SWITCHGEAR CABINET OR RACK WITH A FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE

Abstract

A switchgear cabinet or a rack with a base, arranged below a usable space, and a fluid distribution device including a coolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device. In order to achieve simple connection options for other coolant lines, the distribution device is configured as a main distribution unit installed in the region of the base and extends with at least one pipe between two vertical delimitation planes of the base, which are located parallel to each other at a distance, and the pipe has at least one branch part for the connection of the cooling device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or rack having a base situated under the usable space and having a distribution device with a coolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device.

2. Discussion of Related Art

A switchgear cabinet with a distribution device for supplying a fluid cooling medium to a cooling device, such as in the form of a cooling plate, is described in the catalog “RITTAL-Neuheiten 2005” [RITTAL News 2005], April 2005, on page 59, which also discloses a coolant inlet and outlet and the connection to a recooling plant for a closed cooling circuit. The distribution of the cooling medium, namely water, with corresponding line routing and connecting elements is carried out on a project-by-project basis, with a corresponding amount of installation effort.

Another switchgear cabinet with a similar distribution device for a cooling device is also described in the brochure “RITTAL DCP—Direct Cooling Package” of April 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide a switchgear cabinet or rack of the type mentioned above but which achieves a simplified installation of the distribution device for a cooling medium.

This object is attained with a distribution device having characteristics described in this specification and in the claims. The distribution device disclosed is embodied as a main distribution unit installed in the region of or near the base and extends with at least one conduit between two vertical delimitation planes of the base that are parallel to and spaced apart from each other and the conduit has at least one branching piece for connection of the cooling device.

The main distribution unit offers simple connection possibilities for lines that convey the cooling medium to the respective cooling device with a convenient, space-saving installation.

In one embodiment of this invention, an installation and accessibility standpoint comprises at least one conduit that extends between two side faceplates of the base and is connected to the base via at least one side faceplate and/or at least one corner piece.

A simple, stable assembly is advantageously achieved if a main distribution unit has at least one fastening device for attaching the at least one conduit to the base.

A simple installation and a reliable function is advantageously achieved if at least one end section and/or the branching piece of the respective conduit each has a releasable closure element for closing the conduit in a fluid-tight fashion.

Other advantageous measures that contribute to a simple installation and reliable function include the main distribution unit embodied as an add-on distribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling, which has an insertion element, to one end of each respective conduit. This makes it possible for additional switchgear cabinets or racks, for example, preferably with corresponding main distribution units, to be easily added onto the switchgear cabinet or rack, yielding a simple connection for conducting the cooling fluid.

A convenient accommodation is possible if the base is covered at its top by a base cover plate that has at least one sealed feed-through element for feeding through a connecting line between the respective branching piece and the cooling device.

A simple, stable attachment of the two, for example, but possibly also more, conduits is achieved if the fastening device has two clamping shells that can be clamped against each other, each of which is integrally joined to respective holding receptacles for all of the conduits.

A simple connection, for example, a side-by-side addition of another switchgear cabinet or rack, is achieved if the side faceplates have feed-throughs for the conduits.

In one advantageous arrangement and installation, the side faceplates are a lower partial faceplate and an upper partial faceplate.

In other assembly possibilities, the side faceplates are bent inward at right angles, at least at their upper longitudinal edge, in relation to the base chamber and have fastening holes in the bent section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is explained in view of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installation of a main distribution unit in the base region of a switchgear cabinet equipped with connection components and an add-on base;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main distribution unit according to FIG. 1, before installation in the base;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corner piece of a base and a fastening piece of the main distribution unit to be attached to it;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a main distribution unit;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a main distribution unit formed as an add-on unit;

FIG. 6 shows various views of a fastening piece of the main distribution unit;

FIG. 7 is a top view of two main distribution units coupled to each other, with a side-by-side connection of two switchgear cabinets; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main distribution unit installed in a base, with connecting lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a base 1 of a switchgear cabinet in which a main distribution unit 10 for a fluid cooling medium, such as water, is installed. Via connecting lines 12 that are fed through a base cover plate 6 by sealed feed-through elements 7, the main distribution unit 10 is connected to conduits 8 to which a cooling device, for example in the form of a cooling plate having a serpentine cooling line, can be connected at its inlet and outlet sides. It is also possible to connect other cooling devices through which a fluid cooling medium flows.

The base 1 is enclosed at its front and back by a front faceplate 4 and rear faceplate 5, is enclosed laterally by side faceplates 3, and is covered at the top by the base cover plate 6 so that the base faceplates 3, 4, 5, together with the base cover plate 6, enclose a block-shaped base chamber that is separate from a usable space situated or positioned on the interior of the switchgear cabinet, above the base cover plate 6.

The base faceplates are preferably composed of sheet metal wall elements that are bent at right angles, at least at their upper longitudinal edge. The bent edge sections are oriented toward the interior of the base chamber. In a corresponding manner, the narrow sides and/or the lower longitudinal edge of the side faceplates 3 as well as the front faceplate 4 and rear faceplate 5 can also be bent inward at right angles. The bent edges have holes for fastening or mounting purposes, which can be arranged, for example, in rows of holes with a particular spacing pattern, thus providing simple assembly possibilities. In the corner regions of the base 1, corner pieces 2 are provided, which attach the side faceplates 3 to the front faceplate 4 and rear faceplate 5. The front surfaces and rear surfaces of the corner pieces 2 are stepped in parallel fashion or transition flush into the plane of the front faceplate 4 or rear faceplate 5, respectively, and side parts of the corner pieces 2, which are at right angles to the front surface and rear surface, are stepped in parallel fashion or transition flush into the plane of the side faceplates 3. As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the corner pieces 2 have mounting surfaces parallel to and spaced apart from their front surface and rear surface, with mounting openings 2.1, 2.2. in the form of vertically extending rows of holes. In addition, the corner pieces 2 are provided with connecting tabs for connecting them to the front faceplate 4 or rear faceplate 5. As shown in FIG. 8, the side faceplates 3 can be composed of an upper partial faceplate 3′ and a lower partial faceplate 3″.

As also shown in FIG. 1, the main distribution unit 10 has two conduits 11 arranged one above the other and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, extending horizontally between the side faceplates 3. These conduits 11 are attached by lateral fastening devices 18, such as to two corner pieces 2 or to the side faceplates 3. FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example in which the lateral fastening devices 18 are each attached to a respective corner piece 2 at the mounting openings 2.1 situated closer to the interior of the base. Each respective fastening device 18, which has a block-shaped outer form, for example, is composed of two holding elements 18.1, 18.1′ that can be clamped to each other, which have respective integrally joined partial holding receptacles that are complementary to each other in order to form a holding receptacle 18.2 and the holding receptacles are matched to the outer circumference of the conduits 11 and accommodate the conduits 11. The number of holding receptacles 18.2′ corresponds to the number of conduits 11 of the main distribution unit 10, thus assuring a straightforward, simple assembly. The fastening device 18 has preferably threaded fastening bores 18.3 that are matched to the spacing and position of suitable mounting openings 2.1 of the corner piece 2 to allow it to be fastened to the corner piece 2.

As shown in FIGS. 4 through 8, the fastening devices can also be provided with additional fastening openings 18.4 and 18.5 that are matched to holes in the bent edges of the side faceplates 3 or their partial faceplates 3′, 3″ in order to attach them there, either by themselves or in addition to another part. This offers expanded assembly possibilities.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the region of the openings of the conduits 11 of the main distribution unit 10, the side faceplates 3 have through openings 3.1 via which the conduits 11 can be connected to other lines, in particular the conduits 11 of an adjacent cabinet or rack. In a side-by-side arrangement of two or more cabinets, the side faceplates 3 of the adjacent sides of the base 1 can also be omitted. FIGS. 4 and 5 show two differently embodied main distribution units 10. FIG. 4 shows a main distribution unit for one cabinet or rack while FIG. 5 shows a main distribution unit 10 embodied for a side-by-side arrangement of two or more cabinets.

The main distribution unit 10 shown in FIG. 4 has two conduits 11 with connection pieces 11.1 in their end sections. One end of each conduit 11 is connected via the respective connection piece 11.1 to a branching piece 13. The connection piece 11.1 has an external thread and the branching piece 13 has a matching internal thread. Toward the corresponding side of the base 1, the branching piece 13 is connected to a coupling piece 15 that is connected by an external thread to an internal thread on the side of the branching piece 13 oriented toward it. A connecting line can be connected by another external thread of the coupling piece 15. At the end of the conduit 11 oriented away from the branching piece 13, its connection piece 11.1 is connected to another coupling piece 14, which is adjoined by a coupling piece 16 for connecting to a connecting line. In the other conduit 11, the above-mentioned branching piece 13, the coupling piece 15, the additional coupling piece 14, and the coupling piece 16 are connected in a laterally inverse sequence, as shown in FIG. 4.

By contrast with the main distribution unit 10 shown in FIG. 4, in the main distribution unit 10 embodied for a side-by-side arrangement shown in FIG. 5, on one side, in this case the right side, the two coupling pieces 14, 15 are each connected via a respective intermediate piece 19, such as in the form of a double nipple with internal thread, to a respective quick-release coupling 17 and the quick-release couplings 17 can be easily connected in a sealed fashion by simply coupling them to the coupling pieces 16 of an adjacent main distribution unit 10 in order to produce the flow connection in an adjacent cabinet or rack in a side-by-side arrangement, as shown in FIG. 7. The coupling pieces 16 are embodied in the form of quick-release couplings with muffs embodied for accommodating a main distribution unit 10 for the side-by-side arrangement, and can be simply substituted with screw sealing plugs when the main distribution unit 10 is used by itself.

As the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 demonstrate, the main distribution units 10 can be easily converted back and forth, from a single-cabinet or single-rack arrangement to a side-by-side arrangement, by simply attaching or removing the intermediate pieces 19 and quick-release couplings 17. The conduits 11 are composed, for example, of simple rubber pressure hoses, with threads provided at their two respective ends. The length of the rubber pressure hoses varies depending on the width of the cabinet or rack.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, the T-shaped branching pieces 13, with their branching connection that likewise has an internal thread, serve to connect the connecting lines 12 routed through the base cover plate 6. The other ends of the connecting lines 12 are connected to connecting conduits 8 extending in the frame profile of the cabinet or rack or are connected directly to the inlet, or outlet line end of a cooling coil. The cooling medium can thus be easily supplied to a cooling plate of the type mentioned above, for example, and conveyed back from it again after absorption of the dissipated heat. The main distribution unit 10 offers a uniform device that can be preinstalled in all cabinets or racks, enabling simple connection possibilities to a recooling plant and also to the cooling device provided in the respective switchgear cabinet.

Claims

1. A switchgear cabinet or rack, having a base (1) situated under a usable space and having a distribution device with a coolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device, the switchgear cabinet or rack comprising: the distribution device being a main distribution unit (10) installed near the base (1) and extending with at least one conduit (11) between two vertical delimitation planes of the base (1) that are parallel to and spaced apart from each other and the conduit (11) having at least one branching piece (13) for connection of the cooling device.

2. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit (11) extends between two side faceplates (3) of the base (1) and is connected to the base (1) by at least one side faceplate (3) and/or at least one corner piece (2).

3. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 2, wherein the main distribution unit (10) has at least one fastening device (18) for attaching the at least one conduit (11) to the base (1).

4. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one end section and/or the branching piece (13) of the respective conduit (11) each has a releasable closure element for closing the conduit (11) in a fluid-tight fashion.

5. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 4, wherein the main distribution unit (10) is formed as an add-on distribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling (17) having an insertion element, to one end of each respective conduit (11).

6. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 5, wherein the base (11) is covered at a top by a base cover plate (6) having at least one sealed feed-through element (7) for feeding through a connecting line between the respective branching piece (13) and the cooling device.

7. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 6, wherein the fastening device (18) has two clamping shells (18.1, 18.1′) that can be clamped against each other, each of which is integrally joined to respective holding receptacles (18.2) for all of the conduits (11).

8. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 7, wherein the side faceplates (3) have through openings (3.1) for the conduits (11).

9. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 8, wherein the side faceplates (3) are of a lower partial faceplate (3″) and an upper partial faceplate (3′)

10. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 9, wherein the side faceplates (3) are bent inward at right angles, at least at an upper longitudinal edge, in relation to the base chamber and have fastening holes in the bent section.

11. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the main distribution unit (10) has at least one fastening device (18) for attaching the at least one conduit (11) to the base (1).

12. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one end section and/or the branching piece (13) of the respective conduit (11) each has a releasable closure element for closing the conduit (11) in a fluid-tight fashion.

13. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the main distribution unit (10) is formed as an add-on distribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling (17) having an insertion element, to one end of each respective conduit (11).

14. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the base (11) is covered at a top by a base cover plate (6) having at least one sealed feed-through element (7) for feeding through a connecting line between the respective branching piece (13) and the cooling device.

15. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 3, wherein the fastening device (18) has two clamping shells (18.1, 18.1′) that can be clamped against each other, each of which is integrally joined to respective holding receptacles (18.2) for all of the conduits (11).

16. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the side faceplates (3) have through openings (3.1) for the conduits (11).

17. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the side faceplates (3) are of a lower partial faceplate (3″) and an upper partial faceplate (3′)

18. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 2, wherein the side faceplates (3) are bent inward at right angles, at least at an upper longitudinal edge, in relation to the base chamber and have fastening holes in the bent section.