Patent Description:
Known switches for controlling access to barriers and/or security perimeters for industrial machines or plants generally comprise a switching device anchored to the fixed part of the access and an actuator device anchored to the movable part.

These switches have the purpose of blocking the system when the access is opened for obvious safety reasons, activating at the same time one or more signalling or service circuits, also keeping access blocked if the system is not in a safe condition. Similarly, the switches can allow the immediate restart of the machine or system when access is closed, unless conditions have occurred that require the specific intervention of an operator.

The command of the switching means for opening and closing the power supply circuit of the machine or system may be carried out either by means of a mechanical or electronic type actuator.

In the first case, a key actuator is usually associated with the movable device and adapted to fit into a slot of the switching device to interact with a mechanism for actuating the switching means for opening/closing the power supply circuit and any auxiliary circuits.

At the same time, the key actuator is engaged by a locking slider controlled by a proper locking/unlocking mechanism, whose function is to hold the actuator inside the slot to prevent access from being opened in unsafe conditions and also prevent the same actuator from escaping as a result of vibrations transmitted by the access.

The electronically operated switches, as described for example in application <CIT> in the name of the same Applicant, provide that the two devices are provided with respective electronic circuits adapted to interact with each other by a presence signal sent by the circuit associated with the actuator device so as to allow opening or closing of the main power supply circuit according to their mutual distance. Generally, also for this second type of switch, the movable actuator device is provided with a centering and holding element adapted to be inserted in a suitable hole of the fixed switching device, inside which there is the locking/unlocking mechanism with a slider that will engage the centering pin to prevent its unauthorized extraction. Regardless of the specific configuration of the switch, the release of the holding element, be it the actuator itself or the above centering and holding element, can be produced by a special electric command sent to the control mechanism of the element or given by means of an auxiliary mechanical emergency release command placed directly on the housing of the switching device and adapted to act directly on the holding element.

Some switches can also be equipped with an additional remotely operated emergency release device.

This solution is generally adopted in those cases where it is not possible, or unwilling, to arrange the switch in a position that is easily accessible by the operators.

The remote release devices generally comprise a housing integrated or adapted to be applied to the casing of the switching device and inside which there is an auxiliary actuator adapted to interact with the locking/unlocking mechanism to remove the locking of the holding element following a command given remotely via an actuator. An example of a safety switch with remote release device is described in <CIT>, wherein the remote activation of the auxiliary release device is carried out by pulling a Bowden cable.

A drawback common to the known solutions is represented by the fact that these known release devices do not have systems which allow immediate release of the holding mechanism in the event of damage or malfunction of the remote control, for example the traction cable.

As a consequence, the malfunction of the remote control becomes the cause of a potentially dangerous situation, making the corresponding switch potentially unsafe. Another safety switch is know from <CIT>.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks by providing a remote safety release which can be applied to a safety switch and which has features of high efficiency and relative cost-effectiveness.

A particular purpose object is to provide a remote safety release adapted to be applied to a safety switch and which is designed to automatically operate on the locking/unlocking mechanism of the switch to which it is associated in the event of damage or malfunction of its actuator system in order to move the switch in a safe condition.

Still another particular object is to provide a remote safety release adapted to be applied to a safety switch and whose damage or malfunction cannot represent a dangerous condition for the system to which the switch is applied.

These objects, as well as others which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a remote safety release adapted to be applied to a safety switch and which, according to claim <NUM>, comprises an actuator adapted to interact with the mechanical locking mechanism of the associated switch to cause its forced release, said actuator being adapted to move between a non-operating position wherein it does not interact with the locking mechanism and at least one operating position wherein it interacts with the locking mechanism, a remote control device adapted to be driven by an operator to remotely control said actuator and promote its movement from said non-operative position to an operative position for its interaction with the locking mechanism and the consequent release thereof, a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer a force from said control device to said actuator following the command given by the operator for promoting the movement of said actuator from the inoperative position to at least one operative position.

According to a peculiar features of the invention, the transfer mechanism is adapted to exert a first solicitation on said actuator such as to promote its automatic passage from said inoperative position to an operative position, said remote control device being designed to constantly exert on said actuator, in the absence of the remote control, a second contrasting solicitation opposite to said first solicitation and having a value at least equal to cancel said first solicitation and keep said actuator in said inoperative position, allowing the automatic passage of said actuator from the non-operating position operative to an operative position in the absence of said second solicitation for the release of the locking mechanism.

Thanks to this combination of features, if there is a break, damage or malfunction of the control device that can be operated remotely, the contrast solicitation that keeps the actuator in a non-operating position, i.e. not interacting with the locking mechanism, will become null.

Consequently, the transfer mechanism, due to the solicitation that it constantly exerts on the actuator, will automatically cause it to move into an operating position, that is, in a position in which it interacts with the locking mechanism, so as to cause its release. The block will thus be removed, resulting in a contextual or timed shutdown of the plant, or of its dangerous parts, and simultaneous release of access, in order to bring the system in safe conditions.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a safety switch is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained in accordance with the dependent claims.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more evident in the light of the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the remote safety release and of a safety switch comprising the release, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawing tables wherein:.

With reference to the attached figures, a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a safety switch for controlling access to industrial machines or plants and associated with a remote safety release according to some preferred but not exclusive embodiments is shown.

The switch will generally be designed to be applied, preferably but not exclusively, to a barrier or movable protection panel designed to prevent unsafe access to a machine or industrial plant during operation.

Typically, the switch will be designed to be applied to the protection at an access thereof to interrupt the operation of the machine or plant in a substantially immediate or timed manner in case of the opening of a door or panel closing this access.

<FIG> shows a typical application wherein a switch, globally referred with <NUM>, is applied to an access A of a protection barrier.

The switch <NUM> comprises a switching device <NUM> adapted to be fixed to the fixed frame F of the access A and connected in a known manner to one or more electric and/or electronic circuits for powering and/or controlling the main circuit and/or service and emergency circuits, not illustrated.

The methods for connecting the switching device <NUM> to these circuits are of a known type and do not form part of the present invention, therefore they will not be disclosed in more detail hereinafter.

Instead, on the movable part M of the access A there is mounted an actuator device <NUM> adapted to interact with the switching device <NUM> following the opening or closing of access A to determine the opening or closing of one or more circuits according to typical modes of such safety switches.

The switching device <NUM> comprises a casing <NUM> adapted to be anchored to the fixed part F of the access A to be controlled and housing the switching means for the control of one or more control and/or service circuits of the machine or plant.

The switching means, not visible from the figures as they are internal to the casing <NUM>, may be selected from those commonly used in the field and may also vary depending on the functionality of the switch, without particular limitations.

Inside the casing <NUM> there will also be driving means, not shown, suitable for interacting with the switching means upon opening/closing of the access A for opening/closing one or more circuits of the machine or plant following the interaction between the switching device <NUM> and the actuator device <NUM>, also in this case according to known techniques.

An example of such a switch is disclosed in <CIT> or in <CIT>, both in the name of the same Applicant, and provides that the actuator device <NUM> is provided with a retaining and centering element <NUM> which extends from the actuator device <NUM> to engage, upon closure of the access A, a centering hole <NUM> made in the casing <NUM>.

Inside the switching device <NUM> there is also a locking mechanism provided with a sliding pin, not shown, which will engage the retaining element <NUM> to lock it by mechanical interference and prevent it from being extracted even only partially when the plant is in an unsafe condition.

The technical features of the locking mechanism are not described in more detail below as they are not significant for the present invention.

The switch <NUM> may also be provided with an auxiliary release command placed directly on the casing, such as the key release <NUM> of the figures, to manually unlock the locking mechanism.

The switch <NUM> illustrated in the figures is of the electronically operated type, i.e. the action of the actuator device <NUM> on the switching means will be controlled by an electronic signal transmitted to the switching means according to known methods and described, for example, in the above cited <CIT>.

To this end, the switching device <NUM> may comprise a receiver element, for example an antenna of the RFID type housed inside the same casing <NUM> in a proper seat suitably arranged and designed to receive a remote control signal, or a presence signal, transmitted by a transmitter or transponder element housed in the movable actuator device <NUM>, when the latter is at a predetermined minimum distance from the switching device <NUM> such that the access A can be considered closed in safe conditions.

In particular, the transponder, not visible from the figures, will be provided with a tag with an identification code that must be recognized by the antenna to allow the machine or plant to start.

The recognition of the code can be unique or generic, depending on whether you want to make a switch with a high or low level of coding.

However, according to an embodiment not shown, the switch <NUM> may also be electromechanically operated, i.e. with the actuator device <NUM> which will be provided with a mechanical actuator, for example a key, which will be inserted inside a suitable slot to interact mechanically with the switching means and at the same time engaging the sliding pin of the locking mechanism.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the switching device <NUM> belonging to an electronically operated switch <NUM> and associated with a remote safety release <NUM> according to a first embodiment.

In particular, the remote safety release <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> adapted to be anchored in a fixed but possibly removable manner to the casing <NUM> of the switching device <NUM> in correspondence with a suitable passage <NUM> provided in its upper head <NUM> in such a position as to allow the direct access to the locking mechanism and its interaction therewith in order to operate directly or indirectly on the release pin of the retaining element <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the safety release <NUM> will operate against the upper end of a locking slider <NUM> made integral or connected to the sliding pin which locks the retaining element <NUM>, preferably rigidly, so that upon translation of the slider <NUM>, a translation of the holding element <NUM> will occur.

The release <NUM> comprises a movable actuator <NUM> arranged in the housing <NUM> to interact with the mechanical locking mechanism of the switch and cause its forced release.

In particular, the actuator <NUM> will be adapted to move between an inoperative position wherein it does not interact with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism and an operating position wherein it interacts with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism.

The safety release <NUM> is also provided with a remote control device <NUM> which can be operated by an operator to remotely control the actuator <NUM> and promote its movement between the above positions for its consequent interaction with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism and the consequent release thereof, as described more clearly below.

The connection between the actuator <NUM> and the remote control device <NUM> will be obtained by means of a suitable transfer mechanism <NUM> located in the housing <NUM> and which will be designed to transfer a force from the remote control device <NUM> to the actuator <NUM> following the command given by the operator, so as to promote the movement of the actuator <NUM>.

Furthermore, the transfer mechanism <NUM> will be connected to the actuator <NUM> to exert a first solicitation thereon suitable to promote the automatic passage from the inoperative position to an operative position.

At the same time, the remote control device <NUM> will be designed to constantly exert on the actuator <NUM>, in the absence of the remote control, a second contrast solicitation opposite to the first solicitation and having a value at least equal thereto to make it null and thus maintain the actuator <NUM> in the inoperative position.

As can be seen from the exploded view of <FIG> and from the section of <FIG>, the actuator <NUM> comprises a release pin <NUM> movable in the housing <NUM> and having a first end <NUM> connected to the transfer mechanism <NUM> and a second end <NUM> adapted to project externally from the housing <NUM> to fit into the head <NUM> of the switching device <NUM>, through the appropriate passage <NUM>, and interact with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism. In this configuration, the movable pin <NUM> will be rotatably mounted in the housing <NUM> to rotate around its central axis.

In turn, the transfer mechanism <NUM> comprises a preloaded elastic element <NUM> defined by a spring coiled around the pin <NUM> and preloaded with a first solicitation to constantly exert this first solicitation on the movable release pin <NUM>, in a direct or indirect manner. The second end <NUM> of the latter will be suitably shaped with an axial projection <NUM> adapted to interact with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism following the rotation of the release pin <NUM> in any direction, while its configuration will be such that when the release pin <NUM> is in the inoperative position, it will be spaced from the slider <NUM>. The operation of the safety release <NUM> will appear more clearly from the comparison of <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, wherein the release <NUM> is shown, from left to right, respectively in the condition in which the release pin <NUM> is not activated and is therefore in the inoperative position, in the condition in which the release pin <NUM> is operated by means of the remote control device <NUM>, and is therefore in a first operating position, and finally in the condition in which the remote control device <NUM> no longer exerts the contrast solicitation, for example due to breakage or malfunction, with the consequence that the pin release device <NUM> will be moved to a further operative position by means of the elastic element <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the remote control device <NUM> comprises a traction element <NUM>, such as a rope, cable or similar, having one end connected to the transfer mechanism <NUM> and the opposite end adapted to be fixed to a driving element <NUM>, such as a knob, a mushroom or other element, anchored to a fixed support.

An example of mushroom-shaped driving element <NUM> is shown in <FIG> wherein it is shown in the non-actuated condition.

In <FIG> it is instead possible to observe the mushroom-shaped driving element <NUM> in the two conditions not activated, on the left, and activated, on the right.

According to this configuration, the driving element <NUM> comprises a box-like body <NUM> adapted to be applied to a fixed support <NUM> and which houses a bistable lever <NUM> connected to one end of the traction element <NUM>.

The movement of the lever system <NUM> and the consequent traction of the traction element <NUM> will be produced by the actuation of a mushroom button <NUM>, in particular by its pressure, which will be connected to the lever system <NUM> at the non-pivoted end of the latter.

The connection between the traction element <NUM> and the transfer mechanism <NUM> will be such as to transform the linear traction movement of the first into the rotary movement of the pin <NUM>.

The traction element <NUM> is also constantly placed in tension to always exert the above contrast solicitation.

Preferably, the traction element <NUM> may be provided with a voltage indicator which also allows the adjustment of the voltage.

For example, as more clearly visible from <FIG>, the voltage indicator <NUM> is a cam element provided with a cylindrical body that will be made integral with the pin <NUM> to rotate coaxially therewith.

The indicator <NUM> will be inserted in a special seat of the housing <NUM> so that one of the faces of its cylindrical body is visible from the outside.

On this face there will be a reference mark <NUM>, for example a trace, a notch or other distinctive element, which must be aligned with an arrow <NUM> or other reference mark present on the rear face of the housing <NUM>.

The alignment between the reference element <NUM> and the arrow <NUM> will indicate the correct tensioning of the transfer mechanism <NUM>.

Furthermore, the voltage can be finely adjusted by means of one or more registers. For example, a first register <NUM> could be arranged at the end of the traction element <NUM> close to the housing <NUM>, while a second register <NUM> could be arranged at the end of the traction element <NUM> next to the driving element <NUM>.

As long as the remote control device <NUM> exerts its contrast solicitation, cancelling the thrust of the elastic element <NUM>, the release pin <NUM> will remain stationary in its inoperative position in which the axial projection <NUM> is not in contact with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism.

If an operator applies additional traction on the traction element <NUM>, the elastic element <NUM> will undergo a further solicitation which will cause the release pin <NUM> to rotate around its axis and consequently cause the projection <NUM> to be pushed on the slider <NUM>, which will translate downwards, freeing the retaining element <NUM> of the actuator device <NUM>.

In the event that the traction element <NUM> is damaged or cut and will no longer be adapted to apply the contrast solicitation, the preloaded elastic element <NUM> will cause the release pin <NUM> to rotate in the opposite direction to the previous movement, however always causing the projection <NUM> to act on the slider <NUM>, which in this case will also translate downwards, moving the sliding pin of the release mechanism and freeing the retaining element <NUM> of the actuator device <NUM>.

The projection <NUM> of the release pin <NUM> may be shaped to act on the slider <NUM> following a rotation of <NUM>° from both directions.

From <FIG> it is also visible that the safety release <NUM> may be applied to the casing <NUM> of the switching device <NUM> according to different angular orientations, according to the positioning requirements of the remote control device <NUM> and/or of the switching device itself <NUM>, significantly increasing the flexibility of application of the release <NUM> and of the switch associated therewith.

Preferably but not exclusively, the housing <NUM> may rotate around a central axis of the passage <NUM> wherein the pin <NUM> is inserted with a minimum rotation angle of <NUM>° in both directions.

<FIG> shows a second embodiment of the safety release <NUM> which differs from the previous one essentially in that the connection between the traction element <NUM> and the release pin <NUM> is obtained by guide means <NUM> suitable for promoting translation of the pin <NUM> from the inoperative position to the operative position either following the application of an additional traction on the traction element <NUM> or in case the contrast solicitation is made null.

In this case, the preloaded elastic element is a linear spring <NUM> acting indirectly on the first end <NUM> of the pin <NUM>, while the second end <NUM> may protrude to a lesser or greater extent according to its position.

In addition, the second end <NUM> of the pin <NUM> will be shaped as an inclined plane so that its contact with the upper end of the slider <NUM> will cause the latter to gradually slide downwards.

The operation of the safety release <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, wherein, from left to right, the release pin <NUM> is visible respectively in the condition in which it is not activated and is therefore in the inoperative position, in the condition in which is operated by means of the remote control device <NUM> and is therefore in a first operative position and finally in the condition in which the remote control device <NUM> no longer exerts the contrast solicitation, for example due to breakage or malfunction, with the consequence that the release pin <NUM> will always be moved into the operative position by means of the linear spring <NUM>.

The translation movement will be produced by the effect of a guide element <NUM> connected to one end of the traction element <NUM> to be dragged by the same inside the housing <NUM> and against which the elastic element <NUM> will act.

The guide element <NUM> will be provided with a shaped guide track <NUM> in which the first end <NUM> of the pin <NUM> will slide and whose configuration will be such that the pin <NUM> always translates in the same direction, i.e. from the inoperative retracted position inside the housing <NUM> to the extracted operating position, either when the guide element <NUM> translates in a first direction due to the additional traction or when it translates in the opposite direction due to the thrust of the elastic element <NUM>.

Also for this embodiment, the traction element <NUM> will have one end connected to the transfer mechanism <NUM> and the opposite end adapted to be fixed to an operating element <NUM>, such as a knob, a mushroom or other element, anchored to a fixed support, in a technically equivalent manner to that described for the previous configuration; for example, the driving element <NUM> may be the same mushroom-shaped element described above.

Also for this configuration it is possible to provide for the presence of a voltage indicator, as well as for the fine adjustment registers of the traction element <NUM>.

For example, the tension indicator could be the same translating guide element <NUM> showing on its external surface a drawn scale, having in the figure an ascending-descending profile, having the reference element <NUM> and which will be visible from the outside through a window <NUM> provided on the visible face of the housing <NUM>, in correspondence with which the arrow <NUM> or other reference mark present on the rear face of the housing <NUM> will be provided.

Also in this case, the alignment between the reference element <NUM> and the arrow <NUM> will indicate the correct tensioning of the transfer mechanism <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a third embodiment of the safety release <NUM> always applied to the same switching device <NUM> of the safety switch <NUM>.

The safety release <NUM> differs from the previous ones first of all due to the fact that the remote control device <NUM> is of the oleodynamic, pneumatic or hydraulic type or may be operated by another type of fluid and comprises a pipe <NUM> adapted to send fluid under pressure on the movable pin <NUM>.

As can be seen more clearly from <FIG>, the movable pin <NUM> slides inside the housing <NUM> and is shaped to define thereinside a sealed chamber <NUM> designed to receive the pressurized fluid, also by means of suitable gaskets <NUM> placed around the pin <NUM>.

In turn, the elastic element is defined by a linear operating spring <NUM> which acts on the first inner end <NUM> of the pin <NUM> to push it outwards.

When the release <NUM> is not activated, the pressure generated by the remote control device <NUM> will be as such as to counteract the stress produced by the spring <NUM>, so as to keep the pin <NUM> in the inoperative retracted position wherein it is completely contained in the housing <NUM> or slightly protruding so as not to interact with the slider <NUM> of the locking mechanism.

To operate the pin <NUM> it will be sufficient to reduce or interrupt the contrast pressure so that the spring <NUM> pushes the pin <NUM> into the operative position.

Similarly, if there is a malfunction or breakage of the remote control device <NUM>, the absence of pressure will cause the immediate actuation of the pin <NUM> due to the thrust of the spring <NUM>.

The second end <NUM> of the pin <NUM> will be shaped as an inclined plane so that its contact with the upper end of the slider <NUM> causes it to slide progressively downwards.

Last but not least, also for this embodiment it will be possible to provide for the presence of voltage indicating means, not illustrated.

From above it is evident that the safety release and the switch according to the invention achieves the intended objects.

Claim 1:
A remote safety release for a safety switch for access control to industrial machines and plants, wherein a safety switch (<NUM>) comprises a casing (<NUM>) housing a locking mechanism of the access, the remote safety release comprising:
- an actuator (<NUM>) adapted to interact with the locking mechanism of the associated switch (<NUM>) to cause its forced release, said actuator (<NUM>) being adapted to move between a inoperative position wherein it does not interact with the locking mechanism and at least one operative position wherein it interacts with the locking mechanism;
- a remote control device (<NUM>) adapted to be driven by an operator to remotely control said actuator (<NUM>) and promote the movement thereof from the inoperative position to an operative position for its interaction with the locking mechanism and the consequent release thereof;
- a transfer mechanism (<NUM>) adapted to transfer a force from said remote control device (<NUM>) to said actuator (<NUM>) following the command given by the operator to promote the movement of said actuator (<NUM>) from the inoperative position to an operative position;
characterized in that said transfer mechanism (<NUM>) is adapted to exert a first solicitation on said actuator (<NUM>) such as to promote its automatic passage from the inoperative position to an operative position, said remote control device (<NUM>) being designed to constantly exert on said actuator (<NUM>), in absence of the remote control command, a second contrast solicitation opposite to said first solicitation and having at least equal value to cancel said first solicitation and hold said actuator (<NUM>) in said inoperative position, allowing the automatic passage of said actuator (<NUM>) from the inoperative position to an operative position in the absence of said second solicitation for the release of the locking mechanism.