CA2036215A1 - Multi-panel distribution board with a bus bar system - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract An electrical distribution board incorporates a plurality of assembled panels and bus bars that extend across these panels.
The supporting elements for the distribution board (side walls 1, 2, 10, 11) incorporate a locally set back or restricted profile (profile notches 3, 4, 12, 13), thereby forming a bus-bar space that is accessible along its whole length. Bus-bar carriers (40) are formed to be comb-like and have notches for the full profile of the bus bars (43). The arrangement makes it possible to lay the bus bars in the bus-bar space without using the push-through method of installation that was formerly used and which began at one end of the distribution board. The new arrangement is equally well suited for low-voltage distribution boards with bus-bar spaces at the top or at the back.

Description

~0365-3086 ~3~
A ~ulti-panel Distribution Board with a Buis Bar Syst~m The present inYe~tion relates tc an electrical distribution board that inccrporates a plurality o~ assembled panels and bus bars that extend across several panels, these being arranged within the overall dimensions of the distribution panel and held in position by means o~ insulating bu~ bar retainer~.

Distribution panels of this kind, with top mounted bus bars and rear mounted bus bars, are already known. For example, the Siemens house publication titled NiedersPannunqs-ssi~l53 8PU.Ol~ CThe 8PU.011 Low-volta~e distribution board~ (Order numher ~19100-E74-A91, Part nu~ber 174 224 PA 3865) describes a construction in which the upper area of each panel o~ the distribution board is separated from the i~stallation area of the equipmant by a partition and is proYided for accommodation of the bus bars. Insulated holders completely encircle the bus bars and ~ecure them in the direction that is transverse to theix longitudinal dimen~ion.

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An~ther construction of a distribut~on board as in DE-A-32 43 07g has a bus-bar space that extends to the total height o~ the panel, on the rear o~ each panel. Additionally, a bus-bar space can be pr~vided at the rear of the distribution panel and extends only part way up the panel (Siemens house publication ~ieder-':
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laqen 8PG t8PG Low-voltage Distribution BoardsJ, Order number E22V~1877, Part number 122 051 Ps 4735).

From the standpoint of operating sa~et:y and in order to reduce the number of steps involved in ~s~embly and installation, it is desirable to in~tall the bus bars at the greate~t possible continuous lengths when they are used in a multi-panel distribution board. When this is done, the so-called "push-through" method is used; in this method, bus bar~ of suitable length are introduced into the bus-bar space fxom the side. This method reqUires an unobstructed space that is equal to the length of the bus bars in the assembly shop. For this reason, twice the width of the distribution board that is being assembled has to be kept free in the assembly shop. In order to implify this method, it i~ already kn~wn that comb-like bus bar hold~rs can be so attached to the side walls o~ the distribution board that follow each other in sequence with the notches in opposite direc:tion~ that once a bus bar ha~; been put in place, it can be laid; in the notches (DE-B~l ï94 027) .

It i~ the task of the present invention to simplify th~ assembly of bu~ :bars in multipanel di~;tribution boards and, in par~icular, to reduce the amount o~ ~pace r~quired for this purpose in manu~acturing faailitie~. :

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~3~5 According to the present invention, thi~ taks has been solved in that a bus-bar ~pace that is accessible to its whole length is formed by locally setting back or restricting the profiles oE the supporting elements of adjacent panels, and in that the bus-bar supports are formed so as to be co~b-liXe, with notches to accommodate the complete profile of the bus bars. This configuration makeis the formerly used push-through method, and the associated space requirement, unnecessary. Rather, the bus bars can be installed directly into the associated holders. Even though the bus-bar supports are only provided with notches that correspond to the profile of the bus bars, the bus bars are held rigidly enough since there is always a connection with continuing contact rails, ~o that overall stiffening and strengthening is achieved in the finished distribution boards.

If tha buis~bar ~pace is provided at the bacX of the distribution board, it is recommended that the width o~ the notchQs in the bus-bar holders be ~o dimensioned as to correspond to the greater dimension of the profile of the bus bars and that the bus bars that sre associated with the different phases by arranged one abo~e the other. By this means, it i6 posi~ible to not only reduce the depth of the bus-bar space and make it easier to lay the bus bars in the bus~bar holders; the forces that are exerted on the bus bars by the curr~nti~ ~lowi~g in the bui~ bar~ are ali50 reduced.

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A ~urther 6implification o~ th~ assembly of th~ bus bar3 is achieved in that the bus-bar holders have undercut projections, and ~n that carrier elements to ~it th~ projections o~ tha bu~-bar carrier~ are also used.

In addition, if the bus-bar space is arranged at the back, the notches in the bus-bar carriers can be arranged at ~n angle to the bac~ wall ~ the distribution board. Thi~ may improve ~he secure position of the bus bars as far as the point at which they are connQcted to the contact rails.

The present invention also describes an assembly tool for installing the bus bars in a distribution board with a bus-bar ~pace at the back, in an embodiment such that the tool has two holder~ that incorporate notches that correspond to the notches i~ the bus-bar carriers, and in that clampi~g devices for te~porarily securing the bus bars to the holders are provided.
In thi~ way bus bars can be installed on the holders in a convenient worki~g position. Once the bus bars have been seoured 1~ their holders, the tools can be removed and re-used.

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The present invention is descri~ed in greater detail b~low on the basis of embodiments shown i~ the drawings append~d hereto.
Th--~ dra~1ng8 show the f ol lowlng:

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~13~ Ls Figure 1 A perspecti~e diagrammatic view of the maln components o f the frame for a low-voltage distribution board with a bus-bar ~pace at ~he top;
~igure 2 The main components of a low-voltage distribution board as in ~igure 1, with a ~us~bar spAce at the back;
Figure 3 A top-mounted bus-bar holder;
Fiqure 4 A diagrammatic view o~ a d.istribution board with a bus-bar space at the back;
Figure 5 An assembly tool for inserting the bus bars in a bus-bar carrier as in ~igure 4;
Figura 6 A buswbar carrier with oblique notches ~or khe bus bars.
Figure 1 is an expl3ded, perspective view showi~g the essential elemQnts o~ a panel used in a low-voltage distribution board. A
left-hand side wall 1 and a right-hand side wall 2 each incor-porate a profile notch 3, 4~ respectively, and these de~ine a bus-bar space that is open at thè top. A rear wall 5, an upper cross bar 6, and a lower cross bar 7 c~mplete the ~rame. Because of the ~aot that all tha ~ide walls 1, 2 incorporate profile notches 3, 4, respectively, this results in a ~ull-length bus-bar ~pace in the case o~ a multi-panel system. This make~ it po~sibl~e to ~nstall con~inuous bus bars without using the push-through procedure mentioned heretofore. In thiæ manner, tha bus bar~ simultaneously ~nter into engagement with the notahes in all the bus-ba~ r~tainers that are prov~ded.

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distribution board with elements as in figure z is particularly well-~uited to the case when a larger bus-bar space i~ r quired in order to handle a greater nominal current. As is shown in figure 2, the 6ide walls lo and 11 incorporate rear pro~ile notches 12, 13, respectively, and these extend to almost the whole height of the side walls lo and 11. Upper cross bars 1~, 15 ~nd lower cross bars 16, 17 determine the width oP a panel of the distribut~on board. Rear, vertical end profiles 20 (left-hand side) and 21 (xight-hand side), respectively and the assooiated end cross bars 22 (upper) and 23 (lower) form suppor~ing ~urface6 for a rear wall that can be installed once the bu~-bar ~ystem has been installed.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a top bus bar spece in a di~tribution board. A profile notch is formed by notches 25 in the side walls 26 of the adjacent panals that ~ollow each other in ~eguenceO A continuous run rZug--Tr.] bus bar ~or all the adjacent panels c~n be arranged in this profile notch. sus-bar oarriers 27 that fit with hook-1ike side extensions 30 over retainers 31 are used. Bus bars 33 are installed in the notches 32 in the bu -bar retainers 27. The depth of the notches 32 corresponds to the height o~ the rectangular proPile of the bus-bar conductors. Two bus bar conductors 33 are associated with each phas~. An upper cover or mounting for the bus-bar conduotor~ is not re~u~red because a sufficiently rigid attaohment is ensure by connection of the bus-bar conductors 33 ' ~ . .. ; . , . .............................. . . :
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to the contact rail that is ~ecured at a number of puint~ and which ~ontinues [beyond the distribution board--Tr.]. Such continua~ion contact r~ils are indicated by ~he da~hed lines i~

~igure 3.

Figure 4 shows a distribution board made up of three adjacent panels, and also shows a bus-bar space 18 that is located at the back~ o~ the board. The pa~els con~i~;t Q~ parts that correspond to those shown in figure 2, ~he reference numbers o~ which ar~

also used in figure 4. A~ can be ~een, the rear o~ the pa~els incorporate a pro~ile not¢h which is 6haped by the co~iguration of ~he side walls lO and 11. The pro~ile notches 12, 13, of the ~-~ide walls lo, 11, respectively, are ~orm~d by angled arm~ 35, 36, respectively, the ends o~ which incorporat~ angled ar~s 37, 38, respectively, the~e being oriented towards the rear of the panels. The arms35 and 37, and 36 and 3~, respectively, provide a means for ~ttaching bus-bar retainer6 40 that each consist of an lower DeCtiO~ 41 and an ~irror-image upper section 42. Two bus-bar retainers 40 are provided $or each panel.
~, As has already been stated, a bus-bar sipace that is located at : .
the rear o~ a distribution panel is partlcularly well-suited for .
bus-bar runs that are o~ large cross-section. In the example : that is 6hown in ~igure 4, ~our bus ~ars 43 are provided for each phase, each ~wo bars 43 being parallel, with two fiuch pairB being ar~anged one above tho otherO The upper 6ections ~1 a~d the ' -... . .

.,~... ... ~ ,., . :', ' ' ' lower sections 42 o~ the bu~bar retairlex~ 40 extend to the whole height o~ the bus-bar system.

I~n a65~2mbly lt:ool 50 as i~ E;hown in f ig~lre 5 i6 u~ed to assemble the bus bars 430 This tool is in the ~hape o~ a fork and incorporates recesses 31 to accomodate the bus bars 43. In order to hold the hus bars 43 temporarily, the a~sembly tool 50 incorporates appropriate detent 10cking devices, for example, with e1ements 52 that are simi1ar to ~a11 snaps. This assemb1y tool 50 is shown in section in figure 5. This drawing shows two recesses 51, each of which is ~or two bus bars, i.e., for a total o~ four bus bars 43 that form a phase 1n the arrangement that is ~hown in f~gure 4. Holes S3 form the attachment points for the insta11ation tool 50.

In order to insta11 the bus bars, the appropriate number of inska11ation tools 50 i~ ~irst secured to the side walls 10 and 11 (figure 4), e.g., by means of the holes 53 that re incorporated in the installation tool 50. Then, the bus bars are laid;ln the recesses 51j whereupon the bus bars are positioned so as to be a1igned with correspondin~ notches in the lower sections 41 o~the bus-bar retainers 40. As soon as all the bus bars 43 ha~e been laid into po~ition~ the upper sections 42 can be installed and secured to the lower ~ections 41 to form comp1ete ~us-bar retainer~ 40. The insta11ation too1s 50 can then be rc~a~ed nd re u~ed.

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.igure 6 shows a bus-bar support 60 that is also intQnded for use in con~unction with a rear bus-bar space. The bus-bar support ~o is used to accommodate bus bars 61 and to this end is so configured that the lower ~ection 62 and the upper ~ection 63 can be assembled as an interlocking pair. The lower section 62 incorporates notches 64 that match the 6hape of the bus bars 61, and the~e notches are inclined towards the rear such that when the bus bars 61 ars installed in the notches 64, they are in a stable position. For this reasen there is no need for any i:
temporary attachment o~ the bus bars 61 O~ce all the planned bus bars 61 have been installed in their associated notches 64 the upper 6ection 63 is installed and connected in a suitable manner to the lower ~ection 62. The upper part of figure 6 shows a bus bar 61 between the lower ~ection 62 and thQ upper section 63. The upper ~ectio~ 63 has been omitted from the lower part of figure 6, ~o that the ~hape of the notch 64 in the lower iection ~2 can be seen more clearly.
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The present invention has been described above with reference to a bu~-bar arrangem~int that incorporates a plurality of bus bars for each phase. As can be seen from the foregoing, however, this new configuration ~or a distxibution board and the associated installation tool that ha~ also been described is also suitable for ~ingle bus bars ~or each phase, and also for 6y8tem9 that incorporate a greater numb~r of ~us bars f or each pha~e.

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Claims (5)

1. An electrical distribution board with a plurality of assembled panels and bus bars (27) that extend across the whole width of a number of panels, these bus bars being arranged with the overall dimensions of the distribution board and being held by means of insulating bus-bar carriers (25), characterized in that a bus-bar space that is accessible to its whole length is formed by a locally set-back or restricted profile (profile notches 3, 4; 12, 13) of the supporting elements (1, 2; 10, 11) of adjacent panels;
and in that the bus-bar carriers (25; 40) are comb-like with notches (26) to accommodate the complete profile of the bus bars (43).

2. A distribution board as defined in claim 1, wherein when the bus-bar space (18) is arranged at the back of the distribution board the width of the notches for the bus-bar carriers (40) is dimensioned to correspond to the greater dimension of the profile of the bus bars (43): and in that the bus bars (43) that are associated with the different phases are arranged one above the other.

3. A distribution board as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bus-bar carriers (27) incorporate undercut projections (30); and in that carrier elements (30) are arranged to fit the projections (30) of the bus bar carriers (27).

4. A distribution board as defined in one of the preceding claims, wherein when the bus-bar space (18) is located at the back, the notches (64) of the bus-bar carriers (60) are oblique to the rear wall of the distribution board.

5. An installation tool for assembling bus bars in a distribution board with a bus-bar space at the back, as defined in claim 2, wherein the installation tool (50) has at least recesses (51) corresonding to the notches of the bus-bar carriers (40); and in that clamping and detent locking devices (52) are provided for temporarily securing the bus bars (43) in the notches (51).