LOCKING BOLT

Abstract

A manually operated locking bolt (1) having a cylindrical, sleeve-shaped bolt guide (3) and a bolt (2), which is mounted to be axially displaced in the bolt guide (3), and which has a locking end (15) and an actuating end (31), wherein the bolt (2) is mounted to be axially displaced between a first axial end position or a second axial end position within the bolt guide (3) and can be locked, wherein at least one sensor (27) is fastened to the bolt guide (3), which sensor detects the two axial end positions of the bolt (2) as a measured variable and generates therefrom a further processable electrical signal.

Claims

1. A manually operated locking bolt having a cylindrical, sleeve-shaped bolt guide and a bolt, which is mounted to be axially displaced in the bolt guide and which has a locking end and an actuating end, wherein the bolt is mounted to be axially displaced and locked between a first axial end position and a second axial end position within the bolt guide, wherein at least one sensor is fastened to the bolt guide, which sensor detects the two axial end positions of the bolt as a measured variable and generates therefrom at least one of an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic signal, which can be further processed.

2. A locking bolt according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of an inductive and a capacitive sensor.

3. A locking bolt according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor.

4. A locking bolt according to claim 3, wherein a permanent magnet is fastened to the actuating end of the bolt, to which permanent magnet at least the sensor that can be switched magnetically is positioned at an upper end face of the bolt guide.

5. A locking bolt according to claim 4, wherein the magnet is into an underside (24) of an actuating element (23) at the actuating end (31).

6. A locking bolt according to claim 1, wherein an actuating element is magnetized in a permanently magnetic manner at the actuating end of the bolt.

7. A locking bolt according to claim 6, wherein the actuating element comprises an operating knob that is at least partially formed from a magnetic material and is produced in a sintering process and/or an injection molding process.

8. A locking bolt according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

9. A locking bolt according to claim, wherein a permanent magnet for switching the sensor is positioned in the interior space of the bolt guide and is connected in a region of a ring shoulder to the bolt that can be axially displaced.

10. A locking bolt according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is fastened in a ring-shaped sensor holder in the region of a circumferential annular groove.

11. The locking bolt of claim 5, wherein the magnet comprises a ring-shaped magnet.

12. The locking bolt of claim 5, wherein the magnet comprises a segment.

13. A locking bolt according to claim 3, wherein an actuating element is magnetized in a permanently magnetic manner at the actuating end of the bolt.

14. A locking bolt according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

15. A locking bolt according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

16. A locking bolt according to claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

17. A locking bolt according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

18. A locking bolt according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

19. A locking bolt according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in a sensor holder, which surrounds the bolt guide at least partially in an annular manner.

20. A locking bolt according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is fastened in a ring-shaped sensor holder in the region of a circumferential annular groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Subsequently, the disclosure is described in more detail using drawings which represent multiple routes of execution. In this context, the drawings and their descriptions show further characteristic and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure.

[0043] It is shown:

[0044] FIG. 1: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (1st embodiment)

[0045] FIG. 2: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (2nd embodiment)

[0046] FIG. 3: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (3rd embodiment)

[0047] FIGS. 4a, 4b: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (1st embodiment)

[0048] FIGS. 5a, 5b: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (1st embodiment)

[0049] FIG. 6: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (2nd embodiment)

[0050] FIGS. 7a, 7b: a perspective sectional view of a locking bolt (3rd embodiment)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a locking bolt 1 consisting of a bolt 2, which is guided in axial direction in a bolt guide 3. For this purpose, the bolt 2 is moved along an axis 5 and can also be rotated about this axis in the direction of rotation 6.

[0052] The bolt has a locking end 15 and an actuating end 31, which is provided in FIG. 1 with an operating knob 23. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the design of an operating knob; a lever or a locking bar or a T-handle or any other actuating element is also claimed with the present disclosure.

[0053] Via the head 23, the bolt 2 can be moved in axial direction along the axis 5 in the bolt guide 3 and can also be rotated about this axis in the direction of rotation 6.

[0054] The operating knob 23 has an underside 24, which is located opposite a contact surface 7 of the end face of the bolt guide 3. On the underside 24, the operating knob 23 has an annular groove 11 in which an annular magnet 12 is accommodated.

[0055] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the operating knob 23 is located at a distance 13 from the contact surface 7 of the bolt guide 3. The spring 28, which rests on the ring shoulder 21 of the bolt 2, is compressed between the ring shoulder and a ledge 20 inside the bolt guide 3.

[0056] Below the contact surface 7, the bolt guide 3 has a groove 26, in which a sensor element 17 is inserted. The sensor element 17 consists of a sensor holder 25 and at least one sensor 27. For example, the sensor 27 can be injected into a plastic holder.

[0057] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sensor element 17 is held in the groove 26 due to the effect of a clamping force. The clamping force is achieved by the horseshoe-shaped design of the sensor element 17, wherein the sensor element 17 is pushed onto the bolt guide in the area of the annular groove 26. However, the disclosure is not limited to the horseshoe U-shape of the sensor holder described, it is also possible to use an enclosure in the shape of a circular segment.

[0058] In addition to the option of injecting the sensor 17 into the sensor holder 25, the sensor 17 can also be inserted in the sensor holder 25, as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose, the sensor holder 25 has a mounting hole in which the sensor 27 can be inserted. For example, the fixation can also be implemented by axially inserting or mounting or closing by means of a cable tie in a detachable or permanently latching manner.

[0059] Preferably the sensor holder 25 is made of plastic material.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sensor is inserted in a decentralized manner in the sensor holder.

[0061] When the operating knob 23 with the accommodated magnet 12 is now moved in arrow direction 14 in the direction of the contact surface 7, the sensor 27 detects this approach as a measured variable and forms an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic signal, which can be processed further and subsequently evaluated. As a result, it is especially possible to determine and monitor the contact of the operating knob 23 and its underside 24 on the contact surface 7.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows the unlocking position, wherein the bolt 2 guided in the bolt guide 3 is completely inserted in the bolt guide and the locking end 15 protrudes to a maximum extent from the open end face. From this position the operating knob 23 or actuating element can be pulled, wherein the bolt 2 is pulled into the bolt guide 3 in such a way that the locking end 15 is retracted in the open end face 18 of the bolt guide and thus assumes an unlocking position. The spring 28, which rests on the ring shoulder 21 of the bolt 2, is compressed between the ring shoulder and a ledge 20 inside the bolt guide 3. In this position, the operating knob 23 and its underside 24 lie at a distance from the contact surface 7 of the bolt guide 3. The sensor 27 detects the position of the operating knob 23 as absent and accordingly does not transmit a signal.

[0063] Compared to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 differs in the position shown and also in the fact that there is no single magnet in operating knob 23. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the entire knob 23 is designed in the form of a magnetic body.

[0064] The operating knob 23, which in this embodiment does not have an annular magnet on its underside, consists at least partially of a magnetic material. For example, such a magnetic material can be used in the injection molding of the production process of the operating knob 23. The knob can also be manufactured in a sintering process, in which the magnetic particles are press-fitted.

[0065] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the sensor element 17 is located in the groove 26, which is arranged in the central area of the sleeve-like bolt guide 3. The magnet 12 for determining the position of the bolt 2 is no longer located in the knob 23 but is mounted directly on the outer circumference of the bolt 2, inside the bolt guide 3.

[0066] The magnet 12 rests on a ring shoulder 21 of the bolt 2 and can therefore be moved together with the bolt 2 in the axial direction inside the bolt guide 3.

[0067] If now the magnet 12 is moved to the sensor 27, the sensor detects the position of the magnet and can determine the current or unlocked or retracted position of the bolt 2.

[0068] The locking bolt 1 has a locking catch 4 in order to temporarily or permanently fix the operating knob 23 in a specific end position (unlocking position).

[0069] When the bolt 2 is pulled out of the bolt guide 3 against the direction of the arrow 14, the knob 23 and its underside 24 can lie on the end face of the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4. For this purpose, the knob 23 has at least one shoulder 22, which interrupts section by section a cylindrical receiving space 30. The receiving space 30 is used to accommodate the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4 when the underside of the operating knob 23 is located on the contact surface 7 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0070] The shown position of the actuating knob 23, in which the shoulder 22 rests on the sleeve-shaped detent lock, can only be released by moving the head 23 along axis 5 in opposite direction of the arrow 14. As soon as the shoulder 22 is no longer in contact with the end face of the catch 4, the knob 23 can be turned around the axis 5 until the shoulder 22 reaches a slot in the wall of the sleeve-shaped catch 4. The slot accommodates the shoulder 22, while the catch can be inserted into the receiving space 30.

[0071] As a result, the knob 23 can again be moved in arrow direction 14 in the direction of the front contact surface 7 of the bolt guide 3.

[0072] In locking bolts, which are brought into locking position by pressing the actuating element 23 of the bolt 2, a locking catch can be attained, for example by means of a J-shaped cam track. For this purpose, the actuating element 23, which in this case has a cam or nose in its interior, is brought into stop position by turning about the axis 5 following the axial stroke in direction 14, so that the stop position is maintained permanently or temporarily, if necessary, against the reset force of the spring.

[0073] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the locking bolt 1 without locking catch, wherein a query is made in the locked condition. The locking bolt 1 consists of the bolt 2, which is guided in axial direction by the bolt guide 3. The bolt 2 is moved along the axis 5 and can also be rotated about this axis in the direction of rotation 6.

[0074] In FIGS. 4a and 4b, the bolt has the locking end 15 and the actuating end 31, which is provided with an operating knob 23.

[0075] Via the head 23, the bolt 2 can be moved axially along the axis 5 in the bolt guide 3.

[0076] The operating knob 23 has an underside 24 which is located opposite the contact surface 7 of the end face of the bolt guide 3.

[0077] On the underside 24, the operating knob 23 has an annular groove in which a ring magnet can be accommodated.

[0078] In the example shown in FIG. 4a, the underside 24 of the operating knob 23 is located at a distance 13 from the contact surface 7 of the bolt guide 3. The spring 28, which rests on the ring shoulder 21 of the bolt 2, is compressed between the ring shoulder and a ledge 20 inside the bolt guide 3.

[0079] Below the contact surface 7, the bolt guide 3 has a groove 26 in which a sensor element 17 is inserted. The sensor element 17 consists of a sensor holder 25 and at least one sensor.

[0080] In the example shown in FIG. 4a, the sensor element 17 is held in the groove 26 due to the effect of a clamping force. The clamping force is achieved by the horseshoe-shaped design of the sensor element 17, wherein the sensor element 17 is pushed onto the bolt guide in the area of the annular groove 26.

[0081] When the operating knob 23 with the accommodated magnet 12 is now moved in arrow direction 14 in the direction of the contact surface 7, the sensor detects this approach as a measured variable and forms an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic signal, which can be processed further, and which can be evaluated. As shown in FIG. 4b, the contact of the operating knob 23 in particular can be determined and monitored with its underside 24 on the contact surface 7. Thus FIG. 4b shows the end position of the locking bolt when the distance 13 in FIG. 4a amounts to zero.

[0082] FIGS. 5a and 5b show the locking bolt according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, with a locking catch 4 drawn in.

[0083] The locking catch 4 is used to temporarily or permanently lock the operating knob 23 in a specific end position (unlocking position). When the bolt 2 is pulled out of the bolt guide 3 against the direction of the arrow 14, the knob 23 can lie with its underside 24 on the end face of the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4. For this purpose, the knob 23 has at least one shoulder 22, which interrupts section by section a cylindrical space 30. As shown in FIG. 5b, the receiving space 30 is used to accommodate the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4 when the underside of the operating knob 23 is located on the contact surface 7.

[0084] The position of the operating knob 23 shown, in which the shoulder 22 rests on the sleeve-shaped locking catch, can only be released by moving the head 23 along the axis 5 in opposite direction to the arrow 14. As soon as the shoulder 22 is no longer in contact with the end face of the locking catch 4, the knob 23 can be turned about the axis 5, for example by 90, until the shoulder 22 reaches a slot in the wall of the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4. The slot accommodates the shoulder 22, while the locking catch can be inserted into the receiving space 30.

[0085] As a result, the knob 23 can be moved again in arrow direction 14 in the direction of the front contact surface 7 of the bolt guide 3, as shown in FIG. 5b. This is supported by the spring 28, which acts as a return spring. According to FIG. 5b, the locking bolt 1 is in an unconfirmed position. FIG. 6 shows the locking bolt in a perspective view in accordance with FIG. 3. In this position, the slot 32 in the wall of the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4 has accommodated the shoulder 22 of the operating knob, and the locking catch 4 is inserted in the receiving space 30. The sensor 27 used here is a magnetic field sensor and the operating knob is magnetic.

[0086] FIG. 7a shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in which the sensor element 17 is located in the groove 26, which is arranged in the central area of the sleeve-like bolt guide 3. The magnet 12 for determining the position of bolt 2 is no longer located in the knob 23 but is mounted directly on the outer circumference of the bolt 2, in the interior of the bolt guide 3.

[0087] The magnet 12 rests on a ring shoulder 21 of the bolt 2 and can thus be moved together with the bolt 2 in the axial direction inside the bolt guide 3.

[0088] If now the magnet 12 is moved to the sensor element 17, it detects the position of the magnet and can determine the current or unlocked or withdrawn/unlocked position of the bolt 2.

[0089] The locking bolt 1 has a locking catch 4 in order to temporarily or permanently fix the operating knob 23 in a specific end position (unlocking position).

[0090] When the bolt 2 is pulled out of the bolt guide 3 against the direction of the arrow 14, the knob 23 with its underside 24 can lie on the end face of the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4. For this purpose, the knob 23 has at least one shoulder 22, which interrupts section by section a cylindrical receiving space 30. The receiving space 30 is used to accommodate the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4 when the underside of the operating knob 23 is located on the contact surface 7, as shown in FIG. 7b.

[0091] The position of the operating knob 23 shown, in which the shoulder 22 rests on the sleeve-shaped locking catch, can only be released by moving the head 23 along the axis 5 in opposite direction of the arrow 14. As soon as the shoulder 22 is no longer in contact with the end face of the locking catch 4, the knob 23 can be turned about the axis 5 until the shoulder 22 reaches a slot in the wall of the sleeve-shaped locking catch 4. The slot accommodates the shoulder 22, while the locking catch can be inserted into the receiving space 30.

[0092] Thus, the knob 23 can be moved again in arrow direction 14 in the direction of the front contact surface 7 of the bolt guide 3 until it assumes the end position according to FIG. 7b.

[0093] This present disclosure also claims locking bolts without the locking catch shown in the figures.