MXPA98008607A - Accommodation of electrical equipment of multiple doors with interlocking of mecan doors - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-door housing for housing electrical equipment has a mechanical interlock device that interacts with a primary primary door of the housing and the existing latch mechanisms of each of the remaining secondary doors to prevent secondary doors from opening unless the primary door opens first. The interlock includes a lever arm that engages and moves through the primary door when closed. This movement of the lever arm is transmitted via a mechanical link system to move one or more bolt deactivation members in deactivation relation with the bolt mechanisms of each of the secondary doors in order to retain the bolt mechanisms in their latching positions and by means of which it locks the secondary doors in their closed position. Opening the secondary door allows the lever arm to return to its initial position, which in turn retracts the hooking members and allows the secondary doors to be unlocked and opened.

Description

ACCOMMODATION OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OF MULTIPLE DOORS WITH INTERLOCKING OF MEC NICO DOORS This invention relates to multi-door housings of the type used to house electrical equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Housing is often used to house various electrical and electronic equipment, such as controls, instruments, components, and the like in a wide range of different environments. The accommodations serve to limit access to. equipment as well as to protect the equipment against exposure to environmental contaminants such as dust, oil, water, and the like. Typically, large-sized accommodations are provided with multi-jointed access doors that allow those working on the equipment to access various areas of the interior of the housing. The doors are fitted with the usual locking mechanisms which, when latched, secure the doors in a closed position and, when disengaged, allow the doors to swing open. The main or "primary" access door is often linked to the control switch of the incoming power supply so that the door ; Primary can not be opened unless the power supply is switched to "off". Industrial standards now also require that some elements be placed to prevent the remaining "secondary" door or doors from opening unless the primary door is first opened. In this way, none of the doors can be opened while the power is "on". This invention is directed to such a system for multiple door housings.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A housing for housing electrical equipment constructed in accordance with the invention includes a cabinet having a primary access door and at least one secondary access door, each hinged to the cabinet and movable between the open and closed positions. closed. At least the secondary door is provided with a latch mechanism which, when latched, functions to secure the secondary door in the closed position. A mechanical interlock acts between the primary door and the secondary door latch and functions in response to the primary door lock to retain the latch mechanism in the latched position, whereby the secondary door is locked in the closed position. The interlock works in response to the opening of the primary door to allow the movement of the lock mechanism to the unlocked position thereby allowing the secondary door to open. The invention provides a simple, mechanical solution for controlling the opening of the secondary door or doors of a multi-door housing. By retaining the latch mechanism in the latched position when the primary door is closed, the interlock prevents the secondary door from being opened until the first primary door is first opened. An attempt to open the secondary door when the primary door is closed effectively encounters a locked door. The mechanical interlocking system is. it can incorporate as a feature of new housing constructions or can be easily retrofitted to existing accommodations to interact with its primary doors and secondary door latch mechanisms. According to a preferred method of the invention for controlling the opening of these multi-door housings having at least one of these secondary doors, a mechanical interlock is provided having a movable actuator supported in position to confront and be moved by the door primary as closed. . The actuator is engaged by a mechanical link to a bolt deactivating member supported adjacent to the secondary door bolt mechanism and responsive to this movement of the actuator to move in deactivation relationship with the bolt mechanism of the secondary door to retain the latch mechanism. bolt mechanism in the engaged position and prevent the secondary door from opening while the primary door is closed.

THE DRAWINGS A currently preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a multi-door housing constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an internal elevated view of the housing taken generally along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged front view of a component of the mechanical interlock device with the front cover removed; Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 3, but with the front cover in place. Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom view of the device of Figure 3, but with the front cover in place; Figure 6 is a view like Figure 3, but showing the interlock installed and interacting with the primary door and the latch mechanism of the secondary door; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of Figure 6; Figures 8, 9, and 10 are views corresponding, respectively, to Figures 3, 4, and 5 but of a double-bolt component of the interlock device; and Figures 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary front and side views of a portion of the mechanical link of the interlock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A multi-door housing constructed in accordance with the invention is designated generally in the drawings and comprises a cabinet 12 of generally rectangular box construction and the walls 14 encloses an interior space 16 within the cabinet 12 for the accommodation of equipment electrical, such as electrical or electronic controls, instruments, components, and the like (not shown).

The cabinet 12 has a front wall structure 18 with a plurality of door openings 20 in each of which an articulated door hangs along a vertical edge thereof for the portion of the adjacent vertical structure member of the cabinet 12 for movement between the open and closed positions. The door 22a, on the right in Figure 1 and on the left in Figure 2, is designated the "primary" access door, while the remaining doors 22b are designated "secondary" doors by convention. As will be apparent from the following description, the invention contemplates housings having a primary access door 22a and at least one of these secondary access doors 22b. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there are three of these secondary access doors 22b. Referring to the internal elevated view of the housing 10 of Figure 2, it will be seen that the primary access door 22a is hinged at 24 in the first structure portion 18a, while the following two successive secondary doors 22b are articulated at 26 a a second portion of vertical structure 18b. The remaining secondary door 22b towards the right end is hinged at 28 to the vertical structure portion furthest from the 18d of the cabinet 12 so that the two doors 22b to the right have their non-articulated swinging side skirting the third vertical structure portion 18c . With reference to Figures 1, 2, and 6, at least the secondary doors 22b, and preferably the primary doors 22a also, are fitted with a latch mechanism 30 of conventional design that is movable between latching and unlatching positions. The latch mechanisms 30 for all doors are preferably of the same construction and operation. Each latch mechanism 30 has an outer handle 32 mounted on a rotating shaft 34 that extends through the associated door adjacent its oscillating side. A turn plate 36 is fixed to the arrow 34 on the inner side of the door 22b and rotates with the arrow 34. A pair of lock rods 38 are pivoted towards opposite sides of the turntable 36 and extend generally vertically from the same in opposite directions towards the upper part and the lower part of the door. They carry rollers 40 at their free ends. Figures 2 and 6 illustrate the latch mechanism in the latching and unlatching positions. In the hooked position, the handle 32 oscillates vertically downward, placing a projection or tongue 46 of the turntable 36 behind the associated adjacent vertical structure section 18a, 18c of the front structure 18 to secure the middle portion vertically of the door 22. The ends Free of the bolt rods 38 are also positioned so that the rollers 40 extend beyond the upper and lower margins of the door and engage with the members of the adjacent horizontal structure 44 of the structure 18 to secure the upper and lower regions. bottom of the door in the closed position. To unlatch a door, the handle 32 of the bolt mechanism swings to the horizontal position which in turn rotates the tongue 46 of the turntable 36 away from the latch bolt with its associated vertical structure section and retracts bolt rods 38 and its rollers 40 toward the position of the broken chain line shown in Figure 6 out of engaging engagement with the front structure 18, whereby the door is allowed to open. The description and characteristics of the lock described thus far, including the multi-jointed doors and the latch mechanisms 30 are conventional. According to the invention, a mechanical interlock device or system 48 is provided which interacts with the primary door 22a and the latch mechanism 30 of each of the secondary doors 22b so as to deactivate these latch mechanisms 30 by retaining them in their latching positions while the primary door 22a is closed. In this way, the interlocking device 48 ensures that the secondary doors 22b can not be opened unless the primary door 22a opens first. The interlock 48 includes an actuator 50 supported adjacent to the primary door 22a in position to be engaged and moved by the main door 22a as a response to closing the primary door. Referring to Figures 3-6, the actuator 50 includes a lever arm 56 mounted on a drive shaft 58 hinged by the opposite side walls 60, 62, of an adjacent drive housing 64, to the hinged side of the primary door 22a for its rotation with respect to a generally horizontal axis of rotation R. The arm 56 carries a roller that engages in the door 66 at its free end and in spaced relation with the axis of rotation R. A torsion spring 68 (Figure 3) acts between the housing 64 and the arrow 58 to force the roller 66 of the lever arm 56 constantly outward toward the path of the primary door 22a. As the primary door 22a swings to close, it confronts the roller 66 and pivots the lever arm 56 inward against the force of the spring 68, causing the arrow 58 to turn in turn. A front cover 65 of the housing 64 extends through the side walls 60, 62 to protect the internal work, but is shown removed in Figure 3. Leaning adjacent to each lock mechanism 30 of the secondary doors 22b is a member of deactivation of bolt 52 that can be moved in and out of the deactivation relation or position with respect to the associated bolt mechanism 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the secondary door 22b closest to the primary door 22a (ie, the second door on the right in Figure 2) is mounted with its oscillating side adjacent to the vertical structure portion 18a on which the primary door 22a is hinged. With this door arrangement, it is convenient to mount the bolt deactivation member 52 for that door in the actuator housing 64. • The bolt deactivation member 52 comprises a plate-like component that is pivoted between its ends toward the actuator housing 64 by means of the legs 70, 72 and the hinge pin 74. It is connected to the legs 75 of the housing 64 for a relative movement with respect to the housing 64 about a vertical pivot axis P. The member 52 is operatively coupled, in a end 76 thereof, with the actuating arrow 58 by a mechanical link mechanism 54 and carries at its opposite end a strike 78 to interact with the latch mechanism 30 of the associated secondary door 22b. The coupled end 76 of the bolt member 52 extends toward the housing 64 through an opening 80 in the side wall 62 thereof. The link 54 includes a fastener 81 which is fixed to the arrow 58 and has a leg portion 82 extending radially from the arrow 58 to a free end adjacent to, but spaced from, the coupled end 76 of the bolt member 52. A torsion spring 84 couples the end 76 of the bolt member 52 to the free end of the leg 82, thereby providing a resilient connection between the bolt member 52 and the actuator 50. The keeper 78 at the opposite end of the bolt member 5'2 preferably comprises a pair of separate ear projections 86 having opposed shoulders 87 defining a cavity or retainer 88 therebetween of sufficient width and depth to accommodate the tongue 46 of the secondary door lock mechanism 3.0 between the ears 86. - when they swing to the hooked position. As best shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7, the ears 86 are round or conical along their outer edges to provide cam surfaces 90. In use, with the secondary door 22b closed and latched, the rear lock of the primary gate 22a moves the lever arm 56 inward to the position of the chain line in Figure 4, causing the actuating arrow 58 to rotate with the arm 56 in a counterclockwise direction. This arrangement of the arrow 56 oscillates the leg portion 82 of the fastener 81 inward relative to the cabinet 12 and pivots the strike end 78 of the lock-off member 52 outwardly via the connection of the torsion spring 84 to the path of the tongue 46 of the latch mechanism of the secondary door 30, trapping the tongue 46 within the detent 88 between the shoulders 87 of the ears 86, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. When placing the ears 86 so as to interfere with the ability to move the tongue 46 beyond the shoulders 87, the interlock 48 functions to retain the latch mechanism 30 in the engaged position whereby the latch mechanism 30 is deactivated and the secondary door 22b is locked in the closed position . Insofar as the tongue 46 can move within the detent 88, its range of motion is insufficient to allow the tongue 46 and the latch rods 38 to retract out of the locking relationship with the front structure 18. In order to open the secondary door 22b, it is necessary first to open the primary door 22a. Opening the primary door 22a allows the lever arm 56 to be returned outwardly by the action of the associated torsion spring 68 to the position of the solid line of Figure 4, which in turn rotates the arrow 55 in the direction of the clock hands and pivots the strike end 78 of the bolt deactivation member inwardly to a position outside the deactivation relationship with the secondary door bolt mechanism., as illustrated in Figure 5. When the bolt member 52 is thus positioned, the normal operation of the secondary door latch mechanism 30 is allowed by letting the mechanism 30 disengage and the door 22b to open. In the event that the secondary door 22b is inadvertently left open, or closed but not fully latched after closing the primary door 22a, the interlock 48 is designed to allow the closing and subsequent latching of the secondary door 22b without having to reopen the primary door 22a first. The torsion spring 84 of the bolt deactivation member 52 is sufficiently rigid to transmit movement between the arrow 58 and the bolt deactivation member 52, since it is resilient enough to allow the bolt deactivation member 52 to pivot regardless of movement of the lever arm 56 and of the arrow 58 between the deactivation and activation positions to provide the lock and the subsequent engagement of the secondary door 22b as necessary. All that is required is that the secondary door 22b oscillates closed and the latch mechanism 30 rotate to the engaged position. By moving the mechanism 30 the hooking position rotates the tongue 46 to engage with the cam surface 90 of the lowermost ear portion 86, causing the bolt deactivation member 52 to initially deviate inwardly in opposition to the spring 84. As the tongue 46 passes the ear 86, it falls into the retainer 88, after which the deactivation member of the latch 52 is returned by the spring 84 back to the deactivation position to trap the tongue 46 in the engaged position to prevent the. rear reopening of the secondary door 22b. Thus far, the construction and operation of the interlock 48 has been concerned with controlling the opening of only the secondary door 22b located immediately adjacent to the primary door 22a. For housing 10 having more than one secondary door 22b, as in the case of the illustrated embodiment in which there are two of these additional secondary doors 22b, the interlock 48 includes the additional bolt units 92 coupled to the actuator 50 by means of the mechanical link 54 to interact in the same manner with the latching mechanisms 30 of these additional secondary doors 22b. In the illustrated embodiment, the two additional secondary doors 22b are mounted so that their oscillating sides are adjacent to each other along the third portion of the vertical structure 18c of the cabinet 12. In this way, the respective latch mechanisms 30 are adjacent to each other on opposite sides of the portion of structures 18c. Conveniently, bolt unit 92 is of a double lock construction having two bolt deactivation members 94 as those of bolt deactivating member 52 pivoted in the same manner by hinge pins 96 on opposite sides of housing 98 like the housing 64. A similar but shorter arrow 100 is articulated by the housing 98 in the same horizontal orientation as the arrow 58. The arrow 100 carries a fastener 101 like that of the fastener 81, which has an identical leg portion 102. which engages at its free radially outer end with each of the bolt members 94 by torsion springs 103, such as that of the torsion spring 84. The bolt deactivation members 94 each have separate ear portions 104 identical. to those of the ears 86 that provide detents 106 for accommodating the tongues 46 of the respective bolt mechanisms 30 in the manner described to earlier. The double-bolt unit 92 engages the driver 50 via the mechanical link 54 so that the bolt deactivation members 94 are caused to move simultaneously with the movement of the bolt member 52 between the activation and deactivation positions. To this end, the mechanical link 54 includes a suspended shaft 108 that extends between the actuator 50 and the double-bolt unit 92 and is mounted by guides 110 on top of the doors 22b for relative rotation with the cabinet 12. Connection rods 114, 116 they extend vertically along the structure portions 18a and 18c and are connected at their upper ends by means of restrained fasteners 118 and are operatively coupled at their lower ends opposite the arrows 58, 100 respectively. As best shown in Figures 11 and 12, each of the fasteners 118 includes a U-shaped member 120, which has spaced apart legs 122, 124, formed with aligned openings through which the arrow 108 extends. The legs 122, 124 are joined by a sine 126 carrying a fixed screw 128 which is pressed against the arrow 108 to secure the member 120 to rotate with the arrow 108. The leg 124 mounts an asparagus 130 in a radially outwardly spaced relation to arrow 108. Secured to the upper end of each connecting rod 114, 116 is an end link 132 formed with a recess in which stud 130 is received to establish a pivotal connection between link 132 and member 120 A nut 134 retains the end links 132 in their respective studs 130. The connection between the lower end of the connecting rods 114, 116 and their respective arrows 58, 100 is similar in construction. Referring to Figures 3-10, the lower end of each connecting rod 114, 116 is fitted with an end link 136 which is identical to the link 132, and which is coupled in the same manner to a stud 138 projecting laterally. from the free end of a leg 140 of a rigid L-shaped link 142 projecting from the drive housing 64, 98. The other leg 144 of the L-shaped link 142 is connected by a transverse pin 146 to the ends of a pair of laterally spaced arm portions 148 of the fasteners 81, 101. In the operation of the double bolt unit 92, closing the primary door 22a moves the lever arm 56 inward as before causing the actuating arrow 58 turn counterclockwise. The arms 148 oscillate with the arrow 58 pushing the connecting rod 114 up which in turn rotates on the suspended shaft 108 and lifts the other connecting rod 116 upwards via the fasteners 118. The upward movement of the connecting rod in turn rotates the arrow 100 of the double-bolt unit 92, pivoting its bolt deactivation members 94 toward the deactivation position in the same manner as the bolt member 52 to prevent the operation of the latch mechanisms 30 of the bolts. associated secondary doors 22b. As the bolt deactivation members 94 are spring deflected by the torsion springs 108 in the same manner as the bolt deactivation member 52, they are capable of providing, if necessary, the subsequent closing and latching of their associated secondary doors. 22b in the event that the primary door 22a has been previously closed. It will be appreciated that additional single or double bolt units may be provided as necessary to accommodate additional secondary doors 22b.

These additional bolt units operate in the same manner by extending the suspended shaft 108 and providing additional connecting rods such as 116, as required. The described embodiment is representative of a currently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS 1. A housing for housing electrical equipment comprising: a cabinet having a primary access door and at least one secondary access door, the doors being hinged to the cabinet and being movable between open and closed positions, at least the door The secondary has a movable latch mechanism between latching and unlatching positions to secure the secondary door releasably in the closed position when latched, and allow the latch. secondary door opens when unhooked; and a mechanical interlock acting between the primary door and the secondary door latch mechanism, the mechanical interlock acting in response to the primary door lock to stop the latch mechanism and the latch position thereby blocking the latch mechanism. secondary door in the closed position, and functioning in response to the opening of the primary door to allow movement of the lock mechanism from the latching position to the unlatching position thereby allowing the secondary door to be opened. The housing of claim 1 wherein the mechanical interlock includes a supported actuator adjacent to the primary door in position to confront and move through the primary door after closing the primary door. The housing of claim 2 wherein the mechanical interlock includes a bolt deactivation member supported for movement in and out of the deactivation relationship with the bolt mechanism. The housing of claim 3 wherein the mechanical interlock includes a mechanical link operatively engaging the actuator with the bolt deactivation member. The housing of claim 4 wherein the actuator includes a lever arm that oscillates with respect to a rotation axis and a door embedding portion spaced apart from the axis positioned to engage the primary door when closed to rotate the door. lever arm in a first direction with respect to the ex e. The housing of claim 5 wherein the bolt deactivation member is supported for a movement with respect to a pivot axis in and out of the deactivation relation with respect to the bolt mechanism. 7. The housing of claim 6 wherein the pivot axis of the bolt deactivation member lies transverse to the axis of rotation of the lever arm. The housing of claim 6 wherein the mechanical link transmits the pivotal movement of the lever arm in motion pivotally of the dead bolt deactivation member. The housing of claim 6 wherein the bolt deactivation member includes an embastesable strikeout portion with a movable portion of the bolt mechanism, when in deactivation relationship therewith, to secure the latch mechanism in position of hooked. The housing of claim 9 wherein the strike-off portion includes at least one ear projection having an extensible shoulder in confrontation engagement with the movable portion when the bolt-off member is pivoted in deactivation relation with the mechanism of bolt The housing of claim 10 wherein the strike-off portion comprises a pair of spaced ear projections to provide a catch therebetween, trapping the movable portion against movement with the lock mechanism in the disengaged position when the deactivation member is engaged. The bolt is pivoted in the deactivation relation with the bolt mechanism. The housing of claim 9 wherein the link includes a spring acting on the bolt deactivating member to force the member deactivating bolt constantly toward the deactivation relation with the bolt mechanism and allowing the bolt deactivation member to pivot independently of the movement of the actuator. The housing of claim 12 wherein the bolt deactivation member includes a cam surface adjacent the strike positioned to engage and be displaced by the member. movable mechanism of the bolt mechanism when the primary door is closed and, after movement of the bolt mechanism from the disengaged position to the latched position, provide for the closing and latching of the secondary rear door to the primary door lock. The housing of claim 4 wherein the cabinet includes a plurality of secondary doors and an associated plurality of latch mechanisms, the mechanical interlock including a plurality of bolt-off members operatively coupled by the mechanical link to the actuator for movement. set in and out of the deactivation relationship with the bolt mechanisms. The housing of claim 15 wherein the mechanical link includes a suspended shaft supported for rotation by the cabinet above the secondary doors and operatively coupled by a first connecting rod to the actuator so as to cause the shaft to rotate in response to the movement of the actuator, and operatively coupled by at least one additional connecting rod to at least one of the plurality of bolt-off members so as to move the bolt-off members together outwardly from the deactivation ratio. with the bolt mechanism in response to the rotation of the suspended axle. 17. A method for controlling the opening of the secondary access door of a multi-door housing for housing electrical equipment, wherein the housing has a primary access door and at least one of these secondary access doors, wherein each one is hinged to a housing cabinet for movement between open and closed positions, and wherein at least the secondary door has associated therewith a movable latch mechanism between latching and unlatching positions and which operates when latched to secure the secondary door in the closed position, and operating when disengaged to allow the secondary door to be opened, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a mechanical interlock having a movable actuator, at least one movable latch deactivation member, and a mechanical link operatively engaging the actuator and bolt deactivating member to transmit movement of the actuator to the bolt deactivation member; and b. mounting the interlock in the cabinet to support the actuator in position to confront and be displaced by the primary door as it moves from the open position to the closed position and to support the bolt deactivation member in position to move it in deactivation relation , with the bolt mechanism? on said displacement of the actuator by means of which the bolt mechanism is retained in the engaged position and the secondary door is locked in the closed position when the primary door is closed. The method of claim 17 wherein the bolt deactivation member leaves the deactivation relation with the bolt mechanism when the primary door is opened, activating the bolt mechanism to move to the unlatched position and thereby allows the secondary door to open. 19. A method for modifying a multi-door housing for housing electrical equipment, wherein the housing has an articulated primary access door and at least one articulated secondary access door movable between open and closed positions, and wherein at least the door secondary has associated therewith a movable latch mechanism between latching and unlatching positions and which operates when latched to secure the secondary door in the closed position, and which operates when disengaged to allow the secondary door to be opened, comprising the method the steps of: a. providing a mechanical interlock having a movable actuator, at least one movable latch deactivation member, and a mechanical link operatively engaging the actuator and the bolt deactivating member to transmit movement of the actuator to the bolt deactivation member; and b. mounting the interlock in the cabinet to support the actuator in position to confront and be moved by the primary door as it moves from the open position to the closed position and to support the bolt deactivation member in position to move it in deactivation relation, with the bolt mechanism on said displacement of the actuator by means of which the bolt mechanism is retained in the engaged position and locking the secondary door in the closed position when the primary door is closed. The method of claim 19 wherein the interlock is mounted so that the bolt deactivation member exits the deactivation relationship with the bolt mechanism when the primary door is opened, activating the bolt mechanism to move to the unhooked position and by means of which the door that the secondary door is opened is allowed to open.