EP2843163B1 - Locking device for a partition wall element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device for a partition wall element and a method for operating a locking device after an emergency release.

In principle, it is known that partition wall elements for the separation of individual space sections, for. B. of meeting rooms in hotels, are used. To ensure that in the separating position unwanted moving away and moving the partition element is prevented, they are often equipped with locking devices. Such locking devices are in particular equipped with a motor drive device which provides a rotary drive a threaded spindle. A carriage ensures a movement of a locking element between a locking position and an opening position.

A disadvantage of known locking devices is that an emergency release, especially in case of power failure, is very expensive and slow possible. Thus, in such a case, the threaded spindle must be manually rotated to move the carriage and thus the locking element from the locked position to the open position. This rotation of the threaded spindle in a manual manner is often possible only with a special tool, which must be present at the time of emergency release actually in place. In addition, the manual rotation of the threaded spindle in an emergency release is often the Drive device, which is formed in particular in an electromotive manner, damaged or even completely destroyed. Finally, the necessary force is significantly increased by the manual rotation of the threaded spindle by the likewise coupled drive device, so that in addition to the time required and an increased force required for the emergency release is available.

Generic locking devices are made, for example EP0935039A1 known.

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention, in a cost effective and simple way to ensure the emergency opening of a locking device for a partition element, in particular non-destructive. The above object is achieved by a locking device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 7. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

A locking device according to the invention for a partition wall element has a threaded spindle and a drive device for the rotary drive of the threaded spindle.

In this case, a carriage is arranged in threaded engagement on the threaded spindle. Furthermore, the locking device has a locking slide which is connected to a locking element in order to move the locking element between a locking position and an opening position when the locking slide is moved. A locking device according to the invention is characterized in that the carriage has a fastening device to which the bolt carriage is reversibly releasably secured for common movement with the carriage.

In accordance with the invention, therefore, there is only one separation between a carriage and a bolt carriage. These are two different components. The carriage is in threaded engagement with the threaded spindle and is guided secured against rotation. Thus, a translation movement of the carriage is forced by rotation of the threaded spindle due to the threaded engagement. Depending on the direction of rotation, which z. B. is forced by an electric motor-trained drive device, the carriage can now be moved translationally in two directions.

For normal operation, there is a bolt carriage with the carriage in common connection, which is provided via the fastening device available. In other words, the locking slide is fastened by means of the fastening device on the carriage, so that the described movement of the carriage is also performed by the locking slide. Thus, the electromotive drive device generates the rotation via the threaded engagement in a translation for the carriage and the associated locking slide.

The latch member is reciprocated between a locked position and an open position. This can be a simple translation movement. A partially formed as a rotational movement movement between the locking position and the open position is conceivable for the locking element. The connection between the locking element and locking slide depends on the type of movement selected between the locking position and the opening position.

If the carriage is now moved in a first direction via the threaded engagement via the threaded engagement by means of the threaded spindle, then the locking slide and the associated locking element also move therewith. The locking element is thus z. B. moves in this first direction in the locked position. If, under normal conditions, the drive device is operated in the opposite way, the threaded spindle rotates in the opposite direction, and the carriage and locking slide are moved in the opposite direction of translation. Thus, the locking element in the opposite direction and thus z. B. moved from the locked position to the open position.

According to the invention, the fastening of the locking slide on the carriage via the fastening device is reversibly detachable. This means that the locking slide is attached to the carriage while performing a common movement with the carriage, but this attachment is detachable. A loosening means that after loosening the fastening of the locking slide on the carriage, a movement of the carriage now takes place independently of the locking slide and, accordingly, the locking slide is no longer moved by the carriage. Under a reversible solubility is to be understood that the release of the fastening device can be repealed, so preferably as often as possible detachment from the fastening device and attaching to the fastening device are possible.

The above-described functionality according to the invention results in the release of the attachment of the locking slide on the fastening device of the running carriage in an emergency situation. Thus, so to speak, the movement of the locking slide is decoupled from the carriage. While rotation of the threaded spindle had to be carried out manually in known locking devices for emergency unlocking, the locking slide can now be decoupled in terms of its attachment from the mounting device of the carriage simply, inexpensively and quickly. Thus, the locking slide can be moved independently of the carriage, so that a standing threaded spindle this movement of the locking slide no longer opposes. Rather, a simple, fast and, above all, with little effort possible displacement of the locking slide can be done. This translational movement of the locking slide regardless of the threaded spindle and the carriage causes, accordingly, the locking element can be moved quickly, inexpensively and above all with little effort from the locking position to the open position.

In addition to the quick, simple and carried out with little effort emergency release beyond the threaded spindle and especially the drive device are spared. While in known locking devices of the manual drive of the threaded spindle damage or even destruction of Drive device could lead to any interference in the emergency release on the drive device and the threaded spindle is prevented by the decoupling of the locking slide from the carriage.

Another advantage can be achieved that now the threaded spindle and the drive device can be designed exclusively for normal operation. Thus, possible safety measures or more stable embodiments of the threaded spindle from known proposals for solutions no longer have to be carried out, since an emergency release capability need not exist either with the drive device or with the threaded spindle.

According to the invention, the fastening device has a release mechanism designed as a pull rope for releasing the fastening.

This makes it possible, in particular from outside a housing of the locking device, to release the fastening device. This provides an even easier and more cost-effective and, above all, faster option for emergency unlocking. It must therefore be no partial dismantling of a housing done more to actually reach the operation of the fastening device. A pull rope can z. B. force a releasing fastening device when, as will be explained later, an elastic fastening means is part of the fastening device. Also, the release mechanism can be coupled to a corresponding spring device, so that the movement of the locking slide in a position which coincides with the opening position of Bar element correlated, essentially automatically generated exclusively by this spring force.

According to the invention, a spring device is provided, which acts on the locking slide and / or the locking element in the direction of the opening position with a spring force. Under the spring device is to be understood in particular a spring element in the form of a coil spring. In other words, after releasing the attachment to the fastening device of the carriage, the locking slide is moved by the spring force of the spring device in the direction of the opening position of the locking element. It follows, so to speak after loosening the attachment to the mounting device of the carriage an automatic emergency release. The spring device may have a biasing force, which with a basic tension in the position of the locking slide, which correlates with the opening position of the locking element consists. This biasing force in the spring device is preferably designed adjustable.

According to the invention, the fastening device has at least one elastic fastening means, which engages on a fastening surface of the locking slide. Below is z. B. to understand a snap-action functionality, so that an elastic fastening means in its basic position with the mounting surface of the locking slide forms the attachment to the carriage. By elastic deformation of the fastener, the geometric correlation to the mounting surface of the locking slide is canceled, so now a free movement of the locking slide in decoupled Way of the carriage can be performed. This is in combination with a spring device according to the preceding paragraph, a particularly cost-effective and above all fast emergency release possible. It is also possible to provide the bolt carriage and / or the carriage at least partially made of a plastic material in order to provide the elasticity of the fastener already by the material property available. Of course, in the sense of kinematic reversal, the fastening device and the elastic fastening means can be provided as part of the locking slide in order to provide the appropriate attachment to the carriage.

Further, it is advantageous if in a locking device according to the invention, a first position sensor is arranged to detect the correlation with the opening position of the locking element position of the locking slide and a second position sensor is arranged to detect the correlating with the locking position of the locking element position of the locking slide , The position sensors are designed in particular as a position switch, which recognize the same by contacting and pressing a switch button using the locking slide the corresponding position. In particular, reference is made here to a pure translational movement of the locking slide. It should be emphasized that the locking slide and not the carriage is detected by the two position sensors. Thus, even in a decoupling situation between bolt carriage and carriage, as is the case in the emergency unlocking situation, a correct detection of the position of the locking slide is carried out. Of course, in addition to pure pressure switches and more complex sensor means, eg. B. capacitive sensors, in the sense of the present Invention conceivable. A corresponding control unit of the drive device can control or regulate the drive device on the basis of the two position sensors.

Further, it may be advantageous if, in a locking device according to the invention, an elastic buffer component holds the locking slide spaced from the first position sensor and allows under the action of force by the locking slide further movement to the first position sensor. In an uninfluenced way so the bar slide is prevented by the elastic buffer member to operate the first position sensor. However, due to its elastic configuration, the elastic buffer component can be squeezed together and thus elastically deformed, so that a further movement of the locking slide is made possible under the action of force up to the first position sensor. This means that in normal operation, the drive device provides sufficient force to move the latch slide under the necessary force against the elastic buffer member to the first position sensor. Exclusively in the emergency unlocking situation, in which this force is missing due to the decoupling of the locking slide from the carriage, the elastic buffer member will prevent the movement of the locking slide to the first position sensor. In particular, when using a corresponding spring device, as has already been explained, care must be taken that the spring force provides a significantly lower maximum force in the area of the first position sensor than is the case with the drive device. Of course, as a resilient buffer member also a spring device can be used. By this embodiment, the status of the fastening device can be seen in an indirect manner, so that without movement at the Drive device, the emergency release can be detected on the basis of two position sensors, since the locking slide is detected in any of the two positions.

In addition, it is advantageous if in a locking device according to the invention the locking slide has guide means which cooperate with guide means of the locking device, in particular a housing, for guiding the movement of the locking slide. The guide means z. B. be a combination of guide pins and a corresponding guide slot or guide. Guide eyes in correlation with corresponding guide rods are conceivable within the meaning of the present invention. In particular, in the case of emergency unlocking accordingly takes place for the bolt slide no direct guidance through the threaded rods more. For this movement during the emergency release of the locking slide is guided by the guide means, so that a defined movement, in particular formed with corresponding end stops, can be provided. A tilting and thus unwanted locking against the emergency release is thus effectively avoided.

It is also advantageous if, in a locking device according to the invention, the fastening device has a fastening sensor for detecting the fastening status of the fastening device. Again, z. B. a sensor may be provided on the carriage, which detects the presence of the locking slide. Also, this attachment sensor can be inexpensively and easily formed as a pressure switch. Even more complex options, such. B. in capacitive embodiment, are conceivable within the meaning of the present invention.

Another advantage can be achieved if, in a locking device according to the invention, the threaded spindle and / or the drive device have blocking means for blocking movement of the carriage without drive by the drive device. This is to be understood that in normal operation when the drive device is switched off no movement in an undesirable manner for the carriage and thus for the correlated locking slide and the locking element is possible. This can z. B. be achieved by a corresponding spindle pitch with self-locking effect. Also, the drive device may provide a braking device to provide a corresponding blocking function. It should also be pointed out that the threaded spindle preferably has as steep a pitch as possible in order to be able to provide the fastest possible locking and unlocking with low rotational speeds.

• Erkennen der Notentriegelung,
• Bewegen des Laufschlittens in eine mit der Öffnungsposition des Riegelelements korrelierende Position,
• Befestigen des Riegelschlittens an dem Laufschlitten mittels der Befestigungsvorrichtung.

Likewise provided by the present invention is a method for operating a locking device according to the present invention after an emergency release, comprising the following steps:

• Recognition of the emergency release,
• Moving the carriage in a correlated with the opening position of the locking element position
• Attaching the latch slide on the carriage by means of the fastening device.

After detecting an emergency release, which z. B. by a mounting sensor or corresponding situation detection of the position sensors, the further steps of the method according to the invention can be performed. Now, via the drive device, the threaded spindle in the direction of the open position rotates, so that accordingly takes place a translational movement of the carriage in the opening position and thus on the emergency unlocked latch slide. Once the carriage reaches the latch carriage, the attachment is made using the attachment device. The fastening device is designed in particular with a snap-action functionality, so that an automatic engagement of the fastening device takes place by reaching the locking slide by the carriage. Thus, preferably, the implementation of the method after the emergency release done in the same manner as is the case in normal operation. During the movement of the carriage in the unlocking movement of the bolt carriage is taken along and automatically locked with the fastening device. There is no damage and in particular can be dispensed with a separate emergency release program in the control of the drive device.

Fig. 1

eine Ausführungsform von Trennwandelementen mit Verriegelungsvorrichtungen,

Fig. 2

eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 3

die Ausführungsform der Fig. 2 mit dem Riegelelement in Sperrposition,

Fig. 4

die Ausführungsform der Fig. 2 und 3 in einer Notentriegelungssituation mit dem Riegelelement in Öffnungsposition,

Fig. 5

die Ausführungsform der Fig. 2 bis 4 mit Riegelelement in Öffnungsposition im Normalbetrieb und

Fig. 6

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Verriegelungsvorrichtung mit einem manuellen Verriegelungsmittel.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention are described in detail. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any desired combination. They show schematically:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of partition elements with locking devices,

Fig. 2

an embodiment of a locking device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

the embodiment of the Fig. 2 with the locking element in the locked position,

Fig. 4

the embodiment of the FIGS. 2 and 3 in an emergency unlocking situation with the locking element in opening position,

Fig. 5

the embodiment of the Fig. 2 to 4 with locking element in opening position in normal operation and

Fig. 6

a further embodiment of a locking device with a manual locking means.

FIG. 1 schematically shows how a complete partition between two parts of space can be provided by individual partition elements 100. In order to secure the individual partition wall elements 100 in the separating position, a locking device 10 in the lower edge section is provided on a running rail for one of the partition wall elements 100. There, a locking element 22 is provided, which is arranged in the opening position O.

Based on FIGS. 2 to 5 schematically the operation of an embodiment of a locking device 10 according to the invention is shown. Figures 3 and 5 show the two extreme positions during normal operation. If it is desired that a partition wall member 100 is locked in the existing position, the starting point is the status according to FIG FIG. 5 , This locking device 10 according to FIG. 5 has a drive device 30, via which a threaded spindle 20 can be set in rotation. In this rotation, the threaded engagement a carriage, in FIG. 5 moved to the right. By a fastening device 50 with an elastic fastening means 54 which abuts on a mounting surface 27 of a locking slide 24, this locking slide 24 is also moved to the right. This movement is transmitted via the corresponding connection to a locking element 26, which in this way from the opening position O according to FIG FIG. 5 in a blocking position S according to FIG. 3 is transferred. During this movement, a tensioning or biasing of a spring device 40 takes place at the same time.

In order to be able to carry out this movement cleanly, a guide means can additionally be provided on the housing 14 of the locking device 10, which cooperates with corresponding guide means 25 of the locking slide 24. Also is in FIG. 5 it can be clearly seen that two position sensors 60 and 70 are provided, which can recognize the two end positions of the locking slide 24. After completion of the described movement by the drive device 30 are now both the carriage 22 and the bolt carriage 24 attached thereto in the position according to FIG. 3 , so that now on the one hand, the locking element 26 has been moved to the blocking position S and on the other hand, the spring device 40 is fully stretched. The second position sensor 70 is activated and the drive device 30 detects the end of the necessary movement. The FIG. 2 shows the movement situation between the two extremes, as they are to the Figures 3 and 5 has been explained.

In case of a desired emergency release is assumed by FIG. 3 , In this blocking position S of the locking element 26, an independent movement of the locking slide 24 should now take place. For this purpose, the fastening device 50 is released via a release mechanism, so that the locking slide 24 from the carriage 22nd is decoupled. By the spring device 40, the locking slide 24 is acted upon with a biasing force to the left, so that by the spring device 40, the decoupled latch slide 24 is pulled to the left until it is in accordance with the position FIG. 4 reached. Thus, the locking element 26 is simultaneously pulled from the blocking position S to the open position O. As in FIG. 4 can be clearly seen, this movement is independent of the carriage 22 and, accordingly, independent of the threaded spindle 20. Also clearly visible in the FIG. 4 the operation of the elastic buffer member. This elastic buffer member 80 prevents the locking slide 24 is pulled completely to the left, so that in this decoupled position, the locking element 26 is indeed in the open position O, the first position sensor 60 is not activated.

In order to be able to provide a return movement and a normal operation of the locking device 10 again, starting from FIG. 4 via a rotation of the threaded spindle 20 of the carriage 22 moves back to the left until the fastening device 50 engages in the locking slide 24 and this until the opening position O according to FIG. 5 entraining. Now the normal status is reached again during normal operation.

The FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a locking device 10 according to the invention, in which a manual locking means 90 is provided. This locking means 90, here in the form of a pull rope, can easily and quickly restore the lock in a manual manner and at the same time fix the locking slide 24 to the carriage 22 again.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

locking device

14

casing

20

screw

22

carriages

24

bolt carrier

25

guide means

26

locking element

27

mounting surface

30

driving device

40

spring device

50

fastening device

54

elastic fastening means

60

first position sensor

70

second position sensor

80

elastic buffer component

90

manual locking device

100

partition element

S

lock position

O

opening position

Claims (7)

1. An interlocking device (10) for a partitioning wall element (100), including a threaded spindle (20) and a drive device (30) for the rotary drive of the threaded spindle (20), wherein a running carriage (22) is disposed in threaded engagement on the threaded spindle (20), furthermore including a dead-bolt carriage (24), which is connected to a dead-bolt element (26) for moving the dead-bolt (26) between a locking position (S) and an opening position (O) upon a movement of the dead-bolt carriage (24), wherein the running carriage (22) includes an attachment device (50), at which the dead-bolt carriage (24), for a joint movement with the running carriage (22), is reversibly detachably attached, characterized in that a spring device (40) is provided, which charges the dead-bolt carriage (24) and/or the dead-bolt element (26) in the direction of the opening position (O) with a spring force, and in that the attachment device (50) includes a releasing mechanism configured as a pull cable for releasing the attachment, wherein the attachment device (50) includes at least one elastic attachment means (54), which engages at an attachment surface (27) of the dead-bolt carriage (24).
2. The interlocking device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a first position sensor (60) is disposed in order to detect the position of the dead-bolt carriage (24) correlating to the opening position (O) of the dead-bolt element (26), and a second position sensor (70) is disposed in order to detect the position of the dead-bolt carriage (24) correlating to the locking position (S) of the dead-bold element (26).
3. The interlocking device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that an elastic buffer component (80) keeps the dead-bolt carriage (24) spaced apart from the first position sensor (60) and under the effect of force by the dead-bolt carriage (24) allows for a further movement towards the first position sensor (60).
4. The interlocking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dead-bolt carriage (24) includes guiding means (25), which cooperate with guiding means of the interlocking device (10), in particular of a housing (14) for guiding a movement of the dead-bolt carriage (24).
5. The interlocking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (50) includes an attachment sensor for detecting the attachment status of the attachment device (50).
6. The interlocking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the threaded spindle (20) and/or the drive device (30) includes blocking means for blocking a movement of the running carriage (20) without any driving by means of the drive device (30).
7. A method for the operation of an interlocking device (10) having the features of any of the claims 1 to 6 following an emergency unlocking, including the following steps:

   - detecting the emergency unlocking,

   - moving the running carriage (22) into a position correlating to the opening position (O) of the dead-bolt element (26),

   - attaching the dead-bolt carriage (24) to the running carriage (22) by means of the attachment device (50).

Images