ELECTRICAL CABINET

Abstract

An electrical cabinet comprising a frame that defines an internal space and an openable door for accessing said internal space hingedly attached to said frame by hinging means, said hinging means comprising at least a frame hinge fixed to said frame and a corresponding door hinge fixed to said door. The frame hinge comprises a first shaped body having a first fixing plate fixed to said frame, a first and a second hinge wings protruding form said first fixing plate opposite to said frame and forming an insertion window in said first shaped body, said first and second hinge wings having respectively a first and a second seat aligned in a direction parallel to said first fixing plate and positioned at the end of said insertion window. The door hinge comprises a second shaped body having a second fixing plate fixed to said door, a third hinge wing protruding from said second fixing plate opposite to said door and forming a housing space in said second shaped body, said third hinge wing being inserted into said insertion window of said first shaped body and being provided with a third seat. The hinging means further comprise: a first hinge pin which is inserted into said first and second seats of said first and second hinge wings and closing said insertion window; first blocking means which are inserted into said third seat in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin, said first blocking means closing said housing space in said second shaped body and blocking said first hinge pin.

Claims

1. An electrical cabinet, in particular an electrical cabinet for low-voltage switchboards, comprising a frame that defines an internal space and an openable door for accessing said internal space hingedly attached to said frame by hinging means, said hinging means comprising at least a frame hinge fixed to said frame and a corresponding door hinge fixed to said door, wherein said frame hinge comprises a first shaped body having a first fixing plate fixed to said frame, a first and a second hinge wings protruding form said fist fixing plate opposite to said frame and forming an insertion window in said first shaped body, said first and second hinge wings having respectively a first and a second seat aligned in a direction parallel to said first fixing plate and positioned at the end of said insertion window, said door hinge comprising a second shaped body having a second fixing plate fixed to said door, a third hinge wing protruding from said second fixing plate opposite to said door and forming a housing space in said second shaped body, said third hinge wing being inserted into said insertion window of said first shaped body and being provided with a third seat, said hinging means further comprising a first hinge pin inserted into said first and second seats of said first and second hinge wings and closing said insertion window, said hinging means further comprising first blocking means inserted into said third seat of said third hinge wing in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin, said first blocking means closing said housing space in said second shaped body and blocking said first hinge pin.

2. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said frame hinge is substantially C shaped with a cut-out portion between said first and second hinge wing.

3. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said first and second seats of said first and second hinge wings are first and second through-holes respectively formed in said first and second hinge wing.

4. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said first and second seats of said first and second hinge wings are formed by wrapping the terminal portions of said first and second hinge wings around a wrapping axis which extends along the same direction and parallel to said fixing plate.

5. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said frame hinge comprises first fixing means positioned on said first fixing plate and connecting said frame hinge to the frame of said electrical cabinet.

6. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said third hinge wing of said door hinge has a terminal end substantially parallel to said second fixing plate.

7. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said third seat is a third through hole formed in said third hinge wing.

8. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 6, wherein said third seat is a third through hole formed in said third hinge wing; and wherein said third through hole is formed in the terminal end of said third hinge wing.

9. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said door hinge comprises second fixing means positioned on said second fixing plate and connecting said door hinge to the door of said electrical cabinet.

10. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said first hinge pin has a substantially cylindrical body and is provided with an enlarged head.

11. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 10, wherein said first hinge pin has a tapered portion in an intermediate position of said substantially cylindrical body.

12. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 11, wherein said first blocking means are at least partially positioned in the tapered portion of the substantially cylindrical body of said first hinge pin.

13. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said first blocking means comprises a socket set screw and in that said third seat is a threaded third through hole formed in said third hinge wing.

14. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said first blocking means comprises a second hinge pin and a spring positioned in said third hinge wing.

15. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 1, wherein said door hinge is provided with a fourth seat aligned with said third seat in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin and housing a terminal end of said first blocking means.

16. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 2, wherein said first and second seats of said first and second hinge wings are first and second through-holes respectively formed in said first and second hinge wing.

17. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 2 wherein said first and second seats of said first and second hinge wings are formed by wrapping the terminal portions of said first and second hinge wings around a wrapping axis which extends along the same direction and parallel to said fixing plate.

18. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 2, wherein said frame hinge comprises first fixing means positioned on said first fixing plate and connecting said frame hinge to the frame of said electrical cabinet.

19. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 2, wherein said third hinge wing of said door hinge has a terminal end substantially parallel to said second fixing plate.

20. The electrical cabinet, according to claim 2, wherein said door hinge is provided with a fourth seat aligned with said third seat in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin and housing a terminal end of said first blocking means.

Description

[0042] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of an electrical cabinet, shown by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a detail of an electrical cabinet, in particular an electrical cabinet for low-voltage switchboards, according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a first component of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second component of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third component of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth component of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 shows three side views, a perspective view, and a section view of a first embodiment of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first assembly sequence of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a partially assembled hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second assembly sequence of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 11 is a side view of s second embodiment of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 12 is a section view of s second embodiment of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0055] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a first component of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention;

[0056] FIG. 14 shows three side views, a perspective view, and a section view of an alternative embodiment of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the invention.

[0057] With reference to the attached figures, the electrical cabinet, in particular an electrical cabinet for low-voltage switchboards, of the present invention, in its more general definition, comprises a frame 1 that defines an internal space and an openable door 2 for accessing said internal space.

[0058] The door 2 is hingedly attached to said frame by hinging means 3 which comprises at least a frame hinge 10 fixed to the frame 1 of the cabinet and a corresponding door hinge 20 fixed to said door 2.

[0059] With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one of the distinguishing features of the electrical cabinet of the present invention is given by the fact that said frame hinge 10 comprises a first shaped body 11 which is provided with a first fixing plate 12 fixed to the frame 1 of the cabinet. A first 13 and a second 14 hinge wings protrude from said first fixing plate 12 opposite to said frame 1 and form an insertion window 15 in said first shaped body 11.

[0060] The first 13 and second 14 hinge wings are respectively provided with a first 16 and a second 17 seat which are aligned in a direction parallel to said first fixing plate 12 and which are positioned at the end of said insertion window 15. Purpose and functions of said first 16 and a second 17 seats will be better described hereinafter.

[0061] Then, with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a further distinguishing features of the electrical cabinet of the present invention is given by the fact that said door hinge 20 comprises a second shaped body 21 which is provided with a second fixing plate 22 fixed to said door 2.

[0062] A third hinge wing 23 protrudes from said second fixing plate 22 opposite to said door 2 and forms a housing space 24 in the second shaped body 21 of the door hinge 20. Said third hinge wing 23 is conveniently provided with a third seat 25, whose function will be better described hereinafter.

[0063] With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, in the final assembled position, said third hinge wing 23 is inserted into said insertion window 15 of said first shaped body 11.

[0064] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a further distinguishing feature of the electrical cabinet of the present invention is given by the fact that said hinging means 3 further comprises a first hinge pin 30 which is inserted into said first 16 and second 17 seats of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings and closes said insertion window 15.

[0065] Then, the hinging means 3 further comprises first blocking means 40 which are inserted into said third seat 25 of said third hinge wing 23 in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin 30. In particular, said first blocking means 40 close said housing space 24 in said second shaped body 21 and lock said first hinge pin 30.

[0066] In practice, with reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 14, in the final assembled position, the third hinge wing 23 wraps around the first hinge pin 30 which is housed in the housing space 24 of the second shaped body 21 of the door hinge 20. The first blocking means 40 prevent the separation of the third hinge wing 23 from the insertion window 15 and helps keeping the first hinge pin 30 in the inserted position into the first 16 and second 17 seats of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings. It this way, the door hinge 20 is secured to the frame hinge 10 and maintains a freedom to rotate with respect to it, thereby allowing closing and opening of the door 2 with respect to the frame 1 of the cabinet.

[0067] Thanks to their symmetrical layout, the frame hinge 10 and the door hinge 20 can be mounted on either side of the frame 1, thereby allowing left-opening or right opening of the door 2 with respect to the frame 1 of the cabinet.

[0068] With particular reference to FIG. 2, in a typical embodiment of the electrical cabinet of the present disclosure, the frame hinge 10 is substantially C shaped and has a cut-out portion between said first 13 and second 14 hinge wing.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in the attached FIG. 2, said first 16 and second 17 seats of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings are first and second through-holes respectively formed in said first 13 and second hinge wing 14.

[0070] In an alternative embodiment shown in the attached FIG. 13, the first 16 and second 17 seat are formed by wrapping the terminal portions of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings around a wrapping axis which extends along the same direction of the fixing plate 12 and which is substantially parallel to said fixing plate 12. In this way, the resulting first 16 and second 17 seat have a substantially cylindrical shape and are aligned to each other along the direction of said wrapping axis.

[0071] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7-10, the frame hinge 10 conveniently comprises first fixing means 18, 19 positioned on said first fixing plate 12 and connecting said frame hinge 10 to the frame 1 of said electrical cabinet. In practice, fixing of the frame hinge 10 to the frame 1 of the cabinet can be carried out by using screw means 18 (or corresponding quick fixing means) inserted in suitable holes 100 of the frame 1 as well as into corresponding holes 19 of the first shaped body 11 of the frame hinge 10.

[0072] Moreover, in order to make easier and faster the positioning and fixing of the frame hinge 10 during the assembly operations, the first fixing plate 12 of the frame hinge 10 comprises centering means, such as one or more centering protrusions 61 and 62, which engage corresponding holes 100 formed in the frame 1 of the cabinet.

[0073] In this way, as shown in the attached figures, the frame hinge 10 is mechanically connected to the frame 1 at more than one point, thereby increasing the mechanical stability of the connection. In practice, the protrusions 61 and 62 provide an additional anti-rotation feature which makes easier the installation and increases the mechanical stability of the system. For instance, in the example shown there are three point of connections (given by the protrusion 61, 62 and the fixing means 18 inserted into corresponding holes 100), but the number and kind of connections can be different according to the needs.

[0074] With particular reference to FIG. 3, the third hinge wing 23 of the door hinge 20 protrudes form the second fixing plate 22 and is shaped so as to have a distal end which is fixed on said second fixing plate 22 and with a terminal end 26 which is flattened and substantially parallel to said second fixing plate 22. A housing space 24 is then formed into said second shaped body 21 between said second fixing plate 22 and the terminal end 26 of said third hinge wing 23, so that the first hinge pin 30 can be conveniently housed inside it, as shown e.g. in FIGS. 1 and 6.

[0075] Preferably, the third seat 25 formed in said third hinge wing 23 of the door hinge 20 is a third through hole formed in the terminal end 26 of said third hinge wing 23.

[0076] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7-10, the door hinge 20 conveniently comprises second fixing means 28, 29 which are positioned on said second fixing plate 22 and connect said door hinge 20 to the door 2 of said electrical cabinet. In practice, fixing of the door hinge 20 to the door 2 of the cabinet can be carried out by using screw means 29 (or corresponding quick fixing means) inserted in suitable holes 200 of the door 2 as well as into corresponding holes 28 of the second shaped body 21 of the door hinge 20.

[0077] As shown, e.g., in FIG. 9, in a particular embodiment of the electrical cabinet, according to the present invention, the hinging system 3 can be provided with grounding means for the panel. For instance, the door hinge 20 can be provided with a tip 27 protruding onto the edge of the door 2 to create the panel grounding. In practice, the tip 27 has a scratching function onto the isolating coating (whenever present) to provide a metal/metal contact between the parties.

[0078] With particular reference to FIG. 4, the first hinge pin 30 can have a substantially cylindrical body 31 and can be provided with an enlarged head 32. It this way, the insertion of said first hinge pin 30 into said first 16 and second 17 seats of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings is made easier. At the same time, thanks to the enlarged head 32, the first hinge pin 30 can be easily maintained in place.

[0079] In the embodiment shown, the first hinge pin 30 has a tapered portion 33 in an intermediate position of said substantially cylindrical body 31, between said enlarged head 32 and the opposite end 34.

[0080] As shown on FIGS. 1 and 6, in the final assembled position, the first blocking means 40 are at least partially positioned in the tapered portion 33 of the substantially cylindrical body 31 of said first hinge pin 30, so as to engage the first hinge pin 30 in correspondence of the tapered portion 33 and locking it into its inserted position in the first 16 and second 17 seats of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings.

[0081] With particular reference to FIG. 5, said first blocking means 40 can conveniently comprise a socket set screw 41. In such a case, the third seat 25 formed into said third hinge wing 23 is a threaded third through hole.

[0082] Alternatively, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, said first blocking means 40 can conveniently comprise a second hinge pin 42 and a spring 43 which are positioned in said third hinge wing 23. In this way, the second hinge pin 42 of the hinge system 3 is pushed and maintained into position by said spring means 43, thereby making even easier and faster the assembly of the electrical cabinet according to the present invention. The second hinge pin 42 is conveniently provided with a head 46 which protrudes outside the third hinge wing 23 for the actuation of said second hinge pin 42.

[0083] In practice, by pulling the head 46 of the second hinge pin 42 against the action of the spring 43, it is possible to free the entrance of the housing space 24 thereby allowing the positioning of the third hinge wing 23 into the insertion window 15 and around the first hinge pin 30. The head 46 of the second hinge pin 42 is then released so that second hinge pin 42 is pushed by the spring 43 into the operating position where it blocks any movement of the first hinge pin 30 and any relative movement of the door 2 with respect of the frame 1.

[0084] With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, in a particular embodiment of the presently disclosed cabinet, said door hinge 2 is conveniently provided with a fourth seat 51 which is aligned with said third seat 25 in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin 30. The fourth seat 51 is conveniently shaped so as to house a terminal end 44, 45 of said first blocking means 40, for instance a terminal end 44 of the socket set screw 41 or a terminal end 45 of the second hinge pin 42.

[0085] With reference to FIG. 14, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the presently disclosed cabinet, said fourth seat 51 is a fourth through hole which is made into said door hinge 2 and which is aligned with said third seat 25 in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first hinge pin 30.

[0086] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7 to 10, the assembly sequence of a hinging system in an electrical cabinet according to the present invention can be described as follows.

[0087] The socket set screw 41 is pre-installed into the third seat 25 formed in the third hinge wing 23 of the door hinge 20. The door hinge 20 is fixed to the door 2 using the second fixing means 29 inserted into the corresponding holes 28 and 200.

[0088] Correspondingly, the frame hinge 10 is fixed to the frame 1 of the cabinet by using the centering means 61, 62 and the first fixing means 18 inserted into the corresponding holes 100 and 19. The first hinge pin 30 is then inserted into the first 16 and second 17 seats of said first 13 and second 14 hinge wings, thereby having the preassembled situation of FIG. 9.

[0089] At this point, with reference to FIG. 10, the door 2 is attached to the frame 1 by inserting the third hinge wing 23 into the insertion window 15 along the direction of the arrow 300. Once the door 2 in place, the socket set screw 41 is locked so as to block any movement of the first hinge pin 30 and any relative movement of the door 2 with respect of the frame 1, but maintaining the free rotation of the door 2 with respect of the frame 1, as represented in the final assembled position of FIG. 1.

[0090] The procedure is substantially the same when the socket set screw 41 is replaced by the system comprising the second hinge pin 42 and the spring 43 previously described.

[0091] It is clear from the above description that the electrical cabinet for low-voltage switchboards of the present invention, fully achieve the intended aims and solved the above-highlighted problems of the existing electrical cabinets.

[0092] Several variations can be made to the electrical cabinet for low-voltage switchboards thus conceived all falling within the scope of the attached claims. In practice, the materials used (e.g. steel, zamak/zama) and the contingent dimensions and shapes can be any, according to requirements and to the state of the art.