Title of Invention

"SWITCH GEAR CABINET WITH A RACK"

Abstract Switchgear cabinet with a rack which has a bottom and a top frame with horizontal width and depth braces, the bottom and the top frame having corner receiving means to which vertical frame profiles may be connected, and the vertical frame profiles having profile parts facing the interior of the rack, - characterized in that - the vertical frame profiles (40) of at least one side of the rack are insertable at their ends with their profile parts (41,42) into the comer receiving means (26) from the exterior of the rack, and - in that the profiles parts are applied to a connector (30) of the corner receiving means (26), and may be secured thereon.
Full Text The present invention relates to a switchgear cabinet with a rack. The said cabinet has a bottom and a top frame with horizontal width and depth braces, the bottom and the top frame having corner receiving means to which vertical frame profiles may be connected, and the vertical frame profiles having profile parts facing the interior of the rack.
Such a rack is known from EP 0 533 555 Bl. The vertical frame profiles are in the form of hollow profiles. In order to form a rack, the individual frame profiles are assembled together at their ends by means of corner connectors. The corner connectors comprise various individual parts. The depth and width braces of the bottom and top frame are connected together in pairs at right angles to one another by means of one of these individual parts. Further individual parts are inserted by means of plug-in projections into cavities extending in the longitudinal direction of the frame profiles, and are securely connected thereto.
In order to complete the corner connection, the vertical frame profiles are now screwed with their individual
parts mounted at the ends to the individual parts of the bottom and top frame.
This type of corner connection is extremely expensive. A high outlay in manufacture is necessary for the individual connectors. The individual parts of the connectors must be precisely co-ordinated to one another in order to ensure that the individual frame profiles are aligned at right angles to one another. The outlay on assembly is also considerable, as all the vertical frame profiles and the depth and width braces are fitted with the individual parts of the connector.
Racks are also known in which connectors are fitted with three plug-in projections standing at right angles to one another. The plug-in projections can be inserted into cavities of the vertical frame profiles and of the depth and width braces. In fact by means of these connectors rigid connections can be produced in the corner area of the rack, yet it is not possible subsequently to add or dismantle the vertical frame profiles without the necessity of dismantling the entire rack. Dismantling of a frame profile can for example be necessary in order to facilitate access to the interior of the rack.
It is the object of the invention to provide a switchgear cabinet of the type already mentioned in which the
Vertical frame profiles may be simply assembled on or dismantled from the rack with a low outlay on parts and
assembly.
According to the present invention there is provided a switchgear cabinet with a rack which has a bottom and a top frame with horizontal width and depth braces, the bottom and the top frame having corner receiving means to which vertical frame profiles may be connected, and the vertical frame profiles having profile parts facing the interior of the rack,
characterized in that
the vertical frame profiles of at least one side of the rack are insertable at their ends with their profile parts into the corner receiving means from the exterior of the rack, and
in that the profiles parts are applied to a connector of the corner receiving means, and may be secured thereon.
According to a preferred development of the invention, the vertical frame profiles have, with their flat-shaped profile parts, an open external receiving means facing the interior of the rack for receiving the connector. The two profile parts can for example be at right angles to one another and thus form a corner receiving means. They are then applied to correspondingly formed stops of the connector and centred thereon. In this way the
vertical frame profiles can be aligned exactly at right angles to the depth and width braces of the bottom and top frame. The outwardly open external receiving means ensure that the frame profile can be simply inserted from the exterior of the rack into the corner receiving means.
In addition or alternatively, the corner receiving means of the top and of the bottom frame can also form corner receiving means which are open outwards, into which the ends of the frame profiles can then be pushed.
In a possible development of the invention, the vertical frame profiles are interchangeably connected to the connectors. Here it may be envisaged that the vertical frame profiles are provided at their ends with one or a plurality of screw receiving means, which may be disposed in registry with thread receiving means of the connectors, and attachment screws may be introduced into the screw receiving means accessible from the outside of the rack and screwed into the thread receiving means. The vertical frame profiles are thus simply attachable. They may be conveniently screwed on from the outside of the rack. At this point the attachment screws are always easily accessible. In order to achieve good support of the vertical profiles, a preferred development of the invention is characterised in that the connectors project over the top or the bottom frame in an axial direction of
the vertical frame profiles and support the vertical frame profiles from the end face as far as the free end of the connector.
If the corner receiving means have a flat support surface, upon which the connector and the end face of the vertical frame profile are erected, then the vertical frame profile may be simply aligned with the attachment points of the connector. If the vertical frame profiles are to be screwed to the connector, then the corresponding screw receiving means and the thread receiving means are always disposed in registry with one another.
The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and shown in the drawing.
The single drawing shows a detail in perspective view from a rack for a switchgear cabinet. The rack has a top and a bottom frame 10 and 20. These two assemblies can be identical in form, so that they may be interchanged. The top and the bottom frame 10 and 20 are assembled from depth and width braces 21 and 22 extending at right angles to one another. These depth and width braces 21, 22 have two profile sides facing the interior of the rack, which are provided with rows of attachment means
23, 24 and 25. The attachment means 23, 24 and 25 are here spaced apart and inserted at identical intervals.
Formed on the ends of the depth and width braces 21 and 22 abutting on one another are corner receiving means 26. The corner receiving means 26 have a flat support surface 27, upon which a connector 30 is set. The connector 30 is substantially parallelepipedic in form. On one of its vertical ends however it is provided with an oblique surface, into which one or a plurality of thread receiving means 33 are inserted. The oblique surfaces faces the outer side of the rack. In order to attach the connector 30, the latter is set on to the support surface
27. With its side surfaces facing the interior of the
switchgear cabinet, it abuts on the end faces of the
depth and width braces 21, 22 which serve as guide means
28, 29. In this position the connector 30 can be welded
into the corner receiving means 26. In this case the
connector 30 is disposed at exact right angles to the
associated depth and width braces 21 and 22. The guide
means 28 and 29 and the support surface 27 form an
outwardly open receiving means for the end face of a
vertical frame profile 40. The vertical frame profile 40
has an open external receiving means facing the interior
of the rack. This external receiving means is defined by
two profile parts 41, 42. The profile parts 41, 42
extend in a flat manner in the longitudinal direction of
the frame profile 40. They are at right angles to one another.
When the vertical frame profile 40 is mounted, the profile parts 41, 42 abut on stops 31, 32 of the connector 30. At right angles to the profile parts 41, 42, contact surfaces 43, 44 connect with the vertical frame profile 40. These contact surfaces 43, 44 come tc rest on the guide means 28, 29 of the corner receiving means 26. In order to attach the vertical frame profiles 40, one or a plurality of screw receiving means 35 are provided in the area of the end faces. The screw receiving means 35 can be disposed in registry with the thread receiving means 33 of the connector 30. In order to achieve a simpler assembly, the space between the end face of the frame profile and the centre of the bore of the screw receiving means 35 is co-ordinated with the space between the support surface 27 and the thread receiving means 33. An attachment screw 34 can be introduced through the screw receiving means 35 and screwed into the thread receiving means 33 of the connector 30. In this way the profile parts 41, 42 are clamped to the stops 31 and 32 of the connector 30. Simultaneously the vertical frame profile 40 is drawn in on to the guide means 28, 29 into the corner receiving means 26. In its final assembled position, the frame
profile 40 is securely connected to the connector 30 and is exactly vertically aligned.
The drawing clearly shows that the vertical frame profile 40 can be inserted into the corner receiving means 26 from the exterior of the rack. The vertical frame profiles 30 can thus be subsequently dismantled or reassembled to an already mounted rack. This has the decided advantage that the interior of the rack can be made easily accessible. For example, an independently free-standing unit comprising bottom and top frame 10 and 20 and the two rear vertical frame profiles 40 can be constructed. This independent free-standing partial rack can now be equipped with electronic components or the like. Then the two forward vertical frame profiles 40 are attached, so that the rack is completed. In order to protect the interior of the rack from environmental effects, the open sides of the rack are then conventionally covered by side walls and a lid. A door is hinged on to the front.
Reference to co-pending applications 3250/DEL/97 3252/DEL/97 are made herewith.




WE CLAIM
1. Switchgear cabinet with a rack which has a bottom and a top frame with horizontal width and depth braces, the bottom and the top frame having corner receiving means to which vertical frame profiles may be connected, and the vertical frame profiles having profile parts facing the interior of the rack,
characterized in that
the vertical frame profiles (40) of at least one side of the rack are insertable at their ends with their profile parts (41, 42) into the corner receiving means (26) from the exterior of the rack, and
in that the profiles parts are applied to a connector (30) of the corner receiving means (26), and may be secured thereon.
2. Switchgear cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the said vertical frame profiles (40) with their flat-shaped profile parts (41, 42) have an open external receiving means facing the interior of the rack for receiving the connector (30).
3. Switchgear cabinet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
the top and the bottom frame (10 and 20) carry the said connectors (30) in their corner receiving means (26) open towards the exterior of the rack, and in that the said connectors (30) have stops (31, 32) facing the outer side of the rack, and to which the said flat-shaped profile parts (41, 42) of the vertical frame profiles (40) are applied.
4. Switchgear cabinet as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein
the said vertical frame profiles (40) are interchangeably connected to the connectors (30).
5. Switchgear cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the said vertical frame profiles (40) are provided at their ends with one or a plurality of screw receiving means (35) which are disposed in registry with thread receiving means (33) of the connector (30), and in that
attachment screws (35) may be introduced into the screw receiving means (35) accessible from the exterior of the rack, and may be screwed into the thread receiving means (33).
6. Switchgear cabinet as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein
the said connectors (30) project over the top or the bottom frame (10, 20) in the axial direction of the said vertical frame profiles (40), and support the said vertical frame profiles (40) from the end face as far as the free end of the connector (30).
7. Switchgear cabinet as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein
the corner receiving means (26) have a flat support surface (27), upon which the said connector (30) and the end face of the said vertical frame profile (40) are set.
8. Switchgear cabinet with a rack substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

3244-del-1997-abstract.pdf

3244-del-1997-claims.pdf

3244-del-1997-complete specification granted.pdf

3244-DEL-1997-Correspondence-Others.pdf

3244-del-1997-correspondence-po.pdf

3244-del-1997-description (complete).pdf

3244-del-1997-drawings.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-1.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-13.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-19.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-2.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-3.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-4.pdf

3244-del-1997-form-6.pdf

3244-del-1997-gpa.pdf

3244-del-1997-petition-137.pdf

3244-del-1997-petition-138.pdf

abstract.jpg


Patent Number 246611
Indian Patent Application Number 3244/DEL/1997
PG Journal Number 10/2011
Publication Date 11-Mar-2011
Grant Date 07-Mar-2011
Date of Filing 12-Nov-1997
Name of Patentee RITTAL-WERK RUDOLF LOH GMBH & CO. KG.
Applicant Address AUF DEM STUTZELBERG, 35745 HERBORN, GERMANY.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 MARTINA KOHLER AM EICHELBERG 1, 35745 HERBORN, GERMANY
2 UDO MUNCH WETZLARER STR., 23,35764, SINN, GERMANY
3 ROLF BENNER WILHELMSTR. 8, 35745 HERBORN-AMDORF, GERMANY.
4 WOLFGANG REUTER DORFSTR. 16, 57299 BURBACH 5, GERMANY
PCT International Classification Number H05K 7/14
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 196 47 803.0-34 1996-11-19 Germany