Locking device of a closure with a housing

1. A device for locking a closure ( 2 ) with a housing of a laboratory centrifuge, the locking device comprising:

at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ) pivotally supported about an axis of rotation ( 7 ) in the housing ( 1 ) and including a projecting guide element ( 9 );

at least one drive ( 19 ) for pivoting at least one swiveling liver ( 8 ) about the axis of rotation ( 7 );

at least one catch hook ( 12 ) supported on the swiveling lever ( 8 ) at a distance from the axis of rotation ( 7 ) on a pivot axis ( 11 ) and having at a radial distance from the pivot axis ( 11 ), a cam segment ( 14 ) concentric thereto, into which the guide element ( 9 ) of the swiveling lever ( 8 ) engages, the cam segment ( 14 ) forming opposite first final stop ( 14 ′) and second final stop ( 14 ″); and

at least one spring means ( 17 ) for biasing the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) in a closing direction thereof,

wherein the closure ( 2 ) has at least one closing edge ( 4 ) which is gripped upon the closure being locked with the housing ( 1 ) by the at least one catch hook ( 12 ), wherein with the at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ) being pivoted in the closing direction, the at least one spring means ( 17 ) pull the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) to a position in which the first final stop ( 14 ′) lies on the guide element ( 9 ) to provide for pivoting the at least one catch hook in the closing direction thereof with the at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ), wherein with the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) impinging on the closing edge ( 4 ) and with the swiveling lever ( 8 ) still being pivoted in the closing direction until the guide element ( 9 ) moves within the cam segment ( 14 ) to the second final stop ( 14 ″) thereof, the at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ) moves the pivot axis ( 11 ) with the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) in the closing direction, with the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) pulling the closure ( 2 ) into a closing position thereof, and wherein the at least on swiveling lever ( 18 ) has on a marginal area extending around the axis of rotation and having a circle arc shape, a series of teeth ( 10 ) which interact with a series of teeth ( 20 ) of the at least one drive ( 19 ) for pivoting the at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ) about the axis of rotation ( 7 ).

2. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ) has substantially a circle segment shape.

3. The locking device according to claim 2 , wherein the axis of rotation ( 7 ) is disposed in an inner angular range of the circle segment-shaped lever ( 8 ), and wherein the pivot axis ( 11 ) of the at least one hook ( 12 ) is disposed in vicinity of a lateral limitation of the circle segment-shaped swiveling lever ( 8 ).

4. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element ( 19 ) is formed as a guide pin.

5. The locking device according to claim 4 , wherein the guide pin ( 9 ) is defined by an extension of the axis of rotation ( 7 ) of the at least one swiveling lever ( 8 ).

6. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive ( 19 ) comprises an electric motor.

7. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one swiveling catch hook ( 12 ) has a widened base ( 13 ) in which the pivot axis ( 11 ) of the at least one hook is supported and in which, between the pivot axis and an adjoining neck with hook end ( 15 ), the cam segment ( 14 ) is arranged.

8. The locking device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) has a fixing point ( 16 ) for a spring element ( 17 ) between the cam segment ( 14 ) and the hook end ( 15 ).

9. The locking device according to claim 8 , wherein the spring element ( 17 ) is held at another end thereof, on the housing ( 1 ).

10. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) is adapted to be moved through a slot-shaped aperture ( 5 ) in an upper side of the housing ( 1 ) which enables the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) to be displaced perpendicular to the upper side of the housing ( 1 ) and parallel thereto.

11. The locking device according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one catch hook ( 12 ), does not substantially project beyond the upper side of the housing ( 1 ).

12. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) impinges with a hooked end ( 15 ) thereof on the closing edge ( 4 ) in a pivoted position of the closure ( 2 ) which amounts to a few angular degrees.

13. The locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis ( 11 ) of the at least one catch hook ( 12 ) in the closing position, has been moved beyond a straight line extending through a point of rest of a hooked end ( 15 ) on the closing edge ( 4 ) and through the guide element ( 9 ) to cause a self-locking action.

14. The locking device according to claim 1 , comprising several catch hooks.