Door Mounted Vent Flap Structure For Arc-Resistant Compartment

• US 20160035518A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Pawar, Rahul, Bonfanti, Alessandro, Earl, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 9,627,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/342 Venting arrangements for arc chutes
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/38 Hinged covers or doors
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/56 Cooling; Ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/565 for cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/025 Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect

Abstract

A door for an arc-resistant compartment includes an opening there-through. Flap structure includes a flap member coupled to the door and movable between an opened position permitting air to pass through the opening, and a closed position covering the opening. Spring structure is engaged with the flap member to bias the flap member to the closed position. Handle structure is coupled to the flap member and extends through the door for moving the flap member to the opened position against the bias of the spring structure. Retaining structure provides a retaining force on the flap member to retain the flap member in the open position, against the bias of the spring structure. During an arcing event in the compartment, pressure within the compartment together with the bias of the spring structure overcomes the retaining force to automatically move the flap member to the closed position.

Claims

1. A door for an arc-resistant compartment, the door comprising:

surfaces defining at least one opening through the door, and

flap structure comprising;

a flap member coupled to the door and movable between an opened position permitting air to pass through the opening, and a closed position covering the opening,

spring structure engaged with the flap member and constructed and arranged to bias the flap member to the closed position,

handle structure coupled to the flap member and extending through the door for moving the flap member to the opened position against the bias of the spring structure, and

retaining structure constructed and arranged to provide a retaining force on the flap member to retain the flap member in the open position, against the bias of the spring structure, the retaining structure being constructed and arranged such that during an arcing event in the compartment, pressure within the compartment together with the bias of the spring structure overcomes the retaining force to automatically move the flap member to the closed position.

2. The door of claim 1, further comprising plunger structure engageable with the handle structure to prevent bounce back of the flap member once the flap member moves to the closed position.

3. The door of claim 2, wherein the plunger structure includes a spring loaded plunger constructed and arranged to engage a slot in the handle structure when the flap member is in the closed position.

4. The door of claim 1, further comprising at least one gasket between the flap member and the door constructed and arranged to seal the opening when the flap member is in the closed position.

5. The door of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure includes a strike member coupled to the handle structure and a catch member mounted to the door such that when the flap member is in the opened position, the strike member frictionally engages the catch member.

6. The door of claim 4, wherein the catch member includes at least one ball that frictionally engages the strike member.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the compartment is a circuit breaker or a current limiter compartment.

7. The door in combination with the compartment, the door being constructed and arranged, when opened, to provide access to an interior of the compartment.

9. A method of venting an arc-resistant compartment having a door for accessing and interior of the compartment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one opening through the door of the compartment,

mounting a flap member to the door in the interior of the compartment so that the flap member is movable between an opened position permitting air to pass through the opening, and a closed position covering the opening,

moving the flap member, against a biasing force, to the opened position,

providing a retaining force, against the biasing force, to retain flap member in the opened position, and

during an arcing event in the compartment, ensuring that resulting pressure in the interior together with the biasing force automatically moves the flap member, against the retaining force, to the closed position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the moving step includes moving a handle structure that is coupled to the flap member.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a retaining force includes:

providing a strike member coupled to the handle structure and a catch member mounted to the door such that when the flap member is in the opened position, the strike member frictionally engages the catch member.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the biasing force is provided by spring structure engaging the flap member so as to bias the flap member to the closed position.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

preventing bounce back of the flap member once the flap member is moved to the closed position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of preventing bounce back includes:

providing a spring loaded plunger that engages a slot in a handle structure, which is coupled with the flap member, when the flap member is in the closed position.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

ensuring the flap member is sealed with respect to the door in the closed position of the flap member, thereby sealing the opening.