GB2562577A

GB2562577A - Cable feedthrough for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet, a corresponding switchgear cabinet and a corresponding method

Info

Publication number: GB2562577A
Application number: GB1803904.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wylie Neil; Isaac Steve; Carver Joe; Banks Rebecca
Original assignee: Rittal GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Rittal GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2017-03-28
Filing date: 2018-03-15
Publication date: 2018-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-15
Also published as: GB201803904D0; DE102017106597A1; GB2562577B

Abstract

A cable feedthrough for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet 100 has a tube element 2 and first and second actuation elements 3, 4. The tube element consists at least partly of a resilient sealing material. Preferably, one actuating element 4 is secured to a wall 8 by bolts 12, which extend into recesses 14 of a flange on the other and stop it rotating. The second actuating element 3 can be lifted clear of the bolts, twisted until the tube grasps the cable, and set back around the bolts. Connection areas 10 of the tube may stretch over the circumferences 5 of the actuation elements. The feedthrough can be used with cables of different sizes.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Rittal GmbH & Co. KG

Auf dem Stutzelberg, 35745 Herborn, Germany (72) Inventor(s):

Neil Wylie

Steve Isaac

Joe Carver

Rebecca Banks (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Forresters IP LLP

Sherborne House, 119-121 Cannon Street, LONDON, EC4N 5AT, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

H02G 15/013 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2194861 A GB 2168548 A

GB 1483281 A EP 0499533 A2

JP 2011182615 A (58) Field of Search:

UK CL (Edition X) H2E

INT CL F16L, H02G

Other: Online: EPODOC, WPI (54) Title of the Invention: Cable feedthrough for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet, a corresponding switchgear cabinet and a corresponding method

Abstract Title: Cable feedthrough for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet (57) A cable feedthrough for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet 100 has a tube element 2 and first and second actuation elements 3, 4. The tube element consists at least partly of a resilient sealing material. Preferably, one actuating element 4 is secured to a wall 8 by bolts 12, which extend into recesses 14 of a flange on the other and stop it rotating. The second actuating element 3 can be lifted clear of the bolts, twisted until the tube grasps the cable, and set back around the bolts. Connection areas 10 of the tube may stretch over the circumferences 5 of the actuation elements. The feedthrough can be used with cables of different sizes.

100

Λ

Cable Feedthrough for Introducing a Cable into a Switchgear Cabinet, a Corresponding Switchgear Cabinet and a Corresponding Method

The invention relates to a cable feedthrough for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet. Such a feedthrough cable is known, for example, from DE 10 2005 017 690 A1 and from WO 00/28633 A1.

Cable feedthroughs of the type in question are designed, for example, as socalled brush strips, but frequently they provide insufficient sealing of the switchgear interior with respect to the environment to achieve a desired minimum IP protection class. In contrast, the cable feedthrough known from DE 10 2005 017 690 A1 in fact enables a high-grade pressure-tight cable introduction into a switchgear cabinet housing, but, due to its design, the cable feedthrough is very inflexible with regard to the usable cable diameters, so that, depending on the cable to be introduced, in each case a feedthrough which is adapted to the diameter of the cable to be introduced has to be provided.

Therefore, the aim of the invention is to further develop a cable feedthrough of the type in question, in such a manner that, on the one hand, it enables a satisfactory sealing of the switchgear cabin interior with respect to the environment, and, on the other hand, it is flexible with a view to the cable diameters to be introduced with the aid of the cable feedthrough.

This aim is achieved by a cable feedthrough having the features of Claim 1. Coordinate Claim 8 relates to a corresponding switchgear cabinet, and coordinate Claim 13 is a method for using such a cable feedthrough. The dependent claims relate to respective advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Accordingly, it is provided that the cable feedthrough comprises a tube element as well as a first and a second actuation element which are fastened spaced 1 apart and coaxially with respect to a passage direction of the tube element on the tube element, wherein, at least in an area between the actuation elements, the tube element consists of a resilient sealing material. Using the described cable feedthrough, it possible, by twisting the actuation elements relative to one another and about the passage direction of the tube element or of the cable feedthrough, to achieve that the passage cross section of the area of the tube element between the actuation elements undergoes further narrowing with increasingly stronger twisting of the actuation elements, and, as a result, closely contacts in a sealing manner a cable or another strand-shaped element which is led through the cable feedthrough.

In particular, the resilient sealing material can comprise or be a rubber material and/or latex material.

At least one of the two actuation elements can be of annular design and secured firmly along an inner or outer circumference thereof on the tube element.

The tube element can rest under resilient pretensioning and/or with frictional connection on the outer circumference of the first and of the second actuation element.

At least in a relaxed state, the tube element can have a wall thickness between 0.01 and 2 mm and preferably between 0.1 and 1 mm.

The actuation elements can in each case comprise a fastening flange for mounting on one of two facing sides of a wall of a switchgear cabinet as well as a holding section which is widened past the fastening flange, protrudes and is formed on said fastening flange, on which in each case the tube element is fastened. The tube element can be stuck to the holding section, for example.

However, the facing free ends of the tube element can also have an undercut contour with which they enclose the respective holding section.

The tube element can comprise, on the two longitudinal ends thereof, a connection area which is widened relative to an area arranged in between, via which the tube element is firmly secured in each case on a holding section of one of the fastening flanges. Preferably, the tube element can be secured firmly in each case on one of the holding sections, in that the widened connection area clasps the respective holding section. For this purpose, the widened area can have an undercut area on the free end thereof, with which the widened area clasps a bead on the outer circumference of the holding section.

The tube element can be designed in the central area thereof between the connection areas substantially symmetrically about the passage direction of the cable feedthrough.

According to another aspect of the invention, a switchgear cabinet with a cable feedthrough of the above-described type is described, wherein the cable feedthrough is arranged in an aperture through a wall of the switchgear cabinet. The first actuation member can here be arranged on a first of two facing sides of the wall, and the second actuation element can be arranged on a second of the two facing sides of the wall. Here, at least one of the actuation elements can be adjustable about an axis perpendicularly to the wall or about the passage direction.

A first of the actuation elements can be fastened via a fastening flange to the first side of the wall with the aid of at least one bolt which extends through the fastening flange of the first actuation element as well as through the wall, and which protrudes with the free end thereof on the facing second side of the wall.

The fastening flange of a second of the actuation elements can comprise at least one form fit recess, via which, on the second side of the wall, the fastening flange of the second actuation element is placed non-rotatably on the free end.

The at least one form fit recess can be a passage extending perpendicularly to the wall through the fastening flange which extends preferably also like an elongated hole from an inner circumference of the fastening flange in radial direction outward.

At least in the area between the actuation elements, the resilient tube element can have a pretensioning in the passage direction thereof or in the longitudinal direction thereof. In this manner, it is ensured that, in a rest position of the cable feedthrough, due to the pretensioning of the tube element, the two actuation elements are applied with contact pressure against one another or on the facing sides of the wall element through which the cable feedthrough is formed.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, said invention relates to a method for using a cable feedthrough of the above-described type, wherein the method comprises the steps:

guiding a cable or another strand-shaped object through the cable feedthrough, so that the cable or the other strand-shaped object protrudes on facing ends from the cable feedthrough;

shifting the actuation elements relative to one another and about the passage direction, until the area of the tube element between the actuation elements closely surrounds the cable or the other strand-shaped object; and securing the actuation elements with respect to shifting about the passage direction.

Moreover, it can be provided that, before the shifting of the actuation elements, one of the two actuation elements under pretensioning of the tube element is moved along the passage direction away from the additional actuation element and thereby the actuation elements are unlatched from one another.

Finally, in order to secure the actuation elements, it is possible to provide that the actuation elements are brought close to one another, wherein a pretensioning of the tube element along the passage direction is at least partially relaxed, and at least one bolt of a first of the actuation elements enters in a form fit recess of a second of the actuation elements and thus the actuation elements are secured firmly with respect to one another in rotation direction about the passage direction.

Further details of the invention are explained in reference to the appended figures. In the figures:

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cable feedthrough in an exploded view;

Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a switchgear cabinet using an inventive cable feedthrough in an exploded representation;

Figure 3 shows an additional embodiment of a switchgear cabinet using a cable feedthrough in the side view or in the cross-sectional view; and

Figure 4 shows a detail view of the cross-sectional view according to Figure 3.

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary cable feedthrough 1, in particular for introducing a cable (not represented) into a switchgear cabinet. However, it should be understood that inventive cable feedthroughs are not limited to switchgear cabinet applications.

The cable feedthrough 1 consists substantially of a tube element 2 as well as of a first and a second actuation element 3, 4. The tube element 2 comprises a first and a second connection area 10, which are arranged spaced from one another above a central area 15 of the tube element 2. The connection areas 10 are arranged so as to be firmly secured on the outer circumference 5 of the holding sections 9 of the actuation elements 3, 4. For this purpose, the connection areas 10 are designed with undercutting on the outer circumference thereof, in order to grasp the respective outer circumference 5. In addition to the holding sections 9, the actuation elements 3, 4 moreover comprise fastening flanges 6 on the inner circumference of the holding sections 9, via which the actuation elements 3, 4 can be mounted on facing sides of a wall of a switchgear cabinet (not represented) around an aperture in the wall. For the fastening, the fastening flanges 6 comprise groove-shaped, elongated holeshaped bolt passages extending in radial direction of the flange 6 or form fit recesses 14.

Figure 2 shows a switchgear cabinet arrangement 100, wherein, to simplify the representation, only the wall element 8 of the switchgear cabinet 100 is shown. The wall element 8 has an aperture 11 on the circumference of which the cable feedthrough is mounted. The lower actuation element 4 in the representation is firmly secured via first bolts 12 as well as by corresponding form fit recesses 14 and apertures 17 above the lower side 7, in the representation according to Figure 2, of the wall 8 on the wall 8. The bolts 12 are countered on upper side 7, in the representation, of the wall 8 via nuts 16. The upper actuation element 3 in the representation is placed onto the nuts 16, wherein the free ends 13 of the bolts 12 extend into the form fit recesses 14 of the upper actuation element 3, so that the upper actuation element 3 is arranged non-rotatably with respect to the lower actuation element 4. The tube element 2 can be firmly secured under pretensioning in passage direction x and via the two connection areas 10 thereof to the respective outer circumference 5 of the two actuation elements 3, 4, so that, due to the pretensioning of the tube element 2, the actuation 6 elements 3, 4, are always brought close to one another, and thereby the upper actuation element 3 in the representation is held on the upper side 7, in the representation, of the wall 8, position in which the free ends 13 extend into the form fit recess 14 of the fastening element 3.

In order to actuate the cable feedthrough, the upper actuation element 3 in the representation has to be lifted against the pretensioning of the tube element 2 in passage direction x from the upper side 7 of the wall 8, so that the free ends 13 are disengaged from the form fit recesses 14 of the upper actuation element 3, and so that the actuation elements 3, 4 can be twisted against one another about the axis x. During the twisting, the central area 15 of the tube element 2 narrows, until it is closely applied on a cable or other strand-shaped element led through the cable feed 1 along the entire circumference thereof and fluidically seals said cable or element with respect to the environment.

Figures 3 and 4 show a detail view of a completely mounted switchgear cabinet arrangement 100 with a cable feedthrough 1, which are mounted via facing sides 7 of a wall element 8 of the switchgear circuit 100. In particular, in the cross-sectional view shown, one can see that the connection areas 10 of the tube element 2 are widened with respect to the central area 15 perpendicularly to the passage direction x, in order to grasp in each case an outer circumference 5 of the actuation elements 3, 4 on a bead-shaped margin on the outer circumference 5. The central area 15 extends substantially parallel to the passage direction x, and thus, when the tube element 2 is tensioned during the shifting of the actuation elements 3, 4 relative to one another about the passage direction x, it can be closely applied in a sealing manner on a cable or the like which is led through.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential both individually and also in any combination for the implementation of the invention.

In the present specification comprise means includes or consists of and comprising means including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse 10 forms thereof.

List of reference numerals

Cable feedthrough

Tube element

First actuation element

Second actuation element

Outer circumference

Fastening flange

Side

Wall

Holding section

Connection area

Aperture

Bolt

Free end

Form fit recess

Central area

Nut

Aperture

100 Switchgear cabinet x Passage direction

Claims

Claims:

1. A cable feedthrough (1) for introducing a cable into a switchgear cabinet (100), with a tube element (2) and a first and a second actuation element (3, 4), which are fastened spaced apart and coaxially with respect to a passage direction (x) of the tube element (2) on the tube element (2), wherein, at least in an area (15) between the actuation elements (3, 4), the tube element (2) consists of a resilient sealing material.

2. The cable feedthrough (1) according to Claim 1, in which the resilient sealing material comprises rubber and/or latex.

3. The cable feedthrough (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, in which at least one of the two actuation elements (3, 4) is of annular design and firmly secured along the inner or the outer circumference (5) thereof to the tube element (2).

4. The cable feedthrough (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tube element (2) rests under resilient pretensioning and/or with frictional connection on the outer circumference (5) of the first and of the second actuation element (3, 4).

5. The cable feedthrough (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, at least in a relaxed state, the tube element (2) has a wall thickness between 0.01 and 2 mm and preferably between 0.1 and 1 mm.

6. The cable feedthrough (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuation elements (3, 4) comprise a fastening flange (6) for mounting on one of two facing sides (7) of a wall (8) of a switchgear cabinet (100) as well as a holding section (9) which is widened past the fastening flange (6), protrudes and is formed on said fastening flange, on which the tube element (2) is fastened in each case.

7. The cable feedthrough (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tube element (2) comprises on the two longitudinal ends thereof a connection area (10) which is widened with respect to an area (15) arranged in between, via which the tube element (2) is secured firmly in each case on a holding section (9) of one of the fastening flanges (6), preferably in that the widened connection area (10) clasps the respective holding section (9).

8. A switchgear cabinet (100) with a cable feedthrough (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable feedthrough (1) is arranged in an aperture (11) through a wall (8) of the switchgear cabinet (100), wherein the first actuation element (3) is arranged on a first of two facing sides (7) of the wall (8), and the second actuation element (4) is arranged on a second of two facing sides (7) of the wall (8), and wherein at least one of the actuation elements (3, 4) is adjustable about an axis perpendicularly to the wall (8) or about the passage direction (x).

9. The switchgear cabinet (100) according to Claim 8, in which a first of the actuation elements (3, 4) is fastened via the fastening flange (6) thereof to the first side (7) of the wall (8) via at least one bolt (12) which extends through the fastening flange (6) of the first actuation element (3) and the wall (8), and which protrudes with the free end (13) thereof on the facing second side (7) of the wall (8).

10. The switchgear cabinet (100) according to Claim 9, in which the fastening flange (6) of a second of the actuation elements (3, 4) comprises at least one form fit recess (14), via which, on the second side (7) of the wall (8), the fastening flange (6) of the second actuation element (4) is placed nonrotatably on the free end (13).

11. The switchgear cabinet (100) according to Claim 10, in which the at least one form fit recess (14) is a passage extending perpendicularly to the wall (8) through the fastening flange (6) which extends preferably from an inner circumference of the fastening flange (6) in radial direction.

12. The switchgear cabinet (100) according to any one of Claims 10 to 11, in which, at least in the area (15) between the actuation elements (3, 4), the tube element (2) has a pretensioning in the passage direction (x) thereof or in the longitudinal direction thereof.

13. A method for the use of a cable feedthrough (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, which comprises the steps:

guiding a cable or another strand-shaped object through the cable feedthrough (1), so that the cable or the other strand-shaped object protrudes on facing ends from the cable feedthrough (1);

shifting the actuation elements (3, 4) relative to one another and about the passage direction (x), until the area (15) of the tube element (2) between the actuation elements (3, 4) closely surrounds the cable or the other strand-shaped object; and securing the actuation elements (3, 4) with respect to shifting about the passage direction.

14. The method according to Claim 13, in which, before the shifting of the actuation elements (3, 4), under pretensioning of the tube element (2), one of the two actuation elements (3, 4) is moved along the passage direction (x), away from the additional actuation element (3, 4) and thus the actuation elements (3, 4) are unlatched from one another.

15. The method according to Claim 13 or 14, in which, for securing the actuation elements (3, 4), the actuation elements (3, 4) are brought close to one another, wherein a pretensioning of the tube element (2) along the passage direction (x) is at least partially relaxed, and at least one bolt (12) of a first of the actuation elements (3, 4) enters in a form fit recess (14) of a second of the actuation elements (3, 4) and thus the actuation elements (3, 4) are firmly secured with respect to one another in rotation direction about the passage

5 direction (x).

Intellectual

Property Office

Application No: GB1803904.0