EP2657439A1

EP2657439A1 - Locking device

Info

Publication number: EP2657439A1
Application number: EP13001757.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Domenico Bosatelli
Original assignee: Gewiss SpA
Current assignee: Gewiss SpA
Priority date: 2012-04-23
Filing date: 2013-04-05
Publication date: 2013-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-05
Also published as: CN103375459B; CN103375459A; ES2569387T3; EP2657439B1; ITMI20120672A1

Abstract

A locking device including a first member, for example a grip, that is removably connected to a second member, for example the body of an inline socket or plug, by connecting means such as a thread, and a device for locking the movement of the first member with respect to the second member; the locking device includes an actuation screw that controls the position of a bolt member that has at least two operating positions: a locking position, in which the bolt member interferes with the movement of the first member with respect to the second member, and a release position, in which the bolt member does not interfere with the movement.

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device.
The locking device according to the present invention is designed to lock the grip on the body of an inline plug or socket, or to lock a door on an electrical panel, and is in any case useful to lock a member onto another one.
As is known, an inline plug or socket, for example of the IEC309 type, has a grip that is detachably associated with the body of the socket/plug.
Statutory provisions prescribe that the use of a tool must be necessary to uncouple the two components of the socket/plug.
This operation occurs during wiring; the grip is removed in order to access the inner components and the wire connectors.
Once wiring has been performed, the grip is screwed onto the body and locked by means of a locking device.
The grip is normally associated with the body by means of a threaded connection.
Sockets/plugs are known in which, in order to lock the grip and the body, two self-threading screws are used which simply mate the two parts.
Other conventional systems are based on an elastic member, made of plastics or metal, that is present either on the body or on the grip and can be actuated by means of a screwdriver.
Systems of the conventional type have in common the fact that the operation of the locking device is difficult to deduce upon opening; a screwdriver is always used, but initially one does not know how to use it.
Another problem of systems with metal parts is constituted by the fact that the metal parts are subject to corrosion, which over time can lead to functional problems, for example compromising their opening.
Another problem caused by the use of systems with parts made of metal resides in that they can deteriorate the plastics during use.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a locking device that overcomes the drawbacks of the cited prior art.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a locking device which is easy and quick to use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device the operation of which is intuitive so that the user immediately perceives how it is to be used.
Another object is to provide a locking device in which the state of the locking or release of one member with respect to the other is defined unambiguously so as to allow the user to ascertain that he has performed the correct locking and to ensure its nominal degree of protection.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which, by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be manufactured easily by using commonly commercially available elements and materials and is also competitive from an economic standpoint.
This aim and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a locking device including a first member that is connected detachably to a second member by virtue of a connecting means, and a device for locking the movement of the first member with respect to the second member; characterized in that the locking device includes an actuation screw that controls the position of a bolt member that has at least two working positions: a locking position, in which the bolt member interferes with the movement of the first member with respect to the second member, and a release position, in which the bolt member does not interfere with the movement.
Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inline plug provided with the locking device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation view of the grip;
Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the grip;
Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale perspective view of the region of the actuation device;
Figure 5 is a lateral perspective view of the actuation device;
Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the actuation device;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rear side of the screw of the actuation device;
Figure 8 is a sectional perspective view that illustrates the actuation device without the screw;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the slider in its seat;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the screw of the actuation device, without the head, in the insertion position;
Figure 11 is a view, similar to the preceding one, illustrating the screw in the locking position;
Figure 12 is a view, similar to the preceding one, illustrating the screw in the open position;
Figure 13 is an enlarged-scale perspective view that illustrates in detail the region of the bolt of the actuation device;
Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of the grip associated with the body, illustrating in detail the region of the actuation device;
Figure 15 is another partial perspective view of the grip associated with the body, illustrating in detail the region of the actuation device;
Figure 16 is a partial perspective view of the grip, illustrating the unscrewing prevention device.

With reference to the above figures, the locking device according to the invention is described in relation to an inline socket or plug, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, and is adapted to prevent the grip 2 from unfastening from the body 3.
The locking device according to the present invention can be used in various other apparatuses in which it is necessary to fasten one member with respect to another one, both in the electrical sector and in other sectors.
With reference to the embodiment illustrated herein, the locking device according to the present invention has a fastener device which prevents the rotation of the body 3 with respect to the grip 2, wherein the grip 2 is screwed onto the body 3 by means of a thread 4.
The fastener device can be used also to lock a translational motion of one member with respect to the other or any other type of mutual movement.
In the present embodiment, the fastener device comprises an actuation screw 5 and a slider 6, which are fitted on the grip 2.
The slider 6 can move in at least two positions: a locking position, in which it engages a seat 7 arranged on an edge 8 of the body 3.
The translational motion of the slider 6 is actuated by the rotation of the screw 5, which has a head 51 provided with a notch 52 adapted to accommodate a tool such as for example a screwdriver.
The screw 5 has two working positions: a locking position, in which the notch 52 is in a vertical arrangement, shown in Figure 11, and a release position, in which the notch 52 is in a horizontal position, shown in Figure 12.
The screw 5 is accommodated in a screw seat 9 provided within the grip 2.
The screw seat 9 has a passage groove 10, an elastic positioning tooth 11, a locking retention tooth 12 and an opening retention tooth 13.
The locking retention tooth 12 interrupts the rotation of the screw 5 during locking, while the opening retention tooth 13 interrupts the rotation of the screw during release.
In this manner, the screw can rotate freely through one quarter of a turn, from the locking position to the release position and vice versa.
The passage slot 10 has the purpose of guiding the screw 5 and of positioning it in the step of assembly on the grip 2.
The elastic positioning tooth 11 has the purpose of preventing the screw from assuming intermediate positions that are not the fully locked or fully released positions, indicating acoustically, by means of a click, that the screw has been placed in one of the two positions.
Figure 10 shows the step of insertion of the screw 5 in the seat 9, which is provided with engagement teeth 14 that are shaped like a circular arc and engage guiding teeth 15 provided radially within the stem 54 of the screw 5.
The stem 54 of the screw 5 is provided with engagement teeth 16.
The screw 5 is inserted in the seat 9, making the guiding teeth 15 coincide with the passage slot 10; in this position the screw 5 is pushed so that the engagement teeth 16 pass beyond the wall of the seat 9.
After it has been inserted, the screw 5 is captive because it cannot disengage from the seat 9.
The rotation of the screw 5 actuates the translation of the slider 6 by means of an actuation pin 17 which engages a slot 18 of the slider 6.
The slider 6 is inserted in a seat 19 provided within the grip 2 in a position that lies directly behind the screw seat 9.
The slider seat 19 is obtained by using the space formed by the annular portion which is delimited by the outside and inside diameters of the grip 2.
The slider 6 slides within two lateral grooves 30, thus reducing the friction forces with the perimeter of the seat.
The two components, the screw 5 and the slider 6, are assembled by inserting the slider 6 in the slider seat 19, arranging it so that the actuation slot 18, arranged in the central region of the slider, can engage within the pin 17 of the screw 5.
The slider 6 has a bolt 20 that engages the seat 7 of the body 3.
Figures 10-12 are sectional views of the screw 5 without the head 51, so as to leave exposed the stem 54 in order to illustrate the operation of the screw.
In Figure 10, the screw 5 has an inclination of the notch of the screwdriver 52 of - 20° with respect to the vertical axis.
In order to move the notch 52 to a vertical position, the screw must move, with an effort, beyond the locking retention member 12, on the side of the inclined plane, falling into the claw-shaped tooth until it reaches the vertical position shown in Figure 11. In this position, which corresponds to the locking position, the screw cannot return to the insertion position, i.e., at -20°, because the locking retention member 12 prevents this.
By rotating the screw counterclockwise, the slider 6 slides upwards, with reference to the figures, disengaging the bolt 20 of the slider 6 from the seat 7 of the body 3.
In this step, the screw 5 has the screwdriver notch 52 in a horizontal position and the slider 6 is moved upward.
The grip 2 at this point is free to rotate with respect to the body 3, giving free access to the wiring region.
The open retention position is maintained by the interference between an indent 55 of the stem 54 of the screw and the opening retention tooth 13.
Advantageously, the actuation device can be sealed in the locking position.
The seal has the purpose of verifying whether the grip has been opened by indicating that the screw 5 has been turned.
The sealing system includes a first hole 21, provided in the grip 2, and a second hole 22, provided in the screw 5, for the passage of the sealing wire, which is not visible in the figures.
As provided in sealing means, the sealing wire ties the two components, the grip and the screw, to each other so as to prevent the translation of the slider 6.
The sealing operation is performed in the locking position, therefore with the notch 52 in vertical position.
After completing the wiring operation, the grip 2 is screwed onto the body 3.
In order to highlight the reassembly point and also the fact that the body 3 has been re-tightened on the grip 2, a geometric reference figure is provided.
Preferably, the geometric figure is constituted by the figure of a trapezoid 23 divided into two portions, a portion 231 of the body 3 and a portion 232 of the grip 2.
The trapezoid figure 23 has continuity when the position of the end of rotation between the body and the grip has been reached, and is instead discontinuous, because the two portions 231 and 232 are not aligned, when the body and grip have not ended the locking rotation.
The locking device according to the present invention has a double locking safety.
In addition to the screw device described above, the locking device includes a retainer device for preventing the unscrewing of the body 3 with respect to the grip 2 that is constituted by toothed profiles 24.
The toothed profiles 24 are provided on the grip 2 and on the body 3, and in addition to constituting the second block also indicate acoustically to the user that the stroke limit of the body 3 on the grip 2 has been reached.
In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, a locking device having been provided that is capable of locking the rotation between the grip and the body of an inline socket or plug.
Upon wiring, the grip is removed in order to access the screws and the wire seats; once wiring has been performed the grip is screwed onto the body and locked by means of the locking device.
The locking device according to the present invention is quick and simple to use.
Also, the user immediately perceives how it is to be used, because the locking/release is entrusted to a quarter-turn screw.
The position of the screw unambiguously defines the locked or released state and allows the user to ascertain that he has closed the product correctly and ensured the nominal degree of protection.
The device according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.
For example, the screw and the slider can be fitted in adapted seats provided in the body instead of in the grip of the socket/plug.
Also, the bolt member interferes with the movement of the grip with respect to the body.
It is evident for a person skilled in the art that the locking device according to the present invention can be used to lock the mutual movement of two members of various kinds and having various uses, both in the electrical field and in other fields.
The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may of course be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. MI2012A000672, filed on April 23, 2012 , the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

A locking device comprising a first member removably connected to a second member by connecting means and a fastener device for preventing a motion of said first member with respect to said second member; characterized in that said locking device comprises an actuation screw that controls the position of a bolt member that has at least two operating positions: a locking position, in which said bolt member interferes with the movement of said first member with respect to said second member, and a release position, in which said bolt member does not interfere with said movement.
The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking device comprises a slider that can slide in a slider seat formed in said first member and is actuated by said screw; said screw being arranged in a screw seat formed in said first member.
The locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in said locking position, said slider engages a seat formed at an edge of said second member; said slider performing a translational motion that is actuated by the rotation of said screw; said screw comprising an actuation pin that acts in a slot of said slider.
The locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that said screw has a head provided with a notch adapted to accommodate a tool, such as a screwdriver; said screw having two operating positions, a first locking position and a second release position; said notch being oriented at 90° between one position and the other, corresponding to a rotation of a quarter turn of said screw.
The locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that said screw seat comprises a passage groove, an elastic positioning tooth, a locking retention tooth and an opening retention tooth; said locking retention tooth interrupting the rotation of said screw during the locking step; said opening retention tooth interrupts the rotation of said screw during the release step; said passage groove guides said screw and positions it during a step of insertion of said screw in said screw seat; said elastic positioning tooth prevents the screw from assuming intermediate positions with respect to said locking and release positions, by signaling acoustically when said screw is positioned in one of said positions.
The locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that said screw seat comprises circular arc-shaped engagement teeth that engage guiding teeth formed radially in a stem of said screw, said stem is also provided with engagement teeth.
The locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that said slider is inserted into a slider seat formed in said first member in a position that is immediately behind said screw seat; said slider slides in two lateral grooves and has a bolt that is adapted to engage said seat in said second member.
The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sealing system comprising a first hole, formed in said first member, and a second hole, formed in said locking device, for the passage of a sealing wire.
The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a system for the visual inspection of the mutual positioning of said second member with respect to said first member; said visual inspection system comprising a reference geometric shape that is divided into two portions, one portion on said second member and one portion on said first member; said geometric shape being continuous when the end position of rotation between said second member and said first member is reached, while it is discontinuous, because said two portions are not aligned, when said second member and said first member have not stopped their mutual locking movement.
The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an additional safety locking device; said safety locking device comprising a device that prevents the unscrewing of said second member with respect to said first member and is constituted by toothed profiles formed on said first member and on said second member.