WO2015170079A1

WO2015170079A1 - Lid interlock apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015170079A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/051300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Price
Original assignee: The Haigh Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-05-04
Filing date: 2015-05-01
Publication date: 2015-11-12
Also published as: GB2527735B; GB201407879D0; GB2527735A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lid interlock apparatus comprising a latch assembly having a latch stay (11) arranged to move in a first plane; an interlock assembly having an interlock plate (12) arranged to move in a second plane; wherein the first and second planes are angled with respect to one another.

Description

Lid Interlock Apparatus

The present invention relates to locking mechanisms for devices having a lid, and more particularly to an interlock apparatus for a macerator lid .

In this regard, a major safety factor of any macerator due to the fact that they contain blades rotating at high speed (excess of l OOOrpm) is a means of latching, locking and interlocking the closure method thus preventing user access during operation.

Existing macerators typically utilize separate locking and interlocking arrangements. In addition certain versions have actuated release mechanisms. In such known arrangements, for example as shown in Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C, a locking mechanism including a manual handle 1 and an auto release solenoid 2 control a latch 3, these components being part of lid assembly. A separate interlock mechanism including an interlock solenoid 4 that drives an interlock bar 5 to lock the latch 3 in position, is mounted to the main body of the macerator.

Whilst these types of arrangement are adequate for the purpose, they have disadvantages in space requirements (size), component count (as they are disparate) and require additional assembly (as there are two assemblies to build and fit) .

Space is an important issue in the development of macerators as there is a trend to reducing the size of machines as the infrastructure that these machines are being fitted into is being reduced . The present invention seeks to provide apparatus that alleviates problems associated with such known arrangements.

According to the present invention there is provided lid interlock apparatus comprising :-a latch assembly having a latch stay arranged to move in a first plane; an interlock assembly having an interlock plate arranged to move in a second plane; wherein the first and second planes are angled with respect to one another. In this way a more compact lid interlock apparatus can be provided.

Preferably, the first and second planes are substantially at 90 degrees to one another. As such, the interlock assembly and the latch assembly can be nested around one another.

Conveniently, the latch interlock plate comprises a locking protrusion arranged to move into and retract from a locking aperture in said latch stay. This provides for an effective locking arrangement.

The latch stay may be pivotally mounted for movement in a substantially vertical plane and where the interlock plate is pivotally mounted for movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

Preferably, the interlock plate is arranged to move through the first plane of movement of the latch stay. As such, this provides for an compact arrangement of components. Conveniently, the latch assembly further comprises an auto-release solenoid coupled to the latch stay, activation of the auto-release solenoid urging the latch stay to pivot about its pivot.

Preferably, the interlock assembly further comprises an interlock solenoid coupled to the interlock plate, activation of the interlock solenoid urging the interlock plate to pivot about its pivot.

Conveniently, the apparatus further comprises a latch, wherein the latch stay and latch are biased together.

The latch may be independently pivoted, the latch stay and latch having respective protrusions for interlocking engagement.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises a manual release lever. This can as such be activated in the substantially vertical plane of the latch assembly, which is effective for a user.

Further, the latch stay assembly and the interlock plate assembly can be incorporated into a lid for a macerator. Providing both assemblies within the lid assemblies affords a compact arrangement minimizing the footprint of the macerator used therewith.

The present invention also encompasses a macerator lid comprising lid interlock apparatus as set out above. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a lid interlock apparatus comprising:- a latch assembly having a latch stay arranged to move in a first plane; and an interlock assembly having an interlock plate arranged to move in a second plane; wherein the latch assembly and the interlock assembly are both mounted on a lid assembly, the interlock assembly co-operating with the latch assembly to releasably lock the latch stay of the latch assembly in place.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-

Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C show views of a known interlock apparatus;

Figures 2A and 2B show perspective views of interlock apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 3A shows a perspective cut-away view of an interlock apparatus of the present invention in an open state;

Figure 3B shows a plan view from above of the interlock apparatus of the present invention in an open state;

Figure 3C shows a cross-sectional view from Figure 3B;

Figure 4A shows a perspective cut-away view of the interlock apparatus of the present invention in a locked state;

Figure 4B shows a plan view from above of the interlock apparatus of the present invention in a locked state;

Figure 4C shows a cross-sectional view from Figure 4B; and

Figure 5 shows a perspective cut-away view of the interlock apparatus of the present invention in an un-locking state.

As described above Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C show a known interlock configuration. Figures 2A and 2B show the interlock apparatus of the present invention. In this respect, and referring also to Figures 3A to 5 the various elements include a latch 1 0, a latch stay 1 1 , an interlock plate 1 2, an auto-release solenoid 1 4, an interlock solenoid 1 5 and a manual release lever 1 6.

Figures 3 to 5 show an example of the present invention in three respective states. The interlock apparatus of the present invention comprises various elements mounted on the same component, in this case the lid of a macerator (not shown) .

The latch stay 1 1 is pivotally mounted about pivot 1 7 and the latch 1 0 is pivotally mounted about pivot 1 8. The latch and latch stay are biased together by way of one or more springs (not shown) which urge the latch stay and latch into contact. In this regard, latch stay is urged by said one or more springs to rotate clockwise about pivot 1 7 such that latch plate head 1 9 slides on latch surface 20.

Solenoid 1 4 is linked to latch stay 1 1 and can be activated to pull the latch stay 1 1 against the force of spring so that it rotates anti-clockwise about pivot 1 7.

Interlock solenoid 1 5 can control movement of the interlock plate 1 2 such that the plate can be rotated about a interlock plate pivot 22. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, when the interlock solenoid 1 5 is energized, it pulls on end 23 of the interlock plate 1 2 which thereby rotates the plate anticlockwise about interlock plate pivot 1 3, thereby retracting interlock plate locking pin 24 out of latch stay aperture 25 in the latch stay 1 1 . In the "open" state of Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, the latch stay 1 1 is not locked in position by the interlock plate locking pin 24 and can thereby rotate about its pivot 1 7. In the "locked" state of Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, the latch 1 0 is in the closed position, having engaged with a corresponding locking bar element (not shown) on a macerator main body.

The latch stay 1 1 is in its natural resting position where it is biased against the latch 1 0, such that respective locking protrusions 21 and 1 9 on the latch 1 0 and latch stay 1 1 engage, the biasing of the latch and latch stay promoting the interlocking of the protrusions 21 and 1 9. In this position the auto-release solenoid 1 4 is not energized.

For unlocking, as shown in Figures 5, the interlock plate locking pin 24 is retracted from latch stay aperture 25 by virtue of the interlock solenoid 1 5 having been energized, thereby rotating the interlock plate clockwise about pivot 1 3 so that the locking pin 24 retracts from latch stay aperture 25. In this state the latch stay 1 1 can be moved about its pivot 1 7 and this can be achieved by manually pushing the lever 1 6 or energizing the auto-release solenoid 1 4 so that it pulls on the latch stay 1 1 causing it to rotate anti-clockwise about pivot 1 7, thereby unlatching protrusions 1 9 and 21 .

The coupling 26 between the auto release solenoid 1 4 and latch stay 1 1 takes the form of a pin and slot arrangement to allow for movement of the latch stay about its pivot 1 7 as it is pulled back and sprung forward . The coupling 27 between the interlock plate 1 2 and the interlock solenoid 1 5 is similarly configured.

As will be understood, the components are arranged such that the interlock plate moves in a plane normally to a plane of movement of the latch stay. The latch stay is configured to move in a plane that is normal to the plane in which the interlock plate moves. This allows the components of the latch assembly and the interlock assembly to overlap each other in a nested fashion, all provided in close proximity as part of the lid assembly of a macerator.

The apparatus of the present invention combines these latch and interlock mechanisms into a single, smaller and simplified assembly providing latching, locking and interlocking together with actuated or manual release functions.

Claims

Claims:

1 . Lid interlock apparatus comprising:- a latch assembly having a latch stay arranged to move in a first plane; an interlock assembly having an interlock plate arranged to move in a second plane; wherein the first and second planes are angled with respect to one another.

2. Lid interlock apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second planes are substantially at 90 degrees to one another.

3. Lid interlock apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latch interlock plate comprises a locking protrusion arranged to move into and retract from a locking aperture in said latch stay.

4. Lid interlock apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch stay is pivotally mounted for movement in a substantially vertical plane and where the interlock plate is pivotally mounted for movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

5. Lid interlock apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the interlock plate is arranged to move through the first plane of movement of the latch stay.

6. Lid interlock apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch stay assembly further comprises an auto-release solenoid coupled to the latch stay, activation of the auto-release solenoid urging the latch stay to pivot about its pivot.

7. Lid interlock apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the interlock assembly further comprises an interlock solenoid coupled to the interlock plate, activation of the interlock solenoid urging the interlock plate to pivot about its pivot.

8. Lid interlock apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a latch, wherein the latch stay and latch are biased together.

9. Lid interlock apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the latch is independently pivoted, the latch stay and latch having respective protrusions for interlocking engagement.

1 0. Lid interlock apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch assembly further comprises a manual release lever.

1 1 . Lid interlock apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch stay assembly and the interlock plate assembly are incorporated into a lid for a macerator.

1 2. A macerator lid comprising lid interlock apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

1 3. Lid interlock apparatus comprising:- a latch assembly having a latch stay arranged to move in a first plane; and an interlock assembly having an interlock plate arranged to move in a second plane; wherein the latch assembly and the interlock assembly are both mounted on a lid assembly, the interlock assembly co-operating with the latch assembly to releasably lock the latch stay of the latch assembly in place.

1 4. Lid interlock apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A macerator Lid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.