Supports: cabinet structure – Knockdown or setup type – Skeletal frame
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-03-27
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Knockdown or setup type
Skeletal frame
C174S050000, C211S026000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206494
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an assembly unit with an assembly rail having assembly retainers, which can be fastened on profiled frame sections of a switchgear cabinet, wherein one or several fastening elements for holding assembly rails can be affixed to at least a portion of the profiled frame sections.
2. Description of Prior Art
Such assembly units are known from a company prospectus “Rittal Handbuch 27” [Rittal Manual 27], pp. 178, 179. Assembly units of this type use assembly rails, which can be attached on the profiled frame sections of a rack for a switchgear cabinet.
The assembly rails are embodied as open, multiply beveled hollow profiled sections. The assembly rails have plug retainers on their front ends. Plug-in shoulders of connectors can be inserted into these plug retainers. The connectors are fixedly connected with the assembly rails. The connectors can be bolted to the profiled frame sections by fastening screws. Thus, rows of evenly divided fastening retainers are cut in. Such assembly rails are preferably installed between two vertical profiled frame sections of the rack. Built-in electronic components or the like can be fastened on the assembly retainers of the assembly rails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of this invention to provide an assembly unit of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the assembly unit can be attached simply, and with little cost, to the profiled frame sections.
This object of this invention is attained with the assembly rail having at least one profiled leg with at least one plug retainer, by which it can be plugged into the fastening element, and the fastening element being adjustable with respect to the vertical profiled frame section for fixing the assembly rail in place.
In order to attach such an assembly rail to a profiled frame section it is initially necessary to provide the profiled frame section with one or several fastening elements in the appropriate positions. Thereafter, the assembly rail with its easily accessible plug retainer on the profiled leg can be pushed onto the fastening element. For final fixation in place it is only necessary at the end to displace the fastening element, so that the assembly rail is braced. In connection with this assembly unit the fastening elements can be assembled independently of the assembly rails. Thus a simple manipulation becomes possible, so that the expenditure of time for assembly is considerably reduced.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the assembly rail is embodied as an open hollow profiled section, the profiled leg maintains the plug retainer in the area of the open profile side, and the plug retainer is open in the direction toward the open profile side.
The plug retainer is easily accessible at the open profile side, so that fastening on the fastening element is easily possible. Furthermore, the assembly rail can be simply produced. For example, the assembly rail can be designed as a stamped and bent element. In this case the plug retainer is hollowed out of the profiled leg.
In order to be able to assemble the assembly rail simply in different positions even in hard-to-reach places, the assembly rail has two profiled legs, which are at an angle with respect to each other and extend in the longitudinal direction of the assembly unit, the two profiled legs each have at least one plug retainer, and the profiled legs can be placed against longitudinally extending interior walls of the profiled frame sections of the rack.
The interior walls of the profiled frame section can be equipped with fastening elements. Depending on the accessibility of the profiled frame section, the fastening elements can be attached to one or the other interior wall. With the profiled legs placed at an angle, it is also possible to perform an alignment and to position the assembly rail on the profiled frame section.
A possible variation of the invention is distinguished in that the profiled leg or legs of the assembly rail has, in addition to the plug retainers, fastening holes which can be aligned flush with respect to threaded retainers of the profiled frame sections, and the fastening elements can be screwed into the fastening holes.
First, the assembly unit is positioned on the profiled frame section and fixed in place by the fastening elements which engage with the plug retainers. For example, if heavy built-in components are to be attached to the assembly rail, additional fastening elements can be fixed in the fastening holes.
An advantageous embodiment of an assembly unit in accordance with this invention is distinguished because the assembly rail is made essentially square or rectangular in cross section from two assembly sections placed at right angles with respect to each other and the profiled legs connected therewith, the assembly sections have assembly retainers embodied as openings, and the assembly retainers provide access to the fastening elements.
The assembly rail can be plugged onto the fastening elements using plug retainers. In order to now achieve a solid connection to the profiles frame section, the fastening elements are accessible through the assembly retainers. It is then possible to actuate the fastening element with a tool, which is inserted into the assembly retainer. A space-saving construction of the assembly rail is achieved in this way. The fastening elements do not project interferingly from the profiled frame section or the assembly rail, where they would limit the installation space.
In this case it is particularly advantageous if the fastening elements are passed through the assembly retainers and can be inserted into the fastening holes.
The screws are accessible to a tool through the assembly retainers. Here, the additional fastening of the assembly rail in the fastening holes can be performed in a simple manner.
In connection with an assembly unit in accordance with this invention the fastening element for the plug retainer is embodied as a screw on whose bolt section the plug retainer is plugged transversely in relation to the center axis of the screw. The screw head can be braced against the associated profiled leg. As the simplest component, the screws can be cost-effectively employed. The screws have an advantage that they hardly limit the installation space with a screw head.
If the assembly rail can be attached, vertically aligned, to the vertical profiled frame sections of the switchgear cabinet, wherein the profiled legs rest against interior walls of the profiled frame sections, which constitute an interior receptacle, then an additional fastening option can be rigged on a vertical profiled frame section.
REFERENCES:
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Rittal Catalogue 27, pp. 178-179, no date.
Benner Rolf
Kohler Martina
Munch Udo
Reuter Wolfgang
Anderson Jerry A.
Cuomo Peter M.
Pauley Petersen Kinne & Fejer
Rittal--Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
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