Abstract:
A switchgear cabinet or a rack with a base, arranged below a usable space, and a fluid distribution device including a coolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device. In order to achieve simple connection options for other coolant lines, the distribution device is configured as a main distribution unit installed in the region of the base and extends with at least one pipe between two vertical delimitation planes of the base, which are located parallel to each other at a distance, and the pipe has at least one branch part for the connection of the cooling device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or rack having a base situated under the usable space and having a distribution device with a coolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0004]    A switchgear cabinet with a distribution device for supplying a fluid cooling medium to a cooling device, such as in the form of a cooling plate, is described in the catalog “RITTAL-Neuheiten 2005” [RITTAL News 2005], April 2005, on page 59, which also discloses a coolant inlet and outlet and the connection to a recooling plant for a closed cooling circuit. The distribution of the cooling medium, namely water, with corresponding line routing and connecting elements is carried out on a project-by-project basis, with a corresponding amount of installation effort. 
         [0005]    Another switchgear cabinet with a similar distribution device for a cooling device is also described in the brochure “RITTAL DCP—Direct Cooling Package” of April 2005. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One object of this invention is to provide a switchgear cabinet or rack of the type mentioned above but which achieves a simplified installation of the distribution device for a cooling medium. 
         [0007]    This object is attained with a distribution device having characteristics described in this specification and in the claims. The distribution device disclosed is embodied as a main distribution unit installed in the region of or near the base and extends with at least one conduit between two vertical delimitation planes of the base that are parallel to and spaced apart from each other and the conduit has at least one branching piece for connection of the cooling device. 
         [0008]    The main distribution unit offers simple connection possibilities for lines that convey the cooling medium to the respective cooling device with a convenient, space-saving installation. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of this invention, an installation and accessibility standpoint comprises at least one conduit that extends between two side faceplates of the base and is connected to the base via at least one side faceplate and/or at least one corner piece. 
         [0010]    A simple, stable assembly is advantageously achieved if a main distribution unit has at least one fastening device for attaching the at least one conduit to the base. 
         [0011]    A simple installation and a reliable function is advantageously achieved if at least one end section and/or the branching piece of the respective conduit each has a releasable closure element for closing the conduit in a fluid-tight fashion. 
         [0012]    Other advantageous measures that contribute to a simple installation and reliable function include the main distribution unit embodied as an add-on distribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling, which has an insertion element, to one end of each respective conduit. This makes it possible for additional switchgear cabinets or racks, for example, preferably with corresponding main distribution units, to be easily added onto the switchgear cabinet or rack, yielding a simple connection for conducting the cooling fluid. 
         [0013]    A convenient accommodation is possible if the base is covered at its top by a base cover plate that has at least one sealed feed-through element for feeding through a connecting line between the respective branching piece and the cooling device. 
         [0014]    A simple, stable attachment of the two, for example, but possibly also more, conduits is achieved if the fastening device has two clamping shells that can be clamped against each other, each of which is integrally joined to respective holding receptacles for all of the conduits. 
         [0015]    A simple connection, for example, a side-by-side addition of another switchgear cabinet or rack, is achieved if the side faceplates have feed-throughs for the conduits. 
         [0016]    In one advantageous arrangement and installation, the side faceplates are a lower partial faceplate and an upper partial faceplate. 
         [0017]    In other assembly possibilities, the side faceplates are bent inward at right angles, at least at their upper longitudinal edge, in relation to the base chamber and have fastening holes in the bent section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    This invention is explained in view of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an installation of a main distribution unit in the base region of a switchgear cabinet equipped with connection components and an add-on base; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the main distribution unit according to  FIG. 1 , before installation in the base; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a corner piece of a base and a fastening piece of the main distribution unit to be attached to it; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a main distribution unit; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a main distribution unit formed as an add-on unit; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows various views of a fastening piece of the main distribution unit; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top view of two main distribution units coupled to each other, with a side-by-side connection of two switchgear cabinets; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a main distribution unit installed in a base, with connecting lines. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a base  1  of a switchgear cabinet in which a main distribution unit  10  for a fluid cooling medium, such as water, is installed. Via connecting lines  12  that are fed through a base cover plate  6  by sealed feed-through elements  7 , the main distribution unit  10  is connected to conduits  8  to which a cooling device, for example in the form of a cooling plate having a serpentine cooling line, can be connected at its inlet and outlet sides. It is also possible to connect other cooling devices through which a fluid cooling medium flows. 
         [0028]    The base  1  is enclosed at its front and back by a front faceplate  4  and rear faceplate  5 , is enclosed laterally by side faceplates  3 , and is covered at the top by the base cover plate  6  so that the base faceplates  3 ,  4 ,  5 , together with the base cover plate  6 , enclose a block-shaped base chamber that is separate from a usable space situated or positioned on the interior of the switchgear cabinet, above the base cover plate  6 . 
         [0029]    The base faceplates are preferably composed of sheet metal wall elements that are bent at right angles, at least at their upper longitudinal edge. The bent edge sections are oriented toward the interior of the base chamber. In a corresponding manner, the narrow sides and/or the lower longitudinal edge of the side faceplates  3  as well as the front faceplate  4  and rear faceplate  5  can also be bent inward at right angles. The bent edges have holes for fastening or mounting purposes, which can be arranged, for example, in rows of holes with a particular spacing pattern, thus providing simple assembly possibilities. In the corner regions of the base  1 , corner pieces  2  are provided, which attach the side faceplates  3  to the front faceplate  4  and rear faceplate  5 . The front surfaces and rear surfaces of the corner pieces  2  are stepped in parallel fashion or transition flush into the plane of the front faceplate  4  or rear faceplate  5 , respectively, and side parts of the corner pieces  2 , which are at right angles to the front surface and rear surface, are stepped in parallel fashion or transition flush into the plane of the side faceplates  3 . As shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the corner pieces  2  have mounting surfaces parallel to and spaced apart from their front surface and rear surface, with mounting openings  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 . in the form of vertically extending rows of holes. In addition, the corner pieces  2  are provided with connecting tabs for connecting them to the front faceplate  4  or rear faceplate  5 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the side faceplates  3  can be composed of an upper partial faceplate  3 ′ and a lower partial faceplate  3 ″. 
         [0030]    As also shown in  FIG. 1 , the main distribution unit  10  has two conduits  11  arranged one above the other and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, extending horizontally between the side faceplates  3 . These conduits  11  are attached by lateral fastening devices  18 , such as to two corner pieces  2  or to the side faceplates  3 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show an example in which the lateral fastening devices  18  are each attached to a respective corner piece  2  at the mounting openings  2 . 1  situated closer to the interior of the base. Each respective fastening device  18 , which has a block-shaped outer form, for example, is composed of two holding elements  18 . 1 ,  18 . 1 ′ that can be clamped to each other, which have respective integrally joined partial holding receptacles that are complementary to each other in order to form a holding receptacle  18 . 2  and the holding receptacles are matched to the outer circumference of the conduits  11  and accommodate the conduits  11 . The number of holding receptacles  18 . 2 ′ corresponds to the number of conduits  11  of the main distribution unit  10 , thus assuring a straightforward, simple assembly. The fastening device  18  has preferably threaded fastening bores  18 . 3  that are matched to the spacing and position of suitable mounting openings  2 . 1  of the corner piece  2  to allow it to be fastened to the corner piece  2 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 through 8 , the fastening devices can also be provided with additional fastening openings  18 . 4  and  18 . 5  that are matched to holes in the bent edges of the side faceplates  3  or their partial faceplates  3 ′,  3 ″ in order to attach them there, either by themselves or in addition to another part. This offers expanded assembly possibilities. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the region of the openings of the conduits  11  of the main distribution unit  10 , the side faceplates  3  have through openings  3 . 1  via which the conduits  11  can be connected to other lines, in particular the conduits  11  of an adjacent cabinet or rack. In a side-by-side arrangement of two or more cabinets, the side faceplates  3  of the adjacent sides of the base  1  can also be omitted.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show two differently embodied main distribution units  10 .  FIG. 4  shows a main distribution unit for one cabinet or rack while  FIG. 5  shows a main distribution unit  10  embodied for a side-by-side arrangement of two or more cabinets. 
         [0033]    The main distribution unit  10  shown in  FIG. 4  has two conduits  11  with connection pieces  11 . 1  in their end sections. One end of each conduit  11  is connected via the respective connection piece  11 . 1  to a branching piece  13 . The connection piece  11 . 1  has an external thread and the branching piece  13  has a matching internal thread. Toward the corresponding side of the base  1 , the branching piece  13  is connected to a coupling piece  15  that is connected by an external thread to an internal thread on the side of the branching piece  13  oriented toward it. A connecting line can be connected by another external thread of the coupling piece  15 . At the end of the conduit  11  oriented away from the branching piece  13 , its connection piece  11 . 1  is connected to another coupling piece  14 , which is adjoined by a coupling piece  16  for connecting to a connecting line. In the other conduit  11 , the above-mentioned branching piece  13 , the coupling piece  15 , the additional coupling piece  14 , and the coupling piece  16  are connected in a laterally inverse sequence, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    By contrast with the main distribution unit  10  shown in  FIG. 4 , in the main distribution unit  10  embodied for a side-by-side arrangement shown in  FIG. 5 , on one side, in this case the right side, the two coupling pieces  14 ,  15  are each connected via a respective intermediate piece  19 , such as in the form of a double nipple with internal thread, to a respective quick-release coupling  17  and the quick-release couplings  17  can be easily connected in a sealed fashion by simply coupling them to the coupling pieces  16  of an adjacent main distribution unit  10  in order to produce the flow connection in an adjacent cabinet or rack in a side-by-side arrangement, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The coupling pieces  16  are embodied in the form of quick-release couplings with muffs embodied for accommodating a main distribution unit  10  for the side-by-side arrangement, and can be simply substituted with screw sealing plugs when the main distribution unit  10  is used by itself. 
         [0035]    As the exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  demonstrate, the main distribution units  10  can be easily converted back and forth, from a single-cabinet or single-rack arrangement to a side-by-side arrangement, by simply attaching or removing the intermediate pieces  19  and quick-release couplings  17 . The conduits  11  are composed, for example, of simple rubber pressure hoses, with threads provided at their two respective ends. The length of the rubber pressure hoses varies depending on the width of the cabinet or rack. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  8 , the T-shaped branching pieces  13 , with their branching connection that likewise has an internal thread, serve to connect the connecting lines  12  routed through the base cover plate  6 . The other ends of the connecting lines  12  are connected to connecting conduits  8  extending in the frame profile of the cabinet or rack or are connected directly to the inlet, or outlet line end of a cooling coil. The cooling medium can thus be easily supplied to a cooling plate of the type mentioned above, for example, and conveyed back from it again after absorption of the dissipated heat. The main distribution unit  10  offers a uniform device that can be preinstalled in all cabinets or racks, enabling simple connection possibilities to a recooling plant and also to the cooling device provided in the respective switchgear cabinet.