Supports – Instrument in panel – Having biased clip holding means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-06-12
Rosenbaum, I Cuda (Department: 3726)
Supports
Instrument in panel
Having biased clip holding means
C361S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244544
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to mounting brackets. More particularly it relates to a mounting structure used to mount capacitors used in motor drives. Present mounting systems generally consist of sheet metal clamps that grip around the body of the capacitor and bolt to an assembly panel with the use of threaded fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,162 (Quiogue) discusses the requirement for a variety of clamping brackets to mount capacitors of varying sizes into electronic controls or fixtures. Quiogue discloses a hold-down strap to compensate for the variety of clamping bracket sizes and designs used. The hold-down strap uses screw and nut fasteners, as do most clamping brackets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,718 (Murray) discloses a mounting bracket for receiving and mounting the capacitor to a support surface with screw and nut fasteners. The mounting bracket in Murray has a deformable plane intersecting a second deformable plane. The first plane section is secured to the support surface to exert a downward spring force upon the second plane or surface. The second plane has a central opening for physically engaging the capacitor at an angle.
The disadvantage of these and other systems is that they require many threaded fasteners and thus require more time and cost to assemble. Each bracket generally has at least two threaded fasteners. And each threaded fastener typically has a minimum of two pieces, the nut, and the bolt; generally a locking washer of some type is required. Thus, the time and cost to assemble a unit increases geometrically with the number of capacitors.
What is needed, then, is a device that will mount a capacitor in a motor drive or electronic assembly without requiring any threaded or separable fasteners. The device should have the capability to align the capacitor terminals in a desired orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a capacitor holder for mounting a capacitor used in motor drives and electronic fixtures. This invention is of particular use for mounting a capacitor used with a motor drive or electronic assembly into a panel support, typically a sheet metal panel. Specifically, it accomplishes the mounting of the capacitor without the use of separable fasteners, thus saving assembly time and manufacturing costs.
An embodiment of the invention consists of an injection molded plastic cover that is installed over the top of the capacitor. A metal clip is then pressed over the bottom of the capacitor and snapped into the plastic cover to form an assembly including the capacitor holder and the capacitor. Once assembled, the capacitor holder is installed into the panel. The installation procedure, preferably, consists of either a push-in and twist or a push-in and snap-fit procedure, depending on the model of capacitor holder being used.
Both the push-in and twist and snap-fit procedures are adapted to accommodate a plurality of panel opening thicknesses.
It will be apparent that although the invention is describe in relation to mounting a DC bus capacitor, the invention is adaptable to mounting other types of components in other types of fixtures and panels including mounting high intensity discharge capacitors
An object of this invention is to provide a mounting device for a DC bus capacitor.
Another object of this invention is to provide a capacitor holder for motor drives which does not require separable fasteners to mount the capacitor in a fixture panel.
Another object of this invention is to provide a capacitor holder which aligns capacitor terminals in a desired orientation in the fixture panel.
A further object of the invention is to provide a capacitor holder which reduce the time to assemble to the fixture, and thus saves manufacturing costs.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device which reduces the likelihood of explosion due to improper capacitor orientation.
Yet another object is to provide a capacitor holder which guarantees a polarity match.
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Kitscha John
Pomes Jim
Compton Eric
Cuda Rosenbaum I
MagneTek, Inc.
Patterson Mark J.
Waddey & Patterson
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