Panelboard Enclosure With Manually Operable Load Disconnector

• US 20120176732A1
• Filed: 01/08/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversified Control, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Diversified Control, Inc.
• Inventors: Cosley, Michael R., King, Aron J., Halik, David H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/622
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14325 for cabinets or racks

Abstract

An electrical panelboard enclosure includes an enclosure housing with an interior equipment chamber accessible by way of a service entrance door. A service panel is adapted for connection to a main power source in order to receive main power therefrom. A power supply is operatively connected to receive main power from the service panel and deliver it to a load. The power supply is also adapted for connection to a backup power source in order to receive backup power therefrom and deliver it to the load in the event of a main power cutoff. A load disconnector is operatively connected between the power supply and the load. The load disconnector is manually operable to disconnect the load from the power supply to prevent the power supply from delivering either main or backup power to the load.

Claims

1. An electrical panelboard enclosure, comprising:

an enclosure housing having an interior equipment chamber accessible via an opening in said housing;

a service entrance door mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said opening is covered and an open position wherein said opening is exposed;

a service panel in said equipment chamber adapted for connection to a main power source to receive main power therefrom;

a power supply in said equipment chamber operatively connected to receive said main power from said service panel and deliver it to a load;

said power supply being adapted for connection to a backup power source to receive backup power therefrom and deliver it to said load; and

a load disconnector operatively connected between said power supply and said load, said load disconnector being manually operable to disconnect said load from said power supply to prevent said power supply from delivering power to said load.

2. The panelboard enclosure of claim 1, wherein load disconnector comprises a load disconnect switch selected from the group consisting of mechanical switches and sensors, optical switches and sensors, and proximity switches and sensors.

3. The panelboard enclosure of claim 1, wherein said load disconnector comprises a load disconnect switch and a load disconnect relay disposed in an electrical current pathway between said power supply, said load disconnect relay being controlled by said load disconnect switch.

4. The panelboard enclosure of claim 1, wherein said load disconnector comprises a load disconnect actuating mechanism that is accessible from outside said enclosure housing.

5. The panelboard enclosure of claim 4, wherein said load disconnect actuating mechanism is mounted on said service entrance door.

6. The panelboard enclosure of claim 1, further including:

a main power breaker in said equipment chamber having a main power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate delivery of said main power to said power supply, said main power breaker being positionable between a power-on state and a power-off state;

a power cutoff switch mechanism operable from outside said service entrance door to mechanically engage and deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power without opening said service entrance door, said power cutoff switch mechanism being positionable between a power-on state and a power-off state; and

said load disconnector being operable by said power cutoff switch mechanism to disconnect said load from said power supply when said power cutoff switch mechanism is positioned in said power-off state, whereby said power cutoff switch mechanism also serves as a load disconnect actuating mechanism.

7. The panelboard enclosure of claim 6, wherein said load disconnector employs a switching or sensing technology that allows said load disconnector to respond to said power cutoff switch mechanism being in said power-off state, said switching or sensing technology being selected from the group consisting of mechanical switching or sensing, optical switching or sensing, and proximity switching or sensing.

8. The panelboard enclosure of claim 6, wherein said power cutoff switch mechanism is mounted on said service entrance door.

9. The panelboard enclosure of claim 1, wherein said load is disposed in said interior equipment chamber of said enclosure housing.

10. The panelboard enclosure of claim 1, wherein said backup power source is disposed in said interior equipment chamber of said enclosure housing.

11. An electrical panelboard enclosure, comprising:

an enclosure housing having an interior equipment chamber accessible via an opening in said housing;

a service entrance door mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said opening is covered and an open position wherein said opening is exposed;

a service panel in said equipment chamber adapted for connection to a main power source to receive main power therefrom;

a power supply in said equipment chamber operatively connected to receive said main power from said service panel and deliver it to a load;

said power supply being adapted for connection to a backup power source to receive backup power therefrom and deliver it to said load;

a main power breaker in service panel having a main power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate delivery of said main power to said power supply, said main power breaker being positionable between a power-on state and a power-off state;

a power cutoff switch mechanism operable from outside said service entrance door to mechanically engage and deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power without opening said service entrance door, said power cutoff switch mechanism being positionable between a power-on state and a power-off state; and

a load disconnector operatively connected between said power supply and said load, said load disconnector being manually operable by said power cutoff switch mechanism to disconnect said load from said power supply to prevent said power supply from delivering power to said load.

12. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein load disconnector comprises a load disconnect switch selected from the group consisting of mechanical switches and sensors, optical switches and sensors, and proximity switches and sensors.

13. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said load disconnector comprises a load disconnect switch and a load disconnect relay disposed in a current pathway between said power supply and said load disconnect relay being controlled by said load disconnect switch.

14. The panelboard enclosure of claim 13, wherein said power cutoff switch mechanism serves as a load disconnect actuating mechanism of said load disconnector that is accessible from outside said enclosure housing.

15. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said power cutoff switch mechanism is mounted on said service entrance door.

16. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said load disconnector is operable to disconnect said load in response to said power cutoff switch mechanism being positioned in said power-off state.

17. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said power cutoff switch mechanism comprises a handle mounted on an outside of said service entrance door and a main power breaker toggle switch actuating mechanism on an inside of said service entrance door.

18. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said load is disposed in said interior equipment chamber of said enclosure housing.

19. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said backup power source comprises one or more batteries disposed in said interior equipment chamber of said enclosure housing.

20. The panelboard enclosure of claim 11, wherein said enclosure housing is vented and divided to provide a first airflow pathway for cooling said load and a second airflow pathway for cooling said power supply, said first and second airflow pathways being isolated from each other.

21. An electrical panelboard enclosure comprising:

an enclosure housing having an interior equipment chamber accessible via at least one opening in said housing;

at least one service entrance door mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said at least one opening is covered and an open position wherein said opening is exposed;

a service panel in said equipment chamber adapted for connection to a main power source to receive main power therefrom;

a power supply in said equipment chamber operatively connected to receive said main power from said service panel and deliver it to a load is disposed in said interior equipment chamber of said enclosure housing;

said power supply being adapted for connection to a backup power source comprising one or more batteries to receive backup power therefrom and deliver it to said load;

a main power breaker in service panel having a main power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate delivery of said main power to said power supply, said main power breaker being positionable between a power-on state and a power-off state;

a power cutoff switch mechanism operable from outside said at least one service entrance door to mechanically engage and deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power without opening said service entrance door, said power cutoff switch mechanism being positionable between a power-on state and a power-off state;

a load disconnector operatively connected between said power supply and said load, said load disconnector being manually operable from outside said at least one service entrance door to disconnect said load from said power supply to prevent said power supply from delivering power to said load;

said load disconnector comprising a load disconnect switch selected from the group consisting of mechanical switches and sensors, optical switches and sensors, and proximity switches and sensors;

load disconnector further comprising a load disconnect relay disposed in a current pathway between said power supply and said load disconnect relay being controlled by said load disconnect switch; and

said load disconnector further comprising a load disconnect actuating mechanism that is operable from outside said enclosure housing.

22. The panelboard enclosure of claim 21, wherein said power cutoff switch mechanism serves as said load disconnect actuating mechanism and actuates said load disconnect switch so that said load disconnector disconnects said load in response to said power cutoff switch mechanism being positioned in said power-off state.