Cable entry device for a switch cabinet, as well as arrangement and method for operating the same.

Description

[0001] The invention is based on an arrangement comprising a switch cabinet and a cable inlet device according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for operating the arrangement according to claim 1.

[0003] Such arrangements and methods are required to insert cables into control cabinets, to secure them with strain relief and to seal their entry area. State of the art

[0004] In the state of the art, cable entries for control cabinets are known, for example, from the Wikipedia article https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wiki / Kabeleinführung.

[0005] EP 2 746 634 A1 discloses a comparable cable holder with a U-shaped frame and a number of sealing inserts ("grommets") for passing cables through. This cable holder has a U-shaped frame with two legs and a web connecting these two legs. Furthermore, the cable holder has a number of sealing inserts. Each of these sealing inserts has at least one bore for passing a cable through. The cable holder also has a latch that, when mounted, connects the two legs and exerts pressure on the cable-equipped sealing inserts. Based on this prior art, the document proposes forming the latch and / or the frame from an elastic material, with the two ends of the latch and the free ends of the legs having recesses or projections that form a snap connection with each other.

[0006] Furthermore, it is known in the prior art to modify bulkhead housings originating from the field of heavy-duty connectors in such a way that they are suitable as cable entries for control cabinets.

[0007] Document EP 2 845 277 B1 discloses a feedthrough housing for one or more cables. This housing has a lower housing part, which is designed for arrangement on a switch cabinet housing, and also a housing upper part. The housing upper part can be brought from an open state, in which it is not fixed to the lower housing part, into a closed state, in which it is attached to the lower housing part and, in particular, covers it in a sealing manner. At least one cable feedthrough seal is provided in the lower housing part for receiving a cable, in particular a pre-assembled cable. In addition, the feedthrough housing comprises a strain relief for each of the at least one cables. Furthermore, it is disclosed that cable feedthrough seals and strain reliefs can also be arranged in the upper housing part.

[0008] The disadvantage of this design is that, based on experience, the sealing performance between the cable entry seals on both sides and a ring seal, which is usually required for sealing between the housing parts, is significantly impaired due to the so-called "T-shape" of this entire sealing arrangement. Furthermore, the cables held in the upper part of the housing experience a certain degree of cable elongation when the upper part is closed in the control cabinet. This overall arrangement is therefore not only technically disadvantageous, but also comparatively complex and expensive.

[0009] To achieve improvements in operation and sealing, the publication DE 10 2016 114 577 A1 proposes the following: Separate strain relief elements, such as cable clamps or cable ties, are attached to the inside of a preferably one-piece bulkhead housing. These are actuated through a mounting window provided on the opposite side of the housing. By closing the window with a cover, the sealing elements are compressed and seal the cables against the bulkhead housing.

[0010] The disadvantage of all these known arrangements is that they are very complex to design and use. They involve a large number of expensive individual parts and require undesirably long installation times. Furthermore, replacing the cables and their associated sealing elements in the field is complex and difficult.

[0011] The German Patent and Trademark Office searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: EP 0 560 119 A1, DE 42 07 281 C1, ES 2 167 149 A1, DE 10 2016 114 577 A1, EP 2 845 277 B1 and EP 2 746 634 A1.

[0012] The document EP 3 517 816 A1 - also published as US 2019 / 023790 A1 - discloses a pre-opened sealing insert, receivable in a frame part for installation in a connector housing, in particular a connector housing of a connector having a modular system.

[0013] The prior art document WO 2006 / 037522 A1 mentions an arrangement with two metal sheets that are attached to a switch cabinet frame, thus forming its floor. The metal sheets have openings open to one long side of the metal sheets. The metal sheets are arranged so that the openings communicate with each other in pairs, with two openings forming a floor opening. One half of a holding frame is inserted into each opening, into which grommets for accommodating cables can be inserted. The two halves are assembled by means of a screw connection to form a holding frame that completely fills a floor opening.

[0014] The aforementioned publication criticizes this design for the fact that replacing individual cables or cable grommets is very complex. Not only would the base plates have to be removed from the frame, but in order to remove a grommet with a cable, the support frame must be disassembled into its two halves.

[0015] As an improvement, the document builds on this and proposes a cable entry device for a housing wall, preferably for the floor of a switch cabinet. This has a frame into which individual, juxtaposed flat wall segments are inserted, which are fastened to the frame by their narrow sides, wherein at least a first wall segment has at least one opening open to one of its long sides, to which a holding frame is attached. The holding frame has frame openings that are open to an insertion side of the holding frame and into which grommets for receiving cables to be fed through the opening can be inserted flush with the outer contour of the holding frame on the insertion side. The holding frame extends with its insertion side in plan view at least as far as a boundary line running along the long side of the first wall segment, to which the opening is open.According to the invention, a second wall segment is arranged with one of its longitudinal sides in plan view along the boundary line adjacent to the first wall segment.

[0016] The document DE 42 07 281 C1 relates to a cable entry device for a control cabinet with an open base enclosed by frame legs of a rack and closed by means of individual, stackable base plates. The narrow sides of the individual base plates can be connected to the facing frame legs of the rack. Furthermore, they are provided with portal-like recesses along one long side for receiving cable grommets. The cable grommets accommodate cables. Cables are thus inserted through recesses in the base and are held in bulkhead plates to cover the recesses. The base plates have a folded edge along at least one long side. The base plates are connected to the recesses with folded edges along one long side. Furthermore, sealing strips seal the abutting long sides of adjacent base plates. Task

[0017] The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical cable entry device for a control cabinet and, furthermore, to provide an arrangement and a method that simplify the assembly of a control cabinet. In particular, the subsequent replacement of cables inserted into the control cabinet should be facilitated.

[0018] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0020] A cable inlet device for a control cabinet has a rigid frame part - for example one made of a rigid material. The frame part has a mounting surface for attachment to a control cabinet wall intended as a mounting wall in the area of ​​a wall opening provided for the cable entry into the control cabinet. Depending on the design of the control cabinet and the respective requirements, the mounting wall can be a side wall or a front and / or rear wall of the control cabinet, in a design that is sensible and therefore advantageous for the respective application. The frame part has a mounting seal on its mounting surface for sealing against the said mounting wall of the control cabinet. This mounting seal can, for example, be formed by a sealing surface, e.g. a suitably cut rubber film.Alternatively or additionally, it can also have a seal that is held and guided in a sealing groove in the mounting surface, with this sealing groove encompassing the sealing recesses on three sides.

[0021] The mounting surface can therefore generally be considered the surface of the frame part in and / or on which the mounting seal is located. The frame part has a side surface opposite the mounting surface.

[0022] The frame part further comprises a fastening device for its fastening in or on the switch cabinet, for example screw passages with associated screws or also a quick fastening device described in more detail below, for fastening, in particular screwing, the frame part to the mounting wall or to any other fastening device present in the vicinity of the mounting wall in the switch cabinet, in particular to a screwing device, e.g. to fastening rails or the like.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the screw holes can begin, in particular, on the said side surface and extend through the frame part, ending at the mounting surface of the frame part. For example, the frame part can be screwed to the mounting wall of the control cabinet from the inside or outside using screws inserted into the screw holes.

[0024] As already indicated, in an alternative embodiment, a quick-release fastening device can be used as a fastening device instead of a screw connection, as follows: At least one, preferably several, in particular two, particularly rectangular locking windows can be provided on both the frame part and the mounting wall. The locking windows of the mounting wall can correspond in size and shape to the locking windows of the frame part and can lie directly above one another for mutual fastening during assembly.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the frame part can have at least one, preferably several, in particular two fastening flange(s), in each of which one of the said locking windows of the frame part is arranged.

[0026] Furthermore, at least one, preferably several, in particular two, quick-fastening devices are provided for fastening a frame part. These each have a locking housing, which can preferably be passed through the locking window in a form-fitting manner.

[0027] The quick-fastening devices also have locking means, e.g. spring-mounted locking hooks in the locking housing, each with a sliding bevel and a locking surface that is preferably angled at an acute angle. When the locking housing is pushed through the superimposed locking windows of the frame part and the mounting wall, the locking hooks can initially be pushed into the locking housing against the spring force using their sliding bevels. However, due to the restoring force of the locking spring, the locking hooks are then pushed outwards again by the locking spring in the fully inserted - i.e. mounted - state and their locking surface engages behind the locking window of the mounting wall for the final mechanical fastening of the frame part to the mounting wall.On the frame part side, the snap-in connection housing can preferably have a stop surface, for example a circumferential stop flange, with which it presses against the frame part, in particular against the flange of the frame part, in the assembled state.

[0028] The locking surface of the locking hook, which then presses against the mounting wall from the opposite side of the locking window, does not necessarily have to run parallel to this stop surface, in particular this stop flange. Instead, it can advantageously form an angle to the stop flange that is slightly greater than 0°, preferably greater than 2.5°, and in particular greater than 5°. Due to the restoring force of the locking spring, the stop surface, in particular the stop flange, and thus also the respective fastening flange of the frame part, is then pulled against the mounting surface by the locking hook, thus holding the frame part force-fitted to the mounting wall.

[0029] With such snap-in fastening devices, the add-on housings can be advantageously mounted to a device wall without the need for tools. For convenient disassembly, these snap-in fastening devices can be easily removed from the device wall using a release tool. For example, the release tool can be an L-shaped release pin, the tip of which is inserted into a release opening in the snap-in housing and actuated, e.g., rotated, using its lever area projecting at a right angle. This activates a mechanism in the snap-in housing that allows the locking elements to be retracted into the snap-in housing against the spring force to release the fastening.

[0030] In a further embodiment, the at least one quick-fastening device can be a component of the frame part, e.g., by having its locking housing and stop flange formed integrally with the frame part, thereby firmly connecting the quick-fastening device to the frame part. In this case, the frame part itself, of course, does not require a locking window.

[0031] The mounting seal arranged on the mounting surface of the frame part is pressed against the corresponding mounting wall of the control cabinet - depending on the side of attachment from the inside or from the outside - whereby the mounting seal encompasses the wall opening provided for the cable feedthrough on at least three sides in an advantageous further development.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the frame part can have a cuboid basic shape. The mounting surface and the side surface of the frame part can then run parallel to each other and each have a rectangular basic shape. They can then be connected to each other via four essentially rectangular edge surfaces of the cuboid. The term "essentially" can mean, for example, that at least one of the edge surfaces is interrupted by at least one recess.

[0033] In particular, the mounting surface and the side surface are connected to each other via a front surface of the frame part aligned at right angles to them. This front surface can be formed by one of the said edge surfaces of the cuboid. In the assembled state, it is arranged at least near – in particular directly adjacent to – a control cabinet opening. The front surface is flat. This allows it to be flush with a free-standing edge of the said mounting wall to which it is attached – and thus also with the said control cabinet opening – in the assembled state.

[0034] In this and the following, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that the terms "flat" and "even" and in particular "flush" are to be understood within the framework of the usual manufacturing and assembly tolerances and elasticities of the corresponding components.

[0035] The frame part further comprises at least one, preferably several, concave U-shaped sealing recess(es) beginning at its front surface and extending into the frame part. As a result, the front surface of the frame part is interrupted in the region of this at least one sealing recess.

[0036] The cable inlet device also has at least one elastic sealing insert. This sealing insert has a convex U-shaped insert contour that complements the sealing recess and can thus be inserted into the respective sealing recess of the frame part with a positive and force fit.

[0037] Each sealing insert has at least one continuous, cylindrical cable entry opening and an insertion slot for inserting a cable into this cable entry opening. Furthermore, each sealing insert has a flat closure surface on the side not enclosed by its convex, U-shaped insert contour, through which the insertion slot can run in a preferred embodiment. Alternatively, the insertion slot can also run through the insert contour.

[0038] Once the sealing insert is finally inserted into the frame part, the sealing insert's locking surface is flush with the front surface of the frame part. The front surface of the frame part and the sealing insert's locking surface then form a flat, continuous contact surface—within the usual manufacturing tolerances and elasticity limits.

[0039] This means that both the front surface of the frame part and the closing surface can be sealed simultaneously and with a particularly high sealing effect by means of a straight counter seal by pressing the counter seal flat against this pressure surface.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment, the sealing performance of the flat contact surface can be improved by the following advantageous configuration: The frame part can have additional recesses, in particular linear positioning recesses, at least in its front surface on both sides of its U-shaped sealing recesses. In a preferred embodiment, these two positioning recesses can also consist of a circumferential groove arranged in the entire sealing recess or be connected by such a groove.

[0041] The sealing inserts have complementary positioning moldings that can be inserted into the aforementioned positioning recesses, at least in part, in a form-fitting manner, particularly both positively and force-fitting, when the sealing insert is inserted into the frame part. This serves to ensure the most precise positioning of the respective sealing insert, i.e., its correct alignment and correct position within the frame part, which in itself represents an advantage.

[0042] A particularly important further advantage is the following: In a preferred embodiment, the additional recesses / positioning recesses of adjacent sealing recesses can directly adjoin one another in the front surface of the frame part, so that the sealing recesses are also connected to one another via these recesses in the front surface. Once the sealing elements are finally inserted into the frame part, they adjoin one another directly with their correspondingly extended positioning projections and can thus also form a continuous seal on the frame side. At the same time, as already mentioned, they are also flush with the front of the frame part. This arrangement can significantly increase the sealing effect.

[0043] In any case, a flat pressure surface is created on the cable inlet device from the front surface of the frame part and the closing surface of the sealing insert, which can be sealed by means of a straight counter seal by pressing the counter seal flatly against this pressure surface.

[0044] For this purpose, the counter seal can be attached to a linear, particularly flat object, in particular a switch cabinet locking element. The switch cabinet locking element is explained in more detail below and serves to tightly close the switch cabinet. It can be formed, for example, in a hinged switch cabinet door, a snap-on switch cabinet cover, and / or a screw-on sheet metal, for example, the front panel.

[0045] The switch cabinet locking element can be pressed with a counter seal preferably attached thereto against the pressure surface, i.e. against the locking surface of the at least one sealing element and against the front surface of the at least one frame part arranged at the switch cabinet opening.

[0046] An arrangement comprises a control cabinet with several control cabinet walls—in particular, several, preferably four, side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall—including a mounting wall. The mounting wall is characterized by having the said wall opening(s) for the passage of the cables to be introduced.

[0047] Several of the control cabinet walls, for example the four side walls or three of the side walls and a rear wall, etc., each have a free-standing edge when the control cabinet is open. These free-standing edges together form a control cabinet opening. One of these several control cabinet walls is the mounting wall. This mounting wall is characterized by its wall openings. These wall openings are arranged in the mounting wall near their free-standing edge, i.e., near the control cabinet opening. In particular, the wall openings can be open, i.e., located directly on the free-standing edge of the mounting wall and thus directly on the control cabinet opening.

[0048] The control cabinet opening can usually be used to allow manual assembly and wiring of the control cabinet by appropriately trained personnel. Once the control cabinet is assembled and wired, the control cabinet opening—and thus the entire control cabinet—must be sealed watertight. For this purpose, the control cabinet is equipped with the aforementioned control cabinet locking element.

[0049] This switch cabinet locking element can, for example, as already mentioned, be a remaining side wall—i.e., one that does not belong to the group of the aforementioned multiple switch cabinet walls forming the switch cabinet opening—or the front or rear wall. In particular, it can be designed in the form of, for example, a hinged switch cabinet door attached to the switch cabinet opening, and / or a sheet metal that can be screwed to the switch cabinet opening, and / or a switch cabinet cover that can be latched to the switch cabinet opening, or similar.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the control cabinet locking element is a side panel of the control cabinet. The rear panel, for example, can then be used as the mounting panel.

[0051] The at least one cable entry device can be mounted inside, i.e., "from the inside," or outside, i.e., "from the outside," of the control cabinet. In particular, it can be mounted on the wall opening from the inside or outside of said mounting wall and pressed against the mounting wall of the control cabinet with its mounting seal.

[0052] The said pressure surface of the cable inlet device can be arranged on and parallel to a free-standing edge of said mounting wall and thus border on the control cabinet opening, i.e. be flush with it.

[0053] This makes it possible to press the control cabinet locking element against the pressure surface during the closing process with a straight counter seal attached to the control cabinet locking element, thus sealing it. At the same time, the mounting surface of the frame part with its mounting seal is pressed against the aforementioned mounting wall of the control cabinet. The cables introduced into the control cabinet are routed through the wall opening in at least one of the mounting wall and sealed by the mounting seal. They also run sealed and, to a certain extent, strain-relieved through the cable entry opening of the respective seal set. Thus, the entire control cabinet is closed and sealed when the control cabinet locking element is closed.

[0054] Depending on the design of the control cabinet, it may be advisable to attach a separate counter seal to the control cabinet locking element for the cable inlet device in order to achieve particularly strong sealing, or, for example for cost reasons, to use a seal that is already provided as standard on the control cabinet locking element, i.e. one that is already present, as the counter seal.

[0055] A method for operating such an arrangement comprises the following steps: A. Fastening at least one cable inlet device with its frame part from the inside or outside to the mounting wall of the control cabinet in the area of ​​the corresponding wall opening arranged in the mounting wall and directly to the control cabinet opening of the control cabinet, so that the front surface of the at least one frame part is flush with a free-standing edge of the mounting wall - and thus also with the control cabinet opening of the control cabinet; B. Inserting at least one cable into a matching sealing insert; C. Inserting the at least one sealing insert into a sealing recess of the at least one frame part with a positive and non-positive fit, so that the closing surface of the at least one sealing insert is flush with the front surface of the frame part; D.Closing the control cabinet opening of the control cabinet with the control cabinet closing element, whereby the attached, straight counter seal is pressed sealingly against the pressure surface of the cable inlet device by the control cabinet closing element.

[0056] The cable inlet device essentially consists of only a few parts, which are also inexpensive to manufacture. Thus, in advantageous embodiments, the cable inlet device only needs to comprise a frame part, e.g., made of injection-molded plastic, with one or more sealing inserts, e.g., made of rubber, caoutchouc, and / or silicone, or similar, inserted into it. This makes it particularly easy to manufacture, which is also a particular advantage for its production.

[0057] A particular advantage of the invention is that the cables can be inserted into the control cabinet without tools during the assembly process. In particular, the cable installation can be carried out without tools. The final sealing of the cable inlet device can be done automatically, in particular by simply closing the control cabinet door.

[0058] A further advantage of the invention is its ease of use. Installation simply involves attaching the frame part(s) to the control cabinet and inserting the cables of the correct length and sealing inserts.

[0059] An additional advantage is that cables can be subsequently added or replaced with other cables with minimal effort, for example if cables of different cross-sections / different numbers are required in the control cabinet.

[0060] A particularly significant additional advantage of the invention is that a particularly large number of cables can be introduced into the control cabinet in this way. Finally, unlike in the prior art, the invention provides the entire edge length of the control cabinet opening for cable insertion. Depending on the design of the control cabinet, this opening can have a multitude of cable inlet devices, each with several sealing inserts. A particular advantage here is that the number of insertable cables automatically adapts to the size of the control cabinet.

[0061] Furthermore, frequent changes and modifications to the equipment in the control cabinet – and thus also its cabling – can be implemented quickly and easily with the least possible effort.

[0062] In contrast to prior art arrangements, the cable entry device is not closed by a separate cable entry device element, such as a separate latch. This eliminates the need for such a latch to close the frame section and for the force-locking fixation of the sealing inserts by the cable entry device. This simplifies assembly and reduces the cost of manufacturing the cable entry device.Instead, the cable inlet device is closed cost-effectively using a conventional switch cabinet closing element, which is already provided in the prior art for closing the switch cabinet, but which has an additional application thanks to the cable inlet device as follows: When the switch cabinet is closed, this switch cabinet closing element can be pressed against the at least one sealing insert of the at least one cable entry device for sealing purposes, in particular with its counter seal. This sealing insert can therefore be slightly compressed, whereby it is also still able to fix and seal the at least one cable fed through. In this way, two functions are fulfilled simultaneously by means of a single action - namely the closing of the switch cabinet closing element, e.g. the switch cabinet door - namely: . A.) to close and seal the control cabinet, and B.) to close the cable inlet device, to seal it to the outside in order to seal the cable(s) passing through it and, in particular, to fix it there.

[0063] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one sealing insert can have at least one collar—preferably two collars arranged on both sides of its closure surface—for at least one-sided contact with, and in particular for encompassing, the counter seal on both sides. In a preferred embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if the counter seal, while pressed against the closure surface, is automatically pressed against at least one of the collars in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner, and in particular is inserted between the two collars in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner, because in this way, together with the sealing insert, it can develop a particularly good sealing effect.

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment for compatibility reasons, the cable inlet device can have several sealing inserts with a uniform outer contour, and the frame part can have several sealing recesses with a uniform outer contour. The "outer contour" of the sealing inserts is formed by their sealing contour and the contour of their closing surface.

[0065] Furthermore, in a further preferred embodiment, at least two of the sealing inserts can differ in the number and / or diameter of their cable feedthrough openings. This allows cables with different cross-sections to benefit from the aforementioned advantages of the cable entry device. Furthermore, a sealing insert can also be used to feed through multiple cables, preferably with smaller cross-sections, which advantageously meets a fundamental need to increase the number of cables to be introduced into the control cabinet.

[0066] At least one of the sealing inserts can have a retaining collar - in particular a circular one - on at least one side of its at least one cable feed-through opening to increase the holding force for securing the cable passed through. The outer diameter of the circumferential retaining collar can increase towards its free-standing end region. In particular, the retaining collar can be funnel-shaped, i.e., have a funnel. Due to the aforementioned increase in the outer diameter, the cable passed through can be fastened to the sealing insert with particularly high holding force by means of an annular fixing element, for example, a screwable clamp and / or a cable tie or similar, for strain relief, whereby unwanted detachment of the annular fixing element from the retaining collar is prevented. The holding force of the already existing strain relief can thus be significantly increased.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one sealing insert can have a particularly advantageous Shore hardness of 30-40 Shore. This Shore hardness has the advantage that the sealing insert has a comparatively high elasticity, whereby it solves the following problem particularly advantageously: On the one hand, the closing surface should be particularly flat in order to avoid gaps between the cable inlet device and the linear counter seal. On the other hand, however, the handling of design-related tolerances in the cable cross-sections should also be guaranteed. In practice, the diameters of the cables used can vary; these deviations can, for example, be between 1.5 and 2 mm, depending on the cable thickness. Thus, for sealing inserts with only one cable feed-through opening, which is usually intended for thicker cables, tolerances of around 2 mm can be expected.For sealing inserts with multiple cable entry openings, which inevitably have a smaller diameter, deviations of approximately 1.5 mm are more likely to be expected. Therefore, a relatively high degree of elasticity, and thus the aforementioned Shore hardness of 30-40, is advisable for sealing.

[0068] In many cases, however, at least one sealing insert should ensure sufficient strain relief for the cable passing through it, even without the use of the aforementioned ring-shaped fixing element.

[0069] For this purpose, in a further advantageous embodiment, the sealing insert can have at least one inner, so-called "sealing rib", i.e., e.g., an inner, circumferential bead, within its at least one cylindrical cable feed-through opening. This is particularly useful in connection with its - in particular high - elasticity, because this high elasticity unfortunately usually initially also reduces the holding force against the cable being passed through, which can, however, be advantageously compensated for by the presence of one, preferably several, such sealing ribs. The presence of several sealing ribs instead of just one sealing rib also has the advantage that it not only increases the holding force, but also the sealing effect compared to the use of just one sealing rib. Example

[0070] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1a - e a control cabinet with several cable inlet devices in different views; Fig. 2a - the first cable inlet device with a frame part and a sealing insert in different views; Fig. 2e - f the sealing insert as a separate individual part in different views; Fig. 3a a second frame part as a separate individual part; Fig. 3b - c a second cable inlet device with the second frame part and four different sealing inserts in different views; Fig. 3d, e the second cable inlet device with modified equipment in different views; Fig. 3f the second cable inlet device with a counter seal; Fig. 4a a single modified sealing insert; Fig. 4b a third cable inlet device with three modified sealing inserts.

[0071] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of identical elements may be scaled differently.

[0072] The Fig. 1a to 1e show an arrangement of a control cabinet 1 with several cable inlet devices 2, 2' screwed to it from the outside, namely a first and a second cable inlet device 2, 2'. It should be noted that this illustration is schematic and merely describes the basic structure of the arrangement as clearly as possible. In other, particularly realistic designs, the edge lengths of the control cabinet opening can be made significantly larger than in the control cabinet opening 10 shown, which then provides considerably more space for attaching additional cable inlet devices 2, 2'.

[0073] In the Fig. 1athe control cabinet 1 is shown with a vertical view of its rear wall 13, to which the cable inlet devices 2, 2' are screwed from the outside.

[0074] Furthermore, the control cabinet 1 has four side walls 11, 11', 11", 11‴, of which a first side wall 11 in the Fig. 1b is particularly clearly visible and acts as a control cabinet closing element, i.e. closes the control cabinet opening 10 in this illustration.

[0075] The Fig. 1c shows a plan view of a section through the first cable inlet device 2. It can be clearly seen how the first side wall 11 projects beyond the rear wall 13 in order to be pressed sealingly against a closure surface 223 of a sealing insert 22 of the cable insertion device 2.

[0076] In the Fig. 1dA control cabinet opening 10 can be seen, as the first control cabinet wall 11 has been removed. This control cabinet opening 10 provides a view of the inside of a front wall 12 of the control cabinet 1. From this view, it is also particularly clear that the cable inlet devices 2, 2' are each attached to a lateral wall opening in the rear wall 13, which is located directly on a freestanding edge of the rear wall 13, whereby the wall opening is open towards the control cabinet opening 10.

[0077] The Fig. 1e shows the same arrangement with a vertical view of the control cabinet opening 10.

[0078] In this embodiment, the rear wall 13 of the control cabinet 1 serves as the mounting wall. The rear wall 13 therefore has side wall openings, in each of which a cable inlet device 2, 2' is attached, in this case from the outside. In an alternative embodiment, however, the same cable inlet devices 2, 2' could also be attached to the rear wall 13 from the inside, i.e., inside the control cabinet 1. By closing the control cabinet 1 using the first side wall 11, the cable inlet devices 2, 2' are sealed, thus also sealing the control cabinet 1.

[0079] In other switch cabinet designs not shown here, the same cable inlet devices 2, 2' could, for example, also be arranged at wall openings in a side wall and sealed by a rear wall or, alternatively, a front wall by closing them. In this case, the rear wall or the front wall would each function as a switch cabinet closing element, while the side wall, which would then have the wall openings, would serve as

[0080] would serve as a mounting wall.

[0081] The cable inlet devices 2, 2",2" described in more detail below are advantageously independent of this and can therefore be used extremely flexibly on the aforementioned and, in principle, on a wide variety of control cabinets.

[0082] The Fig. 2a - 2dshow the first cable inlet device 2 in four different views. This first cable inlet device 2 has a frame part 23 with only a single sealing recess 236 and, accordingly, also has only a single sealing insert 22.

[0083] The Fig. 2a shows the first cable inlet device 2 in a lateral cross-section. This illustration clearly shows that the sealing insert 22 has a retaining collar 221 with a funnel 222 at its cable feedthrough opening 220.

[0084] The Fig. 2b shows the first cable inlet device 2 in a side view, namely with a view of the side surface of its frame part 23 which is not provided with a reference number. For manufacturing reasons, the frame part 23 has cavities on this side surface.

[0085] The frame part 23 further has a flat front surface 233 arranged at right angles to the side surface. This front surface 233 is interrupted by the concave, U-shaped sealing recess 236, which extends from the front surface 233 into the frame part 23.

[0086] The sealing insert 22, with its convex, U-shaped insert contour, is inserted into the sealing recess 236 in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner. It also has a flat closure surface 223 that is flush with the front surface 233 of the frame part 23. Furthermore, the sealing insert 22 has a continuous cylindrical cable feedthrough opening 220 and an insertion slot 227 for inserting a cable into the cable feedthrough opening 220.

[0087] As a fastening device, the frame part 23 has several, in this embodiment two, screw passages 230, which start from the mounting side in the direction of the side surface, i.e. in the Fig. 2b in the direction of view.

[0088] In another embodiment, the fastening of the frame part 23 to the mounting surface of the control cabinet 1 can also be carried out in the form of a quick fastening technique instead of by the aforementioned screw connection, namely by means of one or more quick fastening devices, which are not shown in the drawing.

[0089] The Fig. 2c shows the cable inlet device 2 in a plan view.

[0090] The Fig. 2dshows the cable inlet device 2 in an oblique plan view of the said side surface, which is not provided with a reference symbol. Opposite the side surface, the frame part 23 has a mounting surface, which is also not provided with a reference symbol, which is intended for mounting on the mounting wall, i.e., in this embodiment, the rear wall 13 of the control cabinet 1. A three-sided circumferential mounting seal 238 is arranged in the mounting surface of the frame part 23, which is only indicated here - and in a slightly modified form, particularly well in the later Fig. 3d and 3e - can be seen.

[0091] The Fig. 2e and 2f show the sealing element 22 as a separate component. Fig. 2e the retaining collar 221 and the funnel 222 of the sealing element 22 are particularly clearly visible.

[0092] An annular fixing element, not shown in the drawing, can be arranged on the annular retaining collar 221. In one embodiment, the annular fixing element is a screwable clamp. In another embodiment, it is a cable tie. The fixing element serves to increase the holding force when securing the cable (also not shown) that is passed through the cable feedthrough opening 220.

[0093] The funnel 222 increases the diameter of the retaining collar 221 toward its free-standing end region. This allows the annular fixing element (not shown) to be held captively on the retaining collar 221.

[0094] The Fig. 3a - 3f show a second cable inlet device 2'.

[0095] In particular, the Fig. 3aA second frame part 23' is shown as a separate individual part. This 23' has four uniform sealing recesses 236 of the aforementioned type. The front surface 233 can be seen between the sealing recesses 236. In other words, the front surface 233 is interrupted several times by the sealing recesses 236. Positioning recesses 234 are arranged at the respective sealing recesses 236. In this case, the positioning recesses each extend as a groove through the inner edge of the entire concave, U-shaped sealing recess 236 and are arranged with their ends in the front surface 233.

[0096] The sealing recesses 236 can then be inserted, as shown in the Fig. 3b and 3c shown, various sealing inserts 22 are inserted.

[0097] The sealing inserts each have at least one positioning projection 224, in this case a positioning projection 224 running around their insertion contour, at least on their closure surface 224. This projection 224 engages the respective positioning recess 234 of the associated sealing recess 236 at least in a form-fitting manner, and in particular in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner, for the exact positioning of the respective sealing insert 22 in the respective positioning recess 234.

[0098] Although the four sealing inserts 22 shown here differ in size and / or number of their cable passage openings 220 as well as the length of their insertion slots 227, they are provided with the same reference numerals since they are similar to one another and also have a comparable function.

[0099] The Fig. 3d and 3econtinue to show the second cable inlet device 2', but with the slight difference that some of the sealing inserts 22 are swapped or replaced with other sealing inserts 22 compared to the previous illustrations.

[0100] Since these sealing inserts 22 have the same basic shape, i.e. the same U-shaped insert contour and the same closure surface 223, and furthermore the sealing recesses 236 of the frame parts 23, 23', 23" correspond to one another, these sealing inserts 22 can be exchanged for one another as required, which is of course extremely advantageous for compatibility reasons.

[0101] In these two illustrations, the mounting seal 238 of frame part 23, already briefly mentioned, is also clearly visible. The mounting seal 238 is held in a U-shaped sealing groove on the mounting side and surrounds the sealing recesses 236 on three sides. The mounting seal 238 defines the mounting surface, i.e., the outer surface of frame part 2' in which the mounting seal 238 is arranged is considered the mounting surface.

[0102] Finally, the frame part 23 is intended to be pressed with its mounting surface, and thus also with its mounting seal 238, in the area of ​​the respective wall opening against the mounting wall, i.e. in this case against the rear wall 13 of the control cabinet 1, in a sealing manner.

[0103] The Fig. 3fshows the second cable entry device 2' in its mounted and sealed state on the switch cabinet 1, viewed from the direction of the switch cabinet closing element, i.e. in this case the first side part 11, in section through a straight counter seal 113, which is attached to the inside of the switch cabinet closing element (side part 11).

[0104] It is easy to imagine how the counter seal 113 is pressed against a flat pressure surface of the cable inlet direction 2' by closing the control cabinet by means of the control cabinet closing element - that is, in this embodiment with the side wall 11 -, wherein the pressure surface is formed from the front surface 233 of the frame part 23 and the closing surface 223 of the sealing inserts 22.

[0105] In the illustration shown, the counter seal 113 is narrower than the aforementioned contact surface. In another embodiment, however, the counter seal 113 can also be as wide as the sealing surface 223 of the sealing inserts 22.

[0106] In the Fig. 4aA slightly modified sealing insert 22' is shown in a slightly modified embodiment. This has a particularly high sealing effect. It has a straight collar 229 on each side of the closure surface 223. If, as indicated above, the counter seal 113 is as wide as the closure surface 223, the counter seal 113 can be inserted between the two collars 229 in a form-fitting manner and, in particular, also in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner and pressed against the closure surface 223, thereby significantly improving the quality of the seal. However, even with only one-sided contact between the counter seal 113 and one of the two collars 229, the sealing effect is significantly improved.

[0107] In addition, the modified sealing insert 22', like the previously mentioned sealing insert 22, has two sealing ribs 202 within its cable passage opening 220. This ensures sufficient holding force against a cable passed through, even if the sealing insert 22' is made of a particularly elastic material, e.g. with a Shore hardness of 20-30 shore.

[0108] Furthermore, the positioning formations 224' are somewhat longer than in the aforementioned embodiment, at least in the area of ​​the closure surface 223.

[0109] From the Fig. 4bLooking at the side surface of a third embodiment of the frame part 23" of a third cable inlet device 2", the following becomes apparent: In the front surface 233 of the third frame part 23", the positioning recesses 234' are also larger than in the aforementioned embodiment and directly adjoin one another. As a result, the positioning projections 224' of adjacent sealing inserts 22' also directly adjoin one another in the installed state, which enables a particularly strong seal in the sealed state, i.e. when the counter seal 113 is pressed against it.

[0110] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged. List of reference symbols

[0111] 1Switch cabinet 11, 11', 11", 11‴Side walls 12Front wall 13Rear wall 2, 2', 2''cable inlet device 22, 22'(modified) sealing insert 220Cable entry opening 221Retaining collar 222Funnel 223Closing surface 224, 224'Positioning projections 227Insertion slot 229Collar 23, 23', 23"Frame part 230Screw opening 233Front surface 234, 234'Positioning recesses 236Sealing recess

Claims

1. Arrangement, having at least one cable inlet device (2, 2', 2") as well as a switchgear cabinet (1) having a switchgear cabinet opening (10), wherein the at least one cable inlet device (2, 2', 2") is attached in or on the switchgear cabinet (1) in the region of a wall aperture of an assembly wall (13) of the switchgear cabinet (1) and is pressed sealingly with an assembly seal (238) against this assembly wall (13), wherein the assembly seal (238) surrounds the relevant wall aperture at least on three sides, wherein the cable inlet device (2, 2', 2") has the following: - a rigid frame part (23, 23', 23''), which, in order to be fastened in the switchgear cabinet (1), has a fastening device, - wherein the frame part (23, 23', 23'') on the one hand has an assembly face with the assembly seal (238) for sealing with respect to a switchgear cabinet wall (13) provided for this purpose as an assembly wall, and - wherein the frame part (23, 23', 23'') on the other hand has a side face opposite the assembly face, wherein the assembly face and the side face are connected to one another via a front face (233), - wherein the front face (233) runs level, in order, in the state assembled on the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1), to terminate in a planar manner with a free edge of said assembly wall (13), - wherein the frame part (23, 23', 23'') has at least one concave U-shaped seal recess (236) starting on the front face (233) and extending into the frame part (23, 23', 23''), - and wherein the cable inlet device (2, 2', 2") furthermore has at least one elastic sealing insert (22, 22'), insertable form fittingly and with frictional engagement into the corresponding seal recess (236) of the frame part (23, 23', 23'') by its convex U-shaped insert contour complementary to said seal recess, - wherein the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') has at least one continuous, cylindrical cable bushing opening (220) and a respective insertion slot (227) for inserting a cable into the cable bushing opening (220), and - wherein each sealing insert (22, 22') furthermore has a level closing face (223), - wherein this closing face (223) of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22'), in the inserted state thereof, terminates in a planar manner with the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23', 23''), characterized in that the relevant wall aperture is arranged directly on the switchgear cabinet opening (10), wherein the switchgear cabinet has a switchgear cabinet closing element (11), by which the switchgear cabinet opening (10) can be closed, and the switchgear cabinet closing element is a switchgear cabinet door that is attached to the switchgear cabinet opening (10) and can be closed shut and / or a plate that can be screwed to the switchgear cabinet (1) at the switchgear cabinet opening (10), and / or a switchgear cabinet wall (11) of the switchgear cabinet (1) that can be latched to the switchgear cabinet opening (10) or a switchgear cabinet lid that can be latched to the switchgear cabinet opening (10), wherein the front face (233) of the frame part (23, 23', 23'') together with the closing faces (223) of its sealing inserts (22, 22') adjoin the switchgear cabinet opening (10) in a manner planar with a free edge of said assembly wall (13) and is therefore pressed and thus sealed by the switchgear cabinet closing element (11) in the closed state against a counterpart seal (113) fastened to said switchgear cabinet closing element (11) and running in a straight line.

2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') has, arranged on each side of its closing face (223), a collar (229), which in the inserted state runs linearly along the first longitudinal side of the frame part (23, 23', 23''), for engaging around the counterpart seal (113) form-fittingly and with frictional engagement on both sides.

3. Arrangement according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the cable inlet device (2, 2', 2") has at least two sealing inserts (22, 22') that are identical to one another in respect of their outer contour, and wherein the frame part (23, 23', 23'') has at least two seal recesses (236) that are identical to one another.

4. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the sealing inserts (22, 22') differ by the number and / or the diameter of their cable bushing openings (220).

5. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the sealing inserts (22, 22') has, at its at least one cable bushing opening (220), at least on one side, a peripheral holding collar (221) as well as an annular fixing element for increasing the holding force when fixing the cable guided through.

6. Arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the outer diameter of the peripheral holding collar (221) increases towards its free region, in order to hold the annular fixing element captively on the holding collar (221).

7. Arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the annular fixing element is a screwable clamp or a cable tie.

8. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') has a Shore hardness of 30-40 Shore.

9. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') has, within its at least one cylindrical cable bushing opening (220), at least one sealing rib (202), in order to ensure a maximum holding force with respect to the cable guided through, in spite of the elasticity of the sealing insert (22, 22').

10. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame part (23, 23', 23'') has a plurality of screw passages (230) as fastening device.

11. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the frame part (23, 23', 23'') has, as fastening device, either at least one detent window and at least one separate quick fastening device or at least one quick fastening device fixedly connected to the frame part (23, 23' , 23").

12. Method for operating an arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: A. fastening at least one cable inlet device (2, 2', 2") with its frame part (23, 23', 23'') from the inside or from the outside to the assembly wall (13) of the switchgear cabinet (1) at the associated wall aperture and directly to the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1), so that the front face (233) of the at least one frame part (23, 23', 23'') terminates flush with a free edge of the assembly wall (13) and thus also with the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1); B. inserting at least one cable into at least one sealing insert (22, 22'); C. inserting the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') form fittingly and with frictional engagement into a respective seal recess (236) of the frame part (23, 23', 23"), so that the closing face (223) of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') terminates in a planar manner with the front face (233) of the at least one frame part (23, 23', 23''); D. closing the switchgear cabinet opening (10) of the switchgear cabinet (1) by the switchgear cabinet closing element (11), wherein the counterpart seal (113), fastened thereto and running in a straight line, at the same time is pressed sealingly by the switchgear cabinet closing element (11) against the closing face (223) of the at least one sealing insert (22, 22') and against the front face (233) of the at least one frame part (23, 23', 23").