SWITCHBOARD WITH IMPROVED HORIZONTAL BUSBAR MOUNTING PROVISIONS

• US 3,855,504 A
• Filed: 09/27/1973
• Issued: 12/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Francis Olashaw
• Original Assignee: William Francis Olashaw
• Inventors: Olashaw, William Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald P.
• Application Number:
  US05/401,245
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 317/119,120 174/7B,71B,72B,88B,99B,149B,174
• US Class Current: 361/614
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/21 Bus-bar arrangements for rack-mounted devices with withdrawable units

Abstract

A switchboard construction utilizes modular, insulative mounting panels to both electrically isolate and physically mount the various busbars, as well as, via line straps, the various electrical devices to the cabinet frame. The mounting panels installed vertically end-to-end also serve as rear barriers for the compartments accommodating the electrical devices. Barrier sheets secured to the front and back of the panels shield personnel from live parts. Load straps pass through apertures in the panels and vertical buses to the rear of the cabinet for convenient load connection. Horizontal bus sections are joined, electrically connected to and mounted by the vertical buses at common locations.

Claims

1. An electrical switchboard consisting of at least two side-byside switchboard sections for distributing polyphase electrical power to a plurality of loads via respective electrical devices accommodated in compartments stacked vertically in each switchboard section, said switchboard comprising, in combination:

A. a frame;

B. a plurality of vertical busbars in each switchboard section, one for each phase;

C. means insulatively mounting said vertical busbars to said frame;

D. connectors electrically connecting said vertical busbars to the electrical devices and the electrical devices to their respective loads;

E. a plurality of horizontal busbars, one for each phase, each said horizontal busbar being made up of several horizontal busbar sections; and

F. common means at each crossing location in each switchboard section of correspondingly phased horizontal and vertical busbars 1. serially joining two of said horizontal busbar sections endto-end, 2. mounting said horizontal busbars respectively to said vertical busbars, and 3. electrically connecting said horizontal busbars respectively to said vertical busbars; and

G. one horizontal busbar section of each said horizontal busbar extending in continuous, uninterrupted fashion between adjacent switchboard sections and having opposite ends terminating at said crossing locations in each of the switchboard sections.

2. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 1, wherein each said joining, mounting and electrically connecting means comprises a bolted joint.

3. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 1, wherein corresponding surfaces of joined busbar sections are aligned in common planes.

4. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 1, wherein the joined ends of said horizontal busbar sections are relieved to provide for a scarf joint therebetween.

5. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 1, which further includes a conductive bracket secured to each vertical busbar at said crossing locations, each said bracket including means for accepting said joining, mounting and electrically connecting means.

6. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 5, wherein each said bracket is U-shaped having leg portions and an interconnecting bridge portion, the ends of said leg portions being welded to said vertical busbars.

7. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 6, wherein said vertical busbars are also U-shaped having leg portions and an intercoNnecting bridge portion, said bracket leg portions being relieved at their ends to conform to the inner corners of said vertical busbar leg portions where the welded connection therebetween is located.

8. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 6, wherein said bridging portion is formed having tapped bores, and said joining, mounting and electrically connecting means comprise bolts threaded into said bores to clamp said horizontal busbars to respective ones of said bracket.

9. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 8, wherein corresponding surfaces of joined busbar sections are aligned in common planes.

10. The electrical switchboard defined in claim 8, where the ends of said horizontal busbar sections are relieved to provide for a scarf joint therebetween.