GB2506132A

GB2506132A - Fuseboard with RCDs and circuit breakers

Info

Publication number: GB2506132A
Application number: GB1216812.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Corneliu Alin Carcu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-20
Filing date: 2012-09-20
Publication date: 2014-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-20
Also published as: GB201216812D0; GB2506132B

Abstract

A fuseboard is has a power input including a neutral input in connection with a neutral busbar, an input isolator and an RCD means in connection to the input isolator and a second busbar. One or more output circuits, each comprising an output circuit breaker are in connection to at least one busbar. The fuseboard provides either single or three phase inputs and both RCD-protected and non-protected circuits.

Description

A Fuseboard

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fuseboards and distribution boards, in particular to fuseboards for use in single or three phase installations in buildings, including: domestic, commercial and industrial premises.

Background

Fuseboards intended for use in buildings typically have inputs of either single or three phase power, at AC voltages of less than 1000V, more typically 400V for three phase and 240V for single phase in the UK, and other voltages in other countries, for example 11 5V in the USA. Typically a fuseboard is adapted for one of single or three phase power input. Typically fuseboards have main isolator switches controlling the input from the power supply, and a number of subsidiary isolator switches controlling output circuits branching from the outputs of the main isolator switches.

Typically the main isolator switches comprise RCD (residual current devices) current trips to isolate the input in the event of a circuit failure such as a short circuit. In some older fuseboards the output circuits are protected by fuses. In all modern fuseboards, all output circuits are protected by an RCD. However, in some applications an RCD device is not advantageous: for example in control of essential circuits such as an alarm power supply, an RCD device is not required as accidental trip of the RCD could lead to a hazardous condition. Prior art fuseboards have the disadvantage that they. cannot accommodate such circuits as well as RCD-protected circuits.

Prior Art

The prior art does not disclose an apparatus that addresses the need for provision of output circuits in a fuseboard suitable for use in building power supplies that provides both RCD protected and non-RCD protected output circuits.

GB 759 739 discloses switchgear having circuit breakers at the power input to one or more busbars, and having a switch allowing the circuit breaker to be bypassed when the switch is on'. In this way, the relevant busbar can be converted to a state in which it is not protected by the circuit breaker. However, this apparatus is adapted for high voltage switchgear applications and does not provide a combination of simultaneously available individual protected and non-protected output circuits as needed in. building power supply situations.

Summary of the Invention -

The invention provides an improved fuseboard that provides both RCD protected and non-ROD protected circuits in a flexible manner, in some embodiments together with the capability of accepting both single and three-phase power supplies in a common device, being able to accommodate large number of circuits (18 or more) and being able to handle large loads.

Such a device addresses a gap in the present provision of such devices market need and would have considerable practical and commercial value According to the present invention there is provided a fuseboard comprising: a power input having at least one line and one neutral input; an input isolator in line with each line input; an input RCD means in electrical connection to the output of each input isolator; a line busbar in electrical connection to the output of each input RCD means and a neutral busbar in electrical connection to the neutral input; one or more first output circuits, each comprising an output circuit breaker means in electrical connection to at least one line busbar and an output connector in electrical connection to the output of the output circuit breaker means.

Preferably each first output circuit further comprises a connection to the neutral busbar.

Even more preferably the output connector is in the form of a terminal block as known in the art, comprising at least a first terminal connection in electrical connection with the output of the output circuit breaker means and a second terminal connection in electrical connection with the neutral input. In some embodiments the output circuit breaker means may comprise a double pole switch means that acts in use to break both the line and neutral connections to the relevant busbars. * 2

In some particularly preferred embodiments the output circuit breaker means may comprise an over-current trip means. In some embodiments the output circuit breaker means may comprise an RCD device, or an RCBO (Residual Current circuit Breaker with Over-Current protection) device In a preferred embodiment the fuseboard is adapted for a three-phase power input and comprises three line inputs and one neutral input, an input isolator pole in line with each of the three line inputs, three input RCD means, three line busbars, one in electrical connection to the output of each RCD means, and at least one first output circuit in electrical connection to one line busbar.

Advantageously the fuseboard comprises a plurality of first output circuits, some connected to a first line busbar, others connected to second and third line bubars.

In a preferred embodiment the three input RCD means comprise separately actuable independent RCD means, one in line with each line input. In this way each phase is protected by a separate RCD device In another preferred embodiment the fuseboard further comprises one or more second output circuits, each comprising a second output circuit breaker means in electrical connection to the output of an input isolator and a second output connector in electrical connection to the output of the second output circuit breaker means.

Preferably the second output connector comprises a line connection in electrical connection to an output from an input isolator and a neutral connection in electrical connection with the neulral input.

Preferably the second output circuits further comprise switch means in series with the line and neutral connections, and in preferred embodiments additionally overcurrent trip or fuse means in series. In use such switch means serve to isolate each second output circuit individually from the outputs of the input isolators In preferred embodiments the fuseboard of the invention is housed in a cabinet having a long and a short axis and a depth. In some embodiments the cabinet is formed from an insulating material. In other embodiments the cabinet may be formed at least in pafl from metal, the metal components preferably being connected to electrical earth.

In a preferred embodiment the components of the fuseboard are laid out within the cabinet in a pattern that represents the sequence of power connections within the cabinet.

In a preferred embodiment the fuseboard components are laid out as follows, in sequence from a first end of the cabinet: input terminals for a three phase power input at a first end of the cabinet; then three isolators; then three input RCIJ devices positioned further from the first end than the isolators; then the output circuit breakers positioned closer to the second end of the cabinet In embodiments comprising both first output circuits that are RCD-protected and second output circuits that are not RCD-protected a preferred layout is as follows in sequence from a first end of the cabinet: input terminals for a three phase power input at a first end of the cabinet; then three isolators; then the second output circuit breakers; then three input RCD devices; then the first output circuit breakers positioned closer to the second end of the cabinet.

In this way the first and second output breakers, and the location of the first and second output connectors within the cabinet, are clearly apparent to the user.

In preferred embodiments the fuseboard further comprises conductor means to connect the outputs from three input RCD devices arranged laterally to three busbars stacked one above the other suitable to feed into the rows of first output circuit breakers. In preferred embodiments having second output circuits, the fuseboard further comprises conductor means to connect the outputs from the input isolators arranged laterally to three busbars stacked one above the other suitable to feed into the rows of second output circuit breakers, and conductor means to connect the three busbars stacked one above the other from the second output circuit breakers to the inputs of the three input RCD devices arranged laterally.

Preferably the fuseboard further comprises an earth busbar. In preferred embodiments the neutral busbar and the earth busbar are located at opposite sides of the cabinet.

In preferred embodiments the fuseboard of the invention is adapted to be used with either a three phase or a single phase power input without modification, in contrast with fuseboards of the prior art which are either for single or for three-phase supplies.

In use, in some embodiments, a single phase installation may be changed to a three-phase installation without replacement of the fuseboard.

In preferred embodiments the isolators, RCD devices and internal metal conductor components are rated and dimensioned to handle a total number of output circuits above 18 and a total load exceeding 100 Amps.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 3 shows a three-quarter view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 4 shows a second side view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 5 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 6 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 7 shows a view of a first end of an embodiment of the invention FigureS shows a view of a second end of an embodiment of the invention Figure 9 shows a side exploded view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 10 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention Figure 11 shows a three quarter view of an embodiment of the invention with a front cover closed Figure 12 shows a sketch of a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention

Detailed Description of Figures

Figures 1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the invention having both RCD-protected and non-RCD protected circuits and being adapted for a three-phase input.

Figure 1 shows a front view of the front panel of the fuseboard showing a cabinet comprising from bottom to top: a three-pole input isolator; six second circuit breakers in electrical connection with the output of the input isolator; three RCD devices (or a three-pole RCD device in some embodiments) in electrical connection to the output of the input isolators; two banks of first output circuit breakers, 12 in each bank. The first output circuit breakers may be connected to line busbars from the three phase supply as appropriate. -Preferably they are distr!buted among the phases. Preferably they are distributed in a recognised order among the phases and which phase each output circuit is connected to is indicated on the front panel.

Figure 3 shows a three-quarter view of the embodiment in figure 1 additionally showing the input glandfaperture through which input power cables may pass. The logical layout of the fuseboard, indicating which circuits are protecited by RCD -located above the RCDs -and which are not -located below, i.e. closer to the power input than the RCDs, is a feature of preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure 2 and figure 4 show side views and figure 5 a rear view of a cabinet of the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 3.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the components of the embodiment shown in the previous figures. Figure 9 *and figure 10 show side and reverse angle exploded views of the same embodiment. In each of figures 6, 9 and 10 components are shown in levels from bottom to top, and listed from the first (input) end of the cabinet to the second, as follows: Level 1: Back component of the cabinet, in preferred embodiments comprising a lightweight aluminium frame.

Level 2: Second output circuit breakers, shown as having rail mounted circuit breaker format as known in the art Three RCD breakers (or a 3-pale breaker), one for each line input Two rows of first output circuit breakers, shown as having rail mounted circuit breaker format as known in the art Level 3: Earth (to the left) and neutral busbars -note in figure 6 the neutral busbar appears to lie between the two rows of the first output circuit breakers -preferably the neutral busbar lies along the right hand side of the cabinet, and its apparent position results from the nature of the exploded view. Locations are more clearly shown in figures 9 and 10. In preferred embodiments the neutral and earth busbars are located on opposite sides of the cabinet, for example with the neutral busbar located at the right hand side of the cabinet relative to inputs at the bottom.

Level 4: Input gland* Mounting brackets for circuit breakers and RCD devices Glands for output cables.

Level 5: Electrical bus connections transferring lateral to vertical orientation of conductors to fit the RCD and output circUit breaker connection confiburations. In preferred embodiments these have configurations as shown in figures 6. 9 and 10, comprising three conductors separated by insulation layers, and farming three conducting pathways that lead from three metal conductors arranged in a lateral configuration to three metal conductors arrangeq in a vertically stacked configuration.

Level 6: Three pole input isolator Base or mounting components for the second and the first output circuit breakers Level 7: Cabinet fascia. In use this is preferably covered by a front cover (not shown).

Figures 7 and B show the first and second ends of the cabinet of the embodiment, and figure 11 shows the embodiment with a front cover closed.

Figure 12 shows a circuit diagram illustrating part of an embodiment of the fuseboard. From bottom to top are shown: three input lines Li, L2 and L3, three input isolators, a neutral input N to a neutral busbar; a series of second output circuits, two connected to each line from the output of the isolators (second output circuit breakers are not shown); an RCD device protecting each line; and first output circuits connected to the output of the RCD devices, again shown as two output circuits being connected to each of the lines, with first output circuit breakers not shown. Neutral busbars for each line are indicated as N-Li, N-L2 and N-L3. Earth busbars and connections are also provided (not shown).

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

WiLh.sspeciioJhe above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mariner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

B -

Claims

Claims 1. A Fuseboard comprising: A power input comprising at least one line and one neutral input An input isolator in line with each line input An input RCD means in electrical connection to the output of each input isolator A line busbar in electrical connection to the output of each input RCD means and a neutral busbar in electrical connection to the neutral input One or more first output circuits, each comprising an output circuit breaker means in electrical connection to at least one line busbar and an output connector in electrical connection to the output of the output circuit breaker means.
2. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 1 adapted for a three-phase power input and comprising three line inputs and one neutral input, an input isolator in line with each of the three line inputs, RCD means inline with each line input, and three line busbars, one in electrical connection to the output of each RCD means, and at least one first output circuit in electrical connection to one line busbar.
3. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 2 wherein the RCD means comprise three independent RCD means that are separately actuatable.
4. A fuseboard as claimed in any claim above wherein the output circuit breaker means comprises an RCD device.
5. A fuseboarcJ as claimed in any claim above further comprising one or more second output circuits, each comprising a second output circuit breaker means in electrical connection to the output of an input isolator and a second output connector in electrical connection to the output of the second output * circuit breaker means.
6. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 4 wherein a second output circuit further comprises switch means.
7. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 5 wherein a second output circuit comprises overcurrent trip or fuse means.
8. A fuseboard as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 comprising a cabinet having a long axis wherein the isolator is located near a first end of the cabinet, the RCD devices further from the first end in the direction of the long axis, and the first output circuit breakers still further from the first end of the cabinet.
9. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 7 further comprising second outpUt circuit breakers located between the isolator and the RCD devices.Amendments to the claims have been made as foflows: CLAIMS 11 1. A fuseboard comprising fuseboard input isolator means having at least three outputs, respective single-phase ROD's connected to said isolator outputs, each ROD having an input by which it is connected to the respective said isolator output and having a plurality of first output connections.2. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said first output connections comprises an overload protection device.3. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said isolator means comprise a multi-pole isolator with its said outputs being respective single-phase line outputs of respective poles thereof.4. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 3, in which three poles, each after protection by a said single-phase ROD, are available to be used in combination to provide a three-phase output from the fuseboard.5. A fuseboard as claimed in any preceding claim, which has at least one second output connection connected to the input side of a said RCD so as not to be protected by the RCD.6. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 1 and substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.7. A fuseboard as claimed in claim 1 and substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. C') a,