Mounting plate for a switch cabinet, and production of said mounting plate

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting plate (1) for a switch cabinet (19), and to a method for producing said mounting plate. The mounting plate (1) comprises a support plate (3), an electrically insulating ceramic functional layer (5) applied to the support plate (3), and electrical conductors (7, 9) printed onto the functional layer (5), wherein the support plate (3) is a support sheet (3.1) having an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer (3.2) which is applied to the support sheet (3.1) and on which the functional layer (5) is applied.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Mounting plate for a control cabinet and its production

[0003] The invention relates to a mounting plate for a switch cabinet and a method for its production.

[0004] Electrical components of a technical device or system are arranged in a control cabinet. Examples of such electrical components include contactors, switches, control units, or input / output units. In conventional control cabinets, electrical components are usually connected by cables. With a large number of electrical components, this results in a high cabling effort. Wiring the electrical components is a manual, labor-intensive, and therefore costly process.

[0005] M. Grei f zu: "Functional conductor tracks from the 3D printer", Fraunhofer Institute for Materials and Beam Technology IWS Dresden, August 11, 2021, URL: https: / / www . iws . f raunhof er . de / de / newsundmedien / aktuelles / 2021 -08- l l_aktuelles_leiterbahnen . html, discloses a method for printing conductor tracks for high-performance electronics onto a mounting plate using an additive manufacturing process.

[0006] DE 10 2016 002 052 A1 discloses a control cabinet comprising at least one control panel with at least one base plate on which electrical switching elements are arranged and electrically connected to one another. The at least one base plate and / or at least one of the electrical switching elements is manufactured using a 3D printer in a 3D printing process.

[0007] WO 2018 / 215547 A1 discloses a power distributor comprising a housing and a mounting plate arranged within the housing for mounting electrical functional components. The mounting plate has a plurality of contact recesses extending from a front side toward a rear side.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of reducing the effort required for electrically connecting electrical components in a control cabinet.

[0009] The object is achieved according to the invention by a mounting plate for a switch cabinet having the features of claim 1, a method for producing the mounting plate having the features of claim 9 and a switch cabinet having the features of claim 13.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] A mounting plate according to the invention for a control cabinet comprises

[0012] - a carrier plate,

[0013] - an electrically insulating ceramic functional layer applied to the carrier plate and

[0014] - electrical conductors printed on the functional layer.

[0015] A mounting plate according to the invention for a control cabinet therefore has conductors that are printed onto a functional layer, wherein the functional layer is made from an electrically insulating ceramic material that is applied to a carrier plate. The printing process is a material extrusion process. The conductors printed onto the functional layer replace cables that are usually used to connect electrical components in the control cabinet. This advantageously reduces the amount of cabling required to wire the electrical components. Furthermore, printing the conductors compared to wiring enables better quality control, better heat dissipation of the electrical components and conductors through the functional layer and material savings for the production of the conductors. In one embodiment of the mounting plate according to the invention, the functional layer is made from chromium oxide.Chromium oxide is particularly suitable as a material for the functional layer because it absorbs laser radiation well, with which the functional layer is melted according to the method according to the invention for producing the mounting plate before printing with the conductors (see below).

[0016] In a further embodiment of the mounting plate according to the invention, an electrically insulating ceramic separating layer is printed between the two conductors in each intersection area where two conductors cross, electrically isolating the conductors from each other. The separating layer is made, for example, from glass. The separating layer is thus also applied (printed) by material extrusion, so that the crossing areas of the conductors are manufactured using the same manufacturing process as the conductors.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the mounting plate according to the invention, the functional layer printed with the electrical conductors is sealed with a varnish. This advantageously protects the conductors and the functional layer from environmental influences.

[0018] The carrier plate of the mounting plate is a carrier sheet with an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer applied to the carrier sheet, onto which the functional layer is applied. The insulation layer is preferably made of a material that has a higher melting temperature than the functional layer. For example, the insulation layer is made of aluminum oxide. In this embodiment of the mounting plate according to the invention, the mounting plate therefore has an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer arranged between the carrier sheet and the functional layer. As a result, the thickness of the functional layer can advantageously be reduced because its insulating effect is partially taken over by the insulation layer.The production of the insulation layer from a material which has a higher melting temperature, in particular a significantly higher melting temperature than the functional layer, is advantageous since this can prevent the insulation layer from being melted by laser radiation with which the functional layer is melted according to the method according to the invention for producing the mounting plate before the printing of the conductors.

[0019] In the method according to the invention for producing a mounting plate according to the invention, the electrical conductors are printed onto the functional layer by first melting the areas of the functional layer to be printed with the electrical conductors using laser radiation and then printing molten conductor material onto the molten areas. Melting the areas of the functional layer to be printed with the electrical conductors before printing these areas with the conductor material advantageously improves the coupling of the conductor material into the functional layer and thus the adhesion of the conductors to the functional layer. The use of laser radiation to melt the areas of the functional layer to be printed with the electrical conductors advantageously enables melting of the functional layer that is locally limited to the areas of the functional layer to be printed.

[0020] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the functional layer is applied to the carrier plate by thermal spraying. This advantageously enables cost-effective application of the functional layer to the carrier plate.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, in each intersection region where two conductors cross, a first conductor is first printed onto the functional layer. Subsequently, the separating layer is printed onto the first conductor and the functional layer, and finally, the second conductor is printed onto the separating layer. This advantageously enables the aforementioned production of the crossing regions of the conductors using the same process as the production of the conductors themselves.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention for producing a mounting plate comprising a carrier plate with an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer applied to the carrier plate, the insulation layer is applied to the carrier plate by thermal spraying. This advantageously enables cost-effective application of the insulation layer to the carrier plate.

[0023] The thickness of the carrier sheet depends on the mechanical requirements regarding the stability of the mounting plate and is, for example, approximately 2 mm. The thicknesses of the insulation layer and the functional layer result from the material constants of these layers and their required dielectric strengths and are, for example, approximately 100 pm.

[0024] A switch cabinet according to the invention has a mounting plate according to the invention. The advantages of a switch cabinet according to the invention correspond to the above-mentioned advantages of a mounting plate according to the invention.

[0025] 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 readily understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0026] FIG 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting plate for a control cabinet,

[0027] FIG 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting plate for a control cabinet during its manufacture, FIG 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a control cabinet.

[0028] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0029] Figure 1 (FIG 1) shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting plate 1 for a control cabinet 19 (see Figure 3).

[0030] The mounting plate 1 comprises a carrier plate 3, an electrically insulating ceramic functional layer 5 applied to the carrier plate 3 and electrical conductors 7, 9 printed on the functional layer 5.

[0031] The functional layer 5 is made of chromium oxide, for example.

[0032] The carrier plate 3 is a carrier sheet 3.1 with an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer 3.2 applied to the carrier sheet 3.1, onto which the functional layer 5 is applied. The carrier sheet 3.1 is made of steel, for example. The insulation layer 3.2 is made of a material that has a significantly higher melting temperature than the functional layer 5. For example, the insulation layer 3.2 is made of aluminum oxide.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mounting plate 1 has two conductors 7, 9 that intersect at an intersection 11. An electrically insulating ceramic separating layer 13 is printed between the two conductors 7, 9 in the intersection 11, electrically insulating the conductors 7, 9 from each other. The separating layer 13 is made, for example, of glass.

[0034] Figure 2 (FIG 2) shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting plate 1 for a control cabinet 19 during its manufacture. The mounting plate 1 comprises a carrier plate 3, an electrically insulating ceramic functional layer 5 applied to the carrier plate 3, and an electrical conductor 7 printed on the functional layer 5.

[0035] As in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the carrier plate 3 is a carrier sheet 3.1 with an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer 3.2 applied to the carrier sheet 3.1, onto which the functional layer 5 is applied. The carrier sheet 3.1 is made, for example, from steel. The insulation layer 3.2 is made of a material that has a significantly higher melting temperature than the functional layer 5. The insulation layer 3.2 is made, for example, from aluminum oxide and is applied to the carrier sheet 3.1 by thermal spraying. The functional layer 5 is made, for example, from chromium oxide and is applied to the insulation layer 3.2 by thermal spraying.

[0036] The conductor 7 is printed onto the functional layer 5 by first melting the areas of the functional layer 5 to be printed with the conductor 7 by laser radiation 15 and then printing molten conductor material onto the molten areas, which is dispensed onto the molten areas by a nozzle 17.

[0037] To produce a crossing region 11 shown in Figure 1, in which two conductors 7, 9 intersect, a first conductor 7 is first printed onto the functional layer 5 in the crossing region 11. Subsequently, the separating layer 13 is printed onto the first conductor 7 and the functional layer 5. After that, the second conductor 9 is printed onto the separating layer 5.

[0038] Finally, the functional layer 5 printed with the electrical conductors 7, 9 is sealed with a varnish. Figure 3 (FIG. 3) shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a control cabinet 19. The control cabinet 19 has a mounting wall 1, described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, which forms a rear wall of the control cabinet 19.

[0039] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0040] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identity are included.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Mounting plate (1) for a control cabinet (19), the mounting plate (1) comprising - a carrier plate (3), - an electrically insulating ceramic functional layer (5) applied to the carrier plate (3) and - electrical conductors (7, 9) printed on the functional layer (5), characterized in that - the carrier plate (3) is a carrier sheet (3.1) with an electrically insulating ceramic insulation layer (3.2) applied to the carrier sheet (3.1), to which the functional layer (5) is applied.

2. Mounting plate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the functional layer (5) is made of chromium oxide.

3. Mounting plate (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in each crossing region (11) in which two conductors (7, 9) cross, an electrically insulating ceramic separating layer (13) is printed between the two conductors (7, 9), which electrically insulates the conductors (7, 9) from one another.

4. Mounting plate (1) according to claim 3, wherein the separating layer (13) is made of glass.

5. Mounting plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional layer (5) printed with the electrical conductors (7, 9) is sealed with a varnish.

6. Mounting plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation layer (3.2) is made of a material having a higher melting temperature than the functional layer (5).

7. Mounting plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation layer (3.2) is made of aluminum oxide.

8. Mounting plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier plate (3.1) is made of steel.

9. A method for producing a mounting plate (1) designed according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical conductors (7, 9) are printed onto the functional layer (5) by first melting the areas of the functional layer (5) to be printed with the electrical conductors (7, 9) by laser radiation (15) and then printing melted conductor material onto the melted areas.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the functional layer (5) is applied to the carrier plate (3) by thermal spraying.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10 for producing a mounting plate (1) designed according to claim 3 or 4, wherein in each crossing region (11) of two conductors (7, 9) first a first conductor (7) is printed onto the functional layer (5), then the separating layer (13) is printed onto the first conductor (7) and the functional layer (5) and finally the second conductor (9) is printed onto the separating layer (13).

12. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11 for producing a mounting plate (1) designed according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the insulation layer (3.2) is applied to the carrier sheet (3.1) by thermal spraying.

13. Switch cabinet (19) with a mounting plate (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

Images