Electrical Panel Cabinet

Abstract

An electrical panel enclosure comprising a container module which itself includes at least one front opening and at least one door (20) adapted to close the front opening. Furthermore, the enclosure includes at least one closing device (24) and at least one return device (26) provided on the container module or on the at least one door, equipped with internal tabs (30, 32) adapted to selectively engage with a portion of the at least one door or a portion of the container module, respectively, when the at least one door is in the closed position. The internal tab (30) of the closing device (24) can be rotated by means of an external knob provided on the portion of the closing device (24) intended to be external to the container module.At least one closing device (24) and at least one return device (26) are provided with respective radial arms (36, 38) that are rotationally fixed to their respective inner tabs (30, 32). The closing device (24) of the outer button, the radial arm (36), and the inner tab (30) are rotationally fixed. The radial arms (36, 38) comprise radial ends connected to each other by means of at least one bar (44). The radial arms (36, 38) are connected to the at least one bar (44) via a hinged connection (46, 48). [Fig. 8].

Description

Title of the invention: CABINET FOR ELECTRICAL PANEL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical panel cabinet. The present invention relates in particular to an electrical panel cabinet provided with a closing system. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] As is known, industrial type electrical panels are contained inside a cabinet made of metal.

[0003] Cabinets of this type can have generous dimensions depending on the dimensions of the electrical panel that must be contained inside.

[0004] In particular, the leaves may have dimensions such that they require several closing points along their edge at the axis around which they rotate during opening.

[0005] Each closing point must be opened or closed by an operator using a key provided for this purpose.

[0006] It is evident that the closing devices intended for an electrical panel cabinet according to the prior art, although they are widely appreciated and used, are not without drawbacks.

[0007] For example, to open or close a leaf, it is necessary to open or close all the closing devices provided on the leaf. In this regard, the leaves can also be provided with three or four closing devices depending on their height.

[0008] In certain alternative solutions, instead of providing a plurality of closing devices, a single closing device is provided, placed in a position substantially halfway up the leaf. In this case, especially when the leaf is very high, the presence of a single closing device does not guarantee satisfactory closing at the ends of the leaf.

[0009] Furthermore, in the case where the leaves are very high, it is common for one of the closing devices to be positioned at considerable heights and difficult to reach easily. The difficulty is further accentuated in the presence of small people.

[0010] Similarly, if the closing device is positioned very low, it may be just as difficult to reach, for example by people with reduced mobility. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is therefore necessary to at least partially overcome the drawbacks and limitations cited with reference to the prior art.

[0012] Therefore, there is a need to provide a cabinet closing device that is more convenient to use compared to prior art devices.

[0013] Furthermore, there is a need to have a closing device which allows satisfactory closing at the ends of the leaf, with a limited number of operations on the part of a user.

[0014] There is still a need for a door for an electrical panel cabinet that can be easily closed or opened in a limited number of operations.

[0015] These requirements are met at least partially by an electrical panel cabinet according to claim 1. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description given below of its preferred and non-limiting exemplary embodiments, illustrated by the drawings in which:

[0017] - [Fig.l] represents in schematic form a perspective view of a component of a cabinet for an electrical panel according to one possible embodiment;

[0018] - [Fig.2] shows in schematic form a view of the rear of the component of [Fig.l];

[0019] - [Fig.3] shows in schematic form a side view of a component of an electrical panel cabinet according to one possible embodiment;

[0020] - [Fig.4] represents in schematic form a front view of the component of [Fig.3];

[0021] - [Fig.5] represents in schematic form an exploded perspective view of the component shown in [Fig.3] and [Fig.4];

[0022] - [Fig.6] shows in schematic form an assembled view of the component of [Fig.3], [Fig.4] and [Fig.5];

[0023] - [Fig.7] shows in schematic form a side view of a leaf of an electrical panel cabinet according to one possible embodiment;

[0024] - [Fig.8] shows in schematic form a view of the rear of a leaf of an electrical panel cabinet according to one possible embodiment;

[0025] - [Fig.9] represents in schematic form a front view of a leaf of an electrical panel cabinet equipped with a closing device according to one possible embodiment;

[0026] - [Fig. 10] represents in schematic form a perspective view of a cabinet for electrical panel according to one possible embodiment;

[0027] - [Fig. 11] represents in schematic form a view of an interior part of an electrical panel cabinet according to one possible embodiment.

[0028] Elements or parts of elements in common between the embodiments described below will be designated by the same reference numbers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In [Fig. 10], there is shown an electrical panel cabinet, which is designated by the general reference number 12.

[0030] The electrical panel cabinet 12 comprises a module forming a container 14 with at least one front opening 16, 18 and at least one leaf 20, 22 adapted to close the front opening 16, 18.

[0031] Furthermore, the cabinet 12 comprises at least one closing device 24 and at least one return device 26, which may be provided on the container module 14 or on the at least one leaf 20, 22, their inner tabs 30, 32 being adapted to selectively engage respectively with a part of the at least one leaf 20, 22 or a part 28 of the container module 14, when the at least one leaf 20, 22 is in the closed position.

[0032] The inner tab 30 of the closure device 24 can rotate by means of an outer button 34 provided on the part of the closure device 24 outside the container module 14.

[0033] The at least one closing device 24 and the at least one return device 26 are provided with respective radial arms 36, 38 integral in rotation with their respective inner tongue 30, 32. In particular, with regard to the closing device 24, the outer button 34, the radial arm 36 and the inner tongue 30 are integral in rotation. The radial arms 36, 38 comprise radial ends 40, 42 connected to each other by means of at least one bar 44, via a hinge connection 46, 48.

[0034] Thanks to the structure which has just been described, it is possible to control the movement of the return devices 26 by rotating the external button 34 of the closing device 24. Effective closing of the door of an electrical cabinet is therefore obtained by rotating the closing device alone, without necessarily having to act on the return devices.

[0035] In the case of the cabinets 12 shown in the attached figures, the closing devices 24 and the return devices 26 are provided on the leaves 20, 22. In all cases, as will be clear to those skilled in the art, these can also be provided in correspondence with the structure of the module forming the container.

[0036] Furthermore, in the figures, in particular in [Fig. 10], each leaf 20, 22 is provided with a central closing device 24 and two return devices 26, one in the upper position and the other in the lower position. In any case, as will be clear to those skilled in the art, other types of arrangement are possible.

[0037] According to a possible embodiment, the closing device 24 may comprise a hollow body 50 with an outer head 54 on which the outer button 34 is provided, a rod 52 threaded on the outside and a tightening nut 56 adapted to engage with the threaded rod 52 to lock the proximal parts to an orifice of a leaf 20, 22 in which the closing device 24 is inserted between the outer head 54 and the tightening nut 56.

[0038] The closure device 24 may comprise an inner rotating element 58 adapted to rotate relative to the body 50, on which the outer button 34, the radial arm 36 and the inner tab 30 are provided.

[0039] According to a possible embodiment, the distance between the axis of rotation of the outer button 34 and the axis of rotation of the hinge connection 46 may be between 15 and 50 mm, preferably between 20 and 40 mm, better still may be close to 30 mm.

[0040] According to a possible embodiment, the return device 26 may comprise a body 60 threaded on the outside provided at one end with a head 62 and at the other end with a threaded seat 64. The return device 26 may comprise a screw 66 provided with a rod 68 having a threaded end portion 70, and adapted to be screwed into the threaded seat 64, and a cylindrical portion 72 on which the inner tongue 32 and the radial arm 38 can rotate, locked axially by said screw 66.

[0041] The return device 26 may comprise a gasket 74 adapted to be provided between the head 62 and the respective leaf 22.

[0042] According to a possible embodiment, the return device 26 may comprise a spacer 76 provided between the body 60 and the inner tongue 32. The spacer 76 and the inner tongue 32 may be assembled by form-fitting. In this regard, as seen in [Fig. 5], the spacer 76 may comprise a groove 88 adapted to mate with a respective projection 90 provided on the inner tongue.

[0043] The inner tab 32 may be of the type known per se. According to a possible embodiment, the inner tab 32 may comprise a base portion 80 intended in use to be coupled to the body 60, possibly by means of the spacer 76, and a projecting portion 324. Between the projecting portion 324 and the base part, an axial part 326 may be provided substantially parallel to the axis of the return device 26. In this way, the projecting part may be substantially coplanar with the radial arm 38.

[0044] According to one possible embodiment, the radial arm 38 may include a seat 78 adapted to contain a base portion 80 of the inner tab 32.

[0045] Advantageously, a washer 82 may be provided between the radial arm 38 and the head 69 of the screw 66.

[0046] According to a possible embodiment, the hinged connections 46, 48 may comprise a pin 84 provided in correspondence with the radial arm 36, 38, adapted to mate with a corresponding orifice 86 provided on said bar 44, and fixing means 95 adapted to prevent axial sliding of the orifice 86 relative to the pin 84. The fixing means 95 may be for example a Seeger ring.

[0047] The advantages that can be obtained with the electrical panel cabinet according to the present invention therefore now appear clearly.

[0048] Firstly, a cabinet is provided in which the closing of the leaf is made easier compared to the prior art. It is in fact possible to act on a single closing device to also act on the return devices and therefore close the leaf safely.

[0049] Furthermore, the closing of the leaf is satisfactory, including at the ends of the leaf, with a limited number of operations on the part of a user.

[0050] In addition, the door of the electrical panel cabinet allows the door to be closed at a convenient height to reach, it being possible to provide a height that is neither too high nor too low.

[0051] Those skilled in the art may, in order to meet specific requirements, make modifications to the embodiments described above and / or replace certain elements described with equivalent elements, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Cabinet (12) for an electrical panel comprising a container module (14) comprising at least one front opening (16, 18) and at least one leaf (20, 22) adapted to close said front opening (16, 18), said cabinet (12) comprising at least one closing device (24) and at least one return device (26) provided on said container module (14) or on said at least one leaf (20, 22), provided with internal tabs (30, 32) adapted to selectively engage respectively with a part of said at least one leaf (20, 22) or a part (28) of said container module (14) when said at least one leaf (20, 22) is in the closed position, said internal tab (30) of said closing device (24) being rotatable by means of an external button (34) provided on the part of the closing device (24) intended to be external to the module forming container (14),characterized in that said at least one closing device (24) and said at least one return device (26) are provided with respective radial arms (36, 38) integral in rotation with their respective inner tongue (30, 32), in said closing device (24), said outer button (34), said radial arm (36) and said inner tongue (30) being integral in rotation, said radial arms (36, 38) comprising radial ends (40, 42) connected together by means of at least one bar (44); said radial arms (36, 38) being connected to said at least one bar (44) by means of a hinge connection (46, 48).,

2. Cabinet (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said closing device (24) comprises a hollow body (50) comprising an outer head (54) on which said outer button (34) is provided, a rod (52) threaded on the outside and a tightening nut (56) adapted to engage with said threaded rod (52) to lock the proximal parts to an orifice of a leaf (20, 22) in which said closing device (24) is inserted between said outer head (54) and said tightening nut (56).

3. Cabinet (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closing device (24) comprises a inner rotating element (58) relative to said body (50), on which are provided the outer button (34), said radial arm (36) and said inner tongue (30).

4. Cabinet (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the axis of rotation of the outer knob (34) and the axis of rotation of the hinge connection (46) is between 15 and 50 mm, preferably between 20 and 40 mm, better still is close to 30 mm.

5. Cabinet (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said return device (26) comprises an externally threaded body (60) provided at one end with a head (62) and at the other end with a threaded seat (64); said return device (26) comprising a screw (66) provided with a rod (68) having a threaded end portion (70), adapted to screw into said threaded seat (64), and a cylindrical portion (72) on which said inner tongue (32) and said radial arm (38) can rotate, axially locked by said screw (66).

6. Cabinet (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the return device (26) comprises a gasket (74) adapted to be provided between the head (62) and the respective leaf (22).

7. Cabinet (12) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said return device (26) comprises a spacer (76) provided between said body (60) and said inner tongue (32); said spacer (76) and said inner tongue (32) being assembled by form complementarity.

8. Cabinet (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said radial arm (38) comprises a seat (78) adapted to contain a base portion (80) of said inner tab (32).

9. Cabinet (12) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a washer (82) adapted to be provided between said radial arm (38) and said head (69) of said screw (66).

10. Cabinet (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hinged connections (46, 48) comprise a pin (84) provided in correspondence with said radial arm (36, 38), adapted to mate with a corresponding orifice (86) provided on said bar (44), and fixing means (95) adapted to prevent axial sliding of the orifice (86) relative to the pin (84).

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