Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-25
2001-03-06
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
C174S09900B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198050
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the art of large electric motors. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved conduit box assembly for use with a large electric motor.
Electric motors, particularly high horsepower electric motors of the type used to power industrial machinery, often have relatively large conduit boxes mounted to the motor housing. Inside the conduit box, connections are made between power leads from the motor and feed wires from a source of electricity. Typically, this electrical connection has been made at standoff bus bars mounted to a rigid base inside the conduit box.
In the past, the base to which the bus bars are attached has been fixed in place at the time the conduit box is manufactured. Thus, the relative position of the bus bars could not be changed to meet various situations that might arise. Instead, it has often been necessary to permanently modify the existing conduit box, or provide another conduit box specifically made for the particular situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing considerations and others of prior art constructions and methods. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conduit box assembly for a large electric motor.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved conduit box assembly yielding enhanced versatility in the placement of electrical terminal units.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved conduit box assembly in which electrical terminal units can be placed in any one of a plurality of axial and/or rotational positions.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved conduit box assembly in which a variety of accessories can be easily installed.
Some of these objects are achieved by a conduit box assembly for use with a large electric motor. The assembly comprises a main box defining an interior cavity. A mounting structure is also provided, adapted for mounting the main box to a housing of the electric motor. At least one pair of opposed mounting base elements are fixedly mounted on an inside of the main box. A terminal support member is adapted to be removably mounted across the opposed mounting base elements.
In some exemplary embodiments, the mounting base elements have an elongate configuration and extend substantially in parallel to one another. In this case, the base elements may be configured to permit attachment of the terminal support member in any one of a plurality of axial positions.
Preferably, the base elements may be located in respective corners of the main box. For example, a total of four base elements may be provided, each located in a respective corner of the main box. In this case, the base elements may be configured to permit attachment of the terminal support member in any one of four rotational positions.
In some presently preferred embodiments, the terminal support member may carry a plurality of standoff busbar units, lightning arrestor units or surge cap units. It will often be desirable to provide multiple terminal support members, each equipped with different terminal components. For example, standoff busbar units may be mounted on one terminal support member, with lightning arrestors or surge caps being located on a second terminal support member.
Other objects of the present invention are achieved by a conduit box assembly for use with a large electric motor. The assembly comprises a main box defining an interior cavity. At least two pairs of opposed mounting base elements are fixedly mounted on an inside of the main box. A terminal support member is also provided, adapted to be removably mounted to the opposed mounting base elements in a plurality of rotational positions. Each one of the rotational positions is defined between a respective pair of the opposed mounting base elements.
In some exemplary embodiments, the two pairs of opposed base elements may comprise a total of at least three base elements. For example, the base elements may be mounted in three adjacent corners of the main box. A further base element may also be mounted in the fourth corner of the conduit box to permit attachment of the terminal support element in any one of four rotational positions.
Other objects of the present invention are achieved by a busbar assembly for use with a conduit box. The busbar assembly comprises at least two L-shaped and elongate base elements being situated in parallel to one another and spaced by a predetermined separation. A terminal support member is removably attached between the base elements. The busbar assembly further comprises a plurality of standoff busbar units attached to the terminal support member for the connection of electrical leads thereto.
In some exemplary embodiments, the elongate support member comprises an elongate support element having attachment plates located at respective ends thereof. Often the base elements will each have a plurality of connection points symmetrically spaced thereon.
Other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method of locating electrical terminals inside a conduit box in any one of a plurality of positions. One step of the method involves providing a plurality of mounting base elements at predetermined spaced apart locations in the conduit box. A terminal support member having at least one electrical terminal unit located thereon is also provided. The terminal support member is removably mounted to a pair of the mounting base elements. At least one lead wire is then attached to the electrical terminal unit.
Other objects, features, and aspects of the invention are provided by various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed elements, which are discussed in greater detail below.
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Gerasimow A. M.
Horn John J.
Killen Craig N.
Kincaid Kristine
Patel Dhiru R
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