GB2279815A

GB2279815A - Mounting electrical equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2279815A
Application number: GB9313161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Neill; Keith Wray Ball
Original assignee: Square D Co
Current assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
Priority date: 1993-06-25
Filing date: 1993-06-25
Publication date: 1995-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-25
Also published as: IE74893B1; GB2279815B; IE940422A1; GB9313161D0

Abstract

A saddle device (10), for an electric motor control centre power distribution arrangement, is slidably mountable on racking for effecting engagement and disengagement of a plurality of power supply connection members carried on the saddle device (10) with corresponding power supply connection members carried on the racking. The saddle device (10) includes latching means (11) for selectively, positively locating the device in a partially retracted (electrically disconnected) position, whereby testing of components carried on the saddle device (10) can be facilitated. The latching means (11) may also selectively, positively locate the device at an almost fully retracted position, prior to complete withdrawal. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION The invention relates to electric power distribution arrangements and more particularly to saddle devices for use with electric motor control centre power distribution arrangements.

Typical motor control centres comprise a group of motor starters contained in one or more vertical columns, each column containing a number of motor starters. Each starter is contained in a saddle which has rewardly projecting power supply connection members for plugging onto vertical busbars and each saddle is slidably mounted in racking therefor. Occasions arise when it is required to perform electrical tests on the components carried on a saddle and it is convenient to carry out such tests, in situ, with a saddle in a position partially retracted from the racking. When carrying out such tests accidents can occur when the saddle is inadvertently fully retracted and can then fall from the racking causing damage to the components thereon and/or personal injury.

It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate the above detailed problems.

According to the invention there is provided a saddle device, for an electric motor control centre power distribution arrangement, which is slidably mountable on racking for effecting engagement and disengagement of a plurality of power supply connection members carried on the saddle device with corresponding power supply connection members carried on the racking, the saddle device including latching means for selectively, positively locating the device in a partially retracted (electrically disconnected) position, whereby testing of components carried on the saddle device can be facilitated, in use.

Said latching means may also be capable of selectively, positively locating the device at an almost fully retracted position, prior to complete with drawal, in use.

The latching means may comprise a lever pivotally mounted on one side wall thereof and formed with a downwardly projecting catch member for selective engagement with one of two slots formed in a portion of the racking to determine said partially retracted and almost fully retracted positions, in use.

The lever may be located on the outer face of the side wall with manually control means there for located to be actuable at the inner face of said side wall and the lever may be resiliently urged to its latched position.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig.1 is a side elevational view of the inner face of a side wall of a saddle device, and Fig.2 is a plan view of a member for attachment to racking for the saddle device of Fig.l.

Referring now to Fig.l there is shown a side elevational view of the inner face of a side wall 10 of a saddle device for mounting a motor starter slidably in racking (not shown). A latching lever 11 is pivotally mounted about pivot pin 12 to lie on the outer face of wall 10 and is formed with a downwardly projecting catch portion Ila at one end thereof. A pin 13 carried on lever 11 projects through a slot 14 formed in wall 10 and is engaged by the operating arm 15a of a spring 15, mounted at point "16" on the inner face of wall 10 with the tensioning arm 15b thereof located beneath pin 17. A screw 18 carried by lever 11 adjacent catch portion lia projects through a slot 19 in wall 10 and serves to limit the pivotal movement of lever 11. A manually operable handle 20 is carried at the other end of lever 11, remote from catch portion lla, and projects through slot 21 in wall 10.

Referring now to Fig.2 there is shown a side runner 22 for use as part of racking for housing the saddle device. The runner 22 is formed with slots 22a and 22b for engagement by catch portion 11a to determine almost fully retracted and partially retracted positions of the saddle device when in use.

In use the saddle device is located in racking and in the fully inserted position the catch portion 11a rests on the top of the side runner 22.

When the saddle device is retracted for test purposes the catch portion lia first engages in slot 22b of runner 22 and held therein by spring arm 15a of spring 15 acting on pin 13. When it is required to reposition the saddle devices to either fully reinforce or remove, the handle is 20 is manually depressed to pivot lever 11 about pivot 12 to retract the catch portion 11a from slot 22b.

For partial removal of the saddle, the saddle is retracted when catch portion 11a will engage with slot 22a under the action of spring 15 as hereinbefore described. For complete removal of the saddle from the racking, the handle 20 is manually depressed to retract catch ila as previouly described and the saddle withdrawn.

Hence the saddle device is positively located in a partially retracted position to enable testing to be carried out on components carried thereon without any possibility of the saddle device inadvertently being fully retracted. Furthermore, immediately prior to fully retracting the saddle device a further positive location is provided for additional safety. When it is required to fully retract the saddle device, handle 21 is again manually depressed to retract catch portion 11a from slot 22a and the device can then be removed from the racking.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 A saddle device, for an electric motor control centre power distribution arrangement, which is slidably mountable on racking for effecting engagement and disengagement of a plurality of power supply connection members carried on the saddle device with corresponding power supply connection members carried on the racking, the saddle device including latching means for selectively, positively locating the device in a partially retracted (electrically disconnected) position, whereby testing of components carried on the saddle device can be facilitated , in use.

2. A saddle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latching means is also capable of selectively, positively locating the device at an almost fully retracted position, prior to complete withdrawal, in use.

3. A saddle device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the latching means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on one side wall thereof and formed with a downwardly projecting catch member for selective engagement with one of two slots formed in a portion of the racking to determine said partially retracted and almost fully retracted positions, in use.

4 A saddle device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the lever is located on the outer face of the side wall with manually actuable control means therefore located to be actuable at the inner face of said sidewall.

5 A saddle device as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 wherein the lever is resiliently urged to its latched positions.

6 A saddle device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7 A plurality of devices as claimed in any preceding claim located in racking therefor said racking including slotted portions for selectively retaining each said device in the fully inserted and partially retracted positions.