Safety locking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety locking device for interlocking a safety door, having a movable part designed for being fastened to a moving part of the safety door and having a locking element, and a stationary part designed for being fastened to a non-moving part of the safety door. The stationary part includes a receiving section having an opening for the reception of the locking element, where the locking element can be inserted into the receiving section from different insertion directions when the locking element is aligned in the insertion direction. The stationary part includes a latch selectively movable from a locking position into a release position.

Claims

1. A safety locking device for interlocking a safety door, the safety locking device comprising: a movable part designed for being fastened to a moving part of the safety door, the movable part having a locking element; and a stationary part designed for being fastened to a non-moving part of the safety door, wherein the stationary part comprises a receiving section, the receiving section comprising an opening for the reception of the locking element, wherein the locking element can be inserted into the receiving section from different insertion directions, the stationary part further comprises a latch, the latch being selectively movable from a locking position into a release position, wherein the locking element cannot be withdrawn from the receiving section when the latch is in the locking position and wherein the locking element can be withdrawn from the receiving section when the latch is in the release position, and wherein the locking element is secured in the locking position aligned in one of a plurality of different locking directions and Wherein the different locking directions comprise directions which together form a continuous angular range of at least 90°.

2. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the different locking directions comprise directions which together form a continuous angular range of at least 180°.

3. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the different insertion directions comprise directions which together form a continuous angular range of one of at least 90° and at least 180°.

4. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the receiving section and/or the opening are formed between a main piece of the stationary part and a counter piece of the stationary part.

5. The safety locking device of claim 4, wherein the receiving section is bordered by two parallel walls, a first wall being of the main piece and a second wall being of the counter piece.

6. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a continuous angular range around the latch of at least 180°.

7. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the latch is rotationally symmetric.

8. The safety locking device of claim 7, wherein an end region of the latch is spherical or ball-shaped.

9. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein in the release position, the latch protrudes into the receiving section.

10. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein in the release position, the latch is spring-loaded.

11. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the stationary part at least partly has a half-circular cross section in a top view.

12. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking element protrudes from a holding element of the movable part, the holding element being adapted to be fastened to the moving part of the safety door.

13. The safety locking device of claim 12, wherein the locking element is tongue-shaped.

14. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a through-hole, wherein in the locking position the latch at least partly protrudes into or through the through-hole.

15. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the stationary part comprises a catch which is adapted to provisionally secure the locking element when the locking element is in the receiving section.

16. The safety locking device of claim 15, wherein the catch is spring-loaded.

17. The safety locking device of claim 16, wherein the force exerted on the catch by a spring is adjustable.

18. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises guiding means for interaction with the latch.

19. The safety locking device of claim 18, wherein the guiding means are formed by at east one of funnel-like trenches and C-shaped outer walls.

20. The safety locking device of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a transponder, and the stationary part comprises a reading device for detecting the transponder.

21. A safety locking system, comprising: a safety locking device for interlocking a safety door, the safety locking device having a movable part having a locking element, and a stationary part designed for being fastened to a non-moving part of the safety door, wherein the stationary part comprises a receiving section, the receiving section comprising an opening for the reception of the locking element, wherein the locking element can be inserted into the receiving section from different insertion directions, wherein the stationary part further comprises a latch, the latch being selectively movable from a locking position into a release position, wherein the locking element cannot be withdrawn from the receiving section when the latch is in the locking position and wherein the locking element can be withdrawn from the receiving section when the latch is in the release position, and wherein the locking element is secured in the locking position aligned in one of a plurality of different locking directions and wherein the different locking directions comprise directions which together form a continuous angular range of at least 90°, wherein the safety door has a movable wing and a stationary frame, wherein the stationary part of the safety locking device is fastened to the stationary frame and the movable part of the safety locking device is fastened to the moveable wing of the safety door, and wherein the locking element of the movable part is inserted into the receiving section of the stationary part when the safety door is closed.

22. The safety locking device of claim 1, further comprising an electric actuator for selectively moving the latch.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained in the following in detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the Figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a safety locking device;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the safety locking device of FIG. 1 in a side view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the safety locking device of FIG. 1 in a top view;

(5) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B shows the safety locking device of FIG. 1 with the movable part secured in the stationary part in a side view (FIG. 4A) and in a perspective view (FIG. 4B);

(6) FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C shows three different directions for inserting the locking element into the stationary part in a top view;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a safety locking device in a perspective view;

(8) FIG. 7 shows the movable part of the second embodiment in more detail in a perspective view;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the movable part of a third embodiment of a safety locking device in a perspective view;

(10) FIGS. 9A and 9B shows a fourth embodiment of a safety locking device in two different perspective views (FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B); and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of a safety locking device in a perspective view.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a safety locking device 10. The safety locking device comprises a stationary part 12 and a movable part 14. The stationary part 12 is fastened to a frame of a safety door (not shown), whereas the movable part 14 is fastened to a pivoting door wing of the safety door (not shown).

(13) The stationary part 12 comprises a housing 16 which comprises a half-circle outer contour. The stationary part 12 comprises a main piece 18 and a counter piece 20. The main piece 18 and the counter piece 20 are connected via a connection section 22.

(14) Between the main piece 18 and the counter piece 20 an opening 24 is defined, wherein between the main piece 18, the counter piece 20 and within the opening 24 a receiving section 26 is formed. The receiving section 26 is bordered by a first wall 28 of the main piece 18 and a second wall 30 of the counter piece 20. The first wall 28 and the second wall 30 each transition into a chamfered edge 32.

(15) From the first wall 28 a latch 34 protrudes into the receiving section 26, wherein a ball-shaped part of the latch 34 protrudes into the receiving section 26.

(16) Both the main piece 18 and the counter piece 20 comprise a pair of mounting holes 36 (only one of each pair is visible in FIG. 1).

(17) The main piece 18 further comprises a manual release 38 which can be operated using a key or a special key (both not shown). Below the manual release 38, the main piece 18 comprises three status-LEDs 40 which indicate an operation status of the safety locking device 10.

(18) At an end opposite to the counter piece 20, the main piece 18 comprises an electrical connector 42 for the transmission of electrical energy to the stationary part 12 and for the control of the safety locking device 10.

(19) The movable part 14 comprises a holding element 44, which comprises two mounting holes 36. Through the mounting holes 36 to screws 46 extend such that the movable part 14 can be attached to the door wing using the screws 46.

(20) From the holding element 44 a locking element 48 extends, wherein the locking element 48 is connected to the holding element 44 via an elastic element 50. The locking element 48 is formed tongue-like and comprises an approximately rectangular square section. The locking element 48 is thinner than the holding element 44. Through the locking element 48 a circular through-hole 52 extends, wherein the diameter of the through-hole 52 is adapted to or corresponds to the diameter of the latch 34.

(21) The two arrows depicted in FIG. 1 indicate an insertion direction I in which the locking element 48 is inserted into the receiving section 26. Once the locking element 48 is secured in the receiving section 26, i.e. when the latch 34 extends through the through-hole 52, then the alignment of the locking element 48 will still be in the same direction as depicted in FIG. 1. Consequently, a locking direction L is (in FIG. 1) identical to the insertion direction I.

(22) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the safety locking device of FIG. 1 in a side view and in a top view, respectively. It is apparent from FIG. 3 that the locking element 48 comprises three outer walls that each comprise a C-shape 54. The C-shapes 54 can interact with the latch 34 and center the locking element 48 with respect to the latch 34 when the locking element 48 is introduced into the receiving section 26. The C-shapes 54 therefore provide that the latch 34 can be reliably introduced into the through-hole 52 of the locking element 48.

(23) In FIG. 3 different possible insertion directions I are shown. The insertion directions I at the same time are also locking directions L. In other words, the locking element 48 can be introduced in the shown insertion directions I and can also be secured in the stationary part 12 in the same direction, i.e. in the corresponding locking direction L. As is apparent, the insertion directions I and the locking directions L both comprise a continuous angular range of at least 180°.

(24) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show the safety locking device 10 of FIG. 1 in a state in which the locking element 48 is secured in the receiving section 26. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the latch 34 partially protrudes into the through-hole 52. Alternatively, the latch 34 could also fully extend through the through-hole 52. The corresponding locking directions L are shown.

(25) FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show different possible insertion directions I in a top view. As compared to FIG. 3 the insertion direction I of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B has been rotated by 90°. In FIG. 5C the insertion direction I has been rotated by 45°. It has to be noted that in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5C the insertion direction I and the locking direction L are identical. However, FIG. 5B shows a “sideways” insertion of the locking element 48 into the receiving section 26. In FIG. 5B the insertion direction I and the locking direction L are perpendicular to each other.

(26) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the safety locking device 10. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the locking element 48 does not comprise C-shapes 54. Instead, the locking element 48 comprises three trenches 56 on its upper side and on its bottom side. Each trench 56 is formed funnel-like and extends away from the through-hole 52, wherein each trench 56 widens with increasing distance to the through-hole 52. The three trenches 56 of each side (upper side and bottom side) extend in directions which each differ by about 90°. The trenches 56 are bordered by guiding walls 58 which also extend from the through-hole 52.

(27) Alternatively to an embodiment of the locking element 48 comprising either C-shapes 54 or trenches 56, also a combination of C-shapes 54 and trenches 56 is possible.

(28) The movable part 14 and its locking element 48 are shown in more detail in FIG. 7.

(29) A third embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, wherein only the movable part 14 is depicted. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the locking element 48 does not comprise C-shapes 54. Also, the locking element 48 comprises a through-hole 52 in the form of a slotted hole 60. The slotted hole 60 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the locking direction L. Alternatively, a slotted hole 60 which is formed parallel to the locking direction L would be possible.

(30) FIGS. 9A and 9B show a fourth embodiment of a safety locking device 10, wherein only the stationary part 12 is depicted. The stationary part 12 of the fourth embodiment differs from the first to third embodiment in that a catch 62 protrudes from the second wall 30 into the receiving section 26. The catch 62 comprises a half-circular end which is designed to snap into the through-hole 52 of the locking element 48 to provisionally secure the locking element 48 in the receiving section 26. For this purpose the catch 62 is spring-loaded (spring not shown).

(31) To “completely” secure the locking element 48 in the receiving section 26, the latch 34 can protrude from the first wall 28 into the receiving section 26, wherein the latch 34 protrudes into the through-hole 52. The latch 34 can abut against the catch 62, as is shown in FIG. 10. The latch 34 of FIG. 10 comprises a cylindrical form having a flat end face, or can comprise a concave end face which is adapted to the form of the catch 62 (not shown).

(32) FIG. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of a safety locking device 10, wherein only the stationary part 12 is depicted. The stationary part 12 of the fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that an adjusting screw 64 extends from the counter piece 20 such that the counter piece 20 is arranged between the adjusting screw 64 and the part of the catch 62 which protrudes into the receiving section 26.

(33) The adjusting screw 64 is adapted to adjust the strength of the spring-load of the catch 62. Thereby, the strength that is necessary to remove the provisionally secured locking element 48 from the receiving section 26 can be varied.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(34) 10 safety locking device 12 stationary part 14 movable part 16 housing 18 main piece 20 counter piece 22 connection section 24 opening 26 receiving section 28 first wall 30 second wall 32 chamfered edge 34 latch 36 mounting holes 38 manual release 40 status-LED 42 electrical connector 44 holding element 46 screw 48 locking element 50 elastic element 52 through-hole 54 C-shape 56 trench 58 guiding wall 60 slotted hole 62 catch 64 adjusting screw I insertion direction L locking direction