# US 11,432,646 B2 · Structural column and modular structure for electrical cabinets including referred structural column > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,646 B2 - Document ID: US11432646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/052,810 - Filed: 2019-05-10 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-17 - Applicants: Melquisedec Francisquini - Inventors: Melquisedec Francisquini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432646B2 ## CPC - A47B 47/021: {Racks or shelf units (A47B47/03 takes precedence)} - H02B 1/01: Frameworks - A47B 47/0008: {Three-dimensional corner connectors, the legs thereof being received within hollow, elongated frame members (corner joints in general F16B12/44)} - A47B 96/1408: {regularly perforated} - A47B 96/1433: {Hollow members} - H02B 1/013: {Profiles for cabinet frames} - H02B 1/014: {Corner connections for frameworks} - H05K 7/18: Construction of rack or frame - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Structural Column and Modular Structure for Electrical Cabinets Comprising said Structural column, includes a structural column (1) which, from a single piece, accurately determines two corners or vertexes of a modular structure (19) for electric cabinets. The modular structure (19) has four vertically positioned structural columns (1) and at least eight horizontal beams (20) connected to each other by means of screws (21). This invention also introduces an innovative joint between the elements of the structural columns (1), which are joined together by means of welds (6) and with the aid of limiters (12), positioning flaps (11) and engagers (9). Thus, this invention guarantees a perfect square of the modular structure and the correct assembly of the electrical cabinet, with no need for highly specialized labor. The modular structure (19) presented here can be manufactured entirely from low-cost metal materials such as carbon steel, significantly reducing the manufacturing costs of electrical cabinets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structural column, comprising: wherein two fitting elements (2) symmetrically attached to the ends of a vertical profile (3) by means of welds (18) made on the contacts between the parts, so as to form a single body in the contact between a positioning flap (11) and intermediate areas (16) and between a limiter (12) and a structural dowel (4); wherein each fitting element (2) of having the structural dowel (4) and two coupling elements (5) perpendicularly arranged in relation to the structural dowel (4); wherein in the fitting element (2), the two coupling elements (5) are attached to the structural dowel (4) by welds (6) made on the contact areas between said parts; wherein each of the coupling elements (5) comprises a “C” shaped, stamped part; wherein both the upper and lower faces of each of the coupling elements (5) has bores (10) evenly distributed along their length; at one end, one of the coupling elements (5) has an L-shaped positioning flap (11) coplanar with the lower face of said coupling element (5) and a limiter (12), also in “L” shape, perpendicularly arranged in relation to the positioning flap (11). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structural column according to claim 1, wherein the welds (6, 18) made on the structural column (1) are made by electric arc welding processes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The structural column according to claim 1, wherein a structural dowel (4) comprises a substantially parallelepipedal shaped piece, provided with a blind bore (7) in its upper portion; the region surrounding the blind bore (7) of the structural dowel (4) having a circular elevation (8); the lower portion of the structural dowel (4) has a flat face with rounded vertexes; the central portion of the structural dowel (4) has four engagers (9), that is, cuts at 45° which create compatible areas for accommodating the coupling elements (5); the engagers (9) are located on the vertical edges of the structural dowel (4). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The structural column according to claim 1, wherein the vertical profile (3) comprises a closed tubular profile with two right-angled sides (13), which have rectangular frames (14) at their ends; the closing of the closed tubular profile is carried out by a central flap (15) facing the outside of a modular structure (19) and located between the rectangular frame (14) and connected to these via intermediate areas (16); along its length, the vertical profiles (3) have several bores (17) evenly distributed in the central flaps (15) and sides (13) at right angles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The structural column according to claim 1, wherein the positioning flap (11) and the limiter (12) must possess sufficient area for sealing the rectangular frames (14) of the vertical profiles (3). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The structural column according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements (5) having, on their upper face, a square-shaped assembly slot (51), the latter being close to its central portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The structural column according to claim 6, wherein the assembly slot (51) having the function of receiving a communicating element (52), which has a lower assembly flap (53) and two assembly holes (54), opposite each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The structural column according to claim 7, wherein the communicator element (52) connects the horizontal beams (20) so that the lower assembly flap (52) fits in one of the respective square bores and consequently aligns from the rear fitting next to the assembly slot (51), the circular bores of the horizontal beams (20) to the bores of the coupling element (5). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A modular structure for electrical cabinet, having a structural column according to claim 1, the structural column has a parallelepipedal structure, which constitutes the means for supporting and assembling component elements of an electrical cabinet, characterized by the fact of it comprising four vertically positioned structural columns (1) and eight horizontal beams (20); the structural columns (1) and the horizontal beams (20) being connected together by means of screws (21); the horizontal beams (20) comprise closed tubular profiles, with the face (22) and the underside (23) forming a right angle; one of the sides has a rectangular frame (24) at its end, while the other has an outer flap (25), by means of which the closed tubular profile is closed; between the rectangular frame (24) and the outer flap (25) is a planar region (26) perpendicular to said outer flap (25); the lower face (23) and the flat region (26) of the horizontal beam (20) have bores (27) corresponding to the bores (10) of the coupling elements (5) of the structural columns (1). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The structural column according to claim 9, wherein the connection between a structural column (1) and two horizontal beams (20) is made by at least sixteen and at most thirty-two screws (21). ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The structural column according to claim 9, wherein a connection between the structural columns (1) and the horizontal beams (20) is made by rivets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The structural column according to claim 9, wherein the positioning flap (11) and the limiter (12) must possess sufficient area for sealing the rectangular frames (24) of the vertical profiles (20). ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The structural column according to claim 9, wherein all components of the modular structure (19) are metallic, made from alloys selected from a group comprising carbon steel and high speed steel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The structural column according to claim 4, wherein the positioning flap (11) and the limiter (12) must possess sufficient area for sealing the rectangular frames (14) of the vertical profiles (3).