FR2562318A1 - Emergency circuit breaker with external actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible bolt cooperates with an inner rotary and axially movable innnr part for its position holding. A coded mechanical device, e.g. a key, is used for the external actuator to free the bolt for returning of the inner part into an inactive position under the effect of flexible free setting devices. The inner part (4) comprises an axial chamber (8) with a coaxial coil spring (10). The moving end (11) of the spring abuts a side (12) of a platelet (13) opposite to the side (20) facing the pusher (21) of an interruptor (22). The platelet forms an arm of a lever (14), swivellable about an orthogonal axis. The second lever arm (15) has a hook (16) abutting the cylindrical outer surface (17) of the inner part, when in inactive position (R), while after a stroke end the lever is pushed in a direction (K) under a spring force.

Description

 EMERGENCY STOP SWITCHING APPARATUS.

The invention relates to an emergency stop switch device, actuated by a single axial thrust of its external control member, in which an elastic lock cooperates with a rotary and movable internal part axially connected to said member, so as to maintain this member in a particular position when the latter has traveled, from an inactive position, a certain stroke beyond which this part is capable of actuating, for an active position, an emergency switch, a coded mechanical means , such as a key, being introduced into the control member to communicate to said lock a release position which authorizes the return of the internal part to an inactive position under the effect of elastic return means.

Such emergency switches are used on a large scale in industrial installations where it is necessary to be able to bring about the stopping of a machine by means of a single movement, and where this switch must have, after its actuation, a particular visible state so that the origin of the danger and or the identity of the operator can be subsequently established, before an authorized person with a key can return the switch to its inactive position.

We already know for example from the U.S.A. patent.

No. 4 182 943 an emergency switch, the constitution of which corresponds to that mentioned above; in this device, no mention is made of the nature of the switch and it is particularly feared that if the latter does not have abrupt tripping means, its closing or opening takes place in poor conditions, for example at slow speed, and that the integrity of its operation is subsequently compromised. Such a possibility cannot be tolerated insofar as the switch is, ultimately, the essential organ of the safety circuit associated with it.

In this same known device, the lock is formed by the ends of a spring carried by the body linked to the external control member; such a locking means, the effectiveness of which is certain when the device is of large dimensions and that consequently the steel wire of this spring has a high degree of deformation security, cannot be suitable when such a device must be manufactured in dimensions more reduced; finally, it can be seen that, this spring being the only element which guarantees that the control member keeps a visible trace of its depression, its rupture deprives the device of an important part of its functions.

The invention therefore proposes to provide an apparatus in accordance with the above-mentioned constitution, and in which locking means used in a small-diameter apparatus body have none of the drawbacks mentioned above.

According to the invention, the desired result is achieved thanks to the fact that the internal part has an axial internal housing receiving a first coaxial helical compression spring, the movable end of which rests on the side of a pallet which is opposite to a side directed towards the pusher of the switch member, this pallet constituting the first arm of a lever which pivots about an axis orthogonal to the previous one and whose second bent arm has a hook, the latter pressing on the cylindrical outer surface of the internal part when the latter is in the inactive position, and suddenly penetrating, after the completion of this stroke, into a non-concentric notch of the internal part under the cumulative effects of the first spring and a second spring which communicates with this lever a couple of the same direction.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description below and on examining the appended figures among which
Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation view
axial of the device at rest,
Figure 2 illustrates a top view cut by the
plane PP 'of the apparatus according to FIG. 1 when
it has been activated,
and Figure 3 shows in a partial axial view at
section, a detail of the locking lever
age.

FIG. 1 represents a switch device 1 which is actuated from its inactive position wRw by a single axial thrust XX 'of direction F communicated to its external control member 2 which contains a lock barrel 3 and which is axially linked to a internal part 4 sliding and rotating in a housing 5 of a first body 6 associated with a second body 7,
This part 4 has an axial housing 8 which opens on the side opposite to the control member and which receives the fixed end 9 of a helical compression spring 10 whose active end 11 is supported on the face 12 of a pallet 13 constituting the first arm of a lever 14 pivoted ortho-swelling to the axis XX 'around YY' in the second body, and whose second bent arm 15 has a hook 16, the latter resting on the surface external cylindrical 17 of the internal part 4 when the latter is in the inactive position "R", and suddenly penetrating, after the internal part has completed a certain stroke "C", in a groove 18, not concentric to the axis XX ′ of this part, under the cumulative effects of the first force exerted by the first spring on the pallet, and of a second force exerted by a second spring 19 on the lever 14, which develops same direction couples K.

During the sudden movement of the pallet, the second face 20 of the pallet opposite the first encounter a push button 21 of switch 22 placed opposite and fixed on the second body.

The control member which is then held in its active position "A" by the hook can still carry out an additional displacement thanks to the value given to the height zhw of the groove and mechanically meet the pallet to produce its forced displacement even if none of the two springs had not fulfilled its function. This arrangement also makes it possible to separate switch contacts which would be welded.

The return to the inactive position of the device is obtained by the action of a return spring 23 which is compressed between the first body and the control member, and which can relax when a key 24, inserted in barrel 3, communicates to the internal part a rotation of direction G which drives the hook out of the groove, see FIG. 2.

It is clear that if for constructive reasons two bodies have been assembled, the device can also be provided with a body made in one piece. Taking into account the speed of movement of the pallet, the switch could advantageously be with slow breaking, a switch using a sudden breaking by passing neutral has less reliability.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the internal part 4 can have at its end two bosses 25 diametrically opposite to locate its action on the pallet 13; the latter may in turn have a centering pin 26 for laterally immobilizing the end 11 of the spring 10 which would risk slipping during the rotation of the lever I1 is clear that an attempt to actuate the switch without the member is subsequently kept in position A is here doomed to fail.

Claims (1)

Patent claim  Emergency stop switch device, actuated by a single axial thrust from its external control member in which an elastic lock cooperates with a rotary and movable internal part axially connected to said member, so as to maintain this member in a particular position when the latter has traversed, from an inactive position, a certain stroke beyond which this part is capable of actuating, for an active position, an emergency switch, a coded mechanical means, such as a key, being introduced into the control member to communicate to said lock a release position which allows the return of the internal part to an inactive position under the effect of elastic return means, characterized in that the internal part (4) has an axial internal housing (8) receiving a first coaxial helical compression spring (10) whose movable end (11) is supported on the side (12) of a pallet (13), which is opposite to one side (20) directed to the pusher (21) of the switch member (22), this pallet constituting the first arm of a lever (14) which pivots about an axis YY 'orthogonal to the previous XX' and of which the second arm (15) bent has a hook (16), the latter resting on the external cylindrical surface (17) of the internal part when the latter is in the inactive position "R", and suddenly penetrating after completion of this stroke wCw in a notch (18 ) not concentric of the internal part under the cumulative effects of the first spring and a second spring (14) which communicates to this lever a torque of the same direction "K".