Abstract:
An actuating magnet is disclosed comprising an actuating means ( 2 ) for exerting a tensile or pressure force on a target element that is to be moved, switched, or latched or unlatched, and comprising a latching means for latching the actuating means ( 2 ) in a desired position, the latching means having a locking magnet ( 11 ) for locking and unlocking the actuating means ( 2 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   I. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to an actuating magnet comprising an actuating means for exerting a tensile or pressure force on a target element that is to be moved, switched, or latched or unlatched, and comprising a latching means for latching the actuating means in a desired position. 
   II. Background and Prior Art 
   The term “target element” is understood to mean all components of a device, such as electrical switches, latching bolts which are inserted into corresponding latching grooves, swivel bearings, and in particular latching devices for coupling arrangements for rail vehicles having at least one pivotable coupling head, and components similar thereto, which are to be moved, swiveled, switched, or latched or unlatched. 
   Such actuating magnets are known in the prior art. They find application, for example, in coupling arrangements for rail vehicles, and in this case allow, for example, the targeted locking and unlocking of the coupling heads, or the latching and unlatching of articulated joints that may be present. To this end, the actuating magnet usually has an actuating means which exerts a tensile or pressure force on the particular target object when the magnet is actuated. On the other hand, when the actuating magnet is not activated, an unintentional or unwanted motion of the actuating element is usually prevented by a spring. However, it has been shown that motions of the actuating means can occur in such actuating magnets even when the magnet is deactivated. Such phenomena occur primarily in vehicle manufacture due to the demands associated with same. This unwanted motion of the actuating element may result in serious accidents and must therefore be avoided. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention, therefore, is to refine an actuating magnet of the aforementioned type which ensures reliable locking and unlocking of the actuating means for the actuating magnet. 
   This object is achieved by an actuating magnet of the aforementioned type, such that the latching means for latching the actuating means has a locking magnet for locking and unlocking the actuating means. 
   When according to the prior art a spring has been used to hold the actuating means for the actuating magnet in a desired position, this object of the invention is then achieved by a locking magnet which allows the actuating means to be reliably locked and unlocked. A significant advantage in this case is that the actuating means is not moved from its position, even when severe vibrations or accelerations act on the actuating magnet. The use of a latching means having a locking magnet for locking and unlocking the actuating means thus guarantees reliable latching of the actuating means in a desired position. According to the invention, before the actuating means is actuated the latching device is released by use of the locking magnet so that the actuating means for the actuating magnet can be freely moved. 
   The actuating magnet and the locking magnet are preferably designed as electromagnets, the actuating means constituting the anchor for the actuating magnet. This embodiment guarantees the reliable, economical, and effective activation and deactivation of the corresponding magnets without the use of sophisticated mechanical designs. The actuating magnet and/or the locking magnet are preferably designed as a solenoid so that the actuating means is movable along an actuating axis A-A. In this regard it is possible to use any standard magnets known from the prior art. Thus, it is conceivable to use as actuating magnets and/or locking magnets simple solenoids in which the lifting motion from the lift start position to the lift end position is achieved by the electromagnetic force and the restoration by external forces, for example, an external spring. However, it is also possible to use double-acting solenoids or reversing linear solenoids in which, depending on the excitation, the lifting motion may occur in one of the two opposing directions. 
   As mentioned previously, before the actuating element is moved it must first be unlocked by actuating the locking magnet. Of course, a corresponding circuit may be used here to ensure the required switching delay between the actuating magnet and locking element. However, the locking magnet according to the invention is preferably designed in such a way that it does not respond until both magnets are simultaneously activated and/or deactivated. This can be achieved, for example, by a differing number of inductive windings for both magnets, or by differing masses to be moved, thus, for example, by reducing the mass of the actuating means for the locking magnet. The same result is obtained by designing the locking magnet in a smaller basic size than the actuating magnet. This has the advantage that the locking magnet not only responds more quickly than the actuating magnet following a switching signal, but can also be compactly situated on or inside the actuating magnet. Such a design generally has the result that, without costly and sensitive electronic circuits, when a switching signal is simultaneously sent to both magnets first the locking magnet and then the actuating magnet responds, and, therefore, first the lock is released and then the actuating means for the actuating magnet is moved. 
   Thus, the actuating magnet and the locking magnet may be designed so that they can be activated and/or deactivated via the same switching signal. It is also conceivable to activate and deactivate both magnets via the same power source. Both embodiments allow a much smaller and more compact design, and are also more economical than comparable designs known from the prior art. 
   The latching means preferably has a locking arm which can be moved by the locking magnet and which is transversely situated with respect to the actuating axis (A-A) of the actuating magnet, and which in a locked position engages with a locking groove on the actuating means for the actuating magnet. 
   This embodiment has several advantages. Specifically, it allows the latching means which latches the actuating means to be strictly separated from the locking magnet which initiates this latching. In particular for high-load actuating magnets, this prolongs the operating life of the actuating magnet, since the forces from the actuating magnet do not act directly on the sensitive locking magnet, but instead act on a preferably robust locking component, in this case the locking arm. The previously mentioned embodiment also allows a compact arrangement of the locking magnet, since an appropriate design of the locking arm allows practically any configuration and position of the locking magnet. Lastly, the use of a rotatably mounted locking arm allows very small locking magnets to be employed, which by their nature are less powerful than larger models. However, since the known lever principles act via the rotatably mounted locking arm, even for large locking and unlocking forces it is possible to use a very small locking magnet having a correspondingly large lift or working path. 
   As mentioned at the outset, the above-referenced actuating magnet is used in particular for coupling arrangements for rail vehicles having at least one coupling head which can swivel in an articulated joint. In this case, the above-referenced actuating magnet serves as a latching device for the articulated joint in order to latch, or allow the swiveling of, the coupling head in a given position. In this case the articulated joint acts as the target element which is to be latched or unlatched by the actuating means for the actuating magnet. It is conceivable here, among other possibilities, to provide a locking groove in the articulated joint, from which the actuating means for the actuating magnet slides out after being activated, so that the articulated joint no longer latches and the coupling head can be freely swiveled. The latching means according to the invention is used in this case to prevent the actuating means from unintentionally sliding in or out. The invention is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments which are explained in greater detail by virtue of the following figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a detailed exploded illustration of a first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a three-dimensional view of a coupling arrangement having a pivotable coupling head. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following description, identical parts having equivalent action are provided with the same reference numbers. 
     FIG. 1  shows a detailed isometric exploded illustration of the actuating magnet  1 . A magnet housing  3  is illustrated which contains an actuating means  2 ,  2 ′—in this case, explicitly an anchor—that is movably mounted along an axis A-A. The internal structure of this anchor-housing apparatus corresponds to the design of a standard electromagnet known from the prior art. In this case the actuating magnet  1  is designed as a simple solenoid; in other words, electrical de-energizing or energizing enables a lifting motion in only one direction, whereas the lifting motion in the opposite direction is produced by an externally applied elastic force. To this end, the actuating magnet  1  has a spring cup  4  which is fastened to the magnet housing  3  by screws  9 . This spring cup contains a pressure spring  6  which is supported against the movably mounted actuating means  2 ,  2 ′ by a spring plate  5 . For this purpose the actuating means  2  has a split pin hole  13  by which the spring plate  5  is locked by a dowel pin  7 . When the actuating magnet  1  is de-energized, the actuating means  2  moves in the direction of the spring cup  4 , the spring  6  being compressed at the same time. After the de-energizing current is switched off, the actuating means  2  is pushed back to its original position by the restoring force of the spring  6 . 
   As mentioned at the outset, it is necessary to protect the movably mounted actuating means  2  from unintentional and unwanted motion. Since on account of the mass inertia of the actuating means  2  the elastic force  6  does not completely or satisfactorily achieve this task, particularly for abrupt motions of the entire actuating magnet  1 , the actuating magnet  1  includes an additional latching device, which in this case by way of example is accommodated in a locking housing  19  and is positioned on the front side of the magnet housing  3  by means of screws  9 ′. As described in the following figures, the latching device has a locking arm  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) which in the locked state makes locking contact with a locking groove  14  on the actuating means  2 . Thus, in the locked state the automatic motion of the actuating means is prevented. 
     FIG. 2  shows the actuating magnet  1  according to the invention in a front view. The locking housing  19  is illustrated, which is fastened to the magnet housing  3  by screws  9 ′. To prevent an unintentional motion of the actuating means  2  along the axis A-A—shown here in the plane of the drawing—the latching means has a locking arm  12  which by means of a locking projection  15  engages with a locking groove  14  on the actuating element  2 . The locking arm  12  is rotatably mounted in the locking housing  19  via a bearing bolt  16 . In this case, this latching means is activated and deactivated by a locking magnet  11  in conjunction with a counter-pressure spring  18 . This embodiment allows individual components to be easily replaced, since only pressure forces must be absorbed between the locking magnet  11 , the counter-pressure spring  18 , and the locking arm  12 , and therefore there is no need to provide a connection which also transmits tensile forces. Of course, the design may be further simplified by also omitting the locking housing  19 , in which case the individual components of the latching device are attached directly to the magnet housing  3  or a corresponding bearing. 
   The locking magnet  11  is usually designed as a solenoid which upon electrical de-energization engages with a locking actuating means  17 , which in this case is also an anchor. As a result of the counter-pressure spring  18  resting against the locking arm  12 , the locking arm  12  tracks the engagement of the locking actuating means  17 , thus causing the locking projection  15  to be inserted into the locking groove  14  on the actuating means  2  for the actuating magnet  1 , and thereby locking the actuating means  2  along the axis A-A. If the actuating means  2  is again unlocked, in order to carry out an actuation process for the actuating magnet  1 , for example, the electrical de-energization of the locking magnet  11  is interrupted, causing the locking actuating means  17  to disengage from the locking magnet  11  and the locking arm  12  to swivel against the counter-pressure spring  18 , detaching the engagement between the locking projection  15  and the locking groove  14 . 
   To ensure this disengagement of the locking actuating means  17 , in this case the locking magnet  11  has an identical design to the actuating magnet  1  described in  FIG. 1 . Thus, the locking magnet also has a spring cup (not illustrated), which contains a pressure spring (not illustrated) that pushes the locking actuating means  17  back to its original position after the de-energization current is switched off. Of course, it is also possible to design the overall structure using a locking magnet  11  which disengages when the locking actuating means  17  is de-energized, and after the de-energization current is switched off by the force of the counter-pressure spring  18 , exerted via the locking arm  12 , the locking magnet is pushed back to its original position. The locking magnet  11  may also be designed as a double-acting solenoid, so that the locking actuating means  17  is both disengaged and engaged by electrical de-energization. 
     FIG. 3  shows the previously described actuating magnet  1  in a side view, the electrical de-energizing circuit being illustrated in schematic form. In this embodiment the actuating magnet  1  and the locking magnet  11  are activated by the same power source  20 , the switching signal emitted therefrom being sent over the same conductor tracks  22 ,  24  to the magnets  1 ,  11 . In this embodiment, the locking magnet  11  is designed to be significantly smaller than the actuating magnet  1 , as the result of which, upon simultaneous activation of both magnets  1 ,  11  the smaller locking magnet  11  responds more quickly and thus releases the lock (not illustrated) on the actuating means  2  before the actuating magnet  1  disengages the motion of the actuating means  2  along the axis A-A. Also in this embodiment, after both magnets  1 ,  11  are energized and the latching device is unlocked, the actuating means  2  is shifted in the direction of the spring cup  4 . After the de-energization current is switched off, the spring  6  illustrated in  FIG. 1  pushes the actuating means  2  back to its original position until the locking groove  14  is again situated in the engagement area of the locking projection  15  for the locking arm. 
     FIG. 4  shows an isometric illustration of an articulated coupling. This articulated coupling corresponds to a coupling arrangement known from the prior art, comprising a coupling head  32  which is connected via a coupling shaft  31  to a mounting head  33  which can be installed on a rail vehicle (not illustrated). In this case the coupling shaft  31  comprises two components  31   a  and  31   b  which are rotatably connected to one another via an articulated joint  34 . This allows, for example, the coupling head  32  in the decoupled state to swivel into a protective housing on the rail vehicle (not illustrated) provided for this purpose. However, it must be ensured that the coupling head  32  does not unintentionally swivel. To this end, the hinge  34  has a latching device which allows the hinge  34  to lock in the particular desired position. In this embodiment, this latching device includes a locking bolt  38  which makes a locking engagement with a locking groove (not illustrated) on the coupling shaft  31   b . This locking bolt  38  is swiveled out of the locking groove (not illustrated) to unlock the articulated joint  34 . This swiveling-out action may be achieved in various ways. For one, the locking bolt  38  may be manually moved from its locked position by means of a mechanical adjusting lever  36  to enable the coupling shaft  31   a  and the coupling head  32  to swivel out. To allow fully automatic coupling or to simplify the coupling operation, at least one electric or hydraulic adjusting element (not illustrated) is also provided. In this embodiment, an electrical actuating magnet is used for this purpose, as previously described. The actuating magnet is actuated via electrical lines  22 ,  24 . In this regard the actuating magnet is configured in such a way that after electrical de-energization, the lock on the actuating means for the actuating magnet is released by the locking magnet according to the invention, thereby moving the actuating means in the direction of the locking bolt  38  in order to move same from its locked position and allow the coupling arrangement to swivel. 
   Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   Reference Numbers 
   
       
         1  Actuating magnet 
         2  Actuating means 
         3  Magnet housing 
         4  Spring cup 
         5  Spring plate 
         6  Spring 
         7  Dowel pin 
         9 ,  9 ′ Screw 
         11  Locking magnet 
         12  Locking arm 
         13  Split pin hole 
         14  Locking groove 
         15  Locking projection 
         17  Locking actuating means 
         18  Counter-pressure spring 
         19  Locking housing 
         20  Power source 
         22  Conductor track 
         24  Conductor track 
         30  Coupling arrangement 
         31   a ,  31   b  Coupling shaft 
         32  Coupling head 
         33  Mounting head 
         34  Articulated joint 
         36  Adjusting lever 
         38  Locking bolt