Abstract:
A turning knob with a lock for an electric circuit indicating a body for receiving a barrel rotating relative to a stator. The barrel includes springs receiving a key configured while rotating to take up at least two functional retained or released positions and having at one of its ends a shank configured to be actuated by rotating the key. The body has an inner cylindrical sleeve whereon the stator is urged to be positioned, the inner sleeve having a number of identical members for positioning the stator, each positioning member of the inner sleeve matching a corresponding positioning member of the stator, so as to select the position of the stator relative to the body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to a turning knob with lock comprising a body in which are housed a stator, a barrel or rotor controlled by a key and a control component able to switch contacts of an electrical block. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     A turning knob with lock is used to establish prolonged or fleeting electrical contact in order to activate a process. In the case where electrical contact is prolonged, the turning knob comprises several positions and will be able to permit one or more key withdrawals. On the other hand in the case where electrical contact is fleeting, the turning knob generally permits only a single key withdrawal. 
     When the turning knob with lock is of the positions type and if it permits several key withdrawals, it may be necessary to be able to offer the client identical knobs in which key withdrawals do not all occur in the same position. In order to decrease manufacturing costs and to limit difficulties during assembly, it may turn out to be beneficial to use one and the same stator to obtain various combinations of key withdrawals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the invention is therefore to offer a turning knob with lock in which it is possible to obtain, on the basis of one and the same stator, various combinations of key withdrawals. 
     This aim is achieved by a turning knob with lock for electrical circuit comprising a body able to house a barrel turning with respect to a stator, said barrel comprising tabs, receiving a key that can take by rotation at least two functional positions, held or fleeting, and exhibiting at one of its ends a shank actuatable by rotation of said key. Said knob is characterized in that,
         the body exhibits an internal cylindrical sleeve on which the stator positions itself,   the internal sleeve exhibits a plurality of identical positioning members for the stator, each positioning member of the internal sleeve being complementary to a corresponding positioning member of the stator, so as to be able to choose the position of the stator with respect to the body.       

     According to the invention, it is therefore possible to choose the position of the stator in the body, therefore the position of the lateral opening of the stator with respect to the body and the one in which the key may be withdrawn. The members for positioning the sleeve and stator are complementary and comprise for example identical notches formed on a flange of one of the ends of the internal sleeve and a crown of complementary flutes formed at an end of the stator. The notches at the end of the sleeve therefore slot into the corresponding flutes of the stator. 
     According to a first embodiment, the stator exhibits two diametrically opposite lateral openings. 
     According to a second embodiment, the stator exhibits six diametrically opposite lateral openings. 
     In a knob turning by a quarter turn, it is therefore possible to obtain on the basis of these two stator embodiments, one, two or three key withdrawals at various positions and to offer all the combinations of key withdrawals. 
     According to a feature, the body of the knob exhibits a flared part furnished with an external collar, a cup defined between said collar and the internal sleeve being able to receive a helical spring loading a sensitivity ring that can move in translation. 
     According to another feature, the knob also comprises a lock-cover housed in the body and secured to the barrel, said lock-cover exhibiting teeth able to cooperate with cam shapes formed on the sensitivity ring. 
     According to another feature, the sensitivity ring is able to be temporarily linked to the stator by way of intermeshing means. Such a characteristic makes it possible to facilitate assembly of the knob in particular when the latter is achieved in an automatic manner with the aid of machines. 
     According to another feature, the intermeshing means comprise at least two studs formed on the lateral wall of the stator and the ring is held bearing against a shoulder formed on the stator by way of the studs bearing on a collar formed on the ring. During assembly of the knob, the ring is stripped of the stator by exerting a pressure on the latter. The intermeshing means are therefore used temporarily and should not hinder the normal operation of the turning knob. Other means for fastening the sensitivity ring to the stator may be envisaged. 
     According to a variant embodiment of the knob, the cup defined above is able to receive a torsion spring loading the barrel during its rotation. In this case one is dealing with a so-called restoring turning knob that can take two positions one of which is fleeting. Such a knob does not comprise any sensitivity ring and uses a stator exhibiting two diametrically opposite lateral openings so as to permit only a single key withdrawal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows while referring to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the appended drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents a turning knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  represents, in perspective and exploded, the turning knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIG. 3  represents, seen from above, the turning knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 4A to 4C  represent, viewed on the longitudinal sections A-A, B-B and C-C defined in  FIG. 3 , the turning knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  represent, in perspective, two variant embodiments of a stator used in the knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIG. 5C  represents a detail D 2  of the stator illustrated in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6  represents, in perspective, a stator of  FIG. 5A  in which a key-type barrel is inserted. 
         FIG. 7A  represents, in perspective, the body of the turning knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIG. 7B  represents, in perspective, the sensitivity ring. 
         FIG. 7C  represents, in perspective, the control component. 
         FIG. 7D  represents, in perspective, the lock-cover. 
         FIGS. 8A to 8G  represent, seen from above and in transverse section, the various combinations of key withdrawals. 
         FIGS. 9A to 9F  represent various steps for assembling the turning knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIG. 10  represents, in perspective and exploded, a variant embodiment of the knob with lock according to the invention. 
         FIG. 11  represents, seen from above, the turning knob with lock according to the variant embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  represent the sections on A-A and B-B of the knob with lock illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The turning knob with lock illustrated in the figures is a knob  1 ,  1  operated with the aid of a key  2  turning in a barrel  11 . This knob  1 ,  1 ′ comprises a body  10  having the form of a tubular component axisymmetric about an X axis. It is intended to be fixed in an opening made in a panel or a wall for example by means of a customary fixing base (see patent application EP 889 564). Below the base is mounted at least one breaker electrical block, the assembling of each electrical block to the base being performed by attachment means such as those described in patent WO 97/28552. The barrel  11  is mounted rotatably with respect to the body  10  and can take at least two functional positions, held or fleeting. 
     Subsequently in the description, the use of the terms “axial”, “axially”, “coaxial” or “transverse” are defined with respect to the aforesaid X axis. 
     Likewise the terms “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below” or terms with equivalent senses should be understood with respect to the aforesaid X axis when the latter is vertical. 
       FIGS. 1 to 9F  represent a turning knob  1  with lock that can take at least two held positions. 
     The body  10  of this knob  1  exhibits a wide top part  10   a  and a narrower bottom control part  10   b.    
     The bottom part  10   b  of the body  10  comprises runner shapes  100  ( FIG. 7A ) for guiding sliders  12  which, during the rotation of the key  2  and therefore of the barrel  11 , move in translation along the X axis under the action of a control component  13 . 
     The wide top part  10   a  is furnished with a cylindrical external top collar  101 , and with an internal collar concentric with the external collar, having the shape of a sleeve  102  defining an axial central opening  103  ( FIG. 9A ). The external collar  101  and the sleeve  102  define between them a cup  104 . The upper flange of the internal sleeve  102  exhibits a plurality of identical notches  105  ( FIG. 7A ) standing parallel to the X axis. These notches  105  are intended to position a stator  14   a ,  14   b  furnished with complementary identical flutes  140 . The notches  105  are received into the corresponding structure of the stator formed between the flutes  140  of the stator. 
     According to a first variant embodiment represented in  FIG. 5A , the stator  14   a  has the shape of an axisymmetric component mounted in a coaxial manner in the knob  1 . The stator  14   a  comprises a substantially cylindrical top part and a likewise cylindrical bottom part but of smaller diameter, defining between them a transverse annular shoulder  141  ( FIG. 9C ). Two diametrically opposite flats  142  are formed on the external surface of the top part of the stator  14   a . Between these two flats  142 , the lateral surface of the top part of the stator  14   a  comprises six identical diametrically opposite openings  143   a . At its bottom part, the stator  14   a  exhibits a fluted crown, whose flutes  140  are oriented longitudinally along the X axis. These flutes  140  are complementary to the notches  105  formed on the upper flange of the internal sleeve  102  of the body  10  and are intended to cooperate with them. The notches  105  and the corresponding flutes  140  form members for positioning the stator  14   a  on the body  10 . 
     The stator  14   b  according to the second variant embodiment and represented in  FIG. 5B , differs from that described above by the fact that:
         It simply comprises two diametrically opposite lateral openings  143   b.      It does not comprise any flats on the lateral surface of its top part.       

     Subsequently in the description, we will use the reference “ 14 ” to refer to the two stator variants. It will be necessary to understand this description as well as corresponding  FIGS. 1 to 9F  as being applicable to both variant embodiments of the stator. 
     The cup  104  defined between the collar  101  and the internal sleeve  102  of the body  10  houses a helical compression spring  15  applied on the one hand to the bottom of the cup  104  and on the other hand against a sensitivity ring  16  ( FIGS. 2 and 7B ) so as to load the latter along the X axis. The body  10  exhibits on the internal surface of its top part  10   a  two diametrically opposite runners  106  ( FIGS. 4B and 7A ) in which the sensitivity ring  16  is able to slide along the X axis when it is loaded. To slide axially against the runners of the body, the sensitivity ring  16  comprises nooks  160  or other analogous trough-like or relief-like shapes ( FIG. 7B ). The sensitivity ring  16  also comprises actuation cam shapes  161  corresponding to the desired functional positions of the knob  1 . 
     The sensitivity ring  16  is loaded in translation by a lock-cover  17  ( FIG. 7D ) having the form of an axisymmetric component inserted axially between the stator  14  and the top part  10   a  of the body  10 . The lock-cover  17  exhibits an upper collar defining a transverse annular shoulder  172  by which it rests on the upper flange of the body  10  of the knob  1  ( FIGS. 4A to 4C ). This lock-cover  17  follows the cam shapes  161  provided on the sensitivity ring  16  with the aid of two diametrically opposite teeth  171  with beveled end, extending downwards, along the X axis ( FIGS. 4A and 7D ). In proximity to its upper end, on its internal surface the lock-cover  17  exhibits projections  172  forming transverse surfaces intended to constitute bearings for a head  11   a  of the barrel  11 . The two flats  142  made on the exterior surface of the stator  14  make it possible to prevent the burr of the join plane that arises from the manufacture of the stator from hindering the rotation of the lock-cover  17  in the body  10  of the knob. 
     The head  11   a  of the barrel  11  bears against the projections  172  of the lock-cover  17  such that the barrel  11  and the lock-cover  17  are rotationally fastened. The head  11   a  of the barrel is lengthened along the X axis by an intermediate part  11   b  comprising tabs  110  ( FIG. 6 ) forming the lock mechanism. When these tabs  110  are situated opposite a lateral opening  143   a ,  143   b  of the stator  14 , withdrawal of the key  2  from the barrel  11  is possible. During this key withdrawal  2 , the tabs  110  exit the barrel and project into the opening of the stator  14  facing them. The barrel  11  can therefore no longer rotate in the stator  14 . The tabs  110  are each associated with a spring (not represented) which, during the withdrawal of the key  2 , brings them back outwards. During the insertion of the key  2 , the notches present on the key pull the tabs  110  inwards into the stator  14 . Once the key  2  has been pushed fully into the barrel  11 , the tabs  110  no longer project through the opening of the stator, thus permitting the barrel  11  to rotate in the stator  14 . The lock-cover  17  comprises a cleft  174  intended to receive an index  19  ( FIG. 2 ) allowing a user to tag the position of the knob  1 . The tabs  110  project from the barrel  11  for example away from this index  19  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     The intermediate part lib of the barrel  11  is lengthened by a span  11   c  for centering in the central opening  103  formed by the sleeve  102 , which is applied against the internal face of the sleeve  102  of the body  10  and which offers an annular shoulder or a furrow for receiving a lip seal  18  ensuring good leaktightness with the internal face of the sleeve  102 . The barrel  11  terminates with a shank lid intended to intermesh with the control component  13  with the aid of intermeshing shapes  111  ( FIG. 6 ) interlocking with respective shapes of the control component  13  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). The shank lid of the barrel also exhibits indexation shapes, for example squares, for rotationally engaging the control component  13 . 
     To limit the rotation of the barrel  11 , the lock-cover  17  secured to the barrel  11  comprises two axial and diametrically opposite lateral lugs  173  ( FIGS. 4C and 7D ), in relief on its external surface, turning in relation to the internal surface of the collar  101  of the body  10 , between two abutments formed on this internal surface. The rotational sweep of the barrel  11  is for example a quarter turn. The barrel  11  is engaged in the lock-cover  17  so that the tabs  110  of the barrel are opposite one of the lateral lugs  173  of the lock-cover  17 . 
     The control component  13  ( FIG. 7C ) has the form of a tubular component exhibiting, at its top part, a span for centering  130  in the opening  103  defined by the internal sleeve  102  of the body  10  and, at its bottom part, cam shapes  131  for actuating the sliders  12 . It also exhibits an internal sleeve  132  of square and constant transverse section into which is inserted the shank  11   d  of the barrel  11  ( FIGS. 4A to 4C ). Intermeshing shapes  133  are provided on the internal surface of this sleeve for cooperating with the corresponding intermeshing shapes  111  of the shank  11   d  of the barrel  11 . The control component  13  furthermore comprises a coaxial external cylindrical portion  135  with a lower edge whose contour defines the cam shapes  131 . The skirt  135  forms with the centering span  130  an annular shoulder  134  defining a transverse surface opposite the lower flange of the internal sleeve  102  of the body  10 . 
     According to the invention, between its top part and its bottom part the stator  14  also exhibits means for intermeshing the sensitivity ring  16  ( FIGS. 5A to 5C ). During assembly of the knob  1 , the sensitivity ring  16  is axially intermeshed with the stator  14 . These intermeshing means comprise at least two diametrically opposite studs  144  ( FIG. 5C ) formed on the lateral wall of the stator  14 , above the flutes  140 . The sensitivity ring  16  comprises an internal collar  162  defining a lower transverse annular surface against which the studs  144  bear and is gripped between said studs  144  and the annular shoulder  141  defined between the top part and the bottom part of the stator  14 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9A to 9F , assembly of the knob  1  occurs in the following manner: 
     In the body of the knob  1  is placed firstly the helical spring  15  in the cup  104  defined between the internal sleeve  102  and the external collar  101  ( FIG. 9A ). Thereafter, as explained above, the sensitivity ring  16  is temporarily intermeshed with the stator  14  ( FIGS. 9B and 9C ). The lock-cover  17  is thereafter placed around the stator  14  so that its teeth  171  cooperate with the cam shapes  161  provided on the sensitivity ring  16  ( FIG. 9D ). The lock-cover/stator/sensitivity ring subassembly is thereafter inserted along the X axis into the body  10  of the knob  1  so that the flutes  140  of the stator  14  cooperate with the corresponding notches  105  formed on the upper flange of the internal sleeve  102  of the body  10  of the knob  1  ( FIG. 9E ). Thereafter, the sensitivity ring  16  is unfastened by pressing the lock-cover  17  towards the interior of the body  10  of the knob  1  ( FIG. 9F ). The sensitivity ring  16  unfastened from the stator  14  thus compresses the spring  15 . The upper end of the spring  15  thus bears against the annular surface defined by the internal collar  162  of the sensitivity ring  16 . The barrel  11  as well as the other components, such as the control component  13 , can thereafter be inserted to finalize the assembly of the product. The barrel  11  is mounted such that it grips the lock-cover  17  so as to engage the latter during the rotation of the key  2 . The barrel  11  is positioned so that its tabs  110  face one of the lateral lugs  173  of the lock-cover  17 . 
       FIGS. 8A to 8G  represent according to a transverse section, a turning knob with lock with one or the other of the stators  14   a ,  14   b  taking various positions so as to offer various combinations of key withdrawals. The transverse section is a cut through the knob level with the top part of the stator. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8A to 8G , depending on the position of the stator  14  and the number of lateral openings  143   a ,  143   b  thereof, it is possible to obtain various combinations of key withdrawals. The position of the stator  14  with respect to the tabs  110  of the barrel  11  and therefore of the lock-cover  17  determines the position of the key withdrawals and, if the stator exhibits several lateral openings the possible number of key withdrawals. 
     In  FIGS. 8A to 8D , a stator  14   a  according to the first variant embodiment is used, furnished with six lateral openings  143   a . The barrel  11  has a rotational sweep of a quarter turn symbolized by the arrow in  FIG. 8A . In  FIG. 8A , it is noted that over the rotational travel of the barrel  11 , the tabs can position themselves opposite three lateral openings  143   a . Withdrawal of the key  2  is therefore possible in the center (C), on the left (G) and on the right (D). In  FIG. 8B , it is noted on the other hand that over the rotational travel of the barrel  11 , the tabs  110  can only position themselves opposite two lateral openings. Withdrawal of the key  2  is therefore possible in the center (C) and on the right (D). In  FIG. 8C , the withdrawal of the key  2  is possible in the center (C) and on the left (G) and in  FIG. 8D , withdrawal of the key  2  is possible on the left (G) and on the right (D). 
     When a stator  14   b  similar to that of the second variant embodiment described above is used, a single key withdrawal  2  is permitted ( FIGS. 8E to 8G ). Depending on the position of this stator  14   b , the withdrawal of the key  2  can be permitted in the center (C,  FIG. 8E ), on the left (G,  FIG. 8F ) or on the right (D,  FIG. 8G ). 
       FIGS. 10 to 12B , illustrate a so-called restoring turning knob  1 ′ with lock, that is to say one that can take two positions one of these positions being one providing a fleeting electrical contact for the electrical block. In this type of knob  1 ′, a torsion spring  15 ′ rather than a helical spring is therefore used. This torsion spring  15 ′ is secured to the body  10  of the knob and the lock-cover  17 ′, itself secured to the barrel  11 . This spring  15 ′ therefore loads the barrel  11  during the rotation of the latter. This so-called restoring type of knob, does not comprise any sensitivity ring  16  and therefore uses a different lock cover  17 ′ from that used in a knob of the positions type. The end of the teeth  171 ′ of this lock-cover  17 ′ is not beveled and these teeth  171 ′, during rotation, are disposed between the internal surface of the body  10  and the runners  106  formed thereon ( FIG. 12B ). The external surface of this lock-cover  17 ′ is therefore situated opposite the internal surface of the body  10 . The stator  14   b  used in this knob  1 ′ simply exhibits two diametrically opposite lateral openings  143   b  and therefore permits only a single key withdrawal  2 . The other parts of a restoring knob, in particular the positioning members used to position the stator in the body, are similar to those described above for a knob of the positions type. 
     It is of course understood that it is possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to contemplate other variants and refinements of detail and likewise envisage the use of equivalent means.