Modular Public Service Cabinet Assembly with Removable Covers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Public service cabinets, including those for electric vehicle charging, face limitations in flexibility and maintenance due to their fixed installation methods, which restrict future adaptations and incur significant costs when upgrading or replacing street masts and cabinets.

Innovation Solution

A modular public service cabinet assembly that includes a foundation support and a connection frame with removable covers, allowing for easy expansion and modification to integrate with modular street masts, enabling flexible placement and future upgrades without disrupting existing infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If service cabinets are built around existing street masts, then foundation costs are reduced, but flexibility for future upgrades is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoundation materialVSAvoidflexibility for future upgrades
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The service cabinet is divided into a base unit and modular add-on components. The base unit contains the foundation support and essential equipment, while additional functional modules can be attached to the exterior. This segmentation allows the cabinet to be built around existing masts without requiring complete replacement during upgrades, as only the modular add-on components need to be changed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base unit is designed with universal mounting interfaces and standardized dimensions that accommodate various types of street masts and allow multiple different add-on modules to be attached. This multi-functionality enables the same base unit to support different configurations for charging, lighting, surveillance, or other smart city functions without requiring replacement of the entire cabinet structure.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If street masts are replaced with modernized smart city masts, then technological capabilities are improved, but cabinet replacement costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnological capabilitiesVSAvoidcabinet replacement costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the cabinet into a permanent base unit and removable add-on modules, the system allows replacement of only the modular components when technological upgrades are needed. The base unit with its foundation remains in place, and new add-on modules are attached to the updated street mast, avoiding the need to replace the entire cabinet structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base unit is pre-equipped with standardized mounting interfaces, connection points, and structural features that anticipate future modular additions. This preliminary preparation of the base unit ensures that when smart city masts are installed, the existing base unit can immediately support the new modular components without requiring costly custom modifications or complete cabinet replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of repair

If maintenance operations are performed on built-around masts, then serviceability is improved, but operational disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveserviceabilityVSAvoidoperational disruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The add-on modular components are designed to be independently removable from the base unit. When maintenance is needed on the street mast or within the cabinet, technicians can detach the modular components and set them aside, providing clear access to the mast and internal equipment without having to dismantle the entire cabinet structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular add-on components are extracted from the cabinet structure during maintenance operations. These components can be temporarily removed and placed nearby, allowing maintenance workers to access and service the street mast, electrical connections, and internal equipment. After maintenance, the modular components are reattached, minimizing the overall disruption time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4055676B1Assembly of a public service cabinet with modular expansion facility for a modular street mast and a modular street mast
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 LIGHTWELL
  • EP4055676B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4055676B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4055676B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A public service cabinet (1) comprises a foundation support, a connection frame (20), and housing parts (30, 40, 41, 45) that delimit internal spaces for receiving electrical and/or communication/control equipment. The foundation support comprises a first street mast module 5 of which an upper end (5") is configured to be connectable to a lower end of a second street mast module (60) of a modular street mast (2). The connection frame is releasably connected to the first street mast module, and the housing parts extend to a height that lies above a height to which the first street mast module extends such that at least an upper portion (5") of the first street mast module is surrounded by the housing parts. A removable first-type cover (47) is provided that is configured to shield of an upper side of the cabinet including the upper end of the first street mast module.