Electric distribution systems and electrical take-off apparatus therefor

• US 6,105,741 A
• Filed: 04/17/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Standard Safety Trolley Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Electric Corp. (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Ross, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCarry, Jr., Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,494
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 191/6, 191/15, 191/45, 191/48, 191/49, 191/23 R, 191/23 A
• US Class Current: 191/23.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/36 with means for collecting current simultaneously from more than one conductor, e.g. from more than one phase
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/40 for collecting current from lines in slotted conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/34 in slotted conduits

Abstract

An electric distribution system which includes an elongated generally channel-shaped busway having a top wall and a pair of side walls with bus bars secured to the interior of the side walls. An electrical take-off is slidably secured within the busway with the take-off having a housing, a pair of spaced rotatable electrical contact supports having a circuit selection portion for rotating the contact support. At least one electrical contact passing through a passageway in the support and a spring which surrounds a portion of the support adjacent the passageway, urging the electrical contact in a first direction. The contact support is structured to be rotated to a first position wherein the electrical contact is disposed within the take-off housing and a second position wherein it projects outwardly into contact with a bus bar. The spring, in a preferred form, is a spring clip which is positioned in surrounding relationship with a portion of the electrical contact support and urges an electrical contact, in the form of a pin having its head received within a recess adjacent to the spring into intimate contact with the bus bars. Electrical wires connect the electrical contact and emerge from the housing of the take-off to facilitate transfer of electric current from the bus bars to the desired location.

Claims

1. Electrical take-off apparatus for use with an elongated electrical distribution busway containing at least two bus bars comprising

a housing,

a pair of relatively spaced electrical contact supports rotatably mounted within said housing and having circuit selection members for rotating said contact supports in said housing,

at least one electrical contact receiving passageway formed within said electrical contact supports,

an elongated electrical contact passing through a said passageway in each said contact support, and

spring means resisting movement of said electrical contact out of said passageway in one direction.

2. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 1 including

said electrical contact being substantially rigid.

3. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 2 including

said electrical contacts being pins having an enlarged head of greater diameter than said passageway through which said pin passes, whereby said pin head will resist removal of said pin from said passageway in a direction which is generally opposite to said one direction.

4. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 3 including

said spring means extends at least 180 degrees around said contact support.

5. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 4 including

said spring means being springs having a strip of metal which extends at least 270 degrees around said contact supports.

6. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 5 including

said contact supports having a pin head receiving recess and said pin heads being received therein.

7. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 6 including

the portion of each said contact support disposed adjacent said spring having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration except for said pin head recess and said passageway.

8. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 1 including

said electrical contact support being rotatable between a first position wherein said electrical contact is disposed within said housing and a second position wherein said electrical contact projects therefrom into contact with a bus bar.

9. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 8 including

at least one said electric contact support being rotatable from said first position in either direction to cause said electrical contact to project from said housing in either direction.

10. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 9 including

a second said electric contact support being rotatable in only one direction to effect projection of said electrical contact in said second position.

11. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 8 including

said electrical contact in said second position being generally perpendicular to the axial extent of said electrical contact when it is in said first position.

12. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 1 including

electrical wires electrically connected to said electrical contacts.

13. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 12 including

fuse means disposed within said housing and being operatively associated with said electrical wires.

14. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 8 including

said spring means being structured to urge said electrical contact into intimate contact with said bus bar.

15. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 1 including

slots in said housing to permit passage of said electrical contacts therethrough.

16. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 1 including

each said electrical contact support having one electrical contact secured thereto.

17. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 4 including

said spring being a spring clip having a base adjacent to said pin head and a pair of curved arms extending from the ends of said base along the circumference of said contact support.

18. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 17 including

said base being substantially flat.

19. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 18 including

said spring clip arms having free ends adjacent the shank of said pin.

20. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 9 including

both said electric contact supports being rotatable in either said direction to effect said electrical contact projection in either direction.

21. An electric distribution system comprising

an elongated generally channel-shaped member having an upper wall and a pair of depending generally parallel side walls,

at least one electrical bus bar mounted on the interior of each said side wall,

electrical take-off apparatus being slidably received within the passageway of said elongated channel having a housing,

a pair of relatively spaced electrical contact supports rotatably mounted within said housing and having circuit selection members for rotating said contact supports in said housing,

at least one electrical contact receiving passageway formed within each said electrical contact support,

an elongated electrical contact passing through a said passageway in each said contact support, and

spring means resisting movement of said electrical contact out of said passageway in one direction and urging said electrical contact into contact with a said bus bar, whereby electrical continuity is established between said busway and said electrical take-off.

22. The electric distribution system of claim 21 including

said electrical contact being substantially rigid.

23. The electric distribution system of claim 22 including

said electrical contacts being pins having an enlarged head of greater diameter than said passageway through which said pins pass, whereby said pin head will resist removal of said pin from said passageway in a direction which is generally opposite to said one direction.

24. The electric distribution system of claim 23 including

said spring means extends at least 180 degrees around said contact support.

25. The electric distribution system of claim 24 including

said spring means being springs having a strip of metal which extends at least 270 degrees around said contact support.

26. The electric distribution system of claim 25 including

said contact supports having a pin head receiving recess and said pin heads being received therein.

27. The electric distribution system of claim 26 including

the portion of said contact supports disposed adjacent said springs having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration except for said pin head recess and said passageway.

28. The electric distribution system of claim 21 including

said electrical contact support being rotatable between a first position wherein said electrical contact is disposed within said housing and a second position wherein said electrical contact projects therefrom into contact with a bus bar.

29. The electric distribution system of claim 28 including

a first said contact support being rotatable from said first position in either direction to cause said electrical contact to project from said housing in either direction.

30. The electric distribution system of claim 29 including

a second said contact support being rotatable in either direction to effect projection of said electrical contact in either position.

31. The electric distribution system of claim 28 including

said electrical contact in said second position being generally perpendicular to the axial extent of said electrical contact when it is in said first position.

32. The electric distribution system of claim 21 including

electrical wires electrically connected to said electrical contacts.

33. The electric distribution system of claim 32 including

fuse means disposed within said housing and being operatively associated with said electrical wires.

34. The electric distribution system of claim 28 including

said spring means being structured to urge said electrical contact into intimate contact with said bus bar.

35. The electric distribution system of claim 21 including

slots formed in said housing to permit passage of said electrical contacts therethrough.

36. The electric distribution system of claim 21 including

each said electrical contact support having one electrical contact secured thereto.

37. The electric distribution system of claim 21 including

said busway having a pair of generally parallel electrical bus bars disposed in electrically insulated recesses on opposite sides of said busway.

38. The electric distribution system of claim 37 including

said busway having a lower portion terminating with re-entrant flanges which cooperate to support said take-off.

39. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 21 including

said spring means being a spring clip having a base adjacent to said pin head and a pair of curved arms extending from the ends of said base along the circumference of said contact support.

40. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 39 including

said base being substantially flat.

41. The electrical take-off apparatus of claim 39 including

said spring clip arms having free ends adjacent the shank of said pin.