Key operation devices and apparatus

Abstract

To provide a key operation device capable of eliminating daily physical key borrowing and lending work and reducing a risk of taking the physical key home or losing the physical key.SOLUTION: A key operation device is fitted to an operation panel 4 having a key cylinder 7 and used for an operation to rotate a physical key 6 inserted in the key cylinder 7. The key operation device has a base plate 21 disposed so as to come into contact with the operation panel 4, a fastening nut 28 that is fastened to the key cylinder 7 and fixes the base plate 21 to the operation panel 4, an operation part 40 that covers the physical key 6 and rotates integrally with the physical key 6, and an enclosure 31 that surrounds the key cylinder 7 and stores a portion of the operation part 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device for key operation and a device including the device for key operation.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 3851830 (Patent Document 1) discloses a device that starts an engine by operating a physical key while the physical key is inserted into a key cylinder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of the device described in the above document, an operator needs to borrow a regular physical key every day to use the device and return the physical key when the use of the device is finished. There is a来回 between the office managing the physical keys and the work site, which is cumbersome. In addition, there is a possibility that an operator may take the physical key away from the work site or lose the physical key.

[0005] The present disclosure proposes a device for key operation that can eliminate the daily borrowing and lending operations of physical keys and reduce the risk of taking the physical key home or losing it.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A key operating device according to a certain aspect of the present disclosure is mounted on a control panel having a key cylinder and is used for operating a physical key inserted into the key cylinder. The key operating device comprises a base plate positioned in contact with the control panel, a fastening nut fastened to the key cylinder to secure the base plate to the control panel, an operating part that covers the physical key and rotates integrally with the physical key, and a housing that surrounds the key cylinder and houses a portion of the operating part.

[0007] An apparatus according to a certain aspect of the present disclosure comprises a control panel and a key operating device. The control panel has a key cylinder. The key operating device is mounted on the control panel. The key operating device is used to rotate a physical key inserted into the key cylinder. The key operating device comprises a base plate positioned in contact with the control panel, a fastening nut fastened to the key cylinder to secure the base plate to the control panel, an operating part that covers the physical key and rotates integrally with the physical key, and a housing that surrounds the key cylinder and houses a portion of the operating part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The key operation device described herein eliminates the need for daily lending and borrowing of physical keys and reduces the risk of physical keys being taken home or lost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing the schematic configuration of the work vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing the schematic configuration of the key operation device. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the base plate to the control panel. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the housing to the base plate. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described based on the drawings. As an example of this embodiment, "device for the mounting structure of the lock body (mounting structure of the device)" will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an aerial work platform 1 as an example of a work vehicle. The work vehicle represented by the aerial work platform 1 is an example of a device including a key operation device of the present disclosure. The device including the key operation device may be a work vehicle other than the aerial work platform 1, or may be a device other than a work vehicle. For example, an emergency power supply device may include the key operation device of the present disclosure.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the aerial work platform 1 includes a traveling body 2 and a lifting body 3. The traveling body 2 is a base portion for moving the aerial work platform 1. The traveling body 2 has a pair of traveling wheels 2A on the front side and a pair of traveling wheels 2A on the rear side. The aerial work platform 1 is self-propelled by rotationally driving the traveling wheels 2A. The traveling body 2 may have crawlers instead of the traveling wheels 2A.

[0013] The lifting body 3 is configured to be able to move up and down with respect to the traveling body 2. The lifting body 3 is a cage portion where the operator 101 gets in and works. An operation panel 4 is provided on the lifting body 3. The operation panel 4 has an operation stop switch 5 that is pressed to stop the aerial work platform 1, a key cylinder 7 (not shown in FIG. 1) into which a physical key 6 (not shown in FIG. 1) is inserted, and the like. The operation panel 4 is arranged so that the operator 101 boarding the lifting body 3 can visually recognize and operate the operation panel 4.

[0014] The aerial work platform 1 is further equipped with a key operating device 10. The key operating device 10 is used to rotate a physical key 6 inserted into a key cylinder 7. The key operating device 10 has a main body 20 that is attached to the control panel 4. The main body 20 covers the key cylinder 7 and the physical key 6 and is attached to the control panel 4, with the key cylinder 7 and the physical key 6 located inside the main body 20. Since the key cylinder 7 and the physical key 6 are not visible from the outside, they are not shown in Figure 1.

[0015] The key operation device 10 includes a control box 80. The control box 80 is configured separately from the main unit 20. The main unit 20 and the control box 80 are connected by wires 91 and 93.

[0016] Figure 2 is a front view showing the schematic configuration of the key operation device 10. As shown in Figure 2, the main body 20 has an operating part 40 that covers the physical key 6 and rotates integrally with the physical key 6. The operating part 40 has a knob 41. The knob 41 is hollow. The physical key 6, which is inserted into the key cylinder 7, is housed inside the knob 41. The physical key 6 fits into the hollow space inside the knob 41. The operating part 40 covers the physical key 6. The operator 101 operates the knob 41 by pinching it with their fingers. When the knob 41 is rotated, the entire operating part 40 rotates, and at this time the physical key 6 rotates integrally with the operating part 40.

[0017] The knob 41 shown in Figure 2 is positioned in the "off" position. Therefore, the physical key 6 inside the knob 41 is also positioned in the "off" position. When the knob 41 (physical key 6) is in the "off" position, the aerial work platform 1 is powered off, and the vehicle 2 cannot move, the lifting body 3 cannot be raised or lowered, etc.

[0018] By operator 101 rotating knob 41 counterclockwise from the "off" position, knob 41 (physical key 6) can be moved to the "upper operation" position. When knob 41 (physical key 6) is in the "upper operation" position, operator 101 can operate the aerial work platform 1 within the lifting body 3. Operator 101 can raise the lifting body 3 to perform aerial work. When the lifting body 3 is at the lowest end, operator 101 can drive the aerial work platform 1. In normal usage, the aerial work platform 1 is used with knob 41 (physical key 6) placed in the "upper operation" position.

[0019] By operator 101 rotating knob 41 clockwise from the "off" position, knob 41 (physical key 6) can be moved to the "lower operation" position. When knob 41 (physical key 6) is in the "lower operation" position, only the operation of raising and lowering the lifting body 3 is possible. The raising and lowering of the lifting body 3 may be performed by operating the operation panel 4 provided on the lifting body 3, or may be performed by operating another operation panel provided on the traveling body 2. The aerial work platform 1 may be used with knob 41 (physical key 6) placed in the "lower operation" position, for example, during maintenance.

[0020] The main body 20 has a housing 31. The housing 31 houses a part of the operation unit 40. Knob 41 projects upward from the housing 31.

[0021] The control box 80 controls the operation of the key operation device 10. The control box 80 performs short-range wireless communication with the portable terminal 100 held by operator 101 (also refer to FIG. 1) and receives a signal from the portable terminal 100. The portable terminal 100 may be a general-purpose terminal device represented by a smartphone or a dedicated terminal device. The control box 80 transmits a control signal to the main body 20. The control box 80 also stores the power supplied to the main body 20.

[0022] Wiring 91 is drawn out from the main body part 20. A connector 92 is attached to the tip of the wiring 91. Wiring 93 is drawn out from the control box 80. A connector 94 is attached to the tip of the wiring 93. The connectors 92 and 94 may be waterproof. By connecting the connector 92 and the connector 94, the main body part 20 and the control box 80 are electrically connected via the wirings 91 and 93. The wirings 91 and 93 include a power line for supplying power from the control box 80 to the main body part 20 and a control line for transmitting signals between the main body part 20 and the control box 80.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the base plate 21 to the operation panel 4. The main body part 20 has an outer shape formed by the base plate 21 and the housing 31, and has a box-like shape as a whole. The base plate 21 and the housing 31 are configured as separate bodies. The base plate 21 is disposed in contact with the operation panel 4. A sealing material such as foamed polyethylene foam, urethane, synthetic resin, rubber, etc. may be disposed between the base plate 21 and the operation panel 4. An insertion hole 22 penetrating the base plate 21 in the thickness direction is formed in the base plate 21. The key cylinder 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 22.

[0024] By fastening a fastening nut 28 to the key cylinder 7, the base plate 21 is assembled around the key cylinder 7 and fixed to the operation panel 4. The outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 7 has a male screw shape, and the inner peripheral surface of the fastening nut 28 has a female screw shape. The base plate 21 has pedestals 23A to 23D for fixing the housing 31 to the operation panel 4 using fastening bolts 38A to 38D described later.

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting structure of the housing 31 to the base plate 21. The housing 31 has fastening holes 33A to 33D. Fastening bolt 38A passes through fastening hole 33A and is fastened to the base 23A. Fastening bolts 38B, 38C, and 38D pass through fastening holes 33B, 33C, and 33D and are fastened to the bases 23B, 23C, and 23D, respectively. By fastening the fastening bolts 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D to the bases 23A, 23B, 23C, and 23D, the housing 31 is fixed to the base plate 21, and the base plate 21 and the housing 31 are integrated. The housing 31 is arranged surrounding the key cylinder 7. A sealing material such as foamed polyethylene foam, urethane, synthetic resin, or rubber may be placed between the base plate 21 and the housing 31.

[0026] The heads of the fastening bolts 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D have hexalobular holes. The fastening bolts 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D are bolts with hexalobular holes. Tamper-proof hexalobular bolts, etc., may also be used as fastening bolts 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D.

[0027] While embodiments have been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included.

[0028] The exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the following embodiments. One embodiment of the key operating device 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is attached to an operating panel 4 having a key cylinder 7 and is used to rotate a physical key 6 inserted into the key cylinder 7. The key operating device 10 comprises a base plate 21 positioned in contact with the operating panel 4, a fastening nut 28 that is fastened to the key cylinder 7 to fix the base plate 21 to the operating panel 4, an operating part 40 that covers the physical key 6 and rotates integrally with the physical key 6, and a housing 31 that surrounds the key cylinder 7 and houses a part of the operating part 40.

[0029] By retrofitting the main body 20 of the key operation device 10 to the existing key cylinder 7 on the control panel 4, and keeping the physical key 6 covered at all times by the operation unit 40, the physical key 6 can be left inserted in the key cylinder 7. Since insertion and removal of the physical key 6 is unnecessary, the daily lending and return of the physical key 6 is eliminated. The possibility of the worker 101 accidentally taking the physical key 6 from the work site or losing the physical key 6 is reduced. This makes it easier to manage the aerial work platform 1.

[0030] By fitting the knob 41 of the add-on operating unit 40 onto the physical key 6 inserted into the key cylinder 7, rotating the knob 41 also rotates the physical key 6. The physical key 6 can be operated via the knob 41. The aerial work platform 1 can be started and stopped by rotating the knob 41, similar to the conventional operation of directly rotating the physical key 6.

[0031] Conventionally, the outer surface of the key cylinder 7 has a male thread shape. By utilizing this existing male thread shape and fastening a dedicated fastening nut 28 to the key cylinder 7, the base plate 21 can be easily attached to the control panel 4.

[0032] In some cases, the control panel 4 of one aerial work platform 1 and the control panel 4 of another aerial work platform 1 may be equipped with key cylinders 7 of different shapes. In this case, a key operating device 10 can be applied to each aerial work platform 1, which includes a base plate 21 with an insertion hole 22 corresponding to the shape of the key cylinder 7, a fastening nut 28 corresponding to the shape of the key cylinder 7, and an operating part 40 corresponding to the shape of the key cylinder 7. By making the positions of the pedestals 23A to 23D formed on the base plate 21 common to each base plate 21, the housing 31 and fastening bolts 38A to 38D can be shared among the key operating devices 10. By standardizing the parts, the cost of the key operating device 10 can be reduced.

[0033] The key operation device 10 described above may further include fastening bolts 38A to 38D for fixing the housing 31 to the base plate 21, as shown in Figure 4. By fixing the housing 31 to the base plate 21 using fastening bolts 38A to 38D, the housing 31 can be easily fixed to the base plate 21, and the housing 31 can be removed from the base plate 21 as needed.

[0034] In the key operation device 10 described above, as shown in Figure 4, the fastening bolts 38A to 38D may be hexalobular socket bolts. The heads of the fastening bolts 38A to 38D are formed with hexalobular sockets instead of Phillips or slotted grooves, so that the fastening bolts 38A to 38D cannot be removed with a standard screwdriver. This prevents workers from accidentally removing the housing 31 from the base plate 21 at the work site. On the other hand, maintenance workers can quickly and efficiently attach and detach the housing 31 to the base plate 21 using a hexalobular screwdriver with six protrusions at the tip corresponding to the hexalobular sockets of the fastening bolts 38A to 38D.

[0035] An apparatus according to one embodiment (aerial work platform 1), as shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises an operating panel 4 having a key cylinder 7, and a key operating device 10 attached to the operating panel 4 and used for operating a physical key 6 inserted into the key cylinder 7. The key operating device 10 has a base plate 21 positioned in contact with the operating panel 4, a fastening nut 28 that is fastened to the key cylinder 7 and fixes the base plate 21 to the operating panel 4, an operating part 40 that covers the physical key 6 and rotates integrally with the physical key 6, and a housing 31 that surrounds the key cylinder 7 and houses a part of the operating part 40.

[0036] By retrofitting the main body 20 of the key operation device 10 to the existing key cylinder 7 on the control panel 4, and keeping the physical key 6 covered at all times by the operation unit 40, the physical key 6 can be left inserted in the key cylinder 7. Since insertion and removal of the physical key 6 is unnecessary, the daily lending and return of the physical key 6 is eliminated. The possibility of the worker 101 accidentally taking the physical key 6 from the work site or losing the physical key 6 is reduced. This makes it easier to manage the aerial work platform 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Aerial work platform, 2 Driving body, 2A Driving wheels, 3 Lifting body, 4 Control panel, 5 Operation stop switch, 6 Physical key, 7 Key cylinder, 10 Key operation device, 20 Main body, 21 Base plate, 22 Through hole, 23A~23D Base, 28 Fastening nut, 31 Housing, 33A~33D Fastening hole, 38A~38D Fastening bolt, 40 Operating unit, 41 Knob, 80 Control box, 91,93 Wiring, 92,94 Connector, 100 Portable terminal, 101 Operator.

Claims

1. A key operating device, which is mounted on a control panel having a key cylinder and used for operating a physical key inserted into the key cylinder, The base plate is positioned in contact with the control panel and has a through-hole that penetrates in the thickness direction, and the key cylinder is inserted into the through-hole, A fastening nut fastens to the key cylinder inserted through the aforementioned insertion hole, thereby assembling the base plate around the key cylinder and fixing the base plate to the control panel, An operating unit that covers the physical key and rotates integrally with the physical key, A key operation device comprising a housing that surrounds the key cylinder and houses a part of the operating section.

2. The key operation device according to claim 1, further comprising bolts for fixing the housing to the base plate.

3. The key operating device according to claim 2, wherein the bolt is a bolt with a hexalobular socket.

4. A control panel having a key cylinder, A device comprising: a key operating device attached to the control panel and used for operating a physical key inserted into the key cylinder, The aforementioned key operation device is, The base plate is positioned in contact with the control panel and has a through-hole that penetrates in the thickness direction, and the key cylinder is inserted into the through-hole, A fastening nut fastens to the key cylinder inserted through the aforementioned insertion hole, thereby assembling the base plate around the key cylinder and fixing the base plate to the control panel, An operating unit that covers the physical key and rotates integrally with the physical key, A device comprising a housing that surrounds the key cylinder and houses a part of the operating section.

Images