Visit the Machine Building Systems web site
Click on the advert above to visit the company web site

Product category: Machine Safety Components
News Release from: Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley Guardmaster ) | Subject: Prosafe mechanical interlocks
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 26 February 2003

Bolt interlocks are robust mechanical
safeguards

Request your FREE weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter. News about Machine Safety Components and more every issue. Click here for details.

Guardmaster Prosafe has added robust, single- and dual-bolt mechanical interlocks to its Prosafe interlocking range.

Guardmaster Prosafe has added robust, single- and dual-bolt mechanical interlocks to its Prosafe interlocking range The bolt interlocks are manufactured entirely from weatherproof 316 stainless steel and have a unique antitamper design, which makes them the most practicable method of locking on, or off, host electrical equipment such as large isolators and grounding units

The interlocks also provide high levels of safeguarding on sliding gates, hatches and enclosures, where part or full body access is required.

The Prosafe single- and dual-bolt interlocks offer the major advantage that there is no need to run electrical power to the guard door on which they are mounted.

Instead, power is disconnected by a trapped key on a control panel, or by a Prosafe RKS (rotary key switch) type unit, and the key is then hand-carried to the guard or gate by the operator.

Robust in design and operation, the bolt interlocks have unique, replaceable stainless steel coded barrels (tested to 100,000 operations) to satisfy even the most complicated of interlocking systems.

The interlocks are protected by weatherproof dustproof caps and offer extremely reliable operation via their direct drive, push/pull positive operating mechanism.

In common with all units in Guardmaster's Prosafe range, the interlocks are CE marked, fully tested and conform to standards EN292, EN1088 and GS ET 19 154.

Single-bolt interlocks in the range are used to lock on, or off, host electrical equipment such as large isolators or grounding units, and as an interlock on sliding gates or hatches where part body access, only, is required.

In these applications the key, after it has been turned to release the guard-locking unit, remains trapped, and cannot be removed until the guard is closed and locked again.

As a result, it is impossible to open the guard without first isolating the power source, and it is also impossible to switch on power to the machine without closing and locking the guard.

The dual-key bolt interlock is similar to the single key version but has a secondary key to allow 'two key in' or 'key exchange' conditions.

The key exchange version may be used where whole body access is required, as the secondary key can be used as a personnel key.

Further details of the new complete Prosafe interlocks range are contained within the new Guardmaster catalogue, which is also available on mini-CD for maximum convenience.

Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley Guardmaster ): contact details and other news
Email this article to a colleague
Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
Engineeringtalk Home Page

Search the Pro-Talk network of sites

Visit the Machine Building Systems web site