LOCKING / UNLOCKING DEVICE AND PIVOTING ELEMENT EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A LOCKING / UNLOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

LOCKING / UNLOCKING DEVICE AND PIVOTING ELEMENT EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A LOCKING / UNLOCKING DEVICE The invention relates to a locking / unlocking device for a pivoting element (2) comprising: a pivot axis (3) rotationally fixed with said pivoting element (2) and having at least two flats (8, 9) extending parallel to each other, a locking mechanism, a housing (1) configured to receive said pivot axis (3) and said locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising: a locking axis (4) extending orthogonally to said pivot axis (3), said locking axis (4) being rotationally movable, a member, called a fork (5), mounted on said locking axis (4), having two arms (25, 26) and rotationally movable between a locking position in which said arms (25, 26) extend into contact with said flat surfaces (8, 9) of said pivot axis (3) preventing any rotation of said pivot axis (3),and an unlocking position for said pivot axis (3). Figure for the abbreviation: figure 2,

Description

Title of the invention: LOCKING / UNLOCKING DEVICE AND PIVOTING ELEMENT EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A LOCKING / UNLOCKING DEVICE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of locking systems for rotating moving parts. More particularly, the invention relates to a locking device for a pivoting shelf. Technological background

[0002] Railway vehicles are equipped with numerous moving parts that can be operated by an operator using a tool such as a key. In the railway sector, many parts must be operated using a key with one end having a square cross-section, commonly called a Berne key and nicknamed a "square." Thus, certain doors or hatches, for example, are locked and unlocked by operators using such a Berne key, which allows them to rotate, most often by 90°, an axis of said part whose end has a square cross-section.

[0003] Such operation is suitable for elements not subjected to significant mechanical stresses.

[0004] Known locking / unlocking systems for such elements that can be operated by a Berne key do not allow for the absorption of significant forces. Therefore, when the element to be operated is subjected to significant forces, it is necessary to provide a mechanism to limit these forces in order to preserve the normal operation of the assembly.

[0005] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. Objectives of the invention

[0006] The invention aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a locking / unlocking device whose actuation by an operator requires only a very limited effort.

[0007] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a locking / unlocking device which is, in general, reliable, particularly robust and simple to use.

[0008] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a locking / unlocking device configured to be able to lock itself spontaneously in the event of mishandling or partial actuation by an operator.

[0009] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a device locking / unlocking to limit the risk of vandalism and contribute to the safety of passengers on a railway vehicle. Description of the invention

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a locking / unlocking device for a pivoting element, said device comprising: • a pivot axis extending along a longitudinal direction and configured to be rotationally fixed to said pivoting element, • a rotational locking mechanism for said pivot axis,

[0011] said device being characterized in that it further comprises: • a housing configured to receive said pivot shaft and said locking mechanism, said pivot shaft and said locking mechanism being disposed inside said housing,

[0012] and in that: • said pivot axis has at least two flat surfaces extending parallel to said longitudinal direction of said pivot axis, • said locking mechanism comprises: • a locking axis extending orthogonally to said pivot axis, said locking axis being rotationally mobile, • a member, called a fork, mounted on said locking axis and rotationally fixed to it, said fork having two arms each extending substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of said locking axis and being configured to be able to be mobile in rotation between at least one locking position in which said arms extend respectively at least partly in contact with said flats of said pivot axis, so as to prevent any rotation of said pivot axis, and at least one unlocking position in which said fork does not prevent the rotation of said pivot axis.

[0013] Thus and according to the invention, such a locking / unlocking device is suitable for various pivoting elements having at least two distinct positions that can be adopted by rotation around at least one axis of rotation.

[0014] A locking / unlocking device according to the invention comprising a pivot axis, a locking mechanism and a housing configured as defined above makes it possible to provide a device that is not only robust and reliable but also particularly suitable for transmitting significant forces, i.e. allowing the equipping of heavy and / or large pivoting elements.

[0015] Advantageously and according to the invention, said pivot axis has a first longitudinal end, called the distal end, extending to a wall of said The housing consists of a casing and a second longitudinal end (opposite to the first longitudinal end), called the proximal end, extending outside the casing. Thus, the pivot axis allows the transmission of forces exerted by the pivoting element via its proximal end to the casing via its distal end, which bears at least partially on the casing, for example by means of a thrust bearing.

[0016] Advantageously, and according to the invention, a locking / unlocking device further comprises at least one thrust bearing for said pivot shaft, said bearing being integral with the housing and having a housing for receiving said distal end of said pivot shaft. This contributes to the transmission of forces exerted on or experienced by the pivoting element via the pivot shaft to the housing and to the support on which the housing rests and / or to which the housing is fixed.

[0017] Advantageously and according to the invention, said housing is configured to be able to be secured to a fixed support. In the case of a railway vehicle equipped with said pivoting element, a part of said railway vehicle forms this fixed support. This may, for example, be a wall or partition or a floor.

[0018] Advantageously and according to the invention, said fork is traversed by said axle. Advantageously and according to the invention, the fork comprises a base from which two arms extend orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the locking axle. Advantageously and according to the invention, the base of said fork completely encloses (over the entire perimeter of a transverse cross-section of said locking axle) at least a portion of the length of said locking axle and thus extends radially beyond the dimensions of said locking axle (in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said locking axle). Advantageously and according to the invention, said arms of the fork extend substantially parallel to each other.The fork of said locking mechanism of a locking / unlocking device allows for spontaneous locking, particularly in the event of mishandling or partial actuation of the locking axis and / or the pivoting element by an operator. Indeed, said arms extending on the same side beyond said base of the fork tend, by the action of gravity, to pivot towards said pivoting axis. Thus, advantageously and according to the invention, said pivoting axis is configured to be able to be positioned under said locking axis of said locking / unlocking device of a pivoting element equipped with it.

[0019] The locking mechanism of a device according to the invention is therefore configured so that the arms of said fork can extend at least partially to said pivot axis (in the locked position).

[0020] Thus, advantageously and according to the invention, said locking mechanism is configured to allow a substantially spontaneous return to said at least one locking position, from said at least one unlocking position.

[0021] Advantageously and according to the invention, said locking mechanism is configured to be actuated by means of a key. Thus, advantageously and according to the invention, said locking pin has at least one longitudinal end configured to extend through a wall of said housing. This allows an operator to easily access and actuate the locking pin, that is to say, from outside said housing of the locking / unlocking device according to the invention.

[0022] Moreover, advantageously and according to the invention, said longitudinal end of the locking axis has a square cross-section, in particular a longitudinal end configured to have a conjugate shape to that of the end of a key having an end comprising a bore having a square cross-section known as a "Bern key".

[0023] The invention also relates to a pivoting element equipped with at least one locking / unlocking device according to the invention.

[0024] Advantageously, and according to the invention, said pivoting element is configured to be rotationally mobile between at least one folded position, in which said pivoting element has a reduced footprint, and at least one deployed position. The locking / unlocking device according to the invention can be unlocked to allow each deployment and each folding of the pivoting element (i.e., at each transition between a retracted or folded state of the pivoting element and a state of use (for example, as a luggage support for a shelf)). When an operator has rotated the pivoting element to a desired position (folded or deployed), the device is locked to prevent any further rotation of the pivot axis and to hold the pivoting element in position.

[0025] Advantageously, and according to the invention, said pivoting element is formed of a shelf extending primarily along a main receiving plane. In particular, said receiving plane extends, in the position of use, along a plane parallel to a horizontal plane, such that objects can be placed on it or suspended from it. It may, in particular, be a shelf configured to hold luggage (and / or packages and / or suitcases...) belonging to passengers on board a railway vehicle. Such a shelf may, in particular, be configured to be positioned above a bicycle.

[0026] Advantageously and according to the invention, said pivoting element comprises two gas springs configured to be able to assist the rotational movement of said pivoting element around the pivot axis.

[0027] The invention also relates to a locking / unlocking device, a pivoting element equipped with such a device, and a railway vehicle equipped with such a pivoting element, characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below. List of figures

[0028] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only, and which refers to the accompanying figures in which: • [Fig.1] represents a schematic front view of a pivoting element according to an embodiment of the invention. • [Fig.2] represents a schematic perspective view of a ver- device rusting / unlocking according to the invention in locked position. • [Fig.3] represents a cross-section of a locking / unlocking device according to the invention in the locked position. • [Fig. 4] represents a cross-section of a locking / unlocking device locking according to the invention in the locked position. • [Fig.5] represents a schematic perspective view of a locking / unlocking device according to the invention, in the unlocked position. • [Fig.6] represents a schematic perspective view of a locking / unlocking device according to the invention, in the unlocked position.

[0029] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0030] Figures 1 to 6 illustrate an embodiment of a locking / unlocking device according to the invention allowing a pivoting element to be locked and unlocked by a rotational movement.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in [Fig. 1], the pivoting element 2 is a shelf that can be used to facilitate the positioning of bicycles on board a railway vehicle. Such a shelf has lateral uprights connected by parallel longitudinal uprights 36. The pivoting element 2 is configured to be able to rotate about a pivot axis 3 extending within a housing 1 of said locking / unlocking device. In [Fig. 1], the shelf is shown in the so-called vertical (or folded) position. The shelf can be moved, for use, into the so-called horizontal (or deployed) position by a rotation through an angle of approximately 90° (or a quarter turn) from the folded position.

[0032] The locking / unlocking device illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 comprises the housing 1, inside which are arranged the pivot axis 3 and a locking mechanism. The housing 1 has a base 40 that can be fixed to the floor and / or to a wall or any other support, directly or via a base. The housing 1 has a generally cubic shape. Any other parallelepiped or other shapes may also be suitable or adapted.

[0033] The pivot axis 3 extends along a longitudinal direction, substantially parallel to the The longitudinal direction of the pivoting element 2 is between a first longitudinal end, called the distal end 13, extending to a wall of the housing 1, and a second longitudinal end, called the proximal end 33, extending outwards from the housing 1. The main portion of the pivot axis 3 extending between the distal end 13 and the proximal end 33 has a non-circular but polygonal cross-section. In the embodiment shown, the pivot axis 3 has an octagonal cross-section. In particular, the main portion of the pivot axis 3 has four principal faces parallel to each other, called flats 8, 9, and four intermediate faces 16 with a width less than that of the four principal faces of the pivot axis 3. Each flat 8, 9 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis 3.

[0034] The distal end 13 of the pivot axis 3 forms a cylindrical portion configured to be housed in a stop bearing 10 of the pivot axis 3, the bearing 10 being integral with the housing 1. The bearing 10 is mounted through a wall of the housing 1 and fixed to it.

[0035] The proximal end 33 of the pivot axis 3 forms a cylindrical portion extending through a wall of the housing 1 as can be seen in [Fig.3] representing a cross-section of the locking / unlocking device parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivot axis 3.

[0036] The pivot axis 3 is configured so that it can be rotationally fixed with the pivoting element 2.

[0037] Figures 2, 5, and 6 are schematic perspective views of a device according to the invention, a portion of the walls of the housing 1 of which has been removed to facilitate understanding. Figures 2 and 5 illustrate essentially the same viewpoint of the locking / unlocking device, respectively in the locked and unlocked positions. Figure 6 illustrates the device from a viewpoint after a 90° rotation from the viewpoint of Figure 5.

[0038] The locking mechanism is a rotational locking mechanism for said pivot axis 3 and comprises a locking axis 4 and a member, referred to as a fork 5, mounted on the locking axis 4. The locking axis 4 extends orthogonally to the pivot axis 3. The locking axis 4 is rotatable about itself. The axis 4 has a first longitudinal end 6 having a square cross-section extending through a wall of the housing 1 and a ring 20 fixed thereto so as to allow an operator to actuate the locking mechanism via this end or recess. In the embodiment shown, this longitudinal end 6 further has a straight groove. The ring 20 is fixed to the housing 1 by means of four bolts 47.

[0039] The axis 4 has a second longitudinal end 29, opposite the Ion- end gitudinale 6, cylindrical in shape housed in a thrust bearing 28 integral with the housing 1, the bearing 28 being mounted through a wall of the housing 1. The thrust bearing 28 is secured to the housing 1 by means of four bolts 48.

[0040] The fork 5 comprises a base 24 from which two arms 25, 26 extend, the arms 25, 26 extending substantially parallel to each other and orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the locking axis 4. The fork 5 is rotationally fixed to the locking axis 4, a screw and bolt fastening system 42 securing the fork 5 to the locking axis 4. The locking axis 4 passes through the fork 5. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the base 24 of the fork 5 has a substantially parallelepiped shape. The base 24 of the fork 5 completely encloses, along its entire perimeter, a portion of the length of the locking axis 4 and extends radially beyond its dimensions (in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said locking axis).

[0041] The fork 5 is rotationally movable between at least one locking (or locked) position in which the arms 25, 26 extend respectively at least partially into contact with the flats 8, 9 of the pivot axis 3, so as to prevent any rotation of the latter, and at least one unlocking (or unlocked) position in which the fork 5 does not prevent the rotation of the pivot axis 3. Such a locking position is illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. Such an unlocking position is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

[0042] Such a fork 5 facilitates, through the action of gravity, the spontaneous locking of the device, particularly in the event of improper handling or partial actuation by an operator. Indeed, from any unlocked position, the arms 25, 26 tend to tilt towards the pivot axis 3 located below the locking axis 4. The locking axis 4 and the fork 5 are therefore configured so that they can be positioned above the pivot axis 3 when the locking / unlocking device is fitted to a pivoting element 2.

[0043] The fork 5 also has chamfers 7 to facilitate its engagement on the pivot axis 3 during locking.

[0044] Thus, starting from a folded position of the pivoting element 2 as illustrated in [Fig.1] and in which the locking / unlocking device is in the locked position, an operator wishing to move the pivoting element 2 must unlock the locking / unlocking device so that the fork 5 releases the pivot axis 3.

[0045] The unlocking of the locking / unlocking device according to the invention can be performed to allow each deployment and each retraction of the pivoting element, therefore during each transition between a retracted or folded position of the pivoting element and a position of use. When an operator wishes to After pivoting the pivoting element to a desired position (folded or extended), the operator unlocks the device using a key with one end having a square-section bore, known as a Berne key (not shown). This key is configured to allow rotation of the first longitudinal end 6 of the locking axis 4. Once the pivoting element has reached the desired position, the operator relocks the device by turning the key a quarter turn to prevent further rotation of the pivot axis and to hold the pivoting element in position.

[0046] The housing 1 thus has dimensions adapted to allow the movements of said fork 5 necessary for the locking / unlocking movements of the device according to the invention.

[0047] The locking / unlocking device according to the invention can further be equipped with a pin 30 ([Fig. 1]) to protect the housing of the locking / unlocking device in order to prevent or limit the risk of vandalism by attempting to actuate the pivoting element 2 by forcibly rotating the shelf to a deployed position. In the event of damage caused by such forcible actuating, it would then be possible to replace only the pin, the rest of the locking / unlocking device remaining intact.

[0048] The pivoting element 2 comprises two gas springs 11 that assist its rotational movement around the pivot axis 3 by dampening its tilting during deployment from a vertical configuration and facilitating its retraction from the deployed position. Each gas spring 11 has a first end 32 fixed to a lateral support of the pivoting element 2, and a second end 31 fixed to a fixed structure (not shown).

[0049] Each part of a locking / unlocking device according to the invention can be made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of metallic materials (including metal alloys), ceramic materials, polymer materials, and their composites. In particular, the fork, the locking pin, and the pivot pin are advantageously made of at least one metallic material, for example, steel.

Claims

1. Demands Locking / unlocking device for pivoting element (2), said device comprising: • a pivot axis (3) extending along a longitudinal direction and configured to be rotationally fixed to said pivoting element (2), • a rotation locking mechanism for said pivot axis (3), said device being characterized in that it further comprises: • a housing (1) configured to receive said pivot shaft (3) and said locking mechanism, said pivot shaft (3) and said locking mechanism being disposed inside said housing (1), and in that: • said pivot axis (3) has at least two flats (8, 9) extending parallel to said longitudinal direction of said pivot axis (3), • said locking mechanism comprises: • a locking axis (4) extending orthogonally to said pivot axis (3), said locking axis (4) being rotationally movable, • a member, called a fork (5), mounted on said locking axis (4) and rotationally fixed to it, said fork (5) having two arms (25, 26) extending substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of said locking axis (4) and being configured to be able to be rotationally mobile between at least one locking position in which said arms (25, 26) extend respectively at least partly in contact with said flats (8, 9) of said pivot axis (3), so as to prevent any rotation of said pivot axis (3), and at least one unlocking position in which said fork (5) does not prevent the rotation of said pivot axis (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said pivot axis (3) has a first longitudinal end, called distal end (13), extending to a wall of said housing (1), and a second longitudinal end, called proximal end (33), extending outside of said housing (1).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises at least one stop bearing (10) for said pivot axis (3), said bearing (10) being integral with the housing (1) and having a receiving housing for said distal end (13) of said pivot axis (3).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said fork (5) is traversed by said locking pin (4).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said housing (1) is configured to be able to be secured to a fixed support.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said locking pin (4) has at least one longitudinal end (6) configured to extend through a wall of said housing (1).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said longitudinal end (6) of the locking axis (4) has a square transverse cross section.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said locking mechanism is configured to allow a substantially spontaneous return to said at least one locking position, from said at least one unlocking position.

9. Pivoting element (2) equipped with at least one locking / unlocking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Pivoting element (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that it is formed of a shelf extending mainly along a principal receiving plane.

11. Pivoting element (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises two gas springs (11) configured to be able to assist the rotational movement of said pivoting element (2) about the pivot axis (3).

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