Frame Profile with Offset Mounting Plane for Sealed Cabinet Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of mounting plates in switch cabinets is labor-intensive due to the difficulty in accessing fastening elements, and existing solutions compromise dust-tight and moisture-tight sealing.

Innovation Solution

A frame profile design with foldable second profile sections that define a sealing plane perpendicular to the fold, allowing fastening mounts to be accessible from outside the frame, enabling easy assembly while maintaining sealing integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fastening receptacles are located inside the frame structure for mounting plates, then mounting options are provided, but assembly effort increases due to difficulty in accessing fastening elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting optionsVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning fastening receptacles on the outer surface of the frame structure rather than inside. This allows mounting plates to be fastened from the outside, making fastening elements easily accessible and eliminating the need for complex assembly procedures involving guide rails and holding elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the fastening function from the interior mounting plate structure and relocates it to the outer frame surface. The mounting plate itself becomes a separate component that can be easily attached to externally accessible fastening receptacles, separating the mounting function from the plate structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If mounting plate is attached to rear wall of cabinet housing, then assembly is simplified, but dust-tight and moisture-tight sealing is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidsealing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frame structure into distinct profile sections with different functions: outer profile sections provide mounting surfaces with fastening receptacles, while inner profile sections maintain sealing planes. This segmentation allows the mounting plate to be attached to the outer surface without compromising the sealing integrity of the inner structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the depth dimension of the frame structure by positioning fastening receptacles on the outer surface while maintaining sealing planes on the inner surface. This dimensional separation allows mounting operations to occur on the outer dimension while sealing functions are preserved on the inner dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3103168B1Profile of a framework for an electrical or distribution cabinet
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 RITTALWERK RUDOLF LOH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3103168B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3103168B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3103168B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a profiled frame of a frame structure for an electrical enclosure or a distribution cabinet. The framed profile forms a vertical and/or horizontal profiled section of the frame structure and consists of a plurality of profiled portions which at least partly transition into one another in order to form an open or closed hollow profiled section. The profiled frame further has the following features: at least one first profiled portion (11, 14; 21, 24; 31, 34; 41, 44; 51, 53; 62) has a number of securing recesses (11', 14'), wherein a first surface of the profiled portion defines an outer mounting plane (M1 M1'; M2, Μ2'; M3, Μ3'; M45 Μ4'; M5, Μ5'; M6); a sealing plane (D1, D1'; D2, D2'; D3, D3'; D4, D4'; D5, D5'; D6) for sealing the inner region of the frame structure is defined by at least one second profiled portion (15, 17; 25, 27; 35, 37; 45, 47; 55.1, 55.2, 57.1, 57.2; 61); the outer mounting plane (M1, M1'; M2, Μ2'; M3, Μ3'; M4, Μ4'; M5, Μ5'; M6) is offset from the sealing plane (D1, D1'; D2, D2'; D3, D3'; D4, D4'; D5, D5') towards the inner region of the frame structure; and the securing recesses (11', 14') of the first profiled portion (11, 14; 21, 24; 31, 34; 41, 44; 51, 53; 62) are oriented away from the inner region of the frame structure.