# US 8,541,698 B2 · Base plate with sealing blocks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,698 B2 - Document ID: US8541698B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/921,040 - Filed: 2009-03-03 - Published: 2011-04-07 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-04 - Assignees: Berthold Sichert GmbH - Applicants: Helmut Perschon; Günter Irmer - Inventors: Helmut Perschon; Günter Irmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541698B2 ## CPC - H02B 1/305: {Cable entries} - H02B 1/50: Pedestal- or pad-mounted casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor - H02G 3/22: Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings - Y10T 29/49817: with other than ancillary treating or assembling - Y10T 29/49963: Threaded fastener - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a base plate (2) in a cable distribution cabinet. The base plate (2) is divided into two. The rear half (2a) can be folded down and the other half (2b) can also be inserted from the direction of the lower base chamber (3). The base plate (2) is sealed from the cables (15) with the help of sealing blocks (5) of a closed-cell foam and not by means of rubber grommets. The sealing blocks (5) have a height of several centimeters and, with that, a high sealing length. Any shifting of the sealing blocks (5) is prevented by threading them on guide rods (14). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cable distribution cabinet comprising: a housing including a frame, the housing including a pedestal region arranged beneath a distribution compartment, a bottom plate separating the pedestal region from the distribution compartment, the bottom plate including at least one plate part and the bottom plate defining a central opening through which cables pass to enter the distribution compartment, wherein the at least one plate part of the bottom plate is configured to be folded about a longitudinal axis of the plate part relative to the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a plurality of cable sealing elements located in the central opening of the bottom plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable plate part is capable of being folded downwards into the pedestal region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable plate part is configured to be dismantled from the frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate part includes a hinge for fastening the plate part on the frame, wherein the hinge is either configured to be dismantled from the frame or the hinge is disconnectable from the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second plate part is positioned in the housing opposite the foldable plate part, the second plate part being configured to be dismantled from the frame and, in the process, is capable of being moved exclusively into the pedestal region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second plate part is designed so as to be capable of being folded and dismantled in a similar way to the foldable plate part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plate parts are capable of being fixed on the frame in a form-fitting manner by locking elements including, toggle closures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the central opening in the bottom plate has two longitudinal edges, which run parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction of the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plate seal that seals off adjoining edges of the plate parts from one another and further comprising a frame seal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 9, wherein guide bars protrude from the plate part, the guide bars extending laterally through a plane of the bottom plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 11, wherein the guide bars protrude from one of the longitudinal edges of the central opening and beyond the opposite one of the longitudinal edges of the central opening, each of the longitudinal edges being defined by one of the plate parts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide bars are arranged at regular intervals along the longitudinal edges of the central opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom plate is made from sheet metal or plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pedestal region extends at least partially into the ground. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom plate is fastened to the frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cable sealing elements are sealing blocks split into two block parts in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 17, wherein the separating line between the block parts, when viewed in a top plan view, has projections in a transverse direction and has a zig-zag configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 18, wherein the zig-zag configuration of the separating line is asymmetrical and is configured in such a way that two identical block parts are produced. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sealing blocks, which are dimensioned to have the same length in the longitudinal direction and to have an identical design, are arranged in the central region of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sealing blocks have an overdimension in a transverse direction in comparison with the central region of extent of the bottom plate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 2) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 2, including cable passages formed in the cable sealing elements wherein each of the cable passages is arranged completely in one block part and wherein each cable passage is connected to the separating line via an access cut. ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 2, including cable passages formed in the cable sealing elements wherein the cable passages are provided as prefabricated ring-shaped cuts in the sealing blocks, wherein the ring-shaped cuts are not completely closed, and wherein holding webs for interrupting the ring-shaped cuts are also provided. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 23, wherein each cable passage has a plurality of concentric ring-shaped cuts. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 23, wherein the ring-shaped cuts are in the form of truncated cones and all have the same cone angle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 25, wherein the ring-shaped cuts in the form of truncated cones have a smaller diameter on an upper side of the sealing block than at a lower end. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cone angle is between 1° and 10°. ### Claim 28 (depends on 2) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 2, including cable passages formed in the cable sealing elements wherein the sealing blocks, in addition to the cable passages, have through-openings running in a transverse direction, each of the through-openings in the sealing blocks being spaced at an interval and having a diameter that are sufficient to accommodate the guide bars passing therethrough. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 28, wherein the through-openings are provided at lateral ends of the sealing blocks. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 28, wherein each of the plate parts defines a longitudinal edge of the central region and each of the plate parts includes a stop face which extends in a vertical direction a stop face height that at least corresponds to a height of the sealing blocks, wherein the guide bars protrude through a center of the stop face height. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 28, wherein at least one of the plate parts is a non-foldable plate part, wherein each of the plate parts defines a longitudinal edge of the central opening, and wherein the longitudinal edge of the non-foldable plate part is in the form of a press strip, which is displaceable in a transverse direction with respect to the nonfoldable plate part, wherein free ends of the guide bars pass through the press strip and wherein the press strip is pressed against the sealing blocks by threaded closures screwed onto the free ends of the guide bars. ### Claim 32 (depends on 2) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cable sealing elements are sealing blocks, the sealing blocks arranged next to one another in a row, and wherein the sealing blocks in the longitudinal direction in the central region have an overdimension in comparison with the length of the central region in the bottom plate. ### Claim 33 A cable distribution cabinet with a housing, in which a pedestal region is arranged beneath a distribution compartment, the cable distribution cabinet comprising: a bottom plate that separates the pedestal region from the distribution compartment, the bottom plate defining an opening configured to enable a plurality of cables to pass through in a vertical cable running direction, a plurality of sealing elements located in the housing, the sealing elements including sealing blocks made from elastic, foamed material in which cable passages are formed, the sealing elements having a sealing length in the vertical cable running direction of more than 30 mm. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 33, wherein the sealing length is more than 50 mm. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 34, wherein the sealing length is more than 70 mm. ### Claim 36 A method for fitting a two-part bottom plate in an opening of a cable distribution cabinet, the opening having a length and being located between a pedestal region and a distribution compartment of the distribution cabinet, at least the distribution compartment including a frame, the method comprising: fastening a first, foldable plate part on a horizontal transverse strut of the frame, folding down the first plate part, the first plate part including guide bars; pushing first sealing block parts onto the guide bars of the folded-down plate part over the entire length of the opening, folding up the first plate part and, in the process, inserting cables into corresponding cable passages in the first sealing block parts which have already been pushed onto the guide bars, fixing the folded-up plate part in a horizontal position in comparison with the frame, pushing, in a transverse direction, second sealing block parts onto the guide bars over the entire length of the opening and, in the process, inserting additional cables into cable passages of the second sealing block parts, feeding a second plate part through the distribution compartment from below into a plate plane and fixing the second plate part there in relation to the frame, pushing a press strip with through-openings onto the guide bars, and applying a threaded closure to a thread at a free end of each guide bar and prestressing the sealing blocks in the transverse direction with the aid of the threaded closures and the press strip. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the two-part bottom plate is a new bottom plate, the frame is a new frame, and the method further comprises: before fitting the new bottom plate to the cabinet, removing an old bottom plate from the cabinet, dismantling an old cabinet housing from an old, damaged frame, lifting the old, damaged frame upwards from the cabinet, and slipping the new frame over onto the cabinet and fitting the new frame on the pedestal region of the cabinet, and fitting a new housing on the new frame once the new bottom plate has been fitted to the cabinet. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the two-part bottom plate is a new bottom plate, the frame is a new frame, and the method further comprises: before the new bottom plate is fitted to the cabinet, removing an old housing from cabinet internals, removing an old frame or an old mounting rack from the cabinet internals, wherein the cabinet internals are held by an auxiliary rack, removing an old pedestal from the cabinet internals, positioning a new enlarged pedestal around the cabinet internals and cables, positioning the new frame onto the new pedestal, fixing the cabinet internals onto the new frame and removing the auxiliary rack, fitting the new bottom plate in such a way that the new bottom plate is located below an old bottom plate, if such an old bottom plate is present, and once the new bottom plate has been fitted, fixing a new housing on the new frame. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein cabinet internals are suspended by the auxiliary rack when the old frame is removed. ### Claim 40 A bottom plate for a switchgear cabinet, the bottom plate being located between a pedestal region and a distribution compartment of the switchgear cabinet, the bottom plate comprising: a plurality of cable sealing elements in a central region of the bottom plate, and a plurality of plate parts with a separating line therebetween, which runs parallel to a longitudinal direction of the switchgear cabinet, wherein the cable sealing elements are sealing blocks made from elastic, foamed material, with a sealing length in a vertical cable running direction of more than 30 mm, wherein cable passages are formed in the cable sealing elements. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein each of the sealing blocks are split into two block parts in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 41, wherein the separating line between the block parts, when viewed in a top plan view, has projections in a transverse direction and has a zig-zag configuration. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 42, wherein the zig-zag configuration of the separating line is asymmetrical and is configured in such a way that two identical block parts are produced. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 41, wherein the sealing blocks, which are dimensioned to have the same length in the longitudinal direction and to have an identical design, are arranged in the central region of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 44, wherein the sealing blocks have an overdimension in a transverse direction in comparison with the central region of extent of the bottom plate. ### Claim 46 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein the cable passages lie on the separating line with a center of each cable passage located on the separating line. ### Claim 47 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein each of the cable passages is arranged completely in one block part and wherein each cable passage is connected to the separating line via an access cut. ### Claim 48 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein the cable passages are provided as prefabricated ring-shaped cuts in the sealing blocks, wherein the ring-shaped cuts are not completely closed, and wherein holding webs for interrupting the ring-shaped cuts are also provided. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 48, wherein each cable passage has a plurality of concentric ring-shaped cuts. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 48, wherein the ring-shaped cuts are in the form of truncated cones and all have the same cone angle. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 50, wherein the ring-shaped cuts in the form of truncated cones have a smaller diameter on an upper side of the sealing block than at a lower end. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 50, wherein the cone angle is between 1° and 10°. ### Claim 53 (depends on 50) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 50, wherein the cone angle is between 2° and 7°. ### Claim 54 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein the sealing blocks, in addition to the cable passages, have through-openings running in a transverse direction, each of the through-openings in the sealing blocks being spaced at an interval and having a diameter that are sufficient to accommodate the guide bars passing therethrough. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 54, wherein the through-openings are provided at lateral ends of the sealing blocks. ### Claim 56 (depends on 54) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 54, wherein each of the plate parts defines a longitudinal edge of the central region and each of the plate parts includes a stop face which extends in a vertical direction a stop face height that at least corresponds to a height of the sealing blocks, wherein the guide bars protrude through a center of the stop face height. ### Claim 57 (depends on 54) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 54, wherein at least one of the plate parts is a non-foldable plate part, wherein each of the plate parts defines a longitudinal edge of the central opening, and wherein the longitudinal edge of the non-foldable plate part is in the form of a press strip, which is displaceable in a transverse direction with respect to the nonfoldable plate part, wherein free ends of the guide bars pass through the press strip and wherein the press strip is pressed against the sealing blocks by threaded closures screwed onto the free ends of the guide bars. ### Claim 58 (depends on 40) The cable distribution cabinet as claimed in claim 40, wherein the cable passages lie on the separating line with a center of each cable passage located on the separating line. ### Claim 59 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein the sealing blocks are arranged next to one another in a row, and wherein the sealing blocks in the longitudinal direction in the central region have an overdimension in comparison with the length of the central region in the bottom plate. ### Claim 60 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein the sealing length is more than 50 mm. ### Claim 61 (depends on 40) The bottom plate as claimed in claim 40, wherein the sealing length is more than 70 mm.