GB2254962A

GB2254962A - Modular housing or rack assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2254962A
Application number: GB9207249A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bodo Thielmann; Klaus-Dieter Bovermann
Original assignee: Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1991-04-04
Filing date: 1992-04-02
Publication date: 1992-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-02
Also published as: GB9207249D0; DE4110872C1; GB2254962B

Description

2 21 4?S C HOUSING, MORE ESPECIALLY A MODULAR HOUSING OR RACK ASSEMBLY The

invention relates to a housing, more especially a modular housing or rack assembly, having two lateral walls connected in their corner regions by means of four transverse rails, wherein guide rails for, in use, accommodating slide-in units or printed circuit boards are insertable between the front transverse rails and the facing rear transverse rails, the slide-in units or printed circuit boards having front plates which serve to close the open front end of the housing.

In known housings of this type, the front plates of the slide-in units or printed circuit boards often fail to completely enclose the open front end of the housing. Moreover, components such as electrical switches or sockets, or superstructures, for example handles, which may protrude from the front plates are not protected, e.g. from accidental damage. Said components or superstructures may also prevent the front end from being easily covered since, in their region, there is generally no facility for the connection of a cover.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention_ to provide a simple protective cover to enclose the front of such a housing, whose closing and opening movements are not adversely affected by the components and superstructures which protrude from the front plates of the slide-in units or printed circuit boards.

According to the present invention there is provided a housing comprising two lateral walls, which are connected in their corner regions by means of at least four transverse rails, wherein guide rails for, in use, accommodating slidein units or printed circuit boards are insertable between the front transverse rails and the facing rear transverse rails, the slide-in units or printed circuit boards having front plates which, in use, enclose the open front end of the housing, wherein said lateral walls are extended at the front end faces by means of lateral panel portions, on which a cover is pivotally mountable, the pivotal axis of said cover being adjustable to a limited extent at right angles to the front end of the housing; said cover comprising securing means capable of closed position.

arresting said cover in its The lateral panels, as extensions of the lateral walls of the housing, provide a means for the pivotal mounting of the preferably cap-like cover over the components and superstructures. Because of the horizontal adjustability of the pivotal axis, the cover can be pivoted over the components or superstructures of the front plates in the end position of the pivotal axis furthest remote from the front plates. If the cover has a position parallel with the front end of the housing, the pivotal axis is brought into the other end position nearest to the front plates and, in such case, the cover abuts against the front end of the housing with the front plates. The closed position is locked by-the securing means.

With this pivotal mounting of the cover, the front plates can carry components or superstructures which protrude up to the extent that their edges are parallel with the pivotal axis without a complete covering of the front end of the housing being prevented thereby. After the opening of the securing means, the pivotal axis is moved horizontally away from the front end of the housing and it is then pivoted into its open position.

If, according to one embodiment, the lateral panels are connected to the end faces of the lateral walls and have approximately the same crosssection, the lateral panels terminate flush with the lateral walls of the housing and _thereby are intended not to impair the aesthetic appearance of the housing.

An additional embodiment provides that the cover is formed from two longitudinal frame portions, two transverse frame portions and one transparent cover plate, the longitudinal frame portions being adapted to the width of the housing and the transverse frame portions being adapted to the height of the housing. The transparent cover plate permits inspection of the front plates when the cover is closed. In order that the cover plate can be mounted in a simple manner on the frame of the cover formed from the longitudinal and transverse frame portions, one embodiment provides that the longitudinal frame portions are provided with receiving grooves on their front longitudinal edges for the cover plate to be inserted therein, and that the cover plate covers the transverse frame portions.

According to one embodiment, the free edges of the longitudinal frame portions are reduced, with respect to their wall thickness, in a steplike manner along their internal faces. In this embodiment the longitudinal frame portions are not prevented from touching the front plates by components or superstructures which may be disposed close to the upper and lower edges of the front plates.

In order that the cover can be pivoted when in position between the two lateral panels, the preferred embodiment is such that, in the region of the transverse frame portions, the cover has an external dimension which corresponds to the clearance between the lateral panels, and, in its closed position, the cover terminates flush with the abutting ends of the lateral panels.

According to one embodiment, a pivotal axis which is adjustable to a limited extent for the cover is simply achieved in that, on their inner faces, in the region of the lower, horizontal edge, the lateral panels are provided with elongate slot-like bolt receiving members, which extend at right angles to the front end of the housing, and in that axially adjustable bearing bolts, which are insertable into the bolt receiving members, are mounted on the transverse frame portions of the cover.

In such case if the bearinc, bolts are ke-t. in 7 engagement with the bolt receiving members by means of springs, and if the engagement is releasable by axial adjustment of the bearing bolts due to an increase in the tension of the springs, the cover can also be detached in simple manner from the lateral panels, in order to improve the access to the slide-in units or printed circuit boards.

The locking of the closed position may be achieved, in simple manner, in that a securing means is mounted on the cover and has a catch; the lateral panels are provided with vertical locking grooves on the ends facing one another; and the catch is in engagement with one of these locking grooves when the securing means is in its 'closedposition.

1 The mounting of the axially adjustable bearing bolts is such that the bearing bolts are axially adjustably mounted in the end regions of the two transverse frame portions facing one and the same longitudinal frame portion.

A preferred emboidment of the present invention is explained more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a housing according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 2 to 4 are partial sectional views showing closure of the cover of the housing of Fig. 1.

The right-hand lateral wall 11 of a housing 10 is illustrated in Fig. 1, which housing may be used as a rack for printed circuit boards or slidein units, said wall being provided, on its inner surface, with tapering grooves 12, which extend from the front end to the rear end, and strips 13 with threaded holes are insertable into said grooves. Four transverse rails 15 are mounted in the corner regions of the lateral wall ill which rails are interconnected in pairs by vertical connecting plates 14 and are mounted on the inner surfaces of the lateral walls 11 by means of mounting screws 16. The front end faces of the lateral walls 11 form, with the two front transverse rails 15, the open f ront end. No further details are mentioned here about the remaining structure of the housing with guide rails for slide-in units or printed circuit boards or about the cover of the lower and upper surfaces, as well as the termination of the rear end of the housing 10, since these embodiments are of no significance for the mounting of a cover 30 on the front end of the housing 10.

As may be seen in Fig. 1, the open front end of the housing 10 is covered by front plates 17 of slide-in units or printed circuit boards (not shown). Said front plates 17 being connected to the front transverse rails 15 by means of mounting screws 19. For such purpose, strips with threaded holes are inserted into a front receiving groove in the transverse rails 15, with a prescribed separation between the threaded holes.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lateral walls 11 of the housing 10 are lengthened by means of lateral extension panels 20, which preferably have substantially the same cross-section as the lateral walls 11 and, in consequence, terminate flush with the lateral walls 11, at least on the external surfaces. These lateral panels 20 are screw-connected to the end faces of the lateral walls 11 by means of mounting screws 21, said walls having screw receiving means, corresponding to the screws, in the end faces. On the inner faces, the lateral panels 20 are provided, in the region of their horizontal lower edges, with elongate slot-like bolt receiving members 22 which extend at right angles to the f ront end of the housing 10. If both upper and lower horizontal edges of the lateral panels 20 are provided with such bolt receiving members 22, the two lateral panels 20 may be of identical construction. On the free vertical edge, the lateral panels 20 are provided with a recess 23 which accommodates a portion of the cover 30 in the closed position. Furthermore, the lateral panels 20 are provided in these edge regions with a vertical locking groove 24.

The cover 30 comprises two longitudinal frame portions 31, two transverse frame portions 34 and one transparent cover plate 35. The longitudinal frame portions 31 are provided with receiving grooves 33, which face one another and into which is insertable the cover plate 35. In such case, the cover plate 35 covers the transverse frame portions 34 and protrudes beyond said portions. During closure of the cover 30, these protruding portions are inserted into the recesses 23 in the lateral panels 20. The longitudinal and transverse frame portions 31 and 34 form a frame, which constitutes the lateral walls of the cap-like cover 30. In the region of their free longitudinal edges, the longitudinal frame portions 31 have steps 32 on their inner faces, which steps reduce the wall thickness and, hence, enlarge the covering area of the cover. Axially adjustable bearing bolts 36, which are preferably springmounted, are mounted on the transverse frame portions 31 of the cover 30, such bolts protruding at the transverse frame portions 31 and being insertable therein in flush manner. In the retracted position, the cover 30 is insertable between the two lateral panels 20.

The bearing bolts 36 are mainly to be brought into engagement with the bolt receiving members 22 of the lateral panels 20 by the action of the springs. In consequence, the cover 30 is pivotally mounted on the housing 10.

As Fig. 2 illustrates, the pivotal axis is to be brought into the position furthest remote from the front plates 17 for the closure of the cover 30. In such case, the bearing bolts 36 are situated in the front end positions of the bolt receiving members 22.

As Fig. 3 illustrates, the pivotal movement is terminated when the cover 30 lies parallel with the front end of the housing 10. Then, as indicated, the cover 30 is adjusted in the direction towards the housing 10, until it abuts, with its longitudinal and transverse frame portions 31 and 34, against the front end of the housing 10 with the front plates 17, including the handle 18. This position is illustrated in Fig. 4. In such case, this closed position is locked by a securing means 37. This securing means 37 may be installed in the cover plate 35 and be provided with a catch 38 or a similar securing means. In the closed position, this catch 38 is brought into engagement with the locking groove 24 in a lateral panels 20.

When the securing means 37 is opened, the cover 30 may be retracted at right angles to the front end of the housing 10 and then be pivoted away. In order to facilitate the access to the front plates 17 and, hence, to the slide-in units or printed circuit boards, the cover 30 is detached from the lateral panels 20. For this purpose, the bearing bolts 36 are to be axially adjusted so that they become disengaged from the bolt receiving members 22.

Claims

1. A housing comprising two lateral walls, which are connected in their corner regions by means of at least four transverse rails, wherein guide rails for, in use, accommodating slide-in units or printed circuit boards are insertable between the front transverse rails and the facing rear transverse rails, the slide-in units or printed circuit boards having front plates which, in use, enclose the open front end of the housing, wherein said lateral walls are extended at the front end faces by means of lateral panel portions, on which a cover is pivotally mountable, the pivotal axis of said cover being adjustable to a limited extent at right angles to the front end of the housing; said cover comprising securing means capable of arresting said cover in its closed position.

2. A housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral panels are connected to the end faces of the lateral walls and have approximately the same cross-section as the lateral walls.

3. A housing as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein. the cover is formed from two longitudinal frame portions two transverse frame portions and one transparent cover plate, the longitudinal frame portions being adapted to the width of the housing, and the transverse frame portions being adapted to the height of the housing.

4. A housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the longitudinal frame portions are provided, on their front longitudinal edges, with receiving grooves for the cover plate to be inserted therein, and wherein the cover plate covers the transverse frame portions.

5. A housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the free edges of the longitudinal frame portions are reduced, with respect to their wall thickness, in a step-like manner on their inner faces.

6. A housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to wherein, in the region of the transverse frame portionsq cover has an external dimension which corresponds to clearance between the lateral panels, and wherein, in closed position, the cover abutting ends of the lateral panels.

terminates flush with 5, the the its the

7. A housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein, on their internal faces in the region of the lower, horizontal edge, the lateral panels are provided with elongate slot-like bolt receiving members, which extend at right angles to the front end of the housing, and wherein axially adjustable bearing bolts, which are insertable into the bolt receiving members, are mounted on the transverse frame portions of the cover.

8. A housing as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bearing bolts are kept in engagement with the bolt receiving members by means of springs, and wherein the engagement is releasable by axial adjustment of the bearing bolts due to an increase in the tension of the springs.

9. A housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein a securing means is mounted on the cover and has a catch; the lateral panels are provided with vertical locking grooves on their inner faces; and the catch is in engagement with one of these locking grooves when the securing means is in its closed position.

10. A housing as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the bearing bolts are axially adjustably mounted in the end regions of the two transverse frame portions facing one and the same longitudinal frame portion.