GB2134332A

GB2134332A - A switchgear cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2134332A
Application number: GB08332580A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgen Debus
Original assignee: Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1982-12-14
Filing date: 1983-12-07
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: SE451784B; NL8304282A; FR2537794A1; DE8235062U1; GB2134332B; NL187142C; FR2537794B1; GB8332580D0; SE8306693D0; SE8306693L; NL187142B

Abstract

A switchgear cabinet has a base which is formed from at least two spaced plates or panels (21, 23), wherein the opposed edges of the plates are each provided with a flange (22, 24) extending at right angles to the plates so as to define a slot therebetween, the plates (21, 23) being adjustable relative to one another and being securable in a desired position on the switchgear cabinet, cables (20) being insertable into the switchgear cabinet between the flanges (22, 24) of the at least two plates (21, 23) and being sealed by resilient, deformable intermediate members (10). The slot formed between the flanges of the plates is at least partially covered by means of resilient cable receiving blocks, the blocks being arranged in series with one another and forming the intermediate members, each cable receiving block having two opposed mounting slots (11) formed on its underside, by means of which the blocks are mounted on the flanges of the plates. Each block includes at least one cylindrical portion (14) corresponding to the cable or cables to be accommodated in the block, the or each cylindrical portion being joined to the remainder of the block by a weakened portion or web, the weakened portion or web being broken and the or each cylindrical portion being removed prior to the insertion into the recess (12), formed by such removal, of the cable, and lateral insertion slots (13) which are provided in the block and which lead into the recesses formed by the removal of the cylindrical portions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A switchgear cabiner The present invention relates to a switchgear cabinet and, more particularly, to a switchgear cabinet in which varying numbers of cables of differing diameters may be readily accommodated.

In one known arrangement, a switchgear cabinet has a base which is divided into at least two plates or panels. The plates or panels, along their opposed, facing edges are provided with flanges extending at right angles to the remainder of the plate. The plates are adjustable relative to one another and being securable in a desired position on the switchgear cabinet. Cables are insertable into the switchgear cabinet between the flanges of the two plates and are sealed or retained in position by resilient, deformable, intermediate members.

A switchgear cabinet of this type is known from German Gebrauchsmuster No. 7 816 729. The resilient intermediate members used in this arrangement are sealing strips which are applied to the external, opposed surfaces, of the flanges of the plates. Since the diameters of the cables which need be inserted into the switchgear cabinet vary considerably, problems arise with the sealing when one attempts to insert cables having very different diameters. Cables having a very large diameter are sealed after a small clamping movement of the plates has been effected whilst, often, the sealing strips cannot move sufficiently far even to abut against cables having a very small diameter.In addition, a plurality of cables, preferably identical cables, cannot be disposed one behind the other in a plane extending transversely to the slot between the two plates and be additionally secured by means of cable holders, known per se, in a tension-relieved manner in such a known arrangement.

Cable receiving blocks are also known, which are provided with through-bores and which are pushed onto or slipped over the cables. Cables having different diameters can be inserted in a sealed manner by using different cable receiving blocks. In such a case, however, prior to the cables being secured onto the switchgear cabinet and prior to their connection to the apparatus, the cable receiving blocks have to be mounted. A considerable amount of assembly work is required to slide the cable receiving blocks onto the cables, even if through-bores for the insertion of the cables into the cable receiving blocks are formed by punching appropriately sized cylindrical portions from the block. These cylindrical portions of the cable receiving blocks are then re-inserted into the throughbores so formed to act as sealing means and are removed as required.

The invention seeks to provide a switchgear cabinet which is generally of the above-described type, but in which cables of different diameters can be inserted in a well-sealed manner without the need for considerable assembly work to achieve the sealing.

According to the present invention, there is provided a switchgear cabinet having a base which is formed from at least two plates or panels, wherein the opposed edges of the plates are each provided with a flange extending at right angles to the plates so as to define a slot therebetween, the plates being adjustable relative to one another and being securable in a desired position on the switchgear cabinet, cables being insertable into the switchgear cabinet between the flanges of the at least two plates and being sealed by resilient, deformable intermediate members, wherein the slot formed between the flanges of the plates is at least partially covered by means of resilient cable receiving blocks, the blocks being arranged in series with one another and forming the intermediate members, each cable receiving block having two opposed mounting slots formed on its underside, by means of which the blocks are mounted on the flanges of the plates; each block including at least one cylindrical portion corresponding to the cable or cables to be accommodated in the block,, the or each cylindrical portion being joined to the remainder of the block by a weakened portion or web, the weakened portion or web being broken and the or each cylindrical portion being removed prior to the insertion into the recess, formed by such removal, of the cable, and lateral insertion slots which are provided in the block and which lead into the recesses formed by the removal of the cylindrical portions.

The cable receiving blocks are adapted to the prevailing requirements by fracturing the weakened portion or web and removing the cylindrical portions. The block can then be slipped laterally onto or over inserted or laid cables by means of the insertion slots. The mounting slots provided in the base or underside of the blocks permit them to be easily mounted on the flanges of the plates. If all of the required cable receiving blocks are arranged in series with one another on the flanges of the plates, the plates can be adjusted relative to one another and secured in a desired position on the switchgear cabinet. The cables which are inserted into the blocks are thus clamped and well sealed.

Preferably, the slot between the plates, externally of the cable receiving blocks and the clamping blocks is covered by means of cover plates or blocks which are connectable to the plates or which are mountable on the flanges of the plates.

In a desirable embodiment, the arrangement of the cable receiving blocks in series with one another to form a closed or self-contained unit is facilitated if the cable receiving blocks are each of a parallelepiped construction and have identical lengths and heights, but varying widths, the widths being integer multiples of a pre-determined dimension, number and diameter of the cylindrical portions which are removed prior to the insertion of the cables corresponding to the number and diameter of the cables to be inserted.

The retention of the cable receiving blocks on the flanges of the partial plates may be ensured if the mounting slots are provided parallel to the width dimension of the cable receiving blocks and extend from the base of the block upwardly to a level more than half the height of the block.

The cylindrical portions may be easily removed if the weakened portion or web is substantially annular and is provided adjacent one face of the block.

If the cylindrical portions are removed by fracturing the weakened portion or web, the cables can be inserted particularly easily into the receiving recesses thus defined in the block if the insertion slots extend over the entire height of the cable receiving blocks and along the upper and lower surfaces thereof, such slots being directed radially towards the cylindrical portions of the blocks, which portions are removed to define recesses for receiving the cables. In such a case, in order to be able to attach the block to cables which have already been laid, it is advantageous to ensure that all of the insertion slots provided in the cable receiving block are disposed on the same longitudinal side of the block.

So as to secure the blocks which have been mounted on the flanges of the plates, a preferred embodiment provides that the flanges of the plates are provided with rows of apertures and are adjustable relative to one another by means of clamping or tensioning screws extending through resilient clamping blocks, the clamping blocks having lengths which correspond to the spacing between the mounting slots formed in the cable receiving blocks.

In such a case, the apertures may also be square in cross-section so as to secure, in a non-rotatable manner, clamping screws provided with an appropriately shaped head.

In an advantageous embodiment, the plates are connectable to support rails which extend substantially at right angles to the flanges, the support rails being provided with either oblong slots or apertures or with bores and the plates being provided with the other of the bores or slots or oblong apertures.

These oblong apertures and the bores thus allow adjustment of the two plates.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cables are secured in a tension-relieve manner. For this purpose, a receiver rail for receiving cable holders is disposed above the flange of one of the plates and is connected to the switchgear cabinet.

One embodiment of the present invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cable receiving block for three cables, the block forming part of a switchgear cabinet in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cable which is accommodated in the cable receiving block shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of the cable receiving block shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a part of the base of a switchgear cabinet in accordance with the present invention on which cable receiving blocks as shown in Figures 1 and 3 are mounted; and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in Figure 4.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cable receiving block 10 which is formed from rubber, plastics material or any other suitable resilient material. In practice, a plurality of these cable receiving blocks 10 will be utilised. All of the blocks 10 have identical lengths and heights and differ only in their widths.

The width of each cable receiving block 10 is selected in dependence upon the diameters of the cables 20, illustrated in Figure 2, which are to be accommodated therein. The width of each block is, however, an integer multiple of a pre-determined width.

Two mounting slots 11 are formed in the underside of the cable receiving block 10, such slots extending parallel to the width dimension of the block 10 and being formed in the end regions thereof. Three annular slots 12, in line in the longitudinal direction of the block 10, are almost completely punched out of the block. A cylindrical portion 14 of the block 10 is thus formed which is only connected to the remainder of the block by a thin web 15. As can be seen in the sectional view of Figure 3, the weakened portion or web 15 is located at one end of the portion 14 and effectively forms a thin ring, around the portion 14. By breaking this weakend portion orweb 15, the portion 14 can be detached from the cable receiving block 10, so that a receiving recess 17 for the cable 20 is exposed.

Insertion slots 13 are formed in a lateral wall of the block 10. These slots 13 are radially aligned with the central axes of the portions 14 and extend to the punched-out portion 12. Once the portions 14 have been removed, the cables 20 can be inserted, from a lateral direction, into the recess 17 through the slots 13. Because the block 10 is made of resilient material it can be deformed so as to make the slot 13 wider. It is therefore simple to locate already laid cables in the block 10.

The number and/or the diameter of the cable or cables to be accommodated in each block is determined by the number and/or the diameter respec tivelyofthe portions 14 which have been removed in this preliminary step. The width of the cable receiving block 10 also limits the numberand/orthe diameter of the cables which can be inserted. Thus, purely by way of example, Figure 4 shows cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4 which accommodate one, two orthree cables.

Figure 4 shows portions of, in this embodiment, two plates 21 and 23 which cover the base of the switchgear cabinet. As can best be seen in Figure 5, the plates are provided with upstanding flanges 22 and 24, a slot being defined between the two flanges. The cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4 can be mounted, by means of their slots 11, on these two flanges so as to bridge the slot. In the cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4, only the receiving recesses 17 which are required to receive cables are exposed, i.e.

the portions 14 thereof are removed. The recesses which are not required remain covered by the portions 14 which have not been removed.

Once the cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4 are clamped onto the cables 20 inserted therein, the plates 21 and 23 can be displaced relative to one another. The cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4 are thus deformed, so that they are clamped against, and seal, the inserted cables 20. This clamping and sealing may be effected by means of clamping screws 18 which extend through clamping blocks 16.

The length of the clamping blocks 16 corresponds to the distance between the mounting slots 11 in the cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4. The flanges 22 and 24 of the plates 21 and 23 are provided with rows of apertures or bores, the inter-centre spacing of which corresponds to the, or an integer multiple of the, basic width of the cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4. The bores in the flanges 22 and 24 may have a square cross-section, so that they can nonrotatably accommodate the appropriately-formed heads of the clamping screws 18. The tightening of nuts 19 on the screws 18 is thus considerably facilitated.

If only a portion of the slot between the plates 21 and 23 is covered by the cable receiving blocks 10.1 to 10.4, the remaining portion of the slot can be sealed by one or a plurality of cover blocks which are provided with identical mounting slots and which can be mounted on the flanges 22 and 24 of the plates 21 and 23. However, cover plates may also be used, which are connected, preferably by a screwconnection, to the plates 21 and 23.

Support rails 31 extend beneath the plates 21 and 23 in a direction which is transverse to the flanges 22 and 24. In such a case, the plates 21 and 23 are provided with bores 33 and the support rails 31 are provided with oblong slots or apertures 32 in their regions which are adjacent bores 33, or vice versa, so that mounting or securing screws can be inserted through both the slots or apertures 32 and the bores 33 irrespective of the clamping position of the two plates 21 and 23.

As illustrated in Figure 5, a receiving rail 25 is disposed above the flange 24 of the plate 23, which rail may be connected to frame portions 29 of the switchgear cabinet by means of support plates 28.

The support plates 28 and the frame portions 29 are provided with mounting bores 30.

Cable holders 26, known peruse, may be inserted into the receiving rails 25, and a clamping screw 27 secures the cables 20 in the cable holders 26.

Claims

1. A switchgear cabinet having a base which is formed from at least two plates or panels, wherein the opposed edges of the plates are each provided with a flange extending at right angles to the plates so as to define a slot therebetween, the plates being adjustable relative to one another and being securable in a desired position on the switchgear cabinet, cables being insertable into the switchgear cabinet between the flanges of the at least two plates and being sealed by resilient, deformable intermediate members, wherein the slot formed between the flanges of the plates is at least partially covered by means of resilient cable receiving blocks, the blocks being arranged in series with one another and forming the intermediate members, each cable receiving block having two opposed mounting slots formed on its underside, by means of which the blocks are mounted on the flanges of the plates; each block including at least one cylindrical portion corresponding to the cable or cables to be accommodated in the block, the or each cylindrical portion being joined to the remainder of the block by a weakened portion or web, the weakened portion or web being broken and the or each cylindrical portion being removed prior to the insertion into the recess, formed by such removal, of the cable, and lateral insertion slots which are provided in the block and which lead into the recesses formed by the removal of the cylindrical portions.

2. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in Claim 1, in which the cable receiving blocks are each of a parallelepiped construction and have identical lengths and heights, but varying widths, the widths being integer multiples of a pre-determined dimension, number and diameter of the cylindrical portions which are removed prior to the insertion of the cables corresponding to the number and diameter of the cables to be inserted.

3. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the mounting slots are provided parallel to the width dimension of the cable receiving blocks and extend from the base of the block upwardly to a level more than half the height of the block.

4. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the weakened portion or web is substantially annular and is provided adjacent one face of the block.

5. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, in which the insertion slots extend over the entire height of the cable receiving blocks and along the upper and lower surfaces thereof, such slots being directed radially towards the cylindrical portions of the blocks, which portions are removed to define recesses for receiving the cables.

6. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in claim 5, in which all of the insertion slots provided in the cable receiving block are disposed on the same longitudinal side of the block.

7. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the flanges of the plates are provided with rows of apertures and are adjustable relative to one another by means of clamping or tensioning screws extending through resilient clamping blocks, the clamping blocks having lengths which correspond to the spacing between the mounting slots formed in the cable receiving blocks.

8. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the plates are connectable to support rails which extend substantially at right angles to the flanges, the support rails being provided with either oblong slots or apertures or with bores and the plates being provided with the other of the bores or slots or oblong apertures.

9. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which a receiver rail for receiving cable holders is disposed above the flange of one of the plates and is connected to the switchgear cabinet.

10. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the slot between the plates, externally of the cable receiving blocks and of the clamping blocks, is covered by means of cover plates or blocks which are connectable to the plates or which are mountable on the flanges of the plates.

11. A switchgear cabinet as claimed in claim 1 constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.