SE2150768A1

SE2150768A1 - Cabinet arrangement, kit of parts and method of handling cabinet arrangement

Info

Publication number: SE2150768A1
Application number: SE2150768A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Marcus Wadstein
Original assignee: Abb Schweiz Ag
Priority date: 2021-06-14
Filing date: 2021-06-14
Publication date: 2021-06-14

Abstract

A cabinet arrangement (to) comprising a first cabinet (12a) for housing a first electric device (32a), the first cabinet (12a) comprising a first interior volume (16a) and a first opening (18a); a second cabinet (12b) for housing a second electric device (32b), the second cabinet (12b) comprising a second interior volume (16b) and a second opening (18b); and a hollow duct element (14) for passing one or more electric cables (34) from the first interior volume (16a) to the second interior volume (16b), the duct element (14) interconnecting the first interior volume (16a) and the second interior volume (16b), and sealingly closing each of the first opening (18a) and the second opening (18b). A kit of parts (42) and a method of handling a cabinet arrangement (10) are also provided.

Description

1O CABINET ARRANGEMENT, KIT OF PARTS AND METHOD OFHANDLING CABINET ARRANGEMENT Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to cabinets for housing electricdevices. In particular, a cabinet arrangement, a kit of parts comprising acabinet arrangement and two cover elements, and a method of handling a cabinet arrangement, are provided.Background In an industrial environment, a plurality of cabinets housing electric devicesmay be provided in a cabinet arrangement. The electric devices may forexample be electric controllers for various industrial actuators, such asindustrial robots. Sometimes, there is a need to route electric cables tointerconnect two electric devices in different cabinets. A user may then routethe cables out from a first cabinet, to the surrounding environment, and theninto a second cabinet. This process is however associated with severaldisadvantages. For example, each cable routed outside the cabinets breachesan ingress protection barrier in some way either by cable glands, connectors,adapter plates etc. This is also a much more complicated way of routing andhandling the cables between the cabinets. There is also a considerable risk ofcable damage by hazards in the environment surrounding the cabinetarrangement. A routing of cables outside the cabinets may also cause a need to use electrically shielded cables.Summary One object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabinet arrangement that enables a less complicated routing of electric cables between two cabinets. 1O A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabinet arrangementthat reduces a risk of breaking an ingress protection barrier when routing electric cables between two cabinets.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabinet arrangement that enables a versatile and less complicated use.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cabinet arrangement solving several or all of the foregoing objects in combination.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a kit of partscomprising a cabinet arrangement, which kit of parts solves one, several or all of the foregoing objects.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a method ofhandling a cabinet arrangement, which method solves one, several or all of the foregoing objects.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a cabinet arrangementcomprising a first cabinet for housing a first electric device, the first cabinetcomprising a first interior volume and a first opening; a second cabinet forhousing a second electric device, the second cabinet comprising a secondinterior volume and a second opening; and a hollow duct element for passingone or more electric cables from the first interior volume to the secondinterior volume, the duct element interconnecting the first interior volumeand the second interior volume, and sealingly closing each of the first opening and the second opening.

The cabinet arrangement provides an integrated stacked cabinet cable ductsystem. By means of the duct element interconnecting the cabinets, routing ofelectric cables to a surrounding environment can be avoided wheninterconnecting the electric devices. The duct element enables the routingtherethrough to be considered as internal. This is very advantageous since the routing between the electric devices through the duct element is simpler, can 1O be made much faster and eliminates a risk that the one or more cables brake an ingress protection barrier.

Moreover, the internal routing of the one or more cables through the ductelement eliminates or reduces the need for electrically shielding the cables inmany applications. In addition, a risk of damage to the one or more cables byhazard in an environment external to the cabinet arrangement can be avoided.

The first opening may be provided in a wall of the first cabinet facing thesecond cabinet. The second opening may be provided in a wall of the second cabinet facing the first cabinet.

The cabinet arrangement may further comprise one or more duct gaskets forsealing between the duct element and the first cabinet and/ or between theduct element and the second cabinet. The cabinet arrangement may comprisea first duct gasket for sealing between the duct element and the first opening,and a second duct gasket for sealing between the duct element and the second opening.

The duct element may comprise a channel therethrough. The channel, thefirst interior volume and the second interior volume may be provided inside acommon ingress protection barrier. The common ingress protection barrier may meet the IP54 classification according to IEC standard 60529.

The first cabinet may be positioned above the second cabinet. In this case, thefirst opening may be provided in a bottom wall of the first cabinet and the second opening may be provided in a top wall of the second cabinet.

The duct element may be rigid. The duct element may be made of sheetmetal. Alternatively, the duct element may be made of plastic. The ductelement may for example be made of electromagnetic compatible, EMC, plastic. In this way, the duct element provides improved electric properties.

The cabinet arrangement may further comprise an intermediate member having a first intermediate opening and a second intermediate opening. In 1O this case, the intermediate member may be rigidly connected to each of thefirst cabinet and the second cabinet such that the first intermediate openingis aligned with the first opening and the second intermediate opening is aligned with the second opening.

The cabinet arrangement may further comprise the first electric devicearranged inside the first interior volume, the second electric device arrangedinside the second interior volume, and one or more electric cables passingthrough the duct element and interconnecting the first electric device and thesecond electric device. Each electric device may be an electric controller. Atleast one of the electric device may be a robot controller for an industrial robot.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a kit of parts comprising acabinet arrangement according to the first aspect, a first cover element forsealingly closing the first opening and a second cover element for sealingly closing the second opening.

When the first cover element sealingly closes the first opening and the secondcover element sealingly closes the second opening, the first interior volumemay be provided inside a first ingress protection barrier and the secondinterior volume may be provided inside a second ingress protection barrier,different from the first ingress protection barrier. Each of the first and secondingress protection barriers may meet the IP54 classification according to IEC standard 60529.

The first cover element may comprise a first cover gasket for sealingly closingthe first opening. The second cover element may comprise a second covergasket for sealingly closing the second opening. Alternatively, or in addition, each of the cover elements may comprise, or be constituted by, a plate.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of handling a cabinetarrangement, the method comprising providing a first cabinet for housing afirst electric device, the first cabinet comprising a first interior volume, a first opening and a first cover element sealingly closing the first opening; 1O providing a second cabinet for housing a second electric device, the secondcabinet comprising a second interior volume, a second opening and a secondcover element sealingly closing the second opening; removing the first coverelement and the second cover element; and providing a hollow duct elementfor passing one or more electric cables from the first interior volume to thesecond interior volume, wherein the duct element interconnects the firstinterior volume and the second interior volume, and sealingly closes each of the first opening and the second opening.

The method may further comprise routing one or more electric cables fromthe first interior volume, through a channel of the duct element and to the second interior volume.Brief Description of the Drawings Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of a cabinet arrangement in a disassembled state; Fig. 2: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinet arrangement in an assembled state; Fig. 3: schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional front view of a first opening of a first cabinet of the cabinet arrangement; Fig. 4: schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional front view of a second opening of a second cabinet of the cabinet arrangement; Fig. 5: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of thecabinet arrangement in a disassembled state when a duct elementhas been replaced with a first and a second cover element; Fig. 6: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinet arrangement in Fig. 5 in an assembled state; 1O Fig. 7: schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional frontview of the first opening and the first cover element; Fig. 8: schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional front view of the second opening and the second cover element; Fig. 9a: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinet arrangement comprising the first and second cover elements; Fig. 9b: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinet arrangement when the cover elements have been removed and the duct element is about to be installed; Fig. 9c: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinet arrangement when the duct element has been installed; Fig. 9d: schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinet arrangement when an electric cable has been routed through the duct element; and Fig. 10: schematically represents a kit of parts comprising the cabinet arrangement.Detailed Description In the following, a cabinet arrangement, a kit of parts comprising a cabinetarrangement and two cover elements, and a method of handling a cabinetarrangement, will be described. The same or similar reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

Fig. 1 schematically represents a partial perspective front view of a cabinetarrangement 10. In Fig. 1, the cabinet arrangement 10 is in a disassembledstate. The cabinet arrangement 10 comprises a first cabinet 12a, a secondcabinet 12b and a hollow duct element 14. The first cabinet 12a defines a firstinterior volume 16a and the second cabinet 12b defines a second interior volume 16b.

The first cabinet 12a is here arranged geodetically above the second cabinet 12b. The first cabinet 12a comprises a first opening 18a in a bottom wall 1O thereof and the second cabinet 12b comprises a second opening 18b in a top wall thereof.

The duct element 14 of this example comprises a body 20 and a channel 22through the body 20. The body 20 of this specific example is tubular having aconstant rectangular cross-section and two open ends. The duct element 14comprises a first end plate 24a at a first end of the body 20 and a second endplate 24b at a second end of the body 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the first endplate 24a is larger than the second end plate 24b. The duct element 14 of thisexample is made of electromagnetic compatible, EMC, plastic to provide improved electric properties.

The cabinet arrangement 10 further comprises fasteners, here exemplified as screws 26.

The cabinet arrangement 10 of this example further comprises anintermediate member 28. The intermediate member 28 comprises a firstintermediate opening 30a and a second intermediate opening 30b. The firstintermediate opening 30a faces the first opening 18a and the second intermediate opening 30b faces the second opening 18b.

In order to assemble the cabinet arrangement 10, the intermediate member28 is rigidly connected to the second cabinet 12b such that the secondintermediate opening 30b is aligned with the second opening 18b, and thefirst cabinet 12a is rigidly connected to the intermediate member 28 such thatthe first intermediate opening 30a is aligned with the first opening 18a. Thefirst opening 18a, the first intermediate opening 30a and the secondintermediate opening 30b are thereby prepared to receive the body 20 of the duct element 14.

Fig. 2 schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinetarrangement 10. In Fig. 2, the cabinet arrangement 10 is in an assembledstate. The cabinets 12a and 12b are stacked on each other with the intermediate member 28 therebetween. A first electric device 32a has been 1O installed in the first cabinet 12a and a second electric device 32b has been installed in the second cabinet 12b.

The duct element 14 is fastened to the first cabinet 12a by means of thescrews 26 through the first end plate 24a. Since the intermediate member 28is fixed to each of the first and second cabinets 12a and 12b, also the ductelement 14 is thereby fixed to each of the first and second cabinets 12a and 12b.

The first end plate 24a sealingly closes the first opening 18a and the secondend plate 24b sealingly closes the second opening 18b. The duct element 14thereby provides an interconnection between the first and second interiorvolumes 16a and 16b. The first interior volume 16a, the channel 22 and thesecond interior volume 16b are thereby provided inside a common ingressprotection barrier meeting the IP54 classification according to IEC standard60529. Electric cables 34 interconnecting the first and second electric devices32a and 32b are then led through the channel 22 of the duct element 14. This can be done without breaching the IP54 barrier.

Fig. 3 schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional frontview of the first opening 18a. As shown in Fig. 3, the first end plate 24acomprises a first duct gasket 36a sealing between the duct element 14 and thefirst cabinet 12a. The body 20 of the duct element 14 passes through the first opening 18a and the first intermediate opening 3oa.

Fig. 4 schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional frontview of the second opening 18b. As shown in Fig. 4, the second end plate 24bcomprises a second duct gasket 36b sealing between the duct element 14 andthe second cabinet 12b. The body 20 of the duct element 14 passes into the second intermediate opening 3ob but not into the second opening 18b.

Fig. 5 schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinetarrangement 10 in a disassembled state. Instead of the duct element 14, a first cover element 38a and a second cover element 38b are provided. Each of 1O the first and second cover elements 38a and 38b here comprises a rectangular plate.

Fig. 6 schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinetarrangement 10 in Fig. 5 in an assembled state. The first cover element 38a isconnected to the first cabinet 12a by means of screws 26 such that the firstcover element 38a sealingly closes the first opening 18a. The second coverelement 38b is connected to the second cabinet 12b by means of screws 26such that the second cover element 38b sealingly closes the second opening18b. The first and second interior volumes 16a and 16b now constituteseparate ingress protection areas. Due to the sealing by means of the coverelements 38a and 38b, each of the first and second interior volumes 16a and16b is provided inside a respective ingress protection barrier meeting the IP54 classification.

Fig. 7 schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional front viewof the first opening 18a and the first cover element 38a. As shown in Fig. 7,the first cover element 38a comprises a first cover gasket 4oa sealing between the first cover element 38a and the first cabinet 12a.

Fig. 8 schematically represents a partial perspective cross-sectional frontview of the second opening 18b and the second cover element 38b. Thesecond cover element 38b comprises a second cover gasket 4ob sealing between the second cover element 38b and the second cabinet 12b.

Fig. 9a schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinetarrangement 10 comprising the first and second cover elements 38a and 38binstalled according to Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The cover elements 38a and 38b are then removed.

Fig. 9b schematically represents a partial perspective front view of thecabinet arrangement 10 when the cover elements 38a and 38b have been removed and the duct element 14 is about to be installed. 1O Fig. 9c schematically represents a partial perspective front view of the cabinetarrangement 10 when the duct element 14 has been installed according to Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Fig. 9d schematically represents a partial perspective front view of thecabinet arrangement 10 when an electric cable 34 has been routed through the duct element 14.

Fig. 10 schematically represents a kit of parts 42 comprising the cabinetarrangement 10 having the first cabinet 12a, the second cabinet 12b and theduct element 14. The kit of parts 42 further comprises the first and secondcover elements 38a and 38b. Thus, with the kit of parts 42, a user can selectwhether or not the interior volumes 16a and 16b should be connected for cable routing while in any case fulfilling ingress protection requirements.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limitedto what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that thedimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intendedthat the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A cabinet arrangement (10) comprising: - a first cabinet (12a) for housing a first electric device (32a), the firstcabinet (12a) comprising a first interior volume (16a) and a first opening(18a); - a second cabinet (12b) for housing a second electric device (32b), thesecond cabinet (12b) comprising a second interior volume (16b) and asecond opening (18b); and - a hollow duct element (14) for passing one or more electric cables (34)from the first interior volume (16a) to the second interior volume (16b),the duct element (14) interconnecting the first interior volume (16a) andthe second interior volume (16b), and sealingly closing each of the first opening (18a) and the second opening (18b). The cabinet arrangement (10) according to claim 1, further comprisingone or more duct gaskets (36a, 36b) for sealing between the ductelement (14) and the first cabinet (12a) and/ or between the duct element (14) and the second cabinet (12b). The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the duct element (14) comprises a channel (22) therethrough,and wherein the channel (22), the first interior volume (16a) and thesecond interior volume (16b) are provided inside a common ingress protection barrier. The cabinet arrangement (10) according to claim 3, wherein thecommon ingress protection barrier meets the IP54 classification according to IEC standard 60529. The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the first cabinet (12a) is positioned above the second cabinet(12b). 1O 10. 11. 12. 13. 12 The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the duct element (14) is rigid. The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the duct element (14) is made of sheet metal. The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the duct element (14) is made of plastic. The cabinet arrangement (10) according to claim 8, wherein the duct element (14) is made of electromagnetic compatible, EMC, plastic. The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims,further comprising an intermediate member (28) having a firstintermediate opening (goa) and a second intermediate opening (3ob),wherein the intermediate member (28) is rigidly connected to each ofthe first cabinet (12a) and the second cabinet (12b) such that the firstintermediate opening (3oa) is aligned with the first opening (18a) andthe second intermediate opening (3ob) is aligned with the second opening (18b). The cabinet arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims,further comprising the first electric device (32a) arranged inside thefirst interior volume (16a), the second electric device (32b) arrangedinside the second interior volume (16b), and one or more electric cables(34) passing through the duct element (14) and interconnecting the first electric device (32a) and the second electric device (32b). A kit of parts (42) comprising a cabinet arrangement (10) according toany of the preceding claims, a first cover element (38a) for sealinglyclosing the first opening (18a) and a second cover element (38b) for sealingly closing the second opening (18b). A method of handling a cabinet arrangement (10), the methodcomprising: - providing a first cabinet (12a) for housing a first electric device (32a), 1O 14. 13 the first cabinet (12a) comprising a first interior volume (16a), a firstopening (18a) and a first cover element (38a) sealingly closing the firstopening (18a); - providing a second cabinet (12b) for housing a second electric device(32b), the second cabinet (12b) comprising a second interior volume(16b), a second opening (18b) and a second cover element (38b)sealingly closing the second opening (18b); - removing the first cover element (38a) and the second cover element(38b); and - providing a hollow duct element (14) for passing one or more electriccables (34) from the first interior volume (16a) to the second interiorvolume (16b), wherein the duct element (14) interconnects the firstinterior volume (16a) and the second interior volume (16b), andsealingly closes each of the first opening (18a) and the second opening(18b). The method according to claim 13, further comprising routing one ormore electric cables (34) from the first interior volume (16a), through achannel (22) of the duct element (14) and to the second interior volume(16b).