Switchgear Cabinet Housing Profile with Integrated Fastening and Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing switch cabinet housings lack versatile fastening options and space-saving designs to accommodate increasingly powerful electronics with varying installation requirements.

Innovation Solution

The housing features a U-shaped configuration with frame profiles that include parallel and perpendicular profile sides with fastening receptacles, allowing for multiple mounting levels and enhanced rigidity, while also forming a rain gutter for water drainage and a sealing surface for sealing tasks, and integrates seamlessly with a single component construction to eliminate the need for additional sealing or connection work.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a frame profile with multiple fastening receptacles is used, then fastening versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening versatilityVSAvoidframe profile complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame profile is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates sealing surfaces through bevels, forms rain gutters for water drainage, and offers multiple fastening receptacles for versatile mounting options. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by integrating what would otherwise require separate components into a single universal element.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the sealing surface, rain gutter, and fastening receptacles into a single integrated frame profile structure. The bevels that create sealing surfaces are formed as part of the same profile that contains fastening receptacles, merging multiple functions into one component to avoid increasing overall device complexity while maintaining fastening versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If a closed profile section is used, then structural rigidity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile rigidityVSAvoidprofile manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The frame profile is segmented into distinct functional sections: a closed profile section for structural rigidity, an open profile section for cable management or additional fastening, bevels for sealing, and integrated rain gutters. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while being manufactured as a single formed profile, balancing rigidity requirements with manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If wall elements are connected in one piece, then assembly simplicity is improved, but sealing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame profile is pre-formed with integrated bevels that create sealing surfaces before assembly takes place. These bevels are formed as part of the profile manufacturing process, so that when wall elements are connected in one piece, the sealing surfaces are already prepared and positioned correctly, maintaining both assembly simplicity and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2559120B1Housing part for a switchgear cabinet
Publication Date: 2016.11.02 RITTALWERK RUDOLF LOH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2559120B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2559120B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2559120B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a housing part for a switchgear cabinet having a wall element, which has an integrally profiled frame profile on at least one of its edges, wherein the frame profile has, on its housing inner face, profile sides with attachment mounts. In order to be able to realize improved space utilization and a variety of attachment options in a housing part of this kind, the invention makes provision for the frame profile to form two profile sides which are oriented parallel to the wall element and in each case have a series of attachment mounts.