Cabinet With Removable Insulating Lining Section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing meter and distribution cabinets with sheet metal side walls face challenges in creating sufficient working space for busbar passage due to standard dimensions, making it difficult to connect and route conductors without laboriously cutting the insulating inner lining.

Innovation Solution

A cabinet design featuring a reversibly removable insulating inner lining section that creates a predefined free space, allowing for enlarged assembly space by forming a cover that can be reinserted or broken off at a predetermined point to facilitate busbar and cable passage, and ensuring secure closure with an insulating cover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the insulating inner lining is made as a continuous solid structure to ensure electrical insulation, then safety is improved, but the working space for busbar passage and assembly is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulationVSAvoidassembly space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating inner lining is segmented into a permanent base lining and a removable lining section. The removable lining section can be taken out to create additional working space for busbar passage and assembly operations, while the permanent base lining remains to maintain electrical insulation safety. This segmentation allows the system to dynamically adjust between maximum insulation protection and maximum working space availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If standard cabinet dimensions are used to maintain compact size, then space efficiency is improved, but sufficient working area between installation fields and insulating inner lining is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecabinet footprintVSAvoidworking area
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lining section is designed as a dynamic element that can be removed when working space is needed and reinstalled when not needed. This transforms the static cabinet structure into a dynamic system where the internal volume can be temporarily expanded during installation and maintenance operations, then restored to its compact form for normal operation and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the insulating inner lining is cut out to create openings for busbar passage, then busbar installation is facilitated, but the insulating structure is compromised and requires laborious cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebusbar installationVSAvoidinsulating structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The removable lining section is pre-formed with the necessary openings and shapes to accommodate busbars and cables. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site cutting and modification during installation. The pre-formed section maintains the insulating structure's integrity while providing ready-to-use passages for electrical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If a removable lining section is introduced to enlarge assembly space, then working conditions are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly spaceVSAvoidinsulating lining structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lining is divided into modular components that can be independently manufactured, assembled, and maintained. The removable section is designed as a separate module that attaches to the permanent base lining, allowing for simplified manufacturing and assembly processes despite the increased functional complexity of the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3171467B1Cabinet
Publication Date: 2020.05.20 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3171467B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3171467B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3171467B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A cabinet comprising a cabinet housing 1 with at least one side wall 2, into which a wall opening 7 for the passage of busbars or cables can be or is provided, wherein the wall opening 7 can be or is provided by removing a wall section from the side wall 2 and wherein the side wall 2 is assigned an electrically insulating inner lining 3, is characterized in view of the task of designing and further developing a cabinet, in particular a meter and/or distribution cabinet, in such a way that a mounting space in it, in particular for the passage of busbars and cables, can be enlarged, in that the inner lining (3) has an area in which a removable lining section (4) is arranged or formed.