Apparatus for monitoring and controlling access to a restricted area

An apparatus for monitoring and controlling access through a closure member to a restricted area, the apparatus comprising:

• a device adapted to be disposed within the restricted area, the device being operable to perform a function creating a personnel safety hazard, the device emitting electrical signals indicative of the device's operating status,
• a safety-switch adapted to be immovably mounted in proximity to the closure member and having an electrically-driven and selectively-operable latching mechanism;
• an actuator having a rack, the latching mechanism having a first state in which it can capture the actuator to thereby prevent movement thereof and a second state in which it disengages from the actuator;
• a switch actuating/locking apparatus including
• a manual mechanism for longitudinally moving the actuator via a guide between a first position in which the actuator may be captured by the latching mechanism of the safety switch and a second position in which the actuator cannot be captured by the latching mechanism, the manual mechanism having
• rotatable interior and exterior handles;
• an axle coupled to the exterior handle for rotation therewith, the axis of rotation of the axle being at least generally transverse to the motion path of the actuator, the axle extending through the closure member in the installed condition of the switch actuating/locking apparatus;
• a gear coupled to the axle for rotation therewith, the gear engaging the actuator rack whereby rotation of the exterior handle will impart longitudinal motion to the actuator when the actuator is not captured by the latching mechanism;
• and
• coupling means for selectively coupling the interior handle to the gear whereby rotation of the interior handle will move the actuator, when the actuator is not captured by the latching mechanism only from the first position to the second position;
• and
• a controller responsive to the electrical signals of the device wherein the controller selectively drives the latching mechanism of the safety-switch between the first and second states to prevent access to the restricted area when the device is operating.

An apparatus for monitoring and controlling access through a closure member to a restricted area containing a device, the device emitting electrical signals indicative of the device's operating status, the apparatus comprising:

• a safety-switch adapted to be immovably mounted in proximity to the closure member and having an electrically-driven and selectively-operable latching mechanism;
• an actuator having a rack, the latching mechanism having a first state in which it can capture the actuator to thereby prevent movement thereof and a second state in which it disengages from the actuator;
• a switch actuating/locking apparatus including
• a manual mechanism for longitudinally moving the actuator via a guide between a first position in which the actuator may be captured by the latching mechanism of the safety switch and a second position in which the actuator cannot be captured by the latching mechanism, the manual mechanism having
• at least one rotatable handle;
• an axle coupled to the at least one handle for rotation therewith, the axis of rotation of the axle being at least generally transverse to the motion path of the actuator, the axle extending through the closure member in the installed condition of the switch actuating/locking apparatus;
• and
• a gear coupled to the axle for rotation therewith, the gear engaging the actuator rack whereby rotation of the at least one handle will impart longitudinal motion to the actuator when the actuator is not captured by the latching mechanism;
• and
• a controller adapted to be responsive to the electrical signals of the device and to the state of the latching mechanism, wherein the controller selectively drives the latching mechanism of the safety-switch between the first and second states to prevent access to the restricted area when the device is operating and wherein the controller disables the device when the latching mechanism is in the second state.