Frame assembly for a switchboard and related frame and switchboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9627860-B2
Application number	US-201414303958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 24, 2013
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

An assembly for the frame of a switchboard is disclosed, which can include a hollow member which extends lengthwise along a reference axis and which has at least one slot. The assembly can include at least one connecting element for connecting the assembly to a corresponding corner joint element of the frame, and the connecting element can include an insulating body and a fixing metal plate which is associated to a carrying part of the insulating body. The carrying part can be at least partially inserted transversally with respect to the reference axis into the hollow member through the slot, so as to arrange at least a portion of the associated fixing metal plate into the hollow member transversally with respect to the reference axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a frame of a switchboard, comprising:
a hollow member comprising a first end and a second end, the hollow member extends lengthwise between the first and second ends along a reference axis, the hollow member including a hollow interior and at least one slot formed between the first end and the second end to provide access to the hollow interior;
at least one connecting element configured for connecting the hollow member to a corresponding corner joint element of the frame, each connecting element including an insulating body having a carrying part; and
a fixing metal plate for the carrying part of the insulating body, the fixing metal plate having a first through hole that is aligned with a second through hole of the carrying part, the fixing metal plate sized for insertion with the carrying plate into the at least one slot wherein the carrying part is at least partially inserted transversally, with respect to the reference axis, into the hollow member through the at least one slot, so as to arrange at least a portion of the fixing metal plate into the hollow member transversally with respect to the reference axis and to substantially align the first and second through holes with the reference axis; wherein, when in use, the first and second through holes are configured to receive a corresponding fixing screw which is configured to be inserted within the hollow section of the hollow member from the first or second end to fasten the at least one connecting element to the corresponding corner joint element.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the carrying part defines a seat into which the fixing metal plate is mounted.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the seat is configured for a predetermined mounting of the fixing metal plate therein.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating body comprises:
a covering part adapted to cover a corresponding outer surface of the hollow member when the carrying part is at least partially inserted into the hollow member through the at least one slot.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the covering part is adapted to cover
at least a corresponding outer surface of the hollow member which surrounds the at least one slot.

6. The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the covering part extends transversally with respect to the fixing metal plate so as to reach a corresponding end of the hollow member.

7. The assembly according to claim 6 , when the insulating body comprises:
a rim connected to the covering part and adapted to cover a corresponding tract of an edge of the hollow member at the corresponding end.

8. The assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the rim comprises:
at least one coupling portion configured to couple the at least one connecting element to the hollow member.

9. The assembly according to claim 1 , comprising:
at least one hole defined through the hollow member facing the at least one slot, the at least one hole being adapted for receiving therethrough a corresponding tract of the carrying part, when the carrying part is at least partially inserted into the hollow member though the at least one slot.

10. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the carrying part comprises:
a resilient member for coupling the connecting element to the hollow member in a snap-fit way when the carrying part is at least partially inserted into the hollow member through the at least one slot.

11. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating body is made of elastic material.

12. The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the covering part comprises:
at least one protrusion, and the hollow member includes a corresponding groove, the at least one protrusion and the corresponding groove being adapted to couple to each other.

13. A frame for a switchboard, comprising:
at least one frame assembly comprising
a hollow member comprising a first end and a second end, the hollow member extends lengthwise between the first and second ends along a reference axis, the hollow member including a hollow interior and at least one slot formed between the first end and the second end to provide access to the hollow interior;
at least one corner joint element;
at least one connecting element configured for connecting the hollow member to the at least one corner joint element of the frame, each connecting element including an insulating body having a carrying part; and a fixing metal plate for the carrying part of the insulating body, the fixing metal plate having a first through hole that is aligned with a second through hole of the carrying part, the fixing metal plate sized for insertion with the carrying plate into the at least one slot wherein the carrying part is at least partially inserted transversally, with respect to the reference axis, into the hollow member through the at least one slot, so as to arrange at least a portion of the fixing metal plate into the hollow member transversally with respect to the reference axis and to substantially align the first and second through holes with the reference axis; wherein, when in use, the first and second through holes are configured to receive a corresponding fixing screw which is configured to be inserted within the hollow section of the hollow member from the first or second end to fasten the at least one connecting element to the at least one corner joint element.

14. A switchboard comprising:
a frame according to claim 13 .

Assignees

• Abb Spa

Inventors

• Proserpio Simone Angelo
• Frattaruolo Massimo

Classifications

• H02B1/012 Primary

  Details of mechanical connections · CPC title

• H02B1/013 Primary

  Profiles for cabinet frames · CPC title

• H01R13/46 Primary

  Bases; Cases · CPC title

• H02B1/014 Primary

  Corner connections for frameworks · CPC title