Hinged Flap Raceway for Low Voltage Cabinet Module Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
The number of inputs and outputs in low voltage cabinets is limited by the cabinet's height, restricting the installation of electrical modules and connections for sensors, actuators, and programmable logic controllers.
Innovation Solution
A compact raceway design with a hinged flap and oblique intermediate wall allows for superposition of communication and power cables and modules, enabling increased module density and accessibility, with multiple raceways that can be installed in a modular fashion within the cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If modules are arranged vertically in line between cableway and raceway, then cabinet structure is simple and accessible, but the number of modules is limited by cabinet height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-plane vertical arrangement to a three-dimensional superposed arrangement. The flap is divided into a first portion and a second portion arranged at different heights, with communication cables in the lower portion and power cables in the upper portion. This vertical stacking in multiple layers effectively doubles the module capacity within the same cabinet footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing the communication cable compartment and power cable compartment one above the other within the same raceway structure. The flap portions are nested vertically, with the first portion containing communication cables and the second portion containing power cables, allowing both cable types to coexist in a compact configuration.
2Quantity of substance
If cabinet height is increased to accommodate more modules, then more inputs and outputs can be installed, but cabinet size and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing cabinet height horizontally, the patent utilizes vertical stacking within the existing cabinet height. By arranging communication and power cables in superposed layers and supporting modules on both the first and second portions of the flap at different heights, the system doubles module capacity without increasing the cabinet's external dimensions.
3Area of stationary object
If communication cables and power cables are separated in different raceways, then cable management is simple, but space utilization is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication cable raceway and power cable raceway into a single integrated raceway structure. The flap is divided into two portions: the first portion contains communication cables and the second portion contains power cables. This unified structure improves space utilization while maintaining organized cable management through vertical separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves cable management complexity by separating cables in the vertical dimension rather than requiring separate horizontal raceways. Communication cables are routed through the first portion of the flap while power cables are routed through the second portion, achieving both compact integration and organized separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A raceway for a low voltage cabinet, including a body, a bottom and an intermediate wall jointly delimiting a compartment with a permanent opening extending along one side of the raceway, and a flap hinged on the body towards the raceway on the side of the raceway in which the permanent opening is delimited, this flap being mobile so that it can be folded to face the intermediate wall or to be separated from it. The compartment is designed to hold communication cables, the intermediate wall is designed to hold power cables on its face opposite the compartment, the flap is thus designed to support modules on its face opposite the intermediate wall, each module being connected to at least one communication cable and at least one power cable.