Housing for electrical components

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing (1) for electrical components, comprising a service cover (2) which closes a service opening (4), a contact-proof cover (3) which likewise closes the service opening (4) being arranged below the service cover (2), said contact-proof cover must be removed in order to access the service opening (4) or an interior of the housing (1). Therefore, the working safety can be obviously improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing for electrical components. Background Technology

[0002] Housings for electrical components, such as converter housings, are well-known and widely used. In order to enable maintenance work, such as replacing fuses, on electrical components, such as converters, arranged within the housing, many such housings are provided with so-called maintenance covers, which, when removed, release access to the interior space of the housing in which the electrical components are arranged.

[0003] However, a drawback of the existing housings is that, with the electrical components still energized, removing the maintenance cover allows for unprotected and direct access to the components, potentially posing a danger to the health and lives of maintenance personnel. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the present invention relates to providing a housing for electrical components that simplifies maintenance and makes them safer.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of dependent claims.

[0006] This invention is based on the common concept that in known housings for electrical components with maintenance openings, in addition to a removable maintenance cover, a protective cover is provided below the maintenance cover, which prevents direct contact with potentially live parts of the electrical component after the maintenance cover is removed. Here, the housing for electrical components according to the invention has the aforementioned maintenance cover that closes the maintenance opening in the housing. Below the maintenance cover is a protective cover that similarly closes the maintenance opening; this protective cover must be removed to access the interior space of the housing. Therefore, when a maintenance worker removes the maintenance cover from the housing to perform, for example, maintenance work, the worker will directly encounter the protective cover that still closes the maintenance opening. For example, a warning about the possible application of voltage may be printed on the protective cover, so the worker must remove the protective cover closing the maintenance opening to reach the electrical component. This provides additional protection for the worker against, for example, unintended electric shock.

[0007] In an advantageous improvement to the housing according to the invention, the anti-access cover is connected to the housing via an anti-loss device, wherein the cover cannot be secured to the housing in a manner that closes the maintenance opening if the anti-access cover does not close the maintenance opening and, in particular, if the anti-loss device is not retracted accordingly. The anti-loss device can be configured as a fangleine, connected to the housing on one side and the anti-access cover on the other. Therefore, if an attempt is made to secure the cover to the housing in a manner that closes the maintenance opening without first positioning the anti-access cover over the maintenance opening and retracting the anti-loss device, the cover will still protrude from the maintenance opening via the anti-loss device, preventing it from being securely placed at the edge of the maintenance opening, as the anti-loss device extends over that edge. This forces maintenance personnel to reliably close the maintenance opening with the anti-access cover installed, ensuring that subsequent maintenance personnel will not directly touch electrical components after removing the cover, thus eliminating the risk of electric shock if the components are still energized.

[0008] In an advantageous improvement to the housing according to the invention, the anti-loss device is constructed as a safety cord, particularly a metal wire or plastic rope. This safety cord, especially one made of metal wire, is not only cost-effective but also reliably fulfills the purpose of preventing loss. The safety cord can be connected to the housing on one side and to an anti-contact cover on the other side via two tabs arranged at its ends, particularly through a threaded connection. The metal wire construction of the safety cord has significant advantages: it provides an extremely durable anti-loss device that preferably functions reliably throughout the entire service life of the housing. The advantage of a plastic rope anti-loss device is its non-conductive nature.

[0009] In another advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, two measuring openings for a voltage tester are arranged in the contact shield. Therefore, in addition to warning markings on the contact shield, the contact shield may also have two measuring openings for a voltage tester, through which the measuring tip of the voltage tester can pass to extend the live portion of an electrical component disposed within the housing. This allows maintenance personnel to reliably and quickly indicate whether an electrical component disposed within the housing is energized, thereby indicating whether there is a danger to health or life, or whether the electrical component must be de-energized first.

[0010] In a preferred improvement of the housing according to the invention, particularly for housings used for high-voltage electrical components, the electrical component is constructed as a converter, especially a transducer. Here, the transducer is located at the connection point between different voltage levels of the DC circuit.

[0011] The housing itself can be made of plastic, for example, especially constructed as a plastic injection molded part, which allows it to be manufactured not only cost-effectively but also with high quality.

[0012] In another advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention, the maintenance cover is threadedly connected to the housing. This threaded connection ensures both reliable fixation of the maintenance cover to the housing and easy removal of the cover from the housing for assembly by loosening a single screw. If screws with special heads or openings are used, a lock can also be formed by the screws, requiring a suitable screwdriver bit as a key to loosen the screws on the maintenance cover. This, in particular, at least prevents unauthorized access.

[0013] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, additionally or alternatively, the guard cover may also be threaded onto the housing. If a maintenance personnel has removed the maintenance cover, they will encounter the guard cover, on which a warning label is applied. Removing the guard cover requires, for example, the removal of additional screws, which at least prevents direct and, especially, unauthorized access to electrical components arranged within the housing. Here, the screws connecting the guard cover to the housing may also have special screw heads, such that the guard cover can only be loosened with a corresponding and complementary screwdriver bit, thereby reliably preventing unauthorized access.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the housing according to the invention, a seal is arranged between the maintenance cover and the housing. To reliably ensure the functionality of the electrical components within the housing, it is essential to reliably prevent water intrusion into the housing. This can be achieved relatively simply by a seal arranged between the housing and the maintenance cover, wherein such a seal can, for example, be constructed as a sealing strip (Dichtschnur) that is circular in cross-section.

[0015] Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the description of the accompanying drawings.

[0016] It should be understood that the features described above and below can be used not only in the combinations described separately, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention. Components of higher-level units (e.g., devices, apparatus, or components) mentioned above and below, if individually indicated, can constitute separate parts or components of that unit, or integrated regions or sections of that unit, even if depicted differently in the drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in more detail below, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0018] These are illustrated schematically here:

[0019] Figure 1 A view of the housing according to the invention is shown, which has a maintenance cover that closes the maintenance opening.

[0020] Figure 2 Showing with Figure 1 A similar illustration, but the maintenance cover is removed and an anti-access cover is placed below the maintenance cover to close the maintenance opening. Detailed Implementation

[0021] according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The housing 1 for electrical components according to the invention has a maintenance cover 2 that closes the maintenance opening 4 located below it (see...). Figure 1 The electrical component is not shown in the figure and can be configured, for example, as a converter. Here, a similarly closed protection cover 3 is arranged below the maintenance cover 2 to seal the maintenance opening 4 (see [reference]). Figure 2 The maintenance cover 2 and the additional interlock switch 9 are also included. To access the maintenance opening 4 or the interior space of the housing 1, the contact shield 3 must also be removed. The maintenance cover 2 operates the interlock switch 9 and disconnects the interlock current circuit when the maintenance cover 2 is removed, i.e., the high voltage is switched off. For this purpose, a corresponding opening or notch 10 is provided in the contact shield 3, through which the interlock switch 9 can interact with the maintenance cover 2.

[0022] Because high voltage electricity needs a certain amount of time to dissipate, and because of the various types of screws, removing the anti-contact cover 3 requires a certain amount of time, the high voltage electricity must dissipate within this time.

[0023] Here, the anti-contact cover 3 provided according to the present invention has a significant advantage: by simply removing the maintenance cover 2, one cannot directly and potentially dangerously access the electrical components arranged in the housing 1. Since the electrical components arranged in the housing 1 may be energized, simply removing the maintenance cover 2 would allow direct and immediate access, accompanied by a potentially high risk to maintenance personnel who ignore the warning labels 5 placed on the maintenance cover 2.

[0024] However, in the housing 1 according to the invention, maintenance personnel cannot directly access the electrical components arranged in the housing 1 after removing the maintenance cover 2, because such direct access after removing the maintenance cover 2 is prevented by the contact-proof cover 3.

[0025] Here, two measuring openings 6 for a voltage tester can be arranged in the protective cover 3, allowing maintenance personnel to check whether the electrical components arranged in the housing 1 are energized using a voltage tester passing through the two measuring openings 6 before removing the protective cover 3. The measuring openings 6 are arranged in this way and oriented towards the energized parts of the electrical components, allowing maintenance personnel to simply insert the measuring tip of the tester to contact the energized parts of the electrical components and measure the voltage. In addition, warning signs 5 are also arranged on the protective cover 3, for example, as on the housing 1, to alert maintenance personnel to potential hazards in various ways.

[0026] The anti-contact cover 3 can be connected to the housing 1 via the anti-loss device 7, according to... Figure 2 The anti-loss device is arranged in the housing 1, specifically below the anti-contact cover 3, and is therefore shown only in dashed lines. If the anti-contact cover 3 is not installed and thus does not close the maintenance opening 4, the maintenance cover 2 cannot be secured to the maintenance opening 4. If the anti-contact cover 3 is not installed, the anti-loss device 7 protrudes from the maintenance opening 4, particularly via the edge 8 of the maintenance opening 4, preventing the maintenance cover 2 from being tightly fitted there. Therefore, forgetting to install the anti-contact cover 3 can be reliably prevented. This also provides greater safety for subsequent maintenance personnel, who do not face the risk of previous maintenance personnel failing to reinstall the anti-contact cover 3 as required.

[0027] The anti-loss device 7 can be constructed as a safety rope, which is in particular made of metal wire or non-conductive plastic material, thereby providing a reliable, wear-resistant and durable anti-loss device 7.

[0028] The electrical components housed in housing 1 can, for example, be constructed as converters. Other electrical components could, of course, be conceived in pure theory as well. However, all electrical components share the common characteristic of being energized during operation, thus posing a potential hazard to maintenance personnel. Therefore, if maintenance personnel remove the maintenance cover 2 to replace, for example, a safety device in housing 1, they should, in any case, check beforehand whether the electrical components housed in housing 1 are still energized. Without the protective cover 3, maintenance personnel could directly access the electrical components housed in housing 1 after removing the maintenance cover 2, which poses a significant risk to maintenance personnel, as repairs, and especially maintenance work, are now often performed under considerable time pressure.

[0029] However, the protective cover 3 provided according to the present invention serves as a reminder to maintenance personnel that the electrical components arranged in the housing 1 may be energized and thus pose a danger. Furthermore, the two measuring openings 6 arranged in the protective cover 3 provide a safe voltage testing capability for responsible maintenance personnel.

[0030] To reliably connect the anti-contact cover 3 to the housing 1, the anti-contact cover 3 can be threaded onto the housing 1. Similarly, it is conceivable that the maintenance cover 2 is threaded onto the housing 1. Here, if a screw with a locking screw opening is used, the maintenance personnel will need a complementary bit, which constitutes a key for opening the locking screw, so that the maintenance cover 2 and the anti-contact cover 3 can be loosened.

[0031] This key-lock system, consisting of screws and their corresponding bits, also prevents unauthorized personnel from directly accessing electrical components by unscrewing the maintenance cover 2 or the anti-access cover 3.

[0032] In order to effectively protect the electrical components arranged in the housing 1 from water ingress, a seal can be arranged between the maintenance cover 2 and the housing 1. Such a seal can be constructed as, for example, a sealing strip with a circular cross-section, and can achieve a waterproof seal of the maintenance opening 4 by means of the maintenance cover 2.

[0033] In summary, the safety of maintenance personnel can be significantly improved by means of the housing 1 according to the invention and the contact shield 3 disposed thereon, because the maintenance personnel are not only warned of the danger of electric shock by, for example, the warning signs 5 arranged on the maintenance cover 2 and the contact shield 3, but also prevented from direct contact with the electrical components arranged in the housing 1 by the contact shield 3 after simply removing the maintenance cover 2.

[0034] In addition, the anti-loss device 7 ensures that the anti-contact cover 3 will not be lost, and that the maintenance opening 4 cannot be closed by the maintenance cover 2 if the anti-contact cover 3 is not installed correctly beforehand.

[0035] List of reference numerals

[0036] 1. Shell

[0037] 2. Maintenance cover

[0038] 3. Anti-contact cover

[0039] 4. Maintain the opening

[0040] 5. Warning prompts

[0041] 6. Measure the opening

[0042] 7. Anti-loss device

[0043] 8. Edge

[0044] 9. Interlocking switch

[0045] 10. Notch.

Claims

1. A housing (1) for electrical components, The housing has a maintenance cover (2) that closes the maintenance opening (4). in, Below the maintenance cover (2) is a similarly closed contact cover (3) that seals the maintenance opening (4). The contact cover must be removed in order to access the maintenance opening (4) or the interior space of the housing (1).

2. The housing (1) according to claim 1, Its features are, The contact protection cover (3) is connected to the housing (1) via an anti-loss device (7), wherein the maintenance cover (2) cannot be secured if the contact protection cover (3) does not close the maintenance opening (4).

3. The housing (1) according to claim 2, Its features are, The anti-loss device (7) is constructed as a safety rope.

4. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, Two measurement openings (6) for a voltage tester are arranged in the anti-contact cover (3).

5. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The housing (1) is made of plastic, and in particular, is constructed as a plastic injection molded part.

6. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The maintenance cover (2) is threadedly connected to the housing (1).

7. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The anti-contact cover (3) is threadedly connected to the housing (1).

8. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, A seal is provided between the maintenance cover (2) and the housing (1).

9. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The maintenance cover (2) closes the current circuit of the interlocking switch (9).

10. The housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The contact protection cover (3) has a notch (10) for the interlock switch to pass through, such that the interlock switch extends to the maintenance cover (2).

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