Frame for a switchgear cabinet

Abstract

A frame for a switchgear cabinet including horizontal and vertical frame pieces of the front and rear side each forming a vertical frame. The vertical frames are joined to one another by a bottom element and a top element. The vertical frames can be placed at different intervals on beveled fastening edges of the bottom and top elements. The vertical frame pieces have a base limb, which extends in a direction of the frame depth and to which two lateral limbs are coupled. The lateral limbs are situated at a right angle to the base limb, and the lateral limbs and the base limb each have a row of fastening locations with a distribution pattern, wherein the row runs in the longitudinal direction of the frame pieces. The distribution pattern of both lateral limbs differ from one another, and both vertical frame pieces form an imperial fastening plane with the fastening locations of the first lateral limbs, and form a metric fastening plane with the fastening locations of the second lateral limbs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a rack for a switchgear cabinet with horizontal and vertical profiled frame elements, wherein the vertical and horizontal profiled frame elements of the front and back respectively form a vertical frame, wherein two vertical frames are connected with each other by a bottom and a top element, the vertical frames can be attached to beveled fastening rims of the bottom and the top element at different distances, the vertical profiled frame elements have a base leg extending in a direction of a depth of the rack, to which two lateral legs are connected, the lateral legs extend at right angles with respect to the base leg, and the lateral legs and the base leg each have a row of fastening receivers extending in a longitudinal direction of the profiles in a spacing grid.

2. Discussion of Related Art

A rack is known from PCT International Application WO 95/17803. Two vertical frames are fastened to the bottom and top element at different distances from each other, so that the rack can be brought to different installation depths for built-ins. Here, the vertical frames represent components, which have beveled edges with rows of fastening receivers.

The horizontal and vertical profiled frame elements have identical rows of fastening frames, which are preferably arranged in uniform spacing grids. The spacing grid is also matched to the spacing grid of the fastening locations of the built-ins.

As U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,166 shows, known racks have two spaced apart vertical frames, wherein the vertical profiled frame section has a base leg and two beveled-off lateral legs. The lateral legs of the vertical profiled frame sections support different fastening receivers in different spacing grids.

More and more, component supports, into which individual plug-in units can be pushed side-by-side, are used as built-ins in a rack of this type. The individual plug-in units have different widths and installation depths and are designed for a metric or an inch system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to provide a rack of the type mentioned above but so that it can be constructed with uniform parts for the installation of built-ins in accordance with a metric, as well as an inch system.

In accordance with this invention, this object is attained with spacing grids of the two lateral legs being different from each other, wherein the two vertical profiled frame elements with the fastening receivers of the first lateral legs form a fastening level measured in inches, and the fastening frames of the second lateral legs form a metric fastening level. On an end facing away from the first lateral leg the base leg makes a transition into an angled-off profiled section, from which extends a profiled side, which extends parallel with the base leg. On an end facing away from the first lateral leg the base leg makes a transition into an angled-off profiled section, from which a profiled side extends, which extends parallel with the base leg. The second lateral leg is beveled off the profiled side, and the profiled side and the second lateral leg have a row of fastening frames arranged in the same spacing grid.

With the variable distance of the two vertical frames it is possible to match the rack to the installation depth of the built-ins. The vertical frames can be connected with the bottom or top element with their first or second lateral leg directed toward the front. With this simple way of mounting, the rack can be laid out for the installation of built-ins either based on the metric or the inch system. A particularly simple rack structure results if the vertical frames with the base legs of the vertical profiled frame elements rest against the insides of the fastening rims of the bottom and top elements and are connected with them.

The connection of the vertical frames with the bottom and top element is designed in accordance with one embodiment so that the vertical frames rest with the base legs of the vertical profiled frame elements against the insides of the fastening rims of the bottom and top elements and are connected with them.

If the vertical profiled frame elements and the horizontal profiled frame elements of the vertical frames are stamped and bent sheet metal elements and are connected by welding to form the vertical frame, the vertical frames can be produced in a cost-effective manner and constitute a stable, aligned component, which can be quickly and easily assembled with a bottom and top element to form a rack.

In one embodiment, the bottom and the top elements are formed as trim elements of the rack and can also be produced as stamped and bent sheet metal elements. Here the bottom and top element take over a further function of the switchgear cabinet and make it possible to do without separate bottom and top trim elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is explained in greater detail in view of an exemplary embodiment represented in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective plan view of a rack assembled from two vertical frames and a bottom and a top element;

FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the rack;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the rack;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rack; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical profiled frame element, which can be installed in the vertical frame in accordance with FIGS. 1 or 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As FIG. 1 shows, two vertical profiled frame elements 10 and two horizontal profiled frame elements 15 form a vertical frame 20, wherein the profiled frame elements 10 and 15 are welded together in corner areas and form a stable, aligned component. Here, the vertical profiled frame element 10 can be embodied in a U-shape by a base leg 12 and two lateral legs 16, wherein the base leg 12 has at least one row of fastening receivers 11 and the lateral legs 16 have at least one row of fastening receivers 17. The fastening receivers 11 and 17 can be designed identically or differently and can be matched to the installation requirements. The shape of the profiled frame elements 10 can also be different and matched to the installation requirements.

A U-shaped vertical profiled frame element 10 is shown by way of example in FIG. 5 and has a first lateral leg 16 with a row of fastening receivers 17 arranged and spaced apart from each other at a uniform spacing. In this case the spacing grid corresponds to a grid in inches. A base leg 12 is beveled off at right angles from the lateral leg 16. The base leg 12 has two rows of fastening receivers 11 in a spacing grid. At the end of the lateral leg 16 of the base leg 12, a profiled section 19 is angled off and extends parallel with the lateral leg 16. The profiled section 19 makes a transition into a profiled side 18, which extends parallel with the base leg 12. A second lateral leg 16 extends from the profiled side 18 at right angles and forms an interior edge 18.2. The second lateral leg 16 and the profiled side each have a row of fastening receivers 17 and 18.1, which are arranged in a metric spacing grid and are identically embodied and all are arranged at the same horizontal distance from the interior edge 18.2.

In the installed state, the profiled sides 16 extend parallel with the front or rear of the rack. The base leg 12 extends parallel and faces the outside of the rack. The interior edge 18.2 points into the interior surrounded by the rack. The first lateral legs 16 (spaced in inches) of the vertical profiled frame elements 10 of a vertical frame 20 face each other and are spaced apart at an installation distance of 19″. The profiled sides 18 and the second lateral legs 16 of the vertical profiled frame elements 10 of the vertical frame 20 are arranged in a metric installation spacing. In this case it is possible to fasten built-ins or units in the direction of the rack width to the second lateral legs 16, and built-ins or units in the direction of the rack depth between and on the two vertical frames 20.

The two vertical frames 20 form the front and the back of the rack. If the vertical frames 20 are symmetrical with respect to their vertical center planes, they can be used in any position for the two sides of the rack. Thus, only one identical component is required for both vertical frames.

When using the vertical profiled frame elements 10 shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to form frames identically vertically which are installed and rotated by 180°.

The two vertical frames 20 are connected with each other by bottom and top elements which, as the reference numeral 30 already indicates, are also embodied to be identical. This component is embodied and produced as a simple stamped and bent sheet metal element and can make separate trim elements for the bottom and top areas of the switchgear cabinet superfluous. Facing the two vertical sides of the rack, the bottom and the top elements 30 have beveled fastening rims 31 with at least one row of fastening receivers 32 or elongated holes extending in the depth direction, so that the vertical frames 20 rest with the base legs 12 of the vertical profiled frame elements 10 against the inside of the fastening edges 31 and can be connected with them, as shown in FIG. 2. Here the distance 13, such as the installation depth, can be matched to the desired installation requirements. The rear of the rack can be closed off by a rear wall 50.

As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the free edge of the fastening rim 31 can be beveled off toward the outside. The bevel 34 can be used for the attachment of lateral walls 40.

The bottom and the top elements 30 are identically embodied and are symmetrical with respect to the center extending parallel with the fastening rims 31. In the area of or near the horizontal profiled frame elements 15, cutouts 37 are cut into the plate 36 connecting the fastening rims 31 which can be used for the introduction of cables and the like, the same as the cutouts 18 in the profiled frame elements 15. The plate 36 can also have a centered opening 35, as can be clearly seen in the plan view of FIG. 4.

In the area of or near the front of the rack the lateral legs 16 with the fastening receivers 17 of the vertical frame 20 at the front are accessible which, for example, are matched to the 19″ installation measurement of built-ins, as shown in FIG. 3. The bottom and the top element 30 close the front off by bevels 33, which can be used for hinges and the lock of a cabinet door.

Claims

1. A rack for a switchgear cabinet having horizontal and vertical profiled frame elements (10, 15), wherein the vertical and horizontal profiled frame elements (10, 15) of a front and a back respectively form one vertical frame (20), wherein these two vertical frames (20) are connected with each other by means of a bottom element and a top element (30), wherein the vertical frames (20) can be attached to beveled fastening rims (31) of the bottom element and the top element (30) at different distances, wherein the vertical profiled frame elements (10) have a base leg (12) extending in a direction of a depth of the rack, to which two lateral legs (16) are connected, the lateral legs (16) extend at right angles with respect to the base leg (12), and the lateral legs (16) and the base leg (12) each have a row of fastening receivers (17) extending in the longitudinal direction of the profiles in a spacing grid, the rack comprising:

the spacing grids of the two lateral legs (10) being different,

the two vertical profiled frame elements (10) with the fastening receivers (17) of the first lateral legs (16) form a fastening level measured in inches, and with the fastening frames (17) of the second lateral legs (16) forming a metric fastening level,

on an end facing away from the first lateral leg (16) the base leg (12) transitioning into an angled-off profiled section (19), from which a profiled side (18) extends, which extends parallel with the base leg (12),

the second lateral leg (16) being beveled off the profiled side (18), and

the profiled side (18) and the second lateral leg (16) h having a row of fastening frames arranged in the same spacing grid.

2. The rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vertical frames (20) rest with the base legs (12) of the vertical profiled frame elements (20) against insides of the fastening rims (31) of the bottom element and the top element (30) and are connected with them.

3. The rack in accordance with claim 2, wherein the horizontal profiled frame elements (15) have cutouts (18) through which cables are fed, and the bottom element and the top element (30) have cutouts (37) near the horizontal profiled frame elements (15) of the vertical frames (20).

4. The rack in accordance with claim 3, wherein the vertical frames (20) are identically embodied.

5. The rack in accordance with claim 4, wherein the bottom element and the top element (30) are identical and symmetrical with respect to a center plane extending parallel with the fastening rims (31).

6. The rack in accordance with claim 5, wherein the vertical profiled frame elements (10) and the horizontal profiled frame elements (15) of the vertical frames (20) are stamped and bent sheet metal elements and are connected by welding with the vertical frame (20).

7. The rack in accordance with claim 6, wherein the bottom element and the top element (30) each is a trim element of the rack and both are produced as stamped and bent sheet metal elements.

8. The rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the horizontal profiled frame elements (15) have cutouts (18) through which cables are fed, and the bottom element and the top element (30) have cutouts (37) near the horizontal profiled frame elements (15) of the vertical frames (20).

9. The rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vertical frames (20) are identically embodied.

10. The rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bottom element and the top element (30) are identical and symmetrical with respect to a center plane extending parallel with the fastening rims (31).

11. The rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vertical profiled frame elements (10) and the horizontal profiled frame elements (15) of the vertical frames (20) are stamped and bent sheet metal elements and are connected by welding with the vertical frame (20).

12. The rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bottom element and the top element (30) each is a trim element of the rack and both are produced as stamped and bent sheet metal elements.