Actuating device

An actuating device has an actuating element connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to a shaft. The shaft is mounted so that it is rotatable in the housing. The actuating element is pivotable using a hand lever connected to the shaft. The hand lever is formed from an attachment element connected to the shaft and an elongated handle element fastened on the attachment element. The handle element is fastenable at different positions on a front side of the attachment element. The front side of the attachment element is oriented perpendicularly to a main axial direction of the shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2011 018 988.2, filed Apr. 28, 2011. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an actuating device and, more particularly, to an actuating device with a handle that is secured in different positions with respect to the shaft.

BACKGROUND

An actuating device is known according to DE 196 45 778 A1. This actuating device, which is implemented as a clamping device, has an actuating element (clamping arm), that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft that is rotatable in a housing. The actuating element is pivotable using a hand lever connected to the shaft. The hand lever is formed from an attachment element connected to the shaft. An elongated handle element is fastened on it. In this solution, the handle element is fixedly connected to the attachment element. The attachment element itself can be fastened in four different positions on the shaft since the shaft has a square cross section perpendicular to its main axial direction.

The disclosure improves the actuating element of the above mentioned type. In particular, the flexibility of the attachment of the hand lever to the actuating device is improved.

An actuating device comprises an actuating element, which is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to a shaft mounted so it is rotatable in a housing. The actuating element is pivotable using a hand lever connected to the shaft. The hand lever is formed from an attachment element connected to the shaft and an elongated handle element fastened to it. The handle element is fastenable at different positions on a front side of the attachment element. The front side is oriented perpendicularly to the main axial direction of the shaft.

Thus, the handle element is fastenable at different positions to the front side of the attachment element oriented perpendicularly to the main axial direction of the shaft.

SUMMARY

According to the disclosure, the fastening of the handle element no longer occurs on a peripheral surface of the attachment element, but rather on its (shaft-free) front side. Depending on the diameter of the attachment element, its outer peripheral surface (cylinder lateral surface) is relatively small. The number of possible fastening points is limited, for example, to four places, as in the solution according to DE 60 2004 010 217 T2. In contrast, even with a small diameter of the attachment element, a relatively large number of fastening points for the handle element can be provided on the front side of the attachment element. The attachment of the hand lever to the actuating device can be more precisely adapted to the actual spatial conditions at the usage location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The actuating or clamping devices shown inFIGS. 1, 2, and 4include, in a known manner, an actuating element3that is connected to a shaft2in a rotationally-fixed manner. The shaft2is rotatably mounted in a housing1. The shaft2typically has a polygonal cross section perpendicular to its main axial direction, which is indicated by dashed lines inFIG. 1.

With respect to the disclosure to be explained hereafter, a square cross section, which is also known per se, is particularly preferably provided, because, for example, a hexagonal cross section typically causes higher manufacturing costs.

The actuating element3is pivotable using a hand lever4connected to the shaft2. The hand lever4is formed from an attachment element5. The attachment element5is connected to the shaft2and is preferably arranged on the free end of the shaft2. An elongated handle element6is fastened to the attachment element5.

Although it is not shown separately inFIGS. 1 to 3, a handle, that has a spherical shape as inFIG. 4, for example, is arranged on the end of the handle element6facing away from the attachment element. However, the handle can also, just as well, include a corresponding plastic or rubber coating. This is true, in particular, if the handle element6is a flat bar with a rectangular cross section.

The shaft2can include a hollow shaft and an inner shaft. The actuating element3is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to the hollow shaft. The attachment element5is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to the inner shaft.

In all embodiments of the actuating device of the disclosure, the handle element6is fastenable at different positions on a front side7of the attachment member. The front side7of the attachment element6is oriented to be at least substantially perpendicular to the main axial direction of the shaft2. As explained at the beginning, particular advantages result from this measure with respect to a flexible arrangement or assignment of the handle element6to the actuating device. As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the attachment element5is preferably disc-shape. A disc is understood as a cylinder whose thickness is less (optionally by a multiple) than its radius.

The handle element6is fastened to the attachment element5by two fastening connections8. The fastening connections8are positioned at a distance from one another. The fastening connections8are each formed from one attachment-element-side and one handle-element-side fastening element9,10. The fastening elements9,10include, for example, corresponding threaded holes and screws or threaded rods and nuts. The fastening connection8is preferably a screw connection. Furthermore, two through holes for two corresponding fastening elements9,10are provided on the handle element6.

Multiple attachment-element-side fastening elements or receivers9, for example, threaded holes, are arranged on the attachment element5. Not all attachment-element-side fastening elements or receivers9can be recognized inFIGS. 2 and 3. Two fastening elements or receivers9are concealed by the handle element6. The corresponding handle-element-side fastening elements10, for example, as mentioned, are screws.

In both the embodiments according toFIGS. 1 and 2and also in the embodiment according toFIG. 3, multiple attachment-element-side fastening elements or receivers9are arranged on an imaginary circular path.

In the solution according toFIG. 3, all (16) attachment-element-side fastening elements9are positioned on an imaginary circle. The distance between the two fastening connections8corresponds to the diameter of the circle.

InFIGS. 1 and 2, one attachment-element-side fastening element9, concealed inFIG. 2by the handle-element-side fastening element10, is provided as the center point of an imaginary circular path having further attachment-element-side fastening elements9. The center point of the imaginary circular path is arranged on one side, on the left inFIG. 2. The further (three) fastening elements9are arranged on an opposite side, on the right inFIG. 2, of the attachment element5. As is obvious, in this solution only, the (complete) detachment of one fastening element10is necessary to adjust the handle element6in relation to the attachment element5.

Finally, it is to be noted in this context thatFIG. 2does appear to only disclose a total of three setting positions. In consideration of the fact that the attachment element5is connectable in four different positions to the shaft2, which has a square cross section, 12 different positions are actually possible for the handle element6according to the disclosure.