Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electrical power distribution systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-03-20
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electrical power distribution systems and devices
C361S605000, C361S611000, C361S641000, C361S832000, C200S186000, C200S050010, C200S050020, C174S07000A, C174S09900B, C307S151000, C307S147000, C439S527000, C248S027100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205017
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to switchgear assemblies which house electric power switches such as circuit breakers, transfer switches and the like. More particularly, it relates to such switchgear assemblies in which the power switch is connected to the power buses in the switchgear cabinet by fixed connections.
2. Background Information
Switchgear assemblies include power switches, such as circuit breakers, transfer switches and the like, housed in metal cabinets together with sections of power buses between which the switches can be connected. In low voltage switchgear, that is 600 volts or lower, the power switches may be either draw-out mounted of fixed mounted in the metal cabinets. Draw-out mounted power switches are provided with quick disconnects on a rear face so that the power switches are automatically connected to the power buses as the switches are inserted into the cabinet from the front and automatically disconnected as they are withdrawn. Some users prefer or require that the power switches be fixed mounted, that is, secured to the power buses by fixed connections such as bolts, for instance.
In existing switchgear, there are few similarities in the assemblies and methods by which these differing constructions are mounted. The desirable goal of accommodating the same breaker arrangements despite mounting methods has for the most part not been achieved, and therefore, has historically led to different design concepts for each.
Present construction methods for fixed mounting power switches involve mounting the power switch on a bare frame or chassis utilizing holes provided in the molded power switch housing. Side accessibility is required to effect this mounting technique as well as to make the connections with the buses. As completed switchgear assemblies typically have a number of switchgear cabinets or sections arranged side by side, the side accessibility needed mandates that the power switches be installed and connected to the power buses before the units are joined side by side. This also makes it difficult to change or replace a fixed mounted power switch after the vertical sections are coupled together. The methods for changing these power switches in the field are quite involved due to the accessibility required for making the primary bus and housing connections.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved method and arrangement for fixed mounting power switches and switchgear assemblies.
More particularly, there is a need for such an improved method and apparatus which does not require side access to the vertical sections or cabinets of the switchgear assembly, so that the power switches do not necessarily have to be installed before coupling of the vertical sections.
There is a further need for such an improved method and apparatus in which the power switches can be easily removed and replaced in the field.
There is also a need for such an improved apparatus and method which also permits the power switches to be arranged in the cabinets similarly to the draw-out power switches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These needs and others are satisfied by the invention which is directed to a switchgear assembly in which the power switches are insertable into the switchgear cabinets through front openings and the power switches have power conductors projecting rearward from the switch housing with terminal sections extending vertically beyond the housing so that they are accessible through the front opening for connection to bus members mounted in the cabinet rearward of the front openings. The bus members have sections projecting forward toward the front opening of the cabinet and vertically extending terminal sections which are secured by fixed connectors to the vertical sections of the power conductors. In a preferred arrangement, the power switches have a first set of power conductors with terminal sections extending vertically above the switch housing for connection to a first set of bus members and a second set of power conductors with terminal sections extending downward below the switch housing for connection to a second set of bus members.
Typically, the power switches are vertically stacked in a front compartment of the switchgear cabinet. Behind the front compartment is a middle compartment in which a vertical set of bus members are mounted. These vertical bus members have extensions extending forward with terminal sections extending vertically upward for engagement with the upwardly extending terminal sections of the first set of power conductors on the power switches. The bus members also include a set of runbacks with the first set extending from the rear compartment, through the middle compartment, into the forward compartment and having vertically downwardly extending terminal sections which engage the vertically downwardly extending second set of power conductors on the at least one circuit breaker. A second set of runbacks is secured to the second set of power conductors on a rear face of the bottom circuit breaker. This second set of runbacks is attached to the power switch external to the cabinet and is insertable through the front opening with the bottom circuit breaker to extend through the middle compartment and into the rear compartment for connection in the rear compartment to a set of power cables.
The means which mount the power switches in the cabinets engage the sides of the housings on the power switches and include substantially horizontal upwardly facing mounting surfaces on mounts extending along the sides of the cabinets. The power switches have downwardly facing generally horizontal mounting surfaces on the sides of the housing which engage the upwardly facing horizontal surfaces so that the power switch may slide into the cabinet through the front access opening. Preferably, these mounts comprise mounting panels that have generally horizontally extending slots forming the substantially horizontal upwardly facing mounting surfaces. The housing has substantially horizontally extending lateral projections on each side forming the downwardly facing generally horizontal mounting surfaces. These lateral projections on the housing slide into the generally horizontally extending slots in the mounting panels. The slots in the mounting panels have blind ends which form stops against which the projections on the housing seat to position the housing relative to the power buses. Preferably, these blind ends of the slots are formed by lateral offsets in the mounting panels. The mounts further include locking members engaging the mounting panels and preventing forward movement of the housing in the slots. These locking members are preferably brackets having tabs which block forward movement of the lateral projections on the housing in the side slots. Also, most preferably, the tabs on the mounting brackets extend transversely into the slots on the mounting panels and engage slits in the mounting panel extending from the slots. This mounting arrangement provides easy installation and removal, but yet provides secured mounting to resist the forces generated by short circuit currents and interruption of the same.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a switchgear assembly with an improved arrangement for fixed-mounting of the power switches.
More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such switchgear in which the connections of the power conductors on the switches to the power buckles are accessible through the front opening.
Thus, it is another object of the invention to provide switchgear assembly in which the power switches can be fixed-mounted within the switchgear cabinets without the need for side access so that the power switches can be easily installed and removed without disassembling the switchgear assembly.
An additional object of the invention is to provide such switchgear in which the fixed-mounted power switches are readily slid into place within the sub-switchgear cabinets and easily and securely maintained in place.
It is still another object of t
Walker Steven Dale
Wilkie, II William Edward
Datskovsky Michael
Eaton Corporation
Moran Martin J.
Picard Leo P.
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