Patent Description:
<CIT> and <CIT> show cabinets which are vertically partitioned by partitions. <CIT> shows a cabinet comprising partitions with guide rails installed on the upper surfaces of the partitions. Further <CIT> discloses a control-box which is subdivided into a plurality of cuboid compartments corresponding to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

Modules are known from the prior art which can be inserted into switchgear cabinets and can be removed from these again. Such modules can be inserted into a switchgear cabinet in the manner of a drawer and removed from this again. Modules of this type can carry electrical equipment, accommodate electrical equipment or be configured as such.

In practice there is a need for slide-in compartments and/or housings or cabinets which can be constructed as easily as possible, into which such modules can be inserted and removed again.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a slide-in compartment which is constructed with as few components as possible.

According to the invention, the preceding object is solved by a housing having the features of patent claim <NUM>. According to this the compartment base and the roof are configured as identical components.

According to the invention, a special roof or roof panel on the upper side of each slide-in compartment is dispensed with. The upper boundary is formed by the compartment base of a second slide-in compartment lying above a first slide-in compartment. This has the result that the installation space can be used more effectively and material is saved. Only the last, quasi-uppermost slide-in compartment at the upper end of the housing requires an additional roof as upper cover. As a result, a structure of a slide-in compartment having few components is implemented.

At least one side wall is provided, which has two guide webs, wherein a lower guide web is assigned to or facing the compartment base and an upper guide web is assigned to or facing the roof. Guide legs of a module can lie or rest on these guide webs and be prevented from moving up and down. The guide webs are the short legs of a U-shaped side wall. A guide web can act as guide counter-element for the module.

The side wall is assigned a wall strip on the compartment base side and the side wall is assigned a wall strip on the roof side. The wall strips guide the guide legs laterally. In this respect, a wall strip can also act as guide counter-element for the module.

The wall strip receives two spring elements which extends in the direction of the interior of the slide-in compartment. The spring elements can consist of metal or plastic. They are used to compensate for lateral tolerance of the module. A force is applied laterally to the module by a spring element. If if the spring elements are made of metal, it assists the earthing of the module.

Further advantageously the compartment base has a recess for receiving grid-like parts. These grid-like parts can promote air circulation.

A module which is configured as a so-called skeleton module has no side walls, no roof and no base wall. Modules of this type in which the electrical components carried by the module are substantially freely accessible, must be pushed into a slide-in compartment of the type described here for operational use. The slide-in compartment brings about a secure guidance of the module, ensures a correct contacting of electrical connections, brings about a secure locking and ensures that the type of protection is achieved.

The slide-in compartment must be installed in a shell or a housing which receives those components which allow the module to be connected to external consumers and with its control. Usually several slide-in compartments are placed in a control panel.

The slide-in compartment can be implemented in several ways. It can be executed as a single slide-in compartment, fitting exactly to a specific respective module or as a multiple slide-in compartment for several modules arranged adjacent to one another. A multiple arrangement of modules above one another is also feasible.

Advantageously an arrangement comprises a slide-in compartment of the type described here and a module for insertion into a housing or for removal from a housing, wherein the module comprises a base body having a front wall and a rear wall, wherein parallel elongate strip parts extend between the front wall and the rear wall, the longitudinal extension whereof spaces apart the front wall and the rear wall, and wherein at least one strip part has a guide leg for cooperation with a guide counter-element.

A strip part can have a carrying function and a guide function. A strip part substantially increases the torsional stability of a module during its movement. By this means, electrical devices such as for example contacts, switches or control units can be effectively protected. A strip part can cooperate with a guide counter-element in a slide-in compartment of a housing or switchgear cabinet in such a manner that the module is guided securely during insertion and removal.

Advantageously the guide leg projects freely outwards with an outer edge. Alternatively or additionally, the strip part has only one guide leg. This allows a particularly defined guidance of the module. A strip-like guide leg increases the bending stiffness of the strip part. A freely projecting guide leg additionally creates space for assembly elements such as screws.

Further advantageously the strip part has three legs, wherein the guide leg and two further mounting legs are each inclined with respect to one another and have a protruding outer edge. As a result the strip part has a type of star shape. The ray-like protruding mounting legs do not interfere with the guide leg when screws are fastened onto these.

Against this background, advantageously at least one mounting leg has at least one screw hole or a plurality of screw holes. As a result of a grid-like or pattern-like arrangement of screw holes on the strip parts, equipment can be fastened in the module in manifold ways. An adjustable mechanical coding of the modules is also made possible as a result.

Advantageously the guide leg has at least one recess. A recess or a plurality of recesses can constitute a mechanical coding so that a module can only be brought to a specific location in a housing or switchgear cabinet.

Further advantageously the strip part is configured to be Y-shaped in cross-section. Preferably all the strip parts are configured to be Y-shaped. This shape makes it possible to accommodate screws without the screw heads being able to impede the sliding function of the module. The Y shape brings about a high torsional stability and bending strength of the strip parts and/or the entire module.

Advantageously four strip parts are provided. The removable and movable module is designed so that four strip parts running depthwise, namely in the insertion direction, take over the mechanical connection of a front and a rear wall and also the guidance of the module in two directions. In this respect, a strip part is a carrying part and a guide part.

Further advantageously the front wall and the rear wall are interconnected by means of at least one strip part or by all the strip parts. The strip parts allow a good access to equipment which is accommodated inside the module.

Advantageously at least one strip part can be connected or is connected positively to the front wall and/or rear wall. The positive connection simplifies the assembly of the module. The preferably four Y-shaped strip parts are connected positively to the front and the rear wall and secured by riveting, screwing, latching or welding.

Further advantageously an arrangement comprises a module of the type described here and a housing, wherein the module can be moved in the insertion direction or removal direction and wherein the insertion direction and the removal direction are oriented parallel to at least one strip part. Thus, the module can be used in switching devices or switchgear cabinets. Uses in the low-voltage area are feasible. An IP43 type of protection can be achieved by using sealing strips. The size of the module is determined by the dimensions of the front wall and the rear wall.

The module, the slide-in compartment and/or the arrangement can be used in a low-voltage switching installation, in particular a low voltage switchgear.

<FIG> shows a module for insertion into a housing <NUM> or for removal from a housing <NUM> comprising a base body <NUM> having a front wall <NUM> and a rear wall <NUM>. Parallel elongate strip parts <NUM> extend between the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>, the longitudinal extension whereof spaces apart the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>, wherein at least one strip part <NUM> has a guide leg 4a for cooperation with a guide counter-element <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The direction of insertion is shown by the arrow in <FIG>.

The guide leg 4a projects freely outwards with an outer edge. The strip part <NUM> has only one guide leg 4a. Specifically four strip parts <NUM> are provided, wherein each strip part <NUM> has only one guide leg 4a.

The front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM> are interconnected by all the strip parts <NUM>. Each strip part <NUM> is positively connected to the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM> are made of metal in a contact-safe manner. The front wall <NUM> consists of two elements, wherein an inner element primarily takes over fastening functions and an outer element principally functions as an optical screen. Actuating devices for switching elements <NUM> and for a locking system <NUM> are arranged in the front wall <NUM>. The actuating devices can be configured as two separate actuating devices or be combined in one device. A handle element <NUM> is furthermore fastened to the front wall <NUM>.

In addition to a primary structure, a separately removable control unit is also located in the module. The operating and display panel <NUM> of the control unit is also located in the front wall <NUM> and therefore is easily accessible. The rear wall <NUM> is provided for fastening primary contacts, namely input and output, and control contacts.

At least one electrical device <NUM> is accommodated inside the module. As a result of the skeleton structure of the module which is created by the strip parts <NUM>, electrical equipment inside the module is readily accessible.

Two strip parts <NUM> are interconnected by a transverse strut <NUM>. The transverse strut <NUM> is oriented substantially orthogonally to the strip parts <NUM> but can also have a different inclination relative to the strip parts <NUM>. The transverse strut <NUM> prevents sagging of long strip parts <NUM>.

<FIG> shows in a perspective view a strip part <NUM> as installed in the module according to <FIG>.

The strip part <NUM> has three legs, wherein the guide leg 4a and two further mounting legs 4b are each inclined with respect to one another and each have a freely projecting outer edge.

The outer edge of the guide leg 4a is rounded. The guide leg 4a is formed by folding.

Each mounting leg 4b has a plurality of screw holes <NUM>. The guide leg 4a has a plurality of recesses <NUM>. The strip part <NUM> is configured to be Y-shaped in cross-section.

<FIG> shows a slide-in compartment 14a for receiving a module, comprising a receiving opening <NUM>, a compartment base <NUM> and a roof <NUM>. The compartment base <NUM> and the roof <NUM> are configured as identical components.

At least one side wall <NUM> is provided, which has two guide webs <NUM>, wherein a lower guide web <NUM> is assigned to or facing the compartment base <NUM> and an upper guide web <NUM> is assigned to or facing the roof <NUM>.

The side wall <NUM> is assigned a wall strip <NUM> on the compartment base side. The side wall <NUM> is assigned a further wall strip <NUM> on the roof side.

The wall strip <NUM> receives two spring elements <NUM> which extend in the direction of the interior of the slide-in compartment 14a. The spring elements <NUM> are configured to be rectangular and flat.

The compartment base <NUM> has a recess <NUM> for receiving grid-like parts.

The slide-in compartment 14a is configured constructively as a metal sleeve which is open at the front. The sleeve comprises a bottom sheet as compartment base <NUM> and a roof sheet as roof <NUM>, wherein the sheets are connected to side walls <NUM>.

Located at the rear end of the slide-in compartment 14a is a compartment rear wall <NUM> which receives components for contacting. If these components for contacting are arranged in a surrounding control panel, this compartment rear wall <NUM> can however be completely or partially omitted.

The slide-in compartment 14a described here is formed by a compartment base <NUM> which is fastened in the control panel. The compartment base <NUM> has large recesses <NUM> which can receive grid-like parts which are necessary for achieving the type of protection required in each case. Further cut-outs <NUM> enable a fixing and/or locking of the module in its respective positions.

These positions are usually the so-called separating position in which a secure separation of the electrical contacts is achieved and the so-called operating position in which a completely connected contacting is achieved.

A delimitation to the left and right is accomplished by U-shaped side walls <NUM> which are likewise provided with large cut-outs for air circulation and receiving protection-type elements.

The short legs of these U-shaped side walls, namely the guide webs <NUM> act at the bottom and at the top as guidance for the strip parts <NUM> of the module having a Y-shaped cross-section but only in the upward and downward movement.

The lateral guidance of the module is taken over by four wall strips <NUM> which are configured as plastic strips. The plastic strips are arranged in each corner of the slide-in compartment 14a. They sit on the short legs of the U-shaped side walls <NUM> and positively connect the otherwise still loose side walls <NUM> to the lower compartment base <NUM> and the upper compartment base <NUM>.

For fixing the plastic strips these are screwed to the side walls <NUM>. The plastic strips are configured so that they can receive spring elements <NUM>. These spring elements <NUM> can consist of metal or plastic. They are used for lateral compensation of the tolerance of the modules. Specifically eight spring elements <NUM> are provided in a slide-in compartment 14a.

If the spring elements <NUM> are made of metal, they assist the earthing of the modules. Further functions of the plastic strips are the fixing of the grid-like parts <NUM> to achieve the type of protection in the lateral direction and the fastening of a counterpiece for mechanical coding of the modules.

The housing <NUM> in which the slide-in compartments 14a are arranged or configured is not restricted to a configuration as a switchgear cabinet but can be configured as any container or shelf into which modules can be slid.

The module according to <FIG> is configured in this respect as slide-in module and configured in the manner of a drawer.

Claim 1:
Housing, comprising a slide-in compartment (14a) for receiving a module, the slide-in compartment comprising a receiving opening (<NUM>), a compartment base (<NUM>) and a roof (<NUM>), wherein the compartment base (<NUM>) and the roof (<NUM>) are configured as identical components, wherein at least one side wall (<NUM>) is provided, which has two guide webs (<NUM>), wherein a guide web (<NUM>) is for acting as a guide counter-element for the module and wherein a lower guide web (<NUM>) is assigned to or facing the compartment base (<NUM>) and an upper guide web (<NUM>) is assigned to or facing the roof (<NUM>), wherein the side wall (<NUM>) is assigned a wall strip (<NUM>) on the compartment base side and that the side wall (<NUM>) is assigned a wall strip (<NUM>) on the roof side, wherein a wall strip (<NUM>) is for acting as a guide counter-element for the module,
characterized in that
each wall strip (<NUM>) receives two spring elements (<NUM>), which extend in the direction of the interior of the slide-in compartment (14a), and wherein the spring elements (<NUM>) are for compensating for lateral tolerance of the module.