CA2554685C

CA2554685C - Scaffold mounted electrical power distribution panel

Info

Publication number: CA2554685C
Application number: CA 2554685
Authority: CA
Inventors: Brendan Whelan; Richard Whelan
Original assignee: Sumac Fabrication Co. Ltd.; Brendan Whelan; Richard Whelan
Current assignee: Sumac Fabrication Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-25
Filing date: 2006-07-25
Publication date: 2011-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-25
Also published as: CA2554685A1

Abstract

An electrical distribution panel and method of providing electrical power for tools at a scaffolding structure which includes a housing having an exterior surface, an internal cavity and an access opening through which the internal cavity is accessed. A closure door is provided for covering the access opening of the housing. A plurality of electrical receptacles is mounted to the exterior of the housing. The electrical receptacles being fused through a series of breakers provided in the interior cavity of the housing, An umbilical supply cord is provided for supplying electrical power from a main distribution center to the plurality of electrical receptacles. A mounting assembly is provided on housing for detachably mounting the electrical distribution panel to a scaffolding structure.

Description

TITLE
[0001] Scaffold Mounted Electrical Power Distribution Panel FIELD

[0002] This relates to a device and method for providing electrical power for tools, and work related electrical power consuming accessories and a means to connect directly to a local power source while working upon a scaffold and/or a commercial/industrial worksite.

BACKGROUND

[0003] It is common on job sites to have numerous electrical power cables running from the ground up to the scaffold work area. Typically, construction personnel are required to use separate cords for individual components including but not limited to tools, lighting fixtures, and welding apparatus. As a result, electrical cords hang from various scaffold structures. Furthermore, pulling multiple electrical cords to the work location is time-consuming and fatiguing. The electrical cords are often damaged in this process causing increased maintenance of the cords.

[0004] What is required is a device and method of reducing the number of power cables on the scaffolding structure.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to one aspect, there is provided an electrical distribution panel comprising a housing having an exterior surface, an internal cavity and an access opening through which the internal cavity is accessed. A closure door covers the access opening of the housing. A plurality of electrical receptacles are mounted to the exterior of the housing., the electrical receptacles being fused through a series of breakers provided in the interior cavity of the housing. An umbilical supply cord for supplies electrical power from a main distribution center to the plurality of electrical receptacles. A
mounting assembly detachably mounts the housing to a scaffolding structure.

[0006] One main power feed preferably runs from a main distribution to the scaffold mounted electrical distribution panel. Multiple electrical cords for tools, lighting or welding apparatus can have their power supplied from the scaffold mounted panel at the suitable platform level.

[0007] To overcome disadvantages currently in practice, this eliminates the need for multiple power cables hanging from a worksite by providing a single power supply at the work location on the scaffold structure. This device can be affixed, detached and re-affixed to another level of the scaffolding structure or worksite as work progresses. The device uses scaffold half clamps as a means of attachment. The use of such clamps are known to personnel on the job site and therefore can be readily installed.

[0008] Generally speaking, electrical cables that hang from scaffold structures provide power for a single tool, light, welding apparatus or other electric powered devices. The present panel provides a means of connecting the apparatuses at the local work area and thus reducing the quantity of cables. Moreover, the device provides worksite personnel with the ability to interchange tools at the power panel without returning to the main distribution feed. With the ability to be quickly installed, reduce the number of hanging power cords and flexibility to reposition at various workstations and improved safety factor will make the scaffold mounted electrical distribution panel a substantial advantage to current practice. Once affixed to the scaffold, qualified personnel attach lanyards directly to the power distribution panel for job site safety concerns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a scaffold mounted electrical power distribution panel constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the distribution panel illustrated in FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of the distribution panel illustrated in FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 is front isometric view of the housing of view of the distribution panel illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear isometric view of the distribution panel attached to a scaffold system.
FIG. 6 is a rear detailed isometric view of the attachment of the distribution panel illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The preferred embodiment, a scaffold mounted electrical distribution panel generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 6.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a scaffold mounted electrical distribution panel generally referenced by the numeral 10. Scaffold mounted electrical distribution panel 10 includes a housing 12 which has an exterior surface 14.
Referring to FIG. 3, an internal cavity 16 is provided in housing 12 along with an access opening 18 through which internal cavity 16 is accessed. A closure door 20 is provided for covering access opening 18 of housing 12. Referring again to FIG. 1, a plurality of electrical receptacles 22 are mounted to exterior surface 14 of housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, housing 12 is rectangular shaped with four sides 24, a front 26 and a back 28. Electrical receptacles 22 are mounted to front 26, and two of sides 24, however it will be appreciated that electrical receptacles 22 could be mounted to either or both of front 26 and sides 24 so long as they are accessible.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 3, electrical receptacles 22 are fused through a plurality of breakers 30 that are provided in interior cavity 16 of housing 12. Referring to FIG. 1, a connector 32 is provided in housing 12 for receiving an umbilical supply cord 34 for supplying electrical power from a main distribution center 36 to electrical receptacles 22.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, mounting brackets 38 are provided on back 28 of housing 12. Mounting brackets 38 are permanently fastened to housing 12 by way of four studs 40. Scaffolding clamps 42 are bolted onto mounting brackets 38 for detachably mounting housing 12 to members 44 of a scaffolding structure 46 as illustrated in FIG.
5. Referring to FIG. 2, scaffolding clamps 42 are a steel clamp that can be obtained from several manufactures. Mounting bracket 38 has a slotted hole 48 to allow for adjustment to accommodate spacing discrepancies between member 44 of scaffold structure 46 illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 4, interior cavity 16 of housing 12 is divided into a first compartment 48 and a second compartment 50. First compartment 48 serves as is a wireway for a collection of wires 52 from umbilical connector 36 and electrical receptacles 22 illustrated in FIG. 1. Wires 52 illustrated in FIG. 4 from umbilical connector 34 pass through knockouts 54 into first compartment 48 as illustrated in FIG. 4, and are terminated at proper terminals 56 and lugs 58 illustrated in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1 and 4, wires 52 are connected to breakers 30 and routed back through knockouts 54 to electrical receptacles 22. Breakers 30 are connected to a main interior lug 60 to provide a fusible link between electrical power from main distribution center 36 and electrical receptacle 22. When umbilical cord 34 is connected to both umbilical connector 32 and main distribution supply 36 as illustrated in FIG. 1, scaffold mounted panel 10 becomes energized.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, breaker panel 62 provides a means to rigidly attach main interior lug 60, breakers 30, neutral bar 64 and mount 66, and ground bar 68 to housing 12 with four studs 70. Referring to FIG. 3, breaker panel 62 is attached to angles 72 illustrated in FIG. 1, by four screws 74 as shown in FIG. 3 to isolate live wires 52 illustrated in FIG. 4, from personnel using scaffold mounted panel 10.
Referring to FIG.
3, first compartment 48 is covered by closure door 20 that is attached by four screws 76.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, each of electrical receptacles 22 are attached to housing 10 with four screws 78. Electrical receptacles 22 are of a standard type. It will be appreciated that several options for electrical receptacles 22 are available such as the Woodhead 60W47DPLX. In the illustrated embodiment, electrical receptacles 22 are situated on housing 12 to maximize the usage of space and minimize clutter of wires should all receptacles 22 be in use at once. In the illustrated embodiment, electrical receptacles 22 are made for wet locations with spring-loaded caps 80 and rubber seal 82. The electrical receptacles 22 are positioned over cutouts 84 in housing 12 illustrated in FIG. 4, and are mounted with four screws 78 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] Several options are also available for umbilical connector 32 illustrated in FIG.
1. The umbilical connector 32 shown is a Meltric DSN and is attached to housing 12 with four screws 86. The gasket 88 for the Meltric DSN connector 32 provides the necessary sealing but is also color-coded to identify the voltage rating of electrical distribution panel 10. This gives qualified personnel the ability to quickly choose the right electrical distribution panel 10 for the job.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, another feature of this invention, which is common in industry, is for closure door 20 to be hinged so that it swings up to access breakers 30 and swings down to completely cover first compartment 48 shown in FIG. 4, to repel environmental elements such as rain and snow. Closure door 20 can also be provided with a lockable option in the event that lockout circumstances are obligatory.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, a carry handle 90 enables personnel to move electrical distribution panel 10 to the required worksite location.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is concerned with providing a scaffold mounted electrical power distribution panel 10. This invention comprises of a purpose built electrical distribution panel 10, umbilical connector 32, standard electrical outlet receptacles 22, breakers 30, carry handle 90 illustrated in FIG. 5, and scaffold clamps 42. Referring to FIG. 5, scaffold clamps 42 are attached to electrical distribution panel 10 at a distance equal to the spacing of the horizontal distance between scaffold members 44. Referring to FIG. 6, scaffold clamps 42 are attached by a bolt 92 and locknut 94 to mounting bracket 38 built in to the back of distribution panel 10. Mounting bracket 38 has slotted clearance hole 48 that allows one of bolts 92 to pass through mounting bracket 38 and through an attachment plate 96 of scaffold clamp 42.
This configuration holds scaffold clamp 42 to distribution panel 10. Locknut 94 is used on bolt 92 to provide a method of holding scaffold clamp 42 to mounting bracket 38, but also allows scaffold clamp 42 to move freely back and forth within slotted clearance hole 48.
This provides adjustment capability if scaffold members 44 are out of the specified range.
Referring to FIG. 1, distribution panel 10 is used primarily in general purpose and harsh environments to connect electrical components, tools and worksite accessories.
Another aspect of this invention is that it forms a satellite power panel by running one umbilical cord 34 to the incoming receptacle 22 from a main distribution center 36.
Another aspect of the invention is the scaffold clamp 42 which provides for quick assembly, and a proven method of attachment.

[0021] Although intended for tube-scaffolding systems this invention can be incorporated into various temporary industrial and commercial work sites where scaffold tubes may be readily installed. This invention will a provide a temporary electrical distribution panel at any work site where multiple electrical cords/cables are required for multiple tools, lighting, or welding apparatuses; eliminating long electrical cords from a distant power supply. The manner in which the invention is attached to the scaffold by means of a scaffold clamp and bracketry allows it to be incorporated into devises such as fire extinguishers, welding rod ovens, etc., that are required to be located at or near scaffold systems and structures.

[0022] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0023] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution panel comprising:
a housing having an exterior surface, an internal cavity, an access opening through which the internal cavity is accessed;
a closure door covering the access opening of the housing, the housing sealing the internal cavity against environmental elements when the closure door is closed;
a plurality of electrical receptacles mounted to the exterior of the housing, the electrical receptacles being fused through a series of breakers provided in the interior cavity of the housing;
an umbilical supply cord for supplying electrical power from a main distribution center to the plurality of electrical receptacles; and a mounting assembly for detachably mounting the housing to a scaffolding structure.

2. The electrical distribution panel defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly comprises at least two vertically spaced support clamps mounted to an external surface of the housing for detachably mounting the housing to a scaffolding structure.

3. The electrical distribution panel defined in claim 2, wherein at least one support clamp comprises a scaffold clamp attached to a mounting bracket.

4. The electrical distribution panel as defined in claim 3, wherein the mounting bracket has a slotted hole to allow for repositioning of scaffold clamp to accommodate differing spacings between members of the scaffolding structure.

5. The electrical distribution panel as defined in claim 1 wherein a carrying handle is provided on housing.

6. A method of providing electrical power for tools, and work related electrical power consuming accessories at a scaffolding structure, comprising the steps of:
providing an electrical distribution panel comprising:

a housing having an exterior surface, an internal cavity and an access opening through which the internal cavity is accessed;
a closure door covering the access opening of the housing, the housing sealing the internal cavity against environmental elements when the closure door is closed;
a plurality of electrical receptacles mounted to the exterior of the housing, the electrical receptacles being fused through a series of breakers provided in the interior cavity of the housing, an umbilical supply cord for supplying electrical power from a main distribution center to the plurality of electrical receptacles; and a mounting assembly for detachably mounting the housing to a scaffolding structure detachably mounting the housing to the scaffolding structure.

7. The electrical distribution panel defined in claim 6, wherein the mounting assembly comprises at least two vertically spaced support clamps mounted to an external surface of the housing for detachably mounting the housing to a scaffolding structure.

8. The electrical distribution panel defined in claim 7, wherein at least one support clamp comprises a scaffold clamp attached to a mounting bracket.

9. The electrical distribution panel as defined in claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket has a slotted hole to allow for repositioning of scaffold clamp to accommodate differing spacings between members of the scaffolding structure.