Improved locking device

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved locking device. The locking device (6) is of the type comprising, on the one hand, a lock crosspiece support (10) fitted with a lock crosspiece (16) and, on the other hand, a lock housing (20) incorporating a lock adapted to close on the lock crosspiece, characterized in that the locking device further comprises an inductive proximity sensor (30) fixed to the lock crosspiece support (10) and adapted to detect the presence of a reference surface (25) of the lock housing (20) within a working range of the proximity sensor, the correct locked state of the locking device (6) being evidenced when the distance between the proximity sensor and the reference surface is within the working range of the proximity sensor.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the field of locking devices, which on one hand include a lock gache support and on the other hand include a lock housing with a lock consisting of two jaws that are normally open and arranged to close on the lock gache when struck with a certain force. [Background Technology]

[0002] Document FR 1 149 157 discloses a locking device of the above type.

[0003] However, it is necessary to ensure that such locking devices are properly locked.

[0004] Therefore, a mechanical system is known that is associated with a lock and is adapted to detect the correct locking state of the locking device by direct contact with the lock head.

[0005] However, such mechanical systems remain difficult to integrate into the lock housing. They are complex to implement and difficult to maintain.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems. [Summary of the Invention]

[0007] Therefore, the subject of this invention is a locking device, which includes, on one hand, a lock head support with a lock head, and on the other hand, a lock housing with a lock adapted to be closed on the lock head. The locking device is characterized by further including an inductive proximity sensor fixed to the lock head support and adapted to detect the presence of a reference surface of the lock housing within the working range of the proximity sensor. When the distance between the proximity sensor and the reference surface is within the working range of the proximity sensor, the correct locking state of the locking device is confirmed.

[0008] According to a particular embodiment, the locking device includes one or more of the following features, either individually or in any technically possible combination:

[0009] - The lock consists of a pair of jaws that are usually open and arranged to close on the lock's cross head;

[0010] -The locking head is in the form of a cylindrical pin mounted on the locking head support;

[0011] - The lock housing consists of a base plate that supports the various components of the lock and a top cover that closes the lock housing. The base plate and the top cover have recesses for accommodating the lock cylinder.

[0012] - The lock housing contains components for securing the lock in the correct locked position;

[0013] - The lock crosshead support is shaped to have a first planar wall that is intended to be parallel to a reference surface of the lock housing, the first planar wall carrying a proximity sensor;

[0014] - The proximity sensor is electrically connected to an electronic device adapted to transmit information corresponding to the state of the locking device indicated by the proximity sensor;

[0015] - When the locking device is not in the correct locking state, the electronic device is adapted to send an alarm, and when the locking device is in the correct locking state, the electronic device is adapted to stop sending the alarm; and - the alarm includes placing the lamp's power supply circuit in the closed state.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a vehicle access gate comprising a movable cover adapted to close an opening defined by a frame and a locking device according to a prior art, the movable cover being mounted movable relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position. [Attached Image Description]

[0017] The invention and its advantages will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of specific embodiments, which are given by way of example only and not limitation. This description is based solely on the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 The process was carried out. Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention is shown in the perspective view.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0018] This description will be made more specifically in the case of closing an opening (e.g., an opening to or from a railway machinery room) by means of an access gate including a movable cover 4 (such as a cover 4).

[0019] The opening is defined by a roughly rectangular frame.

[0020] Cover 4 is mounted to pivot on an axis parallel to one of the columns of the frame.

[0021] At least one locking device according to the invention is provided to keep the cover on the frame in the correct locked state.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the locking device 6 includes a lock head support 10 on one hand and a lock housing 20 on the other.

[0023] The lock head support 10 is installed on the area of ​​the column of the frame 2, which is opposite to the column on which the cover 4 is pivotally mounted.

[0024] The lock housing 20 is mounted on the edge of the cover 4 so that it can mate with the lock head support 10.

[0025] The XYZ coordinates are associated with the locking device 6. The Y-axis is parallel to the pivot axis of the cover; the Z-axis is the vertical axis, oriented toward the center of the movable cover (the YZ plane corresponds to the plane of the opening to be closed); and the X-axis, orthogonal to the Y and Z axes, corresponds to the axis of motion of the lock housing 20 when locked, specifically when locked onto the lock head support.

[0026] The lock head support 10 is, for example, made of a plate shaped into a "U" shape. The free ends of the wings 11 and 12 of the "U" shaped plate are bent outward to form a transition plane, thereby enabling the lock head support 10 to be fixed to the frame 2, for example, by welding.

[0027] The "U"-shaped plate is shaped such that its middle portion has a first planar wall 13 that connects the two wings to each other and a second planar wall 15 that bends at a right angle relative to the first planar wall 13.

[0028] After the lock head support 10 is installed, the plane of the first plane wall 13 is parallel to the YZ plane, that is, it has a normal line parallel to the X axis; the plane of the second plane wall 15 is parallel to the XY plane, that is, it has a normal line parallel to the Z axis.

[0029] The second planar wall 15 is equipped with a locking head 16. Preferably, the locking head 16 is in the form of a cylindrical pin, with its axis B parallel to the Z axis.

[0030] A hole is provided on the first planar wall 13 to allow the insertion of a proximity sensor 30. The proximity sensor 30 is of the inductive type.

[0031] The proximity sensor 30 is generally cylindrical in shape along axis C. It includes a distal end 31, a body 32, and a proximal end 33.

[0032] To mount the proximity sensor 30 onto the lock head support 10, a hole is drilled in the first planar wall 13 to allow the threaded body 32 of the proximity sensor 30 to pass through. To secure the proximity sensor 30 in place, two nuts 34 are provided on both sides of the wall 13. These are screwed onto the threaded body 32 of the sensor and are used to ensure it remains in place.

[0033] The proximity sensor 30 is mounted such that its axis C is parallel to the X-axis. The proximal end 33 is oriented toward the lock housing 20, and the distal end 31 is oriented away from the lock housing 20.

[0034] A cable connects the distal end 31 of the proximity sensor 30 to an electronic device adapted to continuously analyze information about the locking status transmitted by the proximity sensor 30. This electronic device is not shown in the figure.

[0035] The lock housing 20 is composed of a base plate 23 on which various components forming the lock are mounted. The top cover 24 covers the base plate 23 to close the lock housing 20 and protect the various components.

[0036] A lock is provided, mounted on the base plate 23 inside the lock housing 20. The lock consists of a pair of jaws 21 and 22, which are hinged so as to be able to pivot about axes A1 and A2 toward or away from each other. Axes A1 and A2 are parallel to the Z-axis.

[0037] Claws 21 and 22 are each equipped with springs to keep them in the open position.

[0038] The base plate 23 and the top cover 24 are fitted with enlarged notches designed to allow the lock crosshead 16 to pass through.

[0039] The claws 21 and 22 are equipped with limiting grooves suitable for engaging with the locking head 16.

[0040] More precisely, when the cover 4 closes on the frame 2, the collision of the locking head 16 at the root of the limiting grooves of the claws 21 and 22 forces the claws 21 and 22 to close on the locking head 16.

[0041] Preferably, but not shown in the figures, an auxiliary lever system enables the claws 21 and 22 on the locking head 16 to be locked in the closed position. The locking device 6 is then in the correctly locked state.

[0042] When the cover 4 is closed on the frame 2, the edge surface 25 hanging down from the top cover 24 of the lock case 20 is positioned opposite the proximal end surface 33 of the proximity sensor 30.

[0043] The proximity sensor 30 detects whether the metal surface 25 is within the operating range that is a characteristic of the proximity sensor.

[0044] In the correctly locked state, surface 25 is within the operating range of proximity sensor 30. Therefore, proximity sensor 30 detects surface 25.

[0045] Surface 25 thus forms a reference surface, the distance of which from the proximity sensor 30 (e.g., to the proximal end 33 of the distance sensor 30) should be at most equal to (considering a certain tolerance range) the upper limit of the operating range of the sensor 30, to prove the correct locking state of the locking device 6. This upper limit defines the reference distance D.

[0046] If the distance between face 25 and proximity sensor 30 is equal to or less than reference distance D, then the correct locking state of the cover on the frame is confirmed.

[0047] Conversely, if the distance is greater than the reference distance D, the correct locking status of the cover on the frame is not confirmed.

[0048] This information is transmitted from the proximity sensor to the electronic device.

[0049] Advantageously, the electronic device is adapted to issue an alarm regarding the correct locking status of the cover on the frame, for example to help the operator identify if the machine room is not properly closed.

[0050] Thus, for example, electronic devices are adapted to control the switching of circuits that supply power to lights in an instrument panel (e.g., located in a railway monitoring center) from an open state to a closed state, and vice versa.

[0051] If the correct locking condition is not confirmed, the electronics keep the switch closed to power the lamp. Therefore, the lamp remains lit to indicate to the operator that the cover is not properly locked.

[0052] Conversely, when the correct locking state is confirmed, the electronic device switches the switch to its off state to cut off the power supply to the lamp and thus extinguish it.

[0053] Therefore, the present invention enables the detection of the relative position of the lock housing 20 with respect to the lock head support 10 by means of an inductive proximity sensor, which is calibrated to the correct locking edge of the locking device. To determine whether the locking device is in the correct locked state.

[0054] The advantage of an inductive proximity sensor lies in its detection range of approximately a few millimeters, such as 12 mm. Therefore, the sensor can detect a reference surface of the lock housing when the lock housing is less than 12 mm away. The screw-nut type connection of the proximity sensor to the lock head support allows for easy positioning of the proximal end of the proximity sensor relative to the reference surface, taking into account the detection range and the correct locking state to be verified.

[0055] Detecting the correct locking state using an inductive proximity sensor represents a significant improvement over implementations with mechanical detectors, especially due to the separation of the locking and locking detection functions. This allows for the implementation of various types of locks, provided that the lock housing surrounding the lock has a suitable reference surface, the position of which relative to the lock's complementary element (lock crosshead support) is associated with the correct locking state of the lock (and thus the locking device).

[0056] In a variant not shown, the lock head support 10 is mounted on the cover 4, and the lock housing 20 is mounted on the column of the frame 2.

Claims

1. A locking device (6), of the type comprising, on one hand, a lock head support (10) equipped with a lock head (16), and on the other hand, a lock housing (20) fitted with a lock adapted to be closed on the lock head, characterized in that, The locking device also includes an inductive proximity sensor (30), which is fixed to the lock head support (10) and adapted to detect the presence of a metal reference surface (25) of the lock housing (20) within the working range of the proximity sensor. When the distance between the proximity sensor and the reference surface is within the working range of the proximity sensor, it proves that the locking device (6) is in the correct locking state. The lock consists of a pair of jaws (21, 22), which are normally open and arranged to close on the lock head (16). The lock head support (10) is shaped to have a first planar wall (13) that is intended to be parallel to a reference surface (25) of the lock housing (20), the first planar wall carrying a proximity sensor (30).

2. The locking device (6) according to claim 1, wherein, The locking head (16) is in the form of a cylindrical pin mounted on the locking head support (10).

3. The locking device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein, The lock housing (20) consists of a base plate (23) supporting the components of the lock and a top cover (24) that closes the lock housing. The base plate and the top cover have recesses for accommodating the lock cylinder (16).

4. The locking device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The lock case (20) is equipped with components for securing the lock in the correct locked position.

5. The locking device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The proximity sensor (30) is electrically connected to an electronic device adapted to transmit information corresponding to the state of the locking device indicated by the proximity sensor (30).

6. The locking device (6) according to claim 5, wherein, When the locking device is not in the correct locking state, the electronic device is adapted to send an alarm, and wherein when the locking device is in the correct locking state, the electronic device is adapted to stop sending the alarm.

7. The locking device (6) according to claim 6, wherein, The alarm includes closing the power supply circuit for the light.

8. Vehicle access gates, including: - A movable cover (4) suitable for closing openings defined by a frame, and - The locking device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The movable cover is installed so that it can move relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position.

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