EP2546579B1 - Security seal mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sealing mechanism for securing a device, in particular a heat cost allocator, against attempts at manipulation.

Heat cost allocators are devices for the consumption-based calculation of heating costs. As a rule, a heat cost allocator consists of a back part, mostly made of metal, which is connected to a radiator at a defined point in a thermally conductive manner, and a front part, which contains the actual measuring device and is attached to the back part. To protect against manipulation, the heat cost allocator is sealed, which prevents unauthorized access to the inside of the heat cost allocator, in particular by removing the front part from the back part, or should only be possible through visible damage to the seal.

The heat cost allocator is usually secured with a separate seal after it has been installed on the radiator. However, this has the disadvantage that the seals have to be kept separately. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that a consumer obtains a suitable seal and reseals a device after manipulation, so that the manipulation cannot be directly detected from the outside.

The DE 28 51 122 A1 shows a heat cost allocator, the cover of which is secured by a seal at the lower end of the device. In order to protect the heat cost allocator against unauthorized dismantling, an additional screw lock is proposed that engages the head of a fastening screw of the heat cost allocator. A locking pin can be displaced to a limited extent transversely to the screw head and cannot be lost, in that the stop head of the locking pin can only be raised as far as a stop allows.

From the EP 1 688 715 A2 a sealing mechanism for a heat cost allocator with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. A seal is inserted flush into the front part of the heat cost allocator and locks it to the back part. The seal is already attached to the front part during manufacture, in that it is partially inserted into this, so that hook-like projections of the seal engage behind the contact areas of the front part. Starting from this pre-assembly position, the seal can be pushed further into the front part until the projections engage behind contact areas of the front part that are further inside. The transfer to this mounting position is irreversible.

The object of the invention is to create a sealing mechanism which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages and also offers functionality that goes beyond simply securing the device to be protected.

This object is achieved by a sealing mechanism having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and useful embodiments of the sealing mechanism according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The sealing mechanism according to the invention for securing a heat cost allocator against attempts at manipulation comprises a front part, a back part and a seal body. The front part and the seal body form a pre-assembled assembly so that the seal body is held captive on the front part. The seal body can only be transferred from a defined first position into a defined second position which is different from the defined first position and in which a securing element of the back part prevents the front part from being removed from the back part without damage. The securing element is a securing hook formed on the back of the heat cost allocator. The seal body does not come into contact with the securing element in the defined first position. In the defined second position of the seal body, a part of a securing section of the seal body opposite a contact section of the seal body comes to lie behind the securing element. The seal body can only be transferred from the defined second position into a defined third position, which is different from the first position and from the second position and in which the Securing element allows a damage-free removal of the front part. In the defined third position of the seal body, the security element comes to rest in front of a first lateral recess in a release section of the seal body, so that the seal body can be moved past the security element. In the defined third position of the seal body, a mandrel visibly protrudes from the front part. When the seal body is transferred from the defined second to the defined third position, the mandrel visibly damages the front part.

The sealing mechanism according to the invention provides a firm coupling of the seal body and the front part. In the case of a heat cost allocator, in particular the front part carrying all the metrologically relevant components or a housing part is already firmly bound to a specific seal body upon delivery. It is not possible to remove the seal body without damaging the front part, so that unauthorized subsequent sealing is prevented or is immediately recognizable. The risk of misuse of brand-new or dismantled heat cost allocators through unauthorized fitting of these devices with seals from the manufacturer for unlawful installation on radiators is significantly reduced by the principle of the invention of firmly coupling a front part to a certain seal body. This is primarily due to the fact that the number of heat cost allocators brought into circulation is balanced with the number of seals provided for this purpose. The "pre-sealed" devices leave the production facility with the seal body already functionally and mechanically connected and can thus be treated logistically (storage, transport, etc.) as one part. The provision and distribution of separate seal bodies is no longer necessary.

According to the invention, the seal body can only be moved from a defined first position, which, for example, marks the delivery state of the device, into a defined second position, which, for example, marks the regular operating state of the device, and from the defined second position only into a defined third position. which, for example, marks the unsealed state of the device. In the defined third position of the seal body, a securing element then allows the front part to be removed without damage. The defined second position of the seal body, in which prevents the securing element from being removed without damage to the front part should correspond to a sealed state of the device.

According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the seal body can assume several defined, visually distinguishable positions relative to the front part, and the transfer from one defined position to another defined position is irreversible in each case. In this way, the seal body can be used to clearly indicate different chronologically occurring (operating) states in the life cycle of the device. "Irreversible" is to be understood here as meaning that the seal body cannot be transferred to a previous position without damaging the sealing mechanism or the front part.

The sealing mechanism according to the invention preferably comprises a latching mechanism formed on the front part and on the seal body, which makes the transfer of the seal body into a defined position irreversible.

For this purpose, the latching mechanism can have at least one ramp-shaped latching projection and at least one ramp-shaped latching recess. The ramp-shaped design of the locking projection and the locking recess effectively prevents the seal body from moving back as soon as the locking projection is snapped into the locking recess.

In order to make the defined first position of the seal body clearly recognizable from the outside, it can be provided that the seal body visibly protrudes from the front part in the defined first position.

A securing section of the seal body can come to lie behind the securing element in the defined second position.

In order to make the second defined position of the seal body clearly recognizable, it can be provided that the seal body is flush with a side wall of the front part in this position. In this case, the seal body does not offer any contact surface that could stimulate pulling out of the front part.

The securing element can in particular a on the back part, for. B. be on the back of a heat cost allocator, formed safety hook behind which comes to rest a recess of the seal body in the defined third position.

If the defined third position of the seal body is to correspond to an unsealed state of the device, it is expedient that a mandrel visibly protrudes from the front part in this position so that this state can be clearly identified.

According to a further development of this aspect, the mandrel visibly damages the front part when the seal body is transferred from the defined second to the defined third position. Further (unauthorized) use of the device can thus be easily determined.

So that the seal body is held in a defined manner in the front part and can be transferred into the various defined positions without jamming or the like, the seal body is guided in a receptacle in the front part by means of at least one guide rail and at least one guide groove.

According to a first preferred use of the sealing mechanism according to the invention, the defined first position of the sealing body indicates a delivery status of the heat cost allocator.

According to a second preferred use of the sealing mechanism, the defined second position of the sealing body indicates a regular operating state of the heat cost allocator.

According to a third preferred use of the sealing mechanism, the defined third position of the sealing body indicates an unsealed state of the heat cost allocator.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht eines Vorder- und eines Rückenteils eines Heizkostenverteilers;
• Figur 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Plombenkörpers für einen erfindungsgemäßen Plombierungsmechanismus;
• Figur 3 eine Draufsicht auf den Plombenkörper aus Figur 2;
• Figur 4 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht des Plombierungsmechanismus in einer ersten Stellung;
• Figur 5 eine geschnittene Draufsicht auf den Plombierungsmechanismus in der ersten Stellung;
• Figur 6 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht des Plombierungsmechanismus in einer zweiten Stellung;
• Figur 7 eine geschnittene Draufsicht auf den Plombierungsmechanismus in der zweiten Stellung;
• Figur 8 eine weitere perspektivische Schnittansicht des Plombierungsmechanismus in der zweiten Stellung;
• Figur 9 eine perspektivische Schnittansicht des Plombierungsmechanismus in einer dritten Stellung;
• Figur 10 eine geschnittene Draufsicht auf den Plombierungsmechanismus in der dritten Stellung; und
• Figur 11 eine weitere perspektivische Schnittansicht des Plombierungsmechanismus in der dritten Stellung.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings show:

• Figure 1 a perspective sectional view of a front and a back part of a heat cost allocator;
• Figure 2 a perspective view of a seal body for a sealing mechanism according to the invention;
• Figure 3 a top view of the seal body Figure 2 ;
• Figure 4 a perspective sectional view of the sealing mechanism in a first position;
• Figure 5 a sectional plan view of the sealing mechanism in the first position;
• Figure 6 a perspective sectional view of the sealing mechanism in a second position;
• Figure 7 a sectional plan view of the sealing mechanism in the second position;
• Figure 8 a further perspective sectional view of the sealing mechanism in the second position;
• Figure 9 a perspective sectional view of the sealing mechanism in a third position;
• Figure 10 a sectional plan view of the sealing mechanism in the third position; and
• Figure 11 a further perspective sectional view of the sealing mechanism in the third position.

In Figure 1 a front part 10 and a back part 12 of an electronic heat cost allocator are shown. In the front part 10, all metrologically relevant components of the heat cost allocator are housed behind a plastic cover, while the back part 12 made of a metal with good thermal conductivity (e.g. aluminum) serves to thermally couple the heat cost allocator to the radiator.

The essentially plate-like back part 12 has two assembly openings 14 which are provided for attachment to the radiator by means of screw bolts. In principle, it is also possible to glue or weld the back part 12 to the radiator. At an upper end of the elongated A plurality of projections 16 are formed on the back part 12. A securing hook 18 with a base section 22 protruding perpendicularly from the adjoining plate section 20 of the back part 12 and an angled holding section 24 extending substantially parallel to the plate section 20 rises from the opposite lower end.

In order to protect the heat cost allocator from manipulation attempts in its operating position, a sealing mechanism is provided, which is explained in detail below. An essential part of the sealing mechanism is an elongated seal body 26 made of a very stable material, which is in the Figures 2 and 3 is shown individually. The seal body 26 has an elongated, cylindrical base body 28 and a mandrel 30 which adjoins the base body 28 concentrically in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) and has a tip 32 facing away from the base body 28. The mandrel 30 has a significantly smaller diameter than the base body 28.

The base body 28 has several recesses and can be divided into three axial sections. A first section, referred to as end section 34, has a ramp-shaped first latching recess 36 on the outer circumference and a first guide groove 38 with a base 40 spaced apart therefrom in the circumferential direction and running in the longitudinal direction of the seal body 26. The first guide groove 38 does not extend over the entire length of the end section 34, but ends in front of the free end face of the end section 34. On the diametrically opposite side of the end section 34 there is a guide groove 38 that is essentially symmetrical to the first guide groove 38 (in the Figures 2 and 3 not visible) second guide groove formed. The end face of the end section 34 opposite the free end face has a chamfered edge.

A second section of the base body 28, referred to as the release section 42, has a ramp-shaped second latching recess 44 and a first lateral recess 46, which is slightly spaced from the central axis A of the base body 28, and an adjoining second lateral recess 48 Recesses 46, 48 are oriented perpendicular to one another. The base surface 52 of the second lateral recess 48 merges steplessly into the bottom 40 of the first guide groove 38 of the end section 34. On the diametrically opposite side of the The release section 42 is a substantially symmetrical to the second lateral recess 48 (in the Figures 2 and 3 not visible) third lateral recess formed.

A third section of the base body 28, designated as securing section 54, has a ramp-shaped third latching recess 56 and a fourth lateral recess 58, which has the same orientation as the second lateral recess 48 of the release section 42. The base areas 52 and 60 of the second and fourth lateral recesses 48 and 58 merge into one another in a stepless manner. However, the fourth lateral recess 58 is delimited on one side by a contact section 62 with a contact surface 64, which represents an extension of a side wall 66 of the first guide groove 38 interrupted in the release section 42. In contrast, the opposite side wall of the first guide groove 38 is not extended in the securing section 54. On the diametrically opposite side of the securing section 54, however, there is one (in Figures 2 and 3 not visible) extension of the second guide groove of the end portion 34 is provided, including both side walls. The edge of the securing section 54 facing the mandrel 30 is chamfered.

The three ramp-shaped latching recesses 36, 44, 56 are arranged linearly one behind the other in the axial direction and are part of an irreversible latching mechanism, which will be explained later in connection with the functioning of the sealing mechanism.

As in the Figures 4 and 5 As can be seen, a receptacle made of plastic for the seal body 26 is formed in the lower part of the front part 10. The receptacle has two opposing guide rails 68, which extend from a first side wall 70 of the front part 10 transversely to its longitudinal direction, but not over the entire width of the front part 10. On a side wall 72 of the receptacle running parallel to the guide rails 68 is a Ramp-shaped latching projection 74 coordinated with latching recesses 36, 44, 56 is formed. In a second side wall 76 of the front part 10 opposite the first side wall 70, an insertion opening 78 is formed, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the seal body 26. The side of the front part facing the back part 12 10 is either open in the area of the receptacle or covered by a base which has an opening below the receptacle.

The front part 10 forms a preassembled assembly with the seal body 26, i. H. the front part 10 is supplied with an integrated seal body 26. For this purpose, the receptacle of the front part 10 is designed overall so that the seal body 26 can be pushed into the front part 10 in the axial direction through the insertion opening 78 in the second side wall 76. The ramp-shaped latching projection 74 and the ramp-shaped third latching recess 56 are matched to one another in such a way that the seal body 26 can no longer be pulled out of the front part 10 as soon as the latching projection 74 is snapped into the first latching recess 36. The seal body 26 is thus held captive on the front part 10.

In this preassembled state, the seal body 26 takes the into Figures 4 and 5 defined first position shown. The front guide rail 68 of the receptacle rests on the contact surface 64 of the seal body 26, and the rear guide rail 68 engages in the (in the Figures 4 and 5 (not visible) extension of the second guide groove of the seal body 26. The seal body 26 is thus secured against slipping in directions perpendicular to the guide rails 68.

In the first position of the seal body 26, part of the end section 34 protrudes so far from the front part 10 that this part is clearly visible. This position of the seal body 26 relative to the front part 10 characterizes the delivery state of the front part 10, in which the front part 10 is ready for assembly, the seal body 26 being irreversibly coupled to the front part 10.

In order to attach the heat cost allocator to a radiator, the back part 12 is first screwed firmly to the radiator at a predetermined point in an orientation in which the projections 16 point upwards, unless it has already been pre-assembled. The front part 10, which is matched in length and width to the back part 12, is then hung on the projections 16. For this purpose, the front part 10 has several (in Figure 1 barely noticeable) openings. The projections 16 of the back part 12 are then guided from the inside through the openings in the front part 10. With a pivoting movement, the lower end of the front part 10 is over the lower end of the back part 12 until the front part 10 comes to lie completely on the back part 12. This is possible because, during the pivoting movement, the securing hook 18 of the back part 12 does not come into contact with the seal body 26 held in the first position. The securing hook 18 then protrudes into the front part 10, as in the Figures 4 and 5 you can see.

When the heat cost allocator is mounted on the radiator and is to be put into operation, the seal body 26 is pushed so far in the axial direction into the front part 10 until the locking projection 74 snaps into the second locking recess 44, as in the Figures 6 to 8 shown. Due to the ramp-shaped design of the locking projection 74 and the second locking recess 44, it is no longer possible to move the seal body 26 back. In this defined second position of the seal body 26, the part of the securing section 54 opposite the contact section 62 comes to lie behind the securing hook 18 of the back part 12, more precisely behind its holding section 24. In this state, it is not possible to remove the front part 10 from the back part 12 without causing visible damage to the heat cost allocator. The heat cost allocator is now sealed and ready for use.

The operating state of the heat cost allocator can be seen from the outside in that the end section 34 of the seal body 26 is flush with the second side wall 76 of the front part 10.

After the end of the operating period of the heat cost allocator, it is unsealed by pushing the end section 34 of the seal body 26 in the axial direction so far into the front part 10 that the locking projection 74 comes to rest in the first locking recess 36 and the seal body 26 assumes a defined third position . This state of the sealing mechanism is in the Figures 9 to 11 shown. The ramp-shaped design of the latching projection 74 and the first latching recess 36 prevents the seal body 26 from moving back out of the third position. In the third position of the seal body 26, the securing hook 18 of the back part 12 comes to rest in front of the first lateral recess 46 of the release section 42. It is therefore possible to remove the front part 10 from the back part 12 because the seal body 26 can be moved past the securing hook 18.

When the seal body 26 is moved from the second to the third position, the spike 30 breaks through the first side wall 70 of the front part 10 with its tip 32. The unsealed state of the heat cost allocator is thus clearly recognizable.

The sealing mechanism thus provides that the sealing body 26 can assume several defined, visually distinguishable positions relative to the front part 10, to which different states of the heat cost allocator are assigned. The transfer of the seal body 26 into the individual positions can only be carried out in one direction and is irreversible. In the illustrated embodiment, the seal body 26 can only be moved from the first defined position into the second defined position and from the second defined position only into the third defined position.

However, the sealing mechanism described is not limited to use in a heat cost allocator, but can be used in other devices that are to be secured against manipulation and sealed.

Reference list

10

Front part

12

Back part

14th

Mounting holes

16

Ledges

18th

Safety hook

20th

Plate section

22nd

Base section

24

Holding section

26th

Seal body

28

Base body

30th

mandrel

32

top

34

End section

36

first locking recess

38

Guide groove

40

ground

42

Release section

44

second locking recess

46

first lateral recess

48

second lateral recess

50

Base area of the first lateral recess

52

Base area of the second lateral recess

54

Fuse section

56

third locking recess

58

fourth side recess

60

Base area of the fourth lateral recess

62

Plant section

64

Contact surface

66

Side wall of the first guide groove

68

Guide rails

70

first side wall of the front part

72

Side wall of the recording

74

Locking projection

76

second side wall of the front part

78

Insertion opening

Claims (12)

1. A security seal mechanism for safeguarding a heat cost allocator against tampering attempts, comprising
   a front part (10),
   a back part (12), and
   a seal body (26),
   the front part (10) and the seal body (26) forming a preassembled unit, so that the seal body (26) is captively held at the front part (10), and
   the seal body (26) being adapted to be transferred from a defined first position only to a defined second position, which is different from the defined first position and in which a locking element (18) of the back part (12) prevents a non-damaging removal of the front part (10) from the back part (12),
   characterized in that
   the locking element (18) is a locking hook formed on the back part (12) of the heat cost allocator,
   in that the seal body (26), when in the defined first position, does not come into contact with the locking element (18),
   in that, in the defined second position of the seal body (26), a part of a locking section (54) of the seal body (26) opposite an engagement section (62) of the seal body (26) comes to rest behind the locking element (18),
   in that the seal body (26) is adapted to be transferred from the defined second position only to a defined third position, which is different from the defined first position and the defined second position and in which the locking element (18) permits a non-damaging removal of the front part (10),
   in that in the defined third position of the seal body (26), the locking element (18) comes to rest in front of a first lateral recess (46) of a release section (42) of the seal body (26), so that the seal body (26) can be moved past the locking element (18), and
   in that in the defined third position of the seal body (26), a spike (30) visibly protrudes from the front part (10) and visibly damages the front part (10) when the seal body (26) is transferred from the defined second position to the defined third position.
2. The security seal mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal body (26) can assume a plurality of defined, visually distinguishable positions relative to the front part (10), and each transfer from one defined position to another defined position is irreversible.
3. The security seal mechanism according to claim 2, characterized by a detent mechanism which is formed on the front part (10) and on the seal body (26) and which renders the transfer of the seal body (26) to a defined position irreversible.
4. The security seal mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the detent mechanism includes at least one ramp-shaped detent projection (74) and at least one ramp-shaped detent recess (36; 44; 56).
5. The security seal mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the defined first position the seal body (26) visibly protrudes from the front part (10).
6. The security seal mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the defined second position, a locking section (54) of the seal body (26) comes to rest behind the locking element (18).
7. The security seal mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second defined position the seal body (26) is flush with a side wall (76) of the front part (10).
8. The security seal mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element is a locking hook (18) which is formed on the back part (12) and behind which a recess (46) of the seal body (26) comes to rest in the defined third position.
9. The security seal mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal body (26) is guided in a seat of the front part (10) by means of at least one guide rail (68) and at least one guide groove (38).
10. Use of a security seal mechanism according to any of claims 2 to 9 in a heat cost allocator, characterized in that the defined first position of the seal body (26) indicates a delivery condition of the heat cost allocator.
11. Use of a security seal mechanism according to any of claims 2 to 9 in a heat cost allocator, characterized in that the defined second position of the seal body (26) indicates a regular operating condition of the heat cost allocator.
12. Use of a security seal mechanism according to any of claims 2 to 9 in a heat cost allocator, characterized in that the defined third position of the seal body (26) indicates an unsealed condition of the heat cost allocator.

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