Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – With interior conductor or cable supports
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2001-07-24
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
With interior conductor or cable supports
C174S07000A, C174S07100B, C174S0720TR
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265666
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in electrical power distribution busways. More specifically, the present invention relates to a busway having an advantageous low-amp, two-piece aluminum housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical power distribution busway housings are used to enclose and support electrically conductive busbars in a power distribution busway system. The busway includes a number of busway sections which are connected to one another by busway joints. Each busway section includes a housing that encloses a plurality of busbars which may be phase busbars, neutral busbars, or ground busbars depending on the particular application. High current (high-amp) busway systems generally have current carrying capacity of approximately 600 to 5000 amperes, while low current (low-amp) busway systems generally have current carrying capacity of approximately 100 to 800 amperes.
In one implementation described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,300 busway housing for a low amp busway is formed from two pairs of parallel walls: the first pair of walls is mounted perpendicular to the second pair, creating a four sided structure for containing the electrically conductive busbars. The side walls may include a series of corrugations for containing the busbars and maintaining a separation distance. The corrugations are separated by a straight portion of the side wall which reduces the structural strength of the busway.
Another type of busway housing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,320. The housing is formed from two generally U-shaped troughs which include flanges for supporting the busbars and a series of holes used for ventilation and cooling. The busbar edges are encased in individual strips of insulative material which separate the busbars from the housing walls. Additional insulative sheets can be applied to the top and bottom of the busbars. No mechanism is provided for sealing the busway against contaminants and moisture.
Still another power distribution system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,515. That system uses a busway having a top channel and a bottom channel disposed on the top and bottom of a stack of electrically conductive busbars. Such channels include flanges disposed outwardly from the busbar stack to facilitate attachment of the top channel to the bottom channel. Doors permitting connection to the busbar edges interrupt the seal between the housing channels, creating potential leak paths. Other examples of busway housings are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,852,515; 3,818,417; 3,566,331; 3,384,855; 3,113,820; 3,088,994 and 2,059,988.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a number of improvements to enhance the performance of busway housings, reduce manufacturing costs and improve safety. Accordingly, various aspects of the present invention advantageously provide a low-amp busway housing composed of two side channels which include integral corrugations for maintaining the busbar separation at a distance compatible with the busbar separation of high-amp busways. Additionally, the side channels include integral flanges for mounting, heat dissipation and improved structural strength. Furthermore, the low-amp busway of the present invention may suitably include a single member to mechanically protect or isolate the insulated busbars from the housing. Busbars within the housing may have rounded edge thicknesses to fit within the integral corrugations of the housing while providing increased cross-sectional area for increased current carrying capacity.
The present invention provides for an electrical distribution busway and busway housing. A group of busbar conductors is held between two aluminum side channels that space the busbars apart at a centerline-to-centerline distance corresponding to the centerline-to-centerline distance of an existing high-amp busway. Thus, common bus plugs can be used to interconnect high-amp primary runs to low-amp secondary runs. The side channels have a flange area for joining and sealing the busway housing. The general I-beam shape of the side channels results in increased structural strength and provides a greater surface area for heat dissipation. A plurality of ribs on the outer surfaces of the side channels also improves heat dissipation.
Manufacturing the side channels in a series of sizes allows for various busbar widths corresponding to multiple amperage ratings. Furthermore, the present invention provides for an S-shaped polychannel to mechanically insulate the busbars. A dual-hinged busway door allows for improved access.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages, will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.
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Nino Adolfo
Reichard Dean A.
Siemens Energy & Automation Inc.
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