GB2355593A

GB2355593A - Housing installation

Info

Publication number: GB2355593A
Application number: GB9918558A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Linaker
Original assignee: MILLENNIUM MOULDED CASE DISTRI
Current assignee: MILLENNIUM MOULDED CASE DISTRI
Priority date: 1999-06-07
Filing date: 1999-06-07
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Also published as: GB9918558D0

Abstract

A wall-mounted housing installation for an electrical bus-bar system has a support attached to a wall, and an open-fronted rigid box-structure (3) mounted on the support by means of bolts which are fixed to the wall support and engage mounting holes (8, 9) in the back (6) of the box-structure (3). Internal support rails are provided for supporting the bus-bar system and these are also fixed to the bolts (4, 5). The housing installation can be readily mounted by attaching the wall support to the walls, presenting the box structure (3) to the bolts, and fixing the support rails in position inside the box structure (3).

Description

2355593 HOUSING INSTALLATIONS This invention relates to wall-mounted

housing installations or enclosures particularly for heavy duty electrical bus-bar systems.

Prior patent specifications GB 2234922B and WO 96/09669 described electrical bus-bar systems comprising encased conductors to which are attached heavy duty electrical switches or circuit breakers. In practice, such systems are fitted within a housing in the form of a metal box structure with internal support rails. In the case of relatively large systems, installation within the housing is effected by building up the structure in situ and would typically require a number of persons to lift and mount various large, heavy components.

In the case of smaller systems, e.g. for small commercial or industrial premises, it is usual to use a wall-mounted housing and there is the problem that with a substantial, rigid housing containing rigid internal support rails, more than one person may be required to lift and mount the housing.

Whilst reliance on a team of installation personnel may be acceptable in the context of a relatively large system, this may not be desirable in terms of cost and convenience for smaller systems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a housing installation for electrical equipment which can be wall-mounted in a simple and convenient manner.

According to the invention therefore a wall-mounted housing installation for electrical equipment comprises a wall support for attachment to a wall, a rigid box structure having a back, sides and an open front, support rails for supporting electrical equipment within the box structure, and fixing bolts which can pass through mounting holes in the box structure back and fix relative to the wall support and the support rails.

With this arrangement, the box structure can be relatively light in so far as rigidity is derived from the various components when fixed together whereby mounting can be achieved in a particularly simple and convenient manner and may be achievable by one person working alone.

Thus, and in accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of wall-mounting a housing installation for electrical equipment comprising the steps of: attaching a wall support to a wall presenting a box structure to the wall support, said box structure having a back with mounting holes, sides and an open front; holding the box structure in position by means of bolts passed through the mounting holes and fixed to the wall support; and fixing support rails for supporting electrical equipment to said bolts inside the box structure.

The wall support may comprise two rigid metal strips arranged to be fixed in upright side by side spaced apart dispositions. For ease of attachment to the wall, the strips may be held in their spaced apart dispositions by rigid links, e.g. welded transverse strips, although this is not essential.

The bolts may be permanently fixed to, so as to project forwardly from the wall support.

The open front of the box structure may be bounded by a rim which may be defined by a folded, in-turned section for strength. A hinged door or the like may be provided for closing the open front.

A frame structure may be provided to fit within the rim of the open front of the box structure for reinforcement purposes. This frame structure may interfit with the box structure e.g. by engagement of T-slots in the frame structure with projections within the box structure.

A protective panel may be provided to fit within the box structure with cut-outs for the electrical equipment.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a wall support of one form of a housing according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a box structure of the housing; Figure 3 is a sectional view on 111-111 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a bus-bar assembly for mounting within the housing; and Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a frame of the housing.

A housed installation containing a bus-bar system is mounted on a wall of a building commencing with the attachment of a wall support 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the wall support 1 comprises two like rigid metal strips 2 of common length and other dimensions each having four threaded bolts 4, 5 fixed thereto so as to project forwardly at right angles from the strips 2.

The strips 2 are fixed to the wall, by means of wall fixing screws passed through holes (not shown) in the strips 2, so that the strips 2 are disposed vertically side by side with their ends respectively level with each other. The strips 2 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. This distance may be measured in any suitable manner, conveniently by use of a support rail or bar (as described hereinafter) which is to be fitted over the strips 2.

After fixing of the strips 2, a box structure 3 having a square back 6 and four rectangular sides 7 is presented to the strips 2.

The square back 6 is drilled with eight mounting holes 8, 9 in positions corresponding to the positions of the eight bolts 4, 5. The box structure 3 can be easily lifted by one person and can be held in position by engaging the bolts 4, 5 with the mounting holes 8, 9 and by attaching nuts to the four innermost bolts 5.

The box structure 3 has an open front bounded by a rectangular rim 10 formed by inturned edges of the side walls 7. As shown in Figure 3, the rim edges are folded inwardly for strength and define an outwardly projecting sleeve 11 around the inner periphery of the rim 10.

A bus-bar assembly 12 comprising an elongate rectangular body having conductors potted in epoxy resin, as described in patent specifications GB 2234922B and WO 96/09669 is fixed within the box structure 3. The body 12 has attached transverse rails or bars 13 with holes 14 which fit over the four outermost bolts 4 and which are held securely in position by attachment of nuts on the bolts 4. The rails or bars 13 extend beyond the holes 14 and have outwardly projecting bolts 15 fixed to their ends.

Upright vertical channel section rails 16 are then fixed to these projecting bolts 15 which are passed through holes in the rails 16 and are engaged by nuts.

Within the sleeve 11 defined within the inturned rim section 10 there are inwardly directed headed projections 17 and a square frame 18 (Figure 5) fits within the sleeve 11 and is held in position by engagement of T-shaped slots 19 with heads of the projections 17.

Switches or circuit breakers (not shown) are mounted on the rails 16 and engage conductors of the bus-bar assembly 12.

Opposite sides of the box structure 3 have cable openings 20 and, if desired multiple box structures can be fitted together side by side.

A perspex panel (not shown) with appropriately positioned cut-outs fits within the frame over the bus-bar assembly and switches or circuit breakers.

There are upwardly projecting hinge pins 21 at one side of the rim 10 and a door (not shown) is mounted on these so that the front of the box structure 3 can be closed. The door has a front panel which is pressed outwardly for strength.

The resulting installation has considerable strength which is derived from interconnection of multiple overlying component parts. Accordingly, the individual parts may be relatively light weight and suitable for lifting by one person working alone.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

-7CLAIMS

1 A wall-mounted housing installation for electrical equipment comprises a wall support for attachment to a wall, a rigid box structure having a back, sides and an open front, support rails for supporting- electrical equipment within the box structure, and fixing bolts which can pass through mounting holes in the box structure back and fix relative to the wall support and the support rails.

2. A method of wall-mounting a housing installation for electrical equipment comprising the steps of: attaching a wall support to a wall presenting a box structure to the wall support, said box structure having a back with mounting holes, sides and an open front; holding the box structure in position by means of bolts passed through the mounting holes and fixed to the wall support; and fixing support rails for supporting electrical equipment to said bolts inside the box structure.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the wall support comprises two rigid metal strips which are fixed in upright side by side spaced apart dispositions.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the strips are held spaced apart by rigid links.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the links are welded transverse strips.

6. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the bolts are permanently fixed to the wall support so as to project forwardly theref rom.

7. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the open front of the box structure is bounded by a rim and a hinged door is provided for closing the open front.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the rim is defined by a folded in-turned section.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8 wherein a frame structure is provided to fit within the rim.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the frame structure interfits with the box structure.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the interfit with the box structure is by engagement of T-slots in the frame structure with projections within the box structure.

12. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 11 wherein a protective panel is provided to fit within the box structure with cut outs for the electrical equipment.

13. A wall-mounted installation when made by the method of any one of claims 2 to 12.

14. A wall-mounted installation according to claim 1 or 13 including an electrical bus-bar assembly fixed within the box structure.

15. A wall-mounted installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A method according to claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example.

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