Safety Switch With Integrated Multi-Orientation Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety switches for industrial machines and plants are often oversized and economically unsuitable for simpler installations, requiring external adapters or supports for different opening types and orientations, and lack flexibility in anchoring without additional fixing means.
Innovation Solution
A compact and cost-effective safety switch system with integrated anchoring means allowing fixation in multiple orientations, featuring electronic drive systems and auxiliary modules for control and connection, enabling adaptation to hinged or sliding openings without external brackets, and incorporating centering mechanisms for alignment recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a safety switch is designed with fixed anchoring orientation and single-position fixing holes, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot be applied to accesses with different opening types without adapters or supports
Solution Approach 1:
The safety switch housing is designed with multiple pairs of fixing holes arranged in different orientations (front/rear faces and lateral faces), allowing the same device to be anchored in various orientations depending on the opening type (hinged or sliding, right or left). This eliminates the need for different adapters or supports for different access configurations.
2Ease of operation
If a safety switch includes a rotatable head with electronic circuit and centering pin to accommodate misalignment, then it can interact with actuator devices not perfectly aligned, but the axial development increases and more components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The centering pin function is extracted from a separate rotatable head component and integrated directly into the housing structure. The housing itself is designed with built-in centering pins at the fixing positions, eliminating the need for a distinct rotatable head with electronic circuits while maintaining the alignment recovery capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixing holes are provided only on front and rear faces for single orientation anchoring, then the device structure is simplified, but rotation of the head by 90° is required when closing does not occur in front of the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing incorporates multiple pairs of fixing holes on different faces (front, rear, and lateral faces) oriented at various angles. This allows the safety switch to be anchored directly in different orientations without requiring head rotation or additional supporting structures, accommodating both hinged and sliding opening types in various configurations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety switch for the control of access for machines and industrial plants comprises a casing (4) adapted to be fastened to a fixed part (F) of the access to be controlled and housing thereinside switching means) for controlling one or more control and/or service circuits of the machine or plant, driving means adapted to interact with the switching means upon the opening/closing of the access for opening/closing one or more circuits, anchoring means (5) of the casing (4) to the fixed part (F) of the access, the anchoring means (5) being integrated in the casing (4) and adapted to allow the selective fixing to the fixed part (F) of the access according to at least two mutually angled orientations, one or more auxiliary modules (18) adapted to be selectively mounted to the longitudinal upper end (8) of the casing (4), fixing means for fixing the one or more auxiliary modules (18) to the casing (4).