Control cabinet for accommodating a built-in module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control cabinet (1) for receiving a mounting module (19), comprising a cabinet frame (8) bounded by a front frame plane (12), a rail arrangement (5) fixedly connected to the cabinet frame (8), and a pivoting device (2) suitable for receiving the mounting module, with guide elements (3.1, 3.2) that are slidable along the rail arrangement (5). In a pivoted position, the pivoting device (2) is fully pivoted into the cabinet frame (8) and can be pivoted outward, in which the pivoting device (2) partially protrudes from the cabinet frame (8) through the front frame plane (12). The rail arrangement (5) has a horizontally extending support rail section (4) and a diagonally extending guide rail section (6) arranged above the support rail section (4).When the swivel device (2) is pivoted from the pivoted-in to the pivoted-out state, a first (3.1) of the guide elements of the swivel device (2) moves along the horizontally extending support rail section (4) and a second (3.2) of the guide elements of the swivel device (2) moves along the diagonally extending guide rail section (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control cabinet for receiving an (electronic or electrical) installation module, comprising a cabinet frame and a pivoting device suitable for receiving the installation module, which is pivotably mounted in the cabinet frame.

[0002] These types of control cabinets (also called system cabinets, racks, or server cabinets) are used to house one or more modules, protecting them from mechanical damage, dust, moisture, electromagnetic interference, and / or unauthorized physical access. Depending on the specific application, a module can be, for example, a control unit, distribution board, computer, server, rectifier, inverter, or battery module.

[0003] These modules are also referred to as insert modules, inserts or sub-modules.

[0004] To ensure the compatibility of installation modules and control cabinets from different manufacturers, standards exist that define the dimensions and mechanical design of the individual components.

[0005] The DIN EN 60297 series of standards, for example, defines the mechanical design of the so-called 19-inch system. A standardized mounting module has a front panel with a width of 19 inches, which corresponds to 482.6 mm. The module height and depth are also defined.

[0006] To improve the accessibility of the installation modules during installation or maintenance work, the installation modules in some control cabinets are mounted in the control cabinet by means of swivel devices.

[0007] This allows the installer (fitter) to swing the module at least partially out of the control cabinet during installation or maintenance work, for example, to improve access to the rear connections of the module. Once the installer has completed the work, the module can be fully swung back into the control cabinet, and the cabinet can be closed by closing the cabinet door.

[0008] For example, patent DE 10 2016 110 066 B3 describes a system cabinet with a built-in cooling unit that can be pivoted forward around a pivot axis to simplify maintenance and installation.

[0009] The Chinese utility model application CN 219 478 375 U describes a control cabinet with internal components that are guided by means of rollers in horizontal or vertically downward running rails and can be pulled out and swivelled by 90° for maintenance purposes in order to improve their rear accessibility.

[0010] Against this background, the present invention is based on the objective of providing a control cabinet of the type described above which is characterized by improved practicality, in particular with regard to efficient use of the space provided in the control cabinet, with regard to increased occupational safety and with regard to compact dimensions even in the swung-out state while simultaneously ensuring sufficient accessibility of the rear of the installation module.

[0011] This problem is solved by the control cabinet according to the invention as per claim 1. Particularly advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0012] The control cabinet according to the invention for accommodating an (electronic or electrical) built-in module comprises - a cabinet frame which is bounded by a front frame plane and a rear (especially flat) frame surface, - a rail arrangement permanently attached to the cabinet frame, - a swivel device suitable for receiving the installation module with guide elements that are movable along the rail arrangement, where - the swivel device is fully swivelled into the cabinet frame in a swivelled position and the swivel device can be brought into a swivelled-out position by swivelling, in which the swivel device partially protrudes from the cabinet frame through the front frame plane, - the rail arrangement has a horizontally running support rail section and a diagonally running guide rail section arranged above the support rail section, - when the swiveling device is pivoted from the pivoted-in to the pivoted-out state, a first of the guide elements of the swiveling device moves along the horizontally running support rail section and a second of the guide elements of the swiveling device moves along the diagonally running guide rail section.

[0013] The invention is based on the realization that by the synergistic combination of the features according to the invention, in particular by combining a horizontal support rail section, a diagonal guide rail section and guide elements slidably mounted therein, a pivoting mechanism can be realized which is characterized by a number of advantages: Stable position when swung in the retracted state

[0014] According to the invention, a swivel device can be implemented that remains in a stable position when swiveled in the retracted state. To swivel the device out, its center of gravity must first be raised slightly due to the arrangement of the rail sections. The weight of the swivel device thus counteracts its movement from the retracted state (at the beginning of the swiveling process), so that, by design, the swivel device remains (relatively) securely in the retracted position and does not swivel out unintentionally. In this way, it is possible to prevent a technician from being surprised or even injured by an unexpectedly swiveling device, which is beneficial to workplace safety – especially when the control cabinet is used on a ship and is subject to constant movement due to waves and sea conditions. Compact dimensions even when swung out

[0015] The design and positioning of the diagonally running guide rail determines how far the swivel mechanism projects beyond the front frame plane when swiveled out. Limiting the front projection of the swivel mechanism in this way can be particularly advantageous when the control cabinet is used in confined spaces and swiveling out of the frame is required even under these conditions.

[0016] Furthermore, the minimal protrusion of the swivel device in the swiveled position has the advantage that the center of gravity of the swivel device itself is located within (or at least not too far outside) the cabinet frame in the swiveled position, which contributes to the stable position of the control cabinet and prevents the control cabinet from tipping over.

[0017] The interaction of guide elements, guide rail section, and support rail section according to the invention ensures that the pivot axis, around which the pivoting device is pivoted, shifts along the support rail section during the pivoting process. When the pivoting device is pivoted out of the pivoted position, the pivot axis is initially located near the front frame plane of the control cabinet. Shortly before the pivoted-out position is reached, the pivot axis is located further inside the cabinet frame. Efficient use of space

[0018] If a swivel device is provided in a control cabinet, a certain clearance area must typically be provided and kept clear in the control cabinet so that the swivel device does not collide with components located there when swiveling in and out.

[0019] The inventors have now realized that, due to the inventive mounting of the swivel device by means of the guide elements in the rail arrangement, the required distance range can be chosen to be smaller due to geometric reasons than with a conventional positioning of the swivel axis near the rear frame surface of the control cabinet.

[0020] To illustrate this connection, the following is shown in the Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B each a control cabinet 1 with a swivel device 2 with edge lengths a and b is sketched.

[0021] In the control cabinet according to the invention Fig. 5A the swivel device 2 is movably mounted by means of a first guide element 3.1 in the support rail section 4 of the rail arrangement 5 and by means of a second guide element 3.2 in the guide rail section 6 of the rail arrangement 5.

[0022] In the previously known control cabinet 1 according to Fig. In 5B, however, the swivel device 2 is rotatably mounted about a (fixed) swivel axis S in the cabinet frame, with the swivel axis S being arranged near the rear frame plane 7.

[0023] Solid lines show the swivel device 2 in the swiveled-in state (swiveled-in position), dashed lines in the swiveled-out state (swiveled-out position) or in an intermediate state.

[0024] The minimum height of the required clearance zones d1, d2 can be determined using trigonometric considerations: According to Fig. 5A is the minimum height of the clearance area. d1=c−b=a2+b2−b, where the length of the diagonal c of the rectangle spanned by the edges a and b is determined according to Pythagoras c=a2+b2 amounts.

[0025] According to Fig. 1B, however, the minimum height of the distance area d2 is a.

[0026] It can be mathematically proven that for all edge lengths a, b (greater than 0) the minimum height of the distance range d1 of the control cabinet according to the invention is Fig. 5A is smaller than the minimum height of the clearance area d2 of the control cabinet according to Fig. 5B.

[0027] The invention thus enables the realization of a particularly small distance range. In this way, very little volume (space) needs to be kept free in the control cabinet to allow for trouble-free swiveling of the swivel device, thereby making particularly efficient use of the space available in the control cabinet. Accessibility of the rear of the installation module

[0028] At the same time, the control cabinet according to the invention allows for particularly easy access to the rear of the swiveling device when swung out, since a relatively large distance opens up between the rear of the swiveling device and the rear frame surface when it is swung out, which makes it easier for the installer to access the swiveling device (or the device installed therein) from the rear.

[0029] The following section explains and defines some terms and aspects of the invention in more detail: In this case, a (framework) plane is defined by the fact that the line connecting any two points of the (framework) plane lies in the (framework) plane itself.

[0030] A (frame) surface, however, can also be curved. In most applications, the rear frame surface of the control cabinet is flat, meaning it is a rear frame plane that runs parallel to the front frame plane. In specific applications, however, particularly when the control cabinet is to be installed in a space with uneven walls (such as a ship or submarine), it may be advantageous to design the cabinet frame so that the rear of the cabinet conforms to the contour of the adjacent uneven wall, resulting in a curved rear frame surface.

[0031] Position specifications such as horizontal, vertical, top, above, bottom and below refer to the intended installation position of the control cabinet (also shown in the figures).

[0032] The first guide element is displaceable along the horizontally extending support rail section from a first position (corresponding to the pivoted state) to a second position (corresponding to the pivoted state). A horizontally extending support rail section is defined as a support rail section in which a straight line connecting the first and second positions, the support rail connecting line, runs horizontally.

[0033] In this context, a horizontally extending (support rail) connecting line is understood to be a connecting line which, when a control cabinet is properly aligned, forms an angle of less than 20°, in particular less than 10° or 5°, with the horizontal plane. The horizontal plane is perpendicular to the vertical direction, i.e., the direction of the gravitational force, at the location of the control cabinet.

[0034] The path between the first and second positions, along which the first guide element is moved when the swivel device pivots, runs along the straight line connecting the (support rails) in the case of a straight section of the support rail. However, rail sections are also conceivable where the path is, for example, curved, undulating, or wavy.

[0035] The second guide element is displaceable along the diagonally extending guide rail section from a first position (corresponding to the pivoted state) to a second position (corresponding to the pivoted state). A diagonally extending guide rail section is defined as a guide rail section in which a straight line connecting the first and second positions, the guide rail connecting line, runs diagonally.

[0036] In the present context, a diagonally running (guide rail) connecting line is understood to be a connecting line which forms an angle with the horizontal plane of more than 20° and less than 80°, in particular an angle of more than 30° and less than 70° or an angle of more than 40° and less than 60°.

[0037] The path between the first and second positions, along which the second guide element is moved when the swivel device pivots, runs along the connecting straight section of rail. However, rail sections are also conceivable where the path is, for example, curved, undulating, or wavy.

[0038] The statement that the diagonally running guide rail section is arranged "above" the horizontally running support rail section expresses that at least a large part of the section of the guide rail connection line extending between the first and second positions lies above the support rail connection line. At a minimum, the second guide element is located above the support rail connection line in its second position.

[0039] Preferably, the support rail section and the guide rail section are designed as straight rail sections and enclose an acute angle with each other, which is open towards the front frame plane and is in particular between 30° and 80° or between 60° and 80°.

[0040] Straight rail sections are particularly cost-effective to manufacture and easy to integrate into a control cabinet according to the invention.

[0041] The angle formed by the two rail sections determines how far the swivel mechanism projects beyond the front frame plane when swiveled out, and how large the distance is between the rear of the swivel mechanism and the rear frame surface in this state. Arranging the two rail sections at an acute angle, particularly between 30° and 80°, has proven to be a particularly practical solution, allowing convenient access to the rear of the swivel mechanism without the swivel mechanism protruding too far beyond the front frame plane.

[0042] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide elements are designed as guide rollers.

[0043] In this way, the guide elements can be moved along the rail arrangement with particularly low friction and noise, resulting in a very smooth swiveling process.

[0044] Furthermore, it is provided that when pivoting the swiveling device from the pivoted state to the pivoted state, the first guide element is not moved along the diagonally running guide rail section.

[0045] According to claim 1, the invention provides that when the pivoting device is swiveled, the first guide element moves along the support rail section and the second guide element moves along the guide rail section. Each guide element is thus assigned its own rail section. The path that the guide elements travel between their respective first and second positions during pivoting can therefore be individually determined by the design of the respective rail section, resulting in the desired pivoting movement of the pivoting device. The above wording expressly clarifies that, during pivoting, the first guide element does not move along the guide rail section, but rather along the support rail section.

[0046] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the control cabinet according to the invention, in the swiveled-out state the swiveling device projects less than one third, in particular less than one quarter or one fifth, beyond the front frame plane with respect to its horizontal extent.

[0047] In this way, a control cabinet can be realized that can also be used in confined spaces, where only limited space is available in front of the cabinet. The positioning of the guide rail section within the cabinet frame and the angle that the guide rail connecting line forms with the horizontal plane determine how far the swivel mechanism protrudes beyond the front frame plane when swiveled out.

[0048] Preferably, the control cabinet is designed to be mirror-symmetrical to a vertically running mirror plane, so that the rail arrangement and the swiveling device together with their guide elements are also designed to be mirror-symmetrical.

[0049] Furthermore, it may be provided that the control cabinet has two rail arrangements and two swivel devices.

[0050] The two swivel devices can be arranged horizontally next to each other or vertically one above the other.

[0051] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control cabinet may have a damping device (in particular comprising a gas spring).

[0052] This makes it easier for the installer to swivel the swivel device, as the damping device applies some of the force that supports the swivel device during swiveling. This reduces strain on the installer and prevents the swivel device from swinging out uncontrollably.

[0053] Some exemplary embodiments of the control cabinet according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show Fig. 1 a control cabinet according to the invention in several pivoting positions in a schematic side view, Fig. 2A & 2B a control cabinet according to the invention in the pivoted position ( Fig. 2A) and in the swung-out position ( Fig. 2B), each in a perspective oblique view, Fig. 3A & 3B the control cabinet according to Fig. 2A & 2B in the swung-in position ( Fig. 3A) and in the swung-out position ( Fig. 3B), each in a front and side view, Fig. 4A & 4B an enlarged section of the control cabinet according to the Fig. 2A to 3B in the swung-in position ( Fig. 4A) and in the swung-out position ( Fig. 4B), each in a side view, and Fig. 5A & 5B a schematic comparison of the control cabinet according to the invention Fig. 1 and a control cabinet in accordance with the state of the art.

[0054] The general structure and the swiveling process of the control cabinet 1 according to the invention are primarily described with regard to the Fig. 1 explained in more detail, with reference to the embodiment according to the Fig. Sections 2A to 4B discuss constructive details.

[0055] The control cabinet 1 according to the invention has a cabinet frame 8, a rail arrangement 5 and a swiveling device 2.

[0056] The cuboid cabinet frame 8 comprises two cabinet frame sides 9, a cabinet frame top 10, and a cabinet frame base 11, and is bounded by the front frame plane 12 and the equally flat rear frame surface 13 (rear frame plane). In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in 2A to 4B, the cabinet frame sides 9 and the cabinet frame base 11 are formed by horizontally and vertically extending metal strips 14 respectively, while the cabinet frame cover 10 is formed as a metal sheet 15.

[0057] The rail assembly 5 is firmly connected to the cabinet frame sides 9 of the cabinet frame 8 by means of screws. The rail assembly 5 comprises two different, straight rail sections 4, 6: a horizontally extending support rail section 4 and a diagonally extending guide rail section 6 arranged above the support rail section 4. The two straight rail sections 4, 6 form an acute angle W1 with each other, which opens towards the front frame plane 12 and according to Fig. 1 approximately 70° (+ / - 5°) and according to the Fig. 2A to 4B is approximately 76° (+ / - 5°).

[0058] The swivel device 2 comprises a rear panel 16, a front panel 17, and two side panels 18, between which two mounting modules 19 are accommodated (as shown in the Fig. 2A to 4B shown) or at least one installation module 19 can be accommodated.

[0059] On each of the side sections 18, two guide elements 3.1, 3.2, designed as guide rollers 20, are arranged, which are guided in the rail sections 4, 6 of the rail arrangement 5 and can thus be moved along the rail arrangement 5. One of the two guide elements 3.1 is movable along the horizontal support rail section 4, the second of the two guide elements 3.2 along the diagonal guide rail section 6.

[0060] The swivel device 2 can be swivelled from a swivelled-in state to a swivelled-out state (and back again). Fig. Figure 1 shows the swivel device 2 with solid lines in the swiveled-in state and with dashed lines in the swiveled-out state, as well as in three intermediate states during the swiveling out.

[0061] In the swung-in state, which is in the Fig. 2A, Fig. 3A and Fig. As shown in Figure 4A, the swivel device 2 is completely within the cabinet frame 8 and is thus fully swivelled into it. In this state, the first guide element 3.1 is in its first position within the support rail section 4, and the second guide element 3.2 is in its first position within the guide rail section 6.

[0062] In the swung-out state, which is in the Fig. 2B, Fig. 3B and Fig. As shown in Figure 4B, the pivoting device 2 partially protrudes through the front frame plane 12 from the cabinet frame 8. In the illustrations mentioned in the preceding sentence, the pivoting device 2 projects approximately one quarter of its horizontal extent beyond the front frame plane 12. In this state, the first guide element 3.1 is in its second position within the support rail section, and the second guide element 3.2 is in its second position within the guide rail section 6.

[0063] During pivoting, the first guide element 3.1 is moved along a horizontally running support rail connection line 4G between its first and second position, the second guide element 3.2 is moved along a diagonally running guide rail connection line 6G between its first and second position.

[0064] Thus, when the swivel device 2 pivots, the first guide element 3.1 moves along the support rail section 4 and the second guide element 3.2 moves along the guide rail section 6. Each guide element 3.1, 3.2 is thus assigned its own rail section 4, 6.

[0065] In the Fig. Figures 2A to 3B show that a handle is arranged on the front of the swivel device 2, which the fitter can use to conveniently grip the swivel device 2 for swiveling it out or in.

[0066] The control cabinet 1 according to the Fig. 2A to 3B also features two damping devices 21 arranged on either side of the swivel device 2, each with a damping rail 22 and a damping unit 23. The L-shaped, rounded damping rails 22 are firmly connected to the opposite side parts 18 of the swivel device 2 by means of screws (see [reference]). Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B).

[0067] The damping units 23 each comprise a gas spring 24, a linear guide 25, and a damping roller 26. The lower ends of the gas springs 24 are each fixedly connected to one of the two opposite cabinet frame sides 9. The upper ends of the gas springs 24, on the other hand, are vertically displaceable along the linear guides 25 and carry the damping rollers 26. When the pivoting device 2 is in the pivoted position, the gas springs 24 are expanded so that the damping rollers 26 are located at the very top of the linear guides 25.

[0068] When the swivel device 2 is swivelled from the swiveled-in position to the swivelled-out position, the damping rails 22 come into contact with the damping rollers 26. Part of the weight of the swivel device 2 is then transferred to the gas springs 24, which compress the gas springs, thus decelerating the swiveling process and moving the damping rollers 26 downwards along the linear guide 25. The damping rollers 26 roll on the damping rails 22.

[0069] In an area of ​​the control cabinet 1 below the swivel device 2, a cover plate 27 is arranged, rotatably mounted on the cabinet frame 8, which is located in the Fig. 2A and Fig. 3A in a swung-in and into the Fig. 2B and Fig. 3B is shown in a swung-out position. Reference symbol list 1 control cabinet 2 Swivel device 3.1 First guide element 3.2 second guide element 4 Mounting rail section 4G mounting rail connecting straight section 5 rail arrangement 6 Guide rail section 6G guide rail connecting straight section 7 rear frame level 8 cabinet frames 9 Cabinet frame side 10 cabinet frame covers 11 Cabinet frame base 12 front frame level 13 rear frame surface 14 metal strips 15 sheet metal 16 Back 17 Front 18 Side panel 19 Installation module 20 Leadership role 21 damping devices 22 Damping rail 23 Damping unit 24 Gas spring 25 linear guides 26 damping roller 27 aperture d1, d2 distance ranges S swivel axis W1 Angle

Claims

[1] Control cabinet (1) for receiving a built-in module (19) comprising - a cabinet frame (8) which is bounded by a front frame plane (12) and a rear frame surface (13), - a rail arrangement (5) permanently connected to the cabinet frame (8), - a swivel device (2) suitable for receiving the installation module (19) with guide elements (3.1, 3.2) which are slidable along the rail arrangement (5), wherein - the swivel device (2) is fully swivelled into the cabinet frame (8) in a swivelled-in state and the swivel device (2) can be brought into a swivelled-out state by swivelling, in which the swivel device (2) partially protrudes from the cabinet frame (8) through the front frame plane (12), - the rail arrangement (5) has a horizontally extending support rail section (4) and a diagonally extending guide rail section (6) arranged above the support rail section (4), - when pivoting the pivoting device (2) from the pivoted-in to the pivoted-out state, a first (3.1) of the guide elements of the pivoting device (2) moves along the horizontally extending support rail section (4) and a second (3.2) of the guide elements of the pivoting device (2) moves along the diagonally extending guide rail section (6). [2] Control cabinet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support rail section (4) and the guide rail section (6) are designed as straight rail sections and enclose an acute angle (W1) with each other, which is open towards the front frame plane (12) and is in particular between 30° and 80° or between 60° and 80°. [3] Control cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide elements (3.1, 3.2) are designed as guide rollers (20). [4] Control cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the swiveled-out state the swiveling device (2) projects beyond the front frame plane (12) by less than one third, in particular by less than one quarter or one fifth, with respect to its horizontal extent. [5] Control cabinet (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control cabinet (1) has two rail arrangements (5) and two pivoting devices (2). [6] Control cabinet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control cabinet has a damping device (21) comprising, in particular, a gas spring (24).

Images