Abstract:
A switchgear cabinet system, which is assembled from switchgear cabinet units strung together in a row, each switchgear cabinet unit comprising a rack which is made up of frame profiles, in which at least the vertical frame profiles have the following features: the frame profile is mirror symmetrical with respect to a cross-sectional diagonal; the frame profile has profile sides that form the outer sides of the rack; projecting outward from the profile sides are profile projections, each extending outward from one of the profile sides; when two racks are strung together, corresponding profile projections of two frame profiles are situated mirror symmetrically opposite one another in each case, leaving a gap between the end faces of the profile projections, which is closed by a seal , characterized in that the seal is a push-on seal that is seated on at least one of the opposing profile projections.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a 371 U. S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/DE2015/100036, filed on Jan. 28, 2015, which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2014 101 401.4, filed on Feb. 5, 2014. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a switchgear cabinet system constructed from switchgear cabinet units that are strung together, each switchgear cabinet unit comprising a rack composed of frame profiles, in which at least the vertical frame profiles have the following features: The frame profile is mirror symmetrical with respect to a cross-sectional diagonal; the frame profile has profile sides that form the outer sides of the rack; and projecting outward from the profile sides are profile projections, each extending outward from one of the profile sides. When two racks are strung together, corresponding profile projections of two frame profiles are situated mirror symmetrically opposite one another in each case, leaving a gap between the end faces of the profile projections, which is closed by a seal. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0004]    For switchgear cabinets, modularity is an important criterion, as it increases the number of potential areas of application. A modular switchgear cabinet unit can be combined with other cabinet units of the same type, allowing cabinet units to be assembled according to customer requirements to form a larger switchgear cabinet system. In particular, such switchgear cabinet systems can be modularly adapted to the required or available space. Modularity also has the advantage of allowing cables and wires to be installed internally through the individual switchgear cabinet unit. Because when cabinets are strung together, the side walls are eliminated at the points of connection, a rack is required for stability. The cabinets are therefore strung together via the rack, which raises the problem of sealing the system from the exterior or the surrounding area. Seals are thus introduced at points of attachment to prevent dust or moisture, for example, from penetrating, to the greatest extent possible. 
         [0005]    A frame profile of a rack designed for a modular switchgear cabinet unit is known from EP 1 601 074 B1. At the point of attachment between two mutually facing frame profiles, a sealing strip is inserted, which is designed to complement a sealing assembly that is produced by two outer cores of the profile that are seated flush against one another and a modular connector assembly comprising a coupling member, which is compressed by bolts. The known assembly is complex and requires multiple assembly steps. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
         [0007]    The object of the disclosure is therefore to provide a switchgear cabinet system in which the modules can preferably be strung together without tools. 
         [0008]    According to the disclosure, it is provided that the seal is a push-on seal which is seated on at least one of the opposing profile projections of the frame profiles. No additional sealing measures are required in principle, although they may contribute to the stability of the assembly. 
         [0009]    According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, it is provided that the push-on seal has at least two legs arranged opposite one another, between which a gap is formed, the width of which is less than or equal to the thickness of the profile projection of the selected frame profile. The profile projection is thus at least encompassed by a frictional fit, although if the width of the gap is smaller than the thickness of the profile projection, a suitable material selection may be used to ensure that the push-on seal is seated against the profile projection with a certain amount of intrinsic tension. 
         [0010]    It is further preferred that the bridge that connects the mutually opposing legs of the push-on seal has a bearing surface that is wider than the thickness of the profile projection of the frame profile to be attached at that surface. This measure allows a compensation for tolerances that may occur when the switchgear cabinet rows are strung together. In this case as well, suitable material selection may be used to ensure that the profile projection of the frame profile to be attached can be inserted into the connecting bridge, so that once again a dust-tight and moisture-tight seal is produced, including in the rack to be attached. This push-on seal configuration also enables a switchgear cabinet system to be produced from different racks. In particular, the rack to be attached does not need to have a specifically designed profile projection. 
         [0011]    It can further be provided that the opposing sides of the push-on seal are of different lengths. This makes it easier to apply the push-on seal to the profile projection of the selected frame profile. 
         [0012]    It may also be provided that the opposing legs of the push-on seal have different widths. This also facilitates application of the push-on seal, since the material of one of the opposing legs is more resilient. 
         [0013]    According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the push-on seal is H-shaped in cross-section. 
         [0014]    The length of the legs of the H-shaped seal may be adapted to specific circumstances, taking into account the fact that tool-free application is generally made more difficult if increased frictional force must be overcome due to the length of the legs. With certain profiles, however, it may be advantageous for the length of the legs of the H-shaped seal in the cross-sectional direction of the frame profile to correspond substantially to the lengths of the profile projections. 
         [0015]    Once again, to facilitate the stringing together of a rack to be attached, or to facilitate the application of the push-on seal to the profile projection of said rack, it may be provided that a gap is formed between the opposite legs of the push-on seal, which widens starting from the bridge that connects them and proceeding outward. 
         [0016]    Suitable frame profiles have profile projections, for example, that extend perpendicularly from each profile side. Other embodiments are characterized in that the profile projections extend at an angle of approximately 135° in relation to each profile strip. 
         [0017]    Preferably, a hollow profile having at least one hollow chamber is used, which is characterized by high stability, particularly torsional rigidity. 
         [0018]    According to a particular embodiment, two hollow chambers are provided, connected by a connecting bridge. In this embodiment, a dovetail groove which is symmetrical with respect to the cross-sectional diagonal may be formed between the two hollow chambers, bordering the connecting bridge. Alternatively, a third hollow chamber may be formed between the two hollow chambers, bordering the connecting bridge. 
         [0019]    Single-chamber hollow profiles are rectangular or square in cross-section, for example. In one variant, the profile sides may comprise two profile side segments that merge into one another and are angled such that the first profile side segment of the first profile side extends perpendicular to the first profile side segment of the second profile side, and the second profile side segment of the first profile side extends parallel to the second profile side segment of the second profile side. 
         [0020]    The disclosure may be used for stringing together similar racks and also for racks in which the vertical frame profiles have different profile geometries. Different profile geometries within a single rack are also possible. 
         [0021]    It is understood that the hollow profile is provided with holes for mounting components for internal fittings for the rack or the switchgear cabinet unit. However, these are not the subject matter of the present disclosure and thus will not be detailed here. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]    In the following, the disclosure will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The cross-sectional diagrams of the profile and of the seal are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings show: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1 a    a cross-sectional view of a first frame profile for a rack of a modular switchgear cabinet unit; 
           [0025]      FIG. 1 b    a cross-sectional view of frame profiles according to  FIG. 1 a    strung together, with a seal positioned between the frame profiles; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2 a    a cross-sectional view of a second frame profile for a rack of a modular switchgear cabinet unit; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2 b    a cross-sectional view of frame profiles according to  FIG. 2 a    strung together, with a seal positioned between the frame profiles; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3 a    a cross-sectional view of a third frame profile for a rack of a modular switchgear cabinet unit; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3 b    a cross-sectional view of frame profiles according to  FIG. 3 a    strung together, with a seal positioned between the frame profiles; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4 a    a cross-sectional view of a variant of an H-shaped push-on seal; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4 b    a cross-sectional view of a seal having an enlarged bearing surface; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 4 c    a cross-sectional view of a seal that is a variant of  FIG. 5   b.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1 a    shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a frame profile that can be used as a vertical frame profile of a rack for a modular switchgear cabinet unit. The frame profile, which is embodied as a hollow profile, has two hollow chambers  116 ,  117  situated opposite one another and connected to one another by a connecting bridge  113 . Hollow chambers  116 ,  117  are substantially square and between them form a dovetail groove  118  that borders connecting bridge  113  and is symmetrical with respect to cross-sectional diagonal D. Walls  111  and  112  of hollow chambers  116  and  117 , respectively, each form an outer side of the rack. From each of these profile sides  111 ,  112 , profile projections  114 ,  115  project, extending outward from the respective profile sides  111 ,  112 , specifically at right angles to these sides. The profile projections  114 ,  115  extend at an angle of approximately 135° in relation to connecting bridge  113 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 1 b    shows two frame profiles  100 ,  100 ′ of  FIG. 1 a    that have been strung together. Frame profile  100 ′ is rotated 90° in relation to frame profile  100 , so that the two profiles are facing one another in a mirror-symmetrical arrangement in which profile projection  115  of frame profile  100  is situated facing profile projection  114 ′ of frame profile  118 . A push-on seal  130 , which is H-shaped in cross-section, has been placed on profile projections  115 ,  114 ′. In this case, the length of the legs of H-shaped seal  130  in the cross-sectional direction of frame profiles  100 ,  100 ′ corresponds substantially to the length of profile projections  115 ,  114 ′. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2 a    shows a cross-sectional view of a frame profile  200  which may be understood as a variant of the profile of  FIG. 1   a.  Once again, the profile comprises a hollow profile having two hollow chambers  216 ,  217 , connected to one another via a connecting bridge  213 . Hollow chambers  216 ,  217  are substantially rectangular, and their edges abut one another opposite connecting bridge  213 , forming a third hollow chamber  218 . Once again, two of walls  211  and  212  of hollow chambers  216 ,  217  form the outer sides of the rack, with profile projections  214 ,  215  extending outward from these sides. As with the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a,  profile projections  214 ,  215  extend at right angles in relation to profile sides  211 ,  212  and at an angle of 135° in relation to connecting bridge  13 , resulting in a configuration that is mirror-symmetrical overall with respect to cross-sectional diagonal D. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2 b    shows the corresponding profiles strung together, in which profile projection  215  of frame profile  200  is situated opposite profile projection  214 ′, forming a gap, and this gap is once again bridged or closed by a push-on seal  230  which is H-shaped in cross-section. Here again, the length of the legs of H-shaped seal  230  in the cross-sectional direction of frame profiles  200 ,  200 ′ corresponds substantially to the length of profile projections  215 ,  214 ′. The stability of the assembly is increased by modular connector  240 , which is represented only schematically in  FIG. 2 b   . Modular connectors are known and comprise, for example, a bolt-nut assembly. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3 a    shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a frame profile according to the principles of the present disclosure. Frame profile  300  is likewise a hollow profile, but with only one hollow chamber  316 . Profile sides  311 ,  312 , which form the outer sides of the rack, comprise two profile side segments  311   a,    311   b  and  312   a,    312   b,  which merge into one another and are angled such that first profile side segment  311   a  of first profile side  311  extends perpendicular to first profile side segment  312   a  of second profile side  312 , and second profile side segment  311   b  of first profile side  311  extends parallel to second profile side segment  312   b  of second profile side  312 . Once again, on profile sides  311 ,  312  profile projections  314 ,  315  are formed, which extend outward from profile sides  311 ,  312  and are interconnected via a connecting bridge  313 . Below this connecting bridge  313  they extend at an angle of approximately 135°, and they extend at the same angle in relation to second profile segments  311   b  and  312   b  of profiles sides  311 ,  312 , respectively. Once again, frame profile  300  is symmetrical with respect to cross-sectional diagonal D. The cross-section of hollow chamber  316  thus corresponds to two partially superimposed squares, in which the length of connecting bridge  313  defines the side length of the smaller square, which is rotated 45° in relation to a square having a greater side length. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3 b    shows two corresponding frame profiles  300 ,  300 ′ strung together, in which profile projections  315  and  314 ′ are opposite one another, forming a gap, which is bridged or closed by a push-on seal  330 . Once again, push-on seal  330  is H-shaped in cross-section, however in this case the opposing legs of the H-profile, which enclose profile projections  315  and  314 ′, are configured differently. In particular, the side of seal  330  that faces the interior of the cabinet is embodied as thicker than the side that faces outward, and its edges are rounded. Toward the outside, between frame profiles  300 ,  300 ′, a modular connector  340  is provided, in this case in the form of a molding or a profiled strip having a C-shaped cross-section. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4 a    shows a cross-sectional view of a push-on seal  510  that is substantially H-shaped in cross-section. Between two opposing legs  512 ,  514 , a gap  516  is formed with an approximately rectangular cross-section, the dimensions of which are designed to receive a profile projection of a frame profile in a nearly precise fit. Legs  512 ,  514  are connected to one another by a bridge  518 , which also acts as the depth limit for gap  516 . Opposite the first pair of legs  512 ,  514  is a second pair of legs  520 ,  522 , which are likewise connected to one another by bridge  518  and form a gap  524  between themselves. Unlike gap  516 , the cross-section of gap  524  is not rectangular, but widens, proceeding from bridge  518 , in an outward direction, so that a tapered groove for receiving the frame profile to be attached or the profile projection thereof is formed. Since the dimensions of gap  524  at or near bridge  518  are still adapted to the thickness of the profile projection of the rack to be attached, a dust-tight and moisture-tight fit is also ensured in this case. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4 b    shows a further embodiment of a push-on seal  530 , in which between two opposing legs  532  and  534  a gap  536  is formed, the width of which may be smaller than the thickness of the profile projection onto which push-on seal  530  will be pushed. A suitable material selection enables legs  532 ,  534  to securely encompass the profile projection due to the intrinsic tension of the material. The bridge that connects legs  532 ,  534  extends from a bead  540  to a bead  542 , forming a bearing surface  531 . The width of the bearing surface is greater than the width of push-on seal  530  in the region of opposing legs  532 ,  534 . This measure ensures that any tolerances that arise during the stringing together of modular frame profiles can be compensated for, while at the same time enabling a push-on seal  530  of this design to be attached to a different type of profile. For example, the profile projection of a profile according to  FIG. 3 a    may be inserted between legs  532 ,  534 , while the profile projection of a frame profile according to  FIG. 1 a   , for example, may be attached to bearing surface  538 . The options for modular connection are not limited to the frame profile configurations described in this application. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4 c    shows a cross-sectional view of another push-on seal  550 , which is a variant of push-on seal  530  of  FIG. 4 b   . In this case, one of opposing legs  552 ,  554 , namely  554 , is shortened, but is still long enough to ensure the formation of a gap  556  between legs  552 ,  554 . Once again, enlarged bearing surface  558  is provided, extending between beads  560 ,  562  of the bridge that connects legs  552 ,  554 . This embodiment has the added enhancement over the embodiment of  FIG. 4  that applying push-on seal  550  to a profile projection of a frame profile is facilitated by the different configuration of legs  552 ,  554 , since in this case the seal does not have to be pushed on, and is instead applied by a tilting movement of push-on seal  550 . 
         [0043]    The disclosure as a whole provides a switchgear cabinet system in which the seal can be applied between two modular switchgear cabinet units without the use of tools. 
         [0044]    The features of the disclosure disclosed in the foregoing description, in the drawings and in the claims are considered essential both individually and in any combination to the implementation of the disclosure. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.