IE990808A1 - An electrical switchboard assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical switchboard assembly includes a skeletal support frame (2) having a rectangular base-frame and an associated rectangular top frame interconnected by a number of uprights extending between the base frame and the top frame. The uprights comprise front uprights and rear uprights (8,9). Side wall panels are mounted between each front upright and its associated rear upright. A number of rear wall panels are mounted between the rear uprights. At a front of the support frame (2) a number of access doors are mounted between front uprights. The support frame (2) and associated panels and doors define a number of enclosed compartments for reception of electrical devices such as a circuit breaker (17). A plurality of electrically conductive copper fish plates (30,31,32) for cable termination are mounted on the support frame (2). A lower end of each fish plate (30,31,32) is secured to the circuit breaker (17) being attached to associated connections (34) on the circuit breaker (17). An upper end (36,37,38) of each fish plate (30,31,32) has mounting bolts for attachment of external power transmission cables to the fish plates (30,31,32). Each fish plate (30,31,32) is rigidly secured on the support frame (2) by means of a mounting rail (40) which extends between a pair of rear uprights (8,9). The mounting rail (40) is of C-shaped channel section construction defining an elongate re-entrant slot (41). Each fish plate is mounted on the rail (40) by means of a mounting bolt (50) engagable with a through hole located intermediate the ends of the fish plate (30,31,32). A threaded end of the bolt (50) extends into the re-entrant slot (41) for engagement with a complementary clamping plate mounted within the slot (41) to releasably secure the fish plate (30,31,32) on the rail (40). This clamping plate has a generally square body with a central threaded hole for complementary interengagement with the threaded end of the bolt (50). The clamping plate is captured within the slot (41) and is slidable through the slot (41) between opposite ends of the slot (41). The clamping plate is engageable with the side walls of the rail (40) to prevent rotation of the clamping plate within the slot (41). An electrically insulating spacer (55) is mounted on the shank of the bolt (50) between the fish plate (30,31,32) and the rail (40) to electrically insulate the fish plate (30,31,32) from the rail (40). <Figure 4>

Description

An electrical switchboard assembly includes a skeletal support frame (2) haring a rectangular base-frame and an associated rectangular top frame interconnected by a number of uprights extending between the base frame and the top frame. The uprights comprise front uprights and rear uprights (8,9). Side wall panels are mounted between each front upright and its associated rear upright. A number of rear wall panels are mounted between the rear uprights. At a front of the support frame (2) a number of access doors are mounted between front uprights. The support frame (2) and associated panels and doors define a number of enclosed compartments for reception of electrical derices such as a circuit breaker (17). A plurality of electrically conductive copper fish plates (30,31,32) for cable termination are mounted on the support frame (2). A lower end of each fish plate (30,31,32) is secured to the circuit breaker (17) being attached to associated connections (34) on the circuit breaker (17). An upper end (36,37,38) of each fish plate (30,31,32) has mounting bolts for attachment of external power transmission cables to the fish plates (30,31,32). Each fish plate (30,31,32) is rigidly secured on the support frame (2) by means of a mounting rail (40) which extends between a pair of rear uprights (8,9). The mounting rail (40) is of C-shaped channel section construction defining an elongate re-entrant slot (41). Each fish plate is mounted on the rail (40) by means of a mounting bolt (50) engagable with a through hole located intermediate the ends of the fish plate (30,31,32). A threaded end of the bolt (50) extends into the re-entrant slot (41) for engagement with a complementary clamping plate mounted within the slot (41) to releasably secure the fish plate (30,31,32) on the rail (40). This clamping plate has a generally square body with a central threaded hole for complementary interengagement with the threaded end of the bolt (50). The clamping plate is captured within the slot (41) and is slidable through the slot (41) between opposite ends of the slot (41). The clamping plate is engageable with the side walls of the rail (40) to prevent rotation of the clamping plate within the slot (41).

An electrically insulating spacer (55) is mounted on the shank of the bolt (50) between the fish plate (30,31,32) and tide rail (40) to electrically insulate the fish plate (30,31,32) from the rail (40). .

An Electrical Switchboard Assembly Introduction This invention relates to electrical switchboard assemblies.

In switchboard assemblies, terminal connections such as copper fish plates may be provided for mounting on a device such as a circuit breaker to connect between the ) circuit breaker and external power transmission cables. If a transmission cable is colO m slightly short, when attaching the transmission cable to the fish plate, considerable train may be imparted to the fish plate when the cable is attached, which in turn - pplies a mechanical strain on the circuit breaker. Further, should an electrical short jj $ I 5 |ircuit occur within the switchboard assembly, it will generate an EMF which tends to ; G X Glraw adjacent fish plates together and can thus damage the fish plates and/or the :3 ' 1 ,-+ device to which they are attached.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems. statements of Invention According to the invention, there is provided an electrical switchboard assembly including:a skeletal support frame having a rectangular base frame and associated rectangular top frame interconnected by a number of spaced-apart uprights extending between the base frame and the top frame, namely two or more front uprights and an associated number of rear uprights, side-wall panels mounted between associated pairs of front and rear uprights on the support frame, one or more rear wall panels mounted between the rear uprights, one or more access doors mounted between the front uprights, - 2 the support frame and associated panels and door or doors defining one or more compartments for reception of electrical devices, means for mounting electrical devices on the support frame within each compartment, a plurality of electrically conductive fish plates for cable termination mounted on the support fame, one end of each fish plate for connection to an electrical device mounted on support frame and the other end of the fish plate having means for cable attachment, each fish plate being secured to a mounting rail which extends between a pair of rear uprights, said mounting rail being of channel section construction defining an elongate re-entrant slot, the mounting rail having an inner wall with side-walls extending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the inner wall and inwardly directed flanges at an outer end of each side wall substantially parallel to the inner wall to define the re-entrant slot having an opening between free edges of the flanges, the fish plates being mounted on the rail, each fish plate being mounted on the rail by means of a mounting bolt engagable with a through hole located intermediate the ends of the fish plate, a threaded end of the bolt extending into the slot of the mounting rail for engagement with a complementary clamping plate mounted within the slot to releasably secure the fish plate on the mounting rail, said clamping plate having a central threaded hole for complementary interengagement with the threaded end of the bolt, - 3 the clamping plate being captured within the slot and slidable through the slot and engagable with the side-walls of the slot to prevent rotation of the clamping plate within the slot, an electrically insulating spacer being mounted on the shank of the bolt between the fish plate and the rail.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fish plate mounting rail is demountably secured to the rear uprights.

In another embodiment, each end of the fish plate mounting rail is secured to one of the rear uprights by means of a mounting bracket which extends between and is bolted to both the mounting rail and the rear upright In a further embodiment, the fish plate mounting rail has a plurality of through holes between each end of the mounting rail for attachment to the mounting bracket.

In a preferred embodiment, through holes are provided along the flanges of the mounting rail.

Conveniently, through holes may be provided along the side walls of the mounting rail.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an electrical switchboard assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electrical switchboard assembly; - 4 Fig. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of portion of the electrical switchboard assembly; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing a rear portion of the switchboard assembly; Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing a fish plate mounting of the switchboard assembly; and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional elevational view of a fish plate mounting rail arrangement used in the assembly.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an electrical switchboard assembly according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The switchboard assembly 1 has a skeletal support frame 2 having a rectangular baseframe 3 and an associated rectangular top frame 4 interconnected by a number of uprights extending between the base frame 3 and the top frame 4. The uprights comprise front uprights 6, 7 and rear uprights 8, 9. Side wall panels 10 are mounted between each front upright 7 and its associated rear upright 9. A number of rear wall panels 12 are mounted between the rear uprights 8, 9. At a front of the support frame 2 a number of access doors 13 are mounted between front uprights, 6, 7. The support frame, 2 and associated panels 10, 12 and doors 13 define a number of enclosed compartments 15 for reception of electrical devices such as a circuit breaker 17.

Each compartment 15 has shelving panels 20, supported on cross members 21 which are secured between the uprights 6, 7, 8, 9. It will be noted from Fig. 4 that a rear of the circuit breaker 17 has connectors 23, 24, 25, communicating between the circuit breaker 17 and associated bus bars 26, 27, 28 housed in an enclosure 29 behind the compartments 15.

A plurality of electrically conductive copper fish plates 30, 31, 32 for cable termination are mounted on the support frame 2. In this case, a lower end of each fish plate 30, 31, 32, (Fig. 4) is secured to the circuit breaker 17 being attached to associated - 5 connections 34 on the circuit breaker 17. An upper end 36,37, 38 (see Fig. 3) of each fish plate 30, 31, 32 has means, in this case comprising mounting bolts 39 for attachment of external power transmission cables to the fish plates 30,31,32.

Each fish plate 30, 31, 32 is rigidly secured on the support frame 2 by means of a mounting rail 40 which extends between a pair of rear uprights 8, 9. As can be seen most clearly in Fig. 6, the mounting rail 40 is of C-shaped channel section construction defining an elongate re-entrant slot 41. The mounting rail 40 has an inner wall 42 with side-walls 43 extending substantially perpendicular to the inner wall 42 and inwardly directed flanges 44 at an outer end of each side-wall 43 substantially parallel to the inner wall 42 to define the re-entrant slot 41 having an opening 45 between free edges of the flanges 44.

As can be seen in the drawings the fish plates 30, 31, 32 are mounted on the mounting-rail 40. Each fish plate is mounted on the rail 40 by means of a mounting bolt 50 engagable with a through hole located intermediate the ends of the fish plate 30, 31, 32. A threaded end 51 of the bolt 50 extends into the re-entrant slot 41 through the opening 45 for engagement with a complementary clamping plate 53 mounted within the slot 41 to releasably secure the fish plate 30, 31,32 on the rail 40.

This clamping plate 53 has a generally square body with a central threaded hole for complementary interengagement with the threaded end 51 of the bolt 50. The clamping plate 53 is captured within the slot 41 and is slidable through the slot 41 between opposite ends of the slot 41. This facilitates positioning and spacing of the fish plates 30,31,32 on the rail 40. The clamping plate 53 is engageable with the side walls 43 of the rail 40 to prevent rotation of the clamping plate 53 within the slot 41. Also, the side walls 43 hold the clamping plate 53 while the bolt 50 is fastened to clamp the fish plate 30,31, 32 on the rail 40.

An electrically insulating spacer 55 is mounted on the shank of the bolt 50 between the fish plate 30, 31, 32 and the rail 40 to electrically insulate the fish plate 30, 31, 32 from the rail 40.

It will be appreciated that the mounting rail 40 facilitates assembly and rigid - 6 securement of the fish plates 30, 31, 32 on the support frame 2 so that any mechanical strain applied to the fish plates is transferred to the support frame 2 and not to the circuit breaker 17.

The fish plates 30, 31, 32 are largely housed within the enclosure 29 with complementary openings 62 being provided in the rear wall panels 12 for through passage of cranked upper ends 36, 37, 38 of the fish plates 30, 31, 32 into a cable connection compartment 15.

Each of the uprights 6, 7, 8, 9 of the support frame 2 comprise C-shaped channel section members having a plurality of spaced-apart through holes to facilitate assembly of the uprights into a desired support frame 2 configuration to form compartments 15 of any required size in the support frame 2. Also, the fish plate mounting rail 40 can be readily easily secured in any desired position between a pair of the uprights by mounting brackets 60 which extend between and are bolted to both the mounting rail 40 and the uprights 8, 9. The shelving panels 20 and associated cross members 21 can also be mounted at any convenient location between the uprights 6, 7, 8, 9 to which they are secured by fasteners.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. An electrical switchboard assembly including:a skeletal support frame having a rectangular base frame and associated rectangular top frame interconnected by a number of spaced-apart uprights extending between the base frame and the top frame, namely two or more front uprights and an associated number of rear uprights, side-wall panels mounted between associated pairs of front and rear uprights on the support frame, one or more rear wall panels mounted between the rear uprights, one or more access doors mounted between the front uprights, the support frame and associated panels and door or doors defining one or more compartments for reception of electrical devices, means for mounting electrical devices on the support frame within each compartment, a plurality of electrically conductive fish plates for cable termination mounted on the support fame, one end of each fish plate for connection to an electrical device mounted on support frame and the other end of the fish plate having means for cable attachment, each fish plate being secured to a mounting rail which extends between a pair of rear uprights, said mounting rail being of channel section construction defining an elongate re-entrant slot, the mounting 3, - 8 rail having an inner wall with side walls extending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the inner wall and inwardly directed flanges at an outer end of each side wall substantially parallel to the inner wall to define the re-entrant slot having an opening between free edges of the flanges, the fish plates being mounted on the rail, each fish plate being mounted on the rail by means of a mounting bolt engagable with a through hole located intermediate the ends of the fish plate, a threaded end of the bolt extending into the slot of the mounting rail for engagement with a complementary clamping plate mounted within the slot to releasably secure the fish plate on the mounting rail, said clamping plate having a central threaded hole for complementary inter-engagement with the threaded end of the bolt, the clamping plate being captured within the slot and slidable through the slot and engagable with the side walls of the slot to prevent rotation of the clamping plate within the slot, an electrically insulating spacer being mounted on the shank of the bolt between the fish plate and the rail.

2. An electrical switchboard assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fish plate mounting rail is demountably secured to the rear uprights. An electrical switchboard as claimed in claim 2 wherein each end of the fish plate mounting rail is secured to one of the rear uprights by means of a mounting bracket which extends between and is bolted to both the mounting rail and the rear upright. - 9 4. An electrical switchboard assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fish plate mounting rail has a plurality of through holes between each end of the mounting rail for attachment to the mounting bracket.

3. 5. An electrical switchboard assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein through holes are provided along the flanges of the mounting rail.

4. 6. An electrical switchboard assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein through holes are provided along the side walls of the mounting rail.

5. 7. An electrical switchboard assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.