FR2816491A1 - Locking/unlocking device for pressure cooker lid comprises four radially movable jaws connected by arms to movement control comprising control part and intermediate plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The pressure cooker lid (1) locking device comprises four jaws (15) which can move radially on the lid. The jaws are connected by arms (16) to a jaw movement control (20). A locking valve mounted on the lid is able to occupy top and bottom positions in order to selectively lock the movement of the jaws. The control comprises a control part able to be displaced in order to displace the jaws and an intermediate plate (36) rotated by the control. The locking valve is set up opposite the plate. An Independent claim is included for a pressure cooker utilizing the lid locking device.

Description

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LOCKING DEVICE 1 UNLOCKING A LID ON A TANK, AND COOKING CONTAINER
UNDER PRESSURE COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE The present invention relates to the general technical field of locking devices 1 unlocking a cover on a tank, to form a pressure cooking container, as well as pressure cooking containers.

The present invention relates more particularly to unlocking locking devices 1 which comprise: - jaws mounted to move radially on the cover by driving arms between a locking position of the cover on the tank and an unlocking position in which the cover can be removed of the tank, - means for controlling the movement of the jaws connected to the arms so as to cause them to move radially and to move the jaws into one or other of their locking and unlocking positions, - at least one valve Lock mounted on the cover and able to occupy, under the effect of the pressure prevailing in the container, an upper position and a lower position, so as to selectively block the movement of the jaws.

The locking devices 1 unlocking usually encountered include two jaws connected to two driving arms whose movement is controlled by elements in translation.

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Even if such devices are generally entirely satisfactory, it sometimes proves necessary to distribute the forces over a larger part of the perimeter of the cover.

An object of the present invention therefore aims to provide a new locking device 1 unlocking which allows a greater distribution of forces on the perimeter of the cover when clamping the jaws.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the handling of the control means by the user.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which limits the forces exerted by the user on the cover.

Another object of the invention consists in reducing the clearances when blocking the movement of the jaws for safety reasons.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a locking device 1 unlocking a cover on a tank to form a pressure cooking vessel comprising: - jaws mounted movable radially on the cover by arms entrainers between a position for locking the cover on the tank and an unlocking position in which the cover can be removed from the tank, - means for controlling the movement of the jaws connected to the arms so as to cause them to move radially and to move the jaws in either of their locking and unlocking positions,

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- au moins une soupape de verrouillage montée sur le couvercle et apte à occuper, sous l'effet de la pression régnant dans le récipient, une position haute et une position basse, de manière à bloquer sélectivement le mouvement des mâchoires, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif comprend au moins quatre mâchoires et en ce que les moyens de commande comprennent : - un organe de commande apte à être déplacé pour déplacer les mâchoires, - une plaque intermédiaire entraînée en rotation par l'organe de commande, la plaque intermédiaire et les bras entraîneurs coopérant ensemble pour que la rotation de la plaque provoque un déplacement radial des bras entraîneurs.

- at least one locking valve mounted on the cover and capable of occupying, under the effect of the pressure prevailing in the container, a high position and a low position, so as to selectively block the movement of the jaws, characterized in that the device comprises at least four jaws and in that the control means comprise: - a control member able to be moved to move the jaws, - an intermediate plate driven in rotation by the control member, the intermediate plate and the driving arms cooperating together so that the rotation of the plate causes a radial movement of the driving arms.

- La figure 1 montre, selon une vue générale, un récipient de cuisson, de préférence sous pression pourvu, du dispositif de verrouillage déverrouillage conforme à la présente invention. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent and will emerge in more detail on reading the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting examples in which:

- Figure 1 shows, in a general view, a cooking container, preferably provided with pressure, the unlocking locking device according to the present invention.

- Figures 2 and 3 show, in a perspective view, the locking device 1 unlocking according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the jaws being respectively in the open position and in the closed position.

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- Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 2 and 3 and show the locking device 1 unlocking according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

 The locking device 1 unlocking according to the invention is intended to ensure the closing by locking of a cover 1 on a tank 2 (FIG. 1), so as to form a cooking container 3, preferably under pressure such that a pressure cooker.

The container 3 is for example constituted by a tank 2 of substantially cylindrical shape, of axis of revolution XX, on which the cover 1 is intended to be attached in leaktight manner, for example by means of a gasket. lip seal (not shown) commonly encountered in the state of the art.

The tank 2 is conventionally made from a metallic material such as stainless steel, and provided with a thermally conductive bottom 4 secured to the tank, for example by hot stamping. The tank 2 also includes gripping members, not shown, such as handles fixed to the walls 5 of the tank.

The cover 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, a profiled closing disc 8 provided at its periphery with a groove-shaped zone serving as a seat for receiving the lip seal, and ensuring with it the seal closing the cover 1 on the tank 2.

The closing disc 8 is further provided with at least one hole 11. This hole allows the mounting and the passage of a locking valve 12 mounted with axial free sliding in said hole, between a low stop position and a position high stop.

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Such a locking valve 12 is, as is well known in the prior art, constituted by a safety finger whose main function is to provide visual information of the pressure prevailing in the pressure vessel.

Advantageously, the vapor tightness between the locking valve 12 and the bore 11 is improved by interposition of a seal carried by the lower part of the locking valve 12.

Consequently, when the container 3 is closed in a leaktight manner by locking the cover 1 on the tank 2, and when the tank is placed on a heat source, the pressure inside the container may increase, thereby causing the passage of the locking valve 12 in its high position. On the contrary, when the pressure decreases and tends towards zero inside the container, the locking valve 12 moves downwards to reach its low stop position.

In order to lock 1 unlock the cover 1 on the tank 2, the locking device 1 unlocking 10 comprises: - jaws 15 which are mounted radially movable on the cover 1 by driving arms 16, between a locking position of the cover 1 on the tank 2 such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and an unlocking position in which the cover 1 can be removed from the tank 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

 - Means for controlling the movement of the jaws 15 which are connected to the driving arms 16 in order to cause the radial movement of these arms and to move the jaws 15 in one or other of their locking and unlocking positions.

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According to the present invention, the locking device 10 further comprises the locking valve 12 which is able to occupy under the effect of the pressure prevailing in the container 3, the high position or the low position, so as to selectively block the jaw movement 15.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the locking device 1 unlocking 10 comprises at least four jaws 21 to 24. These jaws are for example also distributed around the periphery of the cover 1, thus forming between them an angle close to 90. Alternatively, the four jaws can form two pairs of jaws forming an acute angle between them.

The jaws 21 to 24 are conventionally in the form of U-shaped profile segments adapted to the shape of the container and in the present case, in the form of arcs of circles of determined length. Each of the jaws 21 to 24 has a lower rim 25 and an upper rim 26 making it possible to grip the peripheral edge of the cover 1 and the upper limit of a groove in the upper end of the tank 2.

Each jaw 21 to 24 is movably mounted on the closing disc 8 by means of a driving arm. In the present case, the device therefore has four arms 27 to 30 which extend from the periphery of the cover 1 where the jaws 21 to 24 are arranged and converge radially in the direction of the center of the cover 1.

commande 20 du mouvement des mâchoires comprennent : - un organe de commande 35 qui est apte à être déplacé pour commander le mouvement des mâchoires 21 à 24, According to an important characteristic of the invention, the means of

control 20 of the movement of the jaws comprise: a control member 35 which is capable of being moved to control the movement of the jaws 21 to 24,

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 an intermediate plate 36 which is rotated by the control member 35 and which cooperates with the driving arms 27 to 30 so that the rotation of the plate 36 causes the radial movement of the driving arms 27 to 30.

Preferably, the control member 35 is mounted movable in rotation relative to the cover 1.

According to a still essential characteristic, at least one light 37 is, in the first embodiment, formed in at least one of the four radial arms 27 to 30, the locking valve 12 and the light 37 being arranged relatively so that in the locking position of the four jaws 21 to 24 as shown in FIG. 3, the lumen 37 is crossed by the valve 12, this valve is then in the high position under the effect of the pressure, to lock the jaws in the position of locking the cover 1 on the tank 2.

The control member 35 controls the movement of the driving arms 27 to 30 in an active way in the external radial direction Fi (FIG. 2), that is to say in the direction of unlocking the jaws 21 to 24, and in the radial direction internal F2 (FIG. 3), that is to say in the direction of locking the jaws 21 to 24.

In the preferred version of the invention shown in the figures, each of the driving arms 27 to 30 is in the form of a metal profile, for example a substantially flat rectilinear, and whose profile is adapted to that of the closing disc 8. Each arms thus has an external end 40 which is connected to one of the jaws 21 to 24 and an internal end 41 which cooperates with the intermediate plate 36.

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According to the present invention, each of the internal ends 41 of the arms 27 to 30 is provided with a finger 42, and the intermediate plate 36 has four guide paths 45 in which the fingers 42 penetrate and move during the rotation of the plate 36.

The fingers 42 are for example made up of lugs which project perpendicularly to the plane of the arms 27 to 30 and which extend in the direction opposite to the tank 2.

The guide tracks 45 each consist of a lumen which extends between two ends 46 and 47. This lumen passes through the entire thickness of the intermediate plate 36 and is of curved shape, the center of curvature of which is slightly offset by relative to the center of the plate 36 so that one of the ends, for example the end 46 is offset towards the center (inwards) of the plate 36 relative to the other of the ends, the end 47 In the present case, the intermediate plate 36 has a center of rotation situated on the axis XX of the container 3.

In addition, the intermediate plate 36 takes the form of a flat disc whose plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X and whose center is located on the axis X-X.

The substantially rectilinear radial movement of the arms 27 to 30 is guided by a guide ring 50, which has an L-shaped cross-section so as to be placed around the intermediate plate 36. In addition, the guide ring 50 has four recesses 51 regularly distributed around the ring and inside which the four driving arms 27 to 30 move.

The internal radial or external radial movement of the arms 27 to 30 is thus guided by the ring 50, so that when the intermediate plate 36 is

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 driven in rotation by a user clockwise (Ri) or anti-clockwise (R2), the curved shape (oriented towards the inside of the plate) of the paths 45 causes a substantially rectilinear displacement of the fingers 42, which are themselves secured to the internal ends 41 of the arms. These arms are thus driven in radial displacement in the direction of the arrow Fi to unlock the jaws 21 to 24, or in the direction of the arrow F2 to lock the jaws 21 to 24.

In order to cause the rotation of the intermediate plate 36 by the user, the locking device 1 unlocking 10 further comprises a central handle 55 which is integral with the intermediate plate 36 and which projects into the center of the cover 1.

This central handle 55 is integral in rotation with the plate 36 for example by means of a lug (not shown) of polygonal cross section which enters a housing 56 of complementary section. Furthermore, the shape of the handle 55 can be of any kind to facilitate its manipulation by the user.

As a variant, the driving arms 27 to 30 may have come in one piece with the jaws 21 to 24.

The operation of the locking / unlocking device 10 according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The establishment of the cover 1 on the tank 2 requires the opening of the jaws 21 to 24. For this, the user turns the central handle 55 in the direction of rotation Ri (fig. 2) so as to cause a radial displacement external of the driving arms 27 to 30. The end of the translation of the arms and therefore of the opening of the jaws 21 to 24 is determined by the coming into abutment of the fingers 42 in the bottom of their guide paths 45. The

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 locking valve 12 not being subjected to a pressure, it occupies its low position, so that it does not penetrate into the lumen 37 formed in one of the radial arms 27 to 30, for example in the radial arm 29 The movement of these arms is therefore not limited.

After putting the cover 1 on the tank 2 in position, the jaws 21 to 24 must be locked. For this, the user actuates the central handle 55 in the direction of rotation R2 (FIG. 3) so as to cause the rotation of the intermediate plate 36, and therefore an internal radial displacement of the arms 27 to 30.

Thanks to the locking valve 12, the pressurization of the container 3 can only take place if the jaws 21 to 24 are properly locked.

Indeed, the light 37 is formed on one of the radial arms in a location suitable for the light 37 and the valve 12 to be opposite when the arms 27 to 30 are in a position allowing good locking of the jaws 21 to 24 , ensuring that the cover 1 remains securely in position on the tank 2.

Therefore, from the moment the pressure inside the container exceeds a certain threshold, in fact as soon as the tank is overpressure relative to the outside of the container, the locking valve 12 is in the position of high stop. The movement of the arms 21 to 24 is then blocked, preventing any unlocking of the jaws 21 to 24.

In addition, in the case where the jaws 21 to 24 have been badly locked, the radial arms 27 to 30 have not made an internal radial displacement sufficient to bring the light 37 in correspondence with the locking valve 12. This valve does not can therefore not come into high stop and thus allows steam to escape from the container 3. The rise in

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 pressure inside the container 3 cannot therefore take place, thus ensuring the safety of the user.

In the second embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the locking device 1 unlocking 10 comprises the same constituent parts as in the first embodiment. Identical or similar elements will therefore bear the same reference numbers.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the locking valve 12 is no longer located opposite one of the radial arms, but opposite the intermediate plate 36. The intermediate plate 36 therefore now has a light 60 which is intended to come opposite the locking valve 12 when this plate occupies the position corresponding to the correct locking of the jaws 21 to 24.

When the container 3 is pressurized, the locking valve 12 reaches its upper stop position and enters the lumen 60. This valve thus prevents any movement of the intermediate plate 36. The movement of all of the arms is therefore blocked simultaneously.

This embodiment of the invention is particularly advantageous, since it allows an action of the locking valve 12 directly on the control plate, thus reducing the clearances between the component parts of the device 10. The invention thus allows use safely from the container 3, while having an identical movement of the four jaws.

In yet another variant not shown in the figures, at least two of the drive arms aligned with each other overlap at their internal ends 41 and each have an opening.

The location of these openings and the location of the pressure relief valve

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 locking 12 at the intermediate plate 36 are adapted so that in the locking position of the jaws 21 to 24, the openings are opposite one another and with the valve.

Thus, when the jaws are in their correct locking position, the valve can come into high abutment. In this position, the valve passes through the openings of the at least two arms as well as the lumen of the intermediate plate. The two arms are then immobilized relative to each other, and the intermediate plate is immobilized in rotation, which blocks any movement of the other two arms. The four jaws 21 to 24 are thus securely locked in their locked position.

In this variant, the locking valve is located at a location located in the axis of the two aligned arms.

It is also possible, in another variant, to overlap the four internal ends 41 of the driving arms. The locking valve 12 is then located in the center of the cover 1 in order to be able, in the high stop position, to simultaneously pass through the lights made in the four arms as well as the light from the intermediate plate (which are brought opposite). The four jaws are thus blocked simultaneously.

Of course, it is understood that the locking device 1 unlocking according to the present invention can be applied to any type of pressure cooking vessel comprising a tank intended to be closed by a cover.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS 1-Locking device 1 unlocking of a cover (1) on a tank (2) to form a cooking container (3) under pressure comprising: - jaws (15) mounted radially movable on the cover (1) by driving arms (16) between a position for locking the cover (1) on the tank (2) and an unlocking position in which the cover (1) can be removed from the tank (2), - control means ( 20) of the movement of the jaws (15) connected to the arms (16) so as to cause them to move radially and to move the jaws (15) in one or other of their locking and unlocking positions, - at least a locking valve (12) mounted on the cover (1) and able to occupy under the effect of the pressure prevailing in the container (3), an up position and a down position, so as to selectively block the movement of the jaws (15), characterized in that the device (10) com takes at least four jaws (21 to 24) and in that the control means (20) comprise: - a control member (35) capable of being moved to move the jaws (21 to 24), - an intermediate plate ( 36) rotated by the control member (35), <Desc / Clms Page number 14>  - The locking valve (12) being located opposite the intermediate plate (36) to prevent movement of said plate when the container (3) is pressurized. 2-Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a central handle (55) integral with the intermediate plate (36) for its rotation. 3-pressure cooking container (3) comprising a tank (2), a cover (1) and a locking device 1 unlocking according to one of claims 1 or 2.