EP3667004A1

EP3667004A1 - Door for an electrical appliance cabinet

Info

Publication number: EP3667004A1
Application number: EP18211967.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Roth; Erik Weber
Original assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
Current assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2018-12-12
Publication date: 2020-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-12
Also published as: EP3667004B1

Abstract

A door for an appliance cabinet, in particular a distribution cabinet, is described, with at least one hinge (1), which is fixed releasably thereto and which has a base body (3) with a hinge pin (4), said hinge pin (1) engaging in a cutout provided for this purpose in the appliance cabinet in question and thus guiding the door pivotably, wherein the door is provided on at least one longitudinal side with a rebate (20), wherein the base body (1) is inserted into said rebate (20), and wherein the rebate (20) is angular, and wherein that limb (21) of the rebate (20) which points towards the inner side of the cabinet is provided with a first cutout (10). The base body (3) comprises a first fastening means (5), and the base body (3) when inserted into the rebate is pivotably fixed on the door by means of a second fastening means (7) passing through said first cutout (10) and cooperating with the first fastening means (5) to form a configuration which pivotably fixes the base body (3) in the rebate (20), the first fastening means (5) determining the pivot point (6) of the door hinge (1). The base body (3) comprises an adjusting means for enabling an adjustment of the base body (3) with respect to the door, wherein said adjustment means, when the base body (1) is inserted into said rebate (20), is supported at the door and is configured to be operated at the side of that limb (21) of the rebate (20) which points towards the inner side of the cabinet.

Description

The invention is related to a door for an electrical appliance cabinet, in particular a distribution cabinet, with at least one hinge, which is fixed releasably thereto and which has a base body with a hinge pin, said hinge pin engaging in a cutout provided for this purpose in the appliance cabinet in question and thus guiding the door pivotably, wherein the door is provided on at least one longitudinal side with a rebate, wherein the base body is inserted into said rebate, and wherein the rebate is angular, and wherein that limb of the rebate which points towards the inner side of the cabinet is provided with a first cutout.
Electrical appliance cabinets are used for housing electrical components. Especially in the technical field of meter- and distributor cabinets, doors have to be set and oriented in the electrical appliance or distribution cabinets. The procedure of orienting the door in the cabinet is called adjusting the door, and it is done when the door is inserted to or set to the cabinet by adjusting the door hinge accordingly.
A door for an electrical cabinet of this kind is disclosed in EP 2 362 045 B1 . For adjusting the hinge of this door, a user first of all has to loosen at least one screw using a screwdriver before the door hinge can be adjusted. After adjusting the door hinge, the user has to tighten the screw again with a screwdriver.
Concretely, operating the door hinge according to EP 2 362 045 B1 the user foremost has to loosen the screw with a separate tool before he can adjust the door hinge using two push buttons. After adjusting the door hinge, the user has to tighten the screw again using the separate tool. The state of the art shows the drawback that a mechanical tool, namely a screwdriver, is needed to adjust the door hinge.
The object of the invention therefore is to develop a door for an electrical appliance cabinet with a door hinge, which can be adjusted without separate tools.
The object of the invention is achieved by means of the features of claim 1.
According to this claim the base body comprises a first fastening means, and the base body when inserted into the rebate is pivotably fixed on the door by means of a second fastening means passing through said first cutout and cooperating with the first fastening means to form a configuration which pivotably fixes the base body in the rebate, the first fastening means determining the pivot point of the door hinge, and wherein the base body comprises an adjusting means for enabling an adjustment of the base body with respect to the door, wherein said adjustment means, when the base body is inserted into said rebate, is supported at the door and is configured to be operated at the side of that limb of the rebate which points towards the inner side of the cabinet.
According to the invention it has been found that the base body of the door hinge has to comprise a first fastening means, which permanently determines the pivot point of the door hinge within or on the door. The base body or a part of the base body may be turned or swiveled around this permanent pivot point relatively to the door. Turning or swiveling the base body or a part of the base body results in changing the position of a hinge pin protruding from the base body within or on the door. Due to the feature that the base body comprises an adjusting means for enabling an adjustment of the base body with respect to the door, wherein said adjustment means, when the base body is inserted into the rebate which is provided on the door, is supported at the door and is configured to be operated at the side of that limb of the rebate which points towards the inner side of the cabinet, the door easily can be oriented within the cabinet without using a screw driver. Due to the feature that the base body when inserted into the rebate is pivotably fixed on the door by means of a second fastening means passing through a first cutout in the door and cooperating with the first fastening means to form a configuration which pivotably fixes the base body in the rebate, the user has no need to operate the second fastening means, when he wants to adjust the door hinge within or on the door. He can use the adjustment means connected to the base body, which moves the base body relatively to the door. Through this, the base body can be moved without a separate tool. Due to the feature that the adjustment means is configured to be operated at the side of the limb of the rebate which points towards the inner side of the cabinet, it is avoided that by accident the adjustment means, once the door has been adjusted, can be dislocated by a person when the door is closed in the installed position of the cabinet. An additional protection against such an accidental dislocation of the adjustment means is the feature that the adjustment means is supported at the door, when the base body is inserted into the rebate which is provided on the door.
Advantageously, the first fastening means comprises a second cutout in the base body, and the second fastening means comprises a screw, wherein the second cutout is configured to enable a releasable bolted fastening between the screw and the second cutout.
Further advantageously, the first fastening means comprises a tubular projection made of a plastic material, and the second fastening means comprises a thread-forming metal screw.
Further advantageously, the door has a round hole, through which a screw may protrude to the second fastening means. The base body may be screwed in place in a factory-provided manner using a screw.
Further advantageously, the fastening means comprises a threaded hole in which a screw may be screwed. Through this, a hard mechanical connection between the base body and a door is possible. The screw does not have to be released to move the door hinge.
Further advantageously, the adjusting means comprises a hand wheel as a moving means which is connected to a longitudinally extending threaded shaft in a torque proof manner, wherein the threaded shaft is received in at least one mating thread, which is connected to the base body in a torque proof manner, wherein turning the hand wheel with respect to the base body is enabling a lateral movement of the threaded shaft in its longitudinal direction with respect to the base body, guided by the at least one mating thread, said lateral movement of the threaded shaft enabling a movement of the base body within or on the door. The door hinge or the hinge pin may thus be moved relatively to the door only by turning the hand wheel. By moving the base body the hinge pin is moved or turned relatively to the door.
Further advantageously the door has a third cutout comprising convex lateral edges to support the hand wheel when the base body is inserted into the rebate. The hand wheel may be supported on a lateral edge of the door while turning the hand wheel. This creates a counterforce which moves the base body relatively to the hand wheel and relatively to the door. The position of the hand wheel in the door remains fixed between lateral edges, wherein the hand wheel is rotatable.
Advantageously, the hand wheel is composed of two parts which are configured in a way to complete a wheel shape when assembled, wherein a first part is fixedly connected to the threaded shaft, the first part having a flattened section in its circumference, and wherein a second part is configured to be connected to the first part and to complement the wheel-like shape when assembled to the flattened section of the first part. This has an advantage when inserting the base body into the rebate of the door. Upon inserting, initially the second part of the hand wheel is taken away, so due to the flattened section in the circumference of the hand wheel insertion of the base body into the rebate is possible. When the base body is in place inserted into the rebate, the flattened section lies in a position matching the third cutout. Now the second part of the hand wheel is connected to the flattened section, reaching through the third cutout, to complete the hand wheel. In this way, after completion of the hand wheel, a part of the hand wheel reaches out of the surface of the limb of the rebate that points towards the inner side of the cabinet, so it can be manipulated by an operator to adjust the door, without this outreaching part blocking the base body on insertion into the rebate.
Further advantageously, the door has an elongated hole or an elongated cutout, and when the base body is inserted into the rebate, the hinge pin protrudes through the elongated hole or the elongated cutout within the door. The hinge pin thus can move in one direction or two directions in the elongated hole, until its movement is stopped by an edge of the elongated hole or cutout.
Further advantageously, the door has an arched lateral outer edge. The hand wheel as a whole thus easily can pass the outer edge of the door, particularly the outer edge of the rebate of the door, when the door hinge is mounted into the rebate of the door. This enables inserting the base body into the rebate when the hand wheel is designed as one single piece. The hinge pin may already protrude through an elongated hole and the hand wheel may be moved into the third cutout having convex lateral edges.
Advantageously, the hinge pin is stiffly fixed at the base body. This is an easy way of applying the hinge pin. It may be screwed to the base body or produced in an injection molding process together with the base body.
Further advantageously, the hinge pin is guided in the base body in longitudinally displaceable fashion and the base body has retaining means enabling to hold the hinge pin in a position protruding through the elongated hole or the elongated cutout within the door. Through this, the hinge pin reversibly may be pressed in the direction of the base body to assemble the door hinge within a door, and when the door hinge has been assembled, the retaining means will make the pin again protrude through the elongated hole or the elongated cutout within the door.
Further advantageously, the hinge pin is spring loaded. In an advantageous manner, the hinge pin is spring loaded by a flat spring or leaf spring. The spring creates a reset force. A flat spring or leaf spring is durable and long-lasting.
Advantageously, if the hinge pin is not spring loaded, the base body has clamping means configured to interact with the hinge pin enabling it to be held in a position protruding through the elongated hole or the elongated cutout within the door. Here the design is simpler, avoiding the additional part of the spring. The hinge pin has then to be moved manually in its operating position protruding out of the elongated hole after insertion of the base body into the rebate of the door.
Advantageously, the base body is made of a synthetic material or a plastic. A synthetic material or a plastic does not rust or oxidize.
Further advantageously, the hand wheel is made of a synthetic material or a plastic. A synthetic material or a plastic does not rust or oxidized.
In the drawings:

Fig. 1: shows in detail a top left area of an opened door made of iron sheet, wherein the door houses or has received a door hinge,
Fig. 2: shows the door hinge in a first embodiment before being assembled within the door of Fig. 1 or Fig. 4,
Fig. 3: shows a further view of the door hinge in the first embodiment before being assembled within the door of Fig. 1 or Fig. 4,
Fig. 4: shows in detail a top left area of the door according to Fig. 1, wherein cut-outs are developed in the door
Fig. 5: shows a door hinge in a second embodiment, inserted into the rebate of the door, prior to completing the hand wheel,
Fig. 6: shows a door hinge in a third embodiment before being assembled within the door,
Fig. 7: shows a door hinge in a fourth embodiment, assembled into the rebate of a door, and
Fig. 8: shows the door hinge in the fourth embodiment, before being assembled into the rebate of the door.

Fig. 1 shows a door 2 for an appliance cabinet, in particular a distribution cabinet, with a hinge 1, which is fixed releasably thereto and which has a base body 3 with a hinge pin 4, said hinge pin 1 engaging in a cutout provided for this purpose in the appliance cabinet in question and thus guiding the door pivotably. The door 2 is provided on one longitudinal side with a rebate 20, wherein the base body 1 is inserted into said rebate 20. The rebate 20 is angular, and that limb 21 of the rebate 20 which points towards the inner side of the cabinet is provided with a first cutout 10.
Hinge pin 4 protrudes from the base body 3. The base body 3 comprises a first fastening means 5. The base body 3 when inserted into the rebate 20 is pivotably fixed on the door 2 by means of a second fastening means 7 passing through said first cutout 10 and cooperating with the first fastening means 5 to form a configuration which pivotably fixes the base body 3 in the rebate 20. The first fastening means 5 determines the pivot point 6 of the door hinge 1. The base body 3 comprises an adjusting means for enabling an adjustment of the base body 3 with respect to the door. The adjustment means, when the base body 1 is inserted into the rebate 20, is supported at the door 2 and is configured to be operated at the side of that limb 21 of the rebate 20 which points towards the inner side of the cabinet.
As shown in figures 2 and 3, the first fastening means 5 comprises a second cutout 5a in the base body 3. The second fastening means comprises a screw 7, wherein the second cutout 5a is configured to enable a releasable bolted fastening between the screw 7 and the second cutout 5a.
The first fastening means 5 comprises a tubular projection made of a plastic material, in which the second cutout 5a is made, and the second fastening means comprises a thread-forming metal screw 7, which, when screwed into the second cutout 5a, forms its own thread.
Alternatively, the first fastening means 5 may comprise a threaded hole in which the screw 7 may be screwed.
The hinge pin 4 is spring loaded. The base body 3 comprises a hand wheel 8, which may be operated to move the hinge pin 4 relatively to the door 2.
Fig. 1 concretely shows an assembly, comprising the door hinge 1 and the door 2. The base body 3 is screwed in place in a factory-provided manner using the screw 7.
The hinge pin 4 protrudes through an elongated hole 9 within the door 2. The door 2 has a round hole 10, through which the screw 7 protrudes to the first fastening means 5. The door 2 has a cutout 11 comprising two convex lateral edges 12 to support the hand wheel 8 protruding in part through the cutout 11. The door 2 has an arched lateral outer edge 13.
The base body 3 is made of a synthetic material. The hand wheel 8 is made of a synthetic material. The door 2 is made of iron sheet.
The hinge pin 4 may be pressed into the door 2, if the door 2 is placed on a floor. If the door 2 is lifted from the floor and the hinge pin 4 is unloaded from the weight of the door 2, the hinge pin 4 returns to its position protruding from the door 2, because the force of the flat spring 14 is sufficient.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the door hinge 1 to be installed within or on the door 2 of an electrical cabinet, comprising a base body 3, from which a hinge pin 4 protrudes in two outer directions nearly perpendicular to each other. The hinge pin 4 protrudes in one direction, which is shown by a dashed arrow, to be received in a hinge mounting.
The hinge pin 4 is spring loaded and housed in the base body 3. The base body 3 comprises the hand wheel 8, which may be operated to move the hinge pin 4 relatively to the door 2. The hinge pin 4 is spring loaded by a flat spring 14.
The base body 3 comprises the hand wheel 8, which may be turned relatively to the base body 3 to move the base body 3 within or on the door 2. The hand wheel 8 is connected with a threaded shaft 15 in a torque proof manner, wherein the threaded shaft 15 is received in a mating thread 16, which is connected with the base body 3 in a torque proof manner. The hand wheel 8 can be moved in two directions relatively to the base body 3.
The hinge pin 4 is arranged in the base body 3, before the door hinge 1 is arranged in or on the door 2.
Fig. 4 shows the door 2 of Fig. 1. The door 2 has the elongated hole 9 within the door 2 on a top edge of the door. It is also possible to arrange the hole 9 and the door hinge 1 on a bottom edge of the door 2.
The door 2 has the rebate 20, with the limb 21 of the rebate 20 pointing towards the inner side of the cabinet.
The door 2 also has the round hole 10, in the limb 21 of the rebate 20, through which the screw 7 shall protrude. The door 2 has the cutout 11 comprising the two convex lateral edges 12 to support and fix the hand wheel 8 between them, wherein the hand wheel 8 is rotatable being assembled in the door 2. The door 2 has an arched lateral outer edge 13, which is made at the lower part of the free longitudinal edge of the limb 21 of rebate 20, and which offers place to let pass the hand wheel 8, when the door hinge 1 is mounted into the door 2.
Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a door hinge according to the invention. Here the hand wheel 8 is composed of two parts which are configured in a way to complete a wheel shape when assembled. For detail see also fig. 6. A first part 22 is fixedly connected to the threaded shaft 15, the first part 22 having a flattened section 24 in its circumference. A second part 23 is configured to be connected to the first part 22 and to complement the wheel-like shape when assembled to the flattened section 24 of the first part 22. For this purpose, the second part 23 has a shape generally like a segment of a circle, with two resiliently formed legs 26, 27 protruding vertically downside on the opposite side of the bent surface 28 of the segment form. Each of the legs 26, 27 has at its end a nose- like structure 29, 30. The first part 22 is equipped with an opening on its flattened section 24, having recesses at its edges. When the second part 23 is assembled onto the first part 22 for completing the circular shape of the hand wheel 8, the legs 26, 27 are inserted into the opening on the flattened section, whereby the nose- like structures 29, 30 are resiliently pressed behind the recesses and so hold in place the second part 23 on the first part 22 to complete the hand wheel 8.
As can be seen in figure 5, there is no need for the arched lateral edge at the free longitudinal side of the limb 21 of rebate 20 for insertion of the base body 3 into the rebate 20. This makes production of the door 2 easier, as for creating such an arched lateral edge, special tooling is needed. In the embodiment of fig. 5, the edge is flat, requiring no such special tooling. Upon inserting the base body 3, initially the second part of the hand wheel 8 is taken away, so due to the flattened section 24 in the circumference of the hand wheel 8, insertion of the base body 3 into the rebate 20 is possible. When the base body 3 is in place inserted into the rebate 20, the flattened section 24 lies in a position matching the third cutout. Now the second part 23 of the hand wheel 8 is connected to the flattened section, reaching through the third cutout, to complete the hand wheel 8. In this way, after completion of the hand wheel 8, a part of the hand wheel 8 reaches out of the surface of the limb 21 of the rebate 20 that points towards the inner side of the cabinet, so it can be manipulated by an operator to adjust the door 2, without this outreaching part blocking the base body 3 on insertion into the rebate 20.
Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of a door hinge according to the invention. Here the base body has clamping means 25 configured to interact with the hinge pin 4 enabling it to be held in a position protruding through the elongated hole or the elongated cutout within the door 2. This design avoids an additional part such as a spring to keep the pin 4 in its position protruding out of the elongated hole 9. The hinge pin 4 has then to be moved manually in its operating position protruding out of the elongated hole 9 after insertion of the base body 3 into the rebate 20 of the door 2. The clamping means is designed as two resilient arms with snapping noses at their free ends, forming in between them a round opening adapted in size to fit to the outer circumferential diameter of the hinge pin 4. When the hinge pin 4 is moved into its operating position, the position shown in figure 6, it is held in a snap-fixed manner between the two resilient legs.
Figure 7 shows a door hinge with a hand wheel as described in the context of figure 5, the two-parted and assembled hand wheel, when inserted into the rebate 20 of door 2.

Figure 8 shows a door hinge where the hinge pin 4 is stiffly fixed at the base body 3. This is an easy way of applying the hinge pin 4. It may be screwed to the base body 3 or produced in an injection molding process together with the base body 3.

Reference numbers

1	Door hinge
2	Door
3	Base body
4	Hinge pin
5	First fastening means
5a	Second cutout in base body
6	Pivot point of 3
7	screw
8	Hand wheel
9	Elongated hole
10	First cutout, round hole
11	Third cutout
12	Convex lateral edges of 11
13	Lateral outer edge
14	Flat spring
15	Shaft
16	Mating thread
20	Rebate
21	Limb of rebate
22	First part of hand wheel
23	Second part of hand wheel
24	Flattened section of first part
25	Clamping means
26	Resilient leg
27	Resilient leg
28	Bent surface
29	Nose-like structure
30	Nose-like structure

Claims

Door for an appliance cabinet, in particular a distribution cabinet, with at least one hinge (1), which is fixed releasably thereto and which has a base body (3) with a hinge pin (4), said hinge pin (1) engaging in a cutout provided for this purpose in the appliance cabinet in question and thus guiding the door pivotably, wherein the door is provided on at least one longitudinal side with a rebate (20), wherein the base body (1) is inserted into said rebate (20), and wherein the rebate (20) is angular, and wherein that limb (21) of the rebate (20) which points towards the inner side of the cabinet is provided with a first cutout (10), characterized in that, the base body (3) comprises a first fastening means (5), and that the base body (3) when inserted into the rebate is pivotably fixed on the door by means of a second fastening means (7) passing through said first cutout (10) and cooperating with the first fastening means (5) to form a configuration which pivotably fixes the base body (3) in the rebate (20), the first fastening means (5) determining the pivot point (6) of the door hinge (1), and that the base body (3) comprises an adjusting means for enabling an adjustment of the base body (3) with respect to the door, wherein said adjustment means, when the base body (1) is inserted into said rebate (20), is supported at the door and is configured to be operated at the side of that limb (21) of the rebate (20) which points towards the inner side of the cabinet.
Door according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fastening means (5) comprises a second cutout (5a) in the base body (3), and that the second fastening means comprises a screw (7), wherein the second cutout (5a) is configured to enable a releasable bolted fastening between the screw (7) and the second cutout (5a).
Door according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fastening means (5) comprises a tubular projection made of a plastic material, and that the second fastening means comprises a thread-forming metal screw (7).
Door according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fastening means (5) comprises a threaded hole in which the screw (7) may be screwed.
Door according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means comprises a hand wheel (8) which is connected to a longitudinally extending threaded shaft (15) in a torque proof manner, wherein the threaded shaft (15) is received in at least one mating thread (16), which is connected to the base body (3) in a torque proof manner, wherein turning the hand wheel (8) with respect to the base body (3) is enabling a lateral movement of the threaded shaft (15) in its longitudinal direction with respect to the base body (3), guided by the at least one mating thread (16), said lateral movement of the threaded shaft (15) enabling a movement of the base body (3) within or on the door (2).
Door according to claim 5, characterized in that the door (2) has a third cutout (11) comprising convex lateral edges (12) to support the hand wheel (8) when the base body (3) is inserted into the rebate.
Door according to claim 6, characterized in that the hand wheel (8) is composed of two parts which are configured in a way to complete a wheel shape when assembled, wherein a first part (22) is fixedly connected to the threaded shaft (15), the first part (22) having a flattened section (24) in its circumference, and wherein a second part (23) is configured to be connected to the first part (22) and to complement the wheel-like shape when assembled to the flattened section (24) of the first part (22).
Door according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the door (2) has an elongated hole (9) or an elongated cutout, and that when the base body (1) is inserted into the rebate, the hinge pin (4) protrudes through the elongated hole (9) or the elongated cutout within the door (2).
Door according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the door (2) has an arched lateral outer edge (13).
Door according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the hinge pin (4) is stiffly fixed at the base body (3).
Door according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the hinge pin (4) is guided in the base body (3) in longitudinally displaceable fashion and that the base body (3) has retaining means enabling to hold the hinge pin (4) in a position protruding through the elongated hole (9) or the elongated cutout within the door (2).
Door according to claim 11, characterized in that the hinge pin (4) is spring loaded.
Door according to claim 12, characterized in that the hinge pin (4) is spring loaded by a flat spring (14) or leaf spring.
Door according to claim 11, characterized in that the base body (3) has clamping means configured to interact with the hinge pin (4) enabling it to be held in a position protruding through the elongated hole (9) or the elongated cutout within the door (2).
Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (3) is made of a synthetic material or a plastic.