WO2005041374A1

WO2005041374A1 - Locking device

Info

Publication number: WO2005041374A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/011650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manfred Heindl; Wolfgang Leitl
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2003-10-24
Filing date: 2004-10-15
Publication date: 2005-05-06
Also published as: DE10349660A1; CN1868100A; EP1676348A1; DE10349660B4; CN100566058C

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device, enabling a housing part (3) to be mounted or dismounted in a comfortable manner using simple means, wherein a locking element (1,2), which is used to lock and unlock a moveable locking means (4,14), is provided with at least one degree of freedom in relation to the housing part (3) and can be moved for locking and unlocking purposes.

Description

description

locking device

The invention relates to a locking device according to the preamble of claim 1

Such a locking device, in operative connection with a latching means, in particular a slide, is provided for holding a device after it has been mounted on a mounting rail. The device, in particular an electrical modular device, is generally mounted on its device housing in series with a large number of other devices on a common mounting rail. It is often designed as a circuit breaker or as a switching or control device.

According to EP 1 119 085 AI, such a locking device is known which has a locking element connected to a housing part both for locking and for unlocking a movable latching means. The locking element is in this case formed by a fixed housing contour into which a projecting nose of a locking means designed as a slide engages. The slide is in turn provided with an actuating element in the form of a resilient arm which serves to release the nose from the housing contour and ultimately to release the slide from the mounting rail. In the case of a device mounted on the mounting rail or connected with one or more lines, however, the actuating element, which is offset in the device depth with respect to the housing front, is difficult to access or concealed, so that it can only be detached from the mounting rail with increased effort. The housing front side is understood to be the housing side facing a user when the device is assembled. The invention has for its object to provide a locking device of the type mentioned, which allows simple assembly and disassembly of a housing part with simple means.

The object is achieved on the basis of the locking device according to the preamble of claim 1 according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1; advantageous embodiments are the subject of further claims.

Since the locking element of the locking device, in spite of its structural connection to the housing part, has at least one freedom wheel in relation to it and is therefore movable both in terms of locking and in terms of unlocking, it is easy to do by an elastic deformation or by an articulated pivoting and conveniently enables an actuation of the locking element - possibly also starting from the front of the housing. Due to the resulting smooth operation of the locking element, the use of an operating tool is unnecessary, as is that of an additional part for locking or releasing the slide. Furthermore, the locking element and thus the latching means can be operated, even when space is restricted.

Advantageously, the locking element is formed by a cutout in the housing part, while, while maintaining the connection between the locking element and the housing part, a material-saving free space is created which creates a spacing of the locking element from the housing part, so that with regard to the one-piece unit consisting of the housing part and Locking element an elastic actuation of the locking element with simultaneous resilience is given. Advantageously, the locking element on the one hand has a one-piece connection to the housing part in the sense of an axis of rotation and on the other hand has a detachable connection in the sense of a locking point, so that with regard to the production of the housing part comprising the locking element, a self-contained cutout can be avoided and thereby a simple Injection molding tool is used.

The locking element advantageously has a number of detachable connections to the housing part in the sense of locking points for assembly purposes, the locking element being designed with a contour which may be adapted to the contour of the housing part or being obtained from the solid material of the housing part by means of a separation process can.

The locking element is advantageously connected to the housing part by at least one pivoting means, in particular a film hinge, so that a pivoting or rocking movement can be carried out. Furthermore, the locking element advantageously has at least one articulated connection to the

Housing part that also withstands increased mechanical stress.

The locking element is advantageously guided with a housing element, so that there is a stabilization of the locking element — possibly only hinged to the housing part on one side.

Advantageously, the locking element, in particular a locking pin arranged on it, is provided with a locking profile which is operatively connected to a counter profile of the locking means in the sense of an obliquely running undercut; due to the self-locking of the locking element, this is insensitive to shocks and on the other hand, a device user receives when the locking element is actuated and overcome by the Self-locking caused Schwellwer-fcs feedback on the unlocking.

Advantageously, the locking element-fc has an actuating means, in particular an actuating flange, which enables a large contact surface for the application of force and thus a user-friendly actuation.

The locking element or the actuating means is advantageously provided with a recess, in particular with a recessed grip, or with an elevation, in particular with a handle, for introducing an actuating force, whereby tool-free operation is facilitated.

The housing part is advantageously designed as a separating means between two housing shells or between a housing shell and a housing cover, so that an independent, electrically insulated device unit can be integrated on both sides of the separating means.

The housing part is advantageously designed as a housing shell and / or as a housing cover; Existing housing elements can be provided with the locking device by making only one recess.

The housing part is advantageously formed from plastic, in particular from thermoplastic, with or without glass fiber filling, as a result of which desired mechanical, electrical and thermal properties can be achieved for the present construction. These include a suitable yield stress and elongation at break, dielectric strength and tracking resistance as well as thermal conductivity and heat resistance. For example, polyamide 66 (PA 66) can be used as the material. The invention and advantageous embodiments according to the features of the further claims are explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, without the invention being restricted in this respect; show in it:

1 shows a side view of different versions of a locking device with a locking element which is connected to a housing part and is operatively connected to a locking means;

2 shows a further embodiment of a locking device in a side view; 3 shows a perspective view of a locking device with a locking element which is connected to a housing part designed as a housing shell; and FIG. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a locking element and a locking means that are operatively connected to it.

1 shows a locking device with a locking element 1 and a further locking device with a further locking element 2. The locking element 1 forms a one-piece unit with a housing part 3. The housing part 3 is designed as a housing separating means which can be used, for example, between two housing shells, not shown here, or between a housing shell and a housing cover. The locking element 1 serves both for locking and unlocking a movable latching means 4. The locking element 1 has at least one degree of freedom, in particular a translatory movement direction, with respect to the housing part 3 and is therefore both in terms of locking and in terms of unlockable. The degree of freedom describes possible directions of movement of individual components. The housing part 3 is fixed to a mounting rail 6 on its housing base 5. Based on its profile shape, the mounting rail 6 is usually also referred to as a top-hat rail. The housing base 5 refers to the housing side 5 opposite the housing front side 7, ie the housing side facing a user in the assembled state. The two locking elements 1, 2 are each located on one of the two housing end faces 8, 9, which are arranged at right angles to the housing base 5 or to the housing front side 7. The housing part 3 has a guide 10 for attachment to the mounting rail 6. The guide 10 is here provided with a flank 11, in the area of which the movable latching means 4 is arranged in the form of a slide at an angle, in particular an angle of 90 °, to the locking element 1 in order to hold a support and 12.

Another movable latching means 14, which is arranged opposite the one movable latching means 4 and is provided on a further flank 13 of the guide 10, is likewise designed as a slide and is provided for holding a further mounting rail edge 15. Depending on the position - stop position or release position - the two locking means 4, 14 serve to hold or release the housing part 3 on the mounting rail 6.

A profile axis P of the mounting rail 6 and the corresponding guide 10 is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in the illustration according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The direction running perpendicular to the housing base 5 and to the profile axis P is referred to as the transverse direction Q. The solder on a plane parallel to the housing base 5, ie the direction perpendicular to the profile axis P and the transverse direction Q, is referred to as vertical V. The vertical V is essentially identical to the assembly or disassembly direction of the housing part 3 on or from the mounting rail 6. The locking element 1 according to FIG. 1 is formed by a recess 16 in the housing part 3 while maintaining a physical connection with the housing part 3 at a first point 17 and at a second point 18. The locking element 1 is spaced in the region of the recess 16 from the housing part 3 in order to create freedom of movement. The recess 16 can - according to the contour shown in dashed lines - be made larger. The locking element 1 integrated in the housing part 3 extends from the first point 17 to the second point 18 on the housing part 3 approximately in accordance with the contour of the housing part 3 given in this area. The locking element 1 has an approximately shaped shape, with a first leg 19 and a second leg 20 in the transverse direction Q and the web 21 connecting the legs 19, 20 in

Direction of the vertical V runs. The legs 19, 20 designed as bending beams serve to absorb actuation forces which are introduced in the opposite direction Q.

In the area of the transition between the first leg 19 and the web 21, a recessed grip 22 is provided, on which, for example, the fingertip of a user can be used instead of a tool. The recessed grip 22 can of course also be supplemented by a handle or replaced by this. In the further course of the web 21 towards the second leg 20, a housing element 23 can be provided to reinforce the positional accuracy of the web 21, with the aid of which the locking element 1 is guided in the manner of a sliding bearing and, if necessary, is protected from incorrect operation by its covering effect. By guiding the housing element 23, one of the two connections between the legs 19, 20 and the housing part 3 may not be necessary. The second leg 20 has a step, which is further developed in the direction of the slide with a locking pin 24, which provides the shooting - Ablagged according to FIG 1. Alternatively, the second one Leg 20 have a continuous, ie step-free, shape in the transverse direction Q.

To disassemble the housing part 3 from the mounting rail 6, the movable locking element 1 acting as a spring element is pulled according to FIG. 1 by an introduced tensile force FZ in the area of the handle 22 in the direction of the housing front 7 into the release position shown in broken lines. The web 21 serves as a connecting element for transmitting the tensile force FZ and thus the direction of actuation. The introduction of force can also take place at any suitable point on the locking element 1. The locking element undergoes an elastic deformation, the locking pin 24 being raised above the corresponding edge of the slide and finally releasing it. The resilient locking element 1 is thus removed from the locking position by the locking means 4 and moved into the release position, the locking means 4 now being freely movable in the transverse direction Q. The elastic deformation ensures a return to the starting position, ie to the locked position. The actuation force on the one hand and the so-called restoring strength on the other hand can be influenced by the choice of the material type and material thickness of the two legs 19, 20.

The housing part 3 is now disassembled from the mounting rail 6 according to FIG. 1 by moving the housing part 3 relative to the mounting rail 6 against the transverse direction Q by means of a manual application of force. As a result, the mounting rail 6 moves the slide from its holding or closing position into the released or open position shown in broken lines. The guide 10 is expanded in the transverse direction Q so that the slide is removed from the engagement position with the mounting rail 6 and the housing part 3 can consequently be lifted off the mounting rail 6. The further locking element 14 is provided on the other housing end face 9, which is opposite one housing end 8, and is of identical construction, but mirror-inverted, to the locking element 4. In a further embodiment shown in dashed lines, the further locking element 14, which is symmetrical to the locking element 1, has on one side a one-piece direct connection to the housing part 3 in the sense of an axis of rotation and on the other side a releasable connection on another side in the sense of a locking point 25. The indirect connection to the other leg is provided by a pivoting means 26, in particular by a film hinge or joint. On one leg, the connection to the housing part 3 takes place by a pivoting movement in the direction of the housing part 3 and a subsequent locking via a hook element at the locking point 25. Of course, a different type of connecting element, which acts in the same way, can be provided instead of the hook element. In a further embodiment, the further locking element 14 has two releasable connections to the housing part 3, wherein in addition to the one locking point 25, a further locking point 27 is used, into which hook elements or equivalent connection elements of the further locking element 14 as a result of one Intervene in the transverse movement Q.

The housing part 3, which is designed as a housing separating means according to FIG. 1, can be equipped, in particular on its further locking element 2, due to its narrow construction and therefore for easy operation with an actuating means 28, in particular an actuating flange, shown here in broken lines. The actuating means 28 enables convenient unlocking e.g. in the case of an arrangement of the housing separating means between two housing shells, not shown here, or between a housing shell and a housing cover.

The locking element 1 can accordingly with an equally actuating aid. The actuating means 28 can be changed in size and / or shape depending on the intended use.

The locking device also allows simple mounting of the housing part 3 on the mounting rail 6. For this purpose, the housing part 3 is placed on the mounting rail 6 with the slide unlocked or with the slide unlocked. Subsequently, the slides are acted upon by force in order to reach around the two mounting rail edges 12, 15. The two slides move so far together that the locking elements 1, 2 spring back into their locking position under the restoring force of the thermoplastic, in particular plastic with a glass fiber content, and thereby hold the housing part 3 on the mounting rail indirectly via the locking means 4, 14 6 effect. Furthermore, it is also possible to mount the housing part 3 on the mounting rail 6 with at least one locked slide, the associated locking element 1 or 2 with the corresponding locking pin locking a spring element integrated in the slide, but this when force is applied to the slide via the mounting rail in Transverse direction Q deflected to the release position, so that finally the slide engages around the edge of the mounting rail with the provision in the holding position; the slide has a run-on slope which facilitates sliding over the support rail edge 12 or 15.

In a further embodiment variant according to FIG. 2, only the latching means 4, which is designed as a slide and can be locked or released by the locking element 1, and a retaining lug 29 opposite the housing for holding the carrier rail 6 in the guide 10 are provided. The further mounting rail edge 15 is gripped by the retaining lug 29. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the locking element 1 according to FIG. 2 is provided with a handle 22 on the side facing the housing front 7, A pressure force FK can be introduced against the direction of the vertical V.

A further distinction is that the second point 18 of the second leg 20 for the articulation of the locking element 1 on the housing part 3 is advanced in relation to the locking pin 24 in the transverse direction Q and towards the housing end face 8 and thereby has the function of a rocker. Due to the articulation, lever arms are provided on both sides, which serve to initiate the actuating force or to implement the restoring force. The actuating force can be preset via the ratio of the two lever arms to one another. If the compressive force FK is introduced on the recessed grip 22, the locking element 1 moves, in particular elastically, into the position shown in broken lines, the locking pin being raised in the direction of the vertical V and releasing the slide. Of course, the locking element 1 as a multi-part design corresponding to the further locking element 2 according to FIG. 1 can optionally also be equipped with the actuating means 28.

Due to the greatly expanded guide 10 in the open position of the slide, the housing part 3 can be displaced with respect to the mounting rail 6 and a stationary busbar 30 shown schematically for power supply on one of the two housing ends 8, 9 so that a plug contact 31 of the busbar is completely removed from the housing part 3 can be pulled out. The housing part 3 can thus be removed from the support rail 6 without a prior disassembly of the busbar 30 being necessary. The same applies mutatis mutandis to the designs according to FIG 1 and also for one or more devices that have the housing part 3.

According to FIG 3, the housing part 3 is designed as a housing shell or as a housing cover. The locking element shown here corresponds in terms of its position to the further locking Gel element 2 according to FIG 1. The recess 16 is also given over the entire width of the housing part 3 in the sense of an opening.

The part of the further locking element 2 shown in FIG. 4 locks the further locking means 14 shown in sections with the locking pin 24, the locking surfaces of which extend parallel and in the direction of the vertical V. In a further embodiment, the locking pin 24 has a locking profile, shown in dashed lines, which is operatively connected to a counter profile of the latching means, shown in dashed lines, in the sense of an undercut. The locking profile and the counter profile are designed as parallel slopes.

The above-mentioned locking device with the locking element or elements 1, 2 can be used in one device, in particular in an electrical modular device. Furthermore, a device system can also be provided that has a number of devices that are equipped with at least one locking device.

The invention explained above can be summarized as follows:

In order to specify a locking device which enables simple assembly and disassembly of a housing part 3 by simple means, it is provided that a locking element 1, 2 connected to the housing part 3, which is used both for locking and for unlocking a movable latching means 4, 14, has at least one degree of freedom in relation to the housing part 3 and is therefore movable both in terms of locking and in terms of unlocking.

Claims

claims

1. Locking device, which has a locking element (1, 2) connected to a housing part (3) both for locking and unlocking a movable locking means (4, 14), since you can see that the locking element (1, 2) has at least one degree of freedom with respect to the housing part (3) and is therefore movable both in terms of locking and in terms of unlocking.

2. Locking device according to claim 1, so that the locking element (1, 2) is formed by a recess (16) in the housing part (3).

3. Locking device according to claim 1, so that the locking element (1, 2) has, on the one hand, an integral connection with the housing part (3) in the sense of an axis of rotation and, on the other hand, a detachable connection in the sense of a locking point (25).

4. locking device according to claim 1, so that the locking element (1, 2) has a number of detachable connections with the housing part (3) in the sense of locking points (25, 27).

5. locking device according to one of claims 1 to 3, since you rchgeke nn zeic hn et that the locking element (1,2) by at least one pivoting means (26), in particular film hinge, is connected to the housing part (3).

6. Locking device according to one of claims 1, 3 or 4, so that the locking element (1, 2) is connected to the housing part (3) by at least one joint.

7. Locking device according to one of claims 5 or 6, so that the locking element (1, 2) is guided with a housing element (23).

8. locking device according to one of the preceding claims, since you rchgekennzeichne that the locking element (1,2), in particular a locking pin arranged on this (24), is provided with a locking profile that with a counter profile of the locking means (4, 14) in In terms of an undercut is in operative connection.

9. locking device according to one of the preceding claims, that the locking element (1, 2) has an actuating means (28), in particular an actuating flange.

10. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, that the locking element (1, 2) or the actuating means (28) is provided with a recess or with an elevation for introducing an actuating force.

11. locking device according to claim 1, since you rch ge kennzeic hn et that the housing part (3) is designed as a housing separating means between two housing shells or between a housing shell and a housing cover.

12. Locking device according to claim 1, so that the housing part (3) is designed as a housing shell and / or as a housing cover.

13. Locking device according to claim 1, so that the housing part (3) has plastic, in particular thermoplastic with glass fiber content.

14. Device, in particular electrical modular device, with a locking device according to claim 1.

15. Device system which has a number of devices, in particular electrical modular devices, with at least one locking device according to claim 1.