HIGH VOLTAGE SPLICE BOX FOR WET LOCATIONS

• US 20030205396A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Relight America Incorporated (Relight)
• Original Assignee: Relight America Incorporated (Relight)
• Inventors: Brown, Tyler B., Rumsey, Roger L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,677,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets

Abstract

A high voltage splice box formed of non-conductive material having a back wall and an integral side wall around the full periphery of the back wall and providing an enclosed area with an open front having a front peripheral edge. A post is formed of electrically non-conductive material extending from the back wall and spaced from the side wall and has a top surface at a height less than the depth of the side wall, the top surface providing a place where multiple conductors can be interconnected. A cover has a circumferential lip sealably attached to the box front peripheral edge. The post top surface is spaced from the box back wall, side wall and cover at distances to prevent arching between a conductor secured to the post top surface and conductive objects exterior of the box.

Claims

1. A high voltage splice box comprising;

a box formed of electrically non—

conductive material having a back wall and an integral side wall of selected depth around the full periphery of said back wall and providing an enclosed area with an open front having a front peripheral edge and the box having at least one opening formed in said side wall communicating with said enclosed area;

a post formed of electrically non-conductive material extending from an interior surfaced of said back wall and spaced from said side wall and having a top surface at a height less than said depth of said side wall, said top surface providing a place where multiple conductors can be interconnected; and

a cover formed of electrically non-conductive material having a front wall and an integral circumferential lip around the full periphery of said front wall, said cover circumferential lip being sealably and removably attached to said box front peripheral edge, said post top surface being spaced from said box back wall and side wall and from said cover front wall at distances to substantially prevent the chance of arching between a conductor secured to said post top surface and conductive objects exterior of said box back wall, side wall and cover front wall.

2. A high voltage splice box according to claim 1 in which said back wall is rectangular and in which said integral side wall is formed of two planar side panels and two planar end panels and wherein said cover front panel is rectangular and wherein said at least one opening is in one of said end panels.

3. A high voltage splice box according to claim 1 in which said post top surface has a recess therein and including;

a metallic electrically conductive attachment element having a base portion received in said recess and a threaded portion extending past said post top surface and adapted to receive electrical conductors wound thereon; and

and a nut received on said threaded portion to retain electrical conductors.

4. A high voltage splice box according to claim 3 wherein said electrically conductive attachment element base portion has an upper surface from which said threaded portion extends and wherein said conductive element base portion upper surface is positioned above said post tip surface so that thereby when said nut is tightened against conductors received on said attachment element base portion force will not be applied tending to extract said attachment element base portion from said recess.

5. A high voltage splice box according to claim 3 wherein said recess in said post top surface is non-circular in cross-section and wherein said attachment element base portion is noncircular in cross-section and configured and dimensioned to be snugly received in said recess.

6. A high voltage splice box according the claim 1 wherein said box front peripheral edge has an integral flange portion providing an outwardly extending locking ledge and wherein said cover lip has a circumferential concave channel that receives said box peripheral edge flange portion when said cover is in closed position on said box.

7. A high voltage splice box according to claim 6 wherein said cover lip circumferential channel has, for at least a portion of said cover periphery, an integral inwardly extending tapered tang portion that engages said box flange portion locking ledge to retain said cover in closed position on said box.

8. A high voltage splice box according to claim 7 wherein said cover lip circumferential channel is configured to permit said box side wall adjacent said front peripheral edge to be inwardly deflected or said cover concave channel to be outwardly deflected to permit said cover to be removed from said box.

9. A high voltage splice box according to claim 1 wherein said box side wall has two adjacent openings therein and including:

a ground member plate formed of electrically conductive material having two openings therein in a geometrical pattern matching said two openings in said box side wall and positioned in continuity with an interior surface of a portion of said side wall having said two openings therein.

10. A high voltage splice box according to claim 9 wherein said box has an integral, elongated cylindrical projection expending from said box side wall and positioned between said two openings therein and wherein said projection in cross-section has an elongated reduced width integral web portion and wherein said ground member plate has an elongated narrow width slot therein, the slot slidably receiving said projection web portion by which said ground member plate is retained in place within said box.

11. A high voltage splice box comprising;

a box formed of electrically non-conductive material having a back wall and an integral side wall of selected depth around the full periphery of said back wall and providing an enclosed area with an open front having a front peripheral edge and the box having at least two openings formed in a portion of said side wall, the openings communicating with said enclosed area;

an attachment surface provided within said enclosed area by electrically non-conducive material extending from said back wall and/or side wall, the attachment surface begin spaced from said back wall, side wall and front peripheral edge and providing means whereby electrical conductors can be interconnected;

a ground member formed of electrically conductive material having at least two openings therein in a geometrical pattern matching said at east two openings in said box side wall and positioned in continuity with an interior surface of said side wall having said at least two openings therein; and

a cover formed of electrically non-conductive material having a front wall and an integral circumferential lip around the full periphery thereof, the cover circumferential lip being sealably and removably attached to said box front peripheral edge.

12. A high voltage splice box according to claim 11 wherein said box side wall has a first and second said openings therein spaced adjacent to each other and wherein said ground member is a plate of relatively thin metal having first and second openings therein that register with said box side wall first and second openings.

13. A high voltage splice box according to claim 12 wherein said box has an integral, elongated cylindrical projection expending from said box side wall openings therein and wherein said projection in cross-section has an elongated reduced width integral web portion and wherein said ground member plate has an elongated narrow width slot therein, the slot slidably receiving said projection web portion by which said ground member plate is retained in place within said box.