chassis and module assembly comprising the chassis

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine frame comprising a frame (4) defining a machine frame space (55) and adapted to receive a device module (201) into an operative position, the frame (4) comprising four side walls (41-44) and an end wall (45). The machine frame (501) comprises a coupling system adapted for coupling the machine frame (501) to four other machine frames (501) so as to form a machine frame matrix (150), the coupling system comprising at least one wall recess (14) on an inner surface of each of the side walls (41-44) and at least one main screw hole (71) in each of the side walls (41-44) such that the at least one main screw hole (71) is located in the at least one wall recess (14). The invention also relates to a module assembly comprising such a machine frame and a device module adapted to be received in the machine frame.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a frame for receiving device modules and to a module assembly comprising said frame and device modules adapted to be received in the frame. BACKGROUND

[0002] Known electrical assemblies comprise an electrical cabinet and a plurality of device modules received in the electrical cabinet. Each of these device modules comprises an electrical device, such as a frequency converter, and a device module connector system. The electrical cabinet comprises a cabinet connector system adapted to be electrically connected with the device module connector system. The device modules are mounted to the electrical cabinet by pushing the device modules into an operative position of the device modules relative to the electrical cabinet.

[0003] One of the problems associated with the above known electrical assemblies is that pushing the device modules into the electrical cabinet can damage the cabinet connector system and / or the device module connector system if the position of the cabinet connector system is different from its intended position. Said problem is in some cases caused by the fact that the electrical cabinet of the electrical assembly is assembled by a different supplier than the supplier supplying the device modules for the electrical assembly. SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame and a module assembly comprising the frame in order to solve the above problems. The object of the present invention is achieved by the frame described in the following.

[0005] The present invention is based on the idea of providing a frame adapted to receive device modules, the frame having a frame connector system adapted to be electrically connected with a device module connector system of a device module and a coupling system adapted to couple the frame to four other frames in order to form a frame matrix. The coupling system allows the frame to be coupled to an adjacent frame or to an electrical cabinet by means of screws mounted from the inside of the frame.

[0006] An advantage of the frame of the present invention is that since the frame is provided with a frame connector system, a connector system adapted to cooperate with a device module connector system is always correctly aligned with the device module connector system. Since the frame of the present invention allows a frame matrix of unlimited size to be formed, the electrical cabinet can be equipped with the required number of device modules so that each of the device modules is received in a corresponding frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 A frame according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0009] Figure 2 a module assembly comprising Figure 1 a chassis and a device module in a disconnected position relative to the chassis is shown;

[0010] Figure 3 a module assembly of Figure 2 in an operational position of the device module relative to the chassis is shown;

[0011] Figure 4 a chassis of Figure 1 as seen from a direction perpendicular to the end wall of the chassis frame is shown;

[0012] Figure 5 a chassis of Figure 1 as seen from a direction parallel to the end wall of the chassis frame is shown;

[0013] Figure 6 a chassis matrix comprising nine Figure 1 chassis is shown;

[0014] Figure 7 a chassis matrix of Figure 6 is shown, as well as a module assembly of nine device modules received in the chassis matrix; and

[0015] Figure 8 a coupling system of three Figure 1 chassis is shown, the coupling system comprising primary screw holes and secondary screw holes asymmetrically located in the chassis frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Figure 1 a chassis 501 comprising a frame 4, a chassis connector system 52, a busbar system, and a coupling system adapted for coupling the chassis 501 to four other identical chassis 501 to form a chassis matrix is shown. The frame 4 comprises four side walls 41-44 and an end wall 45, such that the side walls 41-44 together with the end wall 45 define a chassis space 55. The frame 4 is adapted to receive a device module into an operational position in which the device module is located in the chassis space 55. The frame 4 is drawn as a transparent structure to better show the components inside the frame 4.

[0017] The side wall 41 is parallel to and spaced apart from the side wall 42. The side wall 43 is parallel to and spaced apart from the side wall 44. The side walls 43 and 44 are perpendicular to the side walls 41 and 42. The side walls 43 and 44 connect the side walls 41 and 42 together. The side walls 41 and 42 are longer than the side walls 43 and 44. The end wall 45 is perpendicular to the side walls 41-44.

[0018] Figure 2It shows including Figure 1 The image shows a frame 501 and a module assembly of a device module 201 in a disconnected position relative to the frame 501. The device module 201 is adapted to be connected to an operational position relative to the frame 501 in the connected state. During the connected state, the relative movement between the device module 201 and the frame 501 is linear and parallel to the depth direction of the frame 501. The frame 4 of the frame 501 and the device module 201 are drawn as transparent structures to better show the components inside the frame 4 and the device module 201. Figure 3 This illustrates the situation where the device module 201 is in an operative position relative to the frame 501. Figure 2 Module components.

[0019] Device module 201 includes electrical components (not depicted) and device module connector system 22. In one embodiment, the electrical components of the device module include a frequency converter. In another embodiment, the electrical components of the device module include an LCL filter.

[0020] The chassis connector system 52 is adapted to be electrically connected to the device module connector system 22 of the device module 201 when the device module 201 is in an operative position. The chassis connector system 52 includes a plurality of chassis connectors 527, which are fastened to the end wall 45 to allow access to the plurality of chassis connectors 527 from the chassis space 55.

[0021] The connection system includes: a wall recess 14 located on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls 41 to 44; and a plurality of main screw holes 71 located in each of the sidewalls 41 to 44, such that each of the main screw holes 71 is located in one of the wall recesses 14. Each wall recess 14 is adapted to receive the screw head 91 of a screw 9 installed into a main screw hole 71 located in the wall recess 14, and the screw 9 extends outward from the wall recess 14 through the main screw hole 71, such that the frame space 55 is adapted to receive the device module 201 in an operational position when a corresponding screw 9 is installed in each of the main screw holes 71. Due to the wall recess 14, the device module 201 in the operational position does not contact the screw 9 installed in the main screw hole 71.

[0022] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this configuration, some of the main screw holes 71 are fitted with screws 9, while the others are empty. These screws 9 are self-tapping screws. In one embodiment, only one screw is required for each sidewall to connect the frame to four other frames.

[0023] In addition to the plurality of primary screw holes 71, the coupling system comprises a plurality of secondary screw holes 72, which are located in each of the side walls 41-44, such that each of the plurality of secondary screw holes 72 is located in one of the wall recesses 14. Each of the wall recesses 14 is adapted to accommodate a screw tip 92 of a screw 9 mounted to a secondary screw hole 72 located in the wall recess 14, and the screw 9 extends through the secondary screw hole 72 to the inside of the wall recess 14, such that the chassis space 55 is adapted to receive the device module 201 to the operative position when a corresponding screw 9 is mounted in each of the secondary screw holes 72.

[0024] The screw head 91 of the screw 9 is adapted to be engaged by a tool for turning the screw 9. The screw tip 92 of the screw 9 is located at the end of the screw 9 opposite the screw head 91. The diameter of the screw head 91 is larger than the diameter of the screw tip 92.

[0025] The primary screw holes 71 and the secondary screw holes 72 are unthreaded holes, and the diameter of the secondary screw holes 72 is smaller than the diameter of the primary screw holes 71. The primary screw holes 71 and the secondary screw holes 72 are asymmetrically located in the frame 4, such that when the chassis 501 is coupled with the coupling system with four adjacent chassis, each primary screw hole 71 of the chassis 501 is adjacent and coaxial with a secondary screw hole of one of the adjacent chassis. The screws are self-tapping at least to the secondary screw holes 72.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the coupling system comprises only primary screw holes without secondary screw holes, and the primary screw holes are threaded holes. In said embodiment, the screws do not have to be self-tapping screws.

[0027] Figure 4 The chassis 501 is shown as seen from a direction perpendicular to the end wall 45 of the chassis frame. The primary screw holes 71 are visible in the side walls 41-44. Figure 4 The depth of the wall recesses 14 can be best observed in Figure 5 The chassis 501 is shown as seen from a direction parallel to the end wall 45 of the chassis frame.

[0028] The busbar system has five busbars 81-85 and is electrically conductively connected with the chassis connector system 52. The busbar system is accessible from outside the frame 4.

[0029] Each of the busbars 81-85 is formed by a sheet of metal. The busbars 83 and 84 are one-piece components, and the busbars 81, 82 and 85 comprise two bent sheets of metal, respectively.

[0030] Each of the busbars 81-85 has a busbar terminal comprising a terminal hole 800, the central axis of which extends perpendicular to the plane defined by the end wall 45. The busbar terminals are denoted with reference numerals 819-859. Each of the terminal holes 800 is a threaded hole. There is space for a cable terminal adjacent to each of the terminal holes 800, such that each of the busbar terminals 819-859 is adapted to be electrically conductively connected to a cable terminal of a corresponding cable extending outside the machine frame 501. The cable terminal is adapted to be connected to the corresponding busbar terminal by means of a bolt, which is screwed to the terminal hole of the busbar terminal.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the terminal holes are unthreaded holes. In another alternative embodiment, the terminal holes in the sheet metal of the busbar are unthreaded holes, but a nut adjacent to each of the terminal holes is connected such that the threads of the nut are coaxial with the terminal hole.

[0032] The machine frame connector system 52 is adapted to enable connection of the device module 201 into an operational position by merely pushing the device module 201 into the machine frame space 55, wherein said pushing establishes an electrically conductive connection between the machine frame connector system 52 and the device module connector system 22. The device module connectors 227 of the device module connector system 22 are blade contacts, and the machine frame connectors 527 are adapted to receive these blade contacts.

[0033] The machine frame space 55 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the device module 201 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, such that the outer surfaces of the side walls of the device module 201 are adjacent to the inner surfaces of the side walls 41-44 of the frame 4 of the machine frame 501 when the device module 201 is in an operational position relative to the machine frame 501, thereby ensuring correct alignment between the device module connector system 22 and the machine frame connector system 52. In an alternative embodiment, the outer surfaces of at least three side walls of the device module are in contact with at least three inner surfaces of the adjacent machine frame side walls, thereby ensuring correct alignment between the device module connector system and the machine frame connector system.

[0034] Figure 6 A machine frame matrix 150 is shown, which comprises nine machine frames 501, which are coupled together by means of the coupling system of the machine frames 501. The machine frame located in the middle of the machine frame matrix 150 is coupled to the other four machine frames by means of the coupling system, such that the machine frame located in the middle is coupled to the machine frames adjacent to the four side walls. The planes defined by the end walls of the machine frames 501 in the machine frame matrix 150 coincide with each other.

[0035] Figure 7 A machine frame matrix 150 is shown, which comprises nine machine frames 501, which are coupled together by means of the coupling system of the machine frames 501. The machine frame located in the middle of the machine frame matrix 150 is coupled to the other four machine frames by means of the coupling system, such that the machine frame located in the middle is coupled to the machine frames adjacent to the four side walls. The planes defined by the end walls of the machine frames 501 in the machine frame matrix 150 coincide with each other. Figure 6the module assembly of the chassis matrix 150 and the nine device modules 201 received in the chassis matrix 150. The planes defined by the front walls of the device modules 201 coincide with each other.

[0036] In one embodiment, Figure 7 The module assembly of the chassis matrix 150 and the nine device modules 201 received in the chassis matrix 150. The planes defined by the front walls of the device modules 201 coincide with each other.

[0037] Figure 8 The three chassis 501 are illustrated as being coupled together by means of the coupling system of the chassis 501. The side wall 42 of the left chassis is adapted to be adjacent to the side wall 41 of the middle chassis. The side wall 44 of the middle chassis is adjacent to the side wall 43 of the lower chassis. When the three chassis are coupled together, the primary screw hole 71 in the side wall 42 of the left chassis is adjacent to and coaxial with the secondary screw hole 72 in the side wall 41 of the middle chassis. Furthermore, the primary screw hole 71 in the side wall 44 of the middle chassis is adjacent to and coaxial with the secondary screw hole 72 in the side wall 43 of the lower chassis.

[0038] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The application and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but can vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A frame, comprising: A frame (4) that defines a chassis space (55) and is adapted to receive a device module (201) including a frequency converter or an LCL filter in an operational position in which the device module (201) is located in the chassis space (55), the frame (4) including four side walls (41-44) and an end wall (45). A frame connector system (52) adapted to electrically connect with a device module connector system (22) of the device module (201) when the device module (201) is in the operative position, the frame connector system (52) comprising a plurality of frame connectors (527) secured to the end wall (45) such that the plurality of frame connectors (527) can be accessed from the frame space (55). The frame (501) is characterized in that it includes a coupling system adapted to connect the frame (501) to four other frames (501) to form a frame matrix (150), the coupling system comprising: at least one wall recess (14) located on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls (41-44); and at least one master screw hole (71) located in each of the sidewalls (41-44), such that the at least one master screw hole (71) is located in at least one of the wall recesses (14). In the device, each of the wall recesses (14) is adapted to receive the screw head (91) of at least one screw (9), the at least one screw (9) being installed into at least one master screw hole (71) located in the wall recess (14), and the at least one screw (9) extending outward from the wall recess (14) through the at least one master screw hole (71), such that the frame space (55) is adapted to receive the device module (201) into the operational position when a corresponding screw (9) is installed in each of the at least one master screw holes (71). The chassis (501) includes a bus system with multiple buses (81-85) electrically connected to the chassis connector system (52) and accessible from outside the frame (4). Each of the plurality of busbars (81-85) is formed of a metal sheet.

2. The frame according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of busbars (81-85) has a busbar terminal (819-859) including a terminal hole (800) whose central axis extends perpendicularly to the plane defined by the end wall (45).

3. The frame according to claim 2, wherein, Each terminal hole in the terminal hole (800) is a threaded hole.

4. The frame according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein, Each of the bus terminals (819-859) is adapted to be electrically connected to a cable terminal of a corresponding cable extending outside the frame (501).

5. The frame according to claim 1, wherein, The frame connector system (52) is adapted to connect the device module (201) to the operational position by simply pushing the device module (201) into the frame space (55), wherein the pushing action establishes a conductive connection between the frame connector system (52) and the device module connector system (22).

6. The frame according to claim 1, wherein, The connection system includes at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) located in each of the sidewalls (41-44) such that the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) is located in at least one of the wall recesses (14), wherein each of the wall recesses (14) is adapted to receive the screw tip (92) of at least one screw (9), the at least one screw (9) being mounted to the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) located in the wall recess (14), and the at least one screw (9) extending through the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) into the interior of the wall recess (14), such that the frame space (55) is adapted to receive the device module (201) in the operational position when the corresponding screw (9) is mounted in each of the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72).

7. The frame according to claim 6, wherein, The at least one main screw hole (71) and the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) are unthreaded holes. The diameter of the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) is smaller than the diameter of the at least one main screw hole (71). The at least one main screw hole (71) and the at least one auxiliary screw hole (72) are asymmetrically located in the frame (4) such that when the frame (501) is connected to four adjacent frames (501) by the coupling system, each main screw hole (71) of the frame (501) is adjacent to and coaxial with the auxiliary screw hole (72) of one of the four adjacent frames (501).

8. A modular component, comprising: The frame (501) according to claim 1; Device module (201), the device module (201) including device module connector system (22) and at least one electrical device, wherein the at least one electrical device includes a frequency converter or an LCL filter, The device module (201) is adapted to be connected to an operational position relative to the frame (501) in a connected state, such that in the operational position, the device module connector system (22) is electrically connected to the frame connector system (52).

9. The module component according to claim 8, wherein, The frame space (55) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the device module (201) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, such that when the device module (201) is in the operational position relative to the frame (501), the outer surface of the sidewall of the device module (201) is adjacent to the inner surface of the sidewall (41-44) of the frame (4) of the frame (501), thereby ensuring proper alignment between the device module connector system (22) and the frame connector system (52).

10. The module component according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein, The modular component includes a plurality of frames (501) connected as a frame matrix (150) and a device module (201) for each of the plurality of frames (501).

11. The module component according to claim 10, wherein, The planes defined by the end walls (45) of the frame (501) in the frame matrix (150) coincide with each other.

12. The module component according to claim 10, wherein, The modular component includes an electrical cabinet, and the frame matrix (150) is located inside the electrical cabinet and connected to the electrical cabinet via the connection system of the frame (501) in the frame matrix (150).

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