EP2826115A1

EP2826115A1 - Modular electric panel

Info

Publication number: EP2826115A1
Application number: EP13719577.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ali Askar; Hervé Guillaume
Original assignee: Finatech Entreprises
Current assignee: Finatech Entreprises
Priority date: 2012-03-12
Filing date: 2013-03-11
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Also published as: FR2987943B1; WO2013135979A1; FR2987943A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular panel comprising brackets (14a, 14b) onto which bars for receiving electrical or electronic components are attached, and a modular case (70) covering the brackets. Each bracket (14a, 14b) consists of at least three nestable elements (1, 2, 3), i.e. a first end element (1) having a female end piece (4a), an intermediate element (3) having a male end piece at one end thereof and a female end piece (4b) on the other end thereof, and a second end element (3) having a male end piece, wherein said three elements are assembled by covering each female end piece (4a, 4b) with a male end piece, the intermediate element (3) defining, together with the first and second end elements (1, 2), contacts for attaching the receiving bars, wherein the brackets (14a, 14b) are arranged in parallel.

Description

MODULABLE ELECTRIC PANEL

The technical sector of the present invention is that of electrical panels receiving various electrical and electronic components.

Devices of this type are known, generally composed of a casing-like carcass and receiving a determined number of components over a determined number of rows.

Then there is the problem of extending the components of this kind of table which involves the complete change of it in order to have more space. This entails the choice of new boards, disassembly of existing components and the ^; reassembly of these in the new table. Such a change leads ipso facto a very important cost.

One solution to this problem would be to provide a scalable table, that is to say a table whose dimensions can be enlarged for the insertion of new components without performing a complete disassembly of the existing table.

It is precisely the object of the invention to offer such a solution consisting of a modular table whose dimensions can be enlarged in height or width to avoid significant costs of materials and labor.

The object of the present invention is to provide a modular table to cover all possible dimensions thus providing the possibility of having several rows of bars of reception throughout the duration of use of this table.

The invention therefore relates to a modular electrical panel of the type comprising supports on which are fixed bars for receiving electrical or electronic components and a modular box covering the supports, characterized in that each support consists of at least three interlocking elements, a first end element provided with a socket, an intermediate element provided at one end with a male end and the other end of a female end and a second end member provided with a male end, these three elements being assembled by capping each female end by a male end, the intermediate element defining in combination with the first and second end elements of the fixing studs of the reception bars, the supports being arranged parallel to one another.

According to a feature of the invention, each intermediate element consists of a body separating the male end of the socket.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each male endpiece is provided with a stud, and in that each female endpiece is in the form of a tube for receiving the male endpiece.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the fixing studs consist of the male end pieces delimiting two projecting flanges between which the fixing bar is positioned.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, each stud constitutes a housing for receiving a fixing screw of each reception bar.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the table comprises two supports parallel to each other and interconnected by fixing bars.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the nestable elements consist of material. plastic made by injection.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the box consists of at least two interlocking end frames, one of the frames being provided in the extension of the edge of its side walls of a rod, the another frame being provided with a rod at its inner wall, said rods being of complementary shape in order to. to fit one into the other.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, each end frame comprises fixing fingers on the supports.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the fingers are quarter-turn screws.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the box comprises at least one intermediate frame between the two end frames, the intermediate frame being provided with a terminal rod and a lateral rod cooperating with the corresponding rods of the frames. 'end.

A first advantage of the present invention lies in the modularity of the dimensions of the supports for extending the number of electrical or electronic components.

Another advantage of the invention lies in the extension of the electrical panel in length or width.

Yet another advantage of the invention lies in the manufacture of three basic frames to increase the dimensions of the electrical panel.

Yet another advantage of the invention lies in the minimum number of parts to make a table significantly reducing the stocks to build. Thus, with a range of six pieces, paintings of any size are made. This facilitates the management of parts inventories.

Another advantage lies in the fact that the manufacture of nestable frames requires the manufacture of a single mold.

Other features, advantages and details of the invention will be better understood on reading the additional description which follows of embodiments. given as an example in relation to drawings in which:

FIGS. 1a-1c show a view of the three interlocking elements,

FIG. 2 represents a view of the three elements in the assembly position,

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the three assembled elements constituting a support,

FIG. 3b represents a perspective view of the elements receiving reception bars,

- Figure 4 and 5 show ^a view of a partial frame, FIGS. 6 and 7 show a view of another partial frame,

FIGS. 8 and 9 represent an intermediate frame,

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the assembly of the complete box comprising a single intermediate box, FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the assembly of the complete box,

FIG. 12 is a section showing the box and one of the supports in the pre-assembly position and,

- Figure 13 is a section showing the table by assembling the cabinet and one of the supports.

As explained above, the invention aims to improve the comfort of installation and extension of electrical panels to replace the previous fixed structures. An electrical panel will simply include two supports fixed to the receiving wall for receiving bars of reception of electrical or electronic components that one wishes to install. The length of each support is adjustable according to the needs of the user whether one is in original equipment or in capacity extension. Of course, the supports and the components are capped by a frame revealing only these components, as is usually the case.

In Figures la-lc, there is shown a view of the three basic elements to form a support. Each support will comprise at least these three elements 1, 2 and 3 nestable together. A first end element 1 consists of a mass body 6 provided at one end with a female end 4a, a second end element 2 consisting of a mass body 7 provided at one end with a male end 5a and an intermediate element 3 consisting of a mass body 8 provided at one end with a female end 4b and at the other end with a male end 5b. The modularity of the set implies that the male and female ends of these elements are respectively of identical structure.

The support is made by assembling the three elements 1, 2, 3 capping each male end 5a or 5b respectively by a female end 4b and 4a. We arrange of course so that the dimensions of the different end pieces allow a tight connection. The length of the intermediate element 3 and the distance between the end pieces 4b and 5b are of course determined according to the needs of those skilled in the art. The mass body of each element 1, 2 or 3 is stiffened by transverse walls according to the usual art in this technical field.

In figures la and le, on. see that the end elements 1 and 2 are each provided at their other end receiving means respectively 8 and 9 of a frame associated with these elements as will be explained below. These means are each provided with a respective perforation 10 and 11 for the reception of a quick attachment means of this frame. It goes without saying that the end pieces 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b and the receiving means 8 and 9 are arranged on the same side of the mass body of these elements 1, 2 and 3.

The female ends 4a and 4b are in the form of a tube and. the male elements 5a and 5b of a solid piece each provided with a pad 12 or 13. These pads are intended for reception of a receiving bar of the electrical or electronic elements.

Elements 1, 2 and. 3 are for example made of plastic and by injection and are rigid enough to receive the reception bars.

FIG. 2 shows a support 14 constituted by the assembly of three elements 1, 2 and 3 where the female end 4a caps the male end 5b and the female end 4b the male end 5a. We see that the height of the male element is provided so that it comes flush with the free end of the female end. This assembly thus receives two fixing bars of the electronic elements that are just fixed on the male ends. The number of fixing bars can be multiplied by using two or more intermediate elements 3 or more joined together by the respective male and female elements of each. It goes without saying that increasing the number of intermediate elements increases the number of male and female ends and consequently the number of usable bars of reception that this is during the design of the electrical panel or during its subsequent expansion.

Thus, two intermediate elements will fix three bars, three intermediate elements will fix four bars, and so on. This modularity makes it possible to increase the dimensions of the electrical panel without proceeding to a complete replacement of the assembly initially installed. It is understood that the modularity thus obtained makes it possible to increase the length of the board since its width is determined by the length of the fastening bars used.

FIG. 3a shows a view of two supports 14a and 14b disposed opposite one another and parallel to each other consisting of the three elements 1, 2 and 3. Each support 14a or 14b comprises at the level of the end elements 1 and 2 extensions 15 and 16 provided with a perforation 17 or 18 to allow the attachment of each of them on a receiving wall, a wall for example. These supports 14a and 14b will receive two reception bars of electrical or electronic components. These bars are of conventional structure and it is not necessary to describe them. They are fixed by means of screws inserted into the male end-pieces described in connection with FIG.

It can be seen that the female ends 4a and 4b of the support 14a only visible in the figure are arranged in alignment with the inner part of the support while the receiving means 8 and 9, also arranged in alignment, are on the outer part of the support and way offset from these tips.

It goes without saying that the electrical panel may comprise three or more supports parallel to each other and interconnected by fixing bars.

This shows the interest of the invention because the nestable elements can be made of plastic material and made by injection. This produces a mass production reducing the cost of manufacturing electrical panels.

In FIG. 3b, the two supports of the FIG. 3a equipped with reception bars 19 and 20. These bars are intended to receive, as indicated previously, the electrical or electronic components that are to be fixed in the table. These bars 19 and 20 are fixed transversely by means of screws in the female ends 4a and 4b of each support 14a and 14b.

It goes without saying that when the supports consist of two intermediate elements 3, we can fix three bars, and so on.

We will now describe the box of the table according to the invention which comes to protect the electrical or electronic components attached to the supports regardless of the dimensions of the supports.

To this end, the box consists of two frames 21 and 22 equipped with connecting means that can be completed by one or more intermediate frames 33.

Figures 4 and 5 show respectively a front view and a rear view of the frame 21. which can be arranged in a high or low position in the form of a box.

In the front view (Figure 4), the front wall 23 is provided with a detachable tab 24 and two perforations 25 and 26 for receiving quarter-turn screws for fixing the cabinet on the supports 14a and 14b. This front wall 23 is extended by the side walls 27 and 28.

In the rear view (Figure 5), we see the screws 29 and 30 engaged in the respective perforations 25 and 26. The side walls 27 and 28 are each provided in the vicinity of their edges with a claw made in the form of a 31 or 32 U-shaped rod constituting a junction frame. The large branch 33 of the U-shaped rod is fixed on the inner face of each wall 27 or 28 and the small branch 34 remains free to form a free passage in the U-shaped part over the entire width of each wall 27 or 28.

Figures 6 and 7 show respectively a front view and a rear view of the frame 22 to be connected to the frame 31.

In the front view (Figure 6), we see that the front wall 36 is provided with two perforations 37 and 38 also for receiving quarter-turn fixing screws of the cabinet on the supports 14a and 14b. This front wall is extended by the side walls 39 and 40. The free end of these side walls is provided with a claw in the form of a rod 52 or 53 U-shaped.

In the rear view (Figure 7), we see the screws 50 and 51 engaged in the respective perforations 38 and 37. Each rod 52 or 53 U comprises a large branch 54 attached to the side wall 48 or 49 and a small branch 55 left free, these two branches being united by a base 56.

The U-shaped links of the frames 21 and 22 constitute connecting means for fixing these two frames together. To this end, is engaged for example the small branch 34 or 55 of one of the ^frames' 21 or 22 in the U of the other frame. In this way, the two frames 21 and 22 are fixed to each other rigidly. During this assembly, the position of rods 31 and 32 is provided on the one hand and rods 52 and 53 on the other hand on the side walls of frames 31 and 32 so that the edges of the two frames are in perfect contact. . Fixing these two frames can be completed a connecting means represented for example by a screw engaged between the corresponding rods.

In Figures 8 and 9, there is shown an intermediate frame 60 may be interposed between the frames 21 and 22 described above. This intermediate frame 60 has a front wall 61 provided with a detachable part 62. This front wall is extended by the side walls 63 and 64.

In Figure 9, each side wall 63 or 64 is provided at their ends with a rod 65 or 66 in the form of a U. Thus, the side wall 64 is provided with a U-shaped bead 65 whose structure is identical to that of the bead wire 32 of the frame 21. The bead wire 64 is positioned identically to the bead wire 32, that is to say on the internal face of the side wall 61. Also identical, the side wall 61 is extended by a rod 66 of U-shaped whose. structure is identical to that of the part 54 or 56 of the frame 32. The side wall 63 is equipped with the same parts 65 and 66 positioned identically.

The structure of the intermediate frame 60 is reinforced by means of a bulge of material 67 to stiffen the connection of the side walls with the front wall.

When it is desired to increase the dimensions of the cabinet, one or more intermediate frames can be used by connecting them using the additional parts. Thus, the frame 21 will be connected to the intermediate frame 60 using the parts 31 and 32 on the one hand and .65 on the other hand, and the frame 22 will be connected to the intermediate frame 60 via the parts 52 and 53 with the aid of the parts 66. It will of course be possible, if necessary, to connect two intermediate frames to each other, each then being connected to a frame 21 or 22.

In Figure 10, there is shown the box 70 of an electrical panel consisting of frames 21, 22 and 60 seen on the front. We see that after connecting these frames together, the contact surfaces 71 and 72 between these three frames is made in a perfect fit. It can be seen that the detachable parts 24 and 62 remain in the absence of need. We can complete the connection frames between them with a screw inserted into the junction frames.

In Figure 11, there is shown the box 70 in. rear view showing the screws 30 and 51 for fixing this box on the supports 14a and 14b. It can be seen that the pieces 32 and 65 on the one hand and 52 and 66 on the other hand are in concordance and in close connection.

The frames 21, 22 and 60 are preferably made of plastic, for example by injection into a mold. The structure of the cabinet thus defined allows savings and the management of a limited number of rooms since in case of enlargement of the electrical panel it is sufficient to separate the frames 21 and 22 or the frames 21 and 60 or the frames 60 and 22, then add one or more additional 60 frames. In Figure 12, there is shown a box 70 disposed in the pre-assembly position with a support 14a placed here in view of the outer side. The female ends 4a and 4b are provided at their free end with a flared profile 67 or 68 on which the respective rods 52,66 and 32,65 of the cabinet 70 will bear.

FIG. 13 shows the assembled view of the support 14a and the box 70. In this position, the screws 30 and 51 are engaged in the respective perforations 10 and 11 of the connection elements 8 and 9. By rotation of a quarter turn of these screws, the box is fixed on the support. We proceed of course in the same way for the. placing the support 14b arranged symmetrically with the support 14a. In the figure, we see that the side wall 27 of the box is pressed against the end of the element 1 and the side wall 28 against the end of the element 2 so as to come into contact with each other. with the fixing wall of the electrical panel. One still sees the rods 52,66 on the one hand and the rods 32,65 on the other hand come into contact by their ends with the respective flared profiles 67 and 68 of the female ends 4a and 4b. We can still see the bulge 67 of the intermediate frame bears on the intermediate element 3 of the support 14a.

Many alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, U-shaped rods have been described. However, the frames 21, 22 and 60 may be equipped with equivalent parts to ensure mutual attachment of these frames.

Claims

A modulable electrical panel of the type comprising supports (14a, 14b) on which are fixed bars (19, 20) for electrical or electronic components and a modular box (70) covering the supports, characterized in that each support (14a, 14b) consists of at least three elements (1, 2, 3) interlocking with each other, a first end element (1) provided with a female end (4a), an intermediate element (3) provided with at one end of a male end (5b) and at the other end of a female end (4b) and a second end member (3) provided with a male end (5a), these three elements being assembled capping each female end piece (4a, 4b) by a male end (5a, 5b), the intermediate element (3) delimiting in combination with the first and second end members (1, 2) fixing studs (12). , 13) receiving bars (19, 20), the supports (14a, 14b) being arranged in a parallel manner between x.

2. Modular electrical panel according to claim 1, characterized in that each intermediate element (3) consists of a body (8) separating the male end (5b) of the socket (4b).

3. Modular electrical panel according to claim 2, characterized in that each male end (5a, 5b) is provided with a stud (12, 13), and in that each female end (4a, 4b) is under the shape of a receiving tube of the male end.

4. Modular electrical panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing studs (12, 13) are constituted by the male ends (4) defining two projecting flanges between which the fixing bar is positioned.

5. Modular electrical panel according to claim 3, characterized in that each stud (12, 13) constitutes a housing for receiving a fixing screw of each receiving bar.

6. Modular electrical panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that comprises two supports (14a, 14b) parallel to each other and interconnected by fixing bars.

7. Modular electrical panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nestable elements (1, 2, 3) are made of plastic material made by injection.

8. Modular electrical panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (70) consists of at least two end frames (21, 22) nestable, one (22) frames being provided in the extension of the edge of its side walls (48, 49) of a rod (54, 56), the other frame (21) being provided with a rod (31, 34) at its wall internal 28, 27), said rods being of complementary shape to fit into one another.

9. Modular electrical panel according to claim 8, characterized in that each end frame (21, 22) has fixing fingers (29, 30, 50, 51) on the supports (14a, 14b).

10. Modular electrical panel according to the claim

9, characterized in that the fingers (29, 30, 50, 51) are quarter turn screws.

11. Modular electrical panel according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the cabinet (70) comprises at least one spacer frame (60) between the two end frames (21, 22), the spacer frame (60) being provided with a terminal rod (65) and a lateral rod (66) cooperating with the corresponding rods of the end frames (21, 22).