Portable shackle lock

Abstract

A portable padlock comprises a lock body, a shackle, and an electromechanical locking mechanism designed to selectively lock the shackle. A power source for the locking mechanism is located in a housing with a service opening through which the power source can be inserted and removed. The padlock includes a cover that can be attached to the housing to close the service opening. The housing or cover has at least one elastically deformable sealing section that forms a circumferential protrusion on a side wall of the housing or cover and is compressible and / or elastically deformable between the cover and the housing when the cover is attached.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a portable U-lock, and in particular to a padlock for securing a switch or a lock of an industrial facility, which can be used, for example, as a so-called lockout padlock. The U-lock comprises a lock body and a lock shackle, which can be selectively inserted into the lock body or at least partially detachable from the lock body. The lock body comprises an electromechanical locking mechanism, which is designed to selectively lock the lock shackle inserted into the lock body against release from the lock body or to release it for release from the lock body. For this purpose, the electromechanical locking mechanism has an electric motor, at least one locking element drivable by the electric motor, and a power source, in particular a battery, for supplying the electric motor with electrical power.

[0002] U-locks can be used in a variety of applications to selectively block or unlock access to objects or rooms. They can, for example, have a rigid or flexible shackle that can be selectively locked to a lock body or released from the lock body. For example, a U-lock can be used to lock a locker by inserting the shackle through an eyelet on the locker's hasp and then locking it to the lock body to prevent access to objects stored in the locker. Furthermore, U-locks can be used, for example, to connect a frame section of a bicycle to a stationary object, thereby securing the bicycle against unauthorized removal.

[0003] However, a particular area of ​​application for padlocks is in the field of occupational safety. When servicing industrial equipment, such as a production machine, there is a risk that the equipment, which has been deactivated for maintenance work, will be inadvertently reactivated while the maintenance work is still in progress. This can pose a significant risk to maintenance personnel. It is therefore common practice for maintenance personnel to switch a switch or lock assigned to the industrial equipment, for example on a fluid line, to the OFF position for the duration of the maintenance work and to secure it in this position, i.e. the switch or lock is immediately blocked or access to the switch or lock is blocked.The switch in question is typically a power supply switch, for example, an electrical main switch of a control device or a power supply device of the industrial plant (e.g., a power switch box). Alternatively, the switch or barrier in question may be, for example, a valve of a liquid or gas line.

[0004] To effectively prevent another person from accidentally activating the industrial plant, each maintenance person attaches a padlock to the switch or lock before starting work and locks it. Such a padlock can, in particular, have a rigid or flexible and / or substantially U-shaped shackle, which can be locked to the padlock body to lock the padlock. The switch (e.g., electrical switch) or lock (e.g., a fluid line) is thus secured in the OFF position and cannot be accidentally returned to the ON position by another person. Once the maintenance person has finished their work, they unlock their padlock and detach it from the switch or lock. Each maintenance person is usually assigned their own individual padlock (or several individual padlocks).

[0005] This procedure is also referred to as a lockout. Accordingly, the padlock used is called a lockout lock. Document US 5,449,867 shows such a method of securing an electrical toggle switch using a padlock. Document US 3,171,908 discloses securing the position of a rotary switch using a padlock.

[0006] To enable several maintenance personnel to block and release the switch or lock independently of one another, the switch or lock can be provided with several receptacles (e.g. eyelets) for attaching several lockout locks. This is known, for example, from document US 6,388,213. If only a single receptacle is provided for a lockout lock, a safety claw can be used which is hooked into the relevant eyelet of the switch or the associated lock and which, in turn, has several attachment eyes for a respective padlock. Only when the last padlock has been removed from the safety claw can the safety claw be removed, so that the switch or lock can be returned to the ON position. Such a safety claw for use on an electrical control box is known, for example, from documents US 6,396,008, US 5,365,757 and US 3,667,259.

[0007] For example, such lockout padlocks can be designed as electronic U-locks with an electromechanical locking mechanism to facilitate easy opening after maintenance. For this purpose, the padlock can be opened after maintenance, for example, by transmitting an opening code from a smartphone, so that the authorized maintenance person only needs to carry the smartphone, which they often carry anyway, to open the padlock, and not a separate mechanical key for the padlock.This type of lock control is particularly advantageous for lockout padlocks, as a maintenance person may need to lock multiple switches or locks with their own lockout padlocks and then reopen all of them after maintenance. A purely mechanical padlock may require a separate key for each padlock. Electronic padlocks, on the other hand, can all be controlled via a suitable smartphone application (app). Such simple control may also be desirable and / or advantageous for padlocks used for other applications.

[0008] While such electronic U-locks thus enable simplified unlocking of a U-lock, for example, after maintenance of an industrial system to release a switch or lock, the fundamental problem with using electronic U-locks is that they can only be activated when the power source is sufficiently charged. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to replace the power source if necessary to replace a depleted power source and continue using the U-lock.

[0009] Therefore, the power source of an electronic U-lock must be accessible from the outside, requiring an opening in the U-lock housing through which a depleted power source can be removed and a new, charged power source inserted into the housing. At the same time, however, the power source must be protected from damage by liquid ingress, so the required opening must be reliably sealed. This, too, is particularly important in the area of ​​occupational safety, for example, to prevent damage to the power source or the leakage of battery acid when the U-lock is used to lock a gas line.

[0010] To seal the required opening, it is usually intended to close the opening with a screwed-on cover and, for example, to clamp a sealing ring between the cover and the housing, in order to prevent, in particular, any fluid exchange between the interior of the housing and the exterior of the padlock. While this can usually achieve good sealing, changing the energy source is undesirably complex, as removing the cover always requires a tool suitable for loosening the fastening device, such as a screwdriver. This can potentially lead to unwanted delays if a U-lock with an exhausted energy source needs to be unlocked promptly, but the necessary tool must first be obtained.

[0011] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a portable U-lock with an electromechanical locking mechanism, which enables a reliable sealing of a housing for accommodating an energy source of the electromechanical locking mechanism and at the same time enables a simple and quick replacement of an exhausted energy source with a new energy source.

[0012] This object is achieved by a portable U-lock having the features of claim 1.

[0013] The energy source of the U-lock is arranged in a housing which has a replacement opening through which the energy source can be inserted into the housing and removed from the housing. The U-lock also has a cover which can be plugged onto the housing along a plug-in direction to close the replacement opening. The housing or the cover further has at least one elastically deformable sealing section which forms a raised portion running circumferentially on a side wall of the housing or the cover. The sealing section can be compressed by plugging the cover into place to seal the replacement opening between the cover and the housing and / or is elastically deformable along the plug-in direction.

[0014] The U-lock thus has the necessary opening in the form of the housing opening to enable the replacement of a depleted energy source, in particular a depleted battery. However, a cover is also provided to close the housing opening, in particular during regular use of the U-lock. Because the at least one sealing section is compressible and / or elastically deformable by inserting the cover between the cover and the housing, the sealing section can seal off a gap between the housing and the cover, thereby protecting the energy source arranged in the housing from the ingress of liquid and / or dust.In particular, since the compression and / or elastic deformation occurs by attaching the cover to the housing, the desired seal can be achieved immediately after the cover is attached, eliminating the need for any fastening means to create the seal. Conversely, the cover can also be removed directly from the housing to replace a used or exhausted energy source, without first having to obtain a suitable tool.

[0015] Since the sealing section forms a raised portion running circumferentially on a side wall of the housing or the cover, the sealing section can be formed circumferentially on the side wall of the housing or the cover, particularly with respect to the plug-on direction. Furthermore, the at least one sealing section can be arranged, in particular, between a side wall of the cover and a side wall of the housing when the cover is plugged in. The housing or the cover can thus have at least one sealing section which, with respect to the plug-on direction, is arranged not axially between or on respective end faces of the cover and the housing, but rather between respective side walls of the housing and the cover.For example, a sealing section arranged on a side wall of the housing can extend inwardly from the side wall into an interior of the housing, in order to be elastically deformed by inserting a section of the cover into the interior and, for example, displaced along the insertion direction and / or compressed transversely to the insertion direction. As a result, the sealing section can exert a force on the inserted section of the cover that opposes the elastic deformation in order to seal the interior of the housing.

[0016] Alternatively, it can also be provided, for example, that the sealing section extends circumferentially along an outer wall of a section of the cover that can be inserted into the interior of the housing, so that it can be compressed or displaced counter to the insertion direction during insertion of the outer wall of the cover into the interior of the housing, and thus elastically deformed along the insertion direction. This also allows for direct sealing of the interior of the housing.

[0017] Furthermore, it is possible, for example, for the sealing section to be arranged circumferentially on an outer side of the housing facing away from an interior of the housing in which the energy source is arranged, in order to interact with an inner side wall of a cover that can be plugged onto the outside of the housing and thereby seal the interior of the housing. Likewise, it can be provided that, in such a cover that can be plugged onto the outside of the housing, the sealing section is formed on a side or inner wall of the cover facing the housing in order to achieve the desired seal.

[0018] In particular, it can generally be provided that the sealing section is arranged in such a way that, during the process of attaching the cover to the housing, the sealing section is contacted by a side wall of the element (housing or cover) that does not have the sealing section and is thereby compressed and / or elastically deformed in order to achieve a seal between the side wall having the sealing section and the opposite side wall of the respective other element. Viewed the other way around, in particular a side wall of the element that does not have the sealing section can extend into a movement path of the sealing section, which the sealing section describes relative to the element not having the sealing section when the cover is attached to the housing.

[0019] In particular, the design of the housing or the cover with a sealing section running around a side wall thus enables a seal between respective side walls of the housing and the cover, so that the seal is achieved in particular by a force directed transversely to the insertion direction between the sealing section and a side wall of the element that does not have the sealing section. Since the seal is thus not achieved by a force acting along the insertion direction, it is not necessary - unlike conventional solutions - to generate a force along the insertion direction between the cover and the housing that is sufficient to deform a sealing element arranged in the insertion direction between the cover and the housing.Therefore, the U-lock disclosed here eliminates the need for fastening means, which in conventional solutions fix the cover axially to the housing with respect to the insertion direction and generate the axial force required to seal the housing. In this respect, the U-lock disclosed here enables reliable sealing of the housing intended for the energy source or the replacement opening required for replacing the energy source. However, the cover only needs to be plugged onto the housing and does not need to be secured to it by a separate fastening means, such as screwing.

[0020] Therefore, in some embodiments, the cover can also be easily detached from the housing, in particular without tools, and / or immediately removable from the housing without further disassembly steps, in order to be able to replace the energy source. However, the compression and / or elastic deformation of the sealing section—in addition to sealing the housing—can axially secure the cover against accidental detachment from the housing in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, since the static friction to be overcome between the sealing section and a side wall of the element that does not have the sealing section can prevent accidental detachment of the cover from the housing.

[0021] While this allows direct access to the energy source without tools, this does not result in any security disadvantage, particularly when the U-lock is used as a lockout padlock, since U-locks or padlocks used in this way do not serve as protection against theft or break-ins, but are merely intended to prevent accidental activation of a switch and lock during maintenance. However, in such an application, it is important to reliably seal the housing and, if necessary, to be able to quickly and easily change the energy source. This avoids having to first search for suitable tools or even carry them with you at all times to change the energy source and then open the U-lock after maintenance has been completed if the energy source is exhausted.Therefore, the U-lock disclosed herein is particularly suitable as a lockout padlock and can accordingly be designed in particular as a padlock and / or lockout padlock. However, in some embodiments, and particularly in U-locks intended for other applications, it may also be provided to secure the cover to the housing with an additional fastening means to make unauthorized access to the energy source more difficult.

[0022] In principle, the U-lock can, for example, be designed as a padlock and have a rigid, essentially U-shaped U-shape. Such a U-shape can have two legs that can be inserted into the lock body, whereby it can be provided that a relatively longer leg always remains in the lock body and only a relatively smaller leg of the U-shape can be detachable from the lock body in order to be able to pivot about the relatively longer leg when released, for example. On the other hand, it can also be provided that both legs of a padlock (of the same length or different lengths) can be detachable from its lock body. Alternatively, the U-lock can also have a flexible shackle and be designed as a cable, chain, or articulated bar lock (also known as a folding lock). For example, a lockout padlock can also have a wire rope shackle.

[0023] Further embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

[0024] In some embodiments, the replacement opening may be located on an underside of the lock body opposite the lock shackle.

[0025] In some embodiments, the cover may have a closure plate oriented perpendicular to the plug-on direction, which, when the cover is plugged onto the housing, extends along a plane of extension of the replacement opening. Furthermore, the cover may have a plug-on collar adjoining the closure plate, which extends circumferentially around the closure plate in the plug-on direction. In some embodiments, the plug-on collar may be designed to interact with the at least one sealing portion of the housing, whereas in other embodiments, the plug-on collar may comprise the at least one sealing portion.

[0026] Thus, the cover can be provided with a closure plate that covers and thus closes the replacement opening when the cover is attached. In particular, the closure plate can be aligned perpendicular to the attachment direction. Furthermore, the cover can have a clip-on collar adjoining the closure plate, which can be inserted, for example, into an interior of the housing in order to attach the cover to the housing. Alternatively, however, the clip-on collar can also be slipped onto the outside of the housing, for example.

[0027] Since the circumferential push-on collar can thus be arranged opposite a side wall of the housing when the cover is plugged onto the housing, the sealing section can in particular be arranged on the push-on collar in order to be compressed and / or elastically deformed by a side wall of the housing, or the push-on collar can cooperate with a sealing section formed on a side wall of the housing in order to compress and / or elastically deform this sealing section.

[0028] In some embodiments, the housing may include the at least one sealing portion and the slip-on collar may be configured to cooperate with the at least one sealing portion to seal the replacement opening.

[0029] In particular, in such embodiments, the sealing section can extend from the side wall of the housing into a movement path described by the push-on collar when the cover is plugged on, in order to be contacted by the push-on collar during the plugging on of the cover and thus to be able to be elastically deformed and / or compressed.

[0030] In some embodiments, the at least one sealing portion may extend from the side wall of the housing into an interior space of the housing.

[0031] In such embodiments, it can also be provided that the push-on collar of the cover can be inserted into the interior of the housing in order to cooperate with the sealing section arranged on the housing and to be able to seal the interior of the housing by compressing and / or elastically deforming the at least one sealing section.

[0032] In some embodiments, the entire housing can be designed to be elastically deformable. In particular, in some embodiments, the housing can be made of silicone.

[0033] In such embodiments, the housing may therefore not be a rigid housing and / or one that significantly secures the lock body against break-in attempts, but rather form a flexible shell surrounding the energy source and / or a flexible battery compartment for sealed storage of the energy source and / or a battery in the U-lock. As explained in more detail below, the housing may therefore, in particular, form an inner shell of the lock body and be surrounded by a rigid outer housing to ensure sufficient stability of the U-lock or the lock body.

[0034] However, such an elastically deformable design of the housing as a whole makes it possible, for example, to form the sealing section directly as a housing section rather than attaching it to the housing as a separate component. Rather, the elastically deformable housing, which can seal around the energy source, can be cleverly used to directly form a sealing section for sealing the housing opening required to enable replacement of the energy source.

[0035] In some embodiments, the at least one sealing section may be formed integrally with the housing.

[0036] An integral, one-piece component (here: a housing with a sealing section) is understood to be a component originally formed as a single, materially bonded component, and can be manufactured, for example, by casting or injection molding. A housing that is integrally formed with the sealing section according to such an embodiment thus differs in particular from housings with sealing sections that are originally assembled from two or more parts (e.g., a housing part and an attached sealing section part) and whose individual components are joined to form a detachable or permanent joint, such as by welding, screwing, or gluing.

[0037] Since the sealing section can be formed integrally with the housing in some embodiments, the sealing section and the housing can thus form such an integral, one-piece component, so that the sealing section cannot be connected to the housing, for example, after the housing has been formed, and can be glued thereto. Therefore, in such embodiments, the entire housing can be elastically deformable and / or made of the same material as the sealing section.

[0038] In general, the sealing portion may also be formed from silicone in some embodiments.

[0039] In some embodiments, the housing can seal the electric motor.

[0040] In particular, in some embodiments, the housing can form a shell for sealing the electronic components of the electromechanical locking mechanism, in order to be able to seal the power source, the electric motor, and the electrical lines leading from the power source to the electric motor against external influences. The housing can furthermore have, in particular on a side facing away from the replacement opening, a drive transmission opening through which a drive transmission element of the electromechanical locking mechanism and / or the locking element can protrude from the housing in a sealed manner in order to be able to selectively lock the lock shackle.

[0041] In some embodiments, the U-lock may include a radio receiver for receiving an unlocking command and / or a locking command via a radio connection and a control device configured to control the electromechanical locking mechanism in response to a received unlocking command to release the inserted lock shackle for detachment from the lock body and / or in response to a received locking command to lock the inserted lock shackle. For example, such a radio receiver may enable communication with a smartphone via a radio connection, such as a cellular connection, a WLAN / WiFi connection, and / or a Bluetooth connection.Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the U-lock may comprise a sensor for detecting the shackle inserted into the lock body, and a control device of the U-lock may be configured to control the electromechanical locking mechanism in response to a signal from the sensor for locking the lock shackle.

[0042] In some embodiments, the housing may have a circumferential locking bead and in such embodiments, a circumferential locking groove may be formed on the cover, wherein the locking bead can engage in the locking groove when the cover is attached.

[0043] In particular, the circumferential locking bead can be formed on a side wall of the housing and the locking groove can be formed on a side wall of the cover facing the locking bead, in particular on the aforementioned slip-on collar. Furthermore, the locking bead can be formed extending from the side wall of the housing, in particular into an interior of the housing, in order to be able to engage in the locking groove. In particular, such a locking bead can be provided in embodiments in which the at least one sealing section is also formed on the housing. In embodiments in which the housing has the at least one sealing section, the locking bead can furthermore be arranged in particular on the same side wall as the at least one sealing section.

[0044] Such engagement of the locking bead in the locking groove can secure the cover, in particular, against detachment from the housing counter to the insertion direction. For this purpose, the locking groove can, for example, have an undercut with which the locking groove engages behind the locking bead. Furthermore, the locking bead can be designed to be elastically deformable, in particular, so that it can be elastically deformed while the cover is being inserted onto the housing, but can expand counter to the elastic deformation after the cover has been fully inserted and can engage in the locking bead. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the locking bead can be formed integrally with the housing.

[0045] In principle, however, it is also possible for the locking bead to be formed on the cover, in particular the aforementioned plug-on collar, and for the housing to have a locking groove into which the locking bead formed on the cover engages when the cover is plugged on. This can be provided in particular in embodiments in which the at least one sealing section is formed on a side wall, in particular the plug-on collar, of the cover.

[0046] In some embodiments, the locking bead can be arranged on an end portion of the housing facing the replacement opening. In such embodiments, the locking groove can also be formed on a portion of a cover collar surrounding the cover, said portion adjoining a closure plate of the cover. In such embodiments, the cover can therefore be secured directly in the area of ​​the replacement opening against detachment from the housing in the opposite direction of insertion by the engagement of the locking bead in the locking groove.

[0047] In some embodiments, the housing may form a flexible inner shell of the padlock, and the padlock may have a rigid outer casing surrounding the housing against which the housing rests.

[0048] A housing designed as a flexible inner shell can, in particular, be elastically deformable, so that the housing can serve to seal the energy source without, however, providing the padlock with the necessary stability or providing protection against break-in. In particular, such a housing can therefore serve to seal the energy source against liquid penetrating the outer casing.

[0049] Because the housing can be supported on the rigid outer housing, an outwardly directed force transmitted from the cover to the housing via the sealing section can be absorbed by the rigid outer housing, thereby preventing outward displacement of the housing and achieving the desired seal. Since the housing is flexible and / or elastically deformable in such embodiments, the housing can, in particular, have the at least one sealing section and / or be integrally formed with the sealing section in embodiments in which the housing forms a flexible inner shell.

[0050] The outer housing may also have a housing opening surrounding the replacement opening. In this respect, the outer housing may also have an opening to allow the energy source to be removed and / or inserted into the housing.

[0051] Furthermore, in some embodiments, it may be provided that an end portion of the housing is clamped between a collar of the cover and the outer housing. In particular, the end portion can be pushed outward against the outer housing when the cover is attached and can therefore be stably supported on the outer housing when the padlock is mounted.

[0052] In some embodiments, the outer housing may have a housing opening surrounding the replacement opening, which is delimited by a circumferential edge section, wherein the housing may extend beyond the outer housing counter to the plug-on direction and may engage over the edge section, in particular radially outwards.

[0053] In particular, the housing can be fixed relative to the outer housing by such an overlap of the edge portion with respect to movements along the insertion direction. Furthermore, the overlap of the edge portion can make it possible to secure sections of the housing projecting toward the replacement opening against movements transverse to the insertion direction and to maintain the particularly flexible and / or elastically deformable housing in the intended shape.

[0054] Furthermore, in such embodiments, the cover can rest, in particular, on a portion of the housing that overlaps the edge portion of the outer housing. Particularly in embodiments in which the entire housing is designed to be elastically deformable, further sealing of an interior of the housing can be achieved by such a resting of the cover on the housing (which thus at least does not rest completely on the rigid outer housing).

[0055] In some embodiments, the housing can have a support elevation on an outer side, which engages in a support recess in the outer housing. In particular, the housing can be inserted into an interior space of the outer housing during assembly of the U-lock, wherein the engagement of the support elevation in the support recess can indicate correct positioning of the housing in the outer housing and stabilize the housing in the outer housing. This can, in particular, facilitate the assembly of the U-lock, wherein such a design of the outer housing with a support recess through which access to the housing is possible is again unproblematic, particularly in lockout applications, since U-locks or padlocks used in this way do not have to offer protection against theft or burglary attempts.

[0056] In some embodiments, the outer housing and / or the lock shackle may be made of an electrically non-conductive material, in particular of plastic.

[0057] Particularly when using the padlock as a lockout padlock, a non-conductive design of the components of the U-lock that come into mechanical contact with the switch or lock can be provided to prevent any electrical current flowing through the U-lock. Furthermore, when used as a lockout padlock, a design of the outer casing and / or the lock shackle made of plastic is unproblematic, as the padlock does not have to withstand any break-in attempts. Designing the U-lock with a plastic outer casing and / or lock shackle can also make the U-lock lighter than using metal components, making it convenient to carry a large number of U-locks, as is often necessary with lockout padlocks.In addition, plastic outer housings and / or plastic lock shackle can easily be produced in different colors, for example to easily identify different types of lockout padlocks or locks intended for different system components.

[0058] In some embodiments, a rigid holder for holding the energy source can be arranged in the housing. In particular, a spring for clamping the energy source in the holder can be arranged on the holder. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the electric motor can also be mounted on the holder.

[0059] In particular, such a holder can be provided in embodiments in which the entire housing is designed to be elastically deformable to enable precise and stable mounting of the energy source and / or the electric motor. The housing can, in particular, be arranged surrounding the holder, so that an interior of the holder can also be reliably sealed by attaching the cover to the housing. For example, the holder can be made of metal or plastic.

[0060] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the housing may have a housing support edge extending into an interior of the housing, and the holder may have an outwardly extending holder support edge. In such embodiments, the holder may be supported on the housing support edge with the holder support edge along the insertion direction. Furthermore, in such embodiments, viewed conversely, the housing may be supported on the holder support edge with the housing support edge opposite to the insertion direction.

[0061] For example, in such embodiments it can be provided that the holder is fixed relative to the outer housing with respect to movements counter to the insertion direction, so that by supporting the housing on the holder support edge the housing can also be fixed against movements counter to the insertion direction. In addition, the holder (in particular with the elements held thereon) can be pushed into the housing, for example during assembly of the U-lock, wherein the housing support edge can form a stop for the holder or the holder support edge in order to indicate correct positioning of the holder and thus in particular also of the elements held thereon. The housing can then be pushed into an outer housing of the U-lock, for example, in order to be able to position all components correctly within the outer housing in a single assembly step.

[0062] In some embodiments, the cover may have at least one support section extending into the housing when the cover is plugged in, which support section is designed to secure the energy source against movement counter to the plugging direction.

[0063] For example, two support sections extending from a closure plate of the lid toward the energy source can be provided, against which the energy source can rest when the lid is plugged in, so that the energy source can be secured by the lid against movement counter to the plugging direction. Such support sections can be designed, for example, as flat support surfaces. Alternatively or additionally, the support section can have a shape adapted to the shape of the energy source and / or, for example, be curved at a contact section facing the energy source.

[0064] In some embodiments, the sealing section can be designed as a circumferential sealing lip. In particular, in some embodiments, it can therefore be provided that the housing has at least one circumferential sealing lip on a side wall.

[0065] In some embodiments, two circumferential sealing sections arranged offset from one another along the insertion direction can be provided on the housing or the cover. In particular, the sealing sections can be of identical design, so that, for example, two sealing lips arranged offset from one another in the insertion direction can be formed on the housing or the cover. For example, a sealing section facing the replacement opening can function as dust protection and as primary fluid protection, while a sealing section facing away from the replacement opening can primarily serve as additional fluid protection.

[0066] In some embodiments, the sealing portion, the housing and / or the cover may be formed from an acid-resistant material.

[0067] In particular, the sealing section, the housing, and / or the cover can be designed to be resistant to battery acid to prevent any battery acid released by the energy source from escaping from the housing. This can also be particularly important for applications in the field of occupational safety.

[0068] In some embodiments, the cover can be detached from the housing without tools when the U-lock is fully assembled. Consequently, in such embodiments, starting from the fully assembled U-lock, it is not necessary to use a tool, such as a screwdriver, to detach the cover from the housing and change the power source. Therefore, in such embodiments, the cover can in particular be directly removable from the housing. Nevertheless, unintentional detachment of the cover from the housing can be prevented by the static friction acting between the sealing portion and a side wall of that element of the housing and the cover which does not have the sealing portion and / or the interaction of the aforementioned locking bead with the likewise mentioned locking groove.

[0069] In some embodiments, no separate fastening means, in particular no screw, may be provided for attaching the cover to the housing. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, no additional sealing means, in particular no sealing ring, may be arranged axially with respect to the mounting direction between the housing and the cover.

[0070] In some embodiments, it can therefore be provided that the cover rests axially directly against the housing. As already explained, such an omission of additional sealing means can also be made possible by the sealing section extending from the side wall not being axial with respect to the plug-on direction, but rather transversely to the plug-on direction, so that in particular no force acting in the direction of the plug-on direction needs to be generated to deform a sealing element in order to seal the housing. However, in particular with an elastically deformable housing design, a certain degree of sealing in the axial direction can still be achieved even with such direct contact of the cover against the housing.

[0071] In some embodiments, respective recessed grips for removing the attached cover from the housing can be formed on the lock body laterally next to the replacement opening on opposite sides. In particular, the housing and / or outer casing of the U-lock can have respective lateral handle recesses, and the cover, in particular a locking plate of the cover, can have handles that extend laterally over the handle recesses, thus creating a recessed grip. This makes it possible to grip underneath the handles of the cover and exert pressure on the locking plate in the opposite direction to the insertion direction in order to easily detach the cover from the housing and gain access to the power source.

[0072] The invention is explained below purely by way of example using an embodiment with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable U-lock designed as a padlock and in particular as a lockout padlock, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an underside of the padlock, wherein a cover for closing a replacement opening of a housing of the U-lock and a housing opening of an outer housing of the U-lock has been removed, Figs. 3A and 3B are respective perspective views of the cover, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the U-lock, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an electromechanical locking mechanism of the U-lock, which has an energy source designed as a battery that is held on a holder, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view from below of the housing of the U-lock designed as a flexible inner shell with the cover removed.

[0073] Fig. 1 shows a U-lock 11, which has a lock body 13 and a lock shackle 15 that can be locked thereto and at least partially detachable from the lock body 13. By way of example, the U-lock 11 is shown as a padlock, the lock shackle 15 of which is designed as a rigid and essentially U-shaped U-shackle with two legs 16, which can be inserted into an outer housing 55 of the U-lock 11 to lock the U-lock 11 and can be locked there by means of an electromechanical locking mechanism 17 (see also Fig. 4 and 5 to the locking mechanism 17).

[0074] As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 4 and 5As can be seen, the lock shackle 15 has a long leg 16 and a short leg 16, wherein, for example, it can be provided that the short leg 16 can be optionally removed from the lock body 13 to open the shackle lock 11, whereas the long leg 16 can remain in the lock body 13 even when the shackle lock 11 is opened. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the released lock shackle 15 can be completely removed from the lock body 13.

[0075] The design of the aforementioned electromechanical locking mechanism 17 is particularly Fig. 5 can be seen. Accordingly, the electromechanical locking mechanism 17 has an electric motor 19 connected to an energy source 25 designed as a battery 67, which is connected to a rotatable locking element 21 via a gear 87 and a drive transmission element 23. In the locked position of the lock shackle 15 shown in the figures, the locking element 21 engages in respective notches 18 of the legs 16 and thereby secures the legs 16 against detachment from the lock body 13, wherein the locking element 21 can, however, be rotated by a corresponding control of the electric motor 19 into an unlocking position not shown in the figures, in which at least the short leg 16 can be released from the lock body 13. For example, the shackle lock 11 can have a radio receiver, also not shown in the figures, for receiving an unlocking command, which can be sent, for example, from a smartphone via a radio connection (e.g.A signal (e.g., a mobile phone connection, WLAN / WiFi connection, and / or Bluetooth connection) can be sent to the radio receiver, and the U-lock 15 can have a control device configured to drive the electric motor 19 in response to the unlocking command to drive the locking element 21 and to release the lock shackle 15. Furthermore, the control device can also be configured, for example, to control the electric motor 19 in response to a locking command received at the radio receiver to drive the locking element 21 into the locking position and to lock the inserted lock shackle 15.

[0076] In principle, such an electromechanical locking mechanism 17 can thus enable simple operation of the U-lock 11, as no mechanical key needs to be carried to open and / or lock the U-lock 11. However, to actuate the electromechanical locking mechanism 17, the energy source 25 must supply the electric motor 19 with electrical energy, so that, for example, a depleted energy source 25 must be able to be replaced with a new and charged energy source 25 or a new battery 67.

[0077] In order to enable such a replacement of an exhausted energy source 25, the outer housing 55 is open on an underside of the padlock 11 opposite the lock shackle 15 and has a housing opening 57 which is delimited by an edge section 59 (cf. Fig. 2 and 4). Furthermore, within the outer housing 55, a housing 27 is arranged, designed as a flexible and elastically deformable inner shell 53, which has a replacement opening 29 through which the energy source 25 or the battery 67 can be selectively inserted into an interior space 41 of the housing 27 or removed from the housing 27. The housing 27 therefore forms, in a sense, a battery compartment into which the energy source 25 is inserted.

[0078] While the replacement opening 29 thus allows access to the energy source 25 and replacement of the energy source 25, the U-lock 1, such as Fig. 1 shows, a cover 31 which is designed to selectively close the replacement opening 29 and to seal the interior 41 of the housing 27 against liquid and / or dirt.

[0079] This cover 31 is particularly characterized by the Fig. 3A und 3B illustrated and designed to be plugged onto the housing 27 along a plug-in direction A to close and seal the replacement opening 29. The cover 31 has a closure plate 45 which extends perpendicular to the plug-in direction A and which, when the cover 31 is plugged on, extends in a plane of extension of the replacement opening 29 and closes the replacement opening 29. In addition, the cover 31 has a plug-in collar 47 which adjoins the closure plate 45 and extends circumferentially around the closure plate 45 in the plug-in direction A. The plug-in collar 47 is designed to be inserted in the plug-in direction A into the interior 41 of the housing 27 and thus to a certain extent to be plugged into the housing 27 and the outer housing 55 of the U-lock 11 in order to thereby plug the cover 31 onto the housing 27.

[0080] Furthermore, two support sections 73 are formed on the cover 31, which extend along the plug-on direction A and, in the plugged-on state of the cover 31, in the direction of the energy source 25, which support sections have contact sections 75 adapted to the shape of the energy source 25 and secure the energy source 25 in the plug-on state of the cover 31 against movements counter to the plug-on direction A (cf. in particular Fig. 3B and 4 ). Furthermore, the cover 31 has two handles 85 extending on the closure plate 45, which are provided for selectively detaching the attached cover 31 from the housing 27. A circumferential locking groove 51 is also formed on the attachment collar 47 in order to axially secure the cover 31 to the housing 27 with respect to the attachment direction A, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0081] The interaction of the cover 31 and the housing 27 for sealing the housing 27 is described below in particular in connection with Fig. 4 explained.

[0082] For example, Fig. 4 It can be seen that two circumferential sealing sections 33 and 35 are formed on a side wall 39 of the housing 27, which form respective elevations 43 on the side wall 39 projecting into the interior 41 of the housing 27 (see also Fig. 2 and 6 ). In particular, the sealing sections 33 and 35 are also arranged offset from one another in the mounting direction A and form respective sealing lips 37 which extend into the interior 41 of the housing 27.

[0083] The sealing sections 33 and 35 are further arranged such that the sealing sections 33 and 35 protrude into a movement path of the push-on collar 47, which the push-on collar 47 describes when the cover 31 is pushed onto the housing 27. The sealing sections 33 and 35 are therefore contacted by the push-on collar 47 during the pushing-on of the cover 31. The sealing sections 33 and 35 are also designed to be elastically deformable, so that the sealing sections 33 and 35 are compressed and / or elastically deformed along the pushing-on direction A by the push-on collar 47, which is inserted further along the pushing-on direction A into the interior 41 of the housing 27 after the sealing sections 33 and 35 have been reached, in order to thereby seal the interior 41 of the housing 27.

[0084] Furthermore, the sealing sections 33 and 35 are, for example, integrally formed in one piece with the housing 27, so that in particular the entire housing 27 is elastically deformable and forms the aforementioned flexible inner shell 53 of the U-lock 11. In addition to the energy source 25, the housing 27 also surrounds the electric motor 19, the gear 87, and the drive transmission element 23, and the locking element 21 protrudes from the housing 27 in a sealed manner, so that the other electronic components of the U-lock 11 can also be arranged in the sealed housing 27, protected from damage by incoming liquid.

[0085] While the housing 27 is thus, for example, designed to be elastically deformable overall, the housing 27 is supported on the sealing sections 33 and 35 on opposite outer sides on the rigid and stable outer housing 55, so that the housing 27 cannot avoid the movement of the push-on collar 47 when the cover 31 is plugged on, and the aforementioned compression and / or elastic deformation of the sealing sections 33 and 35 occurs. Therefore, when the cover 31 is plugged on, the sealing sections 33 and 37 exert a force on the cover 31 and in particular its push-on collar 47 that counteracts the deformation and / or compression experienced, so that a slot between the side wall 39 of the housing 27 and the push-on collar 47 can be closed and the interior 41 of the housing 27 can be reliably sealed.The seal is therefore radial with respect to the insertion direction A and not—as with conventional solutions—axial, so that the seal can be achieved directly by inserting the cover 31, without first having to generate a sufficient axial force by attaching the cover 31 to the housing 27 and / or the outer housing 55 using a separate fastening means, such as a screw. Such an additional fastening means can therefore be dispensed with in the U-lock 11 shown here.

[0086] In this respect, the U-lock 11 disclosed here enables a secure and reliable sealing of the interior 41, while nevertheless allowing easy access to the interior 41, for example to replace an exhausted or used-up energy source 25, by removing the cover 31 from the housing 27 without the need for tools.

[0087] To further facilitate such removal of the cover 31, the aforementioned handles 85 are provided on the cover 31, with recessed grips 77 also being formed on the outer housing 55. These recessed grips 77 make it possible to grip the attached cover 31 on both sides at the handles 85 and thus pull it off the housing 27. In particular, the recessed grips 77 in the embodiment shown are formed by grip recesses 79 provided on the housing 27, which are arranged on a section 61 of the housing 27 that overlaps the aforementioned edge section 59 of the outer housing 55 (cf. Fig. 4 to the encroachment of the edge section 59 by the encroaching section 61 and Fig. 2 and 6to form the overlapping section 61). Due to the section 61 of the housing 27 overlapping the edge section 59, the cover 31 also bears axially against the housing 27 and thus against an elastically deformable section, whereby this axial bearing of the cover 31 against the housing 27 can also contribute to a reliable sealing of the interior 41 of the housing 27.

[0088] In addition to sealing the interior 41, the interaction between the push-on collar 47 and the sealing sections 33 and 35 also makes it possible to secure the cover 31 against accidental detachment from the housing 27 opposite to the plug-on direction A, since for this purpose the static friction acting between the push-on collar 47 and the sealing sections 33 and 35 must be overcome. In addition, a locking bead 49 is provided on the housing 27, which also extends circumferentially on the side wall 39 of the housing 27 into the interior 41 and, when the cover 31 is plugged in, engages in the aforementioned locking groove 51 of the cover 31 in order to additionally hold the cover 31 axially with respect to the plug-on direction A on the housing 27 and to secure it against accidental detachment from the housing 27 (see in particular Fig. 4 ).

[0089] Furthermore, the Fig. 4 and 5that the U-lock 11 has a rigid holder 63 for holding the energy source 25, on which in particular a spring 65 for bracing the energy source 25 is arranged. In addition, the electric motor 19, the gear and the drive transmission element 23 are also supported on the rigid holder 63. The holder 63 has two outwardly extending holder support edges 71 (see in particular Fig. 5 ), which in the plug-on direction A rest against the housing support edges 69 formed on the housing 27 (cf. Fig. 4 ). In particular, the holder 63 with the components held thereon can be inserted into the interior 41 of the housing 27 during the assembly of the U-lock 11, so that the housing support edges 69 can form an axial stop for the holder 63 to indicate its correct positioning.

[0090] Fig. 6 illustrates again the housing 27 and the flexible inner shell 53, wherein in particular the replacement opening 29 and the sealing sections 33 and 35 running around the side wall 39 of the housing 27 can be seen. Fig. 6 that the housing 27 has on an outer side a support elevation 83 which, as Fig. 1 shows, in the assembled state of the U-lock 11 engages in a support recess 81 formed on the outer housing 55 and thereby secures the housing 27 axially with respect to the insertion direction A in the outer housing 55. In particular, therefore, during the assembly of the U-lock 11, it can be provided that the components arranged within the housing 27 are first introduced into the housing 27, in order then to insert the housing 27 with the components already pre-assembled therein into the outer housing 55 in a single assembly step and to position it such that the support elevation 83 engages in the support recess 81.

[0091] In summary, the U-lock 11 shown can thus reliably seal the interior 41 without the need for additional fastening means or sealing means, such as a sealing ring arranged axially between the cover 31 and the housing 27. The U-lock 11 is particularly suitable for use as a lockout padlock, by means of which a switch or lock of an industrial system must be locked during maintenance work in order to prevent unintentional starting of the system and the resulting danger to maintenance personnel. With such U-locks 11, unsecured access to the energy source 25 is generally unproblematic, since the U-locks 11 are not used as theft or break-in protection, but merely as a lock against unintentional starting of a system and / or, for example, unintentional opening of a fluid line.Conversely, however, it is precisely in such an environment that a reliable seal of the housing 27 is required, which can be achieved by the two circumferential sealing sections 33 and 35 and the contact of the cover 31 with the section 61 of the flexibly and / or elastically deformable housing 27 that overlaps the edge section 59. In view of this possible application, it can also be provided that the outer housing 55 and / or the lock shackle 15 are made of an electrically non-conductive material, in particular of plastic, in order to achieve additional security when used as a lockout padlock and a lightweight design of the padlock 11, which allows the padlock 11 or several such padlocks 11 to be carried comfortably by the maintenance personnel.In addition, the housing 27, the cover 31, and / or the sealing sections 33 and 35 can be formed, in particular, from a material resistant to battery acid, in order to reliably prevent battery acid from escaping, particularly in such an industrial plant environment. For example, the housing 27 and / or the sealing sections 33 and 35 can also be made of silicone. Bezugszeichenliste

[0092] 11 U-lock 13 Lock body 15 Lock shackle 16 Leg 17 Locking mechanism 18 Notch 19 Electric motor 21 Latch element 23 Drive transmission element 25 Energy source 27 Housing 29 Replacement opening 31 Cover 33 Sealing section 35 Sealing section 37 Sealing lip 39 Side wall 41 Interior 43 Raised portion 45 Locking plate 47 Snap-on collar 49 Locking bead 51 Locking groove 53 Inner shell 55 Outer housing 57 Housing opening 59 Edge section 61 Overlapping section 63 Holder 65 Spring 67 Battery 69 Housing support edge 71 Holder support edge 73 Support section 75 Contact section 77 Grip recess 79 Grip recess 81 Support recess 83Support elevation 85Handle 87Gearbox AInstallation direction

Claims

1. A portable padlock (11), in particular a lockout padlock for securing a switch or a lock of an industrial installation, comprising a lock body (13) and a lock shackle (15), wherein the lock shackle (15) can be selectively inserted into the lock body (13) or at least partially detachable from the lock body (13), and wherein the lock body (13) comprises an electromechanical locking mechanism (17) designed to selectively lock the lock shackle (15) inserted into the lock body (13) against detachment from the lock body (13) or to release it for detachment from the lock body (13), wherein the electromechanical locking mechanism (17) comprises an electric motor (19), at least one locking element (21) drivable by the electric motor (19), and a power source (25), in particular a battery (67), for supplying the electric motor (19). with electrical energy,wherein the energy source (25) is arranged in a housing (27) having a replacement opening (29) through which the energy source (25) can be inserted into the housing (27) and removed from the housing (27), and wherein the U-lock (11) has a cover (31) which can be plugged onto the housing (27) along a plug-in direction (A) to close the replacement opening (29), wherein the housing (27) or the cover (31) has at least one elastically deformable sealing section (33, 35) which forms a peripheral elevation (43) on a side wall (39) of the housing (27) or the cover (31), wherein the sealing section (33, 35) is compressible by plugging the cover (31) between the cover (31) and the housing (27) to seal the replacement opening (29) and / or is elastically deformable along the plug-in direction (A).

2. Portable U-lock (11) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (31) has a closure plate (45) oriented perpendicular to the plug-on direction (A), which extends along a plane of extension of the replacement opening (29) when the cover (31) is plugged onto the housing (27), and wherein the cover (31) has a plug-on collar (47) adjoining the closure plate (45) and extending circumferentially around the closure plate (45) in the plug-on direction (A), wherein the plug-on collar (47) is designed to cooperate with the at least one sealing section (33, 35) of the housing (27), or wherein the plug-on collar (47) has the at least one sealing section (33, 35).

3. Portable U-lock (11) according to claim 2, wherein the housing (27) has the at least one sealing portion (33, 35) and wherein the clip-on collar (47) is designed to cooperate with the at least one sealing portion (33, 35) for sealing the replacement opening (29).

4. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sealing section (33, 35) extends from the side wall (39) of the housing (27) into an interior space (41) of the housing (27).

5. A portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sealing section (33, 35) is formed integrally with the housing (27); and / or wherein the entire housing (27) is formed elastically deformable, wherein the housing (27) is formed in particular from silicone.

6. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (27) sealingly surrounds the electric motor (19).

7. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (27) has a circumferential locking bead (49) and wherein a circumferential locking groove (51) is formed on the cover (31), wherein the locking bead (49) engages in the locking groove (51) when the cover (31) is attached.

8. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (27) forms a flexible inner shell (53) of the U-lock (11) and wherein the U-lock (11) has a rigid outer housing (55) surrounding the housing (27), on which the housing (27) is supported, in particular wherein the outer housing (55) and / or the lock shackle (15) are / is formed from an electrically non-conductive material, preferably from plastic.

9. Portable U-lock (11) according to claim 8, wherein the outer housing (55) has a housing opening (57) surrounding the replacement opening (29) which is delimited by a circumferential edge portion (59), wherein the housing (27) extends beyond the outer housing (55) counter to the plug-on direction (A) and engages over the edge portion (59).

10. Portable U-lock (11) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the housing (27) has on an outer side a support elevation (83) which engages in a support recess (81) of the outer housing (55).

11. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a rigid holder (63) for holding the energy source (25) is arranged in the housing (27), wherein in particular a spring (65) for bracing the energy source (25) in the holder (63) is arranged on the holder (63).

12. Portable U-lock (11) according to claim 11, wherein the housing (27) has a housing support edge (69) extending into an interior space (41) of the housing (27) and wherein the holder (63) has an outwardly extending holder support edge (71), wherein the holder (63) is supported with the holder support edge (71) along the plug-on direction (A) on the housing support edge (69).

13. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (31) has at least one support section (73) which extends into the housing (27) when the cover (31) is plugged on, said support section being designed to secure the energy source (25) against movement counter to the plug-on direction (A); and / or wherein the sealing section (33, 35) is designed as a circumferential sealing lip (37); and / or wherein the sealing section (33, 35), the housing (27) and / or the cover (31) are formed from an acid-resistant material.

14. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two circumferential sealing sections (33, 35) arranged offset from one another along the plug-on direction (A) are provided on the housing (27) or the cover (31).

15. Portable U-lock (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (31) can be detached from the housing (27) without tools when the U-lock (11) is in the fully assembled state; and / or wherein no separate fastening means, in particular no screw, is provided for fastening the cover (31) to the housing (27); and / or wherein no additional sealing means, in particular no separate sealing ring, is arranged axially with respect to the plug-on direction (A) between the housing (27) and the cover (31).

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