Fitting a casing of a switching device

Details Fitting a casing of a switching device Fitting a casing of a switching device

1999-10-12

2001-05-08

Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)

Electric heating

Heating devices

Combined with container, enclosure, or support for material...

C219S448190

Reexamination Certificate

active

06229119

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART
The invention relates to the installation or fitting of a casing of a switching device, particularly a thermostat, on the rim or border of a receiving container for a heating device, the rim having a recess in which the casing at least partly engages, the recess being provided with two lateral boundaries and being open towards the outer edge.
DE 41 38 817 describes how a casing of a thermostat is fixed by means of a two-legged, angular holder to a tray jacket of a support tray for a ring-type heater. In addition, constructions are described according to which the casing engages by means of fastening members projecting from the tray jacket and which are introduced into through openings in the casing and whose end is subsequently twisted for fixing purposes. An upper web can be left as a frame for stabilization purposes in the recess in the tray jacket, into which the casing partly projects.
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
The problem of the invention is to obviate the disadvantages of the prior art with respect to fitting or assembly possibilities, whilst improving the stability of the rim of the reception container for a heating device.
This problem is solved by the features of claim
1
. Advantageous developments of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims.
According to the invention, the fastening of the casing to the reception container can extend beyond a mere fastening and additionally fulfil a second function, namely using the casing in the fitted state as a reinforcement of the rim weakened by the recess. In particular tensile loads, which could lead to a widening of the recess by pressing up the rim, can be absorbed in this way.
It is possible to insert the casing in the recess from the outer edge towards the rim, i.e. preferably parallel to the surface of the recess. During insertion at least one portion of the rim can engage in a corresponding recess in the casing. At least one further portion can, following the insertion of the casing, engage in a corresponding recess or opening in the casing by bending over. There is no need to bend over all the portions after insertion, which facilitates installation. The portions can advantageously be connected to the casing in different rim-parallel surfaces in order to adequately fix the casing and stabilize the rim.
Preferably the portions are at least partly constructed as bending tongues, so that complicated connecting methods such as screwing riveting or welding can be avoided. The bending tongues are connected in one piece to or rough-worked from the border, preferably from the area removed by the formation of the recess. This avoids unnecessary weakening of the border. Advantageously at least one bending tongue is bent down prior to the insertion of the casing, particularly along one of the lateral boundaries. This is particularly advantageous for bending tongues which are used for the transmission of forces between rim-casing-rim. Further bending tongues can be further or for the first time bent over during or preferably after insertion.
At least one portion can have in its course a material weakening, e.g. in the form of a unilateral or bilateral slot, the resulting end portion being an additional twisting tongue for fixing the casing to the rim.
At least one connection between a portion and the casing can be displaced with respect to the surface in which the recess is located. In the case of a cylinder envelope or the like as the rim, it is appropriate to radially outwardly displace the connection. This makes it possible to adequately absorb tilting moments of the casing with respect to a tilt line running roughly along the surface of the recess.
Preferably in each case at least one portion leads off from the rim in the vicinity of both lateral boundaries and preferably directly from the latter, said portions extending through at least part of the casing and having twistable end portions for fixing the casing to the rim. At least one and preferably two portions bent over following the insertion of the casing and which can emanate from the lateral boundaries, preferably brace the rim with the casing in the rim running direction. According to a preferred variant the tensional force can rise with increasing bending over. As a result of this bracing in the manner of a radial constriction the rim is stabilized and in particular secured against widening. It is possible to form stops by projections or the like of the casing engaging on the lateral boundaries and against which the rim and consequently the lateral boundaries can be braced by bending over. In this way it is possible to produce a precisely definable size of the recess or an exact final shape of the rim.
By bending over at least one portion, the casing can be pressed, particularly in the insertion direction, following insertion in the recess. The compressive force preferably rises with increasing bending over. This not only secures the casing in the recess, but also ensures a firm connection of the casing with the rim. Advantageously the casing is secured along all the boundaries of the recess at least in one and preferably in two movement directions.
Preferably the recess is substantially rectangular with two lateral boundaries and one longitudinal boundary connecting them, the longitudinal boundary preferably being longer than the lateral boundaries and in particular at least twice as long.
The casing can engage over the recess on at least one lateral boundary in the direction of the rim. It advantageously bears with a bearing surface on the outside of the rim outside and in particular laterally alongside the recess. Thus, the casing can cover and/or frame the recess.
With at least one bearing nose the casing can extend into the recess or engage thereon in the vicinity of the lateral boundaries. If the bearing nose engages over a portion of the lateral boundary, the casing is fixed both in the rim running direction and also transversely thereto.
The rim is preferably a cylinder envelope, particularly rounded or circular cylindrical. Preferably the rim forms the jacket of a shallow, cup-shaped tray, such as is e.g. used for receiving radiant heaters.
The casing can have a projection extending into the recess and provided with a reception slot, which runs preferably approximately in the direction of the rim and/or roughly parallel to the surface of the recess. On inserting the casing, a marginal area located between the lateral boundaries can be introduced into this reception slot and said marginal area is preferably a projecting portion. This projecting portion can be subsequently bent round, optionally with the aid of the casing, in order to modify the casing position and fix it after bending round. Alternatively or additionally the reception slot can also engage over the rim over the marginal area of the recess.
The rim is advantageously in one piece and the portions can be rough-worked by punching. The reception container is preferably of sheet metal and can be easily manufactured by punching.
The casing is preferably made from an electrically insulating, stable material, e.g. plastic or ceramic and it is preferably in one piece.
These and further features can be gathered from the claims, description and drawings and the individual features, either singly or in the form of subcombinations, can be implemented in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields and can represent advantageous, independently protectable constructions for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections and the subtitles in no way restricts the general validity of the statements made thereunder.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4350875 (1982-09-01), McWilliams
patent: 4845340 (1989-07-01), Goessler et al.
patent: 5420398 (1995-05-01), Petri et al.
patent: 5489764 (1996-02-01), Mannuss et al.

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