SEALED DOORS, ENCLOSURES, AND METHODS ADAPED FOR USE WITH ELECTRICAL ARC-PRONE COMPONENTS

• US 20130320831A1
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Bernhard, Schulz, Richard, Pan, Xiong
• Granted Patent: US 9,318,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/296
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/161 magnetic gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/38 Hinged covers or doors
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/025 Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect

Abstract

A sealed enclosure is disclosed. Sealed enclosure has a case configured to receive an arc-prone electrical component, a face frame defining an opening, a door configured to cover the opening, a sealing surface on the face frame or on the door, and one or more flaps having an sealing portion, the sealing portion being angled relative to the sealing surface, the one or more flaps being operational to flex from a disengaged position when not under pressure, to an engaged position in contact with the sealing surface when exposed to pressure inside the case during an arcing event. Sealed enclosure doors and methods of sealing an enclosure during an arcing event are also provided, as are other aspects.

Claims

1. A sealed enclosure, comprising:

a case configured to receive an arc-prone electrical component;

a face frame defining an opening;

a door configured to cover the opening;

a sealing surface on the face frame or on the door; and

one or more flaps having an sealing portion, the sealing portion being angled relative to the sealing surface, the one or more flaps being operational to flex from a disengaged position when not under pressure, to an engaged position in contact with the sealing surface when exposed to pressure inside the case during an arcing event.

2. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the one or more flaps are coupled to the door and the sealing portion seals to the sealing surface on the face frame.

3. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the one or more flaps are coupled to the face frame and the sealing portion seals to the sealing surface on the door.

4. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the one or more flaps comprise an attachment portion coupled to the sealing portion, the attachment portion adapted to couple to the door or face frame.

5. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the sealing portion is positioned such that a gap between the sealing portion and the sealing surface is less than about 10 mm.

6. The sealed enclosure of claim 5 wherein the sealing portion is positioned such that the gap between the sealing portion and the sealing surface is greater than or equal to about 2 mm and less than or equal to about 10 mm.

7. The sealed enclosure of claim 5 wherein the sealing portion is positioned such that an angle of between the sealing portion and the sealing surface is greater than about 30 degrees.

8. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the one or more flaps comprise a flexible sheet material.

9. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the one or more flaps comprise a sheet material having a thickness of from 6 gauge to 26 gauge.

10. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 wherein the one or more flaps comprise a steel sheet material having a thickness of from 14 gauge to 16 gauge.

11. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 comprising a height of the sealing portion of the one or more flaps of between about 25 mm and about 50 mm.

12. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 comprising a flap provided along each edge of the door.

13. The sealed enclosure of claim 1 comprising an angle of less than 90 degrees formed on one or more angled ends of the one or more flaps.

14. The sealed enclosure of claim 1, comprising an angle of between about 60 degrees and about 30 degrees formed on each angled end of the one or more flaps.

15. The sealed enclosure of claim 1, wherein the one or more flaps comprise a bend line having a plurality of pockets interspersed with beam springs.

16. A sealed enclosure, comprising:

a case configured to receive an arc-prone electrical component;

a face frame on the case defining an opening, the face frame having a plurality of sealing surfaces;

a door configured to cover the opening; and

a plurality of flaps coupled to the door, one flap adjacent each edge of the door, the plurality of flaps each having an sealing portion being positioned relative to one of the sealing surfaces, the one or more flaps being operational to flex from a disengaged position when not under pressure, to an engaged position in contact with the sealing surfaces when exposed to pressure inside the case during an arcing event.

17. The sealed enclosure of claim 16, comprising an angle of less than 90 degrees formed on angled ends of the one or more flaps,

18. The sealed enclosure of claim 16 wherein each of the sealing portions is positioned such that a gap between each of the sealing portions and the adjacent sealing surface is less than 10 mm.

19. The sealed enclosure of claim 16 wherein the sealing portion is positioned such that an angle of between the sealing portion and the sealing surface is greater than about 30 degrees.

20. A sealed enclosure door, comprising:

a door configured to cover an opening of a case; and

a plurality of flaps coupled to the door, one flap adjacent each edge of the door, the plurality of flaps each having an sealing portion, the one or more flaps being operational to flex from a disengaged position when not under pressure, to an engaged position in contact with sealing surfaces of an enclosure when exposed to pressure inside the case during an arcing event.

21. A method of sealing an enclosure during an arcing event, the method comprising:

providing a face frame on a case of the enclosure;

providing a door on the case;

providing a sealing surface on the door or the face frame; and

sealing between the door and the face frame during the arcing event by flexing a flap into contact with the sealing surface responsive to pressure buildup in the enclosure due to the arcing event.