Tongue Interlock Safety Switches

IDEM Tongue Operated Safety Interlock Switches are designed to fit to the leading edge of sliding, hinged or lift off machine guards to provide positively operated switching contacts and provide a tamper resistant, not easily defeatable key mechanism. They are designed to provide position interlock detection for moving guards.

Depending upon the risk assessment for the application, they can be used independently to provide positively operated contacts to IEC60947-5-1 or they can be used in combination with any dual channel safety monitoring relays to provide up to Category 4 PLe ISO13849-1 or SIL3 EN60261. They are available in various materials and housing styles to provide complete flexibility of choice depending upon the application. They offer a choice of contact blocks (including Explosion Proof) and various actuators to aid installation and maintain durability.

The switch is rigidly mounted to the frame of the guard or machine. The actuator is fitted to the moving part (frame) of the guard and is aligned to the switch entry aperture. The actuator profile is designed to match a cam mechanism within the switch head and provides a positively operated not easily defeatable interlock switch.

For the harsh environments like Food Processing, Pharmaceutical and Petro-Chemical Industries the Stainless Steel 316 range offers protection up to IP69K for use in high pressure chemical cleaning or CIP/SIP applications.