EP1851403A1

EP1851403A1 - Turning knob with lock

Info

Publication number: EP1851403A1
Application number: EP06708137A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrice Thizon; Bernard Desaphie
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2005-02-24
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2007-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-09
Also published as: FR2882463B1; ATE427401T1; BRPI0608308A2; WO2006089844A1; US20080141744A1; FR2882463A1; CN101120148A; CA2597776A1; CY1109193T1; KR20070104937A; MX2007009080A; PL1851403T3; JP2008532217A; JP4593634B2; EP1851403B1; ES2324797T3; AU2006217995A1; AU2006217995B2; KR101061677B1; DE602006006032D1

Abstract

The knob has a body to house a barrel (11) rotating with respect to a stator (14) with lateral openings (143a). The body has an internal cylindrical sleeve on which the stator is positioned. The sleeve has identical slots to position the stator that has identical complementary splines (140). The slots cooperate with the corresponding complementary splines to choose the position of the stator with respect to the body.

Description

Lock knob

The present invention relates to a lock rotary knob comprising a body in which are housed a stator, a cylinder or rotor controlled by a key and a control part adapted to switch contacts of an electrical block.

A lock knob is used to establish a prolonged or fugitive electrical contact to activate a process. In the case where the electrical contact is prolonged, the rotary knob has several positions and may allow one or more key withdrawals. On the other hand, in the case where the electrical contact is fugitive, the rotary knob generally allows only one key withdrawal.

When the lock knob is in position and allows multiple key withdrawals, it may be necessary to be able to provide the customer with identical buttons in which the key withdrawals do not all occur in the same position. In order to reduce manufacturing costs and to limit difficulties during assembly, it may be advantageous to use the same stator to obtain different combinations of key withdrawals.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a lockable rotary knob in which it is possible to obtain, from the same stator, different combinations of key withdrawals.

This object is achieved by a latch key for electric circuit comprising a body adapted to house a barrel rotating relative to a stator, said barrel comprising flakes, receiving a key that can rotate at least two functional positions maintained or fugitive and having at one of its ends a tail operable by rotation of said key. Said button is characterized in that,

the body has an internal cylindrical sleeve on which the stator is positioned,

the inner sleeve has a plurality of identical stator positioning members, each member for positioning the inner sleeve being complementary to a corresponding positioning member of the stator, so as to be able to choose the position of the stator with respect to the body.

According to the invention, it is therefore possible to choose the position of the stator in the body, therefore the position of the lateral opening of the stator relative to the body and that in which the key may be withdrawn. The positioning members of the sleeve and the stator are complementary and comprise for example identical slots formed on a flange of one end of the inner sleeve and a ring of complementary grooves formed at one end of the stator. The slots at the end of the sleeve are therefore plugged into the corresponding grooves of the stator.

According to a first embodiment, the stator has two diametrically opposite lateral openings.

According to a second embodiment, the stator has six diametrically opposite lateral openings.

In a knob turning a quarter turn, it is possible to obtain from these two embodiments of the stator, one, two or three key withdrawals at different positions and propose all combinations of key withdrawals.

According to one feature, the body of the button has a flared portion provided with an outer collar, a bowl defined between said collar and the inner sleeve being adapted to receive a coil spring biasing a ring of sensitivity movable in translation.

According to another feature, the button also comprises a lock cover housed in the body and secured to the barrel, said lock cover having teeth adapted to cooperate with cam shapes formed on the sensitivity ring.

According to another feature, the sensitivity ring is adapted to be temporarily connected to the stator by means of latching means. Such a feature makes it easy to assemble the button, especially when the button is made automatically using machines.

According to another feature, the latching means comprise at least two lugs formed on the side wall of the stator and the ring is held in abutment against a shoulder formed on the stator by means of lugs resting on a collar formed on the ring. When mounting the button, it comes to undress the stator ring by exerting pressure on it. The latching means are therefore used temporarily and must not interfere with the normal operation of the rotary knob. Other means for securing the sensitivity ring on the stator can be envisaged.

According to an alternative embodiment of the button, the bowl defined above is adapted to receive a torsion spring urging the barrel during its rotation. It is in this case a revolving button said reminder can take two positions, one of which is fugitive. Such a button does not have a sensitivity ring and uses a stator having two diametrically opposite lateral openings so as to allow only one key withdrawal.

Other features and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a lock knob according to the invention.

- Figure 2 shows, in perspective and exploded, the lock knob according to the invention.

- Figure 3 shows, in top view, the lock knob according to the invention.

- Figures 4A to 4C show, according to the longitudinal sections A-A, B-B and C-C defined in Figure 3, the lock knob according to the invention.

- Figures 5A and 5B show, in perspective, two embodiments of a stator used in the lock button according to the invention.

- Figure 5C shows a detail D2 of the stator shown in Figure 5A.

Figure 6 shows, in perspective, a stator of Figure 5A in which is inserted a key cylinder.

Figure 7A shows, in perspective, the body of the lock knob according to the invention.

Figure 7B shows, in perspective, the sensitivity ring.

- Figure 7C shows, in perspective, the control part. Figure 7D shows, in perspective, the lock cover.

- Figures 8A to 8G shows, from above and in cross section, the different combinations of key withdrawals.

- Figures 9A to 9F show different assembly steps of the lock knob according to the invention.

- Figure 10 shows, in perspective and exploded, an alternative embodiment of the lock button according to the invention.

FIG. 11 shows, in plan view, the lockable rotary knob according to the embodiment variant of FIG. 10. FIGS. 12A and 12B show the cuts along AA and BB defined in FIG. 12 of the lock button illustrated in FIG.

The lock knob illustrated in the figures is a button 1, 1 "operated with a key 2 rotating in a barrel 11. This button 1 has a body 10 having the shape of a tubular piece of revolution about an axis X. It is intended to be fixed in an opening in a panel or a wall for example by means of a usual mounting base (see patent application EP 889 564). the base is mounted at least one switch electrical block, the assembly of each electrical block to the base being effected by hooking means such as those described in patent WO 97/28552. The barrel 11 is rotatably mounted. relative to the body 10 and can take at least two functional positions maintained or fugitive.

In the remainder of the description, the use of the terms "axial", "axially", "coaxial" or "transverse" are defined with respect to the aforementioned axis X.

Similarly, the terms "up", "down", "upper", "lower", "above", "below" or equivalent terms of meaning must be understood in relation to the above-mentioned X-axis when it is vertical.

Figures 1 to 9F show a knob 1 turning lock that can take at least two maintained positions.

The body 10 of this button 1 has an upper part 10a flared and a lower part 10b narrower control.

The lower part 10b of the body 10 comprises forms 100 of slides (FIG. 7A) for guiding sliders 12 which, during the rotation of the key 2 and therefore of the barrel 11, move in translation along the X axis under the action of a control part 13.

The flared upper portion 10a is provided with a cylindrical upper flange 101, and an internal flange concentric with the outer flange, having the shape of a sleeve 102 defining an axial central opening 103 (FIG. 9A). The outer collar 101 and the sleeve 102 define between them a bowl 104. The upper edge of the inner sleeve 102 has a plurality of identical slots 105 (FIG. 7A) standing parallel to the axis X. These slots 105 are intended to position a stator 14a, 14b provided with complementary identical grooves 140. The slots 105 are inserted into the recesses formed by the grooves 140 of the stator. According to a first variant embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the stator 14a is in the form of a piece of revolution coaxially mounted in the button 1. The stator 14a has a substantially cylindrical upper part and a cylindrical but diameter lower part. lower, defining between them a shoulder 141 transverse annular (Figure 8A). Two diametrically opposite flats 142 are formed on the outer surface of the upper portion of the stator 14a. Between these two flats 142, the lateral surface of the upper part of the stator 14a comprises six identical openings 143a, diametrically opposed. At its lower part, the stator 14a has a fluted crown, whose grooves 140 are oriented longitudinally along the X axis. These flutes 140 are complementary to the crenellations 105 formed on the upper flange of the internal sleeve 102 of the body 10 and are intended to cooperate with them. The crenellations 105 and the corresponding grooves 140 form positioning members of the stator 14a on the body 10.

The stator 14b according to the second embodiment variant, represented in FIG. 5B, differs from that described above by the fact that:

- It simply has two side openings 143b diametrically opposed.

- It does not have flats on the lateral surface of its upper part.

In the rest of the description, we will use the reference "14" to refer to the two stator variants. It will be necessary to understand this description as well as the corresponding FIGS. 1 to 9F as being applicable to both embodiments of the stator.

The bowl 104 defined between the flange 101 and the inner sleeve 102 of the body 10 houses a helical compression spring 15 applied firstly to the bottom of the bowl 104 and secondly against a ring 16 of sensitivity (FIGS. 2 and 7B). ) the body 10 has on the inner surface of its upper portion 10a two diametrically opposed slides 106 (Figures 4B and 7A) in which the sensitivity ring 16 is slidable according to the X axis when requested. To slide axially against the slideways of the body, the sensitivity ring 16 has notches 160 or other similar shapes recessed or raised (Figure 7B). The sensitivity ring 16 also comprises actuating cam shapes 161 consisting of slopes and notches corresponding to the desired functional positions of the button 1.

The sensitivity ring 16 is urged in translation by a lock cover 17 (FIG. 7D) having the shape of a part of revolution inserted axially between the stator 14. and the upper part 10a of the body 10. The lock cover 17 has an upper flange defining a transverse annular shoulder 170 through which it rests on the upper flange of the body 10 of the button 1 (Figures 4A to 4C). This lock cover 17 follows the cam shapes 161 provided on the sensitivity ring 16 by means of two teeth 171 at the bevelled end, diametrically opposite, extending downwards, along the axis X (FIG. 4A and 7D). Close to its upper end, the lock cover 17 has on its inner surface projections 172 forming transverse surfaces intended to form supports for a head 11a of the barrel 11. The two flats 142 formed on the outer surface of the stator 14 allow to avoid that the burr of the joint plane resulting from the manufacture of the stator does not interfere with the rotation of the lock cover 17 in the body 10 of the button.

The head 11a of the barrel 11 bears against the protrusions 172 of the lock cover 17 and engages therewith in such a manner as to rotate the barrel 11 and the lock cover 17 in rotation. The barrel head 11a is extended in accordance with FIG. X axis by an intermediate portion 11b having flakes 110 (Figure 6) forming the lock mechanism. When these flakes 110 are in relation to a lateral opening 143a, 143b of the stator 14, the removal of the key 2 from the barrel 11 is possible. During this withdrawal of key 2, the straws 110 out of the barrel and protrude into the opening of the stator 14 which faces them. The barrel 11 can no longer rotate in the stator 14. The flakes 110 are each associated with a spring (not shown) which, when removing the key 2, brings them outwards. When the key 2 is inserted, the notches on the key pull the flakes 110 towards the inside of the stator 14. Once the key 2 is pushed into the barrel 11, the flakes 110 no longer project through the key 11. opening of the stator, which allows the rotation of the barrel 11 in the stator 14. The lock cover 17 has a notch 174 for receiving an index 19 (Figure 2) allowing a user to locate the position of the button 1. Glitter 110 protrude from the barrel 11 for example at the opposite of this index 19 (Figure 6).

The intermediate portion 11b of the barrel 11 is extended by a centering surface 11c in the central opening 103 formed by the sleeve 102, which is applied against the inner face of the sleeve 102 of the body 10 and which has an annular groove or shoulder to receive a lip seal 18 ensuring a good seal with the inner face of the sleeve 102. The barrel 11 ends with a shank 11d intended to snap into the control part 13 by means of riddling shapes 111 (Figure 6) on which engage respective shapes of the control part 13 (Figures 4A and 4B). The tail 11d of the barrel also has indexing forms, for example square, to engage in rotation the control part 13. To limit the rotation of the barrel 11, the lock cover 17 integral with the barrel 11 comprises two lateral tabs 173 (FIGS. 4C and 7D), axial and diametrically opposite, in relief on its outer surface, rotating relative to the inner surface of the collar 101 of the body 10, between two stops formed on this inner surface. The rotational movement of the barrel 11 is for example a quarter turn. The engagement of the barrel 11 in the lock cover 17 is made so that the flakes 110 of the lock cover are opposite one of the tabs 173 of the side of the lock cover 17.

The control part 13 (FIG. 7C) has the shape of a tubular piece having at its upper part a centering surface 130 in the opening 103 defined by the internal sleeve 102 of the body 10 and at its lower part of the forms 131 of cam to actuate the sliders 12. It also has an internal sleeve 132 of square and constant cross section in which is inserted the tail 11d of the barrel 11 (Figures 4A to 4C). Ratchet shapes 133 are provided on the inner surface of this sleeve to cooperate with the corresponding snap-fastening shapes 111 of the tail 11d of the barrel 11. The control part 13 further comprises a coaxial outer cylindrical skirt 135 having a rim lower whose contour defines the cam shapes 131. The skirt 135 forms with the centering surface 130 an annular shoulder 134 defining a transverse surface vis-à-vis the lower flange of the sleeve 102 of the internal body 10.

According to the invention, the stator 14 also has between its upper part and its lower part of the latching means of the ring 16 of sensitivity (Figures 5A to 5C). When the button 1 is assembled, the sensitivity ring 16 is axially snapped onto the stator 14. These latching means comprise at least two diametrically opposite lugs 144 (FIG. 5C) formed on the side wall of the stator 14, above grooves 140. The sensitivity ring 16 comprises an internal flange 162 defining a lower transverse annular surface against which the lugs 144 engage and engages between said lugs 144 and the annular shoulder 141 defined between the upper and lower portion. the lower part of the stator 14.

With reference to FIGS. 9A to 9F, the assembly of the button 1 occurs as follows:

In the body of the button 1, the helical spring 15 is first placed in the bowl 104 defined between the inner sleeve 102 and the outer collar 101 (FIG. 9A). Then, as explained above, the temporary clipping of the sensitivity ring 16 is carried out on the stator 14 (FIGS. 9B and 9C). The lock cover 17 is then placed around the stator 14 so that its teeth 171 cooperate with the cam shapes 161 provided on the sensitivity ring 16 (FIG. 9D). The cache subassembly lock / stator / sensitivity ring is then inserted along the X axis in the body 10 of the button 1 so that the splines 140 of the stator 14 cooperate with the corresponding slots 105 formed on the upper flange of the inner sleeve 102 of the body 10 of the button 1 (Figure 9E). Then, it comes to undress the ring 16 of sensitivity by pressing the lock cover 17 inwardly of the body 10 of the button 1 (Figure 9F). The sensitivity ring 16 disengaged from the stator 14 thus compresses the spring 15. The upper end of the spring 15 is then in abutment against the annular surface defined by the flange 162 of the internal ring 16 of sensitivity. The cylinder 11 and the other parts, such as the control part 13, can then be inserted to finalize the mounting of the product. The barrel 11 is engaged with the lock cover 17 so as to engage it during the rotation of the key 2. The barrel 11 is positioned so that its flakes 110 are opposite the one of the tabs 173 of the side of the lock cover 17.

Figures 8A-8G show in cross-section, a lockable knob with one or other of the stators 14a, 14b taking different positions to provide different combinations of key withdrawals. The cross section is made on the button at the top of the stator.

Referring to Figures 8A-8G, depending on the position of the stator 14 and the number of side openings 143a, 143b thereof, it is possible to obtain different combinations of key withdrawals. The position of the stator 14 with respect to the flakes 110 of the barrel 11 and thus of the lock cover 17 determines the position of the key withdrawals and, if the stator has several lateral openings, the possible number of key withdrawals.

In FIGS. 8A to 8D, a stator 14a is used according to the first embodiment, provided with six lateral openings 143a. The barrel 11 has a rotational movement of a quarter turn symbolized by the arrow in Figure 8A. In FIG. 8A, it will be noted that on the rotational path of the barrel 11, the flakes can be positioned opposite three lateral openings 143a. The removal of the key 2 is possible in the center (C), left (G) and right (D). In FIG. 8B, however, it will be noted that on the rotational path of the barrel 11, the flakes 110 can only be positioned opposite two lateral openings. The removal of the key 2 is possible in the center (C) and on the right (D). In FIG. 8C, the removal of the key 2 is possible in the center (C) and on the left (G) and in FIG. 8D, the removal of the key 2 is possible on the left (G) and on the right (D).

When using a stator 14b similar to that of the second embodiment described above, only one key withdrawal 2 is allowed (Figures 8E to 8G). next the position of this stator 14b, the removal of the key 2 may be authorized in the center (C, Figure 8E), left (G, Figure 8F) or right (D, Figure 8G).

FIGS. 10 to 12B illustrate a button 1 "turning with a lock said to return, that is to say can take two positions, one of these positions being fugitive.In this type of button V, so we use, no not a helical spring, but a torsion spring 15 'This torsion spring 15' is integral with the body 10 of the button and the lock cover 17 ', itself secured to the barrel 11. This spring 15' thus solicits the barrel During this rotation, this type of push-button does not have a sensitivity ring 16 and therefore uses a lock cover 17 'different from that used in a button with positions. teeth 171 "of this lock cover 17" is not beveled and these teeth 171 ", during rotation, are disposed between the inner surface of the body 10 and the slides 106 formed thereon (Figure 12B). The outer surface of this lock cover 17 "is therefore located opposite the internal surface of the body 10. The stator 14b used in this button 1" simply has two lateral openings 143b diametrically opposed and therefore only allows The other parts of a return button, in particular the positioning members used to position the stator in the body, are similar to those described above for a button with positions.

It is understood that one can, without departing from the scope of the invention, imagine other variants and refinements of detail and even consider the use of equivalent means.

Claims

1. Knob (1, 1 ') with a lock for electric circuit comprising a body (10) adapted to house a barrel (11) rotating relative to a stator (14), said barrel (11) comprising flakes (110) , receiving a key (2) which can rotate at least two functional positions held or fugitive and having at one of its ends a tail (11d) rotatable of said key, said button (1, l ') being characterized in that,

the body (10) has an internal cylindrical sleeve (102) on which the stator (14) is positioned,

the inner sleeve (102) has a plurality of identical stator positioning members, each positioning member of the inner sleeve (102) being complementary to a corresponding positioning member of the stator (14), so as to be able to select the position of the stator (14) relative to the body (10).

2. Button according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning members of the inner sleeve comprise identical slots (105) formed on a flange of one end of the sleeve (102) cooperating with complementary grooves (140). formed on the outer surface of the stator (14).

3. Button according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stator (14b) has two diametrically opposite lateral openings (143b), through which are able to protrude the flakes (110) of the barrel (11) during removal. of the key (2).

4. Button according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stator (14a) has six diametrically opposite lateral openings (143a), through which the flakes (110) of the barrel (11) are able to protrude during the removal of the key (2).

5. Button according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the body (10) has a flared portion provided with an outer flange (101), a bowl (104) defined between said flange (101) and the sleeve (102) being adapted to receive a helical spring (15) biasing a ring (16) translational sensitivity displaceable.

6. Button according to claim 5, characterized in that it also comprises a lock cover (17) housed in the body (10) and integral with the barrel (11), said cache- lock (17) having teeth (171) adapted to cooperate with cam shapes (161) formed on the ring (16) of sensitivity.

7. Button according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the ring (16) of sensitivity is adapted to be temporarily connected to the stator (14) by means of latching means.

8. Button according to claim 7, characterized in that the latching means comprise at least two lugs (144) formed on the side wall of the stator (14) and in that the ring (16) is held in abutment against a shoulder (141) formed on the stator (14) via the lugs (144) resting on a flange (162) formed on the ring (16).

9. Button according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body (10) has a flared portion provided with an outer collar (101), a bowl (104) defined between said collar (101) and the sleeve (102) being adapted to receive a torsion spring (15 ') urging the barrel (11) during its rotation.