GB2189091A

GB2189091A - Slide cover assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2189091A
Application number: GB08707264A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Maurice Rowles
Original assignee: Barduct Ltd
Current assignee: Barduct Ltd
Priority date: 1986-04-08
Filing date: 1987-03-26
Publication date: 1987-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-26
Also published as: GB8707264D0; GB2189091B

Abstract

A slide cover assembly 1 provides for selectively exposing and covering four tapping outlets t of a busbar tapping outlet location L. A flexible cover part 2 is movably mounted on a busbar housing 3 and has apertures 2a movable into and out of registration with outlets t, relative to cover retaining part 4, automatically on the introduction and removal of a plug-in tapping box. A cam on the tapping box extends into slot 4b and bears on tongue 2c deforming the latter and allowing the apertures 2a to move into registration with outlets t, as the tapping box is plugged into the tapping box location. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slide Cover Assembly This invention relates to a slide cover assembly for a tapping outlet location of a busbar, and to a method of selectively exposing and covering the tapping outlets of a busbar tapping outlet location.

Sliding covers for busbar tapping outlet locations are known but certain disadvantages tend to be inherent in the design. The sliding covers are of plastics and have to be specially precision moulded to be a neat snap-fit on the extruded Noryl cover strips of the busbartrunking. Such precision moulding tends to give rise to problems in easily achieving a good fit on the Noryl cover which will also allow a sufficient sliding movement of the cover longitudinally of the busbar in order to expose and yet reliably cover the group of four tapping outlets at a specific tapping outlet location.

Experience has shown that the design of sliding covers can also give rise to carelessness and often the tapping outlets can remain exposed unnecessarily after a plug-in tapping box has been removed frox the tapping outlet location, and this, of course, represents a significant safety hazard.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide cover assembly which at least alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a slide cover assembly for selectively exposing and covering the tapping outlets of a busbartapping outlet location, said assembly comprising a first, cover part movably mountable or mounted on a busbar, said cover part having aperture means movable into and out of registration with said tapping outlets on relative movement of said cover part and busbar, to thereby expose said outlets to the plug-in connections of a plug-in tapping box and to cover the outlets when required.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a busbar or busbar length including one or more slide cover assemblies in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a method of selectively exposing and covering the tapping outlets of a busbar tapping outlet location comprising moving a first, cover part mounted on a busbar relative to said busbar so that aperture means on said cover part is in registration with the tapping outlets thereby exposing said outlets to the plug-in connections of a plug-in tapping box and covering the tapping outlets when required by moving the aperture means out of registration with the tapping outlets.

The cover part is, preferably, resiliently mounted on the busbar and will usually be biassed to cover or close off the tapping outlets The resilient mounting can, conveniently, be provided for by a tongue formed integrally with said cover part.

In one embodiment of the present invention the cover part is arranged to be reciprocated generally transversely of the busbar, and this reciprocation may advantageously be actuated automatically by a projection or cam on the plug-in tapping box so that as the tapping box is offered to the busbar the projection or cam acts to move the cover part, preferably against resilient biassing, from a first position in which the tapping outlets are covered to a second position in which the tapping outlets are exposed. The projection or cam may act directly on said cover part and, preferably, on said tongue where provided. Plug-in connections of the tapping box may then automatically be pushed into the tapping outlets as the tapping box is fixed at the tapping location.Once the tapping box is removed and the projection or cam disengaged from the cover part, the cover part is, preferably, automatically moved via said resilient biassing to cover said tapping outlets. It is conceivable that the tapping box may be provided with a projection or cam which moves the first part to expose and cover the tapping outlets in a movement which is not necessarily a reciprocating movement and in a manner which is not necessarily transverse of the busbar.

Preferably, the slide cover assembly comprises a second part which is not part of the busbar itself and which extends over the cover part and which is, in use, held fixed to the busbar and retains the cover part to be movably mounted on the busbar. The second part may be generally L-shaped in section and may conveniently be retained to the busbar by an integral resilient projection or projections engaged in a hole in one of two external side flanges of a channel shaped housing of the busbar. A rib may be provided on said second part which hooks onto the edge of a cover strip of the busbar.The second part may be provided with aperture means of a similar size to the aperture means in said cover part and arranged so that as the cover part is moved relative to the busbar the aperture means in the cover part and second part are in registration with one another and simultaneously with the tapping outlets.

Where a tongue is provided as aforesaid on said cover part, the tongue is preferably accessible via a slot in said second part. The tongue may be generally U-shaped and an end of the tongue may bear on one side of the busbar housing biassing the cover part to cover the tapping outlets, and such that the tongue may be accessed via said slot by the projection or cam on the tapping box, which projection or cam can extend into the slot to bear on the tongue deforming the latter thereby moving the cover part to uncover the tapping outlets; the inherent resilience of the tongue returning to its original shape, on removal of the tapping box, automatically returns the cover part to its former position covering the tapping outlets.

The aperture means of the cover part (and second part where provided) will usually comprise four apertures which can be moved into registration with four tapping outlets of a tapping outlet location. The slide cover assembly may include part of the busbar, for example, a housing and/or cover strip of the busbar.

An embodiment of a slide cover assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying simplified diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of the component parts of the slide cover assembly; Figure 2 is a top or front view of the slide cover assembly fixed in position on a busbar; Figure 3 shows a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the assembly taken on line IV-lV of Figure 2 in which tapping outlets of the busbar are covered; Figure 5 shows a detail similar to Figure 4 in which the tapping outlets are exposed; Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a prior art busbar slide cover assembly;; Figure 7 shows a view similar to Figure 5 but incorporating a modification, Figure 8 is a view more clearly showing the additional components employed in Figure 7 which comprise the modification, and Figure 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 7 but in outside elevation.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the component part of a slide cover assembly 1 for selectively exposing and covering the four tapping outletstofa busbartapping outlet location L.

Referring generally to Figures 1 to 5, the assembly 1 comprises a first, flexible, cover part 2 which is movably mounted on a busbar housing 3, which housing 3 in this instance comprises a component part of the slide cover assembly.

The cover part 2 comprises a relatively thin, generally rectangular, plastics plate with aperture means in the form of four transverse, equidistantly spaced, rectangular apertures 2a. The apertures 2a have chamfered upper edges 2b to facilitate introduction of plug-in connections (not shown) of a plug-in tapping box (not shown). An integral, substantially U-shaped tongue 2c depends downwardly from one transverse edge of the plate 2 and the free edge 2d of the tongue is arranged (in a manner yet to be described) to bear against one side of the busbar housing 3. Two opposed longitudinal slots 2e are provided as shown in Figure 1 and these slots may cooperate with guide means in the form of pin projections (not shown) on the underside of a second, superposed, cover retaining part 4 which is yet to be described.As will be apparent from the following description, once the cover part 2 is mounted on the busbar housing 3 with the aid of the cover retaining part 4, cover part 2 is movable (slidable) transversely of the busbar housing (in the general direction of arrow A in Figure 1), against the resilient biassing provided by the tongue 2c, to thereby expose the tapping outlets t to said tapping box plug-in connections, and movable (slidable) in a reverse direction to cover or close off the outlets t when required, and under the action of the resilient biassing force provided by the tongue 2c.

The cover part 2 fits snugly into the underside of retaining part 4, which is of generally L-shaped section and made of rigid plastics. Retaining part 4 has aperture means in the form of four apertures 4a which are identical with apertures 2b and which directly overlie the tapping outlets t when in position on the busbar housing 3. The retaining part 4 is formed with an L-shaped slot 4b on the central axis of said part as shown in Figure 1 and, as shown more particularly in Figure 2, the tongue 2c is accessible through the slot. The part 4 is retained to busbar housing side flange 3a by two integral, downwardly depending projections 4c (see Figures 3,4 and 5) which are a snap fit in a hole in said flange 3a.Downwardly depending rib 4c of part 4 engages over the upper edge of the busbar housing 3 and horizontal rib 4d (see Figure 4) advantageously, hooks onto the edge of an extruded Noryl cover strip 3b of the busbar.

The busbar bar housing 3 is of a standard type except that the cover strip 3b is now of a different configuration which is easier to produce and uses less material.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a prior art arrangement in which a cover C with finger grip c' is slidably engaged on a Noryl cover strip D of a busbar (not shown). The cover C and strip Dare necessarily of relatively complex section which require relatively expensive precision moulding techniques and the cover C acts to expose and cover the tapping outlets (not shown) merely by a reciprocation longitudinally of the busbar. The cover C itself is not provided with apertures and the whole of it has to be slid to one side of the tapping outlets and some way beyond to allow a plug-in tapping box (not shown) to be fitted on the busbar. The cover C is not always a satisfactory fit on the strip D and often the tapping outlets may be left dangerously exposed.

In comparison with the prior art the cross-section of the cover strip 3b is much simpler and has a flatter upper surface which is thought to be much more pleasing to the eye; the snap fit manner of engagement of the strip 3b on the busbar is similar to that of the prior art engagement shown in Figure 6. Various known parts of the busbar have been omitted from the drawings (for example the busbar conductor lengths) for ease of illustration.

Figures 2 to 4 show views of the cover assembly fixed in a first position priorto a tapping box (not shown) being offered to the busbar for connection thereto. As shown more particularly in Figure 4the end of the U-shaped tongue 2d bears on a side wall 3c of the housing to position (resiliently bias) the apertures 2b out of registration with the tapping outlets t, but on the application of a force generally in the direction of arrow B (through the slot), the Ushape tongue deforms as the cover part 2 is slid (against the resilient biasing provided by the tongue) across the busbar housing until the apertures 4a, 2b and the tapping outlets are all in registration with one another with the cover 2 in a second position. Such force may be supplied by a cam or projection on the tapping box which extends into the slot 4b to bear on the tongue deforming the latter as the tapping box is offered to the busbar. In this way the tapping outlets tare, conveniently, automatically uncovered by said cam or projection immediately prior to plug-in connections (not shown) of the tapping box being introduced into the tapping outlets. The tapping box itself will therefore fit over both the cover part 2 and retaining part 4.

Once the tapping box is removed from the tapping location L said cam or projection is disengaged from the tongue allowing said tongue to resume its original shape thereby urging the cover part back to the first position, safely closing off the tapping outlets t.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the cover assembly 1 may, advantageously, be provided with additional components in the form of locking cap X and wire spring Y as shown in these Figures. The cap X and spring Yallowfor ease of assembly of the cover retaining part 4 on the busbar with the cover 2 since part 4 and cover 2 are now locked to, and aligned with, one another by the cap X and spring Y, prior to assembly of the part 4 and cover 2 onto the busbar.

Figure 8 shows the cap X with spring Y in position in the cap looking in the direction of arrow Z in Figure 7, but with the cover retaining part 4 removed.

The form of the cap X should be generally apparent from Figures 7 to 9. Cap Xis a generally rectangular, plastics shell which interfits with the cover retaining part 4 by a snap engagement of projection Xr in the slot 4b (see Figure 7). The bottom wall X2 is of shallower depth than the remaining walls X3 apart from the tongue X4 which carries the projection Xt. Walls X5 slope downwardly at 45" from their upper ends as shown in Figure 8. Side flanges X6 slope gradually upwardly (3 angle) from the upper ends towards their bottom ends in Figure 8.When the cap Xis assembled to part 4 said 3 angle allows a small pivotal movement P of the cap about the engagement point of the bottom of the flanges X6 on the part 4 (see Figure 9).

Locking cap X can be engaged into part 4 with the tongue 2c being received in a U-shaped portion Yr of the spring Yso that part 4 and cover 2 are securely retained to one another. The spring Y aids in returning the cover 2 into its position covering the outlets ton removal of the tapping box from the busbar, relieves stresses on the tongue 2c and in all allows a more positive sliding action of the cover 2 and spring loading of the cap on the part 4 for ease of assembly onto the busbar.

The scope of the present invention should not be unduly limited by the use of particular terminology and the scope of individual terms may extend to any convenient equivalent generic term where sensible.

Any individual feature, method or function relating thereto or combination thereof may be individually patentably inventive.

Claims

1. A slide cover assembly for selectively exposing and covering the tapping outlets of a busbar tapping outlet location, said assembly comprising a first, cover part movably mountable or mounted on a busbar, said cover part having aperture means movable into and out of registration with said tapping outlets on relative movement of said cover part and busbar, to thereby expose said outlets to the plug-in connections of a plug-in tapping box and to cover the outlets when required.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which the cover part is resiliently mounted on the busbar.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 in which the cover is biassed to cover or close off the tapping outlets.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the resilient mounting is provided for by at least a tongue formed integrally with said cover part.

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cover part is arranged to be reciprocated generally transversely of the busbar.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5 in which this reciprocation is actuatable automatically by a projection or cam on the plug-in tapping box so that as the tapping box is offered to the busbarthe projection or cam acts to move the cover part from a first position in which the tapping outlets are covered to a second position in which the tapping outlet are exposed.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 in which the cover part is movable from the first position to the second position against resilient biassing.

8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the cover part is acted on directly by the projection or cam.

9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8 when dependent from Claim 4 in which the tongue of the cover part is acted on directly by the projection or cam.

10. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9 in which once the tapping box is removed and the projection or cam disengaged from the cover part, the cover part is automatically moved via said resilient biassing to cover said tapping outlets.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the slide cover assembly comprises a second part which is not part of the busbar itself and which extends over the cover part and which is, in use, held fixed to the busbar and retains the cover part to be movably mounted on the busbar.

12. An assembly as claimed in Claim 11 in which the second part is generally L-shaped in section.

13. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12 in which the cover part is retained by the busbar by an integral resilient projection or projections engaged in a hole in one of two external side flanges of a channel shaped housing of the busbar.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 in which a rib is provided on said second part which hooks onto the edge of a cover strip of the busbar.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 14 in which the second part is provided with aperture means of a similar size to the aperture means in said cover part and arranged so that as the cover part is moved relative to the busbar the aperture means in the cover part and second part are in registration with one another and simultaneously with the tapping outlets.

16. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 15 when dependent from Claim 4 in which the tongue is accessible via a slot in said second part.

17. An assembly as claimed in Claim 16 in which the tongue is generally U-shaped and an end of the tongue bears on one side of the busbar housing biasing the cover part to cover the tapping outlets, and such that the tongue may be accessed via said slot by the projection or cam on the tapping box, which projection or cam can extend into the slot to bear on the tongue deforming the latter thereby moving the cover part to uncover the tapping outlets; the inherent resilience of the tongue returning to its original shape, on removal of the tapping box, automatically returning the cover part to its former position covering the tapping outlets.

18. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 17 further comprising locking means engaged with the second part to lock the cover part to the second part.

19. An assembly as claimed in Claim 18 in which the locking means is a generally rectangular cap with a projection which engages in a slot, or the slot, in the second part, and in which a wire spring is located in between the cap and the second part.

20. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the aperture means of the cover part (and second part where provided) comprises four apertures which can be moved into registration with four tapping outlets of a tapping outlet location.

21. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the slide cover assembly includes part of the busbar, for example, a housing and/or cover strip of the busbar.

22. A slide cover assembly substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings or substantially as modified in Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A busbar or busbar length including one or more slide cover assemblies as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

24. A method of selectively exposing and covering the tapping outlets of a busbar tapping outlet location comprising moving a first, cover part mounted on a busbar relative to said busbar so that aperture means on said cover part is in registration with the tapping outlets thereby exposing said outlets to the plug-in connections of a plug-in tapping box and covering the tapping outlets when required by moving the aperture means out of registration with the tapping outlets.

25. A method as claimed in Claim 24 in which the cover part is resiliently mounted on the busbar.

26. A method as claimed in Claim 25 in which the cover is biassed to cover or close off the tapping outlets.

27. A method as claimed in Claim 25 or 26 in which the resilient mounting is provided for by at least a tongue formed integrally with said cover part.

28. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 27 in which the cover part is reciprocable generally transversely of the busbar.

29. A method as claimed in Claim 28 in which this reciprocation is actuatable automatically by a projection or cam on the plug-in tapping box as the tapping box is offered to the busbar, the projection or cam acting to move the cover part from a first position in which the tapping outlets are covered to a second position in which the tapping outlets are exposed.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 29 in which the cover part moves from the first position to the second position against resilient biassing.

31. A method as claimed in Claim 29 or Claim 30 in which the cover part is acted on directly by the projection or cam.

32. A method as claimed in Claim 31 when dependent from Claim 27 in which the tongue of the cover part is acted on directly by the projection or cam.

33. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 30 to 32 in which once the tapping box is removed and the projection or cam disengaged from the cover part, the cover part is automatically moved via said resilient biassing to cover said tapping outlets.

34. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which plug-in connections of the tapping box can automatically be pushed in the tapping outlets as the tapping box is fixed at a tapping box location.

35. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the slide cover assembly comprises a second part which is not part of the busbar itself and which extends over the cover part and which is held fixed to the busbar and retains the cover part movably mounted on the busbar.

36. A method as claimed in Claim 35 in which the second part is generally L-shaped in section.

37. A method as claimed in Claim 36 in which the cover part is retained to the busbar by an integral resilient projection or projections engaged in a hole in one of two external side flanges of a channel shaped housing of the busbar.

38. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 35 to 37 in which a rib is provided on said second part which hooks onto the edge of a cover strip of the busbar.

39. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 35 to 38 in which the second part is provided with aperture means of a similar size to the aperture means in said cover part and as the cover part is moved relative to the busbarthe aperture means in the cover part and second part are in registration with one another and simultaneously with the tapping outlets.

40. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 35 to 39 when dependent from Claim 27 in which the tongue is accessible via a slot in said second part.

41. A method as claimed in Claim 40 in which the tongue is generally U-shaped and an end of the tongue bears on one side of the busbar housing biassing the cover part to cover the tapping outlets, and the tongue is accessed via said slot by the projection or cam on the tapping box, which projection or cam extends into the slot and bears on the tongue deforming the latter thereby moving the cover part to uncover the tapping outlets; the inherent resilience of the tongue returning to its original shape, on removal of the tapping box, automatically returning the cover part to its former position covering the tapping outlets.

42. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 35 to 41 further comprising locking means engaged with the second part locking the cover part to the second part.

43. A method as claimed in Claim 42 in which the locking means is a generally rectangular cap with a projection which engages in a slot, or the slot, in the second part, and in which a wire spring is located in between the cap and second part.

44. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 43 in which the aperture means of the cover part (and second part where provided) comprises four apertures which are movable into registration with four tapping outlets of a tapping outlet location.

45. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 44 in which the slide cover assembly includes part of the busbar,for example, a housing and/or cover strip of the busbar.

46. A method as claimed in Claim 24 and substantially as herein described.