Method for facilitating the connection of electrical cables to electrical / electronic components arranged in an electrical enclosure

Abstract

A method and apparatus for connecting cabling C to electronic components Co in a rectangular electrical enclosure 1 provided with an open front side 1a, rear side 1b able to support the electronic com

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the connection of electrical cables to electrical / electronic components arranged in an electrical enclosure, the electrical enclosure comprising an enclosure (1) and electrical / electronic components (Co), said enclosure (1) having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising an open front side (1a) with a main opening (10a) allowing main access into the enclosure (1), a rear side (1b) that can serve as a support for the electrical / electronic components (Co) in the enclosure (1), a bottom side (1c) and a top side (1d) at least one of which has a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) closed by a removable gland plate (2) with holes (2a) allowing the passage of cables (C) and two lateral sides (1e, 1f), wherein at least one of the bottom and top sides (1c, 1d) with a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) further comprises a removable front reinforcement edge (3) common with the front side (1a) by delimiting both the main opening (10a) and said cable entry opening (10c, 10d) and forming, with the associated removable gland plate (2) closing said cable entry opening (10c, 10d), a removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) and in that the method consists of performing, by operating essentially from the outside of the enclosure (1), the following successive steps to connect cables (C) to the electrical / electronic components arranged in the enclosure (1) passing through the concerned bottom or top side (1c, 1d):- i) disassembling at choice,the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) to remove from the enclosure (1), together or separately, the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3),or only the removable gland plate (2) to remove from the enclosure (1) only the removable gland plate (2),- ii) passing the cables (C) through the holes (2a) of the removed gland plate (2) or directly through the cable entry opening (10c, 10d) freed from the gland plate,- iii) connecting the cables (C) to the electrical / electronic components arranged in the enclosure (1),-iv)if the cables (C) pass directly through the cable entry opening (10c, 10d): optionally, reassemble only the removable front reinforcement edge (3),if the cables (C) pass through the removable gland plate (2): reassemble, depending on the choice of step i), the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step i) it consists of disassembling: the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) by removing from the enclosure (1) first fastening elements (4), such as assembling screws, each ensuring a detachable connection between the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) and an external fixing part of the enclosure (1), preferably an external fixing part extending on the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1), and each being fixed along a first fixing axis (X1) to said external fixing part,or only the removable gland plate (2) by removing from the enclosure (1) second fastening elements (5), such as assembly screws, ensuring a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3) by being fixed along a second fixing axis (X2).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the second fixing axis (X2) extends substantially perpendicularly to the first fixing axis (X1).

4. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the removable gland plate (2) of the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) further comprises at least one interlocking part (2b), preferably a male interlocking part, and the enclosure (1) further comprises at least one counterpart part (6), preferably a receiving part forming a female interlocking part, preferably located in the rear side (1 b) of the enclosure (1) substantially at the level of the concerned bottom or top side (1c, 1d), ensuring, by mutual interaction between the interlocking part(s) (2b) and the interlocking counterpart(s) (6) along an interlocking axis (X3), preferably substantially parallel to the first fixing axis (X1), a detachable connection between theremovable gland plate (2) and the receiving part (6) of the enclosure (1) and in that it consists in step i) of disassembling from the enclosure (1):- the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) by first removing from the enclosure (1) each first fastening element (4), then moving the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3), preferably in a direction perpendicular to the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1), so as to remove the interlocking part (2b) from the counterpart (6) of the enclosure (1), - or only the removable gland plate (2) by first removing from the enclosure (1) each second fastening element (5) then moving the removable gland plate (2), preferably in a direction perpendicular to the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1), so as to remove the interlocking part (2b) from the counterpart (6) of the enclosure (1).

5. An electrical enclosure comprising an enclosure (1) and electrical / electronic components (Co), said enclosure (1) having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising an open front side (1a) with a main opening (10a) allowing main access into the enclosure (1), a rear side (1b) that can serve as a support for electrical / electronic components (Co) in the enclosure (1), a bottom side (1c) and a top side (1d) at least one of which has a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) closed by a removable gland plate (2) pierced with holes (2a) allowing the passage of cables (C) and two lateral sides (1e, 1 f), wherein at least one of the bottom and top sides (1c, 1d) with a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) further comprises a removable front reinforcement edge (3) common with the front side (1a) delimiting both the main opening (10a) and the cable entry opening (10c, 10d) and forming, with the associated removable gland plate (2) closing the cable entry opening (10c, 10d), a removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) allowing, at choice, by operating essentially from the outside the enclosure (1):either to remove from the enclosure (1), together or separately, the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3) and to reassemble them together or separately or to reassemble only the removable front reinforcement edge (3),or to remove only from the enclosure (1) the removable gland plate (2) while keeping the removable front reinforcement edge (3) in place.

6. An electrical enclosure according to claim 5, wherein the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) comprises first fastening elements (4), such as first assembly screws, each ensuring a detachable connection between the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3), or the or each removable front reinforcement edge (3), and the enclosure (1) can further comprise a corresponding external fixing part (1c, 1 d), preferably an external fixing part extending on the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1), and each being fixed along a first fixing axis (X1) to said external fixing part, preferably substantially perpendicular to the open front side (1a) of the enclosure (1).

7. An electrical enclosure according to claim 6, wherein the or each external fixing part extending on the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1) consists of two fixing ears (11a) located respectively in the two lower or upper corners of the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1).

8. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) comprises second fastening elements (5), such as assembly screws, each ensuring a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3) of the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) and each being fixed along a second fixing axis (X2).

9. An electrical enclosure according to claim 8, wherein the second fixing axis (X2) is perpendicular to the first fixing axis (X1).

10. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the removable gland plate (2) of the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) further comprises at least one interlocking part(2b), preferably a male interlocking part, and the enclosure (1) further comprises at least one counterpart part (6), preferably a receiving part forming a female interlocking part, preferably located in the rear side (1b) of the enclosure (1) substantially at the level of the concerned bottom or top side (1c, 1d), ensuring, by mutual interaction between the interlocking part(s) (2b) and the counterpart s) (6) along an interlocking axis (X3), a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the enclosure (1).

11. An electrical enclosure according to claim 10, wherein the or each interlocking part (2b) comprises an interlocking fin (20b) forming a male interlocking element and the or each counterpart (6) comprises an interlocking slot (6a) forming a female interlocking part receiving the or one of the interlocking fin(s) (20b).

12. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 10 to 11, each taken in combination with claim 6 or 9, wherein the interlocking axis (X3) is substantially parallel to the first fixing axis (X1).

13. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the or each removable front reinforcement edge (3) has a straight U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section.

14. An electrical enclosure according to claim 13 taken in combination with any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the straight U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section defines a first assembly wing (3a) and a second assembly wing (3b) perpendicular to the first assembly wing (3a), the first assembly wing (3a) being removably fixed to the external fixing part of the enclosure (1) by means of the first fastening elements (4) and the second assembly wing (3b) being removably fixed to the corresponding removable gland plate (2) by means of the second fastening elements (5).

15. An electrical enclosure according to claim 14, wherein the first assembly wing (3a) comprises fixing holes (30a) allowing the first fastening elements (4)to freely pass through and be fixed in the external fixing part of the enclosure (1) and the or each gland plate (2) comprises fixing holes (2b) freely traversed by the second fastening elements (5) which are screwed onto the reinforcement edge (3).Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows04 03 26Claims1. A method for facilitating the connection of electrical cables to electrical / electronic components arranged in an electrical enclosure, the electrical enclosure comprising an enclosure (1) and electrical / electronic components (Co), said enclosure (1) having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising an open front side (1a) with a main opening (10a) allowing main access into the enclosure (1), a rear side (1b) that can serve as a support for the electrical / electronic components (Co) in the enclosure (1), a bottom side (1c) and a top side (1d) at least one of which has a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) closed by a removable gland plate (2) with holes (2a) allowing the passage of cables (C) and two lateral sides (1e, 1f), wherein at least one of the bottom and top sides (1c, 1d) with a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) further comprises a removable front reinforcement edge (3) common with the front side (1a) by delimiting both the main opening (10a) and said cable entry opening (10c, 10d) and forming, with the associated removable gland plate (2) closing said cable entry opening (10c, 10d), a removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) and in that the method consists of performing, by operating essentially from the outside of the enclosure (1), the following successive steps to connect cables (C) to the electrical / electronic components arranged in the enclosure (1) passing through the concerned bottom or top side (1c, 1d):i) disassembling at choice, the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) to remove from the enclosure (1), together or separately, the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3), or only the removable gland plate (2) to remove from the enclosure (1) only the removable gland plate (2),ii) passing the cables (C) through the holes (2a) of the removed gland plate (2) or directly through the cable entry opening (10c, 10d) freed from the gland plate,iii) connecting the cables (C) to the electrical / electronic components arranged in the enclosure (1),iv) if the cables (C) pass through the removable gland plate (2): reassemble, depending on the choice of step i), the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3).04 03 262. A method according to claim 1, wherein step i) consists of disassembling: the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) by removing from the enclosure (1) first fastening elements (4), each ensuring a detachable connection between the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) and an external fixing part of the enclosure (1), and each being fixed along a first fixing axis (X1) to said external fixing part,or only the removable gland plate (2) by removing from the enclosure (1) second fastening elements (5), ensuring a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3) by being fixed along a second fixing axis (X2).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the external fixing part extends on the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1).

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second fixing axis (X2) extends substantially perpendicularly to the first fixing axis (X1).

5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the removable gland plate (2) of the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) further comprises at least one interlocking part (2b) and the enclosure (1) further comprises at least one counterpart part (6) ensuring, by mutual interaction between the interlocking part(s) (2b) and the interlocking counterpart(s) (6) along an interlocking axis (X3), a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the receiving part (6) of the enclosure (1) and wherein step i) consists of disassembling from the enclosure (1):the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) by first removing from the enclosure (1) each first fastening element (4), then moving the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3), so as to remove the interlocking part (2b) from the counterpart (6) of the enclosure (1),or only the removable gland plate (2) by first removing from the enclosure (1) each second fastening element (5) then moving the removable gland plate (2), so as to remove the interlocking part (2b) from the counterpart (6) of the enclosure (1).04 03 266. A method according to claim 5, wherein the interlocking part (2b) is a male interlocking part and the counterpart part (6) is a receiving part forming a female interlocking part.

7. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the counterpart part (6) is located in the rear side (1b) of the enclosure (1) substantially at the level of the concerned bottom or top side (1c, 1d).

8. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the interlocking axis (X3) is substantially parallel to the first fixing axis (X1).

9. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein step i) consists of disassembling from the enclosure (1):the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) by first removing from the enclosure (1) each first fastening element (4), then moving the removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) in a direction perpendicular to the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1), so as to remove the interlocking part (2b) from the counterpart (6) of the enclosure (1),or only the removable gland plate (2) by first removing from the enclosure (1) each second fastening element (5) then moving the removable gland plate (2) in a direction perpendicular to the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1), so as to remove the interlocking part (2b) from the counterpart (6) of the enclosure (1).

10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein in step iv), if the cables (C) pass directly through the cable entry opening (10c, 10d), only the removable front reinforcement edge (3) is reassembled.

11. An electrical enclosure comprising an enclosure (1) and electrical / electronic components (Co), said enclosure (1) having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising an open front side (1a) with a main opening (10a) allowing main access into the enclosure (1), a rear side (1b) that can serve as a support for electrical / electronic components (Co) in the enclosure (1), a bottom side (1c) and a top side (1d) at least one of which has a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) closed by a04 03 26removable gland plate (2) pierced with holes (2a) allowing the passage of cables (C) and two lateral sides (1e, 1 f),wherein at least one of the bottom and top sides (1c, 1d) with a cable entry opening (10c, 10d) further comprises a removable front reinforcement edge (3) common with the front side (1a) delimiting both the main opening (10a) and the cable entry opening (10c, 10d) and forming, with the associated removable gland plate (2) closing the cable entry opening (10c, 10d), a removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) allowing, at choice, by operating essentially from the outside the enclosure (1):either to remove from the enclosure (1), together or separately, the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3) and to reassemble them together or separately or to reassemble only the removable front reinforcement edge (3),or to remove only from the enclosure (1) the removable gland plate (2) while keeping the removable front reinforcement edge (3) in place.

12. An electrical enclosure according to claim 11, wherein the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) comprises first fastening elements (4), each ensuring a detachable connection between the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3), or the or each removable front reinforcement edge (3), and the enclosure (1), wherein the enclosure (1) can further comprise a corresponding external fixing part (1c, 1d) and wherein each fastening element (4) being fixed along a first fixing axis (X1) to said external fixing part.

13. An electrical enclosure according to claim 12, wherein the external fixing part (1c, 1d) is an external fixing part extending on the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1).

14. An electrical enclosure according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first fixing axis (X1) is substantially perpendicular to the open front side (1a) of the enclosure (1).

15. An electrical enclosure according to any one to claims 12 to 14, wherein the or each external fixing part extending on the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1) consists of two fixing ears (11a) located respectively in the two lower or upper corners of the front side (1a) of the enclosure (1).04 03 2616. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) comprises second fastening elements (5), each second fastening element (5) ensuring a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the removable front reinforcement edge (3) of the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) and each being fixed along a second fixing axis (X2).

17. An electrical enclosure according to claim 12 or claim 16, wherein the first fastening elements (4) and the second fastening elements (5) are assembly screws.

18. An electrical enclosure according to claim 16, wherein the second fixing axis (X2) is perpendicular to the first fixing axis (X1).

19. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the removable gland plate (2) of the or each removable gland plate and reinforcement assembly (2, 3) further comprises at least one interlocking part (2b), and the enclosure (1) further comprises at least one counterpart part (6) ensuring, by mutual interaction between the interlocking part(s) (2b) and the counterpart(s) (6) along an interlocking axis (X3), a detachable connection between the removable gland plate (2) and the enclosure (1).

20. An electrical enclosure according to claim 19, wherein the interlocking part (2b) is a male interlocking part and the counterpart part (6) is a receiving part forming a female interlocking part.

21. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 19 to 20, wherein the counterpart part (6) is located in the rear side (1b) of the enclosure (1) substantially at the level of the concerned bottom or top side (1c, 1d).

22. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the or each interlocking part (2b) comprises an interlocking fin (20b) forming a male interlocking element and the or each counterpart (6) comprises an interlocking slot04 03 26(6a) forming a female interlocking part receiving the or one of the interlocking fin(s) (20b).

23. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 19 to 22, each taken in combination with claim 12 or 18, wherein the interlocking axis (X3) is substantially parallel to the first fixing axis (X1).

24. An electrical enclosure according to any one of claims 11 to 23, wherein the or each removable front reinforcement edge (3) has a straight U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section.

25. An electrical enclosure according to claim 24 taken in combination with any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the straight U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section defines a first assembly wing (3a) and a second assembly wing (3b) perpendicular to the first assembly wing (3a), the first assembly wing (3a) being removably fixed to the external fixing part of the enclosure (1) by means of the first fastening elements (4) and the second assembly wing (3b) being removably fixed to the corresponding removable gland plate (2) by means of the second fastening elements (5).

26. An electrical enclosure according to claim 25, wherein the first assembly wing (3a) comprises fixing holes (30a) allowing the first fastening elements (4) to freely pass through and be fixed in the external fixing part of the enclosure (1) and the or each gland plate (2) comprises fixing holes (2b) freely traversed by the second fastening elements (5) which are screwed onto the reinforcement edge (3).

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