Switchboard Enclosure With Segmented Insulated Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing switch cabinet housings are electrically coupled, making them prone to voltage distribution issues and requiring complex manufacturing processes involving welding and additional coating steps.

Innovation Solution

The design features electrically isolated header and cover parts for the bottom and top walls, connected to a U-shaped metal sheet to create an insulated switch cabinet housing, using precoated sheet metal to simplify production and eliminate visible cut edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If walls are made from individual sheet metal pieces welded together, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and electrical insulation is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom and top walls are divided into electrically isolated header and cover parts. The header part connects to the U-shaped metal sheet while the cover part provides electrical insulation, creating segmented walls that maintain structural integrity while preventing electrical coupling between adjacent switch cabinet units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical conductivity function is extracted from the wall structure by removing the continuous metal connection between walls. The header and cover parts separate the electrical path while maintaining mechanical support, eliminating the harmful electrical coupling effect while preserving structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If sheet metal is cut and welded, then assembly is simplified, but additional coating steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidcoating process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet metal is pre-coated before cutting and forming operations. By applying the coating in advance, the subsequent cutting and assembly processes do not expose uncoated edges that would require additional coating steps, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining corrosion protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cut edges created during manufacturing, which normally require additional coating to prevent corrosion, are bent inward to become non-visible and non-exposed surfaces. This converts the harmful effect of exposed cut edges into a beneficial self-protecting feature where the pre-coated surface remains intact without requiring additional coating steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If walls are electrically coupled, then structural integrity is maintained, but voltage distribution issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidelectrical insulation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wall structure is segmented into electrically isolated header and cover parts that maintain mechanical continuity while breaking electrical continuity. This segmentation allows the structure to remain mechanically stable while preventing voltage distribution and electrical coupling between adjacent cabinets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The header part acts as an intermediary between the U-shaped metal sheet and the cover part, providing mechanical connection while preventing direct electrical contact between adjacent walls. This intermediary structure maintains structural integrity while ensuring electrical insulation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3029786B1Switchboard enclosure
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 ABB AG(DE)
  • EP3029786B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3029786B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3029786B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a control cabinet housing (1a-1d) with at least one rear wall (2), one bottom wall (4a, 4b), one top wall (6a-6d) and at least two side walls (11a, 11b), wherein: • the rear wall (2) and the side walls (11a, 11b) are formed from a U-shaped bent sheet (13a-13f) and have an inwardly bent edge (16a-16c), wherein the sheet (13a-13f) is pre-coated; • the bottom wall (4a, 4b) has at least one electrically insulated head section (12) and at least one cover section (14); • the top wall (6a-6d) has at least one electrically insulated head section (8a-8d) and at least one cover section (10a-10c); wherein ∘ the respective head part (8a-8d, 12) is provided to be connected to the U-shaped bent sheet (13a-13f) so that the respective edge (16a-16c) is concealed;∘ the respective cover part (10a-10c, 14) is designed to be attached to the respective head part (8a-8d, 12) in such a way that the latter is at least partially covered.;