GB2038438A

GB2038438A - Guard gate structure

Info

Publication number: GB2038438A
Application number: GB7942370A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: UDAL Ltd J
Current assignee: UDAL Ltd J
Priority date: 1978-12-16
Filing date: 1979-12-07
Publication date: 1980-07-23

Abstract

A guard gate structure comprises a plurality of panels 8,9,10 which are hinged relative to each other. One of the panels is hingedly connected to a support element 13<a> whereby the gate structure can be mounted upon a support member. Electrical switch, safety interlocks 18,19 may be provided between adjacent panels as well as or instead of an electrical plug and socket safety device 21,20 having one component on the panel remote from the support member and the other component on an adjacent gate structure or a support member, the plug 21 only being insertable into the socket 20 when the two guard gate structures are in the operative position to complete the control circuit of the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gate structure This invention relates to gate structures more particularly but not exclusively to gate structures forming the or part of a guard system of a machine tool.

The object of the invention is to provide a gate structure in a simple and convenient form.

According to the invention a gate structure comprises a plurality of relatively hinged panels and a support element to which an end one of said panels is hingedly connected, said support element in use, being mounted upon a support member.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a pair of gate structures in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the pair of gate structures of Figure 1 in the operative position; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing one of the gate structures in a partly open position and the other structure in the fully open position; and Figure 4 is a view to an enlarged scale of part of the structure of Figure 1.

In one example of a guard system for a machine tool it is desired when the machine tool is working, to prevent people approaching the machine tool at other than specified positions.

However, when the machine tool is not working it is desired to have substantially unhindered access to the tool which may for example be one of a series of individual machine tools connected together in a work transfer system. Access may be required at some position along the system and for this purpose a guard fence disposed along the side of the system must be provided with a portion which can be removed or swung aside. It is inconvenient to have to remove a portion of the fence since this means that fastening means must be removed requiring the use of tools. Moreover, if a simple gate is provided there must be room to open the gate and this often means that there is a limit to the width of the opening if contact of the gate with adjacent machinery is to be avoided.

In accordance with the invention the gate structure is constructed as a number of individual panels which are hingedly connected together. In this manner the gate structure can be folded upon itself besides being capable of being swung about a substantially vertical pivot axis. The size of the opening is therefore not limited by the size of the gate structure.

As shown in the drawings the gate structure comprises three rectangular panels 8, 9, 10 each having a pair of spaced upright members 1 1 which are secured at their upper ends to an upper cross member 12 and at their lower ends to a lower cross member 13. Moreover, in the particular example each panel includes a central upright member 1 4a, the members being secured as by welding.

The panel 8 at the hinge end of the structure has secured thereto a support element which is formed in two parts one of which is pivotally connected to the upper cross member 12 and the other of which is similarly connected to the lower cross member 13. Each part 1 3a of the support element is as shown in Figure 4 of "L" shape. The shorter limbs are pivotally connected by means of bolts respectively to the upper and lower cross members, the pivot axes coinciding and generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adjacent upright member. The other limbs are disposed substantially parallel to but spaced from the adjacent upright member and are provided with apertures for the reception of bolts whereby they can be secured to a support member which may for example be a stanchion.

The panel 8 and the intermediate panel or panels 9 opposed to the opposite end panel 10, is provided with upper and lower lateral tongues 14 which extend from the upper surface of the upper cross member and the lower surface of the lower cross member respectively. The ends of the tongues are provided with apertures for the reception of bolts which are secured into the lower and upper cross members of the adjacent panel and the bolts serve as hinge pins. The aforesaid opposite end panel 10 is not provided with tongues. With the panels being hingedly connected to each other it is possible to fold the gate structure either before, after or during the hinging of the gate structure relative to the support member.

In order to facilitate stowage of the gate structure in its folded condition, it is arranged that the panels can fold flat against each other. This is achieved by inclining the aforesaid tongues 14 relative to the plane of the panel to which they are attached. The inclination is opposite for adjacent panels so that when the gate structure is in the operative or unfolded condition, the first and third panels 8, 10 lie in the same plane whilst the second panel 9 lies in another plane which is parallel to but spaced from the first mentioned plane. Whilst the tongues on adjacent panels incline in the opposite direction when the gate structure is in the assembled condition, the panels with the exception of the aforesaid end panel can be constructed in an identical fashion, the different inclination being obtained by assembling one of a pair of adjacent panels the opposite way.

As shown in the drawings two such gate structures may be used to form the closure for an opening and if desired latch mechanism may be provided to secure together the adjacent opposite end panels. The gate structures are held in the operative position by means of permanent magnets 15 respectively carried by a channel member 16 disposed above the opening. The panels of the gate structures remote from the hinges have upwardly extending members 17 secured to their upper cross members 12, and these members 17 are formed from magnetisable material so that they can be retained by the magnets. The other panels also have members 17 for engagement with the channel or with projections 1 5a spaced outwardly from the channel to cope with the different planes of the panels when they are in the closed position.

As shown in the drawings the closure for the opening is formed by two gate structures. For safety purposes one of the structures carries an electrical socket 20 which is connected into the control circuit of the machine which is guarded.

The other gate structure mounts a chain carrying a plug 21 which can only be inserted into the socket when the two structures are in the operative position, and which when in the socket completes the control circuit of the machine.

Where a single gate structure is provided the same arrangement can be provided with the socket and the plug being mounted on the gate structure and suitable fixed support or vice versa.

In addition or as an alternative to the plug and socket, interlocks may be provided between adjacent panels. As shown electrical interlocks are provided with one panel carrying a switch 18 which is actuated by a cam disc 19 carried by the adjacent panel. Conveniently the switch 1 8 is mounted on the upper tongue 14 whilst the cam disc is mounted on the bolt which extends through an aperture in the tongue and is secured into the adjacent panel. The switch has an operating member which bears against the periphery of the gate and when the gate structure is closed a recess or a projection on the disc effects movement of the operating member to actuate the switch to a particular condition. If desired the interlocks can be of a mechanical or fluid nature.

As shown an interlock is provided on the panel which is hinged to the support.

As shown in the drawings the panels of the gate structure when the latter is in an operative position, lie generally in a common plane. It will be understood that the gate structure can follow a curve or a series of structures could follow the irregular contour of a machine.

Moreover, the panels may be provided with a cladding material to provide protection against fluids e.g. cutting fluid which my be flung out of a machine andior noise insulation.

Claims

1. A gate structure comprising a plurality of relatively hinged panels and a support element to which an end one of said panels is hingedly connected, said support element in use, being mounted upon a support member.

2. A gate structure according to claim 1 in which said panels are each formed as a generally rectangular frame and each of the panels except an end one of the panels carries tongues by which it is hingedly connected to the adjacent panel.

3. A gate structure according to claim 2 in which said tongues are inclined relative to the plane of the panel to which they are attached, the direction of inclination of the tongues on adjacent panels being opposite to each other whereby the panels can be folded flat against each other.

4. A gate structure according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the tongues are provided with apertures through which extend bolts secured in the adjacent panel, said bolts serving as hinge pins.

5. A gate structure according to any one of the preceding claims including magnetic means for holding the structure in the operative position.

6. A gate structure according to claim 5 in which said magnetic means includes a permanent magnet carried on a support and at least the panel remote from the hinge carries a magnetisable member for retention by the magnet respectively.

7. A gate structure according to any one of the preceding claims including interlocks between adjacent panels and operative to provide a signal when the structure is in an operative position.

8. A gate structure according to claim 4 including a switch mounted on one panel and an actuating cam mounted on the adjacent panel, the switch being arranged to assume a particular condition only when the gate structure is in the operative position.

9. A gate structure according to claim 8 in which the switch is mounted on one of the tongues of one panel and the actuating cam is in the form of a disc carried by the bolt passing through the aperture in said tongue.

10. A closure for an opening and comprising a pair of gate structures as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and electrical plug and socket means on the gate structures respectively which can be connected together only when the gate structures are in their operative positions.

1 A gate structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 including elelctrical plug and socket means in the gate structure and a fixed support, and which can be connected together only when the gate structure is in its operative position.

12. A gate structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 in which each panel is provided with a cladding material.

13. A gate structure comprising the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.