EP2218851A2 - Door lever mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism (1) has a locking unit (5) with a locking projection for a door facade (2), where the projection rearwardly extends in an opposite direction. The projection locks an engagement section (6) in a locking position (Pv) against deviation in an unlocking position. The section is movable from the locking position to an intermediate position against pressurization force in a direction of a rotational axis (4) so that the section turns a working region of the projection, and a lever (3) is pivotable at the projection from the intermediate position to the unlocking position.

Description

The present invention relates to a door lever mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1. It relates to a door lever which is movable for locking or unlocking a door. Are known a wide variety of door lever mechanisms of the prior art, in which a part of the lever cooperates with a stationary relative to the door locking means, so that the lever or the door is held automatically in the locking and / or unlocking position. Particularly simple constructions envisage that the components which can be moved relative to the door are limited exclusively to the lever, so that additional movable elements are not required in order to simplify the structure of the mechanism.

From practice, the problem is known that door lever unintentionally change their position and can no longer ensure the secure locking of the door.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an easy to set up door lever mechanism that allows a simple locking or unlocking the associated door and at least the locking sufficiently safe retains. Another task is to design the mechanism from the smallest possible number of individual components.

The object is achieved by a door lever mechanism according to claim 1.

The invention is based on the recognition that a latching portion of the lever cooperates with a locking means arranged on the door, wherein the latching portion of the lever engages behind a locking projection of the locking means and is thus secured against unintentional pivoting. In order to release the lever with its latching portion of the locking means, it is according to the invention required to press the locking portion by a measure against a biasing force, wherein the direction of this force is preferably aligned perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the lever. The latching portion of the lever thereby acquires an intermediate position, from which it can subsequently be pivoted past the locking means from the intermediate position into the unlocking position.

The lever is thus moved out of the locking position only by deliberate and targeted application to an actuating force, the lever is preferably to pivot while retaining this biasing force from the intermediate position to the unlocked position, so that an unintentional force application of the lever alone not yet for unlocking of the door lever mechanism leads.

A particularly simple embodiment of the invention accordingly provides a door lever mechanism for doors, which may in particular be doors of an insulated container. The mechanism according to the invention comprises a lever, which is pivotable about a pivot axis from a locking position, in which the door is locked against opening, into an unlocking position, in which the door can be opened. Furthermore, the mechanism comprises a locking means, which cooperates in the locking position with a latching portion of the lever.

According to the invention, the locking means has a latching projection which extends to the front of the door or in the opposite direction and which blocks the latching section in the locking position against pivoting into the unlocking position. The front door front is the surface of the container bordering the container to the outside of the container.

Furthermore, the invention provides that the latching portion from the locking position against a biasing force in the direction of the lever pivot axis is movable to an intermediate position, that the latching portion leaves the effective range of the locking projection and the lever is then pivotable past the locking projection from the intermediate position to the unlocked position ,

Such a mechanism is easy to construct and advantageously consists of only a few rigid elements. In particular, such a mechanism comprises only two groups of elements (levers and its components on the one hand and stationary to the container arranged elements on the other hand), wherein all elements of a group are fixed relative to each other and rigid. Such a design is robust and low maintenance or wear.

The lever may be biased, for example by a spring mechanism or alone by a reversible slight deformation over its length so that it without counteracting Beaufschlagungskraft the locking means can not engage behind. Preferably, the biasing force pushes the lever toward or away from the door front.

Conceivable is an embodiment of the invention, according to which the lever actuates one or more Verrigelungsmechanismen, for example, are arranged at the upper and / or lower door end and, for example. In the form of hooks engage behind suitable elements on the container body to close the container. The door can also be pulled against a seal between it and the container. Advantageously, the hooks are fixed to a vertical axis, wherein the lever is coupled to this axis so that it causes by horizontal pivoting a rotation of the vertical axis and thus a locking or unlocking of the container. However, the lever is also pivotable relative to the vertical axis (in a vertical pivot plane) about the axis 4, wherein no locking or unlocking of the container itself takes place, but only the positioning of the lever relative to the locking means.

If, above or below, "locking position" or "unlocking position" is mentioned, this refers to the lever itself or its position relative to the locking means in the following sense:

Lever in the locked position: unlocking of the container not possible Lever in the unlocking position: Unlocking of the container is possible by preferably horizontal pivoting of the lever.

The actual unlocking of the door according to the embodiment described here would thus be triggered only by the fact that the lever is pivoted from the unlocking position horizontally, thereby rotating the vertical axis with the hooks arranged thereon. Conversely, the actual locking already took place in that the lever is pressed from a position (projecting from the door or the container to the front) toward the door into the unlocking position, the hooks engaging on the vertical axis with suitable elements on the container.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention in the sense of the above explanations, therefore, provides that the lever is to pivot in a preferably vertical pivot plane, which under tight spatial conditions such as when close together standing containers is easier. Typically, the pivot plane is aligned substantially parallel to the door front, wherein the lever along its pivoting movement, in particular flush with the front door front can be moved. For this purpose, it is arranged according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention in a suitable recess of the door.

In a further embodiment, the locking means expediently comprises a bead, which is formed from a first leg forming the locking projection and a second leg adjoining the first leg. The latching portion engages in the locking position in the bead, wherein in each case a leg acts as a stop against pivoting of the lever clockwise or counterclockwise. Thus, the locking means may have an example V-shaped portion, the opening facing the front door or in the opposite direction. The latching portion of the lever can engage in the locking position in this V-shaped bead and then by itself no longer move up or down parallel to the door front, since this is hindered by the legs of the V's. Only by a short movement in the direction of the front door or opposite thereto, by acting on the lever against its biasing force, the locking portion can leave the effective range of the bead of the locking means to or from this Zwischeriposition at the free ends of the legs of the V over to be moved so as to enter the unlocking position.

According to the invention, the movement from the locking position into the intermediate position takes place against a biasing force, so that this movement can not take place unintentionally or on its own. This ensures that the door remains locked as long as the latching portion of the lever does not leave the effective area of the locking means (which is configured as a bead).

In terms of a particularly simple embodiment, it is provided that the second leg of the bead extends to the front of the door and there is directly or indirectly attached to this. This second leg then serves as a solid stop that can not be overcome by the lever. The first leg adjacent to the second leg above the vertex, on the other hand, forms with the second leg the aforesaid, preferably V-shaped bead, but extends only partly in the direction of the door or in the opposite direction, so that the latching portion of the lever on the free

End of this first leg can be passed to lock or unlock the door.

Another embodiment of the invention additionally provides that the latching portion has a locking projection formed in the direction of the front door front or in the opposite direction in order to engage behind it in the locking position the locking projection of the locking means. In other words, a simple lever of the door lever mechanism according to the invention extends with the cross section of a flat rectangle along the front door front, wherein the broad sides of the rectangle are aligned parallel to the door front. Also, such a shaped locking portion of the lever is able to engage in an example V-shaped bead of the locking means when the legs of the bead extend far enough apart to include the edgewise arranged cross-sectional profile of the locking portion. However, a suitable modification of the latching section provides that this at least partially extends into the bead or is aligned in the direction of the apex of the two adjoining legs. The advantage of such an embodiment, as it is based on the figures, is in particular that the lever pulls itself into the bead as soon as the lower edge of the locking portion has passed the upper leg of the bead and the biasing force is withdrawn. The lever with its latching section is then pressed in the direction of the door front or opposite, in which case the specially shaped section of the latching section is forcibly guided along the one leg of the bead in the direction of the apex of the bead. Thus, while the flat in cross-section latching portion must be moved over its entire vertical width at the free end of the upper bead leg before the lever can engage in the bead, this is not necessary in the described deformed portion of the locking portion.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention consists in providing a recess on the latching section or a latching projection formed thereon, into which part of the latching projection can be latched in the latching position. As a result, the latching portion is additionally fixed in the locking position. If the latching section is subject to a pretensioning force to be overcome even when the locking position is fully engaged, a free edge of the locking means (in particular the free end of a limb of the bead) can engage in this recess and additionally fix the lever.

From the prior art, the problem is known that frequent opening and closing of door lever mechanisms then leads to particular wear, when relatively moving components move under the action of forces along each other or rub against each other. In the present invention, this case could occur while the latching portion is guided past the locking means so as to contact the two members. If at the same time no more urging force is exerted on the lever, this presses with the constructive preload force the lever in a preferably horizontal direction to the front door front or away. Touches the locking portion of the lever while the locking means, the two components (depending on the biasing force) are pressed against each other. If the lever is thereby further pivoted, the latching section and the locking means slide rubbing against each other, which can cause severe wear.

A particular embodiment of the invention therefore provides that the lever is movable into the unlocking position so that the latching portion or a locking projection formed thereon and the locking projection can touch each other during a first part of the pivoting movement, and that the contact with continued pivoting movement over the entire Length of the locking portion or the locking projection formed thereon is canceled at the same time to avoid punctual loads. In other words: It is structurally provided that the latching section and the locking means always have a flat or at least linear contact with one another when they touch one another. The locking portion of the lever and the locking means on the door are thus shaped relative to each other so that a pivoting movement of the lever out of the locking position out to a surface or at least line contact between latching portion and locking means (if the biasing force does not anyway means that the two Elements do not touch each other at all). Details will become apparent from the figure examples.

Conveniently, the aforementioned contact between the locking portion and a locking projection formed thereon and a leg of a bead comprising locking means. The locking means and the locking portion bounding and contacting edges are exactly parallel aligned with each other if, upon further pivoting of the locking portion of this, the effective range of the locking means leaves, so that the contact along the entire contact line breaks off at the same time, so that a point load can be avoided.

A particularly space-saving and protected against impact stress position of the door lever mechanism according to the invention can be achieved in that the lever is arranged to protect against such damage in a recess of the door. Conveniently, the mechanism is arranged in a recess of the front door front, that he does not protrude beyond the outside of the door. So a particularly good protection against unintentional operation of the lever is guaranteed.

As already mentioned above, the door lever according to the invention over the prior art is characterized as particularly advantageous if the movable relative to the door components are limited to the lever or the components firmly connected thereto.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf einen erfindungsgemäßen Türhebelmechanismus in seiner Verriegelungsposition;

Fig. 2.

den Mechanismus gemäß Fig. 1 in Entriegelungsposition und

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung B-B gemäß Fig. 1.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments. Showing:

Fig. 1

a schematic plan view of a door lever mechanism according to the invention in its locking position;

Fig. 2.

according to the mechanism Fig. 1 in unlocking position and

Fig. 3

an enlarged sectional view BB according to Fig. 1 ,

In Fig. 1 a door lever mechanism 1 is shown. It serves to lock or unlock a door 2, which should close an insulating container in the present case.

The mechanism 1 comprises a lever 3 pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis 4. The lever 3 is in Fig. 1 to be seen in the locked position P _V. In this position, the door 2 is closed and locked against opening. The lever 3 is (together with its pivot axis 4) further pivotable about a vertical axis 11, which in Fig. 1 only hinted at. On this axis 11 are (not shown) locking hook, which at the top and bottom of the door suitable locking elements on the container walls (cover part, bottom, side walls) can engage behind to close the container. By horizontally pivoting the lever 3, the door can therefore be locked or unlocked with the container.

A latching portion 6 of the lever 3 cooperates in the locking position P _V with a locking means 5, which is firmly connected to the door 2 and thus prevents free pivoting of the lever 3 initially, to prevent inadvertent unlocking of the door.

Fig. 2 shows the same mechanism in unlocking position P _E. It can be seen clearly that the lever 3 has left the effective range of the locking means 5 and has been pivoted to a level from the horizontal selected here locking position in the obliquely employed unlocking position.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of some essential components of the locking mechanism according to the invention. You can see the door 2, the one in Fig. 3 closes to the left and not shown container closes. The lever 3 according to Fig. 1 has assumed the locking position, so that the latching portion 6 cooperates with the locking means 5. The locking means 5 has a door forward front extending locking projection 7, which is engaged behind by a latching portion 6 arranged on the locking projection 9. The locking projection 7 forms part of a bead 8 which is formed by two legs 8 ', 8 ". The lower horizontal leg 8" of the bead 8 extends substantially horizontally in the direction of the door front panel, its continuation being angled there and parallel to the door front is guided and attached to this suitable.

The latching projection 9 terminates in the direction away from the container with an outer edge K ₂ . In contrast, the free end of the upper leg 8 'of the bead 8 is bounded by an edge K ₁ facing towards the container. The door lever mechanism according to the invention works in the following way:

In the in Fig. 3 Locking position shown, the locking portion 6 (and thus the lever 3) are not readily pivoted about its pivot axis 4, the in Fig. 3 is not shown and is to think in front of the drawing plane from right to left horizontally. In order to still be able to move the lever into the unlocking position, it must first be pressed with its latching section 3 by a distance in the direction of the door 2 into an intermediate position in which the edges K ₁ and K ₂ do not engage behind one another. In this case, a lever which is structurally imposed on the lever is to be overcome, which presses the lever with its latching section 6 into the bead 8.

From the (in Fig. 3 not shown) intermediate position, the locking portion 6 and thus the lever 3 can then pivot about the pivot axis 4 to unlock the door, whence the edges K ₁ and K ₂ are moved past each other.

According to the latching portion 6 is held by the structurally provided biasing force in the locked position, so it must be pressed with sufficient operating force to the door to be able to pivot it from there upwards. Once the edges K ₁ and K _{2 have passed} each other during pivoting, the actuating force on the lever 3 can be withdrawn again, so that the lever 6 give the built-in biasing force and can move back by a measure of the door 2 to the right.

In the reverse manner, the latching portion 6 of the lever 3 from the in Fig. 3 Unlocking position not shown are first pressed slightly in the direction of the container, so that the two edges K ₁ and K ₂ can pass each other. By the inventively beveled locking projection 9 of the locking portion 6, the biasing force can already be withdrawn at this time, since the locking projection 9 - the lever inherent biasing force follows - along the tapered inner leg wall of the leg 8 'into the bead 8 into pulls and while the locking position occupies. Optionally, this movement (further pivoting of the locking portion 6 down while moving to the right) can be supported by manual help on the lever 3.

On the outwardly or upwardly facing surface of the latching projection 9, a recess 10 is provided, which allows a latching of the edge K ₁ . As a result, the lever 3 is additionally stabilized in its locking position P _v .

As mentioned above, the locking portion 6 for releasing the lock must be pressed by a degree in the direction of the container, so that the edges K ₁ and K ₂ are movable past each other. In this case, the required application force can be reduced so far that the lever is pressed just far enough to the door, that the edges K ₁ and K ₂ touch each other during pivoting of the lever. Due to the inclined surfaces of the leg 8 'and the latching projection 9, the latching portion 6 can also be shifted in the direction of the door 2 by the lever 3 (without deliberate pressing in the direction of the door) in the direction of the unlocking P _{E is} pivoted. Naturally, he is thereby pressed by the structural arrangement of leg 8 'and locking projection 9 in the direction of the door until the two edges K ₁ and K ₂ touch each other. To avoid a point load at this point, which can be quite large by the inherent biasing force of the lever, the two edges are designed so that they run parallel to each other at the moment of their mutual contact along a (preferably straight) contact line, so that in this " critical "lever position at least line contact exists and wear-increasing point loads are avoided.

Another advantage of this design is that the required pivot angle is minimized, the lever must sweep over to get out of the locking in the unlocked position. On the other hand, if the edges K ₁ and K ₂ are not parallel, then the edge K ₂ (and thus the lever) must be pivoted so far about the axis 4 until the edge K _{2 has} completely moved past the edge K ₁ , which causes a larger Swing angle required. This effect is particularly advantageous if the lever is arranged in a recess of the door, and this can turn out correspondingly small at a small pivot angle. The pivoting angle is reduced particularly favorably when the contact line intersects the axis 4 in its imaginary extension.

In Fig. 3 (as well as in the Fig. 1 and 2 ) is therefore seen that the edge K _{1 of} the leg 8 'is not approximately horizontal, but slightly increases over the length L. This ensures that the latching portion 6 (if the loading force is insufficient to move the lever 6 without contact on the edge K ₁ ) at least along the line contact between the edges K ₁ and K ₂ over this "critical" lever position away is movable.

Claims (13)

Door lever mechanism (1) for doors with a door front (2), in particular insulated container doors, a) with a lever (3) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (4) from a locking position (P _V ), in which the door is locked against opening, in an unlocking position (P _E ), in which the door can be opened, is pivotable, and b) with a locking means (5), which cooperates in the locking position (P _V ) with a latching portion (6) of the lever (3),
characterized, c) that the locking means (5) to the door front (2) or in the opposite direction extending locking projection (7) which blocks the latching portion (6) in the locking position (P _V ) against pivoting in the unlocking position (P _E ) . c) wherein the latching portion (6) from the locking position (P _V ) against an urging force in the direction of the lever pivot axis (4) is movable in an intermediate position, that the latching portion (6) leaves the effective range of the locking projection (7) and the lever ( 3) is then pivotable past the locking projection (7) from the intermediate position into the unlocking position (P _E ). Door lever mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (3) in a preferably vertical pivot plane and substantially parallel to the front door front (2) is pivotable. Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means (5) comprises a bead (8) consisting of a first, the locking projection (7) forming legs (8 ', 7), and adjacent to the first leg second leg (8 ") is formed, wherein the latching portion (6) in the locking position (P _V ) in the bead (8) engages, and wherein in this position in each case a leg (8 ', 8") as a stop against pivoting of the lever (3) acts clockwise or counterclockwise. Door lever mechanism according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second leg (8 ") extends substantially perpendicular to the front (2) of the door and is directly or indirectly connected thereto. Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching portion (6) has a latching projection (9) formed in the direction of the door front or in the opposite direction so as to engage behind the locking projection (7) in the locking position (P _V ). Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching projection (9) has a recess (10) into which a part of the locking projection (7) in the locking position (P _V ) can be latched. Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized a) that the lever (3) is movable into the unlocking position (P _E ) such that the latching section (6) or a latching projection (9) formed thereon and the latching projection (7) touch each other during a first part of the pivoting movement, b) and that the contact with continued pivotal movement over the entire length (L) of the latching portion (6) or the locking projection formed thereon (9) is simultaneously lifted along a preferably straight contact line to avoid punctual loads. Door lever mechanism according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact between the latching projection (9) and a leg takes place (8 ') of a bead (8) comprising locking means (5) or is canceled. Door lever mechanism according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the imaginary extension of the contact line intersects the axis (4). Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (3) for protection against damage in a recess of the door is arranged. Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components movable relative to the door (2) are limited to the lever (3). Door lever mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (3) together with its pivot axis (4) about a pivot axis (4) not parallel, preferably vertical axis of rotation (11) is pivotable, wherein the axis of rotation (11) coupled with locking elements is to lock the door by turning the axis of rotation (11) with the container. Door lever mechanism according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lever (3) for unlocking the container door from the unlocking position by a (preferably small) amount about the axis of rotation (11) is pivotable.

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