Rotary control system for a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345849-B2
Application number	US-201715400493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2017
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

This rotary control system for a device includes a rotary control member, rotationally mobile about a first fixed axis, between first and second positions, and a rotary control handle, intended to be secured in rotation with the rotary member about the first axis. It also includes a blocking device, that can be selectively moved, when the rotary member is in its first position, between a blocking configuration, in which it prevents the movement of the rotary member to its second position, and a release configuration, wherein the movement of the rotary member to its second position. This system further includes a locking plate, rotationally mobile about the first axis relative to the rotary member, when the rotary member is in its first position, between a locking position, in which a first orifice passing through the rotary member is superposed with a second orifice passing through the locking plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotary control system for an apparatus, said system comprising:
an enclosure,
a rotary control member, disposed within the enclosure and configured to be rotationally mobile about a first fixed axis, between first and second positions,
a rotary control handle, disposed on an outer surface of the enclosure and configured to be secured in rotation with the rotary member about the first axis,
a blocking device, disposed within the enclosure and configured to be displaced selectively, when the rotary member is in its first position, between:
a blocking configuration, in which the blocking device prevents the displacement of the rotary member to its second position, and
a release configuration, in which the blocking device allows the displacement of the rotary member to its second position,

said rotary system further comprises a locking plate, disposed within the enclosure and configured to be rotationally mobile about the first axis relative to the rotary member, when the rotary member is in its first position, between:
a locking position, in which a first through orifice of the rotary member is superposed with a second through orifice of the locking plate, said first and second orifices forming an opening configured to receive a locking tool rotationally securing the rotary member with the locking plate about the first axis, and
an unlocking position, in which the first and second orifices are offset relative to one another and together do not form the opening, and

wherein the locking plate is configured to switch the blocking device between its blocking and release configurations when the locking plate is displaced between its respectively locked and unlocked positions.

2. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking device comprises:
a pin borne by the rotary member, said pin being translationally mobile relative to the rotary member, between:
a deployed position, in which a first end of this pin is received in a hole formed on a fixed frame of the control system and prevents the rotation of the rotary member, the blocking device then being in its blocking configuration, and
a retracted position, in which the first end of the pin is outside of the hole and allows the rotation of the rotary member, the blocking device then being in its release configuration,

a return member exerting on the pin a return force to its retracted position,
a bearing zone, borne by the locking plate and configured to push the pin to its deployed position, by pressing on a second end of the pin opposite the first end, when the locking plate is displaced to its locked position.

3. The control system according to claim 2 , wherein the bearing zone is a plane that is inclined relative to a main geometrical plane of the locking plate.

4. The control system according to claim 2 , wherein the return member comprises a spring.

5. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary handle and the rotary member are secured with a shaft, wherein the rotary member comprises a cavity receiving an end of said shaft and a part for fixing the shaft to the rotary member, and wherein the locking plate comprises a protective blade which protrudes from the locking plate, said protective blade being shaped to cover the fixing part only when the locking plate is in its locked position.

6. The control system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the rotary member comprises a groove formed on one of its outer faces and emerging on a volume at least partly delimited by an inner wall of the rotary member,
the locking plate comprises a claw which has a retaining portion, the claw being inserted into the groove such that the retaining portion bears on a rear face of a body of the rotary member, the opening thickness of a main part of the groove being less than the width of the retaining portion of the claw to prevent a translational displacement of the locking plate along the first axis relative to the rotary member.

7. The control system according to claim 6 , wherein the groove comprises a secondary part having an opening thickness greater than the width of the retaining portion of the claw, said secondary part defining a mounting position of the locking plate, distinct from the locking and unlocking positions and in which the locking plate can be translationally displaced relative to the rotary member along the first axis.

8. The control system according to claim 7 , wherein the locking plate is formed to prevent, once the claw is inserted into the groove, a displacement to its mounting position.

9. The control system according to claim 8 , wherein the locking plate comprises a straight part formed to come into abutment on the pin when said pin is in its retracted position and when the locking plate is displaced to its mounting position.

10. The rotary control system according to claim 1 , further, comprising:
a controllable electrical apparatus housed inside the enclosure,
wherein said rotary control system is coupled to the electrical apparatus to control the electrical apparatus from the outside of the enclosure via the rotary control handle.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Sinthomez Daniel
• Pitis Florent

Classifications

• G05G1/10

  Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H01H9/282 Primary

  and a separate part mounted or mountable on the switch assembly and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position where it can be secured by the padlock · CPC title

• G05G5/28 Primary

  for preventing unauthorised access to the controlling member or its movement to a command position · CPC title

• G05G2505/00

  Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member · CPC title

• H01H71/56

  actuated by rotatable knob or wheel · CPC title