Framework for switchgear cabinets

A framework made of frame pieces for a switchgear cabinet, wherein the frame pieces are preferably laterally reversed in relation to their cross-sectional diagonal and have profiled sides perpendicular to the outer sides of the framework and have fastening recesses. In an area of an inner side, the profiled sides end in sections that form a recess for fastening mounting rails. By combining several known and novel features, a framework having easily manufactured frame pieces is created which optimally meets all requirements for use with a switchgear cabinet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a rack made of frame legs for a switchgear 
cabinet, wherein the frame legs are preferably embodied mirror-reversed 
with respect to a cross-sectional diagonal line and have profile sides, 
which extend vertically with respect to exteriors of the rack, have 
fastening receptacles and in an area of an interior make a transition into 
sections which constitute a receptacle for fastening mounting rails. 
2. Description of Prior Art 
A rack of this type is known from German Patent Reference DE 43 36 204 A1, 
wherein the receptacle is bordered by sections of the frame leg which 
extend vertically with respect to profile sides of the frame legs and form 
a receptacle for mounting rails which are essentially square in cross 
section. 
Frame legs for racks of a switchgear cabinet are known in the most varied 
cross-sectional shapes, as is also disclosed in German Patent References 
DE 40 36 664 A1, DE 41 32 803 A1, DE 81 07 658 U1 and DE 87 03 695 U1. 
The frame legs in accordance with German Patent References DE 40 36 664 A1 
and DE 81 07 658 U1 have receiving grooves for sealing elements on the 
outsides of the rack. 
It is known from German Patent References DE 41 32 803 A1 and DE 87 03 695 
U1 to attach connecting sections at an angle of 135.degree. to the 
sections constituting the exteriors of the rack, which are connected with 
the profile sides by profile sections extending vertically above the 
profile sides. 
Respectively different profile sections extending parallel and vertically 
with respect to the profile sides forming the exterior, which are oriented 
toward the interior of the rack and have fastening receivers, are shown in 
German Patent References DE 81 07 658 U1 and DE 87 03 695 U1. 
All these known racks put together from frame legs more or less meet the 
requirements made on a switchgear cabinet. In one case the sealed 
attachment of the sheathing elements on the rack is improved, while in 
another case the fastening opportunities on the interior of the rack are 
used and made easier. The beveling of the exterior edges results in a 
receptacle for the bevels of sheathing elements and space for hinge and 
locking elements. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is one object of this invention to provide a rack of the type mentioned 
at the outset which, with frame legs which are easy to produce, meets 
requirements made on a switchgear cabinet in regard to sealed attachment 
of beveled sheathing elements, the creation of a sufficiently large 
receptacle on the exterior edges for the bevels of the sheathing elements 
and for the attachment of hinge and locking elements, and of the universal 
fastening possibilities in the area of the interior of the rack, in an 
optimal manner. 
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention, the above 
object is attained by a combination of the following features: 
a) profile sides of the frame legs are connected with each other via a 
connecting section which forms a beveled exterior edge of the rack; 
b) transitions between the connecting section and the profile sides of the 
frame legs are embodied as double-layered sealing strips or as U-shaped 
contact strips, which are oriented vertically with respect to an exterior 
of the rack and with a contact section extending parallel with the 
associated exterior, wherein the sealing strips and the contact strips can 
also be of zero length; 
c) at edges facing away from the connecting section, the profile sides make 
a transition into receiving sections with fastening receivers, which 
extend vertically with respect to the associated profile side and are bent 
in toward the connecting section; and 
d) facing away from the profile sides, the receiving sections make a 
transition into end sections which form an open or closed dove-tailed 
groove symmetrically with respect to the cross-sectional diagonal line. 
It is possible to continue to produce frame legs of the rack, embodied and 
oriented in this way, easily and with sufficient stability, preferably 
with torsional stiffness, wherein the production with stamped and bent 
elements or as extruded profile sections offers itself. 
The sealing strips can cooperate with sealing elements on the sheathing 
elements such that a sealed closure of the open sides of the rack is 
achieved. If contact strips are formed out, the contact strips can also 
support the sealing elements. The connecting section creates an outer edge 
receptacle on the rack which preferably is symmetrical with respect to the 
cross-sectional diagonal line of the frame leg cross sections and offers 
sufficient space for the bevels of the abutting sheathing elements, 
wherein there is sufficient space available for also attaching the hinge 
and lock elements of a cabinet door. The receptacle terminating as a 
dove-tailed groove on an inside of the frame legs offers excellent 
fastening possibilities for mounting rails and the like, wherein in a 
simple case a sort of interlocking can be selected. Besides the receiving 
sections, the profile sides of the frame legs can also be utilized as 
fastening surfaces, which provides fastening possibilities in several 
directions. 
In accordance with one embodiment, for sealing, the double-layer sealing 
strips are formed by a strip section extending at an angle of 135.degree. 
with respect to the connecting section and by a portion of the profile 
sides, which are connected with each other via a rounded transition. The 
contact strips can be formed by a strip section extending at an angle of 
135.degree. with respect to the connecting section, which are connected 
with each other via the contact section extending parallel to the exterior 
of the rack. 
The reception for the mounting rails of the frame legs is supplemented by 
means of the dove-tailed groove because the open dove-tailed groove is 
formed by simple end sections, which follow the receiving sections at an 
obtuse angle and are bent in the direction toward the associated profile 
side. The closed dove-tailed groove can be formed by double-angled end 
sections, wherein the first partial sections follow the receiving sections 
at an obtuse angle and are bent in the direction toward the associated 
profile side, while the second partial sections are oriented toward each 
other and parallel to the connecting section. 
In this case it is possible with the closed dove-tailed groove for the 
second partial sections of the double-angled end sections to rest against 
the inside of the connecting section and to be preferably connected with 
it, for example using a glued, welded or spot-welded connection, in order 
to increase the torsional stiffness of the frame legs and therefore of the 
rack. 
In accordance with a further embodiment of this invention, it is possible 
to improve the stability of the frame legs, in particular their torsional 
stiffness because the connecting section is stiffened by two outward bent 
stiffening beads, which are preferably arranged symmetrically to the 
cross-sectional diagonal line and respectively have a first section which 
is preferably parallel to the facing exterior of the frame leg, and a 
second section which is preferably parallel to the facing profile side. 
The universal fastening possibilities in an area of an interior of the rack 
can be achieved because the profile sides and/or the receiving sections 
have rows of fastening receptacles (if desired in a grid system).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
All exemplary embodiments shown have in common frame legs 10 which are 
preferably embodied to be mirror-reversed in relation to the 
cross-sectional diagonal line 11, so that the frame legs 10 can be used 
for every frame leg 10 of the rack. The orientation in the racks is such 
that the frame legs 10 do not form an exterior edge but form an exterior 
edge receptacle towards it by means of a connecting section 12, into which 
the bevels of the sheathing elements and cabinet door project. It is also 
possible to fasten hinge and lock elements on the connecting section 12. 
In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the connecting section 12 
makes a transition via the sealing strips 13 and 16 into profile sides 15 
and 17, which can have rows of fastening receptacles 19 and 20. The 
profile sides 15 and 17 are aligned vertically with respect to facing 
exteriors of the rack. The sealing strips 13 and 16 are embodied in a 
double layer by a strip section 14 and 18, which can also have zero 
length, and a part of the profile sides 15 and 17, wherein the strip 
sections 14 and 18 also extend vertically with respect to the facing 
exteriors of the rack. The strip sections 14 and 18 are rounded and make a 
transition into the profile sides 15 and 17. If the sheathing elements 
have sealing elements, definite sealing between the frame leg 10 and the 
sheathing elements is achieved by the sealing strips 13 and 16 projecting 
away from the frame leg 10. 
The profile sides 15 and 17 form fastening surfaces in two directions. The 
edges of the profile sides 15 and 17 facing away from the sealing strips 
13 and 16 make transitions into receiving sections 21 and 22, which also 
have fastening receptacles 23 and 24 and delimit a receptacle in which 
mounting rails can be fastened. The receiving sections 21 and 22 extend 
vertically with respect to the profile sides 15 and 17 and are bent in the 
direction toward the connecting section 12. Simply beveled end sections 25 
and 26 follow the receiving sections 21 and 22, which extend at an obtuse 
angle with respect to the receiving sections 21 and 22 and delimit an open 
dove-tailed groove 27, in which mounting rails can be fastened in a simple 
manner. 
As shown by the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, it is also possible to form 
contact strips 13' and 16' at the transitions from the connecting section 
12 to the profile sides 15 and 17, which are formed by the strip sections 
14 and 18, which can also be of zero length, the contact sections 28 and 
29 and portion of the profile sides 15 and 17. The contact sections 28 and 
29 extend parallel with the facing exteriors of the rack and can have 
sealing elements. The remaining construction of the frame leg 10 does not 
differ from that of the frame leg 10 in accordance with FIG. 1. 
As the exemplary embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4 show, it is 
also possible for double-angled end sections 25, 30 and 26, 31, which 
delimit a closed dove-tailed groove 27', to be connected to the receiving 
sections 21 and 22. The first partial sections again extend at an obtuse 
angle from the receiving sections 21 and 22, while the second partial 
sections are parallel with the connecting section 12 and preferably rest 
against its interior and are connected therewith, for example glued, 
welded or spot-welded. 
As the exemplary embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6 show, the 
torsional stiffness of the frame leg 10 can be increased by means of 
additional stiffening of the connecting section 12. The connecting section 
12 is stiffened, preferably symmetrically with respect to the 
cross-sectional diagonal line 11, by two outward bent stiffening beads 32 
and 33. These stiffening beads 32 and 33 respectively include a section 34 
and 36, which preferably extend parallel with the facing exterior of the 
rack, and a section 35 and 37, which is preferably oriented parallel with 
the facing profile side 15 and 17. In this case the bulge is such that the 
function of the sealing strips 13 and 16 or of the contact strips 13' and 
16' is not hampered.