GB1585068A

GB1585068A - Single phase electrical panelboard

Info

Publication number: GB1585068A
Application number: GB45690/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Square D Co
Current assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
Priority date: 1976-11-03
Filing date: 1976-11-03
Publication date: 1981-02-25
Also published as: ZA776476B; NZ185612A; AU519822B2; AU3043777A

Description

(54) SINGLE PHASE ELECTRICAL PANELBOARD (71) We, SQUARE D COMPANY, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan, United States of America, of Executive Plaza, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an electrical panelboard having particular application in single phase power systems.

Our co-pending UK Patent Application No.

14243/76 (Serial No. 1578130) describes an electrical panelboard which is easily adapted to accommodate a number of different wiring arrangements in combination with a number of different arrangements of circuit controlling components.

Although the arrangements described in the said Patent Application No. 14243/76 (Serial No. 1578130) and in our earlier UK Patent Specification 793 885 provided a wide range of three phase arrangements there exists a need for panelboards whereby three phase and single phase systems can be incorporated in one distribution board. It has been possible to modify the panelboards described in the said Application No.14243/76 (Serial No.1578130) and Patent Specification, but this has not proved an economic approach since the insulating base sections shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of UK Patent Specification 793 885 which have to be retained for mechanical reasons are costly to produce whilst having no electrical function as interphase barriers in a single phase configuration.

The panelboards designed solely for single phase application are usually of an entirely different design. One such system is disclosed in our UK Patent No. 1,044,223, but such an arrangement does not lend itself to combination with three phase assemblies in the same distribution board.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a single phase panelboard which is compatible with three phase systems.

According to the present invention there is provided a single phase electrical panelboard including a bus-bar extending longitudinally of said panelboard and supported at each of its ends by an insulating base-plate, a pair of first supports extending parallel to and spaced from said bus-bar each one of said pair being located on respective sides of the bus-bar, a plurality of connectors on said bus-bar adapted to contact electrically a terminal of a circuit controlling device, said circuit controlling device being mountable on either of said supports, a pair of second supports extending parallel to said bus-bar and positioned intermediate said busbar and each of said first supports respectively and spaced therefrom, said second supports having a top edge adapted to support a body portion of a circuit controlling device mounted on a first support and connected to one of said bus-bar connectors, the opposite ends of each of said second supports being supported in respective base-plates.

In one embodiment the bus-bar and said pair of second supports are supported at spaced positions along their lengths by a plurality of insulating support blocks, and the ends of each of said second supports are supported in said base-plates and located therein by a select one of a plurality of cover members or terminal support mouldings attached to said base-plate.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a single-phase panelboard according to the present invention Figures 2a and 2b are a plan and a sectional elevational view respectively of an insulating support block used in the panelboard of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base plate of the panelboard of Figure 1; Figures 4, 5 and 6 respectively illustrate, in perspective, a cover plate, a terminal barrier and a neutral support suitable for fitment to the base of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of a panelboard made in accordance with the present invention and employing a novel baseplate; Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the base plate of Figure 7;; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figures 10 and 11 are elevational views of the second circuit breaker supports used in the panelboards of Figure 1 and Figure 7 respectively; and Figure 12 is an elevation sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 12 in Figure 1: Referring to Fig 1, a single phase electrical panelboard comprises a plate 10 on which there is mounted a pair of circuit breaker mounting rails 12 which act as first mechanical supports for a circuit breaker 14 in a manner described in UK Patent Specification 793 885.

A bus-bar 16 fitted with a plurality of connectors 18 is positioned intermediate and parallel to said mounting rails and is supported at each of its ends by an insulating base-plate 20. The base-plate 20 may be of the type described in our aforementioned co-pending UK Application No. 14243/76 (Serial No.

1578130). An insulation sheet 21 is located between the bus-bar 16 and the plate 10 by the base-plates 20 and the mounting rails 12. The bus-bar 16 is also supported intermediate its ends on support blocks 22 (Figures 2a and 2b).

Each support block 22 is provided with a busbar supporting portion 24 and a pair of slots 26, one on each side of the portion 24. Each of the slots 26 is adapted to receive one of a pair of walls or second circuit breaker supports 28 (Figure 10) the ends of which are cut away at 28b and are located against respective opposed side walls 201, 202 of a recess 203 in the base-plate 20 as shown in Figure 1.

The bus-bar 16 and the second circuit breaker supports 28 are retained in their respective positions in the base-plate 20 by one of a plurality of covers which may be a cover plate 34 (Figure 4), a terminal barrier 35 (Figure 5) or a neutral support 36 (Figure 6) as illustrated and as described in UK Patent Application No.

14243/76 (Serial No. 1578130).

Thus, the topmost edge 28a of the breaker support 28 supports a body portion of the circuit breaker 14 so that its terminal clip 141 accurately engages one of the connectors 18 on the bus-bar 16 as shown in Figure 12. The support 28 prevents the circuit breaker 14 from being inserted beyond its correct position.

The above described panelboard provides an economical single phase arrangement which is fully compatible with three phase systems.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is illustrated a panelboard having a bus-bar 160 fitted with a plurality of connectors 180 and positioned intermediate and parallel to a pair of circuit breaker mounting rails 120. The bus-bar is supported at each of its ends by a base-plate 40 provided with spaced apertures 42, 43 and 44 designed to accommodate three bus-bars similar to bus-bar 160 only the centre aperture being used in a single phase arrangement. The baseplate 40 may be fixed to the supporting surface by means of screws passing through apertures 48 in the base-plate 40. An insulation sheet 210 is located between the bus-bar 160 and a supporting surface which may be the base of a distribution board. The base-plate 40 is also provided with a pair of slits 45 adapted to receive the ends 280b of the second circuit breaker supports 280 of Figure 11.The slits 45 are partly covered by a top portion 47 which serves firmly to retain the supports 280 in position. In this arrangement, since the lower edge 280c of the support 280 rests on the insulating sheet 210, the support blocks 22 are not required. In view of this, the dimensions 'a' of the support 280 is greater than the corresponding dimension of the support 28.

Thus accurate positioning of the circuit breaker supported on the support 280 is ensured.

The base-plate 40 although less versatile than the base-plate 20 eliminates the need for a cover member such as the cover plate 34, the terminal barrier 35 or the neutral support 36.

Thus, the base-plate 40 may provide a single phase panelboard as illustrated in Figure 7 or, may accommodate three bus-bars to provide a distributed three phase system by employing the bus-connectors and insulating base section described in our aforementioned UK Patent Specification 793 885.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A single phase electrical panelboard including a bus-bar extending longitudinally of said panelboard and supported at each of its ends by an insulating base-plate, a pair of first supports extending parallel to and spaced from said bus-bar each one of said pair being located on respective sides of the bus-bar, a plurality of connectors on said bus-bar adapted to contact electrically a terminal of a circuit controlling device, said circuit controlling device being mountable on either of said supports, a pair of second supports extending parallel to said busbar and positioned intermediate said bus-bar and each of said first supports respectively and spaced therefrom said second supports having a top edge adapted to support a body portion of a circuit controlling device mounted on a first support and connected to one of said bus-bar connectors, the opposite ends of each of said second supports being supported in respective base-plates.

2. A panelboard as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each of said second supports is in the form of a flat strip, and is supported so as to bear a substantially perpendicular relationship to said bus-bars.

3. A panelboard as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said second supports are supported at respective ends in said base-plates.

4. A panelboard as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2 wherein said pair of second supports are supported at spaced positions along their lengths by a plurality of insulating support blocks.

5. A panelboard as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the ends of each of said second supports are located in said base-plates

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figures 10 and 11 are elevational views of the second circuit breaker supports used in the panelboards of Figure 1 and Figure 7 respectively; and Figure 12 is an elevation sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 12 in Figure 1: Referring to Fig 1, a single phase electrical panelboard comprises a plate 10 on which there is mounted a pair of circuit breaker mounting rails 12 which act as first mechanical supports for a circuit breaker 14 in a manner described in UK Patent Specification 793 885.

A bus-bar 16 fitted with a plurality of connectors 18 is positioned intermediate and parallel to said mounting rails and is supported at each of its ends by an insulating base-plate 20. The base-plate 20 may be of the type described in our aforementioned co-pending UK Application No. 14243/76 (Serial No.

1578130). An insulation sheet 21 is located between the bus-bar 16 and the plate 10 by the base-plates 20 and the mounting rails 12. The bus-bar 16 is also supported intermediate its ends on support blocks 22 (Figures 2a and 2b).

Each support block 22 is provided with a busbar supporting portion 24 and a pair of slots 26, one on each side of the portion 24. Each of the slots 26 is adapted to receive one of a pair of walls or second circuit breaker supports 28 (Figure 10) the ends of which are cut away at 28b and are located against respective opposed side walls 201, 202 of a recess 203 in the base-plate 20 as shown in Figure 1.

The bus-bar 16 and the second circuit breaker supports 28 are retained in their respective positions in the base-plate 20 by one of a plurality of covers which may be a cover plate 34 (Figure 4), a terminal barrier 35 (Figure 5) or a neutral support 36 (Figure 6) as illustrated and as described in UK Patent Application No.

14243/76 (Serial No. 1578130).

Thus, the topmost edge 28a of the breaker support 28 supports a body portion of the circuit breaker 14 so that its terminal clip 141 accurately engages one of the connectors 18 on the bus-bar 16 as shown in Figure 12. The support 28 prevents the circuit breaker 14 from being inserted beyond its correct position.

The above described panelboard provides an economical single phase arrangement which is fully compatible with three phase systems.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is illustrated a panelboard having a bus-bar 160 fitted with a plurality of connectors 180 and positioned intermediate and parallel to a pair of circuit breaker mounting rails 120. The bus-bar is supported at each of its ends by a base-plate 40 provided with spaced apertures 42, 43 and 44 designed to accommodate three bus-bars similar to bus-bar 160 only the centre aperture being used in a single phase arrangement. The baseplate 40 may be fixed to the supporting surface by means of screws passing through apertures 48 in the base-plate 40. An insulation sheet 210 is located between the bus-bar 160 and a supporting surface which may be the base of a distribution board. The base-plate 40 is also provided with a pair of slits 45 adapted to receive the ends 280b of the second circuit breaker supports 280 of Figure 11.The slits 45 are partly covered by a top portion 47 which serves firmly to retain the supports 280 in position. In this arrangement, since the lower edge 280c of the support 280 rests on the insulating sheet 210, the support blocks 22 are not required. In view of this, the dimensions 'a' of the support 280 is greater than the corresponding dimension of the support 28.

Thus accurate positioning of the circuit breaker supported on the support 280 is ensured.

The base-plate 40 although less versatile than the base-plate 20 eliminates the need for a cover member such as the cover plate 34, the terminal barrier 35 or the neutral support 36.

Thus, the base-plate 40 may provide a single phase panelboard as illustrated in Figure 7 or, may accommodate three bus-bars to provide a distributed three phase system by employing the bus-connectors and insulating base section described in our aforementioned UK Patent Specification 793 885.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A single phase electrical panelboard including a bus-bar extending longitudinally of said panelboard and supported at each of its ends by an insulating base-plate, a pair of first supports extending parallel to and spaced from said bus-bar each one of said pair being located on respective sides of the bus-bar, a plurality of connectors on said bus-bar adapted to contact electrically a terminal of a circuit controlling device, said circuit controlling device being mountable on either of said supports, a pair of second supports extending parallel to said busbar and positioned intermediate said bus-bar and each of said first supports respectively and spaced therefrom said second supports having a top edge adapted to support a body portion of a circuit controlling device mounted on a first support and connected to one of said bus-bar connectors, the opposite ends of each of said second supports being supported in respective base-plates.
2. A panelboard as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each of said second supports is in the form of a flat strip, and is supported so as to bear a substantially perpendicular relationship to said bus-bars.
3. A panelboard as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said second supports are supported at respective ends in said base-plates.
4. A panelboard as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2 wherein said pair of second supports are supported at spaced positions along their lengths by a plurality of insulating support blocks.
5. A panelboard as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the ends of each of said second supports are located in said base-plates

and retained therein by a selected one of a plurality of cover members or terminal support mouldings attached to said base-plate.
6. A panelboard as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein each of said second supports is in the form of a wall the opposite ends of which are supported in respective slots in said base-plates.
7. A single phase electrical panelboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.