GB2532738A

GB2532738A - Consumer unit

Info

Publication number: GB2532738A
Application number: GB1420920.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Fitzroy Alan
Original assignee: Novar ED&S Ltd
Current assignee: Novar ED&S Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-25
Filing date: 2014-11-25
Publication date: 2016-06-01
Also published as: GB201420920D0

Abstract

A consumer unit housing 40 comprises a metal body having a switch receiving section 46 and a metal door 42. The metal door is moveable between a first, closed position (fig. 5) where access to the switch receiving section is blocked, and a second, open position (fig. 4), where access to the switch receiving section is enabled. The metal body and metal door may be connected such that earth continuity between the body and door is maintained. A metal DIN rail may be provided for mounting circuit protection devices. The circuit protection devices may include fuses, circuit breakers, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs). It is intended that the all metal construction of the consumer unit increases fire protection. Also disclosed is a metal door for a consumer unit having one edge comprising a flange 44.

Description

Consumer Unit

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a consumer unit housing. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a consumer unit with a consumer unit housing comprising a metal door.

Background of the Invention

Electrical power systems, fur example, electrical power systems within a domestic environment, often comprise a number of sub-circuits which are fed from a single power. supply. A distribution board, or consumer unit, controls the power supply to the sub-circuits, and often includes a number of circuit protection devices, including, but not limited to, fuses, circuit breakers, including miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), and residual current devices (RCOs).

Existing consumer units may include a number of plastic components, for example a plastic casing, a plastic lid, a plastic door and/or various other plastic elements. Such materials may be vulnerable should there he a fire in the vicinity of the consumer unit, reducing the fire-proof nature of the consumer unit.

Alternatively, such materials may be vulnerable if a fire starts within a consumer unit, increasing the Like.Lihood of the fire spreading and/or creating a hazard in the location at which the consumer unit is installed.

This is particularly true of consumer units located near doors or under staircases.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved consumer unit, with increased fire protection, from internal fires and/or external fires.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a consumer unit housing comprising, a metal body, the metal body comprising a switch receiving section; and a metal door, the metal door movable between a first, closed position where access to the switch receiving section is blocked, and a second, open position, where access to the switch receiving section is enabled.

Advantageously, a consumer unit housing comprising a metal body and a metal door increases the fire resistance of the consumer unit housing. The fire resistance is particularly improved compared to a consumer unit housing with a plastic body and/or plastic door.

The metal door may be connected to the metal body at the top of the metal door. The metal body may comprise a meta] open box structure and a metal lid secured to the metal open box structure. The top edge of the metal door may be hinged to the metal body, for example, the metal door may be hinged to the metal lid. The metal door may be movable between the first, closed position, and the second, open position, by raising the lower edge of the metal door. When the metal door is unsupported it may be arranged to fall into the first, closed position. The metal door may include a biasing element, for example a SO spring, arranged to bias the metal door into the first, closed position. Advantageously, such an arrangement prevents the metal door being left in the second, open position, accidentally. The default position of the metal door being the first, closed position, ensures that the -3 fire resistance of the consumer unit housing is not compromised by a user forgetting to close the metal door.

The skilled person will appreciate that the terms top, bottom, side, and all other relative spatial terms, are being used to refer to the consumer unit housing oriented as it is intended to be installed and used. The accompanying figures show the orientation of the consumer unit housing as installed. The skilled person will appreciate that there is no requirement for the consumer unit housing to be installed for use in order for the terms to have their proper meaning The metal door may comprise at least one flanged edge, for example a flanged bottom edge, and/or one or more flanged side edges. Providing the metal door with a flanged edge may prevent or reduce the effect of the metal door dropping on a user's fingers unexpectedly. Providing a flanged edge may be particularly advantageous when the metal door is arranged to fall into the first, closed position, therefore introducing the possibility of a user trapping their fingers under the metal door.

The consumer unit housing may comprise a metal terminal support mounting. A terminal bar holder, made from an insulating material such as plastic, as commonly used in consumer units, may be mounted to the metal terminal support mounting. Advantageously, the terminal bar holder may be fully enclosed by the metal main body and metal door, thereby reducing or removing any nonmetal material from the external surfaces of the consumer unit housing. Such an arrangement may increase the fire resistance of a consumer unit housing.

The consumer unit housing may comprise a metal DLN rail. The metal DIN rail may be welded to the metal main body of the consumer unit housing. Alternative fixing methods may he used, such as a mechanical fixing method, for example using fasteners such as screws, nuts and bolts or rivets, but preferably no plastic material is used when fixing the DIN rail into position. Such an arrangement may increase the fire resistance of the consumer unit housing. The DIN rail may extend across the entire width of the inside of the consumer unit housing. Such an arrangement may increase the capacity of the consumer unit housing, or the ease of installation of switches within the consumer unit housing.

The consumer unit housing may be arranged such that Earth ccntinuity is maintained between the metal body and the metal door. The metal body may comprise a metal open box and a metal lid secured to each other using fasteners which act to maintain Earth continuity between the metal open box and the metal lid. Such fasteners may be metal screws, for example with a paint cutting feature to ensure that the fastening is in contact with bare metal on the metal open box and/metal lid. The metal door may be hinged to the metal body with steel hinge pins. The steel hinge pins may include knurled ends to ensure there is an electrical contact between the metal body and the metal door.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a consumer unit, the consumer unit comprising a consumer 25 unit housing according to the first aspect of the invention.

The consumer unit may comprise a series of switches housed in the switch receiving section. The switches may comprise one or more circuit protection devices, such as fuses, circuit breakers, MCBs and/or RCDs.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a metal door for a consumer unit, at least one edge of the metal door comprising a flange. -5 -

IL will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect cf the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the first aspect of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the second or third aspect of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a consumer unit according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the consumer snit according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows an Isometric view of the consumer unit housing according to the tirst embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a consumer unit housing according to a second embodiment of the invention with a door in the open position; and Figure 5 shows the consumer unit housing as shown in figure 4, with the door in the closed position.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a consumer unit 10 comprising a metal body 12, a metal door 14, and a series of switches 16 located in a switch receiving section of the metal body 12. The switches 16 may comprise circuit protection devices, such as circuit breakers, MCBs, and/or RCDs. The metal door 14 is hinged to the metal body 12 by two hinges 18 that are located on the top edge of the metal door 14. The top edge of the metal door 14 is the uppermost portion when the metal door 14 is in:he closed position, in which it covers and blocks access to the switches 16. Figure 1 shows the metal door 14 in an open position, where the bottom edge of the metal door 14 has been lifted, and access to the switches 16 is allowed. Whilst the metal door 14 is shown in an open position in figure 1, without any means of support, this is for illustration purposes only. The position of the hinges 18 and the weight of the metal door 14 mean that when unsupported in the open position, the metal door 14 will fall into the closed position, covering and blocking access to the switches 16. Therefore, it is not possible for the metal door 14 to be left open accidentally.

Fiaure 2 shows an exploded view of the consumer unit 10, with the switches 16 and any internal wiring within the consumer unit 10 removed, and the metal body 12 being of two part construction including a first part 12', comprising an open box-like structure and a second part 12", comprising a lid. The first part 12' and second part 12" are joined together by paint cutting screws ensuring that Earth continuity is maintained between the first part 12' and second part 12". The metal door 14 is shown in the closed position, where when the consumer unit is assembled, access to the switches 16 is blocked.

The metal door 14 is connected to the second part 12" by a hinge including steel pins, ensuring that Earth continuity is maintained between the metal door 14 and the metal body 12.

A DIN rail 20 extends across the inside of the first part 12' of the metal body 12, with arms extending from the DIN rail 20 being welded to an inside surface of the metal body 12. An additional bracket 26 may support the DIN rail 20 within the metal body 12. No plastic components are required to secure the DIN rail in position, which may improve the fire resistance f consumer unit 10: A terminal bar assembly 22 is shown located at the top of the metal body 12 in figure 2, whereas in figure 3 the terminal bar assembly 22 has been removed. The terminal bar assembly 22 comprises a terminal bar and a terminal bar holder, the Lermhial bar holding being made of an insulating material. Figure 3 shows a terminal bar assembly support mounting 24, onto which the terminal bar assembly 22 is mounted. Therefore, the terminal bar assembly 22 is fully enclosed within the metal body 12 when the consumer unit 10 is fully assembled, with no plastic parts of the terminal bar assembly 22 outside the metal body 12. Such an arrangement may improve the fire resistance of the consumer unit 10.

Figures 4 and 5 show a consumer unit housing 10, substantially the same as the consumer unit housing as described with reference to figures 1 to 3. A metal door 42 s shown in the open position in figure 4, where access to a switch receiving portion 46 is allowed, and shown in the closed position in figure 5, where access to the switch receiving portion 46 is blocked. The metal door 42 includes a tAnge 44, which may also be referred to as a lipped portion, running around the edge of the metal door 42. By providing the flange 44, the risk of a user trapping their fingers under the metal door 42 may be reduced, or if a user does trap their fingers under the metal door, reduces the potential damage which may result.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skil] in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A consumer unit housing comprising, a metal body, the metal body comprising a switch receiving section; and a metal door, the metal door movable between a first, closed position where access to the switch receiving section is blocked, and a second, open position, wnere access to the switch receiving section is enabled.
2. A consumer unit housing as claimed in claim L, wherein the metal door is connected to the metal body at the top of the metal door.
3. A consumer unit housing as claimed in claim 1 or 15 claim 2, wherein the top edge of the metal door is hinged to the metal body.
4. A consumer unit housing as ciaimed in any preceding claim, wherein the metal door is movable between the first, closed position, and the second, open position, by raising the lower edge of the metal door.
5. A consumer unit housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the metal door is arranged such that when the metal door is unsupported it falls into the first, closed position.
6. A consumer unit housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the metal door comprises at least one 30 flanged edge
7. A consumer unit housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the consumer unit housing comprises a -10 -metal terminal bar support mounting arranged to receive a terminal bar assembly.
8. A consumer unit housing as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a metal DIN rail,
9. A consumer unib housing as claimed In claim wherein the metal DIN rail is welded to the metal body of the consumer unit housing.
10, A consumer unit housing as claimed in claim 8, wherein the metal DIN fail in mechanically connected to the metal body by at least one metal fastener.
11. A consumer unit housing as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the DIN rail extends across the entire width of the inside of the consumer unit housing.
12. A consumer unit housing as claimed in any preceding 20 claim, wherein the metal body and metal door are connected such that Earth continuity between the metal body and metal door is maintained.
13. A consumer unit, the consumer unit comprising a 25 consumer unit housing according to any of claims 1 to
14. A consumer unit as claimed in claim 13, comprising a series of switches housed in the switch receiving section.
15. A metal door for a consumer unit, at least one edge of the metal door comprising a flange.
16. A consumer unit housing substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and:=2, of the accompanying drawings.
17. A consumer unit substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, of the accompanying drawings.
18. A metal door substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figs, 2, i, 4, and 5, of the accompanying drawings.