Electrical connectors – With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision
Patent
1997-11-18
2000-03-28
Gellner, Michael L.
Electrical connectors
With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision
H01R 466
Patent
active
060423951
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet with a rack assembled from individual frame legs and/or from frame legs beveled on panel elements, whose open sides are closed or can be closed off by panel elements and a cabinet door, wherein the frame legs and the panel elements are lacquered, and wherein the frame legs have at least one profile side provided with a row of square or rectangular securing openings, which are aligned vertically in respect to the facing panel element.
A switchgear cabinet of this type is known from DE 33 44 598 C1. There is no direct electrical connection between the lacquered parts of the switchgear cabinet. This is also not positively assured when the elements are bolted together. If this electrical connection between the panel elements and the rack is necessary, these parts are unequivocally electrically connected with each other by means of a grounding strip. To this end, both parts must be provided with appropriate connecting elements, and the application of the grounding strip requires an additional considerable assembly effort.
It is the object of the invention to provide an unequivocal electrical connection between a panel element and the rack, even at a later date, of a switchgear cabinet of the type mentioned at the outset.
In accordance with the invention this object is attained in that for the electrical connection between a frame leg and the facing panel element a U-shaped spring element can be inserted sufficiently far into at least one securing opening of the profile side, so that it is supported under spring tension by holding claws of the one leg on the wall of the securing opening of the profile side, and with end claws of the other leg on the facing side of the panel element.
This spring element can be inserted into any arbitrary securing opening of the profile side of a frame leg, wherein the holding claws of the one leg are clamped in the securing opening and create an electrical contact with the frame leg. The end claws of the other leg are resiliently supported on the panel element. The holding claws and the end claws penetrate the lacquer layer and provide an unequivocal electrical connection between the frame leg and the panel element. Since both legs of the spring element generate a spring tension, a sufficient force for penetrating the lacquer layer is generated.
If in accordance with one embodiment it is provided that the U-shaped spring element has a leg width which is matched to the dimension of the securing opening oriented parallel with the panel element, and that the U-shaped spring element can be inserted into the securing opening with the center leg in front, the spring element cannot be displaced in this direction in the securing opening.
So that the inserted spring element takes up a defined assembly position, it is provided in accordance with an embodiment, that the legs of the U-shaped spring element have angled end sections toward the free ends which are wider and constitute detents for limiting the insertion movement of the spring element into the securing opening of the profile side.
In accordance with one embodiment the bends of the spring element are embodied in such a way that the end section of the leg of the spring element provided with holding claws is positioned approximately vertically in respect to the profile side in its inserted position, and that the end section of the other leg is again angled and with its section provided with the end claws is positioned approximately vertically in respect to the facing panel element.
If it is provided that the profile side is a part of a gliding rail, which is connected with the frame leg, which makes a transition into a support section extending vertically in respect to it, on which a panel element embodied as a bottom panel rests directly or via a sealing element, it is possible in just as simple a way to also connect a bottom panel with the switchgear cabinet in an electrically conducting manner. In this case the embodiment of the spring element is preferably such that the distance betw
REFERENCES:
patent: 4879434 (1989-11-01), Assel et al.
patent: 5563450 (1996-10-01), Bader et al.
Munch Udo
Neuhof Markus
Reuter Wolfgang
Root Paul
Gellner Michael L.
Ngandjui Antoine
Rittal--Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
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