Arresting system usable with arc-resistant electrical enclosure

• US 10,297,986 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Wesley Byron, Woolard, David Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eloshway, Niki M
• Application Number:
  US14/840,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20170063052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 220 881, 220 882, 22056001
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/30 Cabinet-type casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/306 Accessories, e.g. windows
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/565 for cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/025 Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect

Abstract

An arc-resistant electrical enclosure includes an arresting system that permits forced-air cooling of the interior region to occur during ordinary operation of the enclosure while resisting the flow of hot gases, plasma, and flames to the exterior of the electrical enclosure in an arc event or other event. The arresting system advantageously includes a louver apparatus and a cover apparatus that work in conjunction to resist the flow of gases, plasma, and flames to the exterior of the cabinet in an arc event. The louver apparatus includes louvers that can be moved from an open state to a closed state responsive to a predetermined fluid pressure impinging on the louvers. The cover apparatus includes a fire blocking panel that permits fluid flow therethrough during ordinary operation but which, responsive to a flame, initiates a transformation from one state to another state wherein the openings resist the communication of flames therethrough.

Claims

1. An arresting system structured for use at an aperture formed in a wall of an arc-resistant electrical enclosure, the arresting system comprising:

a louver apparatus comprising a number of louvers and being structured to be mounted to the wall and to be situated at least one of adjacent the aperture and within the aperture, the number of louvers being movable between an open state permitting fluid flow therethrough and a closed state wherein the number of louvers resist fluid flow therethrough responsive to a predetermined fluid pressure impinging on the number of louvers;

a cover apparatus structured to be situated on at least one of the wall and the louver apparatus, the cover apparatus comprising a fire blocking panel having a number of openings formed therein and being structured to overlie the aperture, the number of openings in a first state of the fire blocking panel permitting fluid flow therethrough and, responsive to a flame, the fire blocking panel initiating a transformation from the first state toward a second state wherein at least some of the number of openings resist the communication of flames therethrough;

wherein the louver apparatus further comprises a frame on which the number of louvers are movably disposed, the frame being structured to be mounted to at least one of the wall and the cover apparatus, the cover apparatus being receivable adjacent the frame to overlie the number of louvers;

wherein the cover apparatus further comprises a support upon which the fire blocking panel is disposed, the support being receivable on the frame to situate the fire blocking panel in a position overlying the number of louvers; and

wherein the louver apparatus further comprises a grille situated on the frame and having formed therein a plurality of holes that permit fluid flow therethrough, the fire blocking panel being situated adjacent the grille when the cover apparatus is situated on the at least one of the wall and the louver apparatus in a position overlying the number of louvers.

2. The arresting system of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a lip, the fire blocking panel being situated between the lip and the grille when the cover apparatus is situated in a position overlying the number of louvers.

3. The arresting system of claim 2 wherein the cover apparatus further comprises a particulate filter situated upon the support, the fire blocking panel being disposed between the particulate filter and the grille when the cover apparatus is situated on the at least one of the wall and the louver apparatus in a position overlying the number of louvers.

4. The arresting system of claim 1 wherein the louver apparatus further comprises a strut and a connector that are structured to be connected together, one of the strut and the connector being structured to be attached to one of the wall and a louver of the number of louvers in the open state, the other of the strut and the connector being structured to be attached to the other of the wall and the louver, the connector being deformable responsive to the predetermined fluid pressure impinging on the number of louvers to permit the number of louvers to move from the open state toward the closed state.

5. The arresting system of claim 1 wherein the cover apparatus is pivotably situated on one of the louver apparatus and the wall.

6. An arc-resistant electrical enclosure comprising the arresting system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a cabinet comprising a wall having an aperture formed therein, the louver apparatus and the cover apparatus being situated on the wall and overlying the aperture, the arresting system being structured to resist the communication of a flame from an interior region of the cabinet to the exterior of the cabinet via the aperture.

7. The arc-resistant electrical enclosure of claim 6 wherein the louver apparatus is mounted to the wall, and wherein the cover apparatus is mounted to at least one of the louver apparatus and the wall.

8. An arresting system structured for use at an aperture formed in a wall of an arc-resistant electrical enclosure, the arresting system comprising:

a louver apparatus comprising a number of louvers and being structured to be mounted to the wall and to be situated at least one of adjacent the aperture and within the aperture, the number of louvers being movable between an open state permitting fluid flow therethrough and a closed state wherein the number of louvers resist fluid flow therethrough responsive to a predetermined fluid pressure impinging on the number of louvers;

a cover apparatus structured to be situated on at least one of the wall and the louver apparatus, the cover apparatus comprising a fire blocking panel having a number of openings formed therein and being structured to overlie the aperture, the number of openings in a first state of the fire blocking panel permitting fluid flow therethrough and, responsive to a flame, the fire blocking panel initiating a transformation from the first state toward a second state wherein at least some of the number of openings resist the communication of flames therethrough;

wherein the louver apparatus further comprises a frame on which the number of louvers are movably disposed, the frame being structured to be mounted to at least one of the wall and the cover apparatus, the cover apparatus being receivable adjacent the frame to overlie the number of louvers;

wherein the louver apparatus further comprises a strut and a connector that are structured to be connected together, one of the strut and the connector being structured to be attached to one of the wall and a louver of the number of louvers in the open state, the other of the strut and the connector being structured to be attached to the other of the wall and the louver, the connector being deformable responsive to the predetermined fluid pressure impinging on the number of louvers to permit the number of louvers to move from the open state toward the closed state; and

wherein the connector is a frangible element that is structured to fracture responsive to the predetermined fluid pressure impinging on the number of louvers to permit the number of louvers to move from the open state toward the closed state.

9. The arresting system of claim 8 wherein the cover apparatus further comprises a support upon which the fire blocking panel is disposed, the support being receivable on the frame to situate the fire blocking panel in a position overlying the number of louvers.

10. The arresting system of claim 8 wherein the cover apparatus is pivotably situated on one of the louver apparatus and the wall.

11. An arc-resistant electrical enclosure comprising the arresting system of claim 8, and further comprising:

a cabinet comprising a wall having an aperture formed therein, the louver apparatus and the cover apparatus being situated on the wall and overlying the aperture, the arresting system being structured to resist the communication of a flame from an interior region of the cabinet to the exterior of the cabinet via the aperture.

12. The arc-resistant electrical enclosure of claim 11 wherein the louver apparatus is mounted to the wall, and wherein the cover apparatus is mounted to at least one of the louver apparatus and the wall.