Actuation device for an explosion-proof housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9343243-B2
Application number	US-201414559502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

An actuation device ( 11 ) for an explosion-proof housing ( 10 ) in compliance with the ignition protection category “pressure-proof encapsulation”. The actuation device ( 11 ) has an actuation unit ( 15 ) with a manually actuatable actuation element ( 16 ), and an actuation device ( 11 ) having a switch unit ( 14 ) with a switch element ( 14 ) for switching an associated electrical contact. The actuation unit ( 15 ) is located outside the housing ( 10 ), whereas the switch unit ( 13 ) is located in the interior space ( 12 ) of the housing ( 10 ). An adapter device ( 22 ) mechanically connects the actuation unit ( 15 ) and the switch unit ( 13 ) and comprises at least one adapter plunger ( 38 ) that is supported so as to be movable in axial direction (A) in order to transmit the movement of the actuation element ( 16 ) via the adapter plunger ( 38 ) to the switch element ( 14 ). The adapter plunger ( 38 ) is arranged in an adapter channel ( 39 ) so as to be axially shiftable while forming a gap ( 53 ) that is resistant to ignition transmission.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Actuation device ( 11 ) for an explosion-proof housing ( 10 ) comprising:
an actuation unit ( 15 ) having a first carrier ( 17 );
an actuation element ( 16 ) moveable relative to the first carrier ( 17 ) in an axial direction (A);
a switch unit ( 13 ) having a second carrier ( 19 );
a switch element ( 14 ) movable relative to the second carrier ( 19 ) in said axial direction (A);
an adapter device ( 22 ) having an adapter body ( 23 ) extending in the axial direction (A), said adapter body ( 23 ) having a first mounting section ( 26 ) on one axial end and a second mounting section ( 27 ) on the other axial end;
said adapter device ( 22 ) having an adapter plunger ( 38 ) that is supported so as to be shiftable in an adapter channel ( 39 ) extending in the axial direction (A) in the adapter body ( 23 ), said adapter plunger ( 38 ) and said adapter channel ( 39 ) defining therebetween at least one gap ( 53 ) resistant to ignition transmission;
said adapter plunger ( 38 ) having a first axial end ( 42 ) associated with said actuation element ( 16 ) and a second axial end ( 43 ) associated with said switch element ( 14 ) of the switch unit ( 13 ); and
said first mounting section ( 26 ) of said adapter body ( 23 ) being separably connected to the first carrier ( 17 ) of the actuation unit ( 15 ) and the second mounting section ( 27 ) if said adapter body ( 23 ) being separably connected to the second carrier ( 19 ) of the switch unit ( 13 ) in such a manner that the two carriers ( 17 , 19 ) and the adapter body ( 23 ) are immovably supported next to each other.

2. The actuation device of claim 1 in which said adapter plunger ( 38 ) has on its first axial end ( 42 ) a first plunger face ( 44 ) that abuts against the actuation element ( 16 ) or is located opposite said actuation element ( 16 ) a distance apart in axial direction (A).

3. The actuation device of claim 2 in which said adapter plunger ( 38 ) has on its second axial end ( 43 ) a second plunger face ( 56 ) that abuts against said switch element ( 14 ) or is located opposite said switch element ( 14 ) at a distance apart in axial direction (A).

4. The actuation device of claim 1 in which said adapter device ( 22 ) has a first mounting device ( 62 ) by means of which the first mounting section ( 26 ) of the adapter body ( 23 ) is separably connected to the actuation unit ( 15 ), and the adapter device ( 22 ) has a second mounting device ( 85 ) by means of which the second mounting section ( 27 ) of the adapter body ( 23 ) is separably connected to the switch unit ( 13 ).

5. The actuation device in claim 4 in which said first mounting device ( 62 ) of said adapter device ( 22 ) has a connecting part ( 63 ) located on the actuation unit ( 15 ), said connecting part ( 63 ) being separably connected to the first mounting section ( 62 ).

6. The actuation device of claim 5 in which said connecting part ( 63 ) is separably connected to the actuation unit ( 15 ) by means of a holding part ( 71 ).

7. The actuation device of claim 6 in which said holding part ( 71 ) engages in a positive-locking manner in a recess ( 70 ) on the actuation unit ( 15 ) and provides a contact surface ( 75 ) for the connecting part ( 63 ).

8. The actuation device of claim 6 in which said holding part ( 71 ) is in contact with the first mounting section ( 26 ) of the adapter body ( 23 ) at least at a first location, and said holding part ( 71 ) together with the first mounting section ( 26 ) of said adapter body ( 23 ) form a rotary position setting ( 80 ) that establishes the relative rotary position about the axial direction (A) between the actuation unit ( 15 ) and the adapter body ( 23 ).

9. The actuation device of claim 1 in which the first mounting section ( 26 ) of said adapter body ( 23 ) is configured as a hollow cylinder.

10. The actuation device of claim 1 in which said adapter body ( 23 ) has a center section ( 28 ) with a cylindrical exterior contour, and at least one adapter channel ( 39 ) extending through said center section.

11. The actuation device of claim 10 in which said center section ( 28 ) of said adapter body ( 23 ) extends between the first and second mounting sections ( 26 , 27 ) of said adapter body ( 23 ).

12. The actuation device of claim 1 in which the actuation unit ( 15 ) and the switch unit ( 13 ) are constructed without special ignition protection measures.

13. An explosion proof housing assembly comprising:
a wall formed housing ( 10 ) defining an interior space ( 12 );
an actuation device supported by and extending through a wall of said housing;
said actuation device including an actuation unit ( 15 ) arranged on an exterior side of said housing wall;
a switch unit ( 13 ) arranged in the interior space ( 12 ) of the housing ( 10 );
an adapter device ( 22 ) extending through said housing wall in an explosion proof manner;
said actuation unit ( 15 ) having a first carrier ( 17 );
an actuation element ( 16 ) moveable relative to the first carrier ( 17 ) in an axial direction (A);
said switch unit ( 13 ) having a second carrier ( 19 );
a switch element ( 14 ) movable relative to the second carrier ( 19 ) in said axial direction (A);
said adapter device ( 22 ) having an adapter body ( 23 ) extending in the axial direction (A), said adapter body ( 23 ) having a first mounting section ( 26 ) on one axial end and a second mounting section ( 27 ) on the other axial end;
said adapter device ( 22 ) having an adapter plunger ( 38 ) that is supported so as to be shiftable in an adapter channel ( 39 ) extending in the axial direction (A) in the adapter body ( 23 ), said adapter plunger ( 38 ) and said adapter channel ( 39 ) defining therebetween at least one gap ( 53 ) resistant to ignition transmission;
said adapter plunger ( 38 ) having a first axial end ( 42 ) associated with said actuation element ( 16 ) and a second axial end ( 43 ) associated with said switch element ( 14 ) of the switch unit ( 13 ); and
said first mounting section ( 26 ) of said adapter body ( 23 ) being separably connected to the first carrier ( 17 ) of the actuation unit ( 15 ) and the second mounting section ( 27 ) if said adapter body ( 23 ) being separably connected to the second carrier ( 19 ) of the switch unit ( 13 ) in such a manner that the two carriers ( 17 , 19 ) and the adapter body ( 23 ) are immovably supported next to each other.

14. The explosion proof housing of claim 13 in which said housing ( 10 ) is constructed in compliance with the ignition protection category “pressure-proof encapsulation”.

15. The explosion proof housing of claim 13 in which a gap resistant to ignition transmission exists between the adapter body ( 23 ) and said housing wall.

16. The explosion proof housing of claim 13 in which said adapter plunger ( 38 ) has on its first axial end ( 42 ) a first plunger face ( 44 ) that abuts against the actuation element ( 16 ) or is located opposite said actuation element ( 16 ) a distance apart in axial direction (A), and said adapter plunger ( 38 ) has on its second axial end ( 43 ) a second plunger face ( 56 ) that abuts against said switch element ( 14 ) or is located opposite said switch element ( 14 ) at a distance apart in axial direction (A).

17. The explosion proof housing of claim 13 in which said adapter device ( 22 ) has a first mounting device ( 62 ) by means of which the first mounting section ( 26 ) of the adapter body ( 23 ) is separably connected to the actuation unit ( 15 ), and the adapter device ( 22 ) has a second mounting device ( 85 ) by means of which

Assignees

• Stahl R Schaltgeraete Gmbh
• Stahl R Schaltgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Kondrus Elena

Classifications

• H01H3/20 Primary

  wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling · CPC title

• H01H9/042 Primary

  Explosion-proof cases · CPC title

• H01H19/6355

  using axial cam devices for transforming the angular movement into linear movement along the axis of rotation · CPC title

• H01H3/12

  Push-buttons · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title