GB2476816A

GB2476816A - Substation kiosk

Info

Publication number: GB2476816A
Application number: GB201000279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Brands
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-08
Filing date: 2010-01-08
Publication date: 2011-07-13
Also published as: GB201000279D0

Abstract

A protective enclosure for an item of electrical equipment, such as a Marshalling Kiosk in a substation, is disclosed. Standard sized GRP panels are provided from which appropriate ones are selected to fit around any normal sized kiosk. The panels include front / rear, end and roof members and the side panels have means by which any one may engage with an adjacent one and they may be secured together. The roof and upper parts of the side panels are provided with appropriate engagement means so that they may be secured together. The whole enclosure is designed to be weatherproof. Corner members are provided to reinforce corner joints and the panels are secured together by nuts and bolts and tamperproof means are taught. The enclosure is provided with access doors and ventilation means.

Description

PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURES

This specification relates to an apparatus and method by which a protective enclosure is provided and placed around an object, such as an item of equipment. The enclosure may be the sole or primary protection around the object or be a secondary, protective enclosure around the primary enclosure.

There are many examples of protective enclosures around items of equipment. Very often these are factory-built items, supplied in a protective casing, transported to a site and installed as a complete unit. In other cases, these may be temporary enclosures, e.g. while repairs are carried out on pipes or cables under a road, or permanent enclosures, e.g. over an archaeological excavation which is subsequently opened to the public. There are also occasions when the original enclosure has failed, or is failing, and this enclosure must either be replaced, or a secondary enclosure placed around the original enclosure.

One particular example of this last mentioned instance are the Marshalling Kiosks 8 in electrical substations (Fig. 1, prior art). These kiosks 8 are the junction boxes between the substation output equipment and the substation control building 9 and are full of complex electrical control and other equipment. Kiosks 8 are usually enclosed in a steel casing 8, with access doors 8A (Fig. 2). Substations are usually outside installations and, though high quality, zinc coated, painted, mild steel is used for the casing, corrosion of the metal occurs over time. While this may be just general rusting, severe localised damage can occur, e.g. where vandals have thrown stones and broken the paint layer, or where there were imperfections in the base metal. Eddy currents, induced in the casing due to the presence of the adjacent electrical equipment, may also lead to enhanced rates of galvanic corrosion. Thus, there will be occasions when casing 8 is failing, or has failed, and restorative action is required. The obvious action would be to replace just the casing 8 of the whole kiosk 8 but this is not always practicable.

Fig. I shows diagrammatically a typical substation (prior art). (For clarity, the electrical insulators and supports for busbars 4 are not shown.) National grid cables 1, carrying power at (currently) up to 400kV, terminate at pylon 2, with downleads 3 connecting 6 to busbars 4. Busbars 4 are uninsulated and located some distance above ground, for safety reasons. Busbars 4 are shown dashed, as they are frequently extended to feed more that just a single transformer 5. Leads 6 take the power down to transformer 5. Relay room 9 contains equipment to monitor power levels and, via underground 10 connections 11 and 12 and kiosk 8, maintains an essentially constant output voltage in domestic mains 13.

When a substation (Fig. 1) is constructed, kiosk 8 is usually installed by a crane, via lifting means 14, as a complete unit and connected up 11, 12 in situ. Busbars 4 are installed after kiosk 8 is in place. Relay room 9 is traditionally brick built with a pitched roof. While kiosks 8 might be designed with a removable casing 8, the presence of live busbars 4 overhead means that craneage can not be used to remove a failed casing 8 or fit a new one. As shuthng down the power supply 1 would be most disruptive and cost at least £50k per hour, this is highly undesirable. It is theoretically possible to cut casing 8 into pieces and remove the pieces but this means people operating cutting equipment, under live busbars 4, and, probably, within about 50 mm of the live equipment in kiosk 8. It is clearly unreasonable to ask anybody to undertake such a hazardous task.

Thus, there is an urgent need for a practical method to be able to reinstate the weatherproof, protective casings around marshalling kiosks, while power is being transmitted, and do it in a way that does not jeopardise the health and safety of the personnel undertaking the task.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment comprising:-I) front I rear panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which any front / rear panel may be connected to another adjacent front I rear panel to form an extended planar surface, the means of engagement also permitting connection to an end panel to form two surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and further having a means of engagement with a roof panel(s); ii) end panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which an end panel may be connected to a front I rear panel to form two planar surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and I or optionally to another end panel to form an extended planar surface and further optionally having a means of engagement with a roof panel(s); iii) roof panels having a means of engagement by which a roof panel may be connected to a front I rear panel(s) and optionally to an end panel(s) and further optionally to another roof panel(s); iv) means by which the completed enclosure may be secured to the ground around the item of electrical equipment; and v) means by which a person can access the space inside the enclosure and / or equipment therein; characterised in that the enclosure is created by firstly placing the front / rear and end panels around the item of electrical equipment in an appropriate order and connecting the S means of engagement of adjacent panels together until the sides of the enclosure are complete and secondly fitting the roof panels(s) and connecting the means of engagement of the roof panels to the front / rear panels and optionally to the end panels and adjacent roof panels and also securing the completed enclosure to the ground so that the completed enclosure is secure and weatherproof and the equipment therein is accessible.

According to a first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the enclosure is rectilinear with a flat I planar roof.

According to a second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the enclosure is rectilinear with a pitched roof.

According to a third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the weatherproofing includes means of engagement of the panels designed to prohibit ingress of rain.

According to a fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the weatherproofing includes means to shed rain off and I or away from the enclosure.

According to a fifth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front I rear panels are rectangular in shape and extend from ground level to the eave height of the enclosure.

According to a sixth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front / rear panels are provided in a series of different widths, so that a single panel or a number of panels may be used to provide an enclosure of any required length.

According to a seventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front / rear panels are all made (when looking normally at the external face of the panel with the panel in an essentially vertical position and forming a part of the enclosure) with a male form of engagement on the one vertical edge and a female form of engagement on the other vertical edge so that any one front I rear panel may engage with any other front I rear panel to form said extended planar surface and / or engage with an end panel to form said two planar surfaces essentially at right angles to each other.

According to an eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the end panels are parallel-sided, with a normal edge at ground level, and extend upwardly to the eave height, where the upper edge is adapted to engage with the underside of the roof panel, whether the roof panel is flat, angled or pitched.

According to a ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the end panels are provided in a series of different widths, so that a single panel or a number of panels may be used to provide an enclosure of any required width.

According to a tenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the end panels are all made (when looking normally at the external face of the panel with the panel in an essentially vertical position and forming a part of the enclosure) with a male form of engagement on the one vertical edge and a female form of engagement on the other vertical edge so that any one end panel may engage with any front / rear panel to form said two extended planar surfaces at a right angle to each other or to engage with two front I rear panels to form two extended planar surfaces both at a right angles to the plane of said end panel and so forming a U-shape enclosure when viewed from above or to engage with another end panel to form an extended planar surface.

According to an eleventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front I rear panels are all provided with a land at the upper edge having the means of engagement to connect to a roof panel.

According to a twelfth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front / rear panels are all provided with a land at the bottom to enable the panel to be secured to the ground.

According to a thirteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the end panels are all provided with a land at the upper edge having the means of engagement to connect to a roof panel.

According to a fourteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the end panels are all provided with a land at the bottom to enable the panel to be secured to the ground.

According to a fifteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the roof panels are provided at both edges with a land to engage with the land at the upper edges of the front I rear panels.

According to a sixteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the roof panels are provided with either appropriate means of engagement with an end panel on both edges or means of engagement with an end panel on one edge and means of engagement with another roof panel on the other edge or means of engagement with another roof panel on both edges.

According to a seventeenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the end roof panels are extended outwardly beyond the vertical plane of the end panels.

According to an eighteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the roof panels are extended laterally beyond the eaves and beyond the vertical plane of the front I rear panels.

According to a nineteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the roof panels are provided with means to shed water and snow away from the sides of the enclosure.

According to a twentieth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of engagement of the front / rear panels and end panels are variations of the form of elongated tongue and groove arrangements.

According to a twenty first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of engagement of the front I rear panels, end panels and roof panels are conventional flat flanges.

According to a twenty second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of engagement of the front I rear panels, end panels and roof panels include members to align and positively locate adjacent panels together.

According to a twenty third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of engagement of the front I rear panels, end panels and roof panels includes securing by nuts and bolts.

According to a twenty fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the enclosure is secured to the ground via ground bolts passing through holes in the lands at the bottoms of the front I rear and end panels.

According to a twenty fifth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the nuts and bolts securing the front I rear panels, end panels and roof panels together are provided with means to prevent unauthorised tampering with said nuts and bolts.

According to a twenty sixth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of engagement of the front I rear panels, end panels and roof panels are waterproofed by applying mastic to an appropriate surface before the adjacent panels are placed in direct engagement and secured together.

According to a twenty seventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, a corner member is provided to reinforce the corner joint between adjacent front I rear and end panels to ensure that the joint is essentially a right angle.

According to a twenty eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, a corner member is provided to reinforce the corner joint between adjacent front I rear and roof panels and br between adjacent end and roof panels to ensure that the joint is essentially at the desired angle.

According to a twenty ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of access into the enclosure is via an openable and lockable door or access panel.

According to a thirtieth variation of the apparatus of the invention, a clearance gap is provided between the inside faces of the enclosure and the electrical equipment therein.

According to a thirty first variation of the apparatus of the invention, ventilation means are provided through appropriate front / rear and / or end panels to allow air to circulate from the ambient environment into the clearance gap and out again.

According to a thirty second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front / rear, end and roof panels are made from a non-electrically conducting I electrically insulating material.

According to a thirty second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the non-electrically conducting material from which the panels are made is Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP).

According to a thirty third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the front / rear, end and roof panels are made from steel.

According to a thirty fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the steel panels are S covered by a non-electrically conducting / electrically insulating material.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment comprising:-i) providing front I rear panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which any front / rear panel may be connected to another adjacent front I rear panel to form an extended planar surface, the means of engagement also permitting connection to an end panel to form two surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and further having a means of engagement permitting connection to a roof panel(s); ii) providing end panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which an end panel may be connected to a front / rear panel to form two surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and further optionally having a means of engagement permitting connection to a roof panel(s) and further optionally having a means of engagement to another end panel; iii) locating and assembling the front I rear and end panels around the item of electrical equipment, via the connecting means of engagement, and securing adjacent panels together to form an essentially rectangular roofless enclosure; iv) providing roof panels having means of engagement by which a roof panel may be connected to a front I rear panel(s) and optionally to an end panel(s) and further optionally to another roof panel; v) assembling the roof panel(s) to form a completed roof and locating and fitting the completed roof to the Upper ends of the front I rear and end panels to form a completed enclosure; vi) securing the completed enclosure to the ground; and vii) providing means by which a person can access the space inside the enclosure and I or equipment therein; characterised in that the enclosure is created by selecting one / more front / rear panels to give the required width at both front and rear faces of the enclosure and selecting one / more end panels to give the required depth at both end faces of the enclosure and assembling them, via the connecting means of engagement, in an appropriate order around the item of electrical equipment and further selecting one / more roof panel(s) to give the required width and assembling it / them via the connecting means of engagement to form a completed roof and fitting the completed roof and connecting it to the front and rear panels and optionally to the end panels and also securing the completed enclosure to the ground so that the completed enclosure is secure and weatherproof.

According to a first variation of the method of the invention, the roof panels are fitted individually to the front I rear and end panels and secured thereto in situ.

According to a second variation of the method of the invention, the roof panels are assembled separately and the roof is fitted as a unit to the front I rear and end panels and secured thereto.

According to a third variation of the method of the invention, the means of engagement is secured by bolting.

In a preferred application of the invention, the item of electrical equipment is a marshalling kiosk in an electrical power distribution substation. Marshalling kiosks are essentially standard-sized items, though the external dimensions of each may vary within a limited size range according to the particular electrical equipment housed therein as needed to meet the specific requirements of that substation.

Thus, it is possible to select a number of front I rear, end and roof panels from a relatively limited number of standard panel sizes to meet any given requirement. All these standard panels are made to fit together in the same way that, say, standard-size cupboard, cooker and sink units may be chosen to refit a kitchen. Here, the standard-sized panels are designed to interlock together to form a mechanically robust, roofed, weatherproof primary, or secondary, enclosure around the kiosk, i.e. respectively the sole protective enclosure around the electrical equipment or a secondary enclosure around the original failed casing 8. The selection of panels is such as to give clearance between the inside of the enclosure and the electrical equipment I original casing 8. Air cooling vents and access means are provided in appropriate panels. The completed enclosure is secured to the ground.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical power substation (Prior art); Figure 2 us a three projection representation of the marshalling kiosk of Fig. 1 (Prior art); Figure 3 is a front elevation of a first design of front I rear panel of the enclosure of the invention; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a first design of front I rear panel of the enclosure of the invention, provided with access doors; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the first design of a front / rear panel shown in Figs. 3 or 4; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the first design of an end panel of the enclosure of the invention; Figure 7 is an exploded sectional view of the engagement of the first possible design of the interlocking elements of the panels of the invention; Figure 8 is an end sectional elevation of a roof panel of the invention; Figure 9 is a sectional view of the engagements of the first design of front / rear and end panels of the invention, using the design principle shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 10 is an exploded diagrammatic plan view of a second design of front/ rear and end panels arranged around a kiosk 8; and Figure 11 is a part-sectional view of the corner joint of the second design (Fig. 10) and also showing an exploded engagement of two adjacent front / rear panels.

In the following description, the same reference numeral is used for the same component in different Figs. or for different components fulfilling an identical function.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it has been explained why removal of failed marshalling kiosk casings 8, either as a whole or in parts, is undesirable. So, leaving casing 8 in place and using a secondary enclosure, totally surrounding original casing 8, is the most suitable alternative. Typical dimensions 15, 16 and 17 of kiosks 8 are width 800-1800mm, depth 400-650mm and height 1750-2000mm respectively. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show a first design of standard sized front / rear panels 18, 19; all will have a standard height 37 but variable widths 27. Some front I rear panels 18 will be plain and some of the wider ones 19 will be provided with access doors 19A. Both designs 18, 19 will have a range of widths, e.g. 100, 200,400,600, 800, etc. As, the height 37 of panels 18, 19 will be about 2100mm, a width of 300 may be substituted for the 100 option but, with either choice, overall enclosure widths of an integral number of 100mm lengths may be provided.

Each front / rear panel 18, 19 consists a central panel 24 a right hand male engagement edge section 20, a left hand female engagement edge section 21, an eaves land 22 and a ground flange 23. Doors 19A are located in central panel 24 and openable via hinges (not shown) to provide access to the electrical equipment in kiosk 8. The engagement of male S and female edge sections 20 and 21 between two front I rear panel sections is shown in Fig. 7, with male elements 21A and 20C mating in slots 21B and 210 respectively in a double tongue and groove arrangement. Bolts 30 pass through clearance holes 29 to engage with captive nuts 28.

End panels 25 (Fig. 6), with matching eaves height 37B, have similar right hand edge male sectional 25A and left hand edge female sectional 25B engagements (Fig. 9) as for the front I rear panels, though with provision for the 90° angle. A pitched fascia 38 is provided as are high and low level vents 26A and 26B respectively to allow cooling of the equipment in kiosk 8. All front / rear and end panels 18, 19, 25 have a base flange 23 and holes is (shown by centrelines 31) so that the assembled enclosure can be positioned with adequate clearance 35 (Fig. 9) around kiosk 8 and secured to the ground 10.

Roofing sections 32 (Fig. 8), with widths 27, 27A to match panels 18 and 19 are provided to match the pitch of fascias 38. Each roof section 32 is provided with eaves lands 33 captive nuts 28 and bolt holes (centrelines 31). Drip edges 34 (Fig. 8) are provided and roof sections 32 extend laterally beyond fascias 38 to shed rainwater clear of base flange 23.

Though a pitched roof 38 is shown (Figs. 6 and 8), it may be horizontal or flat and angled, e.g. from front sloping downwards towards the back, i.e. with front heights 37A greater that the rear heights. End panels 25 would thus have a trapezium shape (not shown).

Fig. 9 shows engagement of two front/ rear panels 19-19 and the engagement of two such panels with an end panel 19-25-19. The engagements follow the principle of the exploded view in Fig. 7 and will apparent to the skilled man. The double tongue and groove bolted arrangement will stop driving rain from penetrating the joints but, if further sealing is required, a run of mastic (not shown) may be placed, e.g. in groove 210, before the joint is assembled.

To assemble the enclosure around a live kiosk, the workers would carefully enter the substation compound, open and remove kiosk doors 8A and take them away. They would then unpack the front, rear and end sections and take an end and front I rear section inside the compound and bolt 28-30 them together. As these two sections form a rigid right angle, the combination will stand up by itself. Further front / rear panels may be bolted on until the whole of both front and rear sides and the two ends are in place. As shown by centrelines 31, bolt holes are placed at regular intervals around all edges. Looking from the outside, the left hand vertical edge of each front / rear and end panel has a female engagement 20A, 25B (Fig. 9) and a captive nut 28, while the right hand vertical edge has a male engagement 21A, 25A and a hole for bolt 30. The front panel 19 with doors 19A would be placed in front of the spaces left by removal of the kiosk doors 8A.

By looking over the top of the sides of the enclosure, its positioning symmetrically around kiosk 8 may be confirmed and, if necessary moved slightly to ensure an adequate gap 35 all round. Ventilation is important to ensure uniform cooling of the equipment in kiosk 8 and vents 26 in the panels at the ends 25 and front I rear, if required (not shown) must not be obstructed.

Though only a single end panel 25 has been taught, ends consisting of two, three of four panels are equally possible, giving appropriately greater widths. The engagement of adjacent panels would be as for front / rear panels 18, 19 Figs. 7 and 9.

Roof sections 32 are now assembled, with adjacent sections being joined (Fig. 7) as previously taught. The assembled roof would then be taken into the compound and carefully slid over the top of the sides of the enclosure into position, aligning holes 31 in lands 22 and 33 and bolting together 28, 30. (Lifting or sliding roof 32 into position under live busbars must be undertaken with extreme caution but the relatively low pitch 38 enables this to be done without any significant problems.) When roof 32 is secure and all other bolts 30 are in place, the enclosure is secured to the ground by drilling through the holes (centrelines 31) in lands 23 and fitting ground bolts (not shown). The exact time during the assembly procedure when ground bolts (not shown) are fitted may depend on the particular installation and the preferences of the people erecting the enclosure.

Though a single pitched roof 32 has been shown, this may be provided as two halves 32A and 32B and joined together 32C. Alternatively, panels 32 may be fitted individually. This would enable panels 18, 19, 25 and 32A, 32B to be flat-packed for ease of transport.

S However, a disadvantage of this would mean the need to duplicate some of roof panels; clearly, the fewer different sizes of panels that have to be provided, the smaller the inventory required, allowing a cheaper enclosure to be supplied.

A second design of standard sized panels is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Here, front / rear panels 39 and end panels 40 surround kiosk 8. Each panel 39 and 40 has flanges 41 and 42 on the vertical sides and top flanges 22 and 38 respectively (not shown). Thus, front / rear panels 39 are similar to the lids of shoe boxes, with a flange' around all four sides; end panels 40 will be similar on three sides but the fourth (top) side will align with the particular roof profile. Corner members 43 enable adjacent flanges 41 and 42 to be bolted together and both reinforce the joints and hold them at a right angle. As before (Fig. 11), the left hand flanges 42 have a female 45/ 45A engagement and a captive nut 28 and the right hand flanges have a male engagement 44/ 44A and a hole for bolt 30. As it is possible to overtighten bolts 30 and crack the GRP flanges 41, 42, metal inserts 44, 45 are provided, cast into the GRP substrate, Mastic runs 46 would seal the flange against driving rain.

Corner joints (not shown) may also be used to reinforce the joints between front I rear and roof panels and br end and roof panels.

In both possible designs of enclosure, nuts and bolts have been taught as the means of securing panels together. Bolts can be undone by vandals or people with more serious intentions. Anti tampering devices, such as are used to prevent unauthorised removal of car wheels may be provided, where required.

The description so far has been written in the context of providing a replacement or additional enclosure for a marshalling kiosk in an electrical power substation. As the whole system is likely be live, non-conducting end 25, front / rear 18, 19 and roof 32 panels are essential and Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) is a preferred material of construction. GRP panels can be laid up singly in open moulds or produced by pumping resin and chopped glass fibre mixtures into closed moulds and polymerising. Metal inserts 44 and 45 may be incorporated into the moulds during the casting process.

The description so far has been written on the basis of providing a secondary enclosure around a failed in-service kiosk 8. However, panels 18/19, 25 and 32 of the invention may be provided for the original casing 8 and fitted in the factory, where kiosk 8 is built. Special adaptations may be provided to allow the completed kiosks to be moved by a crane.

S

Similarly, the enclosure of the invention may be used to surround other items of equipment and, where these are not critical items of live electrical equipment, cheaper sheet metal panels may be used instead of GRP. Where minimum maintenance is required, GRP panels of the invention may be used for items such as garden sheds, play houses for children, etc. The skilled man will appreciate how the principle of the invention, using standard sized panels and an engagement arrangement at either side of each panel and at the corners allows a very large number of lengths and widths of enclosures to be created to meet any particular need.

Claims

Claims:- 1. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment comprising:-i) front I rear panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which any front I rear panel may be connected to another adjacent front / rear panel to form an extended planar surface, the means of engagement also permitting connection to an end panel to form two surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and further having a means of engagement with a roof panel(s); ii) end panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which an end panel may be connected to a front I rear panel to form two planar surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and I or optionally to another end panel to form an extended planar surface and further optionally having a means of engagement with a roof panel(s); iii) roof panels having a means of engagement by which a roof panel may be connected to a front / rear panel(s) and optionally to an end panel(s) and further optionally to another roof panel(s); iv) means by which the completed enclosure may be secured to the ground around the item of electrical equipment; and v) means by which a person can access the space inside the enclosure and / or equipment therein; charactensed in that the enclosure is created by firstly placing the front I rear and end panels around the item of electrical equipment in an appropriate order and connecting the means of engagement of adjacent panels together until the sides of the enclosure are complete and secondly fitting the roof panels(s) and connecting the means of engagement of the roof panels to the front / rear panels and optionally to the end panels and adjacent roof panels and also securing the completed enclosure to the ground so that the completed enclosure is secure and weatherproof and the equipment therein is accessible.
2. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is rectilinear with a flat I planar roof.
3. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is rectilinear with a pitched roof.
4. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weatherproofing includes means of engagement of the panels designed to prohibit ingress of rain.
5. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the weatherproofing includes means to shed rain off and I or away from the enclosure.
6. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front I rear panels are rectangular in shape and extend from ground level to the eave height of the enclosure.
7. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front I rear panels are provided in a series of different widths, so that a single panel or a number of panels may be used to provide an enclosure of any required length.
8. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the front / rear panels are all made (when looking normally at the external face of the panel with the panel in an essentially vertical position and forming a part of the enclosure) with a male form of engagement on the one vertical edge and a female form of engagement on the other vertical edge so that any one front / rear panel may engage with any other front I rear panel to form said extended planar surface and / or engage with an end panel to form said two planar surfaces essentially at right angles to each other.
9. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end panels are parallel-sided, with a normal edge at ground level, and extend upwardly to the eave height, where the upper edge is adapted to engage with the underside of the roof panel, whether the roof panel is flat, angled or pitched.
10. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the end panels are provided in a series of different widths, so that a single panel or a number of panels may be used to provide an enclosure of any required width.
11. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the end panels are all made (when looking normally at the external face of the panel with the panel in an essentially vertical position and forming a part of the enclosure) with a male form of engagement on the one vertical edge and a female form of engagement on the other vertical edge so that any one end panel may engage with any front / rear panel to form said two extended planar surfaces at a right angle to each other or to engage with two front I rear panels to form two extended planar surfaces both at a right angles to the plane of said end panel and so forming a U-shape enclosure when viewed from above or to engage with another end panel to form an extended planar surface.
12. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 6-8, wherein the front I rear panels are all provided with a land at the upper edge having the means of engagement to connect to a roof panel.
13. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the front / rear panels are all provided with a land at the bottom to enable the panel to be secured to the ground.
14. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 9-11, wherein the end panels are all provided with a land at the upper edge having the means of engagement to connect to a roof panel.
15. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the end panels are all provided with a land at the bottom to enable the panel to be secured to the ground.
16. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the roof panels are provided at both edges with a land to engage with the land at the upper edges of the front I rear panels.
17. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the roof panels are provided with either appropriate means of engagement with an end panel on both edges or means of engagement with an end panel on one edge and means of engagement with another roof panel on the other edge or means of engagement with another roof panel on both edges.
18. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the end roof panels are extended outwardly beyond the vertical plane of the end panels.
19. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the roof panels are extended laterally beyond the eaves and beyond the vertical plane of the front I rear panels.
20. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 18 or 19, wherein the roof panels are provided with means to shed water and snow away from the sides of the enclosure.
21. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means of engagement of the front I rear panels and end panels are variations of the form of elongated tongue and groove arrangements.
22. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 1-20, wherein the means of engagement of the front / rear panels, end panels and roof panels are conventional flat flanges.
23. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 21 or 22, wherein the means of engagement of the front / rear panels, end panels and roof panels include members to align and positively locate adjacent panels together.
24. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 23, wherein the means of engagement of the front / rear panels, end panels and roof panels includes securing by nuts and bolts.
25. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure is secured to the ground via ground bolts passing through holes in the lands at the bottoms of the front / rear and end panels.
26, Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 24 and I or 25, wherein the nuts and bolts securing the front I rear panels, end panels and roof panels together are provided with means to prevent unauthorised tampering with said nuts and bolts.
27. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means of engagement of the front / rear panels, end panels and roof panels are waterproofed by applying mastic to an appropriate surface before the adjacent panels are placed in direct engagement and secured together.
28. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a corner member is provided to reinforce the corner joint between adjacent front I rear and end panels to ensure that the joint is essentially a right angle.
29. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a corner member is provided to reinforce the corner joint between adjacent front / rear and roof panels and for between adjacent end and roof panels to ensure that the joint is essentially at the desired angle.
30. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means of access into the enclosure is via an openable and lockable door or access panel.
31. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a clearance gap is provided between the inside faces of the enclosure and the electrical equipment therein.
32. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein ventilation means are provided through appropriate front / rear and I or end panels to allow air to circulate from the ambient environment into the clearance gap and out again.
33. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the front / rear, end and roof panels are made from a non-electrically conducting / electrically insulating material.
34. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 33, wherein the non-electrically conducting material from which the panels are made is Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP).
35. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the front I rear, end and roof panels are made from steel.
36. Apparatus for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claim 35, wherein the steel panels are covered by a non-electrically conducting I electrically insulating material.
37. A method for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment comprising:-I) providing front / rear panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which any front / rear panel may be connected to another adjacent front / rear panel to form an extended planar surface, the means of engagement also permitting connection to an end panel to form two surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and further having a means of engagement permitting connection to a roof panel(s); ii) providing end panels, each panel having a means of engagement by which an end panel may be connected to a front / rear panel to form two surfaces essentially at right angles to each other and further optionally having a means of engagement permitting connection to a roof panel(s) and further optionally having a means of engagement to another end panel; iii) locating and assembling the front / rear and end panels around the item of electrical equipment, via the connecting means of engagement, and securing adjacent panels together to form an essentially rectangular roofless enclosure; iv) providing roof panels having means of engagement by which a roof panel may be connected to a front / rear panel(s) and optionally to an end panel(s) and further optionally to another roof panel; v) assembling the roof panel(s) to form a completed roof and locating and fitting the completed roof to the upper ends of the front I rear and end panels to form a completed enclosure; vi) securing the completed enclosure to the ground; and vii) providing means by which a person can access the space inside the enclosure and I or equipment therein; characterised in that the enclosure is created by selecting one I more front I rear panels to give the required width at both front and rear faces of the enclosure and selecting one / more end panels to give the required depth at both end faces of the enclosure and assembling them, via the connecting means of engagement, in an appropriate order around the item of electrical equipment and further selecting one / more roof panel(s) to give the required width and assembling it I them via the connecting means of engagement to fonn.a completed roof and fitting the completed roof and connecting it to the front and rear panels and optionally to the end panels and atso securing the completed enclosure to the ground so that the completed enclosure is secure and weatherproof.
38. A method for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment as claimed in claim 37, wherein the roof panels are fitted individually to the front I rear and end panels and secured thereto in situ.
39. A method for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment as claimed in claim 37, wherein the roof panels are assembled separately and the roof is fitted as a unit to the front I rear and end panels and secured thereto.
40. A method for creating a weatherproof enclosure around an item of electrical equipment, as claimed in claims 38 or 39, wherein the means of engagement is secured by bolting.