EP0481991A1 - Electrical distribution boards - Google Patents

Electrical distribution boards

Info

Publication number
EP0481991A1
EP0481991A1 EP19890909802 EP89909802A EP0481991A1 EP 0481991 A1 EP0481991 A1 EP 0481991A1 EP 19890909802 EP19890909802 EP 19890909802 EP 89909802 A EP89909802 A EP 89909802A EP 0481991 A1 EP0481991 A1 EP 0481991A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rail
pivotal
rail element
distribution board
din
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19890909802
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Alan Lister Kidd
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SCHOLES GROUP PLC
Original Assignee
SCHOLES GROUP PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SCHOLES GROUP PLC filed Critical SCHOLES GROUP PLC
Publication of EP0481991A1 publication Critical patent/EP0481991A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B1/00—Frameworks, boards, panels, desks, casings; Details of substations or switching arrangements
    • H02B1/015—Boards, panels, desks; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
    • H02B1/04—Mounting thereon of switches or of other devices in general, the switch or device having, or being without, casing
    • H02B1/052—Mounting on rails
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B1/00—Frameworks, boards, panels, desks, casings; Details of substations or switching arrangements
    • H02B1/20—Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B1/00—Frameworks, boards, panels, desks, casings; Details of substations or switching arrangements
    • H02B1/015—Boards, panels, desks; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
    • H02B1/04—Mounting thereon of switches or of other devices in general, the switch or device having, or being without, casing
    • H02B1/052—Mounting on rails
    • H02B1/0526—Mounting on rails locking or releasing devices actuated from the front face of the apparatus

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical distribution boards.
  • An electrical distribution board is, as is well known, connected to an electrical power supply and serves to distribute the power supply to desired locations or equipment through electrical protective devices such, for example, as fuses, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs) .
  • electrical protective devices such, for example, as fuses, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs) .
  • a common connection usually in the form of a busbar on the distribution board and are conveniently mounted on a fixed rail known as a DIN rail (a rail in the shape of an inverted shallow top hat), so called because of its origin within a German Standard - Manual Industrie Norm.
  • DIN rail a rail in the shape of an inverted shallow top hat
  • a DIN rail has two opposed outwardly projecting edges which engage within recesses in the base of mounted equipment such, for example, as an MCB.
  • One recess is fixed being usually formed integral with the body of the MCB, while the other is formed, in part, by a resiliently-loaded clip displaceable as the MCB is engaged with the DIN rail.
  • the resilient clip of the MCB returns under the action of its resilient loading to engage fully under the respective edge of the DIN rail.
  • Distribution boards may be factory assembled or alternatively the components making up same may be fitted and connected together on site by cables.
  • Factory assembly permits lower cost production under controlled conditions as opposed to on-site assembly which is labour intensive, and which may subject the equipment to hazards such as dust, damp and physical damage.
  • Factory built assemblies are normally provided with a rigid busbar mounted on insulating supports which in turn are fixed to the structure of the distribution board.
  • Individual circuit protective devices are mounted on the fixed DIN rail as described above with their terminals suitably positioned for direct connection to the busbar.
  • both the DIN rail and the busbar are fixed as is diagrammaticially illustrated in the Figure marked "PRIOR ART" in the accompanying drawings, it is not normally possible to add or change an outgoing circuit protective device due to the mutually opposing edges of the DIN rail and the fixed busbar. It is therefore usually necessary to remove the busbar in such circumstances which involves disconnecting it from its supports, every outgoing circuit protective device, and any incoming supply connection. This is not necessary in a site built assembly where the common connection is formed by loops of flexible cable which can be moved out of the way when an outgoing circuit device is mounted or dismounted from the DIN rail.
  • an electrical distribution board comprising a pair of separate rail elements constituting the functional edges of a DIN rail for mounting an electrical protective device (such, for example, as an MCB) and whereof one of the rail elements is pivotally movable from a position of engagement with a locating formation of a circuit protective device to permit easy fitment of the device to the distribution board, or removal therefrom, without requiring disconnection of the busbar and other devices from the board.
  • an electrical protective device such, for example, as an MCB
  • pivotal rail element at an end thereof is connected to a pivotal arm pivotally linked to a pivotal over-centre toggle lever.
  • the pivotal rail element has a tube formation at one edge to provide necessary torsional rigidity, the rail element being secured to the pivotal arm which has a forked end pivotally receiving one end of a link, whereof the other end is pivotally received in a forked end of the toggle lever.
  • the pivotal assembly of linked arm and toggle lever may be spring-assisted to both rail element engaged and rail element disengaged positions.
  • This pivotal assembly may be duplicated, one at each end of the pivotal rail element.
  • the tubular formation of the pivotal rail element may house an operating rod rotatable to cause pivoting of the rail element through connections between the operating rod and tubular formation, the rod being operated from an end of the rail element and there being releasable means for locking the rail element in its device engagement and disengagement positions.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a distribution board according to the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the distribution board
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the distribution board.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 are side views showing the pivotal rail element and the operating mechanism therefor in device engaged and device disengaged positions respectively.
  • the electrical distribution board is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a baseplate 11.
  • the distribution board 10 is fitted, as is usual, with a power supply busbar 12, detail of which is shown in Fig. 3.
  • the distribution board 10 has an arrangement for mounting a series of, for example, MCBs 13, each of which has on one face remote from its switch 14 a fixed locating formation 15 and a spring-loaded locating formation 16 spaced from and directed towards one another.
  • the mounting arrangement comprises a DIN rail consisting of a fixed rail element 17 and a pivotal rail element 18 engagable respectively by formations 15 and 16 of the MCB 13.
  • the busbar 12 is slotted as indicated at 19 to receive a series of side-by-side MCBs 13 (see Fig. 1) in electrical connection via screws or bolts 20.
  • the pivotal rail element 18 has at one edge a tube formation 21 and is rotatably supported, at one end, in a bracket 22 and connected, at its other end, to an arm 23 pivotally connected to a plate 24 connected to and at right angles to the baseplate 11.
  • the arm -23 has a forked end 23A which is pivotally connected to one end of a link 25, whereof the other end is pivotally connected in the forked end 26A of an over-centre toggle lever 26 also pivoted to the plate 24.
  • the pivotal connection between the link 25 and the forked end 26A of the toggle lever 26 has a lateral extension 27 engagable in an arcuate slot 28 in the plate 24.
  • the toggle lever 26 has at its free end a finger grip 29. >
  • the MCB-engaging position of the rail elements 17, 18 is shown in Fig. 4.
  • the toggle lever 26 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 where, it can be seen, the rail element 18 is pivoted to a position adjacent the baseplate 11.
  • An MCB 13 can be readily engaged on the rail elements 17, 18 when the rail element 18 is in the MCB-engaging position shown in Fig. 4 due to the spring-loaded locating formation 16.
  • a cover (not shown) is provided to engage the baseplate 11 and enclose the DIN rail constituted by rail elements 17 and 18 and the busbar 12 and the MCBs and other electrical protective devices.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Distribution Board (AREA)

Abstract

Un tableau de distribution électrique comprend dans une relation spatiale fixe, un rail DIN constitué par une paire d'éléments de rail séparés constituant les bords fonctionnels du rail DIN et d'une barre bus. Le rail DIN et la barre bus servent à monter un dispositif de protection électrique (tel que par exemple un MCB). Un des éléments de rail du rail DIN est mobile de manière pivotante d'une position d'engagement dans une formation de localisation d'un dispositif de protection électrique afin de permettre le montage facile du dispositif sur le tableau de distribution, ou le retrait de celui-ci, sans qu'il faille débrancher la barre bus du tableau. On évite ainsi les difficultés connues de montage et de démontage des dispositifs de protection de circuits montés sur rail DIN en présence d'une barre bus fixe dans des ensembles réalisés en usine.An electrical distribution board comprises in a fixed spatial relationship, a DIN rail formed by a pair of separate rail elements constituting the functional edges of the DIN rail and of a bus bar. The DIN rail and the bus bar are used to mount an electrical protection device (such as for example an MCB). One of the rail elements of the DIN rail is pivotally movable from an engagement position in a locating formation of an electrical protection device in order to allow the easy mounting of the device on the distribution board, or the removal of without having to disconnect the bus bar from the switchboard. This avoids the known difficulties of mounting and dismounting protection devices for circuits mounted on a DIN rail in the presence of a fixed bus bar in assemblies produced in the factory.

Description

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION BOARDS
This invention relates to electrical distribution boards.
An electrical distribution board is, as is well known, connected to an electrical power supply and serves to distribute the power supply to desired locations or equipment through electrical protective devices such, for example, as fuses, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs) .
These devices are electrically connected to the power by a common connection usually in the form of a busbar on the distribution board and are conveniently mounted on a fixed rail known as a DIN rail (a rail in the shape of an inverted shallow top hat), so called because of its origin within a German Standard - Deutsche Industrie Norm.
A DIN rail has two opposed outwardly projecting edges which engage within recesses in the base of mounted equipment such, for example, as an MCB. One recess is fixed being usually formed integral with the body of the MCB, while the other is formed, in part, by a resiliently-loaded clip displaceable as the MCB is engaged with the DIN rail. When fully engaged, the resilient clip of the MCB returns under the action of its resilient loading to engage fully under the respective edge of the DIN rail.
This arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated in the Figure marked "PRIOR ART" in the accompanying drawings.
Distribution boards may be factory assembled or alternatively the components making up same may be fitted and connected together on site by cables.
Factory assembly permits lower cost production under controlled conditions as opposed to on-site assembly which is labour intensive, and which may subject the equipment to hazards such as dust, damp and physical damage.
Factory built assemblies (FBAs) are normally provided with a rigid busbar mounted on insulating supports which in turn are fixed to the structure of the distribution board. Individual circuit protective devices (MCBs for example) are mounted on the fixed DIN rail as described above with their terminals suitably positioned for direct connection to the busbar. However if both the DIN rail and the busbar are fixed as is diagrammaticially illustrated in the Figure marked "PRIOR ART" in the accompanying drawings, it is not normally possible to add or change an outgoing circuit protective device due to the mutually opposing edges of the DIN rail and the fixed busbar. It is therefore usually necessary to remove the busbar in such circumstances which involves disconnecting it from its supports, every outgoing circuit protective device, and any incoming supply connection. This is not necessary in a site built assembly where the common connection is formed by loops of flexible cable which can be moved out of the way when an outgoing circuit device is mounted or dismounted from the DIN rail.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties of mounting and dismounting DIN rail mounted circuit protective devices in the presence of a fixed busbar in factory built assemblies.
According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided an electrical distribution board comprising a pair of separate rail elements constituting the functional edges of a DIN rail for mounting an electrical protective device (such, for example, as an MCB) and whereof one of the rail elements is pivotally movable from a position of engagement with a locating formation of a circuit protective device to permit easy fitment of the device to the distribution board, or removal therefrom, without requiring disconnection of the busbar and other devices from the board.
Preferably the pivotal rail element at an end thereof is connected to a pivotal arm pivotally linked to a pivotal over-centre toggle lever.
Preferably the pivotal rail element has a tube formation at one edge to provide necessary torsional rigidity, the rail element being secured to the pivotal arm which has a forked end pivotally receiving one end of a link, whereof the other end is pivotally received in a forked end of the toggle lever.
The pivotal assembly of linked arm and toggle lever may be spring-assisted to both rail element engaged and rail element disengaged positions.
This pivotal assembly may be duplicated, one at each end of the pivotal rail element.
Alternative rail element moving and locking means may be provided. For example, the tubular formation of the pivotal rail element may house an operating rod rotatable to cause pivoting of the rail element through connections between the operating rod and tubular formation, the rod being operated from an end of the rail element and there being releasable means for locking the rail element in its device engagement and disengagement positions.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a distribution board according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the distribution board;
Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the distribution board; and
Figs. 4 and 5 are side views showing the pivotal rail element and the operating mechanism therefor in device engaged and device disengaged positions respectively.
The electrical distribution board is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a baseplate 11. The distribution board 10 is fitted, as is usual, with a power supply busbar 12, detail of which is shown in Fig. 3.
The distribution board 10 has an arrangement for mounting a series of, for example, MCBs 13, each of which has on one face remote from its switch 14 a fixed locating formation 15 and a spring-loaded locating formation 16 spaced from and directed towards one another.
The mounting arrangement comprises a DIN rail consisting of a fixed rail element 17 and a pivotal rail element 18 engagable respectively by formations 15 and 16 of the MCB 13.
The busbar 12 is slotted as indicated at 19 to receive a series of side-by-side MCBs 13 (see Fig. 1) in electrical connection via screws or bolts 20.
The pivotal rail element 18 has at one edge a tube formation 21 and is rotatably supported, at one end, in a bracket 22 and connected, at its other end, to an arm 23 pivotally connected to a plate 24 connected to and at right angles to the baseplate 11.
The arm -23 has a forked end 23A which is pivotally connected to one end of a link 25, whereof the other end is pivotally connected in the forked end 26A of an over-centre toggle lever 26 also pivoted to the plate 24.
The pivotal connection between the link 25 and the forked end 26A of the toggle lever 26 has a lateral extension 27 engagable in an arcuate slot 28 in the plate 24.
The toggle lever 26 has at its free end a finger grip 29. >
The MCB-engaging position of the rail elements 17, 18 is shown in Fig. 4. To facilitate release of an MCB 13 or the engage an MCB 13 the toggle lever 26 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 where, it can be seen, the rail element 18 is pivoted to a position adjacent the baseplate 11.
An MCB 13 can be readily engaged on the rail elements 17, 18 when the rail element 18 is in the MCB-engaging position shown in Fig. 4 due to the spring-loaded locating formation 16.
A cover (not shown) is provided to engage the baseplate 11 and enclose the DIN rail constituted by rail elements 17 and 18 and the busbar 12 and the MCBs and other electrical protective devices.

Claims

1. A DIN rail for an electrical distribution board and comprising a pair of rail elements constituting the functional edges of the DIN rail for mounting an electrical protective device (such, for example, as an MCB), the DIN rail being characterised in that one of the rail elements is pivotally movable from a position of engagement with a locating formation of an electrical protective device to permit easy fitment of the device on ' the DIN rail, or removal therefrom.
2 . A DIN rail as claimed in claim 1 comprising a baseplate mounting the rail elements with the pivotal rail element being rotatably supported at its ends by brackets or plates on the baseplate.
3. A DIN rail as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the pivotal rail element at one end thereof is connected to a pivotal arm pivotally linked to a pivotal over-centre toggle lever.
4. A DIN rail as claimed in claim 3 in which the pivotal rail element has a tube formation at one edge to provide torsional rigidity, the rail element being secured to the pivotal arm which has a forked end pivotally receiving one end of a link, whereof the other end is pivotally received in a forked end of the toggle lever.
5. A DIN rail as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the pivotal assembly of linked arm and toggle lever is spring- assisted to both rail element engaged and rail element disengaged positions.
6. A DIN rail as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 in which a pivotal assembly of linked arm and toggle lever is provided at each end of the pivotal rail element.
7. A DIN rail as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the pivotal rail element has a tube formation at one edge to provide torsional rigidity and housing an operating rod rotatable to cause pivoting of the rail element through - 7 -
connections between the operating rod and tube formation, the rod being operable from one end of the rail element and there being releasable means for locking the rail element in its device engagement and disengagement positions.
8. An electrical distribution board comprising, in fixed relative positions for mounting an electrical protective device (such, for example, as an MCB), a DIN rail constituted by rail elements and a busbar, the electrical distribution board being characterised in that one of the rail elements of the DIN rail is pivotally movable from a position of engagement with a locating formation of an electrical protective device to permit easy fitment of the device to the distribution board, or removal therefrom, without requiring disconnection of the busbar from the board.
9. An electrical distribution board as claimed in claim 8 in which the DIN rail comprises a baseplate mounting the rail elements with the pivotal rail element being rotatably supported at its ends by brackets or plates on the baseplate.
10. An electrical distribution board as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which the pivotal rail element at one end thereof is connected to a pivotal arm pivotally linked to a pivotal over-centre toggle lever.
11. An electrical distribution board as claimed in claim 10 in which the pivotal rail element has a tube formation at one edge to provide torsional rigidity, the rail element being secured to the pivotal arm which has a forked end pivotally receiving one end of a link, whereof the other end is pivotally received in a forked end of the toggle lever.
12. An electrical distribution board as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the pivotal assembly of linked arm and toggle lever is spring-assisted to• both rail element engaged and rail element disengaged positions.
13. An electrical distribution board as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 in which a pivotal assembly of linked arm and toggle lever is provided at each end of the pivotal rail element.
14. An electrical distribution board as claimed in claims 8 or 9 in which the pivotal rail element has a tube formation at one edge to provide torsional rigidity and housing an operating rod rotatable to cause pivoting of the rail element through connections between the operating rod and tube formation, the rod being operable from one end of the rail element and there being releasable means for locking the rail element in its device engagement and disengagement positions.
EP19890909802 1988-08-25 1989-08-22 Electrical distribution boards Withdrawn EP0481991A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8820158 1988-08-25
GB888820158A GB8820158D0 (en) 1988-08-25 1988-08-25 Electrical distribution boards

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0481991A1 true EP0481991A1 (en) 1992-04-29

Family

ID=10642672

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890909802 Withdrawn EP0481991A1 (en) 1988-08-25 1989-08-22 Electrical distribution boards

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0481991A1 (en)
AU (1) AU4192589A (en)
GB (1) GB8820158D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1990002430A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2468677A (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-22 Eltek Valere As Resistor device

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ZA937249B (en) * 1992-11-05 1994-06-29 Commw Ind Gases Automatic manifold
DE102010041197B4 (en) * 2010-07-09 2017-01-19 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft DIN rail and electrical distribution manifold
DE102022112510A1 (en) 2022-05-18 2023-11-23 WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung System for attaching electrical devices that can be attached to mounting rails, their use and method for equipping an electrical installation with electrical devices that can be attached to mounting rails

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2846443C2 (en) * 1978-10-25 1984-06-14 Brown, Boveri & Cie Ag, 6800 Mannheim Device for fastening built-in installation devices
GB8629925D0 (en) * 1986-12-15 1987-01-28 Bicc Plc Electrical distribution boards

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9002430A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2468677A (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-22 Eltek Valere As Resistor device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8820158D0 (en) 1988-09-28
WO1990002430A1 (en) 1990-03-08
AU4192589A (en) 1990-03-23

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