Electrical box

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrical box. The electrical box comprises: a box body comprising a side plate, an opening portion, and a pin shaft arranged on the side plate; and a door cover comprising a cover plate and a coupling edge extending from one end of the cover plate in a thickness direction, the coupling edge having a sliding groove, and wherein the sliding groove is adapted for the pin shaft to move therein to allow the door cover to move between a first position in which the door cover covers the opening portion and a second position in which the door cover exposes the opening portion. In this way, the door cover is prevented from falling, the door cover can be opened even in a narrow space, and the flexibility and safety of operation of the electrical box are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to the field of electrical equipment technology, and more specifically, to an electrical box. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical boxes mainly consist of a box body and a door, used to house low-voltage switchgear, control equipment, and their accessories. Conventional electrical boxes suffer from problems such as nowhere to place the door, the door being prone to falling off, and inconvenience in operation within confined spaces. Utility Model Content

[0003] In one aspect of this disclosure, an electrical box is provided. The electrical box includes: a housing including a side panel, an opening, and a pin disposed on the side panel; and a door cover including a cover plate and a coupling edge extending from one end of the cover plate in a thickness direction, the coupling edge having a groove, wherein the groove is adapted to allow the pin to move therein to allow the door cover to move between a first position, in a first position, the door cover covering the opening, and in a second position, the door cover exposing the opening.

[0004] According to the embodiments of this disclosure, the above-mentioned problems are cleverly solved by designing a cooperative structure between the slide groove 23 and the pin 12. When open, the door cover 2 is located at the top of the housing 1, not only solving the problem of where to place the door cover 2, but also limiting the slide groove 23 of the door cover 2 on the housing 1 to prevent the door cover 2 from falling, thus improving the operational safety of the electrical box. Moreover, the door cover 2 can be opened in multiple ways. Specifically, the door cover 2 can not only slide relative to the pin 12 to open in a translational manner, but it can also slide and rotate relative to the pin 12, i.e., open in a "slide while rotating" manner. Even in confined spaces, the door cover can be opened normally. Furthermore, through the sliding cooperation and limiting of the slide groove 23 and the pin 12, operators can easily open the door cover 2 with one hand without needing to use both hands to remove it.

[0005] In some embodiments, the side panel includes a first side panel perpendicular to the length direction, a pin is arranged on the first side panel, and a groove is configured to allow the housing and the door cover to be spaced apart in the thickness direction so that the pin can rotate and slide within the groove.

[0006] In some embodiments, the side panel includes a second side panel perpendicular to the height direction, a pin is arranged on the second side panel, and a groove is configured to allow the housing and the door cover to be spaced apart in the thickness direction so that the pin can rotate and slide within the groove.

[0007] In some embodiments, the chute includes a straight groove and at least one enlarged portion formed at at least one predetermined position in the straight groove, wherein each of the at least one enlarged portion has a dimension in the thickness direction that is larger than that of the straight groove, so as to allow the housing and the door cover to have a gap in the thickness direction.

[0008] In some embodiments, at least one enlarged diameter portion is formed by recessing from at least one side of the straight groove in the thickness direction.

[0009] In some embodiments, at least one enlarged diameter portion includes at least one of a circular hole, a polygonal hole, an elliptical hole, and a waist-shaped hole.

[0010] In some embodiments, at least one predetermined position includes: at least one end position of the straight groove at one of its two ends in the extension direction; and / or the middle position of the straight groove in the extension direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, a bushing or rolling bearing is also included, which is arranged on the pin.

[0012] In some embodiments, a plurality of connectors are also included, which are arranged on the door cover to lock the door cover onto the housing.

[0013] In some embodiments, a plurality of fasteners are also included, which are arranged on the side of the enclosure opposite the opening in the thickness direction and are adapted to couple the electrical enclosure to the support structure.

[0014] In some embodiments, the coupling edge includes an indicator mark arranged on the side of the groove away from the pin.

[0015] In some embodiments, the electrical box includes a plug-in box for busbars.

[0016] It should be understood that the content described in this section is not intended to limit the key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to restrict the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, wherein: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electrical box with its door closed, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an electrical box with its door open, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. Figure 3 A side view of an electrical box according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown; and Figures 4 to 8 An operational diagram of an electrical box according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1 is the housing, 2 is the door cover, 3 is the connector, 4 is the fastener, 11 is the side plate, 12 is the pin, 13 is the opening, 21 is the cover plate, 22 is the coupling edge, 23 is the slide groove, 231 is the straight groove, 232 is the diameter expansion part, X is the length direction, Y is the thickness direction, and Z is the height direction. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0020] The term “comprising” and its variations, as used herein, indicate an open-ended inclusion, meaning “including but not limited to”. Unless otherwise stated, the term “or” means “and / or”. The terms “first,” “second,” etc., may refer to different or the same objects.

[0021] Currently, there are several main types of electrical box door fixing methods on the market, but each has its drawbacks. For example, for screw-fixed doors, the door is completely fixed to the box body with screws. During maintenance, especially when working at heights, operators need to use both hands to completely remove the door. This not only leaves nowhere to put the removed door, but also poses a risk of the door accidentally falling, creating a safety hazard, and is extremely inconvenient for single-person operation with hand tools.

[0022] Another type is the hinged door, which is connected to the enclosure via hinges. While this design avoids the problem of the door falling off, in confined spaces (such as between densely packed server racks in a data center), its larger opening radius can interfere with surrounding equipment or walls, preventing the door from opening fully and affecting installation and maintenance.

[0023] Therefore, the industry urgently needs an electrical box cover that can be opened flexibly, placed safely, and operated with one hand.

[0024] Embodiments of this disclosure provide an electrical box that at least partially solves the above-described problems. See below for further details. Figures 1 to 3 The structure of the electrical box according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electrical box with its door closed, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an electrical box with its door open, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. Figure 3A side view of an electrical box according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The electrical box described herein generally includes a box body 1 and a door cover 2. The door cover 2 is used to close the box body 1 to form a closed box structure. The electrical box generally has a length direction X, a thickness direction Y, and a height direction Z. The length direction X, thickness direction Y, and height direction Z are substantially perpendicular to each other. In some embodiments, the electrical box may include a plug-in box for busbars. For data transmission and circuit connections, various rail-mounted busbars for data centers exist, having corresponding busbar slots, and the plug-in box is mounted to the busbar slot by fasteners to achieve various functions. In other embodiments, the electrical box may also include other electrical enclosures for mounting electrical equipment.

[0025] The enclosure 1 includes a side panel 11, an opening 13, and a pin 12. The opening 13 is an opening in the thickness direction Y of the enclosure 1, through which electrical equipment can be arranged inside the enclosure 1, and through which an operator can operate the electrical equipment inside the enclosure. In some embodiments, the enclosure 1 may include a back panel. The opening 13 may be opposite to the back panel. The pin 12 is arranged on the side panel 11.

[0026] The door cover 2 includes a cover plate 21 and a coupling edge 22. The coupling edge is formed at one end of the cover plate 21 and extends in the thickness direction Y. The door cover 2 is used to close the opening of the housing 1. When the door cover 2 is closed, the coupling edge 22 can be arranged on the outside of the housing 1.

[0027] A groove 23 is formed on the coupling edge 22. The pin 12 is movable within the groove 23, thereby allowing the door cover 2 to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the door cover covers the opening. In the second position, the door cover 2 is open, thereby exposing the opening 13.

[0028] For conventional electrical boxes, the door is only fixed to the box body with screws. When the electrical box is fixed at a high place, there is nowhere to put the door after it is removed, and there is even a risk of it falling. In addition, the operator needs to use both hands to remove the door, which is extremely inconvenient for operators who use hand tools. Another type of conventional electrical box has a door fixed to the box body with hinges. In some confined spaces, the door cannot be opened normally due to its large opening radius.

[0029] In contrast, according to the embodiments of this disclosure, the above-mentioned problems are cleverly solved by designing a cooperative structure between the slide groove 23 and the pin 12. The door cover 2 is fixed to the housing 1 in the open state, which not only solves the problem of where to place the door cover 2, but also limits the slide groove 23 of the door cover 2 on the housing 1, preventing the door cover 2 from falling off and improving the operational safety of the electrical box. Moreover, the door cover 2 can be opened in multiple ways. Specifically, the door cover 2 can not only slide relative to the pin 12 to open in a translational manner, but it can also slide and rotate relative to the pin 12, i.e., open in a "slide while rotating" manner. Even in confined spaces, the door cover 2 can be opened normally. Furthermore, through the sliding cooperation and limiting of the slide groove 23 and the pin 12, operators can easily open the door cover 2 with one hand without needing to use both hands to remove it.

[0030] In some embodiments, the side plate 11 may include a first side plate perpendicular to the length direction X, and the pin 12 is arranged on the first side plate. The slide groove 23 allows the housing 1 and the door cover 2 to be spaced apart, thereby allowing the pin 12 to rotate and slide within the slide groove 23. That is, the operator can open the door cover 2 by rotating and sliding it up or down. In some embodiments, for the convenience of the operator, when the door cover 2 is rotated and slid to the second position, the cover plate 21 is located at one end of the height direction of the housing, and the cover plate 21 is perpendicular to the height direction Z, thereby fully exposing the opening 13.

[0031] In some embodiments, the side plate 11 may include a second side plate located in the height direction Z, and the pin 12 is arranged on the second side plate. The slide groove 23 allows the housing 1 and the door cover 2 to be spaced apart, thereby allowing the pin 12 to rotate and slide within the slide groove 23. That is, the operator can open the door cover 2 by rotating and sliding it to the left or right. In some embodiments, similar to the situation mentioned above, in order to fully expose the opening 13 and facilitate the operator's operation, when the door cover 2 is rotated and slid to the second position, the cover plate 21 is located at one end of the length direction X of the housing, and the cover plate 21 is perpendicular to the length direction X. In this way, the slide groove 23 of the door cover 2 slides and rotates relative to the pin 12, causing the rotation center of the door cover 2 to change along the axis of the slide groove 23, effectively shortening the rotation radius of the door cover 2, so that the door cover 2 can be opened normally even in a confined space.

[0032] In some embodiments, the operator can open the door cover 2 by sliding only. When the side panel 11 includes a first side panel perpendicular to the length direction X, and the first side panel is provided with a pin 12, the operator pulls the door cover 2 upwards or downwards, causing the pin 12 to slide within the slide groove 23, thereby placing the door cover 2 in a second position where the cover plate 21 is perpendicular to the thickness direction Y. In some embodiments, when the side panel 11 includes a second side panel perpendicular to the height direction Z, and the second side panel is provided with a pin 12, the operator pulls the door cover 2 to the left or right, causing the pin 12 to slide within the slide groove 23, thereby placing the door cover 2 in a second position where the cover plate 21 is perpendicular to the thickness direction Y. In this way, when space is limited and the door cover cannot be opened by rotation, the operator can change the operating method and open the door cover 2 by sliding only, avoiding interference between the door cover 2 and surrounding equipment or walls.

[0033] In some embodiments, the slide 23 may include a straight groove 231 and at least one enlarged diameter portion 232 formed at at least one predetermined position of the straight groove 231. Each enlarged diameter portion 232 has a dimension larger than the dimension of the straight groove 231 in the thickness direction Y, thereby allowing a gap to be created between the housing 1 and the door cover 2 in the thickness direction. Figuratively, the enlarged diameter portion 232 is a through-hole area that extends outward (away from the housing side) from at least one predetermined position of the elongated straight groove 231, forming a "circular," "waist-shaped," or other suitable shape. This extended space allows the pin 12 to translate slightly within it, allowing the door cover 2 to be "pulled out" a short distance initially, making room for subsequent rotation and preventing the edge of the door cover from colliding with the housing. When the door cover 2 is in the first position, the enlarged diameter portion 232 can accommodate the pin 12, thereby securing the door cover 2 to the housing 1. When the door cover 2 needs to be opened, the pin 12 can slide within the expanded diameter portion 232, thereby allowing the operator to pull the door cover 2 outward along the thickness direction Y.

[0034] In some embodiments, at least one enlarged diameter portion 232 is formed by recessing from at least one side of the straight groove 231 in the thickness direction. In some embodiments, the enlarged diameter portion 232 may be formed by recessing from only one side of the straight groove 231 in the thickness direction away from the housing 1. The axis of the formed enlarged diameter portion 232 is substantially perpendicular to the straight groove 231. In this way, the door cover 2 can be pulled out or pushed in relative to the housing 1 in the thickness direction Y.

[0035] In other embodiments, the enlarged diameter portion 232 can be formed by recessing into both sides of the straight groove 231 in the thickness direction. That is, the enlarged diameter portion 232 may include an extension recessed from one side of the straight groove 231 in a direction away from the housing 1 and a clearance portion recessed from one side of the straight groove 231 in a direction closer to the housing 1. The clearance portion may be a transition area at the connection between the extension and the straight groove 231. In the thickness direction Y, the size of the extension is larger than the size of the clearance portion. In this way, the clearance portion further increases the movement space of the door cover 2 in the thickness direction Y, while providing a transition at the connection between the enlarged diameter portion 232 and the straight groove 231, reducing the impact of the door cover 2 on the straight groove 231 during the pulling in or pushing out process, and further improving the operational flexibility when rotating the door cover 2.

[0036] In some embodiments, the enlarged diameter portion 232 may include at least one of a circular hole, a polygonal hole, an elliptical hole, and an oblong hole. An oblong hole is a through hole with semicircular ends and a middle section formed by two parallel straight lines tangentially connected. As mentioned above, the enlarged diameter portion 232 may include an extension and a clearance portion. To clearly illustrate their positions, the following description uses an oblong hole as an example to illustrate the structure of the enlarged diameter portion 232 including the extension and the clearance portion. Figure 4 As shown, an oblong hole is formed at one end of the straight groove 231 and communicates with the straight groove 231. The axis of the oblong hole extending along the thickness direction Y is perpendicular to the axis of the straight groove 231. The axis of the straight groove 231 divides the oblong hole into two parts: the part located away from the housing 1 is an extension, and the part located closer to the housing 1 is a clearance portion. The size of the extension is larger than the size of the clearance portion.

[0037] In some embodiments, at least one predetermined position includes at least one end position of the two ends of the straight groove 231 in the extending direction, and at least one predetermined position may also include the middle position of the straight groove 231 in the extending direction. The middle position can include any position between the two end positions of the straight groove 231. For example, a first predetermined position in at least one predetermined position is an end position of the straight groove 231 in the extending direction, and a second predetermined position in at least one predetermined position is the middle position of the straight groove 231 in the extending direction. When the door cover 2 is in the closed state, the pin 12 is located in the expanded diameter portion 232 at the first predetermined position. When it is necessary to open the door cover 2, the operator can pull the door cover 2 away from the housing 1, thereby creating a distance between the door cover 2 and the housing 1. Then, the operator can rotate the door cover 2, causing the pin 12 to rotate and slide within the straight groove 231 to the second predetermined position, and move the pin 12 into the expanded diameter portion 232 located at the second predetermined position. In this way, by fixing the pin 12 in the enlarged diameter portion 232 located in the middle of the straight groove 231, the door cover 2 can partially expose the opening 13, thereby facilitating simple operation of the electrical equipment inside the electrical box by the operator.

[0038] Next, we will combine Figure 4 and Figure 8 The opening process of the door cover 2 of the electrical box according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described. For example... Figure 4 As shown, side panel 11 includes a first side panel perpendicular to the length direction X, and pin 12 is arranged on the first side panel. First, when the door cover 2 is in the fully closed first position, it is secured to the housing 1 by multiple connectors 3 (e.g., screws), at which point pin 12 is fully accommodated within the expanded diameter portion 232 at the upper end of the slide groove 23. The operator first loosens or removes all connectors 3. Subsequently, the operator pulls the lower side of the door cover 2 outward along the thickness direction Y (i.e., perpendicular to the surface of the door cover 2). Figure 5 As shown, since the diameter of the expanded section 232 is larger than the width of the straight groove 231 in the thickness direction Y, the pulling action causes the pin 12 to move within the range of the expanded section 232, thereby creating a necessary gap between the coupling edge 22 of the door cover 2 and the side plate 11 of the box body 1, so that the subsequent rotation action can be carried out smoothly without interference.

[0039] like Figure 6 As shown, after the door cover 2 is partially pulled out, the operator rotates the door cover 2 upwards using the pin 12 as a dynamic fulcrum. During this process, the pin 12 not only acts as the center of rotation but also slides upwards along the straight groove 231 in the height direction Z. This combined "rotating and sliding" motion makes the effective rotation radius of the door cover 2 much smaller than that of a traditional hinged door, thus enabling opening in confined spaces. Figure 7As shown, with continuous rotation and lifting, the door cover 2 eventually reaches near the top of the box 1 and is roughly horizontal.

[0040] Finally, as Figure 8 As shown, the operator can push the door cover 2 inward along the thickness direction Y, causing the pin 12 to slide from the upper end of the straight groove 231 into the expanded diameter portion 232 located at the lower end. The pin 12 is limited by the expanded diameter portion 232 at the lower end, so that the door cover 2 is stably "parked" on the top of the box 1, that is, it reaches the second position of being fully open. At this time, the opening of the box 1 is fully exposed, facilitating internal operation.

[0041] To close door 2, simply reverse the steps described above. This structural design eliminates the need to remove the door during the entire opening and closing process, making it both safe and convenient.

[0042] In some embodiments, in order to reduce the friction of the pin 12 when it moves in the slide 23 and make the opening and closing process of the door cover 2 smoother and less strenuous, a friction-reducing component can also be provided on the pin 12.

[0043] In some embodiments, a bushing, such as a nylon bushing made of a self-lubricating material like nylon, can be fitted onto the pin 12. This bushing serves as a sliding interface, effectively reducing the sliding friction between the pin 12 and the sidewall of the groove 23, and minimizing wear.

[0044] As a preferred implementation, rolling bearings can be used instead of the aforementioned bushings. Using rolling bearings, the contact between the pin 12 and the groove 23 can be changed from sliding friction to rolling friction with a lower coefficient of friction, thereby further improving the smoothness and effort-saving effect of operation, and minimizing component wear.

[0045] In some embodiments, the electrical box may further include a plurality of connectors 3. The plurality of connectors 3 are arranged on the door cover 2 to lock the door cover 2 onto the box body 1. In some embodiments, the connectors may be screws. In other embodiments, the connectors may include other connecting components capable of fastening the door cover 2 to the box body 1. In this way, the connection stability of the door cover 2 is further improved.

[0046] In some embodiments, the electrical box may further include a plurality of fasteners 4. The plurality of fasteners 4 are arranged on the side of the box 1 opposite to the opening in the thickness direction Y. In some embodiments, the plurality of fasteners may be arranged on the back plate of the box 1. The fasteners 4 are used to couple the electrical box to a support structure. In some embodiments, the support structure may be a busbar trunking; in a data center, the plug-in box can be fixed to the busbar trunking using the fasteners 4. In some embodiments, the fasteners 4 may include a pair of snap-fit ​​members spaced apart along the height direction, the snap-fit ​​members being used to engage with grooves on the busbar trunking to fix the plug-in box in place.

[0047] In some embodiments, the coupling edge 22 may include an indicator mark. The indicator mark is disposed on the side of the slide 23 away from the pin 12, and is used to indicate to the operator how to operate the door cover 2. In some embodiments, the indicator mark may include a rotation mark, for example, a rotation mark consisting of an arrow and an arc. The operator rotates the door cover 2 from the end on the door cover 2 where the rotation mark is disposed, following the rotation mark. In this way, the operator clearly understands the operating steps.

[0048] It should be noted that the figures, values, etc., mentioned above and elsewhere in this disclosure are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way. Any other suitable figures or values ​​are possible.

[0049] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An electrical box, characterized in that, include: The housing (1) includes a side plate (11), an opening (13), and a pin (12) arranged on the side plate (11). as well as The door cover (2) includes a cover plate (21) and a coupling edge (22) extending from one end of the cover plate (21) in the thickness direction (Y), the coupling edge (22) having a groove (23), and The groove (23) therein is adapted to allow the pin (12) to move so as to allow the cover (2) to move between a first position and a second position, in the first position the cover (2) covers the opening (13) and in the second position the cover (2) exposes the opening (13).

2. The electrical box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side plate (11) includes a first side plate perpendicular to the length direction (X), the pin (12) is arranged on the first side plate, and the slide (23) is configured to allow the housing (1) and the door cover (2) to be spaced in the thickness direction (Y) so that the pin (12) can rotate and slide within the slide (23).

3. The electrical box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side plate (11) includes a second side plate perpendicular to the height direction (Z), the pin (12) is arranged on the second side plate, and the slide (23) is configured to allow the housing (1) and the door cover (2) to be spaced in the thickness direction (Y) so that the pin (12) can rotate and slide within the slide (23).

4. The electrical box according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The groove (23) includes a straight groove (231) and at least one enlarged diameter portion (232) formed at at least one predetermined position in the straight groove (231), each of the at least one enlarged diameter portion (232) having a dimension in the thickness direction (Y) larger than that of the straight groove (231) to allow the housing (1) and the door cover (2) to have a gap in the thickness direction (Y).

5. The electrical box according to claim 4, characterized in that, The at least one enlarged diameter portion (232) is formed by recessing from the straight groove (231) on at least one side in the thickness direction.

6. The electrical box according to claim 4, characterized in that, The at least one enlarged diameter portion (232) includes at least one of a circular hole, a polygonal hole, an elliptical hole, and a waist-shaped hole.

7. The electrical box according to claim 4, characterized in that, The at least one predetermined location includes: The linear groove (231) is located at at least one end of its two ends in the extending direction; and / or The straight groove (231) is located at the middle of the extension direction.

8. The electrical box according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, It also includes a bushing or rolling bearing arranged on the pin (12).

9. The electrical box according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of connectors (3) arranged on the cover (2) to lock the cover (2) onto the housing (1).

10. The electrical box according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of fasteners (4) arranged on the side of the housing (1) opposite to the opening in the thickness direction (Y) and adapted to couple the electrical box to the support structure.

11. The electrical box according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, The coupling edge (22) includes an indicator mark arranged on the side of the groove (23) away from the pin (12).

12. The electrical box according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-7, characterized in that, The electrical box includes a plug-in box for the busbar trunking.

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