EP3482407B1 - Closing-edge safety device with prechamber - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a closing edge safety device according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic closing edge safety device is from the DE 299 05 816 U1 known. The safety switching strip has a large number of contact elements, the contact between the contact elements being interrupted when the switching strip is deformed to a locally limited extent. The elastically deformable profile element represents a robust, long-lasting protection for the safety edge and, due to its elastic deformability, enables the desired, safety-relevant triggering of the safety edge on the one hand and, on the other hand, after contact with a disturbing obstacle, it also allows it to return to its original state so that the closing edges -Fuse can retain its original external appearance over a long service life.

The field of application of the generic closing edge safety device is usually limited to safety-related applications, in particular as anti-trap protection for people, where extremities of a person cause the desired interruption of the contact elements of the switching strip in the event of a collision. On the other hand, extensive contact with the closing edge safety device usually does not trigger the switching strip, so that the closing edge safety device cannot be used as a limit switch, for example, which triggers a switching process when a closed position is reached when the closing edge safety device is in contact with a large-area component. Even in the case of extensive contact with a body, in particular if it is comparatively soft and resilient, this often does not lead to a triggering of the switching capacity, that is to say to an interruption of the contact elements.

From the DE 298 08 292 U1 , the DE 10 2010 035 692 A1 , the EP 1 310 624 A2 and the U.S. 4,532,388 A non-generic switching strips are known, each of which work on the normally open principle. When the switching strip is operated, its electrical contacts are closed. This actuation can take place either selectively or over a large area and always triggers the safety edge. With this design, no switch knobs are required to optimize the response behavior of the switch strip when it is operated over a large area. Rather, projections can be provided, for example in DE 298 08 292 U1 or the U.S. 4,532,388 A , which are not designed as individual, separately applied switch knobs, but run over the entire length of the profile, and in the DE 298 08 292 U1 as profile webs and in the U.S. 4,532,388 A are referred to as ribs. They are required so that power is transmitted to the contact surfaces at all - and not just at certain points.

In order to ensure that the safety edge reacts more sensitively, even when the forces are low, it is necessary to use the DE 298 08 292 U1 , known to provide a channel which runs in the elastically deformable profile element and in which the switching strip is arranged with slots.

From the EP 0 791 716 A1 a closing edge safety device is known in which an elastic profile element forms a cavity which is divided into two interconnected areas. Fixed electrical contact elements are arranged at a distance from one another in the first area. Movable electrical contact elements bridge the gaps between the stationary contact elements, so that a continuous current path for electrical current is created. The movable contact elements are held on stamps which extend into the second area and up to the side of the profile element to be secured. In the event of external pressure on this second side, one or more stamps dips further into the first area inside the profile element, so that the movable contact elements carried by such a stamp are separated from the stationary contact elements and so is the current path is interrupted.

The invention is based on the object of improving a generic closing edge safety device in such a way that its switching strip responds with improved sensitivity and the robust, long-lasting design of the closing edge safety device is retained as before.

This object is achieved by a closing edge safety device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements are described in the subclaims.

In other words, the invention proposes to place an antechamber in front of the receiving space in which the switching strip runs, which is formed by the same profile element, so that when it comes into contact with an obstacle, the obstacle initially comes into contact with this antechamber. According to the proposal, a switching knob, that is to say a locally delimited element, is arranged in the antechamber. Even with extensive contact of the closing edge safety device with an obstacle, for example a wall surface, floor area or the like, a spatially narrowly limited pressure is exerted via the switch knob on the receiving space and the switching strip located therein, so that the closing edges also make contact over a large area -Safety with an obstacle a locally limited deformation of the switching strip takes place, which leads to an interruption of the electrical contact of adjacent contact elements and thus triggers the switching process.

As a result, the switching knobs, which are individually arranged outside of the receiving chamber, are arranged in a protected manner inside the antechamber. Firstly, this is aesthetically advantageous in that the switch knobs are arranged in an optically protected manner within the antechamber and cannot be seen from the outside, but are arranged in a hidden manner. Secondly, an advantageous functional protection for the switch knobs is achieved: the switch knobs themselves or, in the case of their adhesive mounting, also the adhesive surfaces of the switch knobs are arranged within the antechamber protected against mechanical influences, e.g. abrasion or shear forces and against general environmental influences.

The use of switch knobs is, for example, from the DE 20 2014 001 722 U1 known. There switching knobs are provided on the inside of a comparatively rigid impact element, a switching strip or switching mat being arranged behind the impact element, that is to say adjacent to the switching knobs. For the proposed closing edge protection, the creation of an additional chamber, namely the antechamber, ensures that the profile element has a smooth surface on the outside, which, on the one hand, is aesthetically advantageous, but on the other hand, in particular, ensures excellent protection for the switch knob. In comparison to, for example, a switch knob glued onto a conventional closing edge safety device from the outside, the switch knob integrated in the antechamber is housed in the antechamber protected against mechanical damage, in particular shear movements and, for example, against tearing caused thereby.

The switching knob makes the closing edge safety device more sensitive. In this way, on the one hand, reliable triggering of the safety edge is ensured in safety applications even if there is comparatively contact with comparatively soft obstacles that deform and lie against the safety edge over a large area, so that the result is extensive contact with these obstacles, which otherwise - with a design of the safety edge not in accordance with the proposal - could possibly prevent the safety edge from being triggered. For example, the use of a closing edge safety device designed according to the proposal can improve personal protection in the case of movable devices. In addition to this pure safety-related application, the sensitive response behavior also enables the use of a proposed closing edge safety device for applications in which the safety of an object to be protected is not the focus, but in which the closing edge safety device can be used as a limit switch. Reaching a certain end position will reliably trigger a switching process, even if the closing edge safety device is in contact with an obstacle over a large area, for example if a door is moved against a frame or the floor, so that, for example, the drive means of the moving element of the door are then switched off can be.

A closing edge safety device according to the proposal can effectively absorb what is known as an overtravel path, i.e. the dangerous path that is still covered by the device after the stop signal.

Advantageously, several switch knobs can be arranged in the antechamber distributed over the length of the profile element, so that the switching strip is triggered not only when the closing edge safety device is in full contact with an obstacle, but also when the closing edge safety device is only partially in contact with an obstacle . With regard to the area of application of protecting people, a closing edge safety device that is several meters long can have switch knobs at a distance of, for example, 20 or 30 cm, so that there is only partial contact with a soft obstacle, for example the torso of a person , leads to the desired switching process at any point on the closing edge safety device.

A plurality of antechambers can advantageously run next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the profile element, a switch knob being arranged in at least two of these antechambers. Due to the antechambers running next to each other, the sensitivity of the closing edge safety device can be further improved, since an impact on the closing edge safety device from a lateral direction also triggers the switching strip. The configuration with several antechambers means that at least two antechambers running next to one another are located in front of the receiving space of the switching strip. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, three antechambers can be provided so that a particularly large circumferential area around the receiving space for impacts from different directions enables the closing edge safety device to respond sensitively in a particularly large angular range. Depending on the application, it can be provided that not all antechambers are provided with switch knobs, Rather, such a design of the profile element with several antechambers can advantageously enable the design of different closing edge safeguards in which a similar profile element is used in each case, which, however, can be equipped with switch knobs differently depending on the application, for example by only one, or more, or all antechambers are provided with switch knobs.

In a first embodiment it can be provided not to use any prefabricated switch knobs, but to create them in the antechamber. For this purpose, a flowable, hardenable or crosslinkable material is used, which is injected into the antechamber where the switch knob is to be located. This material is then solidified in the antechamber. As a flowable material that can be solidified, a thermally liquefied material can be used, for example, as is commercially available as a hot melt adhesive, or a two-component material can be used which hardens in an adjustable pot life.

The flowable material can be injected into the antechamber, for example, by means of a cannula which is pierced from the outside into the outer casing of the profile element, namely into the antechamber. In this way, a switch knob can be attached to freely selectable locations without any pretreatment of the profile element. Alternatively, it can be advantageous to provide the antechamber with a bore through which the injection cannula can be introduced into the antechamber. In this way, even highly viscous liquids can easily be introduced into the antechamber through cannulas that have a correspondingly large diameter.

Damage to the antechamber caused by the puncture of a cannula or the introduction of a bore can in this case favor particularly simple handling of the profile element take place during the production of the closing edge safety device on the outer, visible circumference of the antechamber, that is to say from the second side of the profile element. However, this damage to the prechamber can advantageously take place from the first side, that is to say the side of the profile element which is used to fasten the profile element to a component. In this way, the damage in the outer circumference of the profile element is later covered by the component to which the profile element is attached, and on the second side of the profile element to be secured, namely where the antechamber runs, a closed surface of the profile element is ensured, which is aesthetically advantageous and the uninterrupted surface of the profile element in this area also reduces the risk of damage or contamination of the profile element or enables it to be cleaned as easily as possible.

In a second embodiment, it can be provided that the switch knobs are not first produced on site within the antechamber, but that a switch knob is rather designed as a prefabricated component. The shape can correspond to the free inner cross-section of the antechamber, so that the switch knob can be arranged flush in the antechamber. Economically advantageous, however, the switch knob can be designed as a commercially available prefabricated element, for example in the form of a ball or the like. The prefabricated switch knob is positioned in the antechamber by means of a guide element to which the switch knob is attached. The guide element can be designed, for example, as a thin flat iron, as a wire or as a cord and makes it possible to thread the switch knob into the antechamber and to move it to the desired position in the longitudinal direction of the profile element.

It can advantageously be provided that the guide element extends essentially over the entire length of the antechamber. In this way, the guide element be equipped with a plurality of switch knobs and then threaded into the antechamber.

In this case, the individual switch knobs can advantageously be fixed in that the guide element is fixed on the two end-side closure caps which close the two opposite ends of the antechamber. The two end caps can be formed, for example, by a potting compound, the ends of the guide element fixed in this potting compound then securing all the switch knobs within the antechamber so that they cannot move. Alternatively, the two closure caps can be formed by molded pieces which are either inserted into the antechamber or glued to the profile element, so that in these cases too the two ends of the guide element can be fixed in place either by clamping and / or gluing and thus the Position of the switch knobs attached to the guide element is set.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the purely schematic representations.

It shows

Fig. 1

a cross-section through a closing edge safety device,

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the closing edge safety device from Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

a cross section through a second embodiment of a closing edge safety device,

Fig. 4

a longitudinal section through the embodiment of Fig. 3 , and

Fig. 5

a cross section through a third embodiment of a closing edge safety device.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a closing edge safety device, which has a profile element 2 made of an elastomer material. A first side 3 of the profile element 2 is used to attach the profile element 2 to a metallic profile rail 4, which can be mounted with the aid of several screw bolts 5 on a movable component to be secured.

Opposite the first side 3 is a second side 6 of the profile element 2, which represents the side of the closing edge safety device 1 to be secured and the closing edge safety device 1 is therefore designed to be touch-sensitive in this area of the second end 6.

For this purpose, the elastically deformable profile element 2 has, in a manner known per se, a receiving space 7 in which contact elements 8 are arranged, which together form a contact chain. A deformation space 9 is arranged between the receiving space 7 and the first side 3 of the profile element 2, so that when it comes into contact with an obstacle, the receiving space 7 can be kinked or bent accordingly and the contact between two adjacent contact elements 8 is interrupted, which is a switching signal from Closing edge safety device 1 trips. Within the deformation space 9, several protective sleeves 10 extend to the outside, electrical cables 11 being passed through these protective sleeves 10 in order to electrically flow through the entire contact chain formed from several contact elements 8.

Upstream of the receiving space 7, the profile element 2 has, on its second side 6, an antechamber 12 in which a switch knob 14 is arranged. While the contact chain formed from several contact elements 8 extends over essentially the entire length of the receiving space 7, the switch knob 14 is only in a comparatively small section in the antechamber 12, over the length of the closing edge safety device 1 seen, arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch knob 14 is provided selectively:
Fig. 2 shows in a side view of the closing edge safety device 1, with the help of the broken away area, that both the receiving space 7 and the antechamber 12 are protected at their respective ends with the help of sealing caps 15 against the ingress of objects and dirt or moisture. The deformation space 9 is also closed with such a closure cap 15.

While the individual contact elements 8 adjoin one another in direct and electrically conductive contact, a switch knob 14 is only visible at one point on the closing edge safety device 1. In the illustrated embodiment, however, it is provided over the entire length of the in Fig. 2 Closing edge safety device 1, shown only partially, to arrange a plurality of switch knobs 14 so that the desired high level of sensitivity is guaranteed over the entire length of the closing edge safety device 1.

The profile element 2 runs around the antechamber 12 with closed walls on the outside, so that it is optimally protected against damage, soiling or against the ingress of moisture.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section similarly Fig. 1 , by a second embodiment of a closing edge safety device 1. While in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the switching knob 14 is formed by a contour piece that is precisely molded into the prechamber 12, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG Fig. 3 the switching knob 14 is formed by a material which can be referred to as a potting compound and which is poured into the antechamber 12 in the flowable state and is then solidified in the antechamber 12. In the illustrated embodiment a bore 16 is shown on the second side 6 of the profile element 2, adjacent to the antechamber 12, through which the flowable material is filled into the antechamber 12. By appropriately metering this material, the bore 16 itself is then also filled, so that a dense and practically uninterrupted surface is created on the outer surface of the profile element 2. Deviating from the illustrated embodiment, however, it can advantageously be provided that the bore 16 is introduced into the antechamber 12 from the first side 3, so that the bore 16 passes through the base region of the profile element 2 shown below, namely on its first side 3, and through the two opposing wall sections of the receiving space 7 extends into the antechamber 12. In this way, the second side 6 of the profile element 2 can actually remain completely closed and without interruption when the corresponding material is injected into the antechamber 12 to create a switch knob 14.

Fig. 4 shows two partially broken away sections of the closing edge safety device 1 of Fig. 3 in a side view of the profile element 2 in one opposite Fig. 3 smaller scale. After the flowable material has been injected through the bores 16 into the antechamber 12, this material solidifies. In the process, its volume shrinks, and because of the good wall adhesion to the inner surface of the antechamber 12, this material does not shrink evenly, but instead constricts to form a waist shape.

Fig. 5 shows a view similarly Fig. 3 , to a third embodiment of a closing edge safety device 1. The receiving space 7 is preceded by three antechambers 12, a central antechamber 12 being oriented toward the second side 6 of the profile element 2. On both sides of this central antechamber 12, a further lateral antechamber 12 runs in the longitudinal direction of the profile element 2 and in all three antechambers 12 switch knobs 14 are arranged in each case. Overall, the antechambers 12 and the switch knobs 14 extend by more than half the circumference of the receiving space 7, so that an increased sensitivity of the closing edge safety device 1 not only in the case of frontal contact from the second side 6, but also in the case of lateral contact with the profile element 2 is guaranteed.

Claims (9)

1. Closing-edge safety device (1),

   having an elastically deformable profiled element (2),

   that incorporates a first side (3) that serves to fasten the profiled element (2) to a component part,

   and that incorporates a second side (6) to be secured,

   where it incorporates on its second side (6) a receiving compartment (7) in which a safety switching strip with a plurality of contact elements (8) that are connected to one another electroconductively is disposed, characterised in that,

   the profiled element (2) forms a prechamber (12) on the second side (6) in front of the receiving compartment (7),

   and in that a switching stud (14) is disposed in the prechamber (12),

   where the switching stud (14) under the action of external force during local deformation of the profiled element (2) is designed to disconnect the contact elements (8) of the switching strip.
2. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that a number of switching studs (14) are distributed along the length of the profiled element (2) in the prechamber (12).
3. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that

   a number of prechambers (12) that extend one beside the other in the longitudinal direction of the profiled element (2) are disposed in front of the receiving compartment (7),

   wherein a switching stud (14) is disposed in each of at least two prechambers (12).
4. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the switching stud (14) is produced by a material that is injected into the prechamber (12) in a flowable state and solidifies in the prechamber (12).
5. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the prechamber (12) incorporates a drilled hole (16) in places where a switching stud (14) is provided for.
6. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that the drilled hole (16) extends through the receiving compartment (7) to the first side (3) that serves to fasten the profiled element (2).
7. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with claims 1 to 3, characterised in that
   the switching stud (14) is designed as a prefabricated component part and is fastened to a guide element that extends through the prechamber (12) in a longitudinal direction.
8. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the guide element extends essentially the entire length of the prechamber (12).
9. Closing-edge safety device in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the guide element is fastened to sealing caps (15) that seal the two opposing ends of the prechamber (12).

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