GB2285388A

GB2285388A - Rack framework

Info

Publication number: GB2285388A
Application number: GB9424620A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marc Hartel; Klaus-Dieter Bovermann; Horst Besserer
Original assignee: Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1993-12-09
Filing date: 1994-12-07
Publication date: 1995-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-07
Also published as: GB9424620D0; CH689325A5; DE4341943C2; GB2285388B; DE4341943A1

Description

- 1 RACK FRAMEWORK 2285388 The invention relates to a rack framework,

having vertical supports and being at least partially closable by means of wall elements, the wall elements being configured as panel-like parts having angled edges which are insertable into longitudinal grooves in the supports and are retained on said supports.

A rack framework of this type is known from DE 93 05 233 U1. So that the wall elements terminate the sides of the rack framework in a High Frequency (HF)-tight manner, a web is provided on the supports adjacent the longitudinal grooves and mounted on the Ushaped resilient elements, which extend over the entire length of the support. The longitudinal grooves accommodate a leg of the U-shaped resilient elements and the facing edge of the wall element. The curved shank of the resilient element is thereby deformed, so that the edge of the wall element is clamped in the longitudinal groove.

With this type of securement, large wall elements in particular are connected to the supports in an unspecific and inadequately secure manner. Furthermore.. the sides of the rack framework cannot be terminated in a flush manner, since there must always be access to the web, in order to permit the resilient element to be applied to the web. Naturally, the wall element does not cover the web.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rack framework of the initially mentioned type, so that the wall elements are specifically retained on the supports in an HF-tight manner and form completely closed external sides of the rack framework.

This object is achieved, according to invention, in that resilient HFsealing elements introduced into the longitudinal grooves, which are provided with an electrically conductive surface, in that the supports have, per attachable wall elementf a securing web which extends parallel to and at a spacing from the wall element and on which U-shaped securing elements are adjustable and securable, in that the wall elements are screw-connected or screw-connectable to the securing elements secured on the securing webs, and in that the edges of the wall elements, introduced into the longitudinal grooves, deform the HF-sealing elements and urge such towards the walls and base of the associated longitudinal groove.

the are The supports may still be simple portions of an extruded profile, yet they permit the securing elements to be secured at any desirable locations. The wall elements are securedly connected to the supports by these additional, freely selectable securing locations. The HF-seal is introduced into the longitudinal grooves, so that the external sides are completely closed when the wall elements are attached, because webs are no longer required adjacent the longitudinal grooves.

According to one embodiment, the longitudinal grooves have a width which is slightly greater than the thickness of the edges of the wall elements. The edges of the wall elements are then accommodated in a clearance-free manner in the longitudinal grooves in the supports.

If, in addition, the depth of the longitudinal grooves is smaller than the sum of the associated dimensions of the edge of the wall element and of the non-deformed HF-sealing element, the HF-sealing element is automatically deformed, upon the attachment of the wall element to the support, when the edge of the wall element is introduced into the longitudinal groove and secured therein.

So that the HF-sealing element, introduced into the longitudinal groove, is retained in the longitudinal groove, even when a wall element is not attached, one embodiment provides that the thickness of the HF-sealing elements is identical to or slightly greater than the width of the longitudinal grooves in the supports.

An additional embodiment is characterised in that at least some of the supports have two external sides, which lie perpendicular to each other and in each of which a longitudinal groove is provided, and in that a securing web is formed on each of the internal sides of the supports, which lie perpendicular to the external sides, and each web extends parallel to the associated external side of the support. The two sides of the rack framework, which abut each other perpendicularly, may then be covered with wall elements in an HF-tight manner on these supports.

The wall elements can be incorporated in a flush manner in the external sides of the supports when the region of the external side of the support, which is covered by the wall element, is offset from the exposed region of the external side of the support by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the wall element.

The invention is explained more fully with reference to one embodiment illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective, partial front elevational view of a rack framework, the sides and rear side of which are closed by wall elements; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the connection between a wall element and a support.

In the case of the rack framework illustrated in Fig. 1, vertical supports 10 and 20 are disposed in the corner regions of a base 80. The supports 10 form the open front side, while the supports 20 are disposed on the rear side. The front supports 10 have securing webs, which are orientated towards each other and may have components secured thereto. The two sides of the rack framework are each closed by a respective wall element 30. These wall elements 30 are provided on their vertical sides with angled edges 31, which are introduced into a longitudinal groove 13 in the external sides of the supports 10 and 20. As Fig. 2 illustrates, resilient HF-sealing elements are previously introduced into the longitudinal grooves 13, said sealing elements being deformed upon the introduction of the edges 31 of the wall element 30 and then abutting against the walls and base of the longitudinal groove 13 under tension. The walls and the base of the groove have an electrically conductive surface. This may be achieved when the supports 10 and 20 themselves have an electrically conductive surface or when the longitudinal groove 13 is covered by a protective layer being applied to the support 10 or 20 respectively and is exposed again after the application of the protective layer. The supports 20 on the rear side have two external sides, which lie perpendicular to each other and in each of which a longitudinal groove 13 is provided. In consequence, a wall element 40 having angled edges may also be attached to the supports 20 as a rear wall in an HF- tight manner.

The supports 10 and 20 have securing webs 11 and 22 respectively, which extend at a spacing from and parallel to the f acing external side of the support 10 or 20 respectively. As Fig. 2 illustrates, U-shaped securing elements 60 are snapped onto these securing webs 11 and 22 and are then retained on the securing webs 11 and 22 respectively in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The outer leg 63, facing the wall element 30, has a through-bore 62 for a clamping screw 70, while a threaded bore 61 is provided in the internal shank 64 remote from the wall element 30. The wall element 30 is provided with securing bores 32, which accommodate the clamping screws 70. If the clamping screw 70 is inserted through the securing bore 32 in the wall element 30 and through the through-bore 62 in the shank 63 and screwed into the threaded bore 61 in the shank 62, the securing element 60 is clamped to the securing web 11 or 22 respectively, and the wall element 30 or 40 respectively is thereby specifically secured to the support 10 or 20 respectively. The securing elements 60 may be secured at desirable locations of the securing webs 11 and 22.

As Fig. 2 illustrates, each longitudinal groove 13 is provided with an HFsealing element 19 prior to the attachment of a wall element 30 or 40 respectively. The edge 31 of the wall element 30 is so adapted, with the associated dimension of the introduced HF-sealing element 19, that the sum of their dimensions is greater than the depth of the longitudinal groove 13. This arrangement ensures that, when the wall element 30 or 40 respectively is attached to the support 10 or 20 respectively, the HFsealing element 19 is deformed and urged towards the walls and base of the longitudinal groove 13.

After attachment to the support 10 or 20 respectively, the wall element 30 covers a region 12 of the external side of the support. This region 12 is offset from the exposed region 14 of the external side by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the wall element 30. In consequence, the wall element 30 is f lush with the region 14 of the external side of the support 10. Similarly, both external sides of the supports 20, which lie perpendicular to each other, can be so configured that the wall elements 30 and 40 extend into the exposed external sides of the supports 20 in a flush manner.

Additional securing webs 18 may be formed on the supports 10 and 20, as Fig. 2 illustrates. The supports 10 and 20 may be configured as hollow prof ile supports having a substantially uniform wall thickness, and they themselves have an electrically conductive surface, or they only have an electrically conductive surface in the region of their longitudinal grooves 13.

Claims

1. A rack framework, having vertical supports and being at least partially closable by means of wall elements, the wall elements being conf igured as panellike parts having angled edges which are insertable into longitudinal grooves in the supports and are retained on said supports, characterised in that resilient HFsealing elements are introduced into the longitudinal grooves, which are provided with an electrically conductive surface, in that the supports have, per attachable wall element, a securing web which extends parallel to and at a spacing from the wall element and on which U-shaped securing elements are adjustable and securable, in that the wall elements are screw- connected or screw-connectable to the securing elements secured on the securing webs, and in that the edges of the wall elements, introduced into the longitudinal grooves, deform the HF-sealing elements and urge such towards the walls and base of the associated longitudinal groove.

2. A rack framework according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal grooves have a width which is slightly greater than the thickness of the edges of the wall elements.

3. A rack framework according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the depth of the longitudinal grooves is smaller than the sum of the associated dimensions of the edge of the wall element and of the non-deformed HFsealing element.

4. A rack framework according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the HF-sealing elements is identical to or slightly greater than the width of the longitudinal grooves in the supports.

5. A rack framework according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some of the supports have two external sides, which lie perpendicular to each other and in each of which a longitudinal groove is provided, and wherein a securing web is f ormed on each of the internal sides of the supports, which lie perpendicular to the external sides, and each web extends parallel to the associated external side of the support.

6. A rack framework according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the region of the external side of the support, which is covered by the wall element, is offset from the exposed region of the external side of the support by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the wall element.

7. A rack framework as hereinbefore substantially described with reference to the accompanying drawings.