Control Cabinet Base Mounting via Pre-assembled Connecting Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing switch cabinets with dismantled control cabinets face difficulties in attaching a base from the outside, as the available bases are typically designed for internal attachment only, limiting their compatibility with dismantled components.

Innovation Solution

A connecting device with a fastening body and mounting bracket allows for external attachment of the base, featuring orthogonal contact sides and passages for screws, enabling easy mounting without requiring internal access, and includes eyebolts for transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a base is designed for internal attachment only through a base plate of the switch cabinet housing, then the attachment method is simple, but the base cannot be easily mounted on dismantled control cabinets and external mounting is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of base mountingVSAvoidcompatibility with dismantled components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting device is divided into multiple independent components: an inner housing corner connector that attaches to the switch cabinet housing, a fastening body that provides the mounting interface, and an outer housing corner connector that offers external attachment points. This segmentation allows the base to be mounted externally on both complete and dismantled control cabinets, resolving the contradiction between simple attachment and adaptability to dismantled components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting device serves multiple functions: it provides internal structural support through the inner housing corner connector, offers external mounting capability through the fastening body and outer housing corner connector, and protects edges from dirt. This multi-functionality enables the same device to accommodate both internally-mounted and externally-mounted bases, as well as work with both complete and dismantled control cabinets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual parts of a dismantled switch cabinet are used, then the switch cabinet can be transported and reconfigured, but the parts are only suitable to a limited extent for being connected to a base

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuitability for base connectionVSAvoidcomplexity of connecting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner housing corner connector is pre-assembled to the switch cabinet housing during manufacturing, with the fastening body and outer housing corner connector already in place. This preliminary action ensures that when the control cabinet is dismantled for transport or reconfiguration, the base connection capability is already prepared and requires no additional assembly, thus maintaining high suitability for base connection without adding operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the connecting device has multiple components (inner connector, fastening body, outer connector), then external base mounting is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal base mounting capabilityVSAvoidnumber of connecting device components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner housing corner connector, fastening body, and outer housing corner connector are merged into a single pre-assembled connecting device unit. This combining approach allows the multiple components to function together as one integrated solution during manufacturing, simplifying the assembly process and reducing the number of separate assembly operations required, thereby offsetting the increased component count with improved manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3096422B8Control cabinet with a base
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

A control cabinet (1), comprising a control cabinet housing (2) on which a base (3) for setting up the control cabinet (1) is arranged, is characterized, with regard to the objective of specifying a control cabinet to which a base can be easily attached, in particular from the outside, in that at least one pre-assembled connection device (4) is arranged in or on a base (2a) or base area of ​​the control cabinet housing (2), on which the base (3) or parts (5) of a base (3) can be or are attached directly or indirectly.