US20120186308A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20120186308A1
Application number: US13/009,948
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernhard Garthe
Original assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Soehne KG
Current assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Soehne KG
Priority date: 2011-01-20
Filing date: 2011-01-20
Publication date: 2012-07-26
Also published as: US10119303B2; US20160201358A1

Abstract

A padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant has a lock housing of plastic, furthermore a hoop which is displaceably held at the lock housing and a lock cylinder which is arranged in the lock housing and can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the hoop to the lock housing. An RFID transponder is arranged in the lock housing. A securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant includes at least one such padlock and a mobile RFID reading device or an RFID reading device permanently attached in the environment of the switch, said RFID reading device being configured to read out the RFID transponder of the padlock.

Description

The invention relates to a padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant. The invention further relates to a securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant which includes at least one padlock.
A particular area of application of a padlock is in the field of occupational safety. There is the risk in connection with the servicing of industrial plants, for example, of a production machine, that the industrial plan deactivated for the purpose of service work is activated again by accident while the servicing work is still continuing. A substantial danger for the service engineer can result from this. It is therefore customary that the service engineer moves a switch associated with the industrial plant to an OFF position for the duration of the service work and secures it in this position, i.e, the switch is directly blocked or access to the switch is blocked. The named switch is typically an energy supply switch, for example a main electrical switch of a control device or of an energy supply device of the industrial plant (e.g. power switchbox). Alternatively to this, the named switch can, for example, be a valve of a liquid line or of a gas line.
In order effectively to avoid an accidental activation of the industrial plant by another person, each service engineer hangs a padlock on the named switch or on a blocking device associated with the switch before starting his work and locks said padlock. The switch is hereby secured in its OFF position, i.e. the switch cannot be moved accidentally back into an ON position by another person. When the service engineer has ended his work, he unlocks his padlock again and releases it from the switch. Each service engineer usually has his own individual padlock (or a plurality of his own individual padlocks) associated with him.
This procedure is also called locking out. The padlock used is accordingly called a lockout lock. The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,867 shows such a securing of an electric rocker switch by means of a padlock. It is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,908 to secure the position of a rotary switch by means of a padlock.
So that a plurality of service engineers can block and release the switch again independently of one another, a plurality of receivers (e.g. eyelets) can be provided at the switch for hanging a plurality of lockout locks. This is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,213, for example. If only a single receiver for a lockout lock is provided, a securing claw can be used which is hung into the respective eyelet of the switch or of the associated blocking device and which in turn has a plurality of hang-in eyelets for a respective padlock. Only when the last padlock has been removed from the securing claw can the securing claw be removed from the switch so that it can again be brought into the ON position. Such a securing claw for use at an electric switchbox is known, for example, from documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,008, 5,365,757 and 3,667,259.
It is known in connection with such a securing of a switch of an industrial plant to equip the lockout lock used with a housing of plastic, with a hoop being displaceably held at the lock housing and with a lock cylinder being arranged in the lock housing. The lock cylinder can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the hoop to the lock housing after the hoop has, for example, been hung into an eyelet of the switch. By forming the lock housing from plastic, a particularly light padlock results which is of advantage in the use as a lockout lock since the service engineers occasionally carry a plurality of lockout locks simultaneously. A housing of plastic can also contribute to a desired electrical insulation. By the use of a plastic housing, there is furthermore a particularly simple possibility of color marking the padlock. The smaller stability of a plastic housing in comparison with a lock housing made of metal does not represent any serous disadvantage in a lockout lock since the padlock only serves the purpose of securing a switch against unintentional actuation, but not, for example, as theft protection. Such a lockout lock having a housing of plastic is known, for example, from documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,278,283 and 5,755,121. They are here cases of simple, purely mechanical padlocks.
It is an object of the invention to provide a padlock and a corresponding securing system which enable a reliable securing and monitoring of a switch of an industrial plant with a simple design.
This object is satisfied by a padlock having the features of claim1 and in particular by a padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant having a lock housing made of plastic, furthermore having a hoop which is displaceably held at the lock housing and having a lock cylinder which is arranged in the lock housing and can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the hoop to the lock housing, wherein an RFID transponder is also arranged in the lock housing.
It is possible to check and document in a simple manner by means of the RFID transponder arranged in the housing of the lockout lock, while using an associated reading device, whether the respective lockout lock is or was arranged at a switch of an industrial plant at a given time to secure the switch. For this purpose, the padlock used can have a simple mechanical design since the RFID transponder can be inserted into the padlock as a separate autonomous unit. The padlock can therefore have a purely mechanical locking function which is independent of the electronic system of the RFID transponder. Due to the arrangement of the RFID transponder in a plastic housing, a radio communication can take place with an associated reading device substantially without interference. At the same time, the RFID transponder is reliably protected against damage and contamination. This is an important aspect in the use of the padlock as a lockout lock since the padlock can be exposed to great strain by blows and/or wear if it is arranged at a switch of an industrial plant and is also taken along by the service engineer (for example hanging on a belt) when not in use.
The arrangement of the RFID transponder in the lock housing can take place in a variety of manners. The lock housing can, for example, form an outer cover into which the RFID transponder is integrated, in particular by overcasting or overmolding. It is alternatively possible, for example, to receive the RFID transponder releasably in the lock housing as will be explained in the following.
An RFID transponder is a receiver and transmitter device which receives an interrogation signal at a predetermined radio frequency and hereupon transmits a predetermined identification signal (for example an identification number encoded in a radio signal). This process is called RFID (radio frequency identification). For this purpose, the RFID transponder has at least one antenna, an electronic circuit coupled hereto and a non-volatile memory in which the predetermined identification number is stored. If an associated reading device generates an electromagnetic alternating field with a suitable frequency and transmits it to the RFID transponder (interrogation signal), the antenna of the RFID transponder takes on the electromagnetic energy of the alternating field, whereby the transmission of the named identification signal is triggered (in turn via the antenna). For this purpose, the electronic circuit of the RFID transponder does not have to have any energy supply of its own, but can rather take the required electric energy from the received alternating field. The output identification signal is imprinted into the alternating field generated by the reading device by field attenuation such that the reading device can decode the identification signal of the RFID transponder. Such an RFID transponder is known, for example, from the document U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,899.
It can be found and/or documented in a simple manner by the reading of the identification signal of an RFID transponder combined with a lockout lock which lockout lock (corresponding to a specific service engineer) is or was fastened to a switch of an industrial plant at a given time. It is also possible in this respect simultaneously to detect a plurality of RFID transponders by means of a single associated reading device, i.e. the presence of a plurality of different RFID transponders or lockout locks can simultaneously be determined and/or documented. A control device associated with the switch or with the respective industrial plant can additionally be supplied with monitoring signals (redundant possibility of monitoring the switch state) on the basis of the information obtained by means of the reading device (e.g. identification number and date/time). Which lockout locks were arranged at the respective switch of the industrial plant at which time can alternatively or additionally be documented, for example for the case of an industrial accident (accident clarification, liability).
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the RFID transponder is enclosed on all sides within the lock housing. A particularly effective protection of the RFID transponder from mechanical damage and/or contamination is hereby ensured. The surrounding of the RFID transponder at all sides preferably takes place by cooperation of the lock housing with a further part of the padlock, in particular having a further housing part (e.g. inner housing or outer housing part).
In accordance with a further embodiment, the lock cylinder of the padlock has a longitudinal shape with a longitudinal axis which typically corresponds to the axis of rotation of a rotatable cylinder core of the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder can be configured, for example, as a profile cylinder, in particular as a replaceable profile cylinder. The RFID transponder is arched with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder in this embodiment. In other words, the RFID transponder extends in curved shape about the lock cylinder in cross-section (in a normal plane to the longitudinal axis). A particularly advantageous angular characteristic of the RFID transponder hereby results, i.e. the RFID transponder can cooperate with an associated reading device in a large angular range. A reliable communication with an associated RFID reading device can in particular hereby be achieved irrespective of whether the front side or the rear side of the padlock faces the RFID reading device. The lock cylinder, which is typically made from metal, in this respect does not prove to be a disturbance since the lock cylinder can be arranged within the arch formed by the RFID transponder, i.e. the RFID transponder can peripherally surround the lock cylinder completely or partly.
The RFID transponder can in particular extend along at least a part of the length of the lock cylinder and along at least a part of the periphery of the lock cylinder. In this respect, the RFID transponder does not have to contact the lock cylinder, but is rather preferably arranged spaced apart from it (in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder). A particularly good reception and transmission characteristic of the RFID transponder is hereby achieved, whereas the accommodation of the RFID transponder in the lock housing can be realized in the manner of a unit “wound” around the lock cylinder in a simple construction manner and with minimal space requirements.
It is of advantage if the RFID transponder is arranged spaced apart from the lock cylinder. Investigations have shown that a particularly good angular characteristic of the RFID transponder is achieved when the RFID transponder does not directly contact the lock cylinder, but is rather arranged at a specific spacing from the lock cylinder. This in particular applies when the RFID transponder is arched with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder, as explained above.
If the padlock has a further housing part in addition to the lock housing, said further housing part can be secured in or at the lock housing (for example received therein), with the RFID transponder being arranged in an intermediate space between the lock housing and the further housing part. This allows a particularly simple and fast fastening of the RFID transponder in the lock housing since the RFID transponder only has to be placed into the lock housing or into the further housing part before the lock housing and the housing part are secured to one another and the RFID transponder is thus captured in the lock housing. Furthermore, an advantageous spacing between the RFID transponder and the lock cylinder can hereby be realized in a simple manner.
The RFID transponder can in particular be received in form-fitted manner in a cut-out of the lock housing or of the further housing part provided for this purpose to ensure a substantially clearance-free seating of the RFID transponder in the lock housing.
It is preferred with respect to the named further housing part if it is also made from plastic. A large range and a wide angular characteristic of the RFID transponder is hereby supported even better. It is, however, also possible to produce the named housing part from metal, provided that an electric insulation from the components of the RFID transponder is ensured (for example by a plastic enveloping of the RFID transponder).
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the lock housing and the named further housing part are secured to one another by means of a releasable securing device (for example by means of a screw), with the RFID transponder being captured between the lock housing and the housing part as long as the lock housing and the housing part are secured to one another by means of the named securing device. The RFID transponder is hereby captively secured in a reliable manner in the lock housing. The RFID transponder can nevertheless subsequently be replaced, for example to allocate a different identification number to the respective lockout lock.
It is in this respect particularly advantageous if the named securing device is only accessible when the authorized user has brought the lock cylinder into the open position by means of an associated key. It is hereby possible for the authorized user to replace the RFID transponder as required. However, as long as the lock housing and the housing part are secured to one another by means of the named securing device and the padlock is locked, the RFID transponder is captured in an unreachable manner between the lock housing and the housing part so that a high manipulation security is ensured with respect to the association of a predetermined RFID transponder with the respective padlock.
It is preferred with respect to the RFID transponder if it has two antennas. The sensitivity and the angular characteristic of the RFID transponder can hereby be even further improved.
The above-named object is also satisfied by a securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant which includes at least one padlock having a lock housing made of plastic and having an RFID transponder arranged in the lock housing, wherein the padlock can be fastened to the switch of the industrial plant, with the securing and monitoring system furthermore having a reference RFID transponder which is permanently fastened in the environment of the switch and having a mobile RFID reading device which is configured to read out the RFID transponder of the padlock and the reference RFID transponder fastened in the environment of the switch.
It is possible by such a securing and monitoring system, on the one hand, to detect the presence of a lockout lock by means of the RFID reading device, namely in that the RFID transponder of the lockout lock is detected. On the other hand, a spatial association of the lockout lock with the respective switch of the industrial plant can be established in that the RFID reading device simultaneously detects the reference RFID transponder mounted in the vicinity of the switch. The presence of a specific lockout lock at the switch can thus be reliably and reproducibly detected by mans of an RFID reading device, whereby a conclusion can be drawn that the corresponding service engineer has attached his lockout lock properly to the switch.
The named RFID reading device can in particular be configured to store a piece of identification information read out of the RFID transponder of the lockout lock and a piece of identification information read out of the reference RFID transponder together with a piece of time information (date/time), in particular in a non-volatile memory. The associated time information can, for example, be derived from an integrated clock of the RFID reading device.
The above-named object is also satisfied by a securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant which has at least one padlock having a lock housing made of plastic and having an RFID transponder arranged in the lock housing, wherein the padlock can be fastened to the switch of the industrial plant, and wherein the securing and monitoring system has an RFID reading device which is permanently fastened in the environment of the switch and which is configured to read out the RFID transponder of the padlock at predetermined times.
In this embodiment, the need to bring the mobile RFID reading device into the proximity of the switch at predetermined times to detect any lockout locks or their RFID transponders which may be present. Instead, an RFID reading device mounted permanently in the proximity of the switch can detect the presence of one or more lockout locks at the switch by an automatic check at regular time intervals.
The permanently fastened RFID reading device can in particular be configured to store a piece of identification information read out of the RFID transponder of the lockout lock together with a piece of time information, in particular in a non-volatile memory. A particularly reliable and complete documentation is hereby possible on which lockout locks were located at the switch at which times.
Alternatively or additionally, the piece of information read out of the RFID transponder of the lockout lock can be transmitted to a central storage and/or evaluation device. The central storage and/or evaluation device can in this respect receive the signals from a plurality of stationary RFID reading devices which are associated with different switches of the industrial plant.
In another respect, in the above-explained securing and monitoring systems, the respective padlock can be further developed in accordance with one of the embodiments which were likewise explained above for a lockout lock in accordance with the invention.

The invention will be explained in the following only by way of example with reference to the drawings. Elements which are the same or of the same kind are marked by the same reference numerals therein.

FIG. 1 shows a padlock in an exploded view;

FIG. 2 shows a padlock in a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 3 shows an inner housing with an RFID transponder in a perspective view;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant; and

FIG. 5 shows a further securing and monitoring system in a schematic representation.

The padlock shown inFIG. 1 has alock body11 and ahoop13. Thehoop13 has a U shape with one shorter limb and one longer limb. An inwardly facing lockingrecess15 is formed at both limbs of thehoop13. Furthermore, aring groove17 with anabutment head19 adjacent to it is provided at the free end of the longer limb.

Thelock body11 has alock housing21 and a further housing part which is configured as aninner housing23 in the embodiment shown. Thelock housing21 and theinner housing23 comprise plastic. Theinner housing23 can be inserted into thelock housing21 and can be fixed to thelock housing21 by means of a securingscrew25, as will be explained in the following. Thelock housing21 and theinner housing23 accommodate alock cylinder27 and alocking mechanism29 via which thelock cylinder27 cooperates with thehoop13.

Thelock cylinder27 has acylinder core31 having akeyway33. Thecylinder core31 is rotatably mounted within acylinder housing35 with respect to an axis of rotation A (FIG. 2), wherein a rotary actuation is only possible when an associated key is introduced into thekeyway33. Thecylinder core31 has adriver projection37 at the rear side.

Thelocking mechanism29 includes arotational bolt39 and two blockingballs41. Therotational bolt39 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with anengagement projection43 at the inner side which permits a rotationally fixed coupling to thedriver projection37 of thelock cylinder27. Therotational bolt39 has, at the outer side, two receivingrecesses45 which can partly accept the blockingballs41 on an opening actuation of thelock cylinder27 and thus of therotating bolt39. At the periphery, in each case adjacent to the receiving recesses45, therotational bolt39

forms locking sections

47 by which the blockingballs41 can be held in a blocking engagement with the locking recesses15 of thehoop13.

The padlock shown inFIG. 1 selectively allows by a corresponding actuation of thelock cylinder17 the locking of the hoop143 to the lock body11 (locking position of the lock cylinder27) or the release of the shorter limb of thehoop13 from the lock body11 (open position of the lock cylinder27), for example to be able to introduce thehoop13 into an eyelet or to remove it therefrom. The padlock shown is in particular suitable for use as a lockout lock.

In accordance with the invention, an RFID transponder is arranged within thelock housing21 and is configured in the embodiment shown here as a flexible unit whose antenna and electronic components are received in a flexible film. TheRFID transponder48 is thus U-shaped in cross-section and arched with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder27 (axis of rotation A in accordance withFIG. 2). The RFID transponder is in this respect arranged radially spaced apart from thelock cylinder27.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a possible embodiment of a padlock in accordance withFIG. 1 in a mounted state and with a lockedhoop13. Theinner housing23 is pushed into thelock housing21 and is fixed to thelock housing21 by means of the securingscrew25 for the installation of the padlock. Thelock cylinder27, thelocking mechanism29 and theRFID transponder48 are thereby captured in thelock housing21. Thefastening screw25 cooperates with anut49 rotationally fixedly inserted into theinner housing23. The securingscrew25 is inserted into ahoop receiving passage51 of thelock housing21 which is closed by thehoop13 when thehoop13 is locked to thelock body11—as shown inFIG. 2. Thenut49 is covered by means of acover53. Provided that thelock cylinder27 has been brought into the open position and the shorter limb of thehoop13 has been removed from thehoop receiving passage51, the securingscrew25 can again be released from thenut49 to remove theinner housing23 from thelock housing21. TheRFID transponder48 can hereby also be retroactively replaced.

To fix the securingscrew25 permanently or to make a subsequent opening of thelock housing21 and any replacement of theRFID transponder48 recognizable, the securingscrew25 in the respectivehoop receiving passage51 can be provided with a lacquer film or with an adhesive, for example with Loctite (registered trademark of Henkel Corporation, USA).

FIG. 2 shows a state of the padlock in which thehoop13 is locked and is thus secured against removal from thelock body11. The lockingsections47 of therotational bolt39 hold the blockingballs41 in blocking engagement with the locking recesses15 of thehoop13 for this purpose. To unlock the padlock, a rotational opening actuation by means of an associated key55 is required. Thedriver projection37 of thelock cylinder27 and therotational bolt39 are hereby rotated by 90° so that arespective receiving recess45 of therotational bolt39 is rotated into the region of the blockingballs41. The blockingballs41 can thus move back out of the locking recesses15 of thehoop13. Thehoop13 can now be pulled out of thelock body11 axially until theabutment head19 of the longer hoop limb abuts therespective blocking ball41. The shorter limb of thehoop13 now already projects out of thelock body11. Thehoop13 can now be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the longer hoop limb. A repeated locking of thehoop13 to thelock body11 takes place in the reverse order.

The cross-sectional view in accordance withFIG. 2 allows it to be recognized that theRFID transponder48 is received in arecess57 of theinner housing23.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of aninner housing23 of the padlock in accordance withFIG. 1 orFIG. 2. TheRFID transponder48 is shown which is curved in U shape and which is inserted into anouter recess57 of theinner housing23 in form-fitted manner. In this respect, theRFID transponder48 surrounds at a specific radial spacing acentral recess59 of theinner housing23 which is provided for the form-fitted reception of alock cylinder27 in the assembled state of the padlock. It can be recognized inFIG. 3 that the RFID transponder then extends—viewed in a radial projection with respect to the axis of rotation A in accordance with FIG.2—along a part of the length of thelock cylinder27 and along a part of the periphery of thelock cylinder27.

Since the respective padlock in accordance withFIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with anRFID transponder48, a piece of identification information can, as required, be read out of theRFID transponder48 by means of an associated RFID reading device, said piece of identification information allowing a reliable identification and localization of the respective padlock. The padlock is hereby particularly well suited for use as a lockout lock for securing an electric switch or other switch of an industrial plant. On the one hand, a switch position can namely be blocked by means of the lockedhoop13. On the other hand, it can be monitored and documented by reading out the piece of identification information stored in the padlock which padlock is or was arranged at the switch at which time. This will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to two possible embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows a securing and monitoring system for aswitch61 of an industrial plant. This securing and monitoring system includes apadlock63 whosehoop13 is hung into a blockingdevice65 of theswitch61, for example into an eyelet. Thepadlock63 has anRFID transponder48, as explained in connection withFIGS. 1 to 3.

The securing and monitoring system in accordance withFIG. 4 furthermore includes areference RFID transponder67 permanently mounted at theswitch61 or in the proximity of theswitch61. The securing and monitoring system furthermore includes a mobileRFID reading device69. It has a transmission andreception antenna71, a control andevaluation circuit73 coupled hereto, anon-volatile memory75 and an energy supply device77 (e.g. an electric battery).

An interrogation signal can be transmitted by means of theRFID reading device69, said interrogation signal being an electromagnetic alternating field of a predetermined frequency. In response to this interrogation signal, both theRFID transponder48 of thepadlock63 and thereference RFID transponder67 output a respective identification signal which includes a piece of individual identification information for the

respective RFID transponder

48 and67 respectively. The respective identification signal can be received and decoded by the mobileRFID reading device69. The respective received and decoded piece of identification information is stored in thenon-volatile memory75, preferably together with a piece of associated time information.

Theswitch61 can thus be monitored by means of the mobileRFID reading device69 as to whether thepadlock63 having the RFID transponder48 (and/or another padlock) is also detected at a time at which the RFID reading device has identified thereference RFID transponder67. The securing state of theswitch61 can be documented by a regular or continuous writing of this evaluation result into thenon-volatile memory75, for example for the case of a disturbance or of an accident.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a securing and monitoring system for aswitch61 of an industrial plant modified with respect toFIG. 4. This securing and monitoring system also includes apadlock63 having anRFID transponder48, as explained in connection withFIGS. 1 to 3. Thehoop13 of thepadlock63 is hung into a blockingdevice65 of theswitch61. Unlike the embodiment in accordance withFIG. 4, a stationary RFID reading device is arranged at theswitch61 or in the vicinity of theswitch61, i.e. theRFID reading device79 is permanently fastened to theswitch61 or in the vicinity of theswitch61 for its operation.

An interrogation signal which is converted in theRFID transponder48 of thepadlock63 into an identification signal can be automatically triggered by means of the stationaryRFID reading device79. This identification signal characteristic for theRFID transponder48 and thus for thepadlock63 can be received and decoded by the stationaryRFID reading device79. The piece of identification information acquired from this is then stored in anon-volatile memory75 of the stationaryRFID reading device79, preferably together with a piece of time information. The securing state of theswitch61 is thus monitored so that a check can be made by reading out thenon-volatile memory75 which padlock has been arranged at theswitch61 or was arranged thereat at an earlier time.

It must still be noted with respect to the explained embodiments that, instead of the shownlock housing21 and inner housing23 (FIGS. 1 and 2), for example a multipart outer lock housing of plastic can be provided, in particular in the manner of an open housing having an associated cover, or in the manner of a two-part lock housing having a central dividing plane as known from the initially named document U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,121. In the case of such a multipart lock housing of plastic, an inner housing can optionally additionally be provided.

Instead of a padlock having a U-shaped hoop, a padlock can, for example, also be used having a curved rotary hoop.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

11 lock body
13 hoop
15 locking recess
17 ring groove
19 abutment head
21 lock housing
23 housing part
25 securing screw
27 lock cylinder
29 locking mechanism
31 cylinder core
33 keyway
35 cylinder housing
37 driver projection
39 rotational bolt
41 blocking ball
43 engagement projection
45 receiving recess
47 locking section
48 RFID transponder
49 nut
51 hoop receiving passage
53 cover
55 key
57 recess for the RFID transponder
59 recess for the lock cylinder
61 switch
63 padlock
65 blocking device
67 reference RFID transponder
69 mobile RFID reading device
71 transmission and reception antenna
73 control and evaluation circuit
75 non-volatile memory
77 energy supply device
79 stationary RFID reading device
A axis of rotation

Claims

1. A padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant, having a lock housing of plastic, furthermore having a hoop which is displaceably held at the lock housing, and having a lock cylinder which is arranged in the lock housing and can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock he hoop to the lock housing, wherein an RFID transponder is arranged in the lock housing.

2. A padlock in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the RFID transponder is surrounded at all sides in the lock housing.

3. A padlock in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the lock cylinder has a longitudinal shape having a longitudinal axis, wherein the RFID transponder is arched with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder.

4. A padlock in accordance withclaim 3, wherein the RED transponder extends at least along a part of the length of the lock cylinder and at least along a part of the periphery of the lock cylinder.

5. A padlock in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the RFID transponder is arranged spaced apart from the lock cylinder.

6. A padlock in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the padlock has a housing part which is secured in or at the lock housing, wherein the RFID transponder is arranged in an intermediate space between the lock housing and the housing part.

7. A padlock in accordance withclaim 6, wherein the RFID transponder is received in a recess of the lock housing or of the housing part in form-fitted manner.

8. A padlock in accordance withclaim 6, wherein the housing part also comprises plastic.

9. A padlock in accordance withclaim 6, wherein the lock housing and the housing part are secured to one another by mean of a releasable securing device, wherein the RFID transponder is captured between the lock housing and the housing part as long as the lock housing and the housing part are secured to one another.

10. A padlock in accordance withclaim 9, wherein the securing device is only accessible and releasable when the lock cylinder is brought into the open position by means of an associated key.

11. A padlock in accordance withclaim 10, wherein a limb of the hoop projects into a hoop receiving passage of the lock housing or of the housing part when the hoop i lock to the lock housing, wherein the limb of the hoop can be removed from the hoop receiving passage when the lock cylinder is brought into the open position, and wherein the releasable securing device which secures the lock housing and the housing part to one another is arranged at the end of the hoop receiving passage.

12. A securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant, having at least one padlock which has a lock housing of plastic and has an RFID transponder in the lock housing, wherein the padlock is fastened to the switch, furthermore having a reference RFID transponder which is permanently fastened in the environment of the switch, and having a mobile RFID reading device which is configured to read out the RFID transponder of the padlock and the reference RFID transponder.

13. A securing and monitoring system in accordance withclaim 12, wherein the RFID reading device is configured to store a piece of identification information read out of the RFID transponder of the padlock and a piece of identification information read out of the reference RFID transponder together with a piece of time information.

14. A securing and monitoring system for a switch of an industrial plant, having at least one padlock which has a lock housing of plastic and has an RFID transponder in the lock housing, wherein the padlock is fastened to the switch, and having a reference RFID transponder which is permanently fastened in the environment of the switch and which is configured to read out the RFID transponder of the padlock at predetermined times.

15. A securing and monitoring system in accordance withclaim 14, wherein the RFID reading device is configured to store a piece of identification information read out of the RFID transponder of the padlock together with a piece of time information.

16. A padlock in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the RFID transponder is a passive component without integrated energy supply and is operationally independent from both the lock cylinder and the hoop.