Abstract:
An LED ring or light guide for a mechanical or mechatronic closure system that includes an actuating means, such as socket wrench receptacle or swivel handle, which is rotatably supported in a housing or tray. The LED ring or light guide also includes a retaining nut or bearing piece that can be screwed on with the housing or with the tray with the intermediary of a thin wall such as door panel of a sheet-metal cabinet or sheet-metal housing. A light ring surrounds a flange of the housing or of the tray, and a flexible foil is arranged between light ring and thin wall. The flexible foil carries light emitting diodes (LEDs) and relays the light thereof. A closure indicator integrated in the actuating means is achieved in this way.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority from PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2014/001689 filed on Aug. 17, 2015, which claims priority from German Priority Application No. 20 2014 007 564.6 filed on Sep. 22, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is noted that citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention. 
         [0003]    The invention is directed to a mechanical or mechatronic closure system comprising an actuating means such as socket wrench receptacle or swivel handle which is swivelably and rotatably supported in a housing or tray and a retaining nut or bearing piece which can be screwed on with the housing or with the tray with the intermediary of a thin wall such as door panel of a sheet-metal cabinet or sheet-metal housing. 
         [0004]    Reference is made to documents D1=DE 198 05 771 A1 and D2=US 2010/142215 A1 as prior art. 
         [0005]    An LED ring for the operating buttons for elevator installations is known to the present applicant. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the invention is to provide an LED ring or LED indicator for closure systems of the type mentioned above which is suitable for a sheet-metal cabinet or sheet-metal box and serves as integrated closure indicator. 
         [0007]    The above-stated object is met through a light ring surrounding the flange of the housing or tray and with a flexible foil which is arranged between light ring and thin wall and which carries light emitting diodes (LEDs) and relays the light thereof. 
         [0008]    According to a further development of the invention, an electronics module or a base plate with printed circuit board is screwed to the tray or to the housing with the intermediary of flexible foil and LEDs. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment form of the invention, the electronics module has in integrated heat sink. 
         [0010]    According to a further embodiment form of the invention, the base plate supports a contact sensor which cooperates with a sensor adaptor moved by the drive. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment form of the invention, the base plate has a sensor at one longitudinal end for determining the presence of the door frame. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment form of the invention, the contact sensor is part of the printed circuit board or part of the electronics module. 
         [0013]    According to a further embodiment form of the invention, the sensor has a cable connection to the electronics module or to the printed circuit board for detecting the frame (closed door). 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment form, the LED ring is made of glass, transparent plastic, optionally with integrated optical waveguides. 
         [0015]    According to a further embodiment form of the invention, the LED ring is characterized in that the door sensor for detecting the state of the door is a reed sensor, Hall sensor, reflection-type photo-switch, light barrier, mechanical feeler, pressure sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor (inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic), temperature sensor, rotational angle sensor, and in that the sensor is placed by the customer (existing sensor) on the door frame, hinge. 
         [0016]    According to a further embodiment form of the invention, the LED ring is characterized in that a closing sensor for detecting the closing state of the cylinder lock is carried out by a fork light barrier, light barrier, reflection-type photo-switch, mechanical feeler, pressure sensor, potentiometer, proximity sensor (inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic), rotational angle sensor, reed sensor, Hall sensor, with a sensor placement: with extension/adaptor outside of the rotary latch or integrated in the rotary latch. 
         [0017]    In an alternative not according to the invention, a light guide is part of the wall of the tray and is made of translucent plastic and is arranged and shaped in such a way that the wall lights up at the desired location during operation of the light emitting diode. 
         [0018]    The light guide can be removed as part of the wall and replaced by a part of a different color. 
         [0019]    There can be two such parts of the wall which are connected by a carrier plate. 
         [0020]    The carrier plate can also form a receptacle for a button cell. 
         [0021]    According to another alternative, the light guide can be characterized in that a light emitting diode is arranged in the vicinity of the shaft on the underside of the tray and has light contact with parts of the wall of the tray. 
         [0022]    On the other hand, the light guide can also be characterized in that a light emitting diode is arranged in the vicinity of the shaft and has light contact with the wall of the hand lever. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The invention will be described in more detail in the following with reference to embodiment examples which are shown in the drawings. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of an LED ring for mechatronic systems. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the system from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the system from  FIG. 1  from another angle. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4A  shows a rear view of the system from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4B  shows a side view. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4C  shows a top view. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of a system with an LED ring for a mechanical rotary latch system. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective exploded view of the LED ring at a rotational angle of observation at a first angle. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  shows the exploded view of the system from  FIG. 6  from another angle. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8A  shows a top view of the assembled system from  FIG. 5 . 
           [0034]      FIGS. 8B and 8C  shows a view of the side wall from above the open closure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9A  shows the closed closure position of the closure from  FIG. 5A or 8C . 
           [0036]      FIG. 9B  shows the view from  FIG. 9A  from above. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9C  shows the view from  FIG. 9A  from the rear. 
           [0038]      FIG. 10A  shows a view as in  FIG. 8A . 
           [0039]      FIG. 10B  shows a sectional view along line B-B from  FIG. 10A . 
           [0040]      FIG. 10C  shows a sectional view along line C-C from  FIG. 10A . 
           [0041]      FIG. 11A  shows a top view of an alternative, not according to the invention, of a mechatronic system working with light guides. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11B  shows a side view. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11C  shows a front view. 
           [0044]      FIGS. 11D to 11F  shows three top views of different actuation levers. 
           [0045]      FIG. 11G  shows a rear view of the swivel lever in a position in which it is folded into the tray. 
           [0046]      FIG. 11H  shows a perspective view of the lever from  FIG. 11H  in folded-in position. 
           [0047]      FIG. 11I  shows a side view of the lever from  FIG. 11H  in folded-out position. 
           [0048]      FIG. 12A  shows a perspective view of the removeable light guide with holder for a button cell. 
           [0049]      FIG. 12B  shows the back of the light guide arrangement. 
           [0050]      FIG. 13A  shows a top view of a swivel lever closure with light conducted into the free end of the hand lever. 
           [0051]      FIG. 13B  shows a rear view of the swivel lever closure of  FIG. 13A  with the position of the light source (LED). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0052]    It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. 
         [0053]    The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. 
         [0054]      FIG. 1  shows a light ring  28  according to the invention comprising a LED ring for a mechatronic swivel lever system, wherein the swivel lever system comprises a closure system, further, an actuating means, namely a swivel handle  12 , rotatably supported in a housing  110  or tray  10 , which swivel handle  12  is articulated at a joint pin  14 , which joint pin  14  is rotatably supported in the tray  10 . The bearing support can also be carried out at bearing piece  16 . 
         [0055]    The bearing piece  16  is screwed by means of screws  18  to the tray  10  with the intermediary of a thin wall  42 ,  142  (shown in  FIGS. 4B and 9C ) such as a door panel. A hexagon nut  20  with clamping part  21 , washer  22  and, on the other side of the bearing piece  16 , a spring washer  24  provide for a stable bearing support of the joint pin. The tray  10  forms a flange  26  by which the tray  10  secures a light ring  28 . The light ring can be illuminated by LEDs  30  arranged with a flexible foil  32 , see also  FIG. 3 . The power supply of the light emitting diodes is carried out via foil contacts or foil conductors  34 . The light emissions are controlled by an electronics module  36  which comprises an integrated heat sink  38 . 
         [0056]    In  FIG. 4A , fastening screws  40  are provided for the electronics component  36 . 
         [0057]    Thin wall  42  is shown in  FIG. 4B . This thin wall  42  is clamped by the bearing piece  16  with screw  18  on one side and by the electronics part  36  by means of screws  40  between the foil and the light ring  28  on the other side of the thin wall. 
         [0058]    With respect to the power required, this power can be supplied to the module  36  via a cable line  44 . This power can originate from the electrical grid or from a battery. 
         [0059]    The swivel handle  12  can be locked by means of a cylinder closure  46  and the closing cam  48  extends into the electronics module  36 . The position of the closing cam can be sensed by the electronics module  36 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 5  shows an LED ring for a mechanical rotary latch system. The rotary latch system comprises a housing  110  with an actuating means  112 , a rod drive with stop  113 , with a tongue  148  and a sensor adaptor  152 . The housing  110  is held on a door panel  142 . A light ring  125  which comprises a flexible foil with light emitting diodes is arranged between door panel  142  and the flange  126  of housing  110 . A printed circuit board  136  which is mounted on a base plate  138  is also provided with a lead  156 . The base plate  138  carries a door sensor  144  and the printed circuit board  136  carries a sensor  154  which cooperates with a sensor adaptor  152  and determines a position of the tongue  148 . 
         [0061]    According to  FIGS. 8A, 8B , this is shown, for example, in three different arrangements in which the tongue  148  engages behind the door frame  139  and accordingly holds the door  142  shut. 
         [0062]    Power supply  144  is provided at the door  142  between door leaf  142  and tongue  148 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 8A  shows a top view,  FIG. 8B  shows a side view and  FIG. 8C  shows a plan view from above of the embodiment form with rotary latch  118  which is also shown in  FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 . 
         [0064]    Further views and the manner of functioning are shown in  FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C  and the sectional views in  FIGS. 10B and 10C , wherein the sections are disposed according to  FIG. 10A , see section lines BB and CC. Light ring  28 ,  128  comprises a carrier for the light emitting diodes, wherein the light ring is made of glass, plastic which is transparent and can have, e.g., PC, PMMA with diffuser compounded therein and/or can have a roughened surface, e.g., an erosion structure, and can also be outfitted with integrated optical waveguides. This material is arranged on one side and embedded in a flexible foil  132  and provided with connections which are guided out of the flexible material and can be connected to a power source such that current flows through the LEDs. 
         [0065]      FIG. 10C  schematically shows the flexible foil  132 , the manner in which the latter is secured by the flange  14  of the housing and forms a current-free transition surface. The light emitting diodes are arranged as individual piece or as a plurality in series or as group. The LEDs can be red, yellow or monochromatic of one color or can also emit different colors at different voltages. The layout can be carried out in a free-form manner or can be adapted to the contour of the system. The flexible foil or flexible film has the advantage that it can be adapted easily to different contours of the actuating means, for example, to the round housing shape of the embodiment form according to  FIGS. 5 to 10 , for example, or also to the rectangular housing shape of the embodiment form according to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0066]    Other similar materials can also be used for the printed circuit board, e.g., CM1, CM3, FR2, FR3, FR4, FR5, FR5BT, polyamide, Teflon (PTFE), or ceramic. The electronics module  136  for detecting the state of the door can comprise a reed sensor, a Hall sensor, a reflection-type photo-switch, a light barrier, mechanical feeler, pressure sensors, light sensors, proximity sensors which can operate inductively, capacitively or by ultrasound, temperature sensors, or rotational angle sensors. The placement of the sensor can be carried out by the customer (in case of an existing sensor) or on the door frame, on the hinge, provided for a minimum quantity of a sensor in the system and at least one externally switchable sensor. 
         [0067]    Sensors can also be provided for detecting the actual state of the lock  146 , for example, a fork light barrier, a light barrier, a reflection-type photo-switch, a mechanical feeler, a pressure sensor, a potentiometer, a proximity sensor which can operate inductively, capacitively or by ultrasound, a rotational angle sensor, a reed sensor, and a Hall sensor. 
         [0068]    The sensor placement for detecting the closing state, i.e., the position of the rotary latch  148 , can be carried out by an extension or an adaptor  152  outside of the rotary latch, for example, with the arrangement of the extension according to reference numeral  152 , 154  or also integrated in the rotary latch. 
         [0069]    Depending on external factors, a network device or battery operation can be provided for power supply, see power cable  156  in  FIG. 9C, 144  in  FIGS. 1, 4A to 4C . The invention according to the arrangement is connected in a network-ready manner via cable or wirelessly to other systems. An interface for external program units is possible. The switching elements are advisably protected by a cover cap. The system according to the invention with an LED ring can be configured as rotary latch closure, swivel lever closure, compression closure, latch closure, snap closure, bar closure or as recessed handle. To this extent, the embodiment forms shown only represent examples which are particularly favorable. 
         [0070]    In an alternative not according to the invention, a light guide  258  is part of the wall of the tray  210  and is made of a translucent plastic and arranged and shaped in such a way that the wall  260  is illuminated at the desired location during operation of the light emitting diode  262 . The light guide  258  can be removed as part of the wall  260  and may be replaced by a part of another color. 
         [0071]    Two parts  260  of this kind can be provided and connected by a carrier plate  264 . The carrier plate  264  can also form a receptacle for a button cell  266 . 
         [0072]    According to another further development, the light guide can be characterized in that a light emitting diode  262  is arranged in the vicinity of the shaft on the underside of the tray and has light contact with parts of the wall  268  of the tray  210 . 
         [0073]    On the other hand, the light guide can be characterized in that a light emitting diode  262  is arranged in the vicinity of the shaft  214  and has light contact with the wall  261  of the hand lever  214 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0074]    The invention is commercially applicable in a switch cabinet construction. 
         [0075]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10 ,  110 ,  210  tray, housing 
               12 ,  112  swivel handle, actuating means, rod drive with stop 
               13  rod drive 
               14 ,  114 ,  214  joint pin, actuating means, shaft 
               16 ,  116  bearing piece, retaining nut 
               18  screw 
               20 ,  120  hexagon nut with clamping part, self-locking screw 
               21  clamping part 
               22  washer 
               24  spring washer 
               26 ,  126  flange 
               28 ,  128  light ring 
               30 ,  130  LED 
               32 ,  132  flexible foil 
               34 ,  134  foil conductor 
               36 ,  136  electronics module, printed circuit board 
               38 , 138  heat sink, base plate 
               139  door frame 
               40  fastening screws 
               42 ,  142  thin wall 
               44 ,  144  power supply electronics 
               46 ,  146  cylinder closure 
               48 ,  148  closing cam, tongue 
               50 ,  150  power supply LED 
               152  sensor adaptor 
               154  closing sensor 
               156  cable connection 
               258  light guide 
               260  wall 
               261  wall 
               262  light emitting diode 
               264  carrier plate 
               266  button cell 
               268  wall