Schaltschrankanordnung

Abstract

An apparatus includes a switch cabinet and a device housing. The device housing is adapted to accommodate a component of a device and the switch cabinet is adapted to accommodate electrical equipment for the device. The switch cabinet is operable to be moved between an open position and a closed position relative to the device housing. When in the closed position a wall of the switch cabinet closes off an opening in the device housing, and when in the open position the wall of the switch cabinet is removed from the opening in the device housing so as to expose that opening.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An apparatus comprising: (a) a device housing adapted to contain a device or machine component to which a fluid flow is applied, the device housing including a housing opening; (b) a first switch cabinet adapted to accommodate a first electrical component of the device or machine component, the first switch cabinet including a first switch cabinet interior delimited in part by a first switch cabinet wall and the first switch cabinet wall being movable between a first switch cabinet wall closed position and a first switch cabinet wall open position relative to the device housing; and (c) wherein the first switch cabinet wall in the first switch cabinet wall closed position covers the housing opening so as to seal the housing opening along the periphery of the housing opening against ingress of fluids, and wherein the first switch cabinet wall in the first switch cabinet wall open position is separated from the housing opening to expose the housing opening.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first switch cabinet wall pivots about a pivot axis as the first switch cabinet wall is moved between the first switch cabinet wall closed position and the first switch cabinet wall open position.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first switch cabinet wall is shifted in a movement parallel to the housing opening as the first switch cabinet wall is moved between the first switch cabinet wall closed position and the first switch cabinet wall open position.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first switch cabinet wall is shifted in a movement perpendicular to the housing opening as the first switch cabinet wall is moved between the first switch cabinet wall closed position and the first switch cabinet wall open position.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the device housing includes a guide structure for guiding movement of the first switch cabinet as the first switch cabinet wall is moved between the first switch cabinet wall closed position and the first switch cabinet wall open position.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a second switch cabinet adapted to accommodate a second electrical component of the device or machine component, the second switch cabinet including a second switch cabinet interior delimited in part by a second switch cabinet wall and the second switch cabinet wall being movable between a second switch cabinet wall closed position and a second switch cabinet wall open position relative to the first switch cabinet.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second switch cabinet wall in the second switch cabinet wall closed position covers a first switch cabinet opening of the first switch cabinet so as to seal a periphery of the first switch cabinet opening against ingress of fluids.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the device housing contains therein one or more tubes or one or more containers for receiving the fluid flow.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: (a) the first switch cabinet includes a first switch cabinet opening located opposite to the first switch cabinet wall; (b) the first switch cabinet is removable from the device housing; (c) the apparatus includes a system door adapted to be mounted alternatively on the first switch cabinet and, after the first switch cabinet is removed from the device housing, on the device housing; (d) when mounted on the first switch cabinet in a first switch cabinet closed position the system door is adapted to cover the first switch cabinet opening; and (e) when mounted on the device housing in a device housing closed position the system door is adapted to cover the housing opening.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the device housing and the first switch cabinet each include a respective cover mounting structure adapted to receive the system door so that the system door can be readily transferred from the first switch cabinet opening to the housing opening or vice versa.

23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the device opening is delimited by an edge lying in a plane.

24. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a seal element acting between the first switch cabinet wall and the housing opening around an entire periphery of the housing opening when the first switch cabinet wall is in the first switch cabinet wall closed position to achieve a predetermined housing protection class, the predetermined housing protection class defining a level of protection for escape or penetration of dirt, dust, liquids or gases from or into, respectively, the device housing through the housing opening.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the device or machine component includes a component of a scale.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the device or machine component includes a component of an inspection or monitoring device.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the device or machine component includes a component of an X-Ray inspection device and the fluid flow comprises a coolant fluid for the component of the X-Ray inspection device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention in a first perspective with the switch cabinet in the closed position.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of FIG. 1 from the same perspective as in FIG. 1 but with the switch cabinet in an open position.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 1 from a different perspective and with the switch cabinet in an open position.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of FIG. 1 from the same perspective as FIG. 3 but with the switch cabinet in the closed position.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows an arrangement having a plurality of switch cabinets.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of an X-ray inspection device R having a device housing G which rests on an underlying surface not shown in detail. The device housing G accommodates in the housing interior I (see FIG. 2) components of the X-ray inspection device R not shown in detail, which can include for example components such as an X-ray tube to which a coolant is applied, a chiller, a dehumidifier, a cooling device and associated tubes or hoses. In a depth direction Z, a switch cabinet S directly adjoins the device housing G to form an arrangement L. The switch cabinet S encloses a switch cabinet interior M (see FIG. 3) which is provided for accommodating electrical equipment not shown in detail, which is required for operating the X-ray inspection device R. In order to meet special safety requirements, the interior M of the switch cabinet S is hermetically separated from the housing interior I of the X-ray inspection device R. For this purpose, the switch cabinet S comprises a wall W forming the rear wall thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0039] On a front side, remote from the wall W and accessible to operating personnel, the switch cabinet S is closed off by a switch cabinet door T, which is shown in a slightly opened position in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in a closed position in FIG. 4.

[0040] As illustrated particularly in the perspective view in FIG. 3, the device housing G has a housing opening O.sub.G, through which the housing interior I is accessible, in the rear side of the device housing facing the switch cabinet S. To close off the housing opening O.sub.G and thus the housing interior I relative to the surroundings, the switch cabinet S is pivotable relative to the device housing G about a vertical pivot axis A as shown in FIG. 3 between an open position S.sub.O and a closed position S.sub.X. The switch cabinet S in the closed position S.sub.X is represented in FIGS. 1 and 4 while FIGS. 2 and 3 show the switch cabinet S the open position S.sub.O. In the closed position, the wall W of the switch cabinet closes off the housing opening O.sub.G completely and hermetically such that, for example, liquid or gaseous coolant cannot penetrate through the housing opening O.sub.G into the surroundings, especially into the switch cabinet S. The sealing is supported by a seal D which is provided at the rim of the housing opening O.sub.G in the device housing and runs completely around the periphery of the opening, which seal is pressed against by the wall W of the switch cabinet S when the switch cabinet is in the closed position.

[0041] In the open position S.sub.O shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the other hand, the housing interior I of the X-ray inspection device R is accessible (the open position S.sub.O shown is only selected for the sake of example). Although this position offers access to the housing interior I even with the small opening angle shown, this access can be further improved by further pivoting of the switch cabinet S away from the housing opening. Depending on how the linking of the switch cabinet S to the device housing G in the region of the pivot axis A is designed, the switch cabinet S can be pivoted from the closed position, even by more than 90°, to allow nearly unhindered access to the housing interior I.

[0042] FIG. 3 also shows that the switch cabinet S has a switch cabinet opening O.sub.S, which leads into the switch cabinet interior M. The switch cabinet opening lies opposite the wall W of the switch cabinet and can be closed off by the switch cabinet door T. For that purpose, the switch cabinet door T is arranged on the frame of the switch cabinet S such that it can be pivoted relative to the frame of the switch cabinet S about the pivot axis A′ parallel to the pivot axis A. Both pivot axes A, A′ are on the same side of the arrangement L so that (in a view of the arrangement L from above) both the switch cabinet S and the switch cabinet door T thereof can each be pivoted counterclockwise in order to open the respective opening O.sub.G, O.sub.S. Alternatively it is also possible, however, to arrange the pivot axes alternately offset on the one and the other side of the arrangement L, for example, such that the opening movements take place alternately clockwise and counterclockwise.

[0043] The housing opening O.sub.G of the X-ray inspection device R has the same dimensions as the switch cabinet opening O.sub.S. At the same time, the switch cabinet door T is designed to be fastened directly to the device housing G rather than to the frame of the switch cabinet, such that the housing opening O.sub.G—if the switch cabinet S can be forgone—can also be closed off with the switch cabinet door T transferred directly from the switch cabinet S to the device housing, rather than with the wall W of the switch cabinet S. The housing opening O.sub.G and the switch cabinet opening O.sub.S are designed identically for this purpose. The switch cabinet door T in this case could also be referred to as a system door because it can close off the device housing G or the switch cabinet S selectively, depending on the installation. Conversely, it is evident that a system door previously covering the housing opening O.sub.G can be transferred instead to the front side of the switch cabinet S after interpolation of a switch cabinet S, in order to selectively close off or release the switch cabinet opening O.sub.S.

[0044] It becomes clear from FIGS. 1 to 4 that the device housing G can be modularly extended or reduced with the aid of the switch cabinet S in a simple manner. An X-ray inspection device R initially formed without a supplementing switch cabinet S can be easily re-equipped by arranging the switch cabinet S in the manner shown in order to move certain components from the housing interior I of the X-ray inspection device R into the adjoining switch cabinet S and thereby separate them from the housing interior. Instead of providing an autonomous switch cabinet to be positioned separately for this purpose, the switch cabinet S is arranged according to the invention on the device housing such that it separates the housing interior I by means of the wall W from the switch cabinet interior M in the closed position. The wall W fulfills a double function in this case, because it seals and separates both the housing interior and the switch cabinet interior.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a simplified representation of another embodiment within the scope of the present invention. A device housing G has been extended by a switch cabinet S in the manner already described. The arrangement composed of device housing G and switch cabinet S has been supplemented by two additional switch cabinets S.sub.1 and S.sub.2. In the manner according to the invention, the switch cabinet S, by means of the wall W thereof, closes off the housing opening O.sub.G of the device housing G (although the covered openings or walls cannot be seen in FIG. 5). The added switch cabinet S.sub.1 closes off, by means of its rear wall, the switch cabinet opening of switch cabinet S in the manner of the invention, while the additionally added switch cabinet S.sub.2 in turn closes off the switch cabinet opening of the first switch cabinet S.sub.1. The switch cabinet S.sub.2 is closed off at the front side thereof by a switch cabinet door T. All the switch cabinets are pivotable relative to one another about a vertical pivot axis not shown in detail such that the switch cabinet interiors of the individual switch cabinets, or the housing interior I of the device housing, become accessible by pivoting aside the switch cabinets in front of the respective opening.

[0046] As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Also, it should be understood that the terms “about,” “substantially,” and like terms used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.

[0047] Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the following claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term). Rather than using an ordinal term to distinguish between commonly named elements, a particular one of a number of elements may be called out in the following claims as a “respective one” of the elements and thereafter referred to as “that respective one” of the elements.

[0048] The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience in describing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and any such use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two or more elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use of the term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope a situation having a third one of the elements which does not have the defined characteristic or feature.

[0049] The above-described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in some instances, one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various features described herein may be used in any working combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0050] A, A′ Pivot axis [0051] D Seal [0052] G Device housing [0053] I Housing interior [0054] L Arrangement [0055] M Switch cabinet interior [0056] O.sub.G Housing opening [0057] O.sub.S Switch cabinet opening [0058] R X-ray inspection device [0059] S, S.sub.1, S.sub.2 . . . Switch cabinet [0060] S.sub.O Open position [0061] S.sub.X Closed position [0062] T Switch cabinet door [0063] Z Depth direction [0064] W Wall of the switch cabinet