Locking Device

Abstract

A locking device having a base body, a locking means for locking the base body to a counter body, an actuation means movable relative to the base body, said actuation means being able to be brought into contact with the locking means, and at least one displacement device. Upon actuation of the actuation means, the displacement device automatically moves the actuation means into a locking position. In the locking position, the actuation means is in contact with the locking means and transfers said actuation means into a locking position.

Claims

1. Locking device (1) having a base body (11), a locking means (15) for locking the base body (11) to a counter body (4), an actuation means (10) movable relative to the base body (11), said actuation means being able to be brought into contact with the locking means (15), and at least one displacement device (2), characterised in that the displacement device (2) is connected to the actuation means (10) and to the base body (11) and in the case of actuating the actuation means (10), the actuation means automatically moves into a locking position, wherein the actuation means (10) transfers the locking means (15) into a locking position and is in contact with the locking means (15) in the locking position, wherein the displacement device (2) automatically moves the actuation means (10) into the locking position only after the actuation means has exceeded a slack point.

2. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised by a tensioning device (13), which tensions the displacement device (2) transverse to a central axis of the actuation means (10).

3. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the displacement device (2) counteracts a movement of the unactuated actuation means (10) from an unlocking position into the locking position or vice versa.

4. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the displacement device (2) has at least two plates (20, 21), which are articulatedly connected to each other.

5. Locking device (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the at least two plates (20, 21) are arranged in a self-locking manner in relation to each other in the unlocking position and/or in the locking position of the actuation means (10).

6. Locking device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the tensioning device (13) is connected to a first plate (20) connected to the base body (11) or to a second plate (21) or to a second joint (23).

7. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuation means (10) has at least one slide (12), wherein the locking means (15) is arranged in the base body (11).

8. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the base body (11) has a recess (110), into which the actuation means (10) (12) at least partially penetrates in order to transfer the locking means (15) into the locking position.

9. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised by a sealant (101) arranged on the actuation means (10), which seals the displacement device (2) in the locking position of the actuation means (10).

10. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised by a securing device (3) for securing the actuation means (10) in the locking position.

11. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the base body (11) has a through-hole (14), into which the counter body (4) can at least partially penetrate.

12. Locking device (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that the through-hole (14) constitutes a polygon and a pin (40) of the counter body (4) has a polygonal form suitable therefor.

13. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the base body (11) is connectable or integrally connected to a wheel rim or to a wheel retainer and/or the counter body (4) is connectable or integrally connected to another wheel rim or wheel retainer.

14. Locking arrangement having a locking device according to claim 1 in combination with a counter body (4), which is connectable or connected to the base body (11).

15. Locking arrangement according to claim 14, characterised in that the counter body (4) has a groove (41) into which the locking means (15) penetrates for locking.

16. Locking arrangement according to claim 15, characterised in that the counter body (4) has a mounting foot (42), from which a pin (40) protrudes, which at least partially penetrates into a through-hole (14) of the locking device (1).

17. Locking arrangement according to claim 16, characterised in that contact surfaces of a through-hole (14) to the pin (40) are configured as slide bearings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Here are shown:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a locking device according to the invention,

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a perspective depiction of a counter body,

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a side sectional view through the counter body depicted in FIG. 2,

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a side sectional view through the locking device and the counter body prior to a connection, wherein the locking device is connected to a wheel rim,

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a side sectional view through the locking device without a displacement device or counter body, wherein the locking device is connected to a wheel rim,

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the displacement device,

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view through the locking device and the counter body following a connection, wherein the locking device is connected to a wheel rim,

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the locking device, wherein the locking device is connected to a wheel rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0068] The locking device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an actuation means 10, which is in particular directly connected to a securing device 3. The securing device 3 has a securing bolt 31, a cylindrical extension 32 and an eccentric cylinder disc 30. In this regard, the cylindrical extension 32 bears the securing bolt 31. In particular, the cylindrical extension 32 has a slot into which the securing bolt 31 can be detachably introduced. The diameter of the cylindrical disc 30 can correspond to the diameter of the cylindrical extension 32.

[0069] On the side of the actuation means 10 opposite the securing device 3, the actuation means is connected via one, or as depicted by way of example in FIG. 1, four mechanical displacement device(s) 2 in the form of folding devices to a base body 11. The actuation means 10 is movable relative to the base body 11. The displacement device 2 is coupled to the base body 11 via a tensioning device 13 in the form of a spring. The tensioning device 13 exerts a force on the displacement device 2 in the direction to a centre of the base body 11, transverse to the central axis thereof. Furthermore, the actuation means 10 has protruding slides 12 on the side remote from the securing device 3, thus on the side facing the base body, in the axial direction of the actuation means, or these slides are fixedly or movably connected to the actuation means 10. The base body 11 can be connected to a first component to be connected, not shown in FIG. 1. The connection can take place integrally or detachably. The base body 11 has recesses 110, into which the slides 12 can engage in the case of actuating the actuation means 10. Naturally, the slides 12 can again exit the recess 110 in the case of unlocking. In the exemplary depiction of FIG. 1, four slides 12 are present, wherein however, only two slides 12 are graphically depicted.

[0070] The locking device depicted in FIG. 1 can be connected to a counter body 4 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. The counter body 4 has a mounting foot 42 and a pin 40 extending from the mounting foot 42. The pin 40 can be configured in a hexagonal manner in the cross-section. The mounting foot 42 can be fixedly connected to the pin 40 or forms, together with the pin, a homogenous workpiece. The mounting foot 42 has at least one through-hole 43, via which the mount foot 42 can be detachably connected to a second component to be connected, which is not shown. Naturally, an embodiment can also be realised, in which the counter body 4 is integrally connected to the second component, which is not shown. The pin 40 together with the mounting foot 42 is preferably manufactured from metal or plastics or fibre-reinforced plastics or ceramic.

[0071] The pin 40 has a circumferential groove 41, which serves to lock a subsequently explained connection process. Furthermore, the pin 40 has, on the end thereof remote from the mounting foot 42, a bevel 44 for each edge. This serves for easier introduction of the counter body 4 into the locking device 1. At least one coding bore 45 is provided in the mounting foot 42, into which a coding pin, arranged on the locking device and not shown, can be engaged. The coding bore 45 serves to ensure that in each case associated counter bodies 4 and locking devices 1 are connected to each other.

[0072] In FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, an embodiment is shown, in which the locking device 1 is connected to a wheel rim 5. In this regard, the FIGS. 4 and 5 show a state before the locking device 1 is connected to the counter body 4 and FIG. 7 shows a state, after the locking device 1 is connected to the counter body 4. FIG. 8 shows a top view on the locking device 1 connected to the wheel rim. In FIG. 6, a detailed view of the displacement device 2 is depicted with the individual components thereof.

[0073] The use of the locking device 1 is not limited to the connection to the wheel rim such that the subsequent claims are not related only to the use of the locking device 1 for wheel rims 5, but to all possible areas of use.

[0074] The base body 11 of the locking device 1 is integrally connected to the wheel rim 5, in particular a rim diameter. Naturally, an embodiment which is not shown, can also be realised, in which the base body 11 is detachably connected to the wheel rim 5 by means of, for example a screw connection. Furthermore, the mechanical connection can, for example, take place by rivets or bolts. Coding pins 111 are provided on the end of the base body 11 pointing to the counter body 4, which engage into the corresponding coding bores 45 of the counter body 4 in the case of coupling the counter body 4 to the locking device 1.

[0075] The base body 11 has a through-hole 14, into which the counter body 4 can at least partially engage, in particular the pin 40 of the counter body 4. The through-hole 14 can be configured in an octagonal manner in the cross-section. The recess 110 is provided in the radial direction adjacent to the through-hole 14, with which the slide 12 of the actuation means 10 engages. A movable locking means 15, for example in the form of a sphere is provided in the base body 11. The locking means 15 is arranged in a hole of the base body 11, wherein the hole is connected to the recess 110. The slide 12 protrudes into this recess 110, said slide being fastened to the actuation means 10 in a mechanically fixed or movable manner, or alternatively being part of the actuation means 10.

[0076] The locking means depicted in FIG. 4 is located in an unlocking position. In this position, the locking means is not in contact with the slide 12. The slide 12 has, on the end thereof pointing to the locking means 15, a conical blank 121, by means of which the locking means 15 can be compressed in the radial direction into the through-hole 14. The embodiment depicted by way of example in FIG. 4 contains four slides 12 and four locking means 15 in the form of four spheres or rollers.

[0077] As already mentioned, the actuation of the locking means 15 according to the invention takes place directly by the actuation means 10 or via the slide 12. In this regard, the design according to the invention of the actuation means 10 and slides 12 takes place in the following ways: [0078] 1. The actuation means 10 forms, together with the slide 12, a homogenous continuous workpiece or component. In this regard, the workpiece can for example be manufactured by means of casting technology, forging technology or by machining production processes. [0079] 2. The actuation means 10 and the slides 12 are manufactured in each case as separate components, which are mechanically movable or fixedly connected to each other.

[0080] The actuation means 10 has a web 100 which is circular in the cross-section. The web extends in the radial direction to the base body 11 further than the displacement device 2 such that the displacement device 2 is arranged within a space delimited by the web 100. The web 100 extends in the axial direction of the actuation means 10 such that the web is not in contact with the base body 11 when the actuation means is not actuated, thus in the unlocking position. A sealant 101 is arranged on the end of the web 100 pointing to the base body 11.

[0081] The securing device 3 has a securing pin 33, which is connected to the securing bolt 31 and the eccentric cylinder disc 30. This means that in the case of a rotation of the securing bolt 31, the eccentric cylinder disc 30 also rotates.

[0082] The displacement device 2 shown in FIG. 6 has a first plate 20, which is connected to the base body 11 depicted in FIG. 5 via a first joint 22. In this regard, the first joint 22 is arranged on a fastening plate 25, which is connected directly to the base body 11. Furthermore, the displacement device 2 has a second plate 21, which is connected to the first plate 20 via a second joint 23. The second plate 21 is connected to the actuation means 10 depicted in FIG. 5 via a third joint 24 at the end remote from the second joint 23. In this regard, the third joint 24 is directly connected to the actuation means 10 via a second fastening plate 26. The tensioning device 13 is directly connected to the first plate 20. The first and/or third joint 22, 24 can be arranged offset by 90 to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0083] Optionally to the exemplary depiction of FIG. 6, the tensioning device 13 can also be connected to the second plate 21 or to the second joint 23. Thus these arrangements also correspond to the design according to the invention.

[0084] In FIG. 7, the locking device is depicted in a position, in which the locking device is connected to the counter body 4. The counter body 4 is arranged in the through-hole. The actuation means 10 is located in a locking position, in which the slides 12 of the actuation means 10 are in contact with the locking means 15. The slides 12 compress the locking means 15 into the locking position. In this position, the locking means 15 engages into the groove 41 of the counter body 4.

[0085] The actuation means 10 is moved in the axial direction such that the sealant 101 is in contact with the base body 11. Furthermore, the securing device 3 is actuated such that a return movement of the actuation means from the locking position depicted in FIG. 7 to the unlocking position depicted in FIG. 4 is not possible. The securing bolt 31 and thus the eccentric cylinder disc 30 have been rotated proceeding from the position depicted in FIG. 4 such that the eccentric cylinder disc protrudes in the radial direction from a securing bore and abuts against a central disc such that an axial movement of the actuation means is not possible.

[0086] In FIG. 8, a top view on the locking device is shown, which is connected to the wheel rim. At least two fastening struts 50 are formed on the wheel rim 5 or screwed with the wheel rim 5. In this regard, a central disc 51 is present in the middle of the at least two fastening struts 50, in which central disc a central securing bore is arranged. The outer ends of the fastening struts 50 are fastened to the wheel rim 5. This fastening can take place by screw connections or in that the central disc 51 and the fastening struts 50, together with the wheel rim 5, form one component. The preferred material for realising these components is metal or plastics or fibre-reinforced plastics. At least one part of the conical extension 32 and the eccentric cylinder disc 30 can slide in the securing bore in the axial direction.

[0087] For applications, in which the locking device 1 must be designed so as to be rotatable with respect to the pin 40 of the counter body 4, both the through-hole 14 and the pin 40 can be configured in a round manner. In order to improve the rotatable bearing, contact surfaces can in this regard be configured between the through-hole 14 and the pin 40 as slide bearings.

[0088] Below, the connection process will be explained in detail, wherein it proceeds from the position depicted in FIG. 4, in which the locking device 1 is not connected to the counter body 4.

[0089] In the position depicted in FIG. 4, the actuation means 10 is located in the unlocking position, in which the actuation means or the slides 12 of the actuation means 10 are not in contact with the locking means 15. In the unlocking position, no automatic movement of the actuation means 10 takes place due to, for example, the component's own weight since this movement counteracts a self-locking effect between the first and second plate 20, 21 of the displacement device. In other words, the friction between the first and second plate 20, 21 is greater than the component's own weight such that no automatic movement of the actuation means 10 takes place.

[0090] Since a connection or locking between the locking device 1 and the counter body 4 is produced, the user must position the locking device 1 on the counter body, in particular up to the stop. The user must subsequently exert a force on the actuation means 10, which displaces the actuation means in the axial direction. The force must be greater than the friction force between the first and second plate 20, 21 and the spring force of the tensioning device 13 of the displacement device. In the event that this occurs, the actuation means 10 moves axially in the direction of the base body 11 and thus into the locking position. In the case of the movement of the actuation means 10, the slides 12 also automatically move in the direction of the respective locking means 15 inside the recess 110. The user can also exert the force on the cylindrical extension 32 protruding from the central disc 51 in order to effect a movement of the actuation means 10. The cylindrical extension 32 and the eccentric cylinder disc 30 move inside the securing bore.

[0091] In the case of actuating the actuation means 10, a deflection of the forces takes place through the joints 22, 23, 24. These form the movable pivot points, with which the two plates 20, 21 of the displacement device 2 are in each case connected to the base body 11 and to the actuation means 10. Thus the externally supplied force is deflected and acts against the acting spring force of the tensioning device 13. The second plates 21 are pressed down if the force externally supplied by the user on the actuating means 10 is greater than the spring force generated by the four tensioning devices 13.

[0092] In this regard, a force on the actuation means 10 must be exerted by the user until the actuation means has been moved beyond the slack point. The second joint 23 and a force engagement point of the tensioning device 13 with the first plate 20 are in the slack point in the same plane. In the case of a movement of the actuation means 10 in the axial direction, the cylindrical extension 32 and the eccentric cylinder disc 30 also simultaneously move inside the securing bore of the central disc 51 in the same direction as the actuation means 10.

[0093] After exceeding the slack point, a force exerted by the displacement device 2 on the actuation means 10 effects the actuation means 10 to automatically move into the locking position. The force substantially results from the fact that the tensioning device 13 exerts a force on the displacement device 2 directed in the direction of the centre of the base body 11. If the slack point has now been exceeded and the user further exerts a force on the actuation means, the acting forces mount up and the plates 20, 21 of the displacement devices 2 are pressed together in a V-shape and in the direction of the actuation means 10. In addition, the displacement device 2 is folded down following the exceeding of the slack point. The user does not have to exert any further force on the actuation means after exceeding the slack point in order to effect a movement of the actuation means 2 into the locking position. Naturally, the user can also further exert a force.

[0094] The first and second plate 20, 21 are again arranged in relation to each other in the locking position of the actuation means such that a self-locking effect between said plates prevents an automatic return movement, caused without an outer force effect, of the actuation means into the unlocking position. In the locking position, the slides 12 of the actuation means 10 are in contact with the respective locking means 15. In particular, the slides 12 compress the locking means 15 in the radial direction from the base body 10 into the through-hole 14. Since the counter body 4 is arranged in the through-hole 14, the locking means 15 reaches at least partially into the groove 41 of the counter body 4.

[0095] A connection and locking between the locking device 1 and the counter body 4 can be carried out by the engagement of the locking means 15 into the groove 41. Accordingly, a connection and locking between a first component can be carried out, such as for example the wheel rim, which is connected to the locking device 1 and a second component, such as for example a wheel retainer or wheel hub, which is not depicted.

[0096] In order to carry out the securing beyond the aforementioned self-locking effect such that it is ensured that the actuation means 10 does not automatically move into the unlocking position in an undesired manner, the securing device 3 can be actuated. In particular, the securing bolt 31 can be introduced into the slot of the cylindrical extension and rotated. Due to the rotation of the securing bolt 31, the eccentric cylinder disc 30 rotates such that the eccentric cylinder disc protrudes in the radial direction beyond the securing bore provided in the central disc 51. In particular, the eccentric cylinder disc 30 is positioned below the inner side of the central disc 51, whereby the eccentric cylinder disc rests on the inner side of the central disc 51. This leads to the blocking of the entire locking mechanism in the locking position.

[0097] In addition, the sealant 101 arranged on the web 100 is in contact with the base body 11 in the locking position of the actuation means 10. A sealing of the locking device 2 is thereby achieved. In this regard, a pressing force of the sealant 101 is notably smaller than a retaining force of the displacement devices 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0098] 1 Locking device [0099] 2 Displacement device [0100] 3 Securing device [0101] 4 Counter body [0102] 5 Wheel rim [0103] 10 Actuation means [0104] 11 Base body [0105] 12 Slide [0106] 13 Tensioning device [0107] 14 Through-hole [0108] 15 Locking means [0109] 20 First plate [0110] 21 Second plate [0111] 22 First joint [0112] 23 Second joint [0113] 24 Third joint [0114] 25 First fastening plate [0115] 26 Second fastening plate [0116] 30 Eccentric cylinder disc [0117] 31 Securing bolt [0118] 32 Cylindrical extension [0119] 33 Securing pin [0120] 40 Pin [0121] 41 Groove [0122] 42 Mounting foot [0123] 43 Through-bore [0124] 44 Bevel [0125] 45 Coding bore [0126] 50 Fastening strut [0127] 51 Central disc [0128] 100 Web [0129] 101 Sealant [0130] 110 Recess [0131] 111 Coding pin [0132] 121 Conical blank