Abstract:
A kit for producing a frame superstructure for switchgear cabinets including a cupboard frame having four horizontal width struts, four horizontal depth struts and four vertical frame legs having a predetermined width, depth and height. A vertical frame includes two horizontal width struts and two vertical frame profiles which are insertable into in the cupboard frame and connectable to the depth struts thereof. Covering elements are connectable in the form of external and internal elements to two vertical frames which are spaced so that an independent base frame is formed. At least one cupboard door is pivotally fixable to the covering elements. This invention makes it possible to obtain a great number of embodiments with several simple elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a kit for producing frame structures for switchgear cabinets. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0004]    Racks for switchgear cabinets are known in various structural sizes, in regard to width, depth and height. Twelve racks, sections of a profiled continuous strand, can be connected with each other in the four corner areas of the rack with corner connectors, to form a fixed or releasable frame structure. 
         [0005]    As European Patent Reference EP 0 076 819 A shows, four vertical profiled frame elements can be connected with each other to form a frame structure with a cover as a bottom unit and a cover as a top unit. In this case, the frame structure with the fastening receivers of the vertical profiled frame elements makes possible the installation of additional mounting rails. 
         [0006]    In known frame structures, the installation requirements very definitely dictate the design of the frame legs used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is one object of this invention to provide a kit for placement in frame structures for switchgear cabinets, which includes a few simple components and yet can be matched to most varied installation requirements. 
         [0008]    To attain this object, a kit according to this invention has a cabinet rack made of four horizontal broad struts, four horizontal depth struts, as well as four vertical frame legs of a preset width, depth and height. There are plate-shaped cover elements, which have on two opposite sides fastening edges beveled at right angles with at least one row of fastening receivers. Vertical frames made of two vertical profiled frame elements and two horizontal broad frame struts can be installed in the cabinet rack, wherein they can be connected with the depth struts, or can be attached at different spacings by base profiled sides of the vertical profiled frame elements to the insides of the fastening edges of the cover elements and, with cover elements used as a bottom element and a top element, and can form an independent basic rack. At least one cabinet door, which is beveled on its circumference and can be hinged to the cover elements. 
         [0009]    The cabinet rack alone can be used in a known manner for the installation of different built-in devices, and can be closed off by a cabinet door and panel elements. 
         [0010]    It is also possible to install two vertical frames in the cabinet rack, which are used, for example, for installing 19″ built-ins of different installation depth. 
         [0011]    Finally, two such vertical frames with two cover elements can be connected to form an independent basic rack, in which the built-ins can be installed, wherein a simple adaptation to different installation depths of the built-ins is possible. This independent basic rack can be combined by a cabinet door and vertical lateral panel elements into a basic rack which can be matched to quite different installation requirements and can be completed to form an entirely independent switchgear cabinet. It is thus possible with two additional simple components to considerably increase the variation options for producing frame structures, and thus to considerably reduce the storage of switchgear cabinets for varied installation conditions. 
         [0012]    In this case, the cabinet rack as a component of the kit can be designed so that the broad struts, the depth struts and the frame legs of the cabinet rack are formed as sections of respectively identical profiled elements, which are fixedly connected with each other, for example welded together, in corner areas of the cabinet rack by corner connectors. However, the design can also be such that the broad struts and the depth struts of the cabinet rack form a solid bottom frame and a solid cover frame. The vertical frame legs can be attached in the corner areas of the bottom frame and the top frame and form, together with the corner connectors and the bottom and top frames, a continuous exterior receiver. 
         [0013]    In accordance with one embodiment, the structural units of the kit are designed as a vertical frame. The vertical profiled frame elements of the vertical frames have a profiled base side with at least one row of fastening receivers, which terminate with the front faces of the horizontal broad vertical struts. The lateral legs are beveled off on both sides of the profiled base side, which are oriented to the longitudinal sides of the associated horizontal broad frame struts of the vertical frames and are connected with them. In this case, the vertical profiled frame elements of the vertical frame can be designed so that at least one row of identical fastening receivers is cut in a uniform aligned graduation into the profiled base side and the beveled lateral legs of the vertical profiled frame elements of the vertical frames, or at least one row of equal or identical fastening receivers is cut in the same or a different graduation into, respectively, the profiled base side and in the beveled lateral legs of the vertical profiled frame elements of the vertical frames. 
         [0014]    The structural unit of the vertical frames has sufficient sturdiness and torsional rigidity, and thus a permanent alignment of the parts of the vertical frame, if the horizontal broad frame struts and the vertical profiled frame elements of the vertical frames are fixedly connected with each other in the corner areas, for example welded together. 
         [0015]    So that two vertical frames together with two cover elements can be connected in a simple manner into a basic rack, in one embodiment, on two facing sides the plate-shaped cover elements have fastening edges, which are beveled at right angles and have at least one row of fastening receivers. The vertical profiled frame elements of two vertical frames can be connected by profiled base sides with the insides of the fastening edges of the cover elements at different spacings to form a basic rack. 
         [0016]    An installation of the vertical frames into a structural unit formed as a cabinet rack is simplified if the horizontal broad frame struts of the vertical frames have cable guide openings, and if the two vertical frames can be connected via fastening receivers of the horizontal broad frame struts with the facing tops of the horizontal depth struts of the cabinet rack at different distances from each other. 
         [0017]    If the vertical frames are parts of a basic rack, for the introduction of cables via the bottom element or the top element, the base plates of the cover elements have cable introduction recesses in the basic rack above the horizontal broad frame struts of the vertical frames. 
         [0018]    In one design for attaching lateral walls and a cabinet door to the basic rack, the fastening edges of the cover elements have connecting strips beveled toward the exterior on their free edges, and protrude beyond the base plate of the cover elements over the fastening edges and together with the connecting strips form receivers for attaching lateral walls on the basic rack. The base plates of the cover elements protrude at the sides extending perpendicularly with respect to the fastening edges and have bevels, on which a cabinet door can be hinged and locked, and a rear wall can be fastened. 
         [0019]    The construction of the cabinet rack can be simplified if the base plates of the cover elements have a center opening and with fastening bores in the corner areas. In this case, the attachment of the vertical frame legs at the bottom frame and the top frame is solved if the vertical frame legs of the cabinet rack have a profiled element with a plug-in connection for the plug-in element of the corner connectors, and together with the exterior contour, the profiled element forms the exterior receptacle, which is designed symmetrical with respect to the diagonal plane of the bottom and top frames. Thus, the exterior receptacle in the corner areas of the cabinet rack can be maintained over the entire height of the cabinet rack. The bottom and the top frames of the cabinet rack have corner receivers, into which the corner connectors can be placed with a filler element and connected with the bottom or top frame. With their exterior contour, the filler elements of the corner connectors extend the exterior receptacles of the vertical profiled frames of the cabinet rack past or beyond the bottom frames and the top frames. 
         [0020]    In case of an asymmetric cross section with interchanged front sides, the vertical frame legs can be supportingly fastened at the bottom frame or the top frame if the front sides of the vertical profiled frame elements of the cabinet rack are connected in an upright manner with the facing sides of the bottom and of the top frames and the filler elements of the corner connectors. 
         [0021]    The vertical frame legs of the cabinet rack can be used for bringing in connection and junction cables because the vertical profiled frame elements of the cabinet rack form a channel, open to the interior of the cabinet rack, between the bottom and the top frames, which can be closed by a profiled box. The profiled box has vertical channels and rows of bores in the cover wall. In this case, the profiled box can close off channels of the vertical frame legs of the cabinet rack which are not used. Closing the channel becomes optimal if the cover wall of the profiled box covers the channel in the vertical profiled frame elements of the cabinet rack with covering strips. 
         [0022]    There are other fastening possibilities at the vertical frame legs of the cabinet rack if the profiled side of the vertical profiled frame section forming the channel supports connecting strips are formed on the exterior of the free profiled side. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment of this invention, the cabinet door has a beveled edge, receiving hinge elements with hinge bolts, which can be inserted into bearing receivers of the cover elements of the basic rack, in the corner areas of the hinge side of the cabinet door. The hinge bolts are adjustable in an axially limited manner in the hinge elements and can be fixed on the bevel of the cover elements so they do not shift, at least in the position in which they are engaged with the facing bearing receiver or bearing bushing. 
         [0024]    In this case, the hinge elements which can be attached to the rack for hinging the cabinet door become superfluous, because their function is taken over by the bearing receivers at the bevels of the cover elements of the rack. Only the counter-hinges with the hinge bolts to be attached to the cabinet door are required. The hinge elements permit easy mounting/removal of the cabinet door at the rack. 
         [0025]    The rack makes the hinging of the cabinet door easier because the end edges of the fastening edges of the cover elements are set back in relation to the beveled edges, at a minimum by an amount which at least corresponds to the dimensions of the first door bevel directed perpendicularly to the door leaf. A receptacle is thus created at the rack, which can receive the cabinet door pivotably. 
         [0026]    The rotary seating of the hinge bolts fixed in the hinge elements can be improved easily if bearing bushes are inserted into the bearing receivers in the beveled edges of the cover elements. 
         [0027]    If bearing receivers or bearing bushes are provided in the two end areas of the beveled edges of the cover elements, the lock side of the cabinet door has displaceable locking bars, which can be shifted manually or by a rod closing device and can be inserted into or moved out of the bearing receivers or bearing bushes of the beveled edges of the cover elements of the rack. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment of this invention, the bearing receivers are designed as bearing bushes, which are arranged on facing fold areas of the double-walled edges. A stable connecting point for the door hinges is thus created. At the front, the fold forms a rounded end of the cover element, which is visually attractive and prevents the danger associated with a cutting injury. Thus, the bearing receivers can be designed as bearing bushes, which are arranged on facing fold areas of the double-walled edges. The functionality of the double-walled edge can be extended if at least one of the double-walled edges has a bevel, which protrudes as a door stop in the direction toward the respectively oppositely located cover element. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    This invention is explained in view of an embodiment represented in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a vertical frame as a first component of a kit, in a perspective plan view; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective partial plan view of a corner area of the vertical frame, as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  shows an enlarged perspective plan view of a cover element used as a bottom element as the second component of the kit; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the corner area of a bottom frame with a corner connector and a vertical frame leg of a cabinet rack as the third component of the kit; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the vertical frame leg with a channel, which can be closed by a profiled box; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the lower portion of the cabinet rack with two installed vertical frames, in accordance with  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective plan view of a basic rack having two vertical frames in accordance with  FIG. 1  and two cover elements in accordance with  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7   b  shows a perspective view of an alternative design detail of the cover element; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a basic rack with lateral walls and a hinged-on cabinet door; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective detailed view with the lower corner area of the rack and switchgear cabinet with the hinged-on cabinet door; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a sketch of the partial view shown in  FIG. 9  but without a cabinet door. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    The vertical frame  10  shown in  FIG. 1  forms the first component of the kit and comprises two vertical profiled frame elements  11  and two horizontal broad frame struts  12 . In this case, the two profiled frame elements  11  with the facing profiled sides  11 . 1  ( FIG. 2 ) with rows of fastening receivers  11 . 2  form a fastening level, for example for 19″ installations. In the area of or near their front sides, the profiled frame elements  11  are fixedly connected with the ends of the broad frame struts  12 , for example are welded. The profiled sides  11 . 1  of the profiled frame elements extend parallel in relation to a longitudinal edge of the broad frame struts  12 , while the profiled sides  11 . 3  terminate at the front ends of the broad frame struts  12 . Finally, the profiled sides  11 . 6  terminate at the other longitudinal edges of the broad frame struts  12 . The profiled sides  11 . 3  and  11 . 6  have at least one row of fastening receivers  11 . 4  and  11 . 7 . So that the two vertical profiled frame elements  11  can be identically designed in spite of their asymmetric cross section and used for the vertical frame  10 , they are attached with interchanged front faces to the broad frame struts  12 . 
         [0042]    The broad frame struts  12  can have cable introduction openings  12 . 2  and can be reinforced at the longitudinal edges with beveled edges  12 . 1 . Also, the broad frame struts  12  can have fastening receivers  12 . 3  in the area of or near their front sides, such as shown in the partial perspective view in accordance with  FIG. 2 . 
         [0043]    A cover element  20  is represented in an enlarged perspective view in  FIG. 3 , which is designed to be symmetrical in relation to the central longitudinal plane, which extends parallel with the beveled fastening edges  23 , so that the cover element  20  can be used as a bottom element, as well as a top element for a basic rack  60 , in accordance with  FIG. 7 . In this case, the fastening edges  23  are oriented toward each other. The fastening edges  23  support two rows of fastening receivers  23 . 1  and  23 . 2 . The distance between the insides of the two fastening edges  23  of a cover element  20  corresponds to the exterior dimension of the profiled sides  11 . 3  of the two profiled frame elements  11  of a vertical frame  10 , so that the vertical frame  10  can be connected via these profiled sides  11 . 3  with fastening receivers  11 . 4  with the insides of the fastening edges  23  of the cover elements  20 . In this case, a lower cover element  20  as the bottom element, and an upper cover element  20  as the top element, connect two spaced-apart vertical frames  10  to form a basic rack  60 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Here, the profiled sides  11 . 1  can be arranged on the sides facing away from each other of the vertical frames  10 . This can be easily achieved by a rotation of the second vertical frame  10  by 180°. 
         [0044]    The cover element  20  has a base plate  21  with cable introduction openings  21 . 1  which, with the basic rack  60  completed, overlap the cable introduction openings  12 . 1  of the broad frame struts  12  of the vertical frame  10 . Also, the base plate  21  of the cover element  20  can have a center opening  21 . 1 , and fastening bores  22  in the corner areas. 
         [0045]    The edge areas of the base plate  21  have bevels  25 , which protrude past or beyond the front faces of the fastening edges  23  and simplify the attachment of a rear wall and a cabinet door at the basic rack  60 . The base plate  21  of the cover element  20  also protrudes from the exteriors of the fastening edges  23  and forms a receptacle  24  with it, which makes the attachment of lateral walls on the basic rack  60  easier. In this case, it is also possible to use outwardly beveled connecting strips  26  at the free edges of the fastening edges  23 . The cover element  20  can be produced in a simple manner and cost-effectively as a stamped-and-bent sheet metal element. 
         [0046]    The construction of a further component of the kit is explained in view of  FIGS. 4 to 6 , namely a cabinet rack  30 , which is laid out in accordance with a preset size in width, depth and height. 
         [0047]    Here, the cabinet rack  30  comprises identical bottom frames and top frames  35  with four vertical frame legs  33 . The identical frames are each put together from two horizontal broad struts  31  and two horizontal depth struts  32 . The struts which meet in the corner areas of the frames  35  are fixedly connected with each other and form corner receivers  35 . 1 . The struts  31  and  32  have horizontal and vertical profiled sides with rows of fastening receivers  31 . 1  and  32 . 1 , which preferably differ from the fastening receivers  11 . 2  of the vertical frames  10 . Corner connectors  40  are inserted into the corner receivers  35 . 1  of the frames  35  and are screwed together with the frame so that a filler element  40 . 1  of the corner connector  40  fills the corner receiver  35 . 1  in such a way that the filler element  40 . 1  terminates flush with the horizontal profiled sides of the struts  31  and  32 , and the vertical frame leg  33  is pushed on and can be supported by the plug-in element  40 . 2 . 
         [0048]    As  FIG. 4  shows, the plug-in element  40 . 2  is matched to the cross section of a hollow space  33 . 3  in the profiled element  33 . 1  of the vertical frame leg  33 . With the outer contour, the profiled element  33 . 1  forms an outer receptacle  36  which is symmetrical with respect to the diagonal line of the corner receiver  35 . 1  which is continued over the filler element  40 . 1  of the corner connector  40  and simplifies the attachment of sheathing elements of the cabinet rack  30 . 
         [0049]    As  FIGS. 4 and 5  show, a profiled element  33 . 4  follows the profiled element  33 . 1 , which forms a channel  33 . 0  open toward the interior of the cabinet rack  30 . The channel  33 . 0  can be used as a cable conduit and if not needed, it can be closed off by a profiled box  50  with cable conduits  50 . 1  and  50 . 2  and a closing wall  50 . 3 . The closing wall  50 . 3  has rows of bores  50 . 4  and covers the channel  33 . 0  of the vertical frame leg  33  with covering strips  50 . 5 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the vertical frame legs  33  are fastened with interchanged front sides  33 . 1  and  33 . 2  at the frame  35 , so that at the cabinet rack  30  the profiled elements  33 . 4  terminate flush with the depth struts  32  and face each other. This is possible, in a simple manner, by an appropriate turning and exchange of the front sides  33 . 1  and  33 . 2  of the four vertical frame legs  33  and leads to the cabinet rack  30  indicated in  FIG. 6 , whose upper top area is simply constructed in the opposite way. 
         [0051]    Two spaced-apart vertical frames  10  are fastened by the depth struts  32  of the lower and upper frame  35 . In this case, the vertical frames  10  with the profiled sides  11 . 1  and their fastening receivers  11 . 2  are arranged on sides of the vertical frame  10  facing away from each other and that are placed at a defined distance. 
         [0052]    The cabinet rack  30  with two frames  35  and four vertical frame legs  33  installed in accordance with  FIG. 6  can be laid out without or with built-in vertical frames  10 . The vertical frames  10  are connected with the depth struts  32  of the frames  35  via the fastening receivers  12 . 3  of the broad frame struts  12 . The height of the vertical frames  10  is determined by an interior distance between the two frames  35 . 
         [0053]    The basic cabinet rack  60  of the switchgear cabinet is shown in a perspective plan view in  FIG. 7 , which is put together from two plate-shaped horizontal cover elements  20  and two vertical frames  10 . In this case, the vertical profiled frame elements  11  can have different profiled sides with rows of fastening receivers. 
         [0054]    The vertical frames  10  are fastened at a distance from each other at beveled and facing fastening edges  23  of the cover elements  20 , wherein the fastening edges  23  have at least one row of fastening receivers  23 . 1 , or elongated holes extending in the direction of the cabinet depth. In this case, the vertical profiled frame elements  11  can be set back with respect to the edges  23 . 1  (see  FIG. 10 ) of the fastening edges  33 . The edges of the cover elements  20  extending perpendicularly with respect to the fastening edges  23  are beveled in an L-shape, so that edges  25 ,  27  are created, which are double-walled with the base plate  21  of the cover element  20 . This edge can also be closed by a third beveled section. The fastening edges  23  have shoulders of the edges  23 . 1 , which laterally cover the beveled edges  25 ,  27 . The vertical profiled wall elements  11  of the vertical frames  10  can rest with a profiled side with a row of fastening receivers against the insides of the fastening edges  23  and can be connected with them. 
         [0055]      FIG. 1   b  shows an alternative embodiment of the cover element  20 , wherein the edge  25 ,  27  is folded by 180°. The edge  25 ,  27  supports a bearing bush  29  with a bearing receiver  28 . 
         [0056]    As  FIG. 8  shows, wall elements  70  close off the two sides of the basic rack  60 , wherein they are fastened on the fastening edges  23  of the cover elements  20 . The cabinet door  80  is also beveled at least in an L-shape at the circumference of the door leaf  81 , as shown by the circumferential edge  82 ,  83 . The circumferential edge can also be closed by a third bevel section  84 , at least over large portions of the circumference, Furthermore, the inside of the door leaf  81  can support a fastening frame  90 , which is spaced apart from the circumferential edge  82 ,  83  and can receive a sealing element. The fastening frame  90  support has receivers and at the same time is used for stiffening the cabinet door  80 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show details of the hinging of the cabinet door  80 , wherein the upper hinge point, not represented, is designed correspondingly in a mirror-reversed manner. The cover element  20  protrudes with the bevel edge  25 ,  27  from the front of the front vertical frame  10  and also from the edge  23 . 3  of the fastening edge  23  of the cover element  20 . In this case, the section  27  of the beveled edge which extends parallel with the base plate  21  can terminate at the edges  23 . 9  of the fastening edges  22 , or can be conducted over a third section as far as the base plate  21 . However, the section  27  can reach as far as to the parallel front profiled sides of the vertical profiled wall elements  11  of the front vertical frame  10 . Bearing receivers  28  are cut into the two end areas of the beveled edge  25 ,  27 , into which bearing bushes  29  can be additionally inserted. 
         [0058]    The corner area of the hinge side of the cabinet door receives a hinge element  87  with adjustable hinge pins  86 , as represented by  FIG. 9 . If in the hinge element  87  of the lower hinge point the hinge pin  86  is set to point up in the position shown, then it does not protrude from the section  82  of the circumferential edge  82 ,  83 . Thus the cabinet door can be placed on the beveled edge  25 ,  27  of the lower cover element  20  so that the drawn back engagement end of the hinge pin  86  is flush with the bearing receiver  28  or the bearing bush  29  and the same applies correspondingly to the upper hinge point. The hinge pins  86  are axially displaced and their engagement ends are introduced into the bearing receivers  28  or bearing bushes  29  of the beveled edges  25 ,  27  of the cover elements  20 . In this case, the engaged positions, as well as the disengaged positions, or the hinge pins  86  in the hinge elements  87  can be fixed in place or can be released again. 
         [0059]    Locking bars, which can be moved manually or by a rod closing device, can be arranged in the area of or near the circumferential frame  82 , on the back of the cabinet door on the lock side of the cabinet door  80 , and can be inserted into the unoccupied bearing receptacles  28  or bearing bushes  29  of the beveled edges  25 ,  27  of the cover elements  20  and can be removed again. In this way, the cabinet door  80  can be fixed in place in the locked position, and can be released again from the locked position into the opening position. 
         [0060]    In connection with this embodiment, the cover elements  20  are symmetrically designed in their center plane, which extends parallel with respect to the fastening edges  23 . This also applies to the center plane which extends perpendicularly with respect to them, so that they can be used as the bottom element and as the top element for the basic rack  60 . Thus the corresponding embodiment at the upper and lower hinge points applies to the hinged installation of the cabinet door  80 . Regarding the attachment of the locking elements to the cabinet door  80 , matters are also the same at the lower and upper cover element  20  and the lower and upper locking position.