Control Box Hinge Sealing Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch cabinet arrangements face challenges in achieving the most variable division of the interior into partial spaces with favorable sealing, often requiring external fasteners and complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The fastening section is arranged inside the circumferential sealing arrangement in the closed state, with the articulated section outside, allowing for easy internal attachment of hinges and reliable sealing through a hinge seal that interacts with a sealing lip, eliminating the need for external fasteners and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fastening section is arranged outside the circumferential sealing arrangement, then the hinge can be easily attached to the frame from the outside, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to external fasteners protruding into the interior
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening section is inverted from the conventional external position to an internal position within the circumferential sealing arrangement. This inversion allows the hinge to be fastened from the inside of the switch cabinet rather than from the outside, eliminating protruding external fasteners that would compromise sealing. The hinge is still securely attached to the frame, but the fastening operation is performed through the interior space, maintaining both sealing integrity and attachment reliability.
2Productivity
If the hinge structure is simplified for easy assembly, then the assembly process becomes faster, but the sealing performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure merges multiple functions into a unified design where the fastening section, joint section, and sealing integration are combined into a single articulated component. This merging allows the hinge to be attached in one assembly operation from the inside of the cabinet, achieving fast assembly. Simultaneously, the integrated design ensures that the hinge works in conjunction with the circumferential sealing arrangement and hinge seal to maintain reliable sealing, eliminating the trade-off between assembly speed and sealing performance.
3Ease of operation
If the door can be pivoted beyond 90° for functional access, then the operational flexibility improves, but the sealing arrangement may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is segmented into distinct functional sections: a fastening section for secure attachment to the frame, a joint section for articulation, and an articulated section for door movement. This segmentation allows the hinge to accommodate large pivoting angles beyond 90° for operational flexibility while maintaining a stable fastening connection. The segmented design enables the door to swing freely for access to built-in device components while the fastening section remains firmly attached, preserving sealing integrity throughout the range of motion.
4Ease of manufacture
If external fasteners are used for hinge attachment, then the assembly is straightforward from outside, but the cabinet exterior appearance and sealing are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening operation is inverted from external to internal access. The fastening section is positioned inside the circumferential sealing arrangement, allowing assembly to be performed from the interior of the switch cabinet. This eliminates the need for external fasteners that would protrude and affect the cabinet's exterior appearance. The hinge is securely fastened to the frame through internal fastening elements, achieving both aesthetic integrity and assembly simplicity through the inverted approach.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables easy pivoting of doors beyond 90°, facilitates simple and clear assembly, and provides reliable sealing without external fasteners, allowing for variable and modular arrangement of partial doors and spaces within the switch cabinet.
Implementation Method 1
in the transition area between the cavity and the joint section there is a hinge seal which extends axially with respect to the hinge and nestles against the front section of the vertical section with a sealing lip which extends axially parallel from a sealing body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a control box arrangement comprising at least one control box (2, 3, 4), the inside of which is sub-divided, or can be sub-divided, into a plurality of compartments (5) which are arranged one above the other and can be closed in a sealing manner by associated doors (16) by means of a peripheral sealing arrangement (90, 85) acting on the inside of the doors. The doors (16) are connected, by one of the vertical sides thereof, to a frame (10) of the control box (2, 3, 4) in question by means of hinges in an articulated manner, and can be closed by a closing mechanism on the opposite vertical side. A first hinge section (16.1) is fixed to a vertical section of the frame (10) by means of a fixing section (83), and the door (16) is mounted on an articulated section (82) of the first hinge section (16.1) in an articulated manner by means of a second hinge section applied thereto. A variable structural division of the inside of the control box and a corresponding arrangement of the doors is enabled by the fact that, in the closed state, the fixing section (83) is arranged inside the peripheral sealing arrangement (90, 85), while the articulated section (82) is arranged outside the sealing arrangement (90, 85).