Busway output box guide/inhibitor system for insertion and removal of a busway output box

• US 9,385,517 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Busway Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Busway Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Baldwin, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/644,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 174/88.B, 174/71.B, 174/86, 174/481, 174/50, 174/58, 174/504, 439/213, 439/211, 439/114, 439/136
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/08 Connection boxes therefor

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for facilitating safe removal of rotational-style output boxes in busway bar power distribution systems particularly configured components to form output box guides. The disclosed schemes render rotational style output boxes for busway bar systems less susceptible to damage introduced by inadvertent or improper removal of the rotational style output boxes in the busway bars. Mechanical structures are provided that substantially inhibit an ability to incorrectly rotate a rotational-style output box during a removal process. A busway output box guide system provides structures associated with and/or attached to at least one of an output box and a busway bar, labeling and warning indication components that inform and substantially inhibit an ability of a user to incorrectly rotate a rotational-style output box in a “wrong” direction particularly when removing the rotational style output box from a busway bar in a power distribution system.

Claims

1. A guide system for enhancing safety in busway bar power distribution systems, comprising:

one or more guide structures that are configured to project from at least one of an output box and a busway bar in a direction of at least an other of the output box and the busway bar,

the busway bar having an elongated axis,

the output box being configured to be installed in the busway bar by rotating the output box around a rotational axis that is orthogonal to the elongated axis of the busway bar,

the one or more guide structures extending across a plane of an interface between the output box and the busway bar when installed and inhibiting a direction of rotation of the output box with respect to the busway bar around the rotational axis by abutting an outer surface of at least one of the output box and the busway bar,

the one or more guide structures being components of a guide appliance, the guide appliance comprising;

a first portion configured to be substantially parallel to the plane of the interface between the output box and the busway bar when installed, and

the one or more guide structures constituting a second portion extending substantially orthogonally to the first portion to extend across the plane of the interface between the output box and the busway bar.

2. The guide system of claim 1, the output box being a rotational-style output box,

the rotational-style output box being configured to be selectably installed in the busway bar in a plurality of distinct installation configurations, and

the one or more guide structures being configured to be selectably attached to the at least one of the rotational-style output box and the busway bar to (1) support each of the plurality of distinct installation configurations and (2) inhibit rotation of the rotational-style output box in an improper direction around the rotational axis for removal of the rotational style output box from the busway bar in a removal operation for any of the plurality of distinct installation configurations.

3. The guide system of claim 2, the guide appliance being adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the at least one of the rotational-style output box and the busway bar.

4. The guide system of claim 2, the guide appliance being mechanically attached to the at least one of the rotational-style output box and the busway bar.

5. The guide system of claim 4, the mechanical attachment using at least one of a screw, a bolt and nut, a clamp and a clip.

6. The guide system of claim 2, the rotational-style output box having a structural tab protruding from a side face of the rotational-style output box,

the guide appliance being attached to the structural tab.

7. The guide system of claim 1, further comprising a labeling configured to be attached to at least one of an outer surface of the output box, an outer surface of the busway and a surface of the second portion of the guide appliance to provide a visual indication of a correct direction of rotation for removal of the output box from the busway bar in a removal operation.

8. The guide system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator component configured to be attached to an outer surface of the output box, the indicator component being electrically connected to the one or more guide structures and configured to provide a warning to a user that the output box is being rotated in an improper direction of rotation with respect to the busway bar.

9. The guide system of claim 8, the indicator component being electrically connected to a circuit that is activated to provide an indication that the output box is not under a load rendering the output box safe to remove from the busway bar.

10. The guide system of claim 1, the guide appliance comprising at least two separate pieces, the at least two separate pieces each having the first portion and the second portion and being configured to be structurally complementary to provide a substantially U-shaped configuration when put together and installed.

11. The guide system of claim 1, further comprising a labeling provided on an outer surface of the second portion that is viewable by a user when the guide appliance is installed to provide the user with an indication of a correct direction of rotation for removal of the output box from the busway bar in a removal operation.

12. The guide system of claim 1, the one or more guide structures being configured for retrofit into output box and busway bar installations without disturbing the output box and busway bar installations.

13. The guide system of claim 12, the one or more guide structures being provided in a kit form to support retrofit operations.

14. The guide system of claim 13, the kit form including:

a labeling configured to be attached to at least one of an outer surface of the output box, an outer surface of the busway and a surface of the second portion of the guide appliance to provide a visual indication of a correct direction of rotation for removal of the output box from the busway bar in a removal operation, and

an indicator component configured to be attached to an outer surface of the output box to provide at least one of a warning to a user that

the output box is being rotated in an improper direction of rotation with respect to the busway bar, and

electrical energy flowing from the busway bar to the output box is interrupted rendering the output box safe to remove from the busway bar.