The invention relates to a rotary lock for controlling the passage of persons having a blocking unit which can be rotated about a rotational axis which is inclined downward by approximately 45° with respect to the horizontal, can be locked against rotation by means of an unlockable locking mechanism, can be released for rotation in at least one rotational direction, and has at least two blocking arms which are inclined with respect to the rotational axis and of which, in the operational position of the system, in each case one unblocking arm is situated in a substantially horizontal blocking position which locks the passage and the other blocking arm or blocking arms is/are moved out of the passage region, it being possible for the blocking arms to be moved one after another from the position which locks the passage into a position which releases the passage as a result of rotation of the blocking unit which is made possible as a consequence of a command to the unlockable locking mechanism, and said blocking arms being articulated on a bearing plate of the blocking unit in such a way that the blocking arm which is situated in its blocking position in the operational state of the system can be pivoted, by triggering of an unlocking mechanism, out of its locked normal position on the bearing plate into its release position which permits the unimpeded passage of persons in the case of the system being rendered nonoperational, for example as a consequence of a power cut or of the power being switched off, and in such a way that said blocking arm can move back automatically into its locked normal position after termination of the operation which triggers the unlocking action.
Rotary locks of this type are used at turnstiles, in order to make the controlled entry or exit of persons possible. The passage is opened as a function of previously defined criteria for in each case one person by rotation of the locking apparatus by one advance switching step, the next locking element being moved behind each passing person into its position which first of all blocks the passage for a following person. However, it also has to be ensured in systems of this type that the unimpeded passage for preferably all people is possible, for instance, if a disruption occurs, for example as a consequence of a power cut, or in the case of the lock being rendered nonoperational deliberately or in a dangerous situation, in order that an escape route is kept open.
Known single-arm or double-arm locks have proven disadvantageous, in so far as they develop a high impact force and therefore the risk of injuries, especially for children, on account of the comparatively rapid rotation which they have to carry out. The triple-arm locks have therefore become established predominantly.
DE-C 2825787 has disclosed a turnstile system which has three blocking arms which extend trigonally from a bearing plate and, by rotation of the turnstile, pass one after another into a position which blocks the passage and a position which releases the passage. In their normal position, the blocking arms protrude from the bearing plate at a defined angle, but are connected in an articulated manner to it in such a way that the blocking arm which is situated in its normal position is unlocked in its joint, for example if a power cut occurs or if the power is switched off, and said blocking arm can pivot, as a result of the action of gravity, into a release position which makes unimpeded passage possible. In this system, the blocking arm which has been unlocked in this way, that is to say rendered nonfunctional, has to be moved manually into its normal operating position for recommencing operation. This is very laborious and time consuming and has a disadvantageous effect, in particular, in the case of relatively large premises which are to be monitored.
German utility model 6937378 has disclosed a similar turnstile system, in which, after a blocking arm has been folded away out of its blocking position, for example on account of a disturbance or an intentional shutdown, said blocking arm likewise has to be moved back manually into its operating position for recommencing normal operation.
DE 44 45 698 C2 and EP 0 658 680 B1 have also disclosed a similar turnstile system, in which, however, an unlocked blocking arm, which has therefore been rendered nonoperational, returns automatically into its normal operating position, in which it is held by latching means, as a result of gravity after recommencing of operation, as a result of the turnstile or the bearing plate which carries the blocking arms being rotated by at least one advance switching step. In order that the relevant blocking arm can return into its normal operating position in this way, it has to reach a certain position on the bearing plate during rotation of the turnstile. Gravity cannot develop its full effect until the zenith of the rotation has been reached or passed. For this reason, the automatic return of an unlocked blocking arm is not really ensured in the case of only one advance switching step of the turnstile. There is therefore also the express indication in the abovementioned documents that the blocking arm reaches its operating position in a particularly reliable way when the turnstile is moved on by at least two advance switching steps, that is to say when the blocking arm passes through the zenith of the rotation in the process. On account of the rapid movement when the blocking arms latch in again, this return of the unlocked blocking arm by way of one or two advance switching steps involves a certain risk of injury.
The locking elements of known locking systems are locked via lever systems and clamping elements, via hydraulic or pneumatic brakes, which is very complicated, costly and also susceptible to faults. A roller system which runs on a cam disk is required for the exact positioning of the locking elements in the blocking positions. Moreover, hydraulic and pneumatic systems are subject to stringent safety requirements. Clamping elements, cam disks and pivoting bolts cannot be unlocked under load as locking elements.
A further disadvantage of these known turnstile systems is the drive with the aid of a geared motor which, depending on the type of gearing, develops unpleasant noise and is subject to high wear. A relatively high exertion of force is required to rotate the blocking unit further. In the event of a power cut, a self-locking gear mechanism can no longer be rotated from the outside, which can have a very disadvantageous effect in the case of panic, and gear mechanisms without self-locking also require a great external actuating force in the event of a power cut, in order for it to be possible for them to be moved.
It is an object of the invention, in a rotary lock of the abovementioned type, to make the automatic return secure and reliable of a locking element which has been pivoted out of its normal position into its release position, and therefore also to ensure the return to service of the rotary lock in as undelayed a manner as possible and in a reliable and uncomplicated way after termination of a disruption of whatever nature. The apparatus should be as simple as possible in its construction, functionally reliable overall and subject to low wear.
According to the invention, this is achieved by the fact that the locking of each blocking arm on the bearing plate is produced by a locking element which acts through an opening, by the fact that, if the power is interrupted, the locking element of the blocking arm which is situated in the blocking position can be released mechanically from the engagement on the opening counter to a spring force, and, when the locking action is released, a force which acts eccentrically on this blocking arm pivots the latter in its mounting on the bearing plate, about a rotational axis which is parallel to the main rotational axis of the blocking unit, rotationally out of its normal position into its release position, and by the fact that, when the power supply is restored, the pivoted blocking arm can be arrested temporarily and, by rotation of the locking plate by less than one advance switching step of the rotary lock, this blocking arm can be moved back into its normal position as a result of its relative rotation to the bearing plate which is brought about in the process, and can be locked in said normal position again by the locking element.
A rotation of the blocking unit by only approximately half an advance switching step of the rotary lock is sufficient to restore the pivoted blocking arm; in the process, it moves in a very safe, reliable and also gentle manner without a hard impact during latching and without a risk of injury for persons.
The force which acts eccentrically on the blocking arm can be a spring force and/or gravity.
The blocking arms can be held pivotably in openings of the bearing plate via receiving journals and can be locked with respect to the bearing plate by a locking element.
The spring which acts eccentrically on the receiving journal or the blocking arm is preferably a helical spring. In contrast to a spiral spring, it is less readily susceptible as a result of the rotating movements.
The locking element can be a locking journal which protrudes through an opening of the bearing plate and is moved out of engagement in the opening counter to a spring force by an unlocking lever which can be pivoted in the event of a power cut.
An opening is preferably provided for the engagement of a locking journal on the bearing plate in the region of each blocking arm, which locking journal can be displaced radially on the blocking arm or on a receiving journal of the blocking arm counter to a spring force by an unlocking lever, which can be pivoted in the event of a power cut, and can be released from the engagement in the opening. A locking means of this type is very simple in its construction but reliable in its method of operation.
During normal operation of the rotary lock, the unlocking lever can be held securely at a spacing from the locking journal, counter to the force of an unlocking spring, by a first electric lifting magnet.
The blocking arms are held pivotably in openings of the bearing plate either directly or preferably via receiving journals; engagement means are provided on the rear side of the blocking arms or of the receiving journals, on which engagement means a spring force acts eccentrically, and the other end of which engagement means is anchored on the rear side of the bearing plate; the unlocked blocking arm can be pivoted by the spring force, for example, of a tension spring or a helical spring in the opening of the bearing plate about an axis which is parallel to the main rotational axis of the blocking unit.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of protruding pins can be arranged as engagement means on the rear side of the blocking arms or of their receiving journals; a tension spring, preferably a helical spring, can act eccentrically on one of said pins, the other end of which tension spring is anchored on the rear side of the bearing plate.
According to another embodiment, a friction wheel can be arranged as engagement means on the rear side of the blocking arms or of their receiving journals.
According to a further embodiment, a toothed disk can be arranged as engagement means on the rear side of the blocking arms or of their receiving journals.
When the system is set in operation again, a locking lever is connected temporarily to the blocking arm which is pivoted out of the passage region, by a positive or nonpositive connection, for the purpose of arresting this blocking arm; a rotation of the blocking arm relative to the bearing plate is brought about by rotation of the blocking unit or the bearing plate by less than one advance switching step of the blocking unit, and the blocking arm is returned into its normal position and is locked again in the process.
The locking lever preferably has latching notches, by way of which it can be brought into a positively locking connection on pins which protrude from the rear side of the blocking arm or its receiving journal or with a toothed disk which is arranged on the rear side of the blocking arm or its receiving journal.
The latching notches preferably have a rather flat flank for a pin or a toothing system to slide into and a steep flank, with which a pin or a toothing system comes into contact during latching. As a result of the force component which acts on the steep flank predominantly in the engagement direction, the pin or the toothing system can be held in its engagement with a relatively low lever force.
When the power supply is restored, the locking lever can advantageously be actuated by a second electric lifting magnet for arresting the blocking arm which is pivoted out of the passage region.
A brushless DC motor without gear mechanism and with direct drive is preferred as drive motor for the blocking unit.
It is subjected to less wear than a geared motor.
Moreover, the blocking unit can be secured against impermissible rotation by an electromagnetic brake which acts directly on the drive shaft of the blocking unit. It represents an overload safeguard and also affords protection against damage, for example as a result of vandalism.
The positional control, positional regulation and positional sensing for the blocking unit can take place via a rotary encoder which is installed directly on the rotor shaft of the drive motor. This rotary encoder can be a resolver.
In the following text, the invention will be described in greater detail by way of example using the appended drawing, in which:
According to
Instead of the pins 12, a friction wheel or a toothed disk can be provided as engagement means on the rear side of the receiving journals 5 (or directly of the blocking arms 2).
In normal operation of the rotary lock, in each case one of the three blocking arms 2 protrudes horizontally into a passage for persons, while the two other blocking arms 2 are pivoted out of the passage into positions which point obliquely downward, as shown in
In the case of an operational disruption, for example a power cut or an intentional switching off, it has to be ensured that the blocking arm 2 which is currently situated in the blocking position is moved out of its horizontal, blocking position, that is to say out of the passage region, and the unimpeded passage for all persons is opened, for example also as an escape route.
If the power is interrupted, the first electric lifting magnet 10 becomes currentless in the rotary lock which is described here; it therefore releases the unlocking lever 9, whereupon the latter is pivoted about its rotational axis 18 by the force of the unlocking spring 11 and actuates the locking journal 7 of the blocking arm 2 which is situated in the blocking position (see
When the stress is restored or following a control command, the unlocking lever 9 is pivoted back into its normal operating position by the electric lifting magnet 10. The second electric lifting magnet 17 is now likewise supplied with current, it attracts that lever arm of the blocking lever 14 which is operatively connected to it and in the process pivots the blocking lever 14 about its axis 19, until said blocking lever 14 comes into engagement by way of at least one of its latching notches 15 with one of the pins 12 on the rear side of the receiving journal 5 or otherwise a positive or nonpositive connection is produced with the receiving journal 5 or the blocking arm 2 (see
Since the blocking unit 1 has to be rotated only by half an advance switching step, in order to move the blocking arm 2 which is pivoted out back into its operating position, as described, this takes place in a particularly safe and reliable way and without the risk of injury for persons.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202005012659.4 | Aug 2005 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE2006/001395 | 8/10/2006 | WO | 00 | 2/4/2009 |