EP2617647B1 - Locking and unlocking system with reversible trigger means for beneficial use in actuator systems - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a locking and unlocking system according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a mechanism is known from GB491337 A known.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Actuators (actuators) have a very wide range of applications (for example industrial and plant engineering, aerospace, shipbuilding, automotive, defense technology). In most cases, actuating systems have two different main operating modes to be repeatedly commanded: "Activated" (controlled tracking of the output under load) and "Deactivated".

In the "activated" state, the control variables at the output of control systems are generally mechanical variables (for example, travel, angle, force, torque). The auxiliary power supplied to the drive of the actuating system (power converter), which can be, for example, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic, is converted into mechanical working capacity. Modern control systems, as a link between higher-level computers and the technical-physical processes to be controlled, are a powerful synthesis of mechanics, electronics and computer science. They are also referred to as mechatronic systems.

In contrast to supporting control systems in the automotive sector, where an emergency function by manual operation (for example for towing purposes) must be ensured by freewheels, is required by mechatronic control systems in the state "disabled" a defined state in which usually a rigid and backlash-free "blocking" even under the influence of all external static and dynamic operating loads. This is conventionally for example by installing additional Safety brakes, parking brakes, pawls or check valves achieved if the drive train has no self-locking properties. Special applications require at the same time the accurate and unambiguous compliance with certain positions of the drive train, ie a driving and driven side positioning, which must be strictly adhered to in the case of accidental or faulty control of the drive. This type of "locking" is often part of a safety concept in particularly critical operating phases and requires maximum reliability.

In current applications, this "locked" state is maintained for a defined period of time throughout the critical phases of operation and is then canceled on command and transferred to the "unlocked" state to enable, for example, "active" mode.

• hohe äußere Lasten am Stellsystemausgang,
• limitierte Hilfsleistung zur Ausführung der Transfervorgänge,
• sehr kurze Schaltzeiten, speziell beim Entriegeln,
• höchste Funktionszuverlässigkeit unter extremen Umweltbedingungen, insbesondere beim Entriegeln,
• passive Beibehaltung der Zustände Ver-/ Entriegelt (ohne Energiezufuhr),
• Synchronisationsmöglichkeit (zeitlich und örtlich) mit weiteren Antriebssträngen des Stellsystems.

The transition from Locked to Unlocked, and vice versa, is usually under severe conditions where:

• high external loads at the control system output,
• limited auxiliary power for carrying out the transfer processes,
• very short switching times, especially when unlocking,
• highest functional reliability under extreme environmental conditions, especially when unlocking,
• passive maintenance of the states locked / unlocked (without energy supply),
• Synchronization possibility (temporally and locally) with further drive trains of the positioning system.

The simultaneous consideration of all individual conditions leads predominantly to contradictory solutions. In order to comply with some of these conditions, a conservative design also requires technically complex and expensive solutions, which contradict the requirement for the highest possible functional reliability.

In this regard, for example, the displacement of the locking / unlocking point from the mechanical output of the control system, for example, at the entrance of a frequently existing transmission facilitating effect. As a result, although the loads to be overcome at the blocking point during the locking / unlocking process are reduced, at the same time the unwanted mechanical lots are increased towards the exit because of an unavoidable play in the kinematic chain (gearbox, linkage). In addition, all of the locking point downstream gear members are exposed undefined external loads, which can lead to increased demands on the design of the gear members. The Fig. 1 shows the connections mentioned here in connection with the construction of a control system schematically based on a block diagram.

• einer zumeist elektrischen Ansteuereinheit;
• Betätigungsorganen, in denen die nach Kommando zur Verbeziehungsweise Entriegelung bereitgestellte Hilfsenergie (hydraulisch, pneumatisch, elektrisch) in mechanische Arbeit umgesetzt wird;
• den eigentlichen mechanischen Riegelelementen;
• den "mechanischen Verbindungen" zwischen den Betätigungsorganen und den Riegelelementen;
• Sensorelementen zur Anzeige des Zustandes (zum Beispiel "Verriegelt")

In principle, known, repeatably operable locking / unlocking systems consist almost without exception of:

• a mostly electric drive unit;
• Actuators, in which the auxiliary energy (hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical) provided after command for Verbeziehungsweise unlocking is converted into mechanical work;
• the actual mechanical locking elements;
• the "mechanical connections" between the actuators and the locking elements;
• Sensor elements for displaying the status (for example "locked")

The full load working characteristics of standard actuators mostly deviate significantly from the load profiles found on the latch elements. Initially, very high release loads and subsequently very high acceleration values are typical in order to avoid undesired collisions on the locking elements in the "Active" mode. Known solutions combine oversized actuators with a control of the unlocking / locking process.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a generic locking and unlocking system in such a way that its properties meet the requirements imposed under the conditions found without a scheme and without an oversized actuator with the simplest structure almost without compromise and complete.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

In this locking and unlocking system according to the invention with reversible releasability, with at least one locking / unlocking element which is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, at least one actuating member and at least one transmission kinematics acting on the at least one locking / unlocking element, wherein the transmission kinematics are at least a kinematics member, and is configured so that it can assume at least two dead center, the transmission kinematics is formed so that it occupies a first dead center in the locked position and a second dead center in the unlocked position, and at least one of the kinematics is in at least one kinematical effective direction dimensioned so that the transmission kinematics can move beyond their respective dead center.

ADVANTAGES

The advantage of the locking and unlocking system according to the invention is that it can be realized as a so-called "off-the-shelf" solution with available standard components Unlocking operation can be unregulated, which also brings a cost advantage and also increases the reliability Components according to the invention required locking and unlocking is reduced compared to the prior art, whereby the reliability increases and the costs decrease. Another advantage of the locking and unlocking system according to the invention is that it is easily adaptable to changing requirements. The actuators and the locking elements can be mutually matched in a simple manner. In addition, the locking and unlocking system according to the invention is suitable for different technologies, for example for an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuation.

Preferably, the transmission kinematics on four kinematics members and is constructed as a four-link coupling mechanism.

It is particularly advantageous if at least two interconnected kinematics of the four-link coupling mechanism 'pass through during the movement of the locking / unlocking of the locking position in the unlocked position or from the unlocked position into the locking position an extended position or a cover layer.

According to the invention, at least one kinematics element of the transmission kinematics can be changed in a defined manner with respect to an effective kinematic dimension.

According to the invention, the defined variability of the effective kinematic dimension is brought about by a predetermined longitudinal rigidity of the kinematics member.

According to the invention, at least one stop for the kinematics member is provided which limits a movement of the kinematics member permitted by the defined variability of the kinematic effective dimension.

According to the invention, a plurality of transmission kinematics is provided, which are necessarily synchronized via at least one connecting member.

Preferably, the connecting member is mounted self-centering.

A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the transmission behavior of the kinematics can be optimally adapted to the existing load conditions during locking / unlocking by synthesizing its kinematic dimensions.

Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and other advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1

ein typisches Blockschaltbild eines Stellsystems und mögliche Positionen zum Vorsehen einer Ver-/Entriegelungsstelle;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Funktion des erfindungsgemäßen Ver- und Entriegelungssystems; und

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung einer Anwendung des erfindungsgemäßen Ver- und Entriegelungssystems in einem Flugkörperstellsystem.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a typical block diagram of a control system and possible positions for providing a lock / unlock point;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the function of the locking and unlocking system according to the invention; and

Fig. 3

a representation of an application of the locking and unlocking system according to the invention in a missile control system.

PRESENTATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Fig. 1 is a typical block diagram of a control system with possible positions for providing a lock / unlock point shown.

Fig. 2 shows in a schematic way the function of the locking and unlocking system according to the invention.

By referred to as harmonization kinematics transmission kinematic invention arbitrarily found unregulated full load characteristics of actuators can be optimally adapted to the required by the locking elements load and kinematics specifications.

Fig. 3 shows a practical application of the locking and unlocking system according to the invention in a missile positioning system. Therein, the reference numeral 2 denotes a bolt, the reference numeral 1 the bolt axis and the reference numeral 3 a central Torquer. The right diagram in Fig. 3 shows the solution concept according to the invention, wherein the reference numeral L denotes the torque ratio in breakaway area.

Claims (4)

1. Locking and unlocking system having reversible triggering, comprising

   - at least one locking/unlocking element, which is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position,

   - at least one actuation member, and

   - at least one transmission linkage which acts on the at least one locking/locking element, the transmission linkage having at least one linkage member and being formed in such a way that it can take on at least two dead-point positions,

   the transmission linkage being formed in such a way that it takes on a first dead-point position in the locking position and a second dead-point position in the unlocking position, and at least one of the linkage members being dimensioned in such a way, in at least one kinematically effective direction, that the transmission linkage can move beyond the associated dead-point position thereof,
   characterised
   in that at least one linkage member of the transmission linkage is alterable in a defined manner in terms of an effective kinematic dimension, the defined alterability of the effective kinematic dimension being brought about by a predetermined longitudinal rigidity of the linkage member, at least one stop being provided for the linkage member and delimiting a movement of the linkage member permitted by the defined alterability of the kinematically effective dimension, and a plurality of transmission linkages being provided which can be forcibly synchronised by way of at least one connection member.
2. Locking and unlocking system according to claim 1,
   characterised
   in that the transmission linkage has four linkage members and is constructed as a four-membered coupling mechanism.
3. Locking and unlocking system according to claim 2,
   characterised
   in that at least two interconnected linkage members of the four-membered coupling mechanism pass through an extended state or an overlapping state during the movement of the locking/unlocking element from the locking position into the unlocking position or from the unlocking position into the locking position.
4. Locking and unlocking system according to claim 1,
   characterised
   in that the connection member is mounted in a self-centring manner.

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