Field of the invention

The present invention is related to a junction box for connection of electrical ca- bles. In particular, a junction box for the shipping or the oil and gas industry in arc tic environment. The junction box comprises a primary wall unit and a secondary wall unit configured removably connectable with each other and configured to bear against each other at a first connecting portion of the primary wall unit and a sec ond connecting portion of the secondary wall unit. Thereby, the primary and sec- ondary wall unit jointly forming a closed compartment. The primary wall unit com prise a first primary wall section and a second primary wall section as a unit. The secondary wall unit comprise a first secondary wall section and three second sec ondary walls sections as a unit. The junction box further comprises a sealing member between the first connecting portion and second connecting portion. The present invention is further related to a method for connecting/disconnecting electric cables to a junction box and use of the junction box of the invention.

Background of the invention

Junction boxes for connection of electrical cables have depending on use different protection rating, such Ingress Protection rating (IP). For an equipment is for ex ample IP54 - 68 used to assure prevention ingression of particles, dust and water. Prior art junction boxes are configured with wall sections that provide a closed compartment with openings for the cables and a removable cover/gate for provid ing a closable opening to the compartment, such for enabling an operator to con nect or disconnect cables to/from the junction box. The cover/gate is provided with sealing members to avoid ingress of particles, dust and water between the cov er/gate and the wall section.

US2019/0245335A1 discloses a temporary protective cover for a junction box hav ing a sheet-like rectangular body with cleats at top and bottom ends. The cleats are flange-like formations bent at preferably non-right angles designed to press against embossments inside the cavity of a junction box. One or both cleats may be fitted with a notch to facilitate overlapping placement to accommodate large- size junction boxes. A stop tab extends laterally outwardly from each cleat and serves to limit penetration of the covering into the cavity of a junction box. One or two small removal holes are located in the body of the cover, near to the cleats, to facilitate removal from a junction box.

A problem with prior art junction boxes is that the closable opening to the com partment is limited in space making access to the compartment limited. A further problem, in harsh/arctic conditions, the sealing members may be damaged if there is sliding interaction between sealing members when opening or closing the junc tion box.

Summary of the invention

The invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the draw backs of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative to prior art. In particu lar, an object of the invention is to provide a junction box for harsh environments, such as ship and offshore applications, that provides improved access to the com partment when the junction box is installed and also when opened for mainte nance purposes while maintaining protection ratings when the junction box is closed.

This object is obtained by means of a junction box for connection of electrical ca- bles. The junction box comprises:

- a primary wall unit and a secondary wall unit configured removably connectable with each other and configured to bear against each other at a first connecting por tion of the primary wall unit and a second connecting portion of the secondary wall unit, thereby jointly forming a closed compartment, wherein the primary wall unit comprise a first primary wall section and a second primary wall section as a unit, and the secondary wall unit comprise a first sec ondary wall section and three second secondary walls sections as a unit, and

- a sealing member between the first connecting portion and second connecting portion.

The junction box is configured such that the first connecting portion comprises a first tapered rim and the second connecting portion comprises a second tapered rim that is tapered correspondingly to fit with the first tapered rim.

The primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit are separate unit configured when brought together form a closed compartment where electrical connection of the cables is established. The primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit are respective shell portions that jointly forms the closed compartment.

The primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit are connected by alignment of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The sealing mem ber at at least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting por tion assures the Ingress Protection rating of the junction box.

By means of configuring the first connecting portion with a first tapered rim and the second connecting portion with a second tapered rim that is tapered correspond ingly to fit with the first tapered rim, the sliding moment subjected to the sealing member is reduced while allowing improved access to the inside of the closed compartment by removing one of the primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit from the other of the primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the primary wall unit comprises the first primary wall section and the second primary wall section are wall section con nected with each other and extending in away from each other, such as with an 90° angle between them. The secondary wall unit comprises the first secondary wall section and three second secondary walls sections, where the three second secondary walls sections are connected to the first secondary wall section and extending away from the first secondary wall section, such as with an 90° angle between them. One of the second secondary walls sections are connected to the other two second secondary walls sections.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first tapered rim is arranged on the second primary wall section of the primary wall unit and extending tapered away from the first primary wall section in a direction complementary to the second tapered rim. According to an embodiment of the invention, the first tapered rim is tapered at an angle between the first primary wall section and the second primary wall section at an interval between 60-85°, preferably between 78-80°.

The defined interval in the angle of the tapered rim reduces sliding interaction at sealing members to acceptable levels when opening or closing the junction box. A higher angle would on the other hand result in that the closed compartment would be unduly reduced.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second tapered rim is arranged at the second secondary wall sections of the secondary wall unit and extending tapered away from the first secondary wall section in a direction complementary to the first tapered rim.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second tapered rim is tapered at an angle between the first secondary wall section and the second secondary wall sections at an interval between 60-85°, preferably between 78-80°.

The defined interval in the angle of the tapered rim reduces sliding interaction at sealing member to acceptable levels when opening or closing the junction box. A higher angle would on the other hand result in that the closed compartment would be unduly reduced.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first connecting portion compris es a primary rim extending along the first primary wall section and the second connecting portion comprises a secondary rim extending along the first secondary wall section, wherein the primary rim and the secondary rim are configured to bear against each other.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the wall sections comprises one or more cable gland openings for introducing one or more electric cables into the junction box.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the primary wall unit and the sec ondary wall unit comprise attachment means for releasably attaching the primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit together. According to an embodiment of the invention, the attachment means comprises a bolt assembly. It shall be understood that other attachment means may be used such as a buckle device, a snap connection, etcetera.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the attachment means are arranged at the primary rim of the first connecting portion and the secondary rim of the sec- ond connecting portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the primary wall unit and secondary wall unit comprises further attachment means for releasably attach ing the primary wall unit or the secondary wall unit to a supporting surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the further attachment means com- prises a bolt assembly. It shall be understood that other attachment means may be used such as a buckle device, a snap connection, etcetera.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the attachment means at least partly is arranged at an inner portion of the primary rim of the first connecting portion and the further attachment means is arranged at an outer portion of the primary rim of the first connecting portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first primary wall section, the second primary wall section, the first secondary wall section and the second sec ondary wall sections comprise mainly flat sheets of material. The above object of the invention is further obtained by means of a method for connecting/disconnecting electric cables to a junction box according to any of above embodiments.

The method comprises: - detaching the primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit from each other,

- connecting/disconnecting electric cables to/from an inside of the junction box, and

- attaching the primary wall unit and the secondary wall unit together.

The above object of the invention is further obtained by means of use of a junction box according to any of any of above embodiments for connection of electrical ca bles.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 discloses a junction box according to an embodiment of the invention in a first view, wherein the junction box comprising a primary wall unit and a secondary wall unit joined together;

Fig. 2 discloses the junction box in fig. 1 in the first view with the primary wall unit and a secondary wall unit separated from each other; Fig. 3 discloses the junction box in fig. 1 in a second view with the primary wall unit and a secondary wall unit separated from each other; and

Fig. 4 discloses secondary wall unit in fig. 1 in a third view.

Detail description of the invention

Fig. 1 discloses a junction box 1 according to an embodiment of the invention in a first view. The junction box comprising a primary wall unit 10 and a secondary wall unit 12.

The primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 are separate units com- prising wall sections. The primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 are configured removably connectable with each other. The primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 are respective shell portions. When connected the pri mary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 jointly forms a closed compart ment for the cables.

The primary wall unit 10 comprises a first primary wall section 20a and a second primary wall section 20b as a unit. The secondary wall unit 12 comprise a first secondary wall section 22a and three second secondary walls sections 22b as a unit.

With referenced to fig. 2, where the primary wall unit 10 and a secondary wall unit 12 are disclosed separated from each other, the first primary wall section 20a and the second primary wall section 20b are connected with each other such that they extend in away from each other, such as with an 90° angle between them.

Similarly, the first secondary wall section 22a and three second secondary walls sections 22b are connected to the first secondary wall section 22a and extending away from the first secondary wall section 22a, such as with an 90° angle between them. One of the second secondary walls sections 22b is connected between the other two second secondary walls sections 22b.

The first primary wall section 20a, the second primary wall section 20b, the first secondary wall section 22a and the second secondary wall sections 22b comprise mainly flat sheets of a form stable material, such as steel, stainless steel and alu minium.

The primary wall unit 10 comprises a first connecting portion 30 and the secondary wall unit 12 comprises a second connecting portion 32. When the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 are brought to connection, as shown in fig. 1 , the first connecting portion 30 and the second connecting portion 32 bear against each other. The junction box 1 further comprises a sealing member 35 between the first connecting portion 30 and second connecting portion 32 for sealing mem ber 35 the closed compartment from ingression of particles, dust and water. The sealing member 35 is for example made of a polymer, such as rubber, silicone, nitrile rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, etcetera.

The first connecting portion 30 comprises a first tapered rim 40 and the second connecting portion 32 comprises a second tapered rim 42 that is tapered corre spondingly to fit with the first tapered rim 40. Thereby, a sliding moment subjected to the sealing member 35 is reduced when bringing the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 together or when separating the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 from each other. Furthermore, the junction box 1 provides improved access to the inside of the closed compartment compared to prior art junction boxes when the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 are separated from each other.

In the disclosed embodiment, the first tapered rim 40 is arranged on the second primary wall section 20b of the primary wall unit 10 and extending tapered away from the first primary wall section 20a in a direction complementary to the second tapered rim 42.

Preferably, the first tapered rim 40 is tapered at an angle between the first primary wall section 20a and the second primary wall section 20b at an interval between 60-85°, preferably between 78-80°. The angle provides an acceptable reduced sliding motion to the sealing member 35 while at the same time providing a suffi cient space of the closed compartment for connection of cables.

Correspondingly, In the disclosed embodiment, the second tapered rim 42 is ar ranged at the second secondary wall sections 22b of the secondary wall unit 12 and extending tapered away from the first secondary wall section 22a in a direc tion complementary to the first tapered rim 40.

Preferably, the second tapered rim 42 is tapered at an angle A between the first secondary wall section 22a and the second secondary wall sections 22b at an in terval between 60-85°, preferably between 78-80°.

In the disclosed embodiment, the first connecting portion 30 comprises a primary rim 50 extending along the first primary wall section 20a and the second connect ing portion 32 comprises a secondary rim 52 extending along the first secondary wall section 22a. That is, the first connecting portion 30 and the second connecting portion 32 are at rim parts of the respective wall units 10, 12. The primary rim 50 and the secondary rim 52 are configured to bear against each other with the seal ing member 35 between them.

The junction box 1 further comprises one or more cable gland openings 55 for in troducing one or more electric cables into the junction box 1. The one or more ca ble gland openings 55 are arranged at at least one of the wall sections 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b. In the disclosed embodiment, the cable gland openings 55 are arranged at the second primary wall section 20b. However, it should be understood that the cable gland openings 55 may be arranged at any the wall sections 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b.

The primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 comprise attachment means 60 for releasably attaching the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 together. In the disclosed embodiment, the attachment means 60 compris es a bolt assembly is arranged at the primary rim 50 extending along the first pri mary wall section 20a and the secondary rim 52 at the first secondary wall section 22a.

The junction box 1 comprises further attachment means 62 for releasably attach ing the primary wall unit 10 or the secondary wall unit 12 to a supporting surface. The further attachment means 62 is arranged at at least one of the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12. In the disclosed embodiment, the further attachment means 62 comprises a bolt assembly.

In the disclosed embodiment, the attachment means 60 is arranged at an inner portion 70 of the primary rim 50 of the first connecting portion 30 and the further attachment means 62 is arranged at an outer portion 72 of the primary rim 50 of the first connecting portion 30. However, it shall be understood that other configu rations are possible. The intersection between the inner portion 70 and the outer portion 72 is indicated by a dashed line in fig. 3.

The invention also relates to a method for connecting/disconnecting electric cables to a junction box 1 according to above. The method comprises the step of:

- detaching the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 from each oth- er,

- connecting/disconnecting electric cables to/from an inside of the junction box 1 , and

- attaching the primary wall unit 10 and the secondary wall unit 12 together. The invention also relates to use of a junction box 1 according to above for con nection of electrical cables.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many al ternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be con strued as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mu- tually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.