Modular holder module, switch cabinet, assembly method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024702256
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-02-17
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-18
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-01
AI Technical Summary
Conventional control cabinet assembly methods restrict parallel assembly steps and make servicing difficult, as electrical components are often attached directly to top-hat rails and require removal for replacement.
A modular holder module with interlocking elements that attach to the control cabinet's side boundary, allowing for modular assembly and secure attachment of electrical components, enabling parallel assembly and easy servicing by providing a system where components can be individually inserted and secured against gravity.
Facilitates flexible and efficient assembly of electrical components in control cabinets, allowing for parallel assembly steps and simplified servicing by enabling secure attachment and easy removal of components without disassembling the entire cabinet.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024051124_22082024_PF_FP
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] Modular holder module, control cabinet, assembly process
[0003] The invention relates to a modular holder module for electrical components in a control cabinet, in particular for a converter of an electric drive, wherein the electrical components can be fastened to a side border of the control cabinet by means of the holder module. The invention also relates to an assembly method and a control cabinet.
[0004] Conventional control cabinets and assembly methods require electrical components to be mounted directly to so-called top-hat rails within the control cabinet. Mounting plates are also used for this purpose, to which the components are attached. These mounting plates can be screwed to frames within the control cabinet, to intermediate plates, or to cabinet uprights.
[0005] A control cabinet assembly is already known from US 2015 / 0188298 Al, in which top hat rails are attached to metal profiles and components can be snapped onto the top hat rail by means of an elastic mounting clamp.
[0006] Even during initial assembly, the electrical components are often inserted in a specific order because the layout sometimes doesn't allow for variations in the assembly steps. This limitation prevents many assembly steps from being performed in parallel.
[0007] Servicing conventional control cabinets is more problematic than initial assembly. When a control cabinet is completely disassembled, many electrical components usually have to be removed from the cabinet to replace a specific component. Based on the problems and disadvantages of the prior art, the invention aims to further develop a holder module of the type defined above in such a way that the problems and disadvantages described above are avoided.
[0008] To achieve the object according to the invention, a holder module of the type defined above is proposed, having the additional features of the characterizing part of independent claim 1. In addition, the invention proposes a control cabinet and a corresponding assembly method. The respective dependent claims contain advantageous developments of the invention.
[0009] In detail, the holder module defined at the outset is further developed according to the invention by providing
[0010] - that the holder module has a first element to which at least one electrical component can be attached and
[0011] - that the holder module has a second element which can be attached to a side boundary of the control cabinet,
[0012] - wherein the second element and the first element have, as contact areas, formations and / or recesses which correspond to one another and are designed to engage one another, so that the first element is supported against movement counter to a first longitudinal direction of the holder module and is prevented from moving along a first transverse direction to the first longitudinal direction by the engagement of the formations and / or recesses.
[0013] The first longitudinal direction, relative to the control cabinet, is the vertical extension in a ready-to-use target position. This vertical extension, or first longitudinal direction, can be viewed as the opposite direction to the direction of gravity. The term "first longitudinal extension" is used with regard to the holder module because the holder module is fundamentally only aligned with gravity in its fully assembled, ready-to-use state and can otherwise be oriented anywhere in space.
[0014] The modular holder module according to the invention has a special modularity. This modularity enables a method for assembling electrical components in a control cabinet, comprising the following steps:
[0015] - Fixing the second element in the control cabinet,
[0016] - Attaching the at least one electrical component to the first element,
[0017] - Attaching the first element comprising the at least one electrical component to the second element.
[0018] An advantageous further development provides that a contact region of the second element is designed as a rail which extends essentially along a second transverse direction to the first longitudinal direction and on which the first element can be displaced with its contact region in the assembled state, the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction and the first longitudinal direction being perpendicular to one another. In this way, electrical components mounted on first elements can be displaced along the first transverse direction - i.e. in the depth direction of the switch cabinet. For example, electrical components can be suspended individually in second elements of the holder module using first elements of the holder module and pushed one after the other into the switch cabinet in the depth direction.
[0019] In principle, it is possible for several first elements of the holder module to be assigned to a single second element or to be attached to a single second element of the holder module.
[0020] Another advantageous development provides that the first element has a shaped element as a formation which is designed such that it at least partially encloses the contact region of the second element, which is designed as an edge, in the assembled state. One possibility for implementing this embodiment is provided by the shaped element being designed as an inverted U-profile which at least partially encloses the edge of the contact region of the second element in the assembled state. During assembly, the inverted U-profile of the first element is hooked onto the contact region of the second element like a hook and is thus secured against gravity in the switch cabinet.
[0021] Another possibility of achieving this effect against the force of gravity in the control cabinet is that the first element has, as a second formation, a continuation that begins at a transverse edge and projects diagonally out of the plane, which ends at an end edge, in such a way that the diagonal continuation projects through the second receptacle in the assembled state.
[0022] In principle, according to an advantageous further development, it is expedient if the first element has a first planar region and the second element has a second planar region, so that in the assembled state the first planar region and the second planar region extend substantially parallel to one another.
[0023] Such contact of the first element with the second element also enables electrical grounding. For this purpose, dedicated electrical contacts or contact surfaces can be provided on the flat elements, which are designed such that, when the holder module is assembled, an electrically conductive connection is created between the first element and the second element. These contacts can be designed to be resilient relative to one another.
[0024] A particularly advantageous development provides that the first element has a third flat region which, beginning at an edge extending in the first longitudinal direction, extends approximately perpendicular to the first flat region. In this case, it is particularly useful if provisions are provided on the third flat region for fastening electrical components. These provisions can be holes which enable the electrical components to be fastened by means of screws or rivets. Alternatively, so-called top-hat rails can be provided as provisions, to which the electrical components can be fastened in a standardized manner.
[0025] A particularly simple and expedient embodiment of the holder module according to the invention provides that a contact region of the second element is formed as a straight edge section of a receptacle or recess in a section of the second element that projects flatly. These recesses or receptacles can expediently be rectangular. In this case, it is expedient if the rectangular shape extends longer in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction or, with respect to the switch cabinet, the receptacle or recess is an elongated rectangle in the depth direction of the switch cabinet.
[0026] The invention can be implemented particularly expediently if the first element and / or the second element are designed as sheet metal components.
[0027] An advantageous further development provides a concrete embodiment of the invention such that the second element and the first element each have at least two formations and / or receptacles, in particular recesses, which correspond to one another as contact areas, wherein a first receptacle is provided in the second element, wherein a second receptacle is provided in the second element, wherein a first formation is provided on the first element which corresponds to the first receptacle on the second element, wherein a second formation is provided on the first element which corresponds to the second receptacle on the second element, wherein the first element has, as a first formation, an inverted U-profile corresponding to a straight edge of the first receptacle, wherein the first element has, as a second formation, a continuation which begins at a transverse edge and protrudes obliquely from the plane,which ends at an end edge such that the oblique continuation projects through the second receptacle in the assembled state.,
[0028] This design results in particularly simple joining and, at the same time, well-defined and reproducible positioning.
[0029] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides, to increase stability, that at least one of the receptacles in the second element, opposite the contact region, has an edge with a stiffening rib extending away from the edge and the first element, such that the second flat region of the second element is stiffened by this stiffening rib. This embodiment is particularly useful for the component because the material that has to be removed to produce the receptacle or recess simultaneously forms the stiffening rib by bending out of the plane of the flat extension of the second element.
[0030] Since it is possible during assembly to suspend the first element in the second element or to support it against gravity in the control cabinet and at the same time to fix it in a transverse direction, it is advisable if precautions are provided on the first element and the second element to secure the first element against displacement in the second transverse direction and against offset in the first longitudinal direction. In this way, the first element can be secured to the second element in the depth direction of the control cabinet. Preferably, holes are provided for this purpose which are aligned with one another and enable the use of a securing element, for example a screw. At least one of the two holes can be designed as a threaded hole.If the hole in the second element is designed as a threaded hole and in the first element as a through hole, it is possible to achieve not only the positive fixing by means of the screw connection but also a frictional connection between the two elements, so that a play-free assembly is achieved.
[0031] The invention is described in more detail below using a specific embodiment for clarity. Each shows a simplified schematic:
[0032] Figure 1 is a 3-dimensional representation of a control cabinet according to the invention,
[0033] Figure 2 is a 3-dimensional representation of a holder module with an electrical component,
[0034] Figure 3 shows various 3-dimensional representations of electrical components each mounted on a first element of a holder module,
[0035] Figure 4 shows the various electrical components of Figure 3 mounted together on a second element of a holder module,
[0036] Figure 5 shows two details shown in Figure 4 in a first embodiment in cross section,
[0037] Figure 6 is a 3-dimensional representation of a first element attached to a second element of a holder module in a second embodiment,
[0038] Figure 7 shows a detail shown in Figure 6 in a second embodiment in cross section,
[0039] Figure 8 is a 3-dimensional representation of a first element of a holder module, Figure 9 is a 3-dimensional representation of a second element of a holder module.
[0040] The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more understandable in light of the following description and embodiments, which are described in more detail in the context of the drawings. This following description does not limit the invention to the included embodiments. The same components or parts may be identified by the same reference numerals in different figures. In general, the numbers are not to scale. It is to be understood that a preferred embodiment of the present invention may also be any combination of the dependent claims or higher embodiments with the respective independent claim.
[0041] Figure 1 shows a control cabinet RCK for electrical components CMP for a converter of an electric drive DRV. Electrical components CMP are attached to a side barrier SWL of the control cabinet RCK by means of a holder module MHM. The side barrier SWL is only shown in frame form in Figure 1. In practice, outer side walls are located on the struts of the frame shown, which close off the control cabinet RCK in such a way that, for example, the ingress of dirt is prevented. In the ready-to-use state, the control cabinet RCK is set up in such a way that it extends vertically along a first longitudinal direction LTD, wherein the first longitudinal direction LTD is essentially opposite the force of gravity GRV when the control cabinet RCK is set up correctly.In the depth direction and the width direction, a first transverse direction CRD extends to the first longitudinal direction LTD, and a second transverse direction CRD extends to the first longitudinal direction LTD. This reference applies here to all information about components of the switch cabinet RCK. Figure 2 shows, as a detail from Figure 1, parts of a holder module MHM according to the invention that initially supports an electrical component CMP in the switch cabinet RCK against the force of gravity GRV.The electrical component CMP is fastened to a first element FEL of the holder module MHM, the first element FEL being attached to a second element SEL by hooking it into a contact area CTS in such a way that it is supported against movement opposite to the first longitudinal direction LTD - i.e. against gravity GRV - and is also prevented from moving along the first transverse direction CRD - i.e. against movement in the width direction of the switch cabinet RCK - by the interlocking of formations FRT and receptacles CTT in contact areas CTS of the first element SEL to the second element SEL.
[0042] The first element FEL has a first planar region FEL and the second element SEL has a second planar region SEL, so that in the assembled state, the first planar region FEL and the second planar region SEL extend substantially parallel to one another. It should be noted here that, in the assembled state, the first transverse direction CRD generally extends along a surface normal of the planar extension of the first planar region FEL or of the parallel second planar region SEL.
[0043] Figure 3 shows three different electrical components CMP, each attached to differently designed first elements FEL. The three first elements FEL are adapted to the size and shape of the electrical components CMP but each have the same basic or qualitative structure.
[0044] Figure 4 shows how the three different electrical components CMP with their individually designed first elements FEL are mounted together on a single second element SEL and secured by means of screws SCR against displacement in the depth direction or along a second transverse direction CDR of the holder module MHM.
[0045] Figure 5 shows a detail of a cross-sectional view of a first possible embodiment in the region of the contact areas CTS of the holder module MHM. The first element FEL and the second element SEL have two contact areas CTS that are shown without a connecting intermediate area for the sake of a more compact representation. The upper contact area CTS is designed differently than the lower contact area CTS. The second element SEL can be continued both in the first longitudinal direction LTD and counter to the first longitudinal direction LTD, which is not reflected in the detail of the cross-sectional view.
[0046] The contact areas CTS on the second element SEL are designed at the top and bottom as a rail TRC extending along the second transverse direction CRD - i.e. in the depth direction of the switch cabinet RCK - transversely to the first longitudinal direction LTD. The first element FEL, with its contact area CTS, is displaceable in the first transverse direction CRD when assembled and is prevented from moving in the second transverse direction CDR. The upper shaped element FET of the first element is designed as an inverted U-profile UPR which at least partially encloses the edge EDG of the contact area CTS of the second element SEL when assembled.
[0047] The lower form element FET of the first FEL is designed as a second formation FRT starting at a transverse edge EDG which projects obliquely out of the plane and ends at an end edge EDE in such a way that the oblique continuation CNT projects through the second receptacle CTT in the assembled state.
[0048] Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of a first element FEL attached to a second element SEL of a holder module MHM. As shown in Figure 5, the upper contact area CTS is also designed with an inverted U-profile UPR on the first element FEL and an edge on the second element SEL.
[0049] The second element SEL has a second receptacle CTT on the lower contact area CTS, which is designed as a recess in the second flat area. A second formation FRT is provided on the first element FEL, which corresponds to the second receptacle CTT on the second element SEL. The second formation FRT is identical to that shown in Figure 5. The receptacle CTT is designed as a recess and has an edge that forms contact with the second formation FRT.
[0050] Figure 7 shows this detail enlarged. The edge is designed as a straight edge section EDG of the receptacle CTT, which forms contact with the second formation FRT and is provided with a bevel FSE at an angle, so that the formation of the first element FEL preferably comes to rest flatly on the edge and slides more easily into the receptacle CTT during assembly. For stiffening purposes, the second element SEL has, opposite the contact area CTS, an edge EDG with a stiffening rib STR extending away from the edge EDG and the first element FEL, such that the second flat area SEL of the second element SEL is stiffened by this stiffening rib STR.
[0051] Figure 8 shows the first element of a holder module with provisions for attaching electrical components CMP. These provisions are provided on a third flat area TEL, which begins at an edge EDG extending in the first longitudinal direction LTD and extends approximately perpendicular to the first flat area FEL. This is usually a top hat rail HTR, to which the electrical components CMP can be attached quickly and reliably. Figure 9 shows a second element SEL of a holder module again in an unpopulated view, as it is shown already populated in Figure 4.
[0052] The method according to the invention for mounting electrical components CMP in a control cabinet RCK with the holder module MHM can be understood by way of example from the figures. First, the second element SEL is fastened in the control cabinet RCK - see Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the electrical components CMP are attached to first elements FEL. Subsequently, the first elements FEL comprising the electrical components CMP are attached to the second element - see Figure 4 or Figure 1.
[0053] Securing the first element FEL to the second element SEL against displacement in the second transverse direction CRD and against offset in the first longitudinal direction LTD is also shown in Figure 4.
Claims
Patent claims 1. Modular holder module (MHM) for electrical components (CMP) in a control cabinet (RCK), in particular for a converter of an electric drive (DRV), wherein the electrical components (CMP) can be fastened to a side boundary (SWL) of the control cabinet (RCK) by means of the holder module (MHM), characterized in that the holder module (MHM) has a first element (FEL) to which at least one electrical component (CMP) can be attached and the holder module (MHM) has a second element (SEL) that can be attached to a side boundary (SWL) of the control cabinet (RCK), wherein the second element (SEL) and the first element (FEL) have mutually corresponding formations (FRT) and / or receptacles (CTT) as contact areas (CTS), which are designed to engage with one another,so that the first element (FEL) is supported against movement opposite to a first longitudinal direction (LTD) of the holder module (MHM) and is prevented from moving along a first transverse direction (CRD) to the first longitudinal direction (LTD) by the interlocking of the formations (FRT) and / or receptacles (CTT).
2. Holder module (MHM) according to claim 1, wherein a contact region (CTS) of the second element (SEL) is formed as a rail (TRC) extending substantially along a second transverse direction (CRD) to the first longitudinal direction (LTD), on which rail the first element (FEL) is displaceable with its contact region (CTS) in the assembled state, wherein the first transverse direction (CRD) and the second transverse direction and the first longitudinal direction (LTD) are each perpendicular to one another.
3. Holder module (MHM) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first element (FEL) as a formation (FRT) is a Form element (FET) which is designed such that it at least partially encloses the contact region (CTS) of the second element (SEL), which is designed as an edge (EDG), in the assembled state.
4. Holder module (MHM) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the shaped element (FET) is designed as an inverted U-profile (UPR) which at least partially encloses the edge (EDG) of the contact region (CTS) of the second element (SEL) in the assembled state.
5. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element (FEL) has a first planar region (FEL), and the second element (SEL) has a second planar region (SEL), so that in the assembled state the first planar region (FEL) and the second planar region (SEL) extend substantially parallel to one another.
6. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element (FEL) has a third planar region (TEL) which extends approximately perpendicular to the first planar region (FEL) starting at an edge (EDG) extending in the first longitudinal direction (LTD).
7. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein provisions are provided on the third planar region (TEL) for fastening electrical components (CMP).
8. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a contact area (CTS) of the second element (SEL) is designed as a straight edge section (EDG) of a receptacle (GTT) in a flat stabbing section of the second Elements (SEL).
9. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element (FEL) and / or the second element (SEL) are formed as sheet metal components.
10. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element (SEL) and the first element (FEL) each have at least two formations (FRT) and / or receptacles (CTT) corresponding to one another as contact areas (CTS), wherein a first receptacle (CTT) is provided on the second element (SEL), wherein a second receptacle (CTT) is provided on the second element (SEL), wherein a first formation (FRT) is provided on the first element (FEL), which corresponds to the first receptacle (CTT) on the second element (SEL), wherein a second formation (FRT) is provided on the first element (FEL), which corresponds to the second receptacle (CTT) on the second element (SEL), wherein the first element (FEL) has, as the first formation (FRT), an inverted U-profile (UPR) corresponding to a straight edge (EDG) of the first receptacle (CTT),wherein the first element (FEL) has, as a second formation (FRT), a continuation (CNT) which begins at a transverse edge (EDG) and protrudes obliquely from the plane and ends at an end edge (EDE), such that the oblique continuation (CNT) projects through the second receptacle (CTT) in the assembled state.
11. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the receptacles (CTT) in the second element (SEL) is opposite the Contact area (CTS) has an edge (EDG) with a stiffening rib (STR) extending from the edge (EDG) and the first element (FEL), such that the second planar area (SFL) of the second element (SEL) is stiffened by this stiffening rib (STR).
12. Holder module (MHM) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein provisions are provided on the first element (FEL) and the second element (SEL) for securing the first element (FEL) against displacement in the second transverse direction (GRD) and against offset in the first longitudinal direction (LTD).
13. Method for mounting at least one electrical component (CMP) in a control cabinet (RCK) with a holder module (MHM) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by: Fastening the second element (SEL) in the control cabinet (RCK), Fastening the at least one electrical component (CMP) to the first element (FEL), Attaching the first element (FEL) comprising the at least one electrical component (CMP) to the second element.
14. Assembly method according to claim 13, comprising: securing the first element (FEL) to the second element (SEL) against displacement in the second transverse direction (CRD) and against offset in the first longitudinal direction (LTD).
15. Switch cabinet (RCK) with a holder module (MHM) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-12.