FR2555235A1 - DEVICE FOR LOCKING AN ORGAN, IN PARTICULAR THE SHUTTER OR RIDEL OF A PLATFORM VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

LOCKING DEVICE INTENDED IN PARTICULAR FOR LOCKING THE FLAPS OF A VEHICLE PLATFORM INCLUDING A LOCKING LOCK 7 ASSOCIATED WITH A FIRST PART OR FLAP 1 OF A VEHICLE PLATFORM AND WHICH IS MOBILE TO ENTER AN ASSOCIATED HOLE HAS A SECOND PART OR UPRIGHT 2 OR EXIT, THANKS TO A CONTROL MECHANISM 9, 10, 10. LOCK 7 INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE HOOK-SHAPED ELEMENT 11 WHICH PROJECTS LATERAL AND WHOSE WIDTH PLUS THE WIDTH OF THE LOCK IS LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE HOLE. THE CONTROL MECHANISM INCLUDES A SECOND LOCKING LOCK OR AUXILIARY LOCK 8 SUITABLE, DURING THE LOCKING OPERATION, TO ENTER THE HOLE NEXT TO THE MAIN LOCK 7 AND WHOSE WIDTH IS GREATER THAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WIDTH OF THE HOLE AND THE TOTAL WIDTH OF THE MAIN LOCK AND OF THE HOOK ELEMENT SO, WHEN IT IS ENGAGED IN THE HOLE, TO LOCK THE HOOK ELEMENT BEHIND A STOP 12 DELIMING THE HOLE.

Description

DEVICE FOR LOCKING AN ORGAN, IN PARTICULAR THE SHUTTER

  OR THE RIDELLE OF A PLATFORM VEHICLE.

  The present invention relates to a blocking device intended to block a member, for example the flap or the side wall of a platform vehicle, a member which is mobile, in particular capable of pivoting with respect to another member which is suitably secured, for example a upright, comprising a locking bolt associated with the movable member and comprising a hook-shaped element projecting laterally and which can penetrate into a hole associated with the other fixed member and exit therefrom using a control mechanism comprising a handle connected to said lock by at least one articulated link serving to transform a

  tilting movement of the handle in a movement of movement

lock cement.

  The tilting flaps of vehicle platforms of various types are generally connected to the vehicle platform by

  their lower edge so as to be able to pivot and, near

  mite from their upper edge, they include devices

  specific blocking devices intended to make a shutter in posi-

  erection, secured to a fixed member mounted on the platform

  form, generally in the form of an upright. Known locking devices of this type, for example, those described in SE 199 448 and 227 637, include a more or less complicated control mechanism provided with a handle and a tightening loop which can be actuated by the control mechanism to hang on a hook or a projection provided on the upright. The control mechanism and the associated tightening loop can be arranged in a trough-shaped recess provided in the

  shutter even so that it does not exceed this outwards

  laughing for security reasons.

  Such blocking devices barely meet the aim sought in cases where the shutters are made of planks or other wooden material because said

  recesses can be easily made in these shutters.

  However, in shutters made of aluminum profiles

  nium - an achievement that is increasingly used in the automotive industry -

  significant problems when mounting conventional devices

  shutter blocking. Consequently, these flaps are made up of an adequate number of suitably uniform profiles which, at their short ends, are held by vertical U-shaped profiles,

  the souls cooperate with the end surfaces of the profi

  strips of the flap while the two lateral wings cooperate with the outer faces of the profiles of the flaps. In order to allow the pivoting tightening loop of the conventional locking devices to be moved in order to hang it on the hook of the associated upright or to unhook it, it is necessary that not only the core of the U-shaped connecting profile but also a lateral wing of the latter comprises a recess to allow housing both the trough and the tightening loop which, in the locking position, must be disposed inwardly relative to the plane represented by the outer side of the flap . So, digging a recess

  in a lateral wing of the U-profile results in a reduction

  dramatic strength of the profile and makes the whole

  ble little adapted to the desired goal. Another disadvantage of conventional blocking devices is that it is possible

  that untimely unlocking can easily occur.

  A locking device for platform shutters of the type mentioned in the introduction is disclosed by the application for

  Patent EP 81107494.7 (publication number: 0075038).

  However, this known blocking device does not perform its blocking function reliably because the blocking lock can be removed from the hole if the control mechanism is accidentally tilted outwards. In addition, the blocking device as a whole is of a

  complicated and expensive manufacturing.

  The object of the present invention is essentially to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a blocking device which can be easily and conveniently mounted on

  platform shutters of any type and which

  have an extremely reliable blocking function. To do this, the subject of the invention is a blocking device the handle portion of which is pivotally connected by a first articulation on a second blocking bolt or auxiliary bolt capable, during the blocking operation, of being introduced into the hole next to the first mentioned bolt or main bolt and the width of which is greater than the difference between the width of the hole and the total width of the main bolt and the hook element so, when introduced into the hole, to block the hook element behind a stop or the like delimiting the hole, and in that said link

  is connected, on the one hand, to the handle by a second articu-

  lation located at a certain distance from the first articulation

  lation and, on the other hand, to the main lock by a three-

  5th articulation to allow the main lock to be moved from a starting position in which it is not introduced into the hole so that it comes into the hole as a result of a pivoting movement of the handle from a starting position, in which it is located -4 -

  substantially parallel to the main lock, towards a position

  tilted outwards in which the handle makes an angle, preferably substantially a right angle, with the main lock, the auxiliary lock, once the hook element engages with the stopper, can be inserted in the hole as a result of a pivoting movement of the handle from the tilted outward position to the starting position, the two locks can only be removed from the hole after actuation of the handle in two stages, namely a first stage during which the handle is tilted from the starting position to the position

  tilted outwards and in which the lock

  liaire is removed from the hole, and a second step during which the handle is deliberately tilted from the tilted position outward to bring it back to the starting position and in which the main lock, once the hook element separated from the stop, withdraws

the hole.

  The locking device according to the invention lends itself particularly well, in practice, to blocking platform shutters, but it goes without saying that it finds

  applications in other technical fields where

a reliable blocking function.

  The patents SE 125 152 and 311 295 describe blocking devices implementing both a main lock and an auxiliary lock which can be introduced together into a hole. However, in this case it is not a question of moving the locks using a single control mechanism common to the two locks and which requires a deliberate two-step actuation to remove the auxiliary lock and the main lock. On the contrary, the main lock can be easily removed from the hole as soon as the auxiliary lock has been

disengaged.

-5

  Embodiments of the present invention are described

  tes below by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the locking device according to the invention mounted on the flap of a vehicle platform which is not shown that part; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking device in the starting position;

  FIG. 3 is a partial view in longitudinal section.

  nale of the same blocking device during a second step; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking device during a third step; Figure 5 is an end view of the locking device seen in the direction from right to left in Figure 2, the elements of the platform flap being removed; and

  Figures 6 to 8 are views illustrating a varian-

  te of realization of the locking device according to the invention. In Figure 1, it is assumed that a component designated in its

  assembly in 1 is pivotally mounted on a platform

  vehicle form by means of one or more articulations (not shown) arranged at the lower edge of the flap. The vehicle platform further comprises a fixed element in the form of a vertical upright 2. The shutter 1 is made up of a plurality of profiles 3, 3 ′, etc., which are preferably made of aluminum and which are held at the ends. opposite, by U-profiles, 4. Each - 6 - U-profile consists of a 4 'core which comes into contact with the ends of the profiles 3, 3' etc ... of the flap and

  two side wings 4 "which cooperate with the outer faces

  of the shutter profiles. On the inner side of the upright 2 is fixed, by welding or otherwise, a strip or rail 5. The rail 5 serves as a stop so that the flap 1 cannot tilt inward to come onto the platform. A blocking device according to the invention, designated as a whole at 6, is arranged so as to be able to block the shutter 1 relative to the upright 2. As appears from the above, after having unlocked the device 6 shown in position blocking, the shutter 1 can be tilted outwards and downwards from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position in which it is

  suspended from the aforementioned joints.

  We now refer to FIGS. 2 to 5 which, in combination with

  its with figure 1, show the various elements of the arrangement

  blocking device 6. As can be seen in the drawings, this blocking device comprises a first blocking bolt or main bolt 7 and a second blocking bolt or

  auxiliary lock 8. These two locks are connected to a mechanism

  control nism which, in addition to a handle portion

  7, includes two links 10, 10 '.

  The front end of the main lock 7 includes a portion

  or hook-shaped element 11 which, in the blocking position

  ge of the lock, is able to hang on a stop 12 provided on the inner side of the upright 2 in the form of a square tube. AT

  the blocking state, the main lock 7 and the auxiliary lock

  liaire 8 both penetrate into the upright 2 through a hole or opening 13 made in the wall of the square tube 2 opposite the flap. This hole is partially delimited by the stop 12. So that the main lock can be freely introduced into the hole 13, the latter has a width which is at least slightly greater than the width or total thickness of the main lock and the hook element 11, as shown

best seen in Figure 3.

  The auxiliary lock 8 has a width greater than the difference

  between the width of the hole 13 and the total width of the main bolt and of the hook element, which ensures effective retention of the hook element 11 behind the stop 12 as soon as the auxiliary lock 8 is inserted into the hole 13 next to the main lock, as seen on the

figure 4.

  The handle portion 9 is arranged in a manner known per se in a trough-shaped recess designated as a whole at 14, a recess which comprises a bottom 15, two longitudinal side walls 16, 16 'and an end wall 17 located at the rear end of the trough. At its front end opposite the upright 2 and on the far side of the

  shutter, the trough is however open. On the interior faces

  res of the side walls 16, 16 ′, L-shaped guide strips or rails, 18, 18 ′ are provided. The projecting wings of

  guide rails serve to retain feet 19, 19 'soli-

  daires of the auxiliary lock 8. The auxiliary lock is produced by stamping a metal plate and comprises two branches 20 ending in feet 19, 19 ′ and two cross members 21 which are bent at right angles to the

  general plan of the metal plate of the lock towards the outside

rear half of the lock.

  The handle 9 is in the form of a plate with a width which is only slightly less than the width of the trough 14 and which has two lateral wings 22, 22 ′ curved inwards towards the bottom of the trough. At its front end, the handle is articulated or pivotally mounted on the auxiliary lock 8 by first articulations 23 provided on the two branches 20 of the auxiliary lock 8. Thanks to second articulations 24 located

  at a certain distance behind the first articulations

  -8 tions 23 on the side wings 22, 22 ', the handle 9 is pivotally connected to the two rods 10, 10', which are mounted, in turn, pivoting, by means of a third common articulation 25 , on the main lock 7 and more precisely on the end

  rear tee of it. At the bottom 15 of the trough 14, are available

  two separate stops, namely a first stop 26 arranged relatively close to the front end of the flap and a second stop 27 arranged at a certain distance behind the first stop. Between the first stop 26 and the two cross members 21 of the auxiliary lock 8 are provided two compression springs 28 which tend to push the

  auxiliary lock permanently to the rear to move it

  from the front end of the shutter. Freedom of movement

  ment towards the rear of the auxiliary lock 8 is limited by the second stop 27. It should be noted that the first stop 26 comprises two projections 26 'which project beyond the main lock 7 on both sides and which guide the lock laterally. In addition, it should be noted that neither the main lock 7, nor the auxiliary lock 8, nor the handle 9 are connected by articulations to the trough 14. The holding in place of the control mechanism and the locks relative to the trough 14 is thus provided exclusively by feet 19, 19 'which hang on

  under the guide rails 18, 18 'located on the inner face

  side walls 16, 16 'of the trough.

  With regard to FIG. 4, it is finally pointed out that the articulations 24 disposed between the handle 9 and the links 19, 19 ′ in the blocking position of the blocking device are located closer to the bottom of the trough 14 than the articulation 25, the links 10, 10 'being inclined

  outwards and backwards relative to the articulations-

  tions 24. Thanks to the springs 28 and the handle 9, a force

  elastic will thus be applied to the joints 24.

  This elastic force tends, in the locked position, to push the joints 24 and, consequently, the handle 9 inwards in the direction of the bottom of the trough so that the handle is automatically retained there. Thus, a tilting of the handle 9 to the position shown on

  FIG. 3 must be made against the springs 28.

  We will now describe the operation of the locking device according to the invention. In the starting position, shown in FIG. 2, the two latches 7, 8 are returned by an associated opening 29 provided in the U-shaped section, 4 of the platform flap, and the handle 9, tilted inwards, is located in the trough 14. To block the flap relative to the upright 2, it is tilted

  the shutter to a position for which the main lock

  cipal 7 is located substantially opposite hole 13 of the

  while, and the handle 9 is tilted, firstly, to the position shown in Figure 3. Because

  that the rear crosspieces 21 of the auxiliary lock 8 are

  wind blocked by the stopper 27 so as to prevent a displacement

  subsequent cementing of the articulation 23 to the left beyond the position shown in FIG. 3, the handle 9,

  through the links 10, will cause the displacement

  cement to the right of the main bolt 7 which penetrates into the hole 13 of the upright 2 and, more precisely, until the hook portion 11 hooks behind the stopper 12. The shutter is then pressed to press it against the stop 5 and the handle 9 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 4. During this pivoting movement of the handle, the hook element 11 is hooked by its beveled surface behind a similar beveled surface of the stop 12, so that the main lock cannot be brought to the left in the drawings. In other words, the joint is immobilized in this state. Therefore, when

  tilting the handle 9 to put it back in the posi-

  tion, the joints 23 and therefore the auxiliary lock 8 will move to the right on the

  drawings in order to finally reach the blocking position shown

  felt in Figure 4. Because the width or thickness

  auxiliary lock is greater than the difference

- 10 -

  between the width of the hole 13 and the total width of the main lock 7 and of the hook portion 11, this hook portion will be effectively retained in the locking position

  as long as the auxiliary lock 8 occupies the position shown

  shown in Figure 4. To unlock the locking device, the same operations are followed, but in reverse. We tilt the handle

  9 outwards towards the position shown in the figure

  re 3, so as to remove the auxiliary lock from hole 13. On

  can then flip the flap away slightly

  ment of the stop 5 so that the hook 11 disengages from the stop 12, the main lock 7 can then be returned to the starting position shown in FIG. 2,

  that is to say the position of the handle 9 parallel to the trough.

  It should be noted that, even as a result of an untimely pivoting movement of the handle 9 towards the position shown in FIG. 3, the flap cannot disengage from the upright 2 and switch to the suspended position because the lock

  main 7 remains engaged in hole 13. The main lock

  blocking pal can only be released from the upright 2 after a deliberate actuation of the handle 9, that is to say a return of the handle to the position shown on the

figure 2.

  In Figures 6 to 8 we see an alternative embodiment which differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 5, for example, in that the guides 18, 18 'are arranged at the bottom

  15 of the trough 14 and in that the feet 19, 19 'of the two branches

  ches or side elements 20 of the auxiliary lock 8 curved

  no longer outward but inward.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the drawings. Thus, one can use, between the handle and the main lock, a

  single link instead of two, as in the example illus-

- 11 -

  very. In addition, one spring could be used instead of two. Indeed, the entire mechanism for controlling the movement of the two latches 7, 8 could be modified by

  various ways without departing from the scope of the invention

  tion. As indicated in the introduction, the concept of the invention can be applied not only to the flaps of vehicle platforms but generally to the blocking of a moving part with respect to another fixed or moving part.

- 12 -

Claims (7)

Patent claims   1. A locking device intended to block a member (1) for example the flap of a vehicle platform, which is mobile, in particular capable of pivoting relative to another member fixed in an appropriate manner, for example an upright, comprising a lock blocking device (7) associated with the movable member (1) and comprising a hook-shaped element projecting laterally (11) and capable of penetrating a hole (13) associated with the other fixed member (2) and to get out of it thanks to a control mechanism comprising a handle portion (9) which is connected to said latch (7) by at least one link (10, 10 ′) used to transform a pivoting movement of the handle into a movement of movement of the lock, characterized in that the handle (9), by means of a first articualtion (23), is connected so   swivel on a second locking latch or auxiliary latch   binding (8) able, in the locked position, to enter the hole (13) next to the first mentioned bolt or main bolt (7) and whose width is greater than the difference between the width of the hole and the total width   the main lock and the hook element so that   that it is inserted into the hole, to block the hook element (11) behind a stop or the like (12) delimiting the hole, and in that said link (10, 10 ') is connected to the handle (9 ) by a second articulation (24) located at a certain distance from the first articulation (23), and at the main lock (7) by a third articulation (25) in order to allow the displacement of the main lock, from a starting position in which it is not engaged in the hole (13), so that it comes into the hole as a result of a pivoting movement of the handle from a starting position, in which it is substantially parallel to the main lock, towards a tilted outward position in which the handle makes an angle,   preferably substantially a right angle, with the main lock - 13 -   cipal, the auxiliary lock (8), once the element is shaped   hook (11) engaged with the stop (12), capable of penetrating   trer in the hole as a result of a pivoting movement of the handle (9) to bring it from the tilted outward position to the starting position, and the two locks (7, 8) can not be released from the hole ( 13) that after actuation of the handle in two stages, namely a first stage during which the handle is tilted from the starting position to a position tilted outwards and in which the auxiliary lock (8) remove from the hole and a second step in which we do   deliberately tilt the handle to bring it back from the posi-   tion tilted out towards the starting position and in which the main lock (7), once the element in   hook (11) released from the stop (12), withdraws from the hole.   2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary lock (8) is actuated by one or more springs (28) which tend to return said lock permanently to a starting position out engaging with the hole (13).   3. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the handle (9) and the latches (7, 8)   are arranged in a trough-shaped recess (14) comprising   nant a bottom (15) and at least two walls in the form of side walls (16, 16 ') separated from each other, and in that the main latch (7) is disposed between the latch   auxiliary (8) and the bottom (15) of the trough, the inner faces   side walls (16, 16 ') comprising projecting guides (18, 18'), such as strips or rails, able to cooperate with feet (19, 19 ') projecting from the auxiliary latch (8) and located between the guides and the bottom (15) of the trough in order to retain the auxiliary latch and, consequently, the control mechanism as a whole by compared to the trough. 2555Z35 - 14 -   4. Locking device according to claims 2 and   3, characterized in that the two stops (26, 27) provided at the bottom (15) of the trough are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the latches, said springs (28) being arranged between, d on the one hand, a first stop (26) closest to the free ends of the locks and, on the other hand, two crosspieces (21) associated with the auxiliary lock (8) and which, in turn, are located between the springs and the second stop (27).   5. Locking device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the handle (9) is in the form of a plate whose width is only slightly less than   the width of the trough (14) and which includes two lateral wings   the (22, 22 ') curved inwards or oriented towards the   bottom of the trough and constituting the first and second arti- culations (23, 24).   6. Locking device according to claim 5,   characterized in that the second articulation (24), in position   tion blocking and / or starting the control mechanism, is located closer to the bottom (15) of the trough than the third articulation (25), the link (10, 10 ') extending between said articulations inclined towards backwards and outwards to communicate to the second articulation (24), from the springs (28) and via the handle (9), an elastic force which, in the locking and starting position, respectively , tends to move the second articulation (24) and, consequently, the handle (9) inwards towards the bottom of the trough, the handle (9)   being automatically retained in the trough.   7. Locking device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, - 15 - 2555235   characterized in that the free end of the handle (9) distant towards the outside of the articulations is arranged at a certain distance from a rear end wall (17) of the trough (14) to allow insertion one or more fingers in the space between them.