GB2318316A

GB2318316A - Switch cabinet key

Info

Publication number: GB2318316A
Application number: GB9721737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hermann Schunke
Original assignee: Schunke & Bockmuhl
Current assignee: Schunke & Bockmuhl
Priority date: 1996-10-16
Filing date: 1997-10-15
Publication date: 1998-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-15
Also published as: GB2318316B; GB9721737D0; FR2754648A1; FR2754648B1; DE29617973U1

Abstract

A switch cabinet key has the form of a cross having arms 1 to which way be secured interchangeable tool bits 6 or adaptors 7.

Description

2318316 Switch cabinet key The invention relates to a switch cabinet key

with a plurality of key heads, which are joined together to form a key cross consisting of a plurality of cross arms.

A switching cabinet key of this type is, for example, known from the German registered utility model G 81 34 851.7. In the case of this key cross, which is made of metal or plastics material, as desired, four cross arms are provided, on the ends of which, in each case, the key heads sit, the key heads being formed as integral with the cross arms.

The construction of the key heads integrally with the cross arms is a disadvantage in the known state of the art, since, in view of the wide variety of key fittings, only four switching circuit embodiments can be opened, the fittings of which correspond to the key heads in each case.

Furthermore, it is desirable if, using the switch cabinet key, it is possible not only to unlock the 2 appropriate switch cabinets but, furthermore, also to perform screwing operations.

The object of the invention is thus to develop a switch cabinet key further such that it can be used more universally.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one plug-in tool is provided, which tool can be connected in a manner secure against rotation to a key head, a cross arm, or an adaptor which is plugged, in a manner secure against rotation, into a key head or a cross arm.

This plug-in tool, which is, for example, formed as a key head or a screwdriver bit, makes substantially more application purposes possible in relation to the known screwdriver keys, such that the involvement of further tools can, substantially, be avoided.

The key heads, the adaptor or the plug-in tool in the shape of a screwdriver bit, preferably are or can be secured in a captive manner on the key cross. It is possible, for example, for additional plug-in boxes to be located between the arms of the key cross for this purpose; however, the bit or the adaptor can also be secured on the key 3 cross with the aid of a chain, which connects the individual parts to one another via appropriate bores or lugs.

The plug-in-tool or tools preferably have a hexagonal peripheral area, which, depending on the structure of the switch cabinet according to the invention can be plugged in in a manner secure against rotation in corresponding hexagonal recesses, which are formed in, for example, a key head, a cross arm, or the adaptor.

In the case of a particularly preferred embodiment, the screw tool has screw drives at its opposite different ends, e.g. it may have a cross slot drive on the one side, and, on the other side, a slot drive.

As has already been mentioned, the key heads of the switch cabinet key can also be formed such that they can be removed from the cross arms, wherein they preferably comprise a hexagonal plugin pin, which can be plugged into corresponding hexagonal recesses of the cross arms. As a result hereof, the cross arms can be fitted both with the key heads and with screwdriver bits or other hexagonal plug-in tools.

4 In order to prevent an unintentional falling out of the key heads or the screw tool from the cross arms, these may have, in the vicinity of their inner recess, a rod-shaped permanent magnet which draws the tool or heads magnetically.

The switch cabinet key according to the invention may consist, selectively, of metal or injection moulded plastics material, such that it can be mass-produced in good quality at a reasonable price.

The invention may be seen for example in the drawing and is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a four-arm switch cabinet key with an adaptor which can be inserted into a key head for accommodating a screw tool; Figure 2 is a four-arm switch cabinet key, in the case of which the cross arms have hexagonal recesses at their ends for the detachable, rotationally secure accommodation of key heads or plug- in tools; Figure 3 shows a four-arm switch cabinet key with integrally formed key heads, wherein, in turn, there are provided, in the ends of the cross arms, hexagonal recesses for the rotationally secure plugging in of plug-in tools; Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a screwdriver bit, an adaptor and key heads with different fittings.

The switch cabinet key which is shown in Figure 1 consists of four cross arms 1, which are joined together to form a key cross 2 and which support, at their ends, key heads 3 which are formed integrally with the cross arms 1. The connection of the cross arms 1 is performed via an approximately cube-shaped connection joint 4 with a bore 5 which, for example, serves for the passing through of a chain which is not shown and with the aid of which the double-sided bit 6, or the adaptor 7 which accommodates it, can be secured.

The adaptor 7 has a plug-in pin 8 with an approximately quadratic cross section, which can be plugged-in in a manner secure against rotation in a correspondingly formed inner recess 9 of the upper key head 3.

The adaptor 7 comprises, for its part, a hexagonal 6 recess 11 extending from its upper end 10, into which the double-sided bits 6 may be plugged in in a manner secure against rotation.

In the case of the embodiment according to Figure 2, the cross arms 1 are provided with an inner hexagonal recess 12, into which either the hexagonal peripheral area 13 of the double-sided bit 6 or a hexagonal plug-in pin 14 of a key head 15 can be plugged-in in a manner secure against rotation.

In the embodiment according to Figure 3, the cross arms 1 have, in turn, internal hexagonal recesses 12, the key heads 16 being, however, formed integrally with the cross arms 1 in this case.

Since the base 17 of the key head 16 is, however, perforated and the inner key fittings 18 are larger than the hexagonal recesses 12, the double sided bit 6, may, for example, be inserted through the key heads 16 into the inner hexagonal recess 12 of a cross arm 1.

In the overview given in Figure 4, there is shown, in the upper row on the left-hand side of the illustration, a perspective view of the doublesided bit 6, whereas, on the right-hand side of 7 the illustration, there is shown a section through an adaptor 7, as it is used for example in Figure 1.

The top views which are located therebelow on the drawing sheet show, in each case, different key heads, with which the switch cabinet key according to the invention may be equipped.

8 Switch Cabinet Key List of reference numerals 1 Cross arm 2 Key cross 3 Key head 4 Connection joint Bore 6 Double-sided bit 7 Adaptor 8 Plug-in pin 9 Inner recess Upper end 11 Hexagonal recess 12 Inner hexagonal recess 13 Hexagonal peripheral area 14 Hexagonal plug-in pin Key head 16 Key head 17 Floor 18 Key fitting 9

Claims

1. Switch cabinet key with a plurality of key heads, which are joined together to form a key cross consisting of a plurality of cross arms, characterised in that at least one plug-in tool (6, 15) is provided, this being capable of being connected in a manner secure against rotation to a key head (3), a cross arm (1) or an adaptor (7) which can be plugged in a manner secure against rotation into a key head (3) or a cross arm (1).

2. Switch cabinet key according to Claim 1, characterised in that the plug-in tool (6), the key head (15) and/or the adaptor (7) can be secured or are secured in a captive manner on the key cross (2).

3. Switch cabinet key according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plug-in tool (6) comprises a hexagonal peripheral area (13) which can be inserted into a hexagonal recess (11, 12) of a key head (3), a cross arm (1) or the adaptor (7), in a manner secure against rotation.

4. Switch cabinet key according to Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the plug-in tool (6) is a screw tool.

5. Switch cabinet key according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the screw tool (6) has different screw drives at its opposite ends.

6. Switch cabinet key in particular according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least one key head (15) can be connected in a removable manner, and in a manner which is secure as regards rotation to a cross arm (1).

7. Switch cabinet key according to Claim 6, characterised in that the key head (15) which is removable from the cross arm (1) has a hexagonal plugin pin (14) which can be plugged in a manner which is secure against rotation into a hexagonal recess (12) of the cross arm (1).

8. Switch cabinet key according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that, a rod-shaped permanent magnet is disposed in the interior of the recess (11, 12) of the cross arm (1).

9. Switch cabinet key according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the adaptor (7), the key head (15) and/or the plug- in tool (6) 11 are connected undetachably to the key cross (2).

10. Switch cabinet key according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the key cross (2), the key heads (3, 15) and/or the adaptor (7) consist of injection-moulded plastics material.