed along the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 9.

[0096] It can be seen that there are two guide contours that are spaced apart axially, i.e. these two axially spaced apart surfaces 26 and 16 define the locked and unlocked states of the actuator button 6.

[0097] The detent element 26 forms the locking contour 34 shown in FIG. 10. The locking contour is substantially composed of two diametrically opposed locking lugs, also referred to as detent elements 26, and there are two opposing stop surfaces 26 in the intermediate space, which are curved, and are not part of the locking assembly.

[0098] The two spaced apart guide surfaces of the locking assembly are located in the region of the locking recess 27 accordingly.

[0099] In the locked state, the locking lugs 31 of the locking sleeve 8 bear on the detent element 26 with the locking contour 34 of the guide sleeve 3 according to FIG. 10.

[0100] When the locking lugs 31 are rotated, e.g. 90, by rotating the locking sleeve 8, these locking lugs 31 pass downward through the locking hole 27 in the axial direction, and strike the lower, base-end stop surfaces of the guide sleeve 3. At this point, the unlocked state shown in FIG. 1 has been reached.

[0101] It is thus clear that the locking mechanism with the spaced apart guide surfaces 16, 26, 34, which are formed in the region of a central bore 27 in the interior of the guide sleeve 3, is entirely integrated in the interior of the actuator button 6 in a sealed manner, such that there are no longer any components that project radially from the guide sleeve 3.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0102] 1 sealing nut [0103] 2 pin [0104] 3 guide sleeve (first) [0105] 4 sealing ring [0106] 5 sealing ring [0107] 6 actuator button [0108] 7 compression spring [0109] 8 locking sleeve [0110] 9 rod seal [0111] 10 clamp [0112] 11 mounting plate [0113] 12 guide sleeve (second of 3) [0114] 13 sliding surface [0115] 14 central bore (of 6) [0116] 15 sleeve extension (of 8) [0117] 16 stop surface (of 3) [0118] 17 central bore (of 8) [0119] 18 hole (of 8) [0120] 19 threaded bolt (of 2) [0121] 20 threaded hole (of 6) [0122] 21 blind hole [0123] 22 detent pin [0124] 23 direction of arrow [0125] 24 direction of arrow [0126] 25 longitudinal axis [0127] 26 detent element (of 3) [0128] 27 locking recess (of 3) [0129] 28 locking contour (of 8) [0130] 29 annular lip [0131] 30 curve segment [0132] 31 locking lug [0133] 32 bevel [0134] 33 locking region [0135] 34 locking contour (of 3) [0136] 35 end surface region