Disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus for covering an actuation element, to an emergency actuation device, for example, for actuation of a door or a brake of a vehicle by a passenger in the event of an emergency, and to a method for securing a pane in an apparatus for covering an actuation element.
An emergency actuation device is used, for example, in a rail vehicle, in order to enable a passenger to open a door of the rail vehicle in the event of an emergency. The emergency actuation device has a protective glass as a cover. In order to be able to operate the emergency actuation device, it is necessary to break the protective glass.
Disclosed embodiments provide an improved apparatus for covering an actuation element, an improved emergency actuation device and an improved method for securing a pane.
Disclosed embodiments are explained in greater detail below with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
The notion of the disclosed embodiemtns is that it is not absolutely necessary to break a covering pane of the emergency actuation device in order to actuate the emergency actuation device. Instead, the covering pane can be moved in order to afford access to an actuation element of the emergency actuation device. To this end, the emergency actuation device may have a component which fixes the covering pane in a covering position until an activating event takes place. In accordance with the activating event, the component may release the covering pane, whereby the covering pane can move out of the covering position. The activating event may be an impact or generally an application of pressure on the pane.
After the emergency actuation device has been actuated, it can be reproduced in a cost-effective manner since it is not necessary to replace the covering pane. Instead, it is simply necessary to move the component for fixing the covering pane into position again.
Disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus for covering an actuation element, having the following features:
a pane for covering the actuation element;
a frame for receiving the pane, the frame having an inner opening and a guide for guiding a movement of the pane from a covering position into an access position, the pane closing the inner opening in the covering position and at least partially releasing the inner opening in the access position in order to allow an operator to access the actuation element through the inner opening; and
a retention element, which is constructed to retain the pane in the covering position when a force acting on the retention element via the pane is smaller than an activating force and which is constructed to release the movement of the pane into the access position when a force acting on the retention element via the pane is greater than the activating force.
The actuation element may be part of an emergency actuation device. Such an emergency actuation device may be used, for example, in rail traffic, in order to allow a person to independently unlock a door of a rail vehicle or to initiate an emergency braking operation of the rail vehicle. To this end, the emergency actuation device may be arranged in an inner space of the rail vehicle or on a platform.
Alternatively, the emergency actuation device may be provided for any other applications, for example, for activating a fire alarm. The apparatus may also be used in order to cover an emergency key or the like. In this instance, the actuation element may be the emergency key.
Alternatively, the actuation element may be a lever, a switch or the like. The pane may, for example, comprise glass or plastics material and in particular acrylic glass. The pane may be constructed so as to be unbreakable in the sense that it remains intact when a person strikes the pane in order to actuate the operating element. The pane may be at least partially transparent so that the operating element can be seen by a person through the pane. The frame may be produced from metal or plastics material. The frame may be composed of a plurality of individual components. The frame may be constructed in a plate-like manner with a substantially centrally arranged through-opening as an inner opening. The inner opening may be completely surrounded by the frame.
A contour of the inner opening may be adapted to a contour of the pane, the pane being able to be larger than the inner opening. Accordingly, a width of the pane may be greater than a width of the inner opening. A length of the pane may also be greater than a length of the inner opening. For example, the inner opening and the pane may be rectangular. The guide may be formed by one or more edge faces of the frame and additionally or alternatively by one or more guiding elements which are connected to the frame. For example, edges of the pane which is located in the covering position may engage in frame grooves or pockets which adjoin the inner opening. Corresponding grooves or pockets may be part of the guide.
On the one hand, the pane can consequently be held in the covering position by the guide. In the covering position, the pane closes the inner opening either completely or to such an extent that an actuation of the actuation element by a person is prevented. In the assembled state of the apparatus, the movement of the pane into the access position, brought about by gravitational force, can be carried out in a downward direction.
Alternatively, for example, a resilient element may be provided, by which the pane can be moved into the access position, in this instance in any direction. In the access position, the pane either releases the inner opening completely or closes it only partially so that a person can actuate the operating element. The actuation may, for example, be carried out by a person reaching through the inner opening with his hand. In order to access the operating element, it may be necessary for the person to press or strike the pane in order to transmit to the retention element via a pane a force which is greater than the activating force. As a result of the force, the pane is pressed in the direction of the operating element.
As long as the force is smaller than the activating force, the retention element may prevent or limit an inward movement of the pane in the direction of the operating element to such an extent that the pane is retained in the covering position. If the force exceeds the activating force, the retention element is either deformed or displaced and consequently enables a sufficiently large inward movement of the pane, in order to release the pane from the covering position.
When the retention element is arranged in the lower region of the pane, the movement of the pane inwards can be carried out only by the lower region of the pane, and the pane can consequently carry out a tilting movement inwards in order to be released from the covering position. After the pane has been released from the covering position, the pane does not continue to be fixed by the guide so that the pane can carry out the movement into the access position.
The retention element may be of metal or plastics material. The retention element may be formed by a portion of the frame of the guide or by a separate component. If the retention element is a separate component, it may be connected to the frame in a rigid manner so that it can be bent by the acting force or can break. Alternatively, the retention element may be movably connected to the frame in the direction of the acting force so that the retention element can be displaced by the acting force.
According to one embodiment, the guide may have a guiding element having a retention face and a sliding face. The retention face may be constructed to retain an edge region of the pane which is located in the covering position. The sliding face may be constructed to enable the pane to slide along the sliding face when the pane is moved into the access position. If the pane is located in the covering position, the pane and the guiding element may be located in one plane. An edge of the pane may be supported on or be in abutment with the support face. Main extension planes of the support face and the sliding face may be inclined relative to each other. The support face and the sliding face may merge into each other in a flowing manner. The sliding face may be orientated parallel or in an inclined manner relative to the movement direction of the pane into the access position.
The support face may be orientated transversely or in an inclined manner relative to the movement direction of the pane into the access position. The retention element may prevent the pane from sliding off the support face. Owing to the guiding element, the pane may, on the one hand, be stabilized in the covering position and, on the other hand, be guided into the access position.
The frame may have a discharge opening. The guide may further be constructed in order to guide at least one edge region of the pane out of the frame through the discharge opening when the pane is moved into the access position. The discharge opening may be arranged laterally on the frame, for example, at the bottom. The discharge opening may be a slot. By means of the guide, the edge region of the pane can be guided to the discharge opening. The pane, when it has reached the access position, can be retained from completely passing the discharge opening by a suitable retention device. In this manner, the pane remains connected to the frame and does not become lost. Alternatively, the pane could completely pass the discharge opening. The discharge opening enables the movement of the pane into the access position not to be limited by the dimensions of the frame.
Furthermore, the guide may have a recess in the region of the retention element in order to receive at least a portion of the retention element when the force acting on the retention element is greater than the activating force. Consequently, at least the portion of the retention element which is located in order to retain the pane in a movement path of the pane from the covering position into the access position can be moved from the movement path and into the recess. In this manner, jamming or blocking of the pane during movement into the access position can be prevented. If the retention element is broken, a broken portion of the retention element may also be received and secured by the recess.
The retention element may have a desired breaking location. Along the desired breaking location, the retention element may break or bend when the force acting on the retention element is greater than the activating force. As a result of the desired breaking location, an actuation behavior of the retention element can be predetermined in a simple manner.
According to one embodiment, the apparatus may have a securing element by means of which the retention element is secured to the frame in a replaceable manner. The term “replaceable” may mean that the retention element can be removed from the frame without damaging the retention element, the frame or the securing element. For example, the retention element may be secured to the frame by means of one or more screw connections. The retention element can thereby be replaced in a simple and cost-effective manner.
The pane may have in an edge region at least one resilient element, by means of which the pane is connected to the frame both in the covering position and in the access position. The resilient element may be of rubber, for example, of cellular rubber. The resilient element may be adhesively bonded to the pane. It may, for example, be a strip whose longitudinal extent direction extends transversely to the movement direction of the pane into the access position. If the pane is located in the covering position, a main surface of the resilient element facing away from the pane may abut a surface of the frame in a planar manner. The resilient element may thereby act as an impact absorber. When the pane is located in the access position, a side face of the resilient element may be in abutment against a projection of the frame facing the pane. For example, the side face of the resilient element may abut the retention face of the guiding element. In this manner, the pane can be retained in the access position by the resilient element. A resilient element may be provided at each side of the pane.
The pane may be constructed so as to be opaque in two opposing end regions and transparent in a central region arranged between the two opposing edge regions. The opaque regions may be constructed in a strip-like or bar-like manner. The transparent region enables a person to see the actuation element through the pane. However, the opaque regions may prevent other elements which are not intended to be visible to the person from being seen. By opposing edge regions being constructed in an opaque manner, the other elements can be concealed by the pane both in the covering position and in the access position. The opaque regions may also be provided with indications for the person.
According to one embodiment, the frame may have a front frame element and a rear frame element, which can be connected to each other by means of a hinge. The pane may be arranged inside the front frame element. The guiding element and the retention element may be arranged on the front frame element. Both the front and the rear frame elements may have a layered structure, for example, comprising a plurality of sheets. In the folded-open state, the retention element can be replaced. As an alternative to a hinge, other connection means may be provided. The hinge has the advantage that the frame elements are further connected in the folded-open state.
Disclosed embodiments further provide an emergency actuation device, having the following features:
an actuation element for actuating the emergency actuation device;
a housing, in which the actuation element is arranged, the housing having an opening; and
an apparatus for covering an actuation element according to one of the preceding embodiments, the frame of the apparatus being secured to the housing and the inner opening of the frame being located in the region of the opening of the housing in order to afford an operator access to the actuation element when the pane is located in the access position.
The emergency actuation device may be formed as a case which may, for example, be secured to a wall. The housing may be produced from metal or plastics material. The housing may have a base and a wall. The wall may be constructed in a continuous manner. The wall may surround the opening of the housing. Consequently, the housing may be in the form of a tub. The frame may rest on the wall of the housing and may consequently form a lid for the housing. The actuation element may have a mechanical or electrical interface by means of which information relating to actuation of the actuation element can be transmitted. A mechanical or electrical component which is connected to the interface may be guided through the wall. To this end, the wall may have a recess.
Disclosed embodiments further provide for a method for securing a pane in an apparatus for covering an actuation element according to an embodiment, the method comprising the following operations:
moving the retention element of the apparatus into a retention position for retaining the pane in the covering position; and
securing the retention element to the frame of the apparatus.
The method can be configured in order to move the pane after actuation of the apparatus from the access position back into the covering position. In this instance, it may be necessary to provide the apparatus with a new retention element. The pane may be returned from the access position to the covering position through the discharge opening. In order to introduce the pane into the guide, it may be necessary to disassemble the unit if it is not possible to introduce the pane through the discharge opening of the unit, for example, owing to cellular foam strips.
In the following description, identical or similar reference numerals are used for the elements which are illustrated in the various drawings and which function in a similar manner, with a repeated description of these elements being omitted.
The emergency actuation unit has a housing 101 in which an actuation element in the form of a lever 103 is arranged. The housing 101 is bowl-like so that the housing 101 has an opening at a front side opposite the base of the housing 101. The lever 103 is thereby visible from the front side of the emergency actuation unit. A wall of the housing 101 extends beyond the lever 103 so that the lever 103 is completely received by an inner space of the housing 101. A free end of the lever 103 forms a handle and is so far away from an upper wall portion of the housing 101 shown at the top in
The apparatus for covering an actuation element closes the housing 101 at the front side. The apparatus is plate-like and forms a cover for the housing 101 in the assembled state. The apparatus has a frame which is secured to the wall of the housing 101. A front cover 110 of the frame is shown in
The lever 103 is arranged substantially centrally with respect to the aperture. Consequently, the front cover 110 and the lever 103 do not overlap each other. The frame has a pane 114 which closes the aperture of the frame. The pane 114 is guided within the frame. The region of the pane 114 located within the aperture is transparent with the exception of a lower edge region 116. Consequently, the lever 103 can be seen through the pane 114. The lower edge region 116 is opaque over the entire width of the aperture as far as a lower edge of the aperture. A transition between the transparent region and the opaque region of the pane 114 is constructed in a linear manner. A mechanical arrangement between the lever 103 and the element 105 of the emergency actuation unit is covered by the opaque region 116. The frame has two through-holes 118 via which the frame can be secured to the housing 101.
In the illustration shown in
The front frame plate 220 has in addition to the through-hole 118 additional through-holes, through which a front guiding plate 222 of the frame can be seen. The front guiding plate 222 has an aperture corresponding to the front frame plate 220, the aperture of the front guiding plate 222 being of the same size or greater than the aperture of the front frame plate 220 so that the front guiding plate 222 is concealed by the front frame plate 220.
A rear guiding plate 224 of the frame can further be seen. The rear guiding plate 224 has an aperture corresponding to the front frame plate 220, the aperture of the rear guiding plate 224 having a smaller width than the aperture of the front frame plate 220 so that lateral edge regions of the rear guiding plate 224 extend into the aperture of the front frame plate 220.
It is further possible to see a rear frame plate 226 of the frame. The rear frame plate 226 has an aperture corresponding to the front frame plate 220, the aperture of the rear frame plate 226 having a smaller length than the aperture of the front frame plate 220 so that at least an upper edge region of the rear guiding plate 224 extends into the aperture of the front frame plate 220.
A resilient element 334, 336 is arranged at opposing surfaces of the pane 114, respectively. The resilient elements 334, 336 are arranged within the printed region 216 shown in
An edge region of the cover 110 has a bend and extends over the upper ends (shown in
The cover 110, the front frame plate 220, the front guiding plate 222, the rear guiding plate 224, the rear frame plate 226 and the securing plate 330 may be constructed as metal sheets. The front frame element which comprises the cover 110, the front frame plate 220 and the front guiding plate 220 may alternatively also be constructed in one piece or be constructed from additional elements. Accordingly, the front frame element which comprises the rear guiding plate 224, the rear frame plate 226 and the securing plate 330 may alternatively also be constructed in one piece or from additional elements.
The securing plate 330 may be constructed as a securing metal sheet. The securing plate 330 may be placed on the housing of the emergency actuation unit and be secured to the housing.
The pane 114 rests with the lower edge thereof on a guiding element 422 which is formed by a lower portion of the front guiding plate 222. The guiding element 422 has an inclined portion at the side facing the rear guiding plate 224. The inclined portion tapers in an acute manner. The pane 114 consequently rests on an acute longitudinal edge of the front guiding plate 222. The acute longitudinal edge consequently forms a retention face for the pane 114. The lower portion of the front guiding plate 222 and an opposing region of the rear guiding plate 224 are spaced apart from each other and form a portion of a free space for moving the pane 114. Consequently, the inclined portion of the guiding element 440 forms a sliding face for the pane 114.
The apparatus has a retention element 440. The retention element 440 is secured to the rear guiding plate 224. The retention element 440 is constructed so as to retain the pane 114 in a covering position in which the pane 114 rests on the guiding element 422. The retention element 440 is constructed as an elongate element, for example, a flap, which, starting from the rear guiding plate 224, extends in an inclined manner in the direction of the pane 114 and touches the pane 114 with a free end. In this instance, the retention element 440 extends downwards in an inclined manner. In order to secure the retention element 440, the rear guiding plate 224 has an angled region which extends through another recess of the rear frame plate 226 and the securing plate 330. The retention element 440 may be secured to the angled region by means of a screw connection. To this end, the retention element 440 may have an elongate hole which extends in the longitudinal direction of the retention element 440. The elongate hole may serve to bring the retention element 440 into position during assembly.
If the pane 114 is pressed against the retention element 440 by means of application of pressure, the retention element 440 may break or bend. The free end of the retention element 440 is thereby pressed towards the rear guiding plate 224 and can be received by the additional recess of the rear frame plate 226 and the securing plate 330. The inclined portion of the guiding element 422 results in the pane 114 sliding along the inclined portion, in this instance in a downward direction, after or during the movement of the free end of the retention element 440. The pane 114 consequently first carries out, at least with the region in abutment with the guiding element 422, a movement perpendicularly relative to the main extent plane of the pane 114, in this instance backwards, and subsequently a movement transversely relative to the main extent plane of the pane 114, in this instance downwards.
The cover 110 is guided around the lower ends of the front frame plate 220, the front guiding plate 222, the rear guiding plate 224, the rear frame plate 226 and the securing plate 330. In this instance, however, the cover 110 has a free space within a central region in which the pane 114 is arranged. Consequently, the free space of the cover 110 continues the free space which is formed between the front guiding plate 222 and the rear guiding plate 224. The pane 114 may move, during a movement into the access position between the lower portions of the front guiding plate 222 and the rear guiding plate 224, through to the free space of the cover 110 and through the free space of the cover 110.
Such a movement of the pane 114 can be ended by one of the resilient elements of the pane 114 being positioned on the guiding element 422 and the other resilient element of the pane 114 being positioned on an end region of the rear guiding plate 224. Such an edge region of the rear guiding plate 224 may be arranged at both sides of the angled region of the rear guiding plate 224.
In contrast to
The upper portion of the pane 114 with the resilient elements 334, 336 at both sides is shown. A lower portion and a central portion of the pane 114 extend from the lower free space of the cover 110. The front resilient element 334 rests on the guiding element 422 and the rear resilient element 336 on an edge region of the rear guiding plate 224.
In the illustration shown in
In order to move the pane 114 back into the access position in the event of completed actuation of the emergency actuation unit, the apparatus, as illustrated in
With reference to
To this end,
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When the protective glass 114 is struck, the breaking flap 440 breaks at the desired breaking location, whereby the pane 114 is no longer fixed in position. As a result of the impact pulse, the protective glass 114 leaves the support face 422 and slides downwards inside the pocket guide. During this sliding movement, the protective glass 114 is not influenced by the breaking flap 440, since it disappears in a free space which is provided therefor or can fall away backwards when the flap is torn from the base member in an undesirable manner. The stabilization of the protective glass pane 114 during the falling movement is ensured laterally by the pocket guide and perpendicularly relative thereto by the two cellular rubber strips 334, 336. These strips 334, 336 also prevent the protective glass 114 from being able to fall downwards and potentially breaking on the floor. This is ensured in that both the support face 422 which has previously held the protective glass 114 in position and an additionally provided stop face act as an end stop for the cellular rubber strips 334, 336 and consequently stop the movement of the protective glass pane 114.
The embodiments described are selected merely by way of example and can be combined with each other. Even if a movement of the pane 114 downwards into the access position is described by way of example with reference to the Figures, the movement of the pane 114 can also be carried out in other directions if, for example, appropriate pressing or tensile elements are provided. In this instance, an arrangement and orientation of the guiding and retention elements described is adapted accordingly.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102011016297.6 | Apr 2011 | DE | national |
This patent application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/056145, filed 4 Apr. 2012, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2011 016 297.6, filed 7 Apr. 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2012/056145 | 4/4/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/1/2013 |