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The present invention provides a safety interlock system for mechanically securing an industrial process or appliance, including a lock which can be unlocked with a key, wherein the key comprises one or more key code elements which can be positioned in different positions and the selected position o

The present invention provides a safety interlock system for mechanically securing an industrial process or appliance, including a lock which can be unlocked with a key, wherein the key comprises one or more key code elements which can be positioned in different positions and the selected position of the key code elements corresponds with a specific key code, and wherein the lock comprises one or more lock code elements which can be positioned in different positions and the selected position corresponds with a specific lock code, wherein the lock is locked except when the key code is identical to the lock code when the key is inserted.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A safety interlock system for securing an industrial appliance operative in a safety mode or an operational mode, comprising: a lock including a lock housing and an operating component arranged rotatably in the lock housing, wherein the operating element is adapted to c

The invention claimed is: 1. A safety interlock system for securing an industrial appliance operative in a safety mode or an operational mode, comprising: a lock including a lock housing and an operating component arranged rotatably in the lock housing, wherein the operating element is adapted to cooperate with the appliance so as to bring the appliance as a result of rotation of the operating component from the operational mode to the safety mode and wherein the operating component is provided with one or more lock code elements which can be positioned in different positions to be selected, wherein the selected positions of the lock code elements correspond to a specific lock code; a key for unlocking the lock, wherein the key comprises one or more key code elements which can be positioned in different positions to be selected and the selected position of the key code elements corresponds with a specific key code, the key further including a housing, at least one of the one or more key code elements include at least one pin having an element to hold the rotational position of the pin with respect to the housing, wherein the rotational position of the pin defines one of a plurality of different key codes for the pin at a same depth, wherein the lock is adapted so as to lock the operating component with respect to the lock housing except when the key code is identical to the lock code when the key is inserted; and wherein the length of the pin defines another of a plurality of different key codes for the pin at a same rotational position; and wherein the key codes inclued a plurality of key codes defined by an equation N=(Q*R)P, where Q is the number of axial rotation positions of each of the key pins, R is the number of different depth positions of each key pin, and P the number of key pins. 2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock code elements are formed by elongate lock pins and the operating component is provided with one or more slots in which the pins can be held in different positions rotated about the longitudinal axis. 3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elongate lock pins have a part with a rotation-symmetrical cross-sectional form and the one or more slots have an at least partially corresponding rotation-symmetrical form. 4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongate lock pins have a part with a polygonal cross-sectional form and the one or more slots have an at least partially corresponding polygonal form. 5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the key code elements are formed by elongate key pins which can be fixed in different positions in corresponding slots in the key. 6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the key pins and lock pins can be arranged in the slots respectively the key and the lock upright as well as upside down in order to provide different key codes and lock codes. 7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key code elements are formed by elongate key pins which can be fixed in different positions in corresponding slots in the key, wherein each of the different positions of the key pins defines one key code. 8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or both outer ends of a code element have a rotation-asymmetrical form relative to the longitudinal axis thereof. 9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the code element has a rotation-asymmetrical form relative to a radial axis thereof. 10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the form of a first outer end of a key code element differs from the form of the opposite outer end of the key code element. 11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of a first outer end of a key code element differs from the length of the opposite outer end. 12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein a key code element comprises an upper and lower stop surface and a recess in the peripheral surface, wherein the difference in distance between the upper stop and the recess and between the lower stop and the recess corresponds with said difference in length of the outer ends of the key code element. 13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or both outer ends of a key code element have a fixed form which has a complementary form to one or both outer ends of a lock code element. 14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of the key code element and the lock code element comprises a half-moon shaped protrusion and the other code element a half-moon shaped recess. 15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating component comprises at least one rotatable pin holder and a spindle, wherein the rotation movement of the spindle opens or closes a valve so a to bring the appliance in the operational mode or safety mode respectively. 16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating component is provided with coupling means adapted to couple and uncouple safety-related contacts of a power supply switch of the appliance for securing so as to bring the appliance in the operational mode or safety mode respectively. 17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock is adapted to interrupt the power supply or to switch off a control circuit of a power supply of the appliance for securing so as to bring the appliance in the safety mode. 18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key comprises closing elements for closing the slots in the key and the operating element, wherein the closing elements are of a type which cannot be removed without being damaged. 19. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key further comprises a ring to hold rotational position of the pin with respect to the housing. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the ring comprises an outer polygon shape that is matingly receivable in the key slots. 21. The system of claim 1, wherein the lock pins comprise springs and pin bodies on each of which the respective spring urges outwardly toward a key-receiving aperture in the lock housing. 22. A lock for use with a safety interlock system for securing an industrial appliance operative in a safety mode or an operational mode, comprising: a lock housing and an operating component arranged rotatably in the lock housing, wherein the operating element is adapted to cooperate with an appliance so as to bring the appliance as a result of rotation of the operating component from the operational mode in the safety mode and wherein the operating component is provided with one or more lock code elements which can be positioned in different positions to be selected, wherein the selected positions of the lock code elements correspond to a specific lock code, the lock code elements including at least one lock pin, the at least one lock pin having a first end that places the at least one lock pin in a first key recieving position with respect to the operating element and a second end that places the at least one lock pin in a second key receiving position with respect to the operating element, wherein the lock pin is positionable in one of a plurality of rotational positions to select one of the plurality of key codes, wherein the key codes are defined by an equation N=(Q*R)P, where Q is the number of axial rotation positions of each of the key pins, R is the number of different depth positions of each key pin, and P the number of key pins, and wherein the lock is adapted so as to lock the operating component except when a key code of a key is identical to the lock code with a key in the lock housing. 23. The lock of claim 22, wherein the lock code elements are formed by elongate lock pins and the operating component is provided with one or more slots in which the pins can be held in different positions rotated about the longitudinal axis. 24. The lock of claim 23, wherein the lock pins have a part with a rotation-symmetrical cross-sectional form and slots have an at least partially corresponding rotation-symmetrical form. 25. The lock of claim 22, wherein the lock pin comprises a spring and pin body on each of which the respective spring urges outwardly toward a key-receiving aperture in the lock housing. 26. A key for use with a safety interlock system, with a lock having a lock code, for securing an industrial appliance operative in a safety mode or an operational mode, comprising one or more key code elements which can be positioned in different positions to be selected and the selected position of the key code elements corresponds with a specific key code, wherein the key is adapted to change position of an operating component with respect to a lock housing when the key code is identical to a lock code when the key is inserted, wherein the one or more key code elements include at least one pin having an element to hold the rotational position of the pin with respect to a housing. 27. The key of claim 26, wherein the key code elements are formed by elongate key pins which can be fixed in different positions in corresponding slots in the key. 28. An assembly of one or more industrial appliances to be secured and one or more safety interlock systems, wherein the safety interlock system comprises: a lock including a lock housing and an operating component arranged rotatably in the lock housing, wherein the operating element is adapted to cooperate with the appliance so as to bring the appliance as a result of rotation of the operating component from the operational mode in the safety mode and wherein the operating component is provided with one or more lock code elements which can be positioned in different positions to be selected, wherein the selected positions of the lock code elements correspond to a specific lock code; a key for unlocking the lock, wherein the key comprises one or more key code elements which can be positioned in different positions to be selected and the selected position of the key code elements corresponds with a specific key code, the key further including a housing, at least one of the one or more key code elements including at least one pin having an element to hold the rotational position of the pin with respect to the housing, wherein the lock is adapted so as to lock the operating component with respect to the lock housing except when the key code is identical to the lock code when the key is inserted, and wherein the key codes are defined by an equation N=(Q*R)P, where Q is the number of axial rotation positions of each of the key pins, R is the number of different depth positions of each key pin, and P the number of key pins. 29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the industrial appliance includes at least one of a petrochemical appliance, an electrical appliance, an electrical installation, and chemical plant appliance. 30. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the length of the pin defines another of a plurality of different key codes for the pin at a same rotational position.