Captured key electrical safety lockout system

Patent · 01 January 1995

OSTI ID:870139

Darimont, Daniel E ^[1]

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1. Aurora, IL

A safety lockout apparatus for an electrical circuit includes an electrical switch, a key, a lock and a blocking mechanism. The electrical switch is movable between an ON position at which the electrical circuit is energized and an OFF position at which the electrical circuit is deactivated. The lock is adapted to receive the key and is rotatable among a plurality of positions by the key. The key is only insertable and removable when the lock is at a preselected position. The lock is maintained in the preselected position when the key is removed from the lock. The blocking mechanism physically maintains the switch in its OFF position when the key is removed from the lock. The blocking mechanism preferably includes a member driven by the lock between a first position at which the electrical switch is movable between its ON and OFF positions and a second position at which the member physically maintains the electrical switch in its OFF position. Advantageously, the driven member's second position corresponds to the preselected position at which the key can be removed from and inserted into the lock.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03000
• Assignee: Universities Research Association, Inc. (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5463196
• OSTI ID: 870139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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adapted
advantageously
apparatus
blocking
captured
circuit
corresponds
deactivated
driven
electrical
electrical circuit
electrical safety
electrical switch
energized
insertable
inserted
key
lock
locking mechanism
lockout
maintained
maintains
mechanism
movable
physically
plurality
position
positions
preferably
preselected
receive
removable
removed
rotatable
safety
safety lockout
selected position
switch