Transfer switch having a light that provides surface illumination of the transfer switch

• US 8,395,884 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Czarnecki, Neil A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERVINSKY, BORIS LEO
• Application Number:
  US12/905,542
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/643
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/018 Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/48 Mounting of devices therein

Abstract

A power transfer device adapted for interconnection with the electrical system of a building includes a housing and a set of power transfer components interconnected with the housing for supplying auxiliary electrical power to the electrical system of a building. A light is mounted to the housing to provide illumination of the power transfer components when the power transfer device is supplied with auxiliary electrical power.

Claims

1. A power transfer device comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of components that are adapted to allow selective connection of an electrical system of a building with a supply of power from a primary power source and with a secondary power source; and

a light mounted to the cabinet and electrically connected to the secondary power source to emit light generally about the cabinet and an area proximate the cabinet when the secondary power source is supplying power to the electrical system of the building to provide surface illumination of the plurality of components of the cabinet.

2. The power transfer device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of components is further defined as:

a plurality of switches;

a plurality of circuit breakers;

at least one power meter; and

wherein the light provides surface illumination of the switches, the circuit breakers, and the at least one power meter.

3. The power transfer device of claim 1 wherein the light includes at least one light emitting diode (LED).

4. The power transfer device of claim 1 wherein the cabinet includes:

a first compartment defining a first cavity and having a first panel for closing the first cavity;

a second compartment defining a second cavity and having a removable second panel for selectively closing the second cavity; and

wherein the light is mounted to at least one of the first panel and the second panel to provide illumination of at least one of the first panel and the second panel.

5. The power transfer device of claim 4 wherein the light includes a light bar mounted to the first panel.

6. The power transfer device of claim 5 wherein the light bar includes a plurality of LEDs.

7. The power transfer device of claim 4 further comprising a cover interconnected with the cabinet for movement between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the cover in the closed position overlies the light.

8. The power transfer device of claim 1 wherein the cabinet includes a wall provided with an opening, and further comprising:

a cover engageable with the wall for covering the opening;

a lens attached to the cover; and

wherein the light is positioned within the lens and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the wall to which one or more of the plurality of components are mounted.

9. The power transfer device of claim 8 wherein the light includes an array of LEDs centered about an optical axis of the lens.

10. The power transfer device of claim 9 wherein the array includes four LEDs radially displaced from one another at about every 90 degrees.

11. The power transfer device of claim 8 wherein the lens is a low-profile flat lens formed of translucent material.

12. A housing for a transfer switch arrangement comprising:

a base having a first wall and a pair of transverse walls;

an enclosure arrangement attached to the base that cooperates with the base to define an interior, wherein the enclosure arrangement includes a plurality of electrical components associated with delivering secondary electrical power to an electrical system when primary power to the electrical system is unavailable, wherein the interior contains a lead that receives secondary electrical power; and

a light mounted to the enclosure arrangement and electrically connected to the lead, wherein the light provides ambient and surface illumination on the enclosure arrangement when secondary electrical power is being supplied to the electrical system.

13. The housing of claim 12 wherein the light includes a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The housing of claim 13 wherein the light includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in either a linear array or a radial array.

15. A power transfer device having electrical components for supplying power from a secondary power source in electrical communication with a power inlet arrangement to the electrical system of a building, the power transfer device comprising:

a cabinet defining an internal volume within which a set of connections corresponding to the electrical components is located; and

a lighting element on the cabinet that is configured to emit light onto one or more of the electrical components when the power transfer device is being used in the supply of secondary power to the electrical system of the building.

16. The power transfer device of claim 15 wherein the lighting element includes an array of LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board, and wherein the cabinet includes a substantially clear lens that emits light from the array of LEDs onto one or more of the electrical components.

17. The power transfer device of claim 16 wherein each LED is mounted to the printed circuit at an angle such that each LED emits light along an axis that is generally parallel to the plane of a wall forming a part of the cabinet.

18. The power transfer device of claim 15 wherein the cabinet includes

a first compartment defining a first cavity of the internal volume and having a first panel for closing the first cavity;

a second compartment defining a second cavity of the interval volume and having a second panel for selectively closing the second cavity;

one or more lead wires interconnected with and extending from the electrical components, wherein the lead wires define ends extending into the second cavity for connection to a power input; and

wherein the light is mounted to at least one of the first panel and the second panel to provide illumination of at least one of the first panel and the second panel.