GB2574626A

GB2574626A - Electrical panelboard with improved separating walls

Info

Publication number: GB2574626A
Application number: GB1809668.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Matts Ian; Peter Minihan Dominic
Original assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd
Current assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-13
Filing date: 2018-06-13
Publication date: 2019-12-18
Also published as: GB2589231B; WO2019238838A1; GB202019265D0; GB201809668D0; GB2589231A

Abstract

An electrical panelboard 1a includes a housing 2 which defines a first compartment A for a plurality of electrical plug-in devices 3, 4 such as circuit breakers or switches. At least two plug-in devices are arranged in said first compartment and are electrically connected to busbars (10a - 10d; figure 13) of the panelboard. The busbars are assigned to phases of an electrical system and are shrouded along their length by means of an insulating enclosure 8 which defines retaining means and recesses designed as lead through means to provide an electrical connection between the busbars and plug-in devices. The panelboard comprises at least one separating wall 14, which is arranged in said first compartment between the at least two plug-in devices and is fastened to the insulating enclosure between the plug-in devices. Attaching one or more separating walls to the panelboard allows the first compartment to be partitioned into plural sub-compartments containing one or more plug-in devices.

Description

Electrical panelboard with improved separating walls.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a panelboard with a housing, which in the housing comprises a number of busbars assigned to phases of an electrical system, wherein the busbars are shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of an insulating enclosure. Furthermore, the panelboard in the housing comprises a first compartment for a plurality of plug-in devices, a plurality of retainers for said plurality of electrical plug-in devices and at least two plug-in devices, which are arranged in said first compartment, are mounted to said retainers and are electrically connected to said busbars.

BACKGROUND ART

Such a panelboard in principle is known in prior art. For example, separating walls are used for dividing a compartment into sub-compartments for single plug-in devices. Such an installation method is also called compartmentalised.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A drawback of the known solutions is that separating walls are relatively complicated to install. In particular, the housing of the panelboard and/or a base plate of the panelboard has to have means for mounting the separating walls. Moreover, the designs of panelboards for a compartmentalised installation, where separating walls are arranged between the plug-in devices, and a group mounted installation, where the plug-in devices are mounted in the panelboard side by side, are different. So, production and stock keeping is relatively expensive because of the various designs. Additionally, if a customer, for example, mistakenly orders a wrong kind of a panelboard (e.g. a compartmentalised panelboard instead of a group mounted one), he has to send the wrong panel board back and order the right one. In the meantime, work on the construction site is interrupted what cause costs again. Moreover, according to prior art, different panelboards have to be installed in areas with different safety requirements, for example in an apartment building. So, a group mounted panelboard has to installed for one resident and a compartmentalised panelboard has to be installed for another resident if they have different safety

- 2 requirements. Again, this is relatively expensive as different panelboards are needed, which are often equipped with just a few number of plug-in devices leaving a big space empty, which in principle could be used by further plug-in devices. Accordingly, a problem of the invention is to provide an improved panelboard. In particular, the installation of separating walls shall be eased.

The problem of the invention is solved by a panelboard as defined in the opening paragraph, additionally comprising a separating wall, which is arranged in said first compartment between the at least two plug-in devices and fastened to the insulating enclosure between two plug-in devices.

Moreover, the problem of the invention is solved by a modular system, comprising a first panelboard of the above design and a second panelboard of the above design, but without a separating wall attached to the compartment. Basically, the second panelboard (just) comprises the features as defined in the opening paragraph.

In this way, the installation of separating walls is eased as a separating wall simply is fixed to the insulating enclosure. Such an insulating enclosure has retainers for the plug-in devices and as such fixing means anyway. So it is advantageous to add means for fastening the separating walls. The housing of the panelboard and/or a base plate of the panelboard does not have to have means for mounting the separating walls. Nevertheless, a separating wall can be fixed to the housing of the panelboard and/or a base plate in addition to the fixation to the insulating enclosure. Moreover, the design of the panelboard allows to easily change between a compartmentalised installation, where are separating walls between the plug-in devices, and a group mounted installation, where the plug-in devices are mounted in the first compartment of the panelboard side by side, basically with no or just a small gap in-between. Advantageously, all parts for the panelboard can be identical for both installations, except of the separating wall, which is present in the compartmentalised installation and absent in the group mounted installation. This reduces the bill of materials for the panelboard and also costs for keeping the panelboard on stock. Even if a customer mistakenly orders the wrong kind of the panelboard, nevertheless he can use it. He just has to order additional separating walls (if he ordered a group mounted panelboard instead of a compartmentalised

-3one) or send back superfluous separating walls (if he ordered a compartmentalised panelboard instead of a group mounted one). But work on the construction site still can go on, meaning the panelboard can be mounted in a recess of a building's wall anyway. One and the same panelboard even can comprise both a group mounted installation part and a compartmentalised installation part. This is advantageous if the panelboard is installed in an area with different safety requirements, for example in an apartment building. So, a group mounted installation can be realized for one resident and a compartmentalised installation one can be realized for another resident in one and the same panelboard. Again, costs can be saved because just a single panelboard is needed for different demands. No or just little space is left empty for further plug-in devices in this way. In summary, the disclosed panelboard offers compartmentalised installation and/or group mounted installation.

Generally, a separating wall may comprise a flat wall section and a mounting section at the edge of the wall section. By means of this mounting section, the separating wall can be mounted to the insulating enclosure (and to the housing of the panelboard and/or a base plate as the case may be).

Generally, the electrical plug-in device can be embodied as a switching device, e.g. as a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker, a motor switch, etc. or as an adapter for such a switching device. In case the electrical plug-in device is embodied as an adapter, numerous switching devices of different kind may be connected to the busbars using one and the same interface. Furthermore, at least two switching devices of the same type may be connected to the busbars via adapters of different type, thus providing different types of electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars, for example, L1/N, L2/N, L3/N, L1..L3 and L1..L3/N.

Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the claims and in the description as well as in the figures.

Beneficially the separating wall has an overall width w, an overall length I and an overall height h, wherein w < 25 (l+h).

Accordingly, little space is needed between the plug-in devices for a separating wall.

-4ln an advantageous embodiment, the insulating enclosure comprises wall fixing recesses, and the separating wall comprises at least one wall fixing protrusion in its mounting section, wherein said least one wall fixing protrusion of the separating wall reaches into at least one of the wall fixing recesses of the insulating enclosure. In this way, a simple plug-in connection is provided for the separating wall. Accordingly, a separating wall can be plugged into the insulating enclosure without the need for tools.

In yet another advantageous embodiment of the panelboard, the insulating enclosure comprises lead through recesses designed as lead through for electric conductors providing the electrical connection between the plug-in devices and the busbars. Accordingly, a electrical plug-in device may comprise a number of metal contacts being designed to reach through the lead through recesses of the insulating enclosure, wherein each of said metal contacts is designed to connect to one of the busbars. In this way, the plug-in devices can be connected to the busbars easily. The metal contacts may be designed as plug-on contacts for example. Advantageously, such a metal contact provides electrical contact to said busbar without the need of a screw. In this way a panelboard can be equipped with plug-in devices quickly and simply, that means without the need of tools.

A plug-in device can comprise a plurality of insulating contact covers or contact cover pairs for the metal contacts, wherein both the metal contacts and the contact covers reach through the lead through recesses in the insulating enclosure. In this way, a very good insulation is provided. Advantageously, just some of contact covers are equipped with said metal contacts. In this way, the plug-in device can be prepared for different types of connection to the electrical system by attaching metal contacts in the contact cover I contact cover pairs in different ways. For example, an electrical connection of the plug-in device to the phase L1 and the neutral conductor N of an electrical system may be made, an electrical connection to the phase L2 and the neutral conductor N, to the phase L3 and the neutral conductor N, to the phases L1 ,.L3 or to the phases L1 ,.L3 and the neutral conductor N.

A plug-in device can have just one metal contact for each busbar or a pair of metal contacts for each busbar and a contact cover pair for a pair of metal contacts. In case of a pair of metal contacts, a very good electrical contact to the busbars is provided.

-5It is advantageous if each contact cover of a contact cover pair reaches through a single dedicated lead through recess in the insulating enclosure. By use of these measures, the recesses in the insulating enclosure of the busbars can be kept very small. Nevertheless, it is also possible that both contact covers of the contact cover pair share a single lead through recess in the insulating enclosure.

In a very advantageous embodiment, the lead through recesses are additionally designed for fixing the separating wall, and the separating wall comprises at least one lead through protrusion in its mounting section, wherein said at least one lead through protrusion of the separating wall reaches into at least one of the lead through recesses of the insulating enclosure without contacting the busbars. In this way, the lead through recesses provide a double function. On the one hand, they provide electrical connection for the plug-in devices to the busbars, on the other hand, they provide fixation of the separating walls. It should be noted at this point, that this embodiment may be used with or without wall fixing recesses in the insulating enclosure and wall fixing protrusions on the separating wall. Accordingly, the separating wall may comprise a lead through protrusion in its mounting section reaching into at least one lead through recess of the insulating enclosure alone or may comprise a wall fixing protrusion in its mounting section reaching into at least one of the wall fixing recess of the insulating enclosure and a lead through protrusion reaching into a at least one of the lead through recesses of the insulating enclosure.

In an advantageous embodiment, the wall fixing recesses are centred with the lead through recesses. In this way, the separating wall is arranged (exactly) between lead through recesses and thus (exactly) between two plug-in devices.

Beneficially, the wall fixing recesses and/or the lead through recesses fulfil at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X. In this way, the recesses in the insulating enclosure of the busbars are comparably small. Generally, the standard IEC 60529 IP2X allows contacting conductive structures by objects having a diameter < 12,5 mm. In other words, said conductive structures are protected against contact by objects having a diameter > 12,5 mm. Hence, installation of the panelboard is improved and particularly finger proof. Accordingly, users of the panelboard and personell mounting such a panelboard cannot get a hazardous electrical shock.

-6In a very advantageous embodiment, a pitch of the wall fixing recesses equals a pitch of the metal contacts of a plug-in device or is a multiple thereof and/or a pitch of the wall fixing recesses equals a pitch of the lead through recesses or is a multiple thereof. In this way, plug-in devices may be group mounted in the first compartment of the panelboard side by side. If the plug-in devices are compartmentalised, separating walls can easily be arranged between the plug-in devices. So, the proposed design is very flexible as already outlined above. In particular, a pitch of the metal contacts of the plug-in devices or of the lead through recesses is around 20 mm (e.g. between 18 mm and 22 mm). Accordingly, the pitch of the wall fixing recesses particularly may be 20 mm, 40 mm, 60 mm, and so on. Generally, the pitch of the wall fixing recesses is the distance between two adjacent wall fixing recesses, the pitch of the lead through recesses is the distance between two adjacent lead through recesses and the pitch of the metal contacts of the plug-in devices is the distance between two adjacent metal contacts of a plug-in device.

Beneficially, the separating wall can be mounted to the housing of the panelboard by means of at least one screw. In this way, the separating wall cannot be removed without the need of tools. Accordingly, safety is improved and changing the arrangement of the panelboard by unskilled people is hindered.

In a very advantageous embodiment, the separating wall is made of a metal sheet, comprising a flat hole surrounding around at least one mounting hole for the at least one screw, a cutout encompassing the hole surrounding at an angle of around 180 ° and a 90“-bending, whose bending line runs across a centre of the mounting hole so that the flat hole surrounding is perpendicular to the wall section.

In this way, a centre line of the mounting hole is (exactly) arranged in line with a centre line of the metal sheet. Accordingly, mounting screws do not reach into the space, which is intended for the plug-in devices. When fabricating the separating wall, first the mounting hole and the cutout encompassing the hole surrounding at an angle of around 180 ° is made. If the hole surrounding is circular, then the cutout may have the shape of a 180°-bow. If the hole surrounding is rectangular, then the cutout may be U-shaped. After fabricating the mounting hole and the cutout, the 90 °bending is performed, wherein the bent part of the metal sheet is vis-a-vis of the

-7cutout after bending. In this way, the whole hole surrounding is swivelled by 90° and forms a mounting flange for a mounting screw at the end.

In a very advantageous embodiment, the lead through recesses in the insulating enclosure are arranged in a matrix style with at least two lines and with at least two columns. In this way, a plurality of plug-in devices each having a plurality of metal contacts may be connected to the busbars covered by the insulating enclosure.

In the context of matrix style lead through recesses it is advantageous if the insulating enclosure of the panelboard comprises three or six lead through recesses per column or line in a three phase system without neutral conductor or four or eight lead through recesses per column or line in a three phase system with neutral conductor In this way, the panelboard may be used for different electrical systems and plug-in devices with contact covers or contact cover pairs. The embodiments comprising three or four lead through recesses per column or line relate to plug-in devices with a single lead through recess per contact cover or contact cover pair, and the embodiments comprising six or eight recesses per column or line relate to plug-in devices with a lead through recess for each contact cover of a contact cover pair.

Furthermore, it is advantageous in the context of matrix style lead through recesses if the insulating enclosure of the panelboard comprises three columns of lead through recesses or lines of lead through recesses per plug-in device in a three phase system without neutral conductor or two or four columns of lead through recesses or lines of lead through per plug-in device in a three phase system with neutral conductor. In this way, the panelboard may be used for different electrical systems, too. The embodiments with three columns or lines of lead through recesses relate to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1 ,.L3, with two columns or lines of lead through recesses to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1/N, L2/N, L3/N and with four columns or lines of lead through recesses to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1 ..L3/N.

Beneficially, the retainers for electrical plug-in devices and/or the wall fixing recesses and/or the lead through recesses can be formed on opposite sides of the insulating enclosure. Accordingly, plug-in devices and/or separating walls may be arranged on

-8opposite sides of the insulating enclosure thus doubling the number of possible plugin devices and/or separating walls. In particular, on one side and in one compartment, the plug-in devices can be installed group mounted, whereas the plug-in devices on the other side and in the other compartment can be installed compartmentalised.

Furthermore it is beneficial if the insulating enclosure, the retainers and the wall fixing recesses and/or the lead through recesses are symmetrically arranged around a vertical centre axis in case of horizontally oriented busbars and symmetrically arranged around a horizontal centre axis in case of vertically oriented busbars. By making the interface for the plug-in devices and/or the separating walls symmetrically, a connection for the plug-in devices and/or the separating walls on both sides of the busbars and the insulating enclosure can be provided by a reduced bill of materials.

Generally a busbar may have any profile, for example a flat profile with rectangular cross section. The busbar may also comprise a (copper) U-profile electrically connected to a (copper) flat profile, wherein the flat profile is broader than the Uprofile and wherein the U-profile touches the broader side of the flat profile. Advantageously, the metal contacts of the electrical plug-in device touch the busbar in the region of the flat profile. In particular, the busbar may have a prismatic shape without the need to take care of the pitch of the plug-in devices being connected to the busbar. Plug-on contacts of the plug-in device may be plugged onto a prismatic busbar at any position. However, the busbar may also have distinct positions for the plug-on contacts.

Although it is beneficial to make the connection between the electrical plug-in device and the busbar in the region of the flat profile, it is also possible that the metal contacts of the electrical plug-in device connect to the busbar in the region of a wing of the U-profile. Furthermore, it is possible to use other profiles for the busbars, for example an l-profile or a simple U-profile (without a connected flat profile).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention now is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to particular embodiments, which the invention however is not limited to.

-9Fig. 1 shows an oblique view of an exemplary panelboard with a plurality of plugin devices in a first compartment separated by separating walls;

Fig. 2 shows an oblique of the panelboard of Fig. 1 without the plug-in devices;

Fig. 3 shows a detailed oblique view of panelboard of Fig. 1, again without the plug-in devices;

Fig. 4 shows an oblique view of a first type of a separating wall;

Fig. 5 shows an oblique view of a second type of a separating wall;

Fig. 6 shows an oblique view of a third type of a separating wall;

Fig. 7 shows a detailed front view of separating wall mounted to the insulating enclosure of the busbars;

Fig. 8 shows a detailed oblique view of a mounting section of a separating wall;

Fig. 9 shows a detailed front view of a mounting section of a separating wall;

Fig. 10 shows a detailed front view of a plug-in devices arranged in the first compartment;

Fig. 11 shows an oblique view of a plug-in device slightly pulled out of the lead through recesses;

Fig. 12 shows an detailed oblique view of the contacts of a plug-in device;

Fig. 13 shows an oblique view of the busbars within the insulating enclosure and

Fig. 14 shows a panelboard with a number of switching devices and a main switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, same parts or similar parts are denoted with the same/similar names and reference signs. The features disclosed in the description apply to parts with the same/similar names respectively reference signs. Indicating the orientation and relative position (up, down, sideward, etc) is related to the associated figure, and

- 10 indication of the orientation and/or relative position has to be amended in different figures accordingly as the case may be.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an exemplary panelboard 1a in oblique view. The panelboard 1 a comprises a housing 2 with a first compartment A. A plurality of plugin devices 3 is arranged in said first compartment A as this is shown in Fig. 1.

In this example, the electrical plug-in devices 3 are embodied as adapters connected to switching devices 4, which are mounted to mounting frames 5. The mounting frames 5 are fixed to a base plate 6 of the panelboard 1a. The switching devices 4, for example, may be embodied as circuit breakers, residual current circuit breakers, motor switches, etc.

In Fig. 2 the plug-in devices 3, the switching devices 4 and the mounting frames 5 are detached from the panelboard 1 a to allow a better view onto an insulating enclosure 7, which comprises a top insulation 8 and a side insulation 9 in this example. However, an insulating enclosure 7 may have a one part design or may comprise other parts as well.

Within the insulating enclosure 7, the panelboard 1a comprises a number of busbars 10a.. 10d assigned to phases L1, L2, L3 and to an optional neutral conductor N (see Fig. 13 for details). The busbars 10a..10d are shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of said insulating enclosure 7. The plug-in devices 3 are mounted to retainers 11, which are arranged on the side insulation 9 in this example and which are designed for an electrical connection to said busbars 10a..10d. In detail, a plug-in device 3 is electrically connected to said busbars 10a..10d when it is attached to the retainer 11. In more detail, the insulating enclosure 7 comprises lead through recesses 12 designed as lead through for electric conductors providing the electrical connection between said plug-in devices 3 and said busbars 10a..1 Od thus providing the function of the retainer 11. As can be seen, the lead through recesses 12 in the insulating enclosure 7 are arranged in a matrix style with four lines and a number of columns. Nevertheless, other counts for the lines and the columns are possible as well.

- 11 In addition, the panelboard 1a comprises separating walls 14, each being arranged in said first compartment A between the two plug-in devices 3 and fastened to the insulating enclosure 7 between two plug-in devices 3.

Moreover, the panelboard 1a comprises side walls 13a, 13b of insulating enclosure 7, a main switch cover 15 and a side cover 16. The side walls 13a, 13b of the insulating enclosure 7 also divide a safe area, where the switching devices 4 and the adapters 3 are arranged, from an unsafe area with bare busbars 10a..10d and other bare conductors. The side cover 16 comprises recesses for cables (not shown), which can be connected to the switching devices 4.

Figs. 3 to 6 show a more detailed view of the separating walls 14, 14a..14c. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the base plate 6, a separating wall 14, the insulating enclosure 7 and the main switch cover 15. The housing 2 is detached from the arrangement to provide a better view onto the separating wall 14. In the examples shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the separating wall 14 comprises a flat wall section 17 and mounting sections 18a..18e at the edge 19 of the wall section 17.

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a separating wall 14a comprising a wall fixing protrusion 20 in its mounting section 18a, wherein said least one wall fixing protrusion 20 of the separating wall 14a can reach into at least one wall fixing recess 21 of the insulating enclosure 7.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a separating wall 14b comprising a number of lead through protrusions 22 in its mounting section 18a, wherein said lead through protrusions 22 of the separating wall 14b can reach into lead through recesses 12 of the insulating enclosure 7 without contacting the busbars 10a..10d.

Fig. 6 shows a combination of the embodiments of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. In detail, the separating wall 14c comprises a wall fixing protrusion 20 in its mounting section 18a, which can reach into at least one wall fixing recess 21 of the insulating enclosure 7, and lead through protrusions 22, which can reach into the lead through recesses 12 of the insulating enclosure 7 without contacting the busbars 10a..10d.

Generally, a separating wall 14, 14a.. 14c may have an overall width w, an overall length I and an overall height h as indicated in Fig. 4, wherein the condition

- 12 w < 25(l+h).

is fulfilled.

In the examples shown in the Figs, the wall fixing recesses 21 are centred with the lead through recesses 12. This is beneficial, but no necessary condition. The wall fixing recesses 21 may also be arranged asymmetric with respect to the lead through recesses 12.

In particular, the wall fixing recesses 21 and/or the lead through recesses 12 can fulfil at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X. Other recesses fulfilling at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X may be formed in the insulation enclosure 7 as well as the case may be.

In Fig 1, the switching devices 4 with the adapters 3 are arranged in a first compartment A for plug-in devices. In addition, there is an optional second compartment B for plug-in devices on the opposite side of the insulating enclosure 7. Accordingly, there are also additional retainers 11 for electrical plug-in devices 3 and/or the wall fixing recesses 21 and/or the lead through recesses 12 are formed on opposite sides of the insulating enclosure 7. Additionally, the busbars 10a..10d, the insulating enclosure 7, the retainers 11 and the wall fixing recesses 21 and/or the lead through recesses 12 can be symmetrically arranged around a vertical centre axis C in this example (see Fig. 13). This counts for horizontally orientated busbars 10a.. 10d. Equivalently, the busbars 10a..10d, the insulating enclosure 7, the retainers 11 and the wall fixing recesses 21 and/or the lead through recesses 12 may symmetrically be arranged around a horizontal centre axis in case of vertically oriented busbars 10a..10d. By the above measures, further switching devices 4 and further separating walls 14 may be arranged on the opposite side of the insulating enclosure 7 in the first compartment A and the second compartment B.

Figs. 7 to 9 show further detailed views of the separating wall 14. Fig. 7 shows a detailed front view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 8 shows a detailed oblique view of a mounting sections 18d and 18e of a separating wall 14, and Fig. 9 shows a detailed front view of a mounting section 18d of a separating wall 14. Figs. 8 and 9 particularly show mounting holes 23a and 23b for mounting the separating wall

- 13 to the housing 2 and to the base plate 6. In detail, the separating wall 14 may be mounted to the housing 2 of the panelboard 1 by means of at least one screw (not shown in the Figures) which is put through one of the mounting holes 23a and 23b.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the panelboard 1a, the separating wall 14 is made of a metal sheet, comprising flat hole surroundings 24a, 24b around the mounting holes 23a, 23b for the at least one screw, cutouts 25a, 25b encompassing the hole surroundings 24a, 24b at an angle of around 180° and a 90“-bending, whose bending line D1, D2 runs across a centre E of the mounting hole 23a, 23b so that the flat hole surrounding 24a, 24b is perpendicular to the wall section 17.

In this way, a centres E of the mounting holes 23a, 23b can be (exactly) arranged in line with a centre line of the metal sheet. Accordingly, mounting screws do not reach into the space, which is intended for the plug-in devices 3. In detail, a centre E of a mounting hole 23a lies on a vertical bending line D1, and the centre of the mounting hole 23b lies on a horizontal bending line D2.

When fabricating the separating wall 14, first the mounting holes 23a, 23b and the cutouts 25a, 25b encompassing the hole surrounding 24a, 24b at an angle of around 180“are made. The hole surroundings 24a, 24b are rectangular in this example. Accordingly, the cutouts 25a, 25b are U-shaped. However, If the hole surroundings were circular, the cutouts would have the shape of a 180 “-bows.

After fabricating the mounting holes 23a, 23b and the cutouts 25a, 25b, the 90 “bendings are performed, wherein the bent parts of the metal sheet are vis-a-vis of the cutouts 25a, 25b after bending. In detail, a bending around the vertical bending line D1 and a bending around the horizontal bending line D2 is performed. This may happen at the same time or sequentially. In this way, the whole hole surroundings 24a, 24b are swivelled by 90“and form a mounting flanges for mounting screws at the end, as particularly is visible in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 now shows a detailed front view of switching devices 4a, 4b arranged in the first compartment A. Fig. 10 particularly shows that the mounting holes 23a are

- 14 arranged in line with a centre line of the metal sheet of the separating wall 14. Fig. 10 also shows that this is no necessary condition for all mounting holes 23a, 23b of the separating wall, but there may also be mounting holes apart of the centre line of the metal sheet as this is the case for the top mounting hole 23c of the separating wall 14 in Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 now shows the adapters 3 and the switching device 4 slightly pulled out of the lead through recesses 12. Furthermore, Fig. 12 shows the arrangement of the switching device 4, the adapters 3, and the mounting frame 5 in detail, wherein the arrangement is turned by 180° around a vertical axis with respect to its orientation in Fig. 11. Thus, contact covers 26a and 26b reaching through the recesses 12 of the in the insulating enclosure 7 are visible in Fig. 12.

Two contact covers 26a and 26b form a contact cover pair 27. Some of the contact cover pairs 27 are equipped with metal contacts 28a..28d for electrically connecting the adapters 3 and thus the switching device 4 to the busbars 10a..10d. In detail, a metal contact 28a connects the switching device 4 to the busbar 10a (phase L1), a metal contact 28b connects the switching device 4 to the busbar 10b (phase L2), a metal contact 28c connects the switching device 4 to the busbar 10c (phase L3) and a metal contact 28d connects the switching device 4 to the busbar 10d (neutral conductor N). Accordingly, the adapters 3 comprise metal (plug-on) contacts 28a..28d being designed to reach through the lead through recesses 12 of the insulating enclosure 7 of the panelboard 1a and designed to electrically connect to one of the busbars 10a..1 Od.

In this example, the electrical plug-in devices 3 are embodied as adapters connected to a switching device 4. The switching device 4, for example, may be embodied as a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker, a motor switch, etc. Additionally, the switching device 4 is electrically connected to the busbars 10a..10d to by means of four adapters 3 as is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 in detail. Of course a different number of adapters 3, particularly also a single adapter 3, may be used to connect the switching device 4 to the busbars 10a..10d as well. Moreover, the switching device 4 may also be directly connected to the busbars 10a..10d without the use of an adapter 3, and the switching device 4 itself can comprise contact covers 26a, 26b I contact cover pairs 27 and metal contacts 28a, 28b. The arrangement of the

- 15 switching device 4 and the adapters 3 then may also be seen as a single one-piece device.

In the example, the switching device 4 together with the adapters 3 are arranged on a special mounting frame 5. However, this is not a necessary condition, and the switching device 4 with the adapters 3 may also be directly arranged on a base plate 6 of the panelboard 1 a.

One can easily understand that by means of the adapters 3 different styles of electrical connection between the switching device 4 and the busbars 10a..10d may be provided. For example, an electrical connection of the switching device 4 to the phase L1 and the neutral conductor N may be made or electrical connections to the phase L2 and the neutral conductor N, to the phase L3 and the neutral conductor N, to the phases L1 ,.L3 or to the phases L1 ,.L3 and the neutral conductor N.

In the example of Fig. 11 and 12 each contact cover 26a, 26b of a contact cover pair 27 reaches through a single dedicated recess 12 in the insulating enclosure 7, but this is not a necessary condition. It may also be the case that a plurality of contact covers 26a, 26b share a lead through recess 12.

Generally, adapters 3 may be of different type, but a connection between an adapter 3 and the switching device 4 may also be 2-fold rotational symmetric so that one and the same adapter 3 may be used in two positions by a rotation by 180° around a horizontal axis.

In a very advantageous embodiment, a pitch x-ι (see Fig. 7) of the wall fixing recesses 21 equals a pitch x₂ of the metal contacts 28a..28d of the plug-in devices 3 or is a multiple thereof. Alternatively or in addition, a pitch Xi of the wall fixing recesses 21 can equal a pitch x₃ (see Fig. 7) of the lead through recesses 12 or can be a multiple thereof. In this way, plug-in devices 3 may be mounted in the first compartment A of the panelboard 1 a side by side, basically with no or just a small gap in-between, when the plug-in devices 3 are group mounted (i.e. with no separating walls 14 in-between). If the plug-in devices 3 are compartmentalised, separating walls 14 can easily be arranged between the plug-in devices 3. So the proposed design is very flexible. In particular the pitch x₂ of the metal contacts 28a..28d of the plug-in devices 3 or the pitch x₃ of the lead through

- 16 recesses 12 is around 20 mm (e.g. between 18 mm and 22 mm). Accordingly, the pitch Xi of the wall fixing recesses 21 particularly may be 20 mm, 40 mm, 60 mm, and so on.

Fig. 13 now shows a more detailed view of the busbars 10a..10d. In this example, a busbar 10a comprises a U-profile 29 electrically connected to a flat profile 30, wherein the flat profile 30 is broader than the U-profile 29. In the example shown in the Figs., the metal contacts 28a..28d of the adapters 3 touch the busbars 10a..10d in the region of the flat profiles 30. Nevertheless, the metal contact 28a..28d of an adapter 3 may touch the busbar 10a..10d also in the region of a wing of the Uprofile 29 if it is rotated by 90° towards the adapter 3 around its longitudinal axis. In this case, the flat profile 30 may also be omitted so that the busbar 10a..10d just comprises the U-profile 29 without a flat profile 30 connected thereto. However, the panelboard 1 is not limited to the use of U-profiles, but other profiles may be used as well for a busbar 10a..1 Od, for example an l-profile.

Finally, Fig. 14 shows a panelboard 1 b with an additional a main switch 31, which may embodied as a fault current circuit breaker. Fig. 14 particularly shows that the busbars 10a..10d are shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of the insulating enclosure 7 except of the wall fixing recesses 21 and except of the lead through recesses 12 hence providing shrouded compartments A and B for plug-in devices 4. Fig. 14 furthermore shows that there is a first compartment A for plug-in devices 4 on one side of the busbars 10a..10d and the insulating enclosure 7 and a second compartment B for plug-in devices 4 on the opposite side of the busbars 10a.. 10d and the insulating enclosure 7. Note that just the first compartment A is equipped with plug-in devices 4, whereas the second compartment B is empty in this example. It should also be noted that the panelboard 1 b is closed with a cover or covers (not shown to provide insight into the panelboard 1) during use to provide full insulation and safe operation.

Generally, the disclosed panelboard 1a, 1b offers compartmentalised installation and/or group mounted installation. By attaching a separating wall 14, 14a..14c to a group mounted panelboard 1a, 1b, it can easily be transformed into a compartmentalised panelboard 1a, 1b and vice versa.

- 17It is noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinbefore, but combinations of the different variants are possible. In reality, the panelboard 1a, 1b may have more or less parts than shown in the figures. The panelboard 1a,1b and parts thereof may also be shown in different scales and may be bigger or smaller than depicted. Finally, the description may comprise subject matter of further independent inventions.

It should also be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements and the use of articles a or an does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

- 18 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1a, 1b	panelboard
2	housing
3	plug-in device (adapter)
4, 4a..4b	switching device
5	mounting frame
6	base plate
7	insulating enclosure
8	top insulation
9	side insulation
10a..10d	busbar
11	retainer
12	lead through recess
13a, 13b	side wall of insulating enclosure

14, 14a..14c separating wall

15	main switch cover
16	side cover
17	wall section
18a..18e	mounting section
19	edge
20	lead through protrusion
21	wall fixing recess
22	wall fixing protrusion
23a..23c	mounting hole
24a, 24b	hole surrounding
25a, 25b	cutout

26a, 26b	contact cover
27	contact cover pair
28a..28d	metal contact.
29	U-profile.
30	flat profile
31	main switch
A	first compartment for plug-in devices
B	second compartment for plug-in devices
C	axis
D1, D2	bending line
E	centre of mounting hole
h I	overall height of separating wall overall length of separating wall
w	overall width of separating wall
L1..L3	phases of electrical system
N	neutral conductor of electrical system
Xi	pitch of wall fixing recesses
X2	pitch of electrical conductors of the plug-in device
X3	pitch of lead through recesses

Claims

1. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) with a housing (2), which in the housing (2) comprises a number of busbars (10a..1 Od) assigned to phases of an electrical system (L1..L3, N), wherein the busbars (10a..10d) are shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of an insulating enclosure (7), a first compartment (A) for a plurality of plug-in devices (3), a plurality of retainers (11) for said plurality of electrical plug-in devices (3) and at least two plug-in devices (3), which are arranged in said first compartment (A), are mounted to said retainers (11) and are electrically connected to said busbars (10a..10d), characterised in a separating wall (14, 14a.. 14c), which is arranged in said first compartment (A) between the at least two plug-in devices (3) and fastened to the insulating enclosure (7) between two plug-in devices (3).

2. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to claim 1, characterised in that the separating wall (14, 14a..14c) comprises a flat wall section (17) and a mounting section (18a..18e) at the edge (19) of the wall section (17).

3. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the separating wall (14, 14a..14c) has an overall width (w), an overall length (I) and an overall height (h), wherein w < 25 (l+h).

4. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the insulating enclosure (7) comprises wall fixing recesses (21) and the separating wall (14, 14a, 14c) comprises at least one wall fixing protrusion (20) in its mounting section (18a), wherein said least one wall fixing protrusion (20) of the separating wall (14, 14a, 14c) reaches into at least one of the wall fixing recesses (21) of the insulating enclosure (7).

5. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the insulating enclosure (7) comprises lead through recesses (12) designed as lead through for metal contacts (28a..28d) providing the electrical connection between said plug-in device (3) and said busbars (10a..10d).

6. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to claim 5, characterised in that the lead through recesses (12) are additionally designed for fixing the separating wall (14, 14b, 14c), and the separating wall (14, 14b, 14c) comprises at least one lead through protrusion (22) in its mounting section (18a), wherein said at least one lead through protrusion (22) of the separating wall (14, 14b, 14c) reaches into at least one of the lead through recesses (12) of the insulating enclosure (7) without contacting the busbars (10a..10d).

7. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to claim 4 and 5, characterised in that the wall fixing recesses (21) are centred with the lead through recesses (12).

8. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according any one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the wall fixing recesses (21) and/or the lead through recesses (12) fulfil at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X.

9. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according any one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that a pitch (xi) of the wall fixing recesses (21) equals a pitch (x₂) of metal contacts (28a..28d) of the plug-in devices (3) or is a multiple thereof.

10. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according any one of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that a pitch (xi) of the wall fixing recesses (21) equals a pitch (x₃) of the lead through recesses (12) or is a multiple thereof.

11. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that the separating wall (14, 14a..14c) is mounted to the housing (2) of the panelboard (1 a, 1 b) by means of at least one screw.

12. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to claim 11, characterised in that the separating wall (14, 14a..14c) is made of a metal sheet, comprising a flat hole surrounding (24a, 24b) around at least one mounting hole (23a, 23b) for the at least one screw, a cutout (25a, 25b) encompassing the hole surrounding (24a, 24b) at an angle of around 180° and a 90“-bending, whose bending line (D1, D2) runs across a centre (E) of the mounting hole (23a, 23b) so that the flat hole surrounding (24a, 24b) is perpendicular to the wall section (17).

13. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterised in that the lead through recesses (12) in the insulating enclosure (7) are arranged in a matrix style with at least two lines and with at least two columns.

14. Panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to any one of claims 4 to 13, characterised in that the electrical plug-in device (3) comprises a number of metal contacts (28a..28d) being designed to reach through the lead through recesses (12) of the insulating enclosure (7), wherein each of said metal contacts (28a..28d) is designed to connect to one of the busbars (10a..1 Od).

16. Modular system, characterised in a first panelboard (1 a, 1 b) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and a second panelboard according to any one of claims 1 to 14 without a separating wall (14, 14a..14c) attached to the compartment (A).

Intellectual Property Office