Switchgear Box Side Wall Segmentation for Flexible Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing boxes for electrical equipment cannot be easily associated with boxes of different sizes or dimensions, limiting flexibility and compatibility.

Innovation Solution

The side walls of the boxes are designed with multiple lines of weakest resistance, allowing them to be broken in different ways to create windows of varying sizes, facilitating the association of boxes of different sizes along a common side wall, and the use of flexible jumpers and tabs ensures secure sealing and insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the side wall is designed with multiple lines of weakest resistance allowing different break patterns, then the adaptability and versatility of box association is improved, but the manufacturing precision and structural integrity become more complex to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebox association flexibilityVSAvoidline of weakest resistance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall is segmented into multiple zones with different resistance characteristics by incorporating reinforcement elements at specific positions. This allows the wall to be broken along predetermined lines while maintaining manufacturing precision, as the reinforcement elements create natural break points that guide the fracturing process without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances throughout the entire wall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the side wall is made thinner to facilitate breaking, then the ease of manufacture and association is improved, but the strength and structural stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside wall fabricationVSAvoidside wall structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall exhibits local quality variations through strategically placed reinforcement elements that create zones of different strength. The wall is thin overall for ease of manufacture and breaking, but locally reinforced at specific positions to maintain structural integrity where needed. This allows the wall to be easily broken along predetermined lines while remaining strong enough to support the box structure during normal use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If reinforcement elements are added to control break lines, then the reliability of breaking pattern is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreak pattern consistencyVSAvoidside wall structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of incorporating complex reinforcement structures within the side wall itself, the invention extracts the reinforcement function into separate, discrete elements that are attached to or integrated with the wall in a simplified manner. These reinforcement elements serve as guides for the break pattern without adding significant structural complexity to the overall side wall design, maintaining reliability while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2296238B1Box for electrical switchgear
Publication Date: 2015.12.23 LEGRAND FRANCE SA
  • EP2296238B1 patent drawingFigure 1~9
  • EP2296238B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2296238B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

The assembly has main, secondary and tertiary rectangular boxes (10-30), where the main box has two longitudinal side walls (12, 14) and other two side walls (13, 15) erected perpendicularly to a square or rectangular bottom part (11). One of the longitudinal side walls comprises low resistance lines to authorize cracking of the side wall along any two of the lines and to authorize withdrawal of a removable portion (16) from the side wall formed between the lines, where the number of lines is equal to a number of rows of modular electrical installations.