Housing assembly and method of assembling same

• US 9,559,501 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lindholm, Brian Eric, Tenga, Ryan Richard, Chen, Yuenan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US13/179,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 174/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/28 dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method of assembling a housing assembly is provided. The method includes providing a housing that includes an access panel and a cavity defined therein, wherein the housing is sized to enclose at least one electrical system within the cavity. A portion of the housing is enclosed with a cover such that the access panel remains accessible and the cover is positioned against the portion of the housing. At least one gasket is coupled between the housing and the cover such that a seal is formed on the housing assembly that substantially prevents fluid from entering the housing assembly.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a housing assembly, said method comprising:

providing a housing that includes an access panel, at least one sidewall, a rear panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a cavity defined entirely therein; and

coupling a separate cover directly against at least one of said at least one sidewall, said rear panel, and said top panel of the housing, comprising;

enclosing a portion of the housing with the cover such that the access panel remains accessible, comprising;

positioning a first portion of the cover against the housing top panel;

positioning a second portion of the cover against the housing rear panel, wherein the second portion is coupled to the first portion; and

positioning at least one side portion of the cover against the at least one sidewall of the housing such that the at least one side portion is coupled to the first portion and to the second portion;

coupling a first gasket between the access panel and the first portion of the cover and between the access panel and the at least one side portion of the cover; and

coupling a second gasket between the second portion and the at least one side portion of the cover such that a seal is formed on the housing assembly that substantially prevents fluid from entering the housing assembly.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein providing a housing further comprises:

coupling the top panel to the access panel;

coupling the at least one sidewall to the top panel and to the access panel;

coupling the rear panel to the at least one sidewall and to the top panel; and

coupling the bottom panel to the at least one sidewall and to the rear panel.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

concealing the housing top panel with the first portion of the cover;

concealing the housing rear panel with the second portion of the cover; and

concealing the at least one sidewall of the housing with the at least one side portion of the cover.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein enclosing a portion of the housing with the cover further comprises enclosing the portion of the housing with a cover fabricated from carbon steel.

8. A housing assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one sidewall comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said at least one side portion comprises a first side portion positioned against said first sidewall and a second side portion positioned against said second sidewall.

9. A housing assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein said first side portion comprises a length and a width that are substantially equal to a length and a width of said second side portion.

10. A housing assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first side portion is coupled to a first edge of said first portion and to a first edge of said second portion, said second side portion is coupled to a second edge of said first portion and to a second edge of said second portion.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein coupling a first gasket between the access panel and the first portion of the cover and between the access panel and the at least one side portion of the cover comprises coupling a first gasket between the access panel and the first portion of the cover and between the access panel and the at least one side portion of the cover, the first gasket extending between the access panel and a front edge of the first portion of the cover.

5. A housing assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an access panel, at least one sidewall, a rear panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a cavity defined entirely therein, wherein said housing is sized to enclose at least one electrical system within said cavity;

a cover coupled directly against a portion of the housing such that said access panel remains accessible, wherein said cover comprises;

a first portion positioned against said housing top panel;

a second portion coupled to said first portion and positioned against said housing rear panel; and

at least one side portion coupled to said first portion and to said second portion, wherein said at least one side portion is positioned against said at least one sidewall panel;

a first gasket extending between said access panel and said first portion and between said access panel and said at least one side portion; and

a second gasket extending between said second portion and said at least one side portion such that a seal is formed on said housing assembly that substantially prevents fluid from entering said housing assembly.

6. A housing assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said top panel is coupled to said access panel;

said at least one sidewall is coupled to said top panel and to said access panel;

said rear panel is coupled to said at least one sidewall and to said top panel; and

said base panel is coupled to said at least one sidewall and to said rear panel.

7. A housing assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first portion conceals said housing top panel, said second portion conceals said housing rear panel, and said at least one side portion conceals said at least one sidewall.

11. An industrial system comprising:

at least one electrical system; and

at least one housing assembly enclosing said at least one electrical system, said at least one housing assembly comprising;

a housing comprising an access panel, at least one sidewall, a rear panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a cavity defined entirely therein, wherein said housing is sized to enclose said at least one electrical system within said cavity;

a cover coupled directly against at least one of said at least one sidewall, said rear panel, and said top panel of said housing such that said access panel remains accessible, wherein said cover comprises;

a first portion positioned against said housing top panel;

a second portion coupled to said first portion and positioned against said housing rear panel; and

at least one side portion coupled to said first portion and to said second portion, wherein said at least one side portion is positioned against said at least one sidewall panel;

a first gasket extending between said access panel and said first portion and between said access panel and said at least one side portion; and

a second gasket extending between said second portion and said at least one side portion such that a seal is formed on said housing assembly that substantially prevents fluid from entering said housing assembly.

12. An industrial system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said top panel is coupled to said access panel;

said at least one sidewall is coupled to said housing top panel;

said rear panel is coupled to said at least one sidewall and to said housing top panel; and

said base panel is coupled to said at least one sidewall and to said rear panel.

13. An industrial system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said first portion conceals said housing top panel, said second portion conceals said housing rear panel, and said at least one side portion conceals said at least one sidewall.

14. An industrial system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said at least one sidewall comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said at least one side portion comprises a first side portion positioned against said first sidewall and a second side portion positioned against said second sidewall.