MXPA00005117A - Transformer tank with detachable cabinet interface - Google Patents

Abstract

A transformer tank with detachable cabinet interface. The transformer tank has a metal front panel for attachment of an electrical cable. A one-piece enclosure of non-conductive, flame resistant material cooperates with the front panel to provide an enclosed cable compartment for the transformer tank. A cabinet interface of non-conductive, flame resistant material is mounted on the periphery of the front panel. The interfaceis comprised of strip material having a tongue and groove or Y-shape.

Description

TANK FOR TRANSFORMER WITH I NTERFASE OF GABI NETE SEPARABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE I NVENTION This invention relates in general to enclosures for electrical transformers and more specifically to a transformer tank with removable box interface.

DESCR l ICATION OF THE PREVIOUS ICA TECHNIQUE Single-phase cushion-mounted transformers are installed in residential areas, and it is desirable that they are aesthetically designed and have no sharp corners or edges and that they have interference-resistant interfaces between the cover of the component. cable and transformer tank. An example of such enclosures for cushion-mounted transformer is described in the U.S. Patent. , No. 4,533,786. In this patent there is described a "clam shell" metal shell with a large steel cover hinged on the top and a sill approximately 15.24 cm high to which the cover is riveted. A variety of deflectors were constructed on the roof and / or sill to meet the requirements for resistance to forcing of ANSI C.57.12-28. One of the problems with covers or enclosures for metal transformers is that they are subject to significant corrosion problems. Such problems are found in coastal environments and even in non-coastal regions, corrosion problems can be experienced due to fertilizers, road salt, irrigation systems, clay sifting equipment, etc. Although stainless steel boxes will solve the problem of corrosion, such boxes are expensive. In U.S. Patent No. 5,739,464 there is disclosed a cable compartment enclosure that is non-metallic, non-conductive, and thus not subject to corrosion problems. In that patent the enclosure is of one piece construction and does not require a cover with a hinge on the top and a sill. In that patent the composite cover design uses a simple metal "knife edge" interface in the transformer tank (male portion) and a slotted interface in the composite cover (female portion). Although the composite roof design provided corrosion resistance for the roof, one design flaw was the metal "knife edge" of the tank that is susceptible to damage, either by handling (bent edges) or by installation and removal. the cover (wear to the paint which initiates corrosion). It would be desirable to provide a design to eliminate the "knife edge" problem of the metal and add a small "adapter" to the knife edge of the tank to create a "knife edge" of dent resistant, corrosion resistant material. It would also be desirable to be able to improve existing transformers to include a non-conductive enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a transformer tank with removable box interface where the transformer tank has a metallic front panel for mounting an electric cable, a pair of metal side walls connected to the opposite ends of the transformer tank. front panel and a metal top panel connected to the upper edge of the front panel and interconnecting the pair of side walls. An enclosure of non-conductive, flame-resistant material is provided for cooperation with the front panel to provide an enclosed cable compartment for the tank. A non-conductive flame-resistant material box interface is mounted on the periphery of the front panel, the interface being constructed and arranged to match the enclosure to provide a seal between the front panel of the tank and the compartment enclosure of cable. In one form of the invention, the interface comprises a tape material having a tongue and groove section, with the slot section engaging the periphery of the front panel and the tongue matching the periphery of the enclosure. In another form of the invention the interface comprises tape material having a Y-shaped cross-section, with the upper portion of the Y coupling with the periphery of the front panel and the lower portion of the Y matching the periphery of the enclosure. The interface material is secured to the periphery of the front panel. In another aspect of the invention is provided in a transformer having a transformer tank with a metallic front panel for mounting an electric cable, a pair of metal side walls connected to the opposite ends of a front panel and a metal top panel connected to the upper edges of the front panel and interconnecting the pair of side walls, an enclosure of flame-resistant material, non-conductive for cooperation with the front panel to provide an enclosed compartment for cable for the tank, the improvement of a box interface of flame-resistant, non-conductive material having a bifurcated edge for mounting the interface on the periphery of the front panel and a non-bifurcated edge arranged to match the periphery of the enclosure to provide a seal between the front panel of the tank and the enclosure for the cable compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAMETERS For a more detailed description of the invention and for further objectives and advantages thereof, reference should be made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a transformer tank with a flame-resistant, non-conductive metal enclosure and a flame-resistant, non-conductive material box interface mounted on the periphery of the panel front of the transformer tank for cooperation with the enclosure. Figure 2 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the present invention showing a transformer tank and an enclosure of non-conductive flame-resistant material and a non-conductive, flame-resistant, non-conductive housing box mounted on the periphery of the front panel for cooperation with the enclosure. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in Figure 3 showing the interface material in cooperation with the box enclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERAL MODALI DAD Referring to Figure 1, a cushion-mounted transformer 10 is illustrated having an improved non-conductive flame-resistant material box interface mounted on the periphery of the front panel according to the invention. present invention. The transformer 10 may be generally of the type described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,739,464, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. I ncludes a transformer tank 1 1 having a front panel 12 for the electric cable assembly, not shown. The transformer tank 1 1 includes a pair of metal side walls 13, 14 connected to the opposite ends of the front panel 12 and a metal top panel 15 connected to the upper edge of the front panel 12 and interconnecting the pair of side walls 13, 14 Each of the side walls 13 and 14 and the top panel 15 has an edge or tongue structure extending outward from the front panel 12. This can be seen in Figure 2 which shows a sectional view with respect to upper panel 15. As can be seen in Figure 1, an enclosure 16 of non-conductive flame-resistant material cooperates with the front panel 12 to provide an enclosed cable compartment for the tank 1 1. The enclosure 16 is preferably molded in one piece construction from a non-conductive, flame-resistant composite material that includes a thermosetting resin impregnated with glass fibers. Other suitable materials non-conductive compounds that have similar physical characteristics including light weight and high strength can also be used. The periphery of the enclosure 16 is provided with a slot 17 to normally receive the tongue structure at the periphery of the tank panel 12. According to the present invention, a flame-resistant, non-conductive composite material box interface 20 is mounted on the periphery of the front panel 12. The interface 20 is formed from tape material having a bifurcated edge for mounting the interface at the periphery of the front panel 12 and a non-bifurcated edge disposed to meet the periphery of the enclosure 16 to provide a seal between the front panel 12 of the tank 1 1 and the enclosure 16 for the cable compartment. The interface 20 preferably comprises a tape material having a tongue 21 and slot 22, with the slot section 22 engaging the knife edges around the periphery of the front panel 12 and the tongue matching the slot 17 in the periphery of the enclosure 16. It is preferable that the non-conductive interface 20 be made in sections, for example by extrusioneach section being secured to the respective knife edges surrounding the front panel 12 of the tank 1 1 as by an adhesive. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a modification of the present invention is illustrated. This modification allows existing transformers to be improved to include a non-conductive enclosure of this type illustrated in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,739,464. Such prior transformers do not normally include a knife edge extending around the periphery of the front panel as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,739,464. In this modification, a transformer 30 is illustrated with a tank 31 having a front panel 32 for mounting electric cable, not shown. The transformer tank 31 includes a pair of metal side walls 33, 34 and a metal top panel 35. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 in tank 31, there are no knife edges extending from the side walls and the panel of the tank as described in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The enclosure 36 illustrated in Figure 3 is similar to the enclosure 16 in Figure 1 and is made of flame-resistant, non-conductive material for cooperation with the front panel 32 to provide an enclosed cable compartment for the tank 31 to allow the non-conductive enclosure 36 to be mounted in the transformer tank 31 a box interface 40 of non-conductive, flame resistant material mounted on the periphery is provided of the front panel 32. The interface 40 is constructed and arranged to match the enclosure 36 to provide a seal between the front panel 32 of the tank 31 and the enclosure 40 for the compartment or cable. As can be seen in Figure 4 the box interface 40 is made of flame resistant, non-conductive material having a bifurcated edge which includes sections 41 and 42 for mounting the interface on the periphery of the front panel 32 and an edge 43 not bifurcated ready to equalize with the periphery of the enclosure 36 to provide a seal between the front panel 32 of the tank 1 1 and the enclosure 36 for the cable compartment. The interface 40 has a Y-shaped cross-section, with the upper portion of the Y including sections 41 and 42 which engage the periphery of the front panel 32 and the lower portion 43 of the Y matching the periphery in the form of the slot 37 of the enclosure 36. The box interface 40 is adapted to be removably secured to the periphery of the front panel 32 of the transformer tank as by an adhesive 44. If desired, the section 42 of the box interface may be be removably secured to the sidewall 33 of tank 31 for transformer. Other mechanical means may be used to secure the box interface to the transformer tank if desired, however, the adhesive is preferred since it is non-corrosive and less expensive. Although a preferred form of the invention has been described and illustrated, it is understood that other modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A transformer tank with removable box interface comprising: a transformer tank having a metallic front panel for mounting an electric cable, a pair of metal side walls connected to the opposite ends of said front panel and a metal top panel connected to the upper edge of said front panel and interconnecting said pair of side walls, a one-piece enclosure of flame resistant, non-conductive material for cooperation with said front panel to provide an enclosed cable compartment for said tank, an interphase of box of flame-resistant, non-conductive material mounted on the periphery of said front panel, said interface being constructed and arranged to equalize said enclosure to provide a seal between the front panel of said tank and said enclosure for the compartment of said enclosure. cable. A transformer tank according to claim 1 wherein said interface comprises a tape material having a tongue and groove cross section, with the slot section engaging the periphery of said front panel and the matching tongue with the periphery of said enclosure. 3. A transformer tank according to claim 1 wherein said interface comprises tape material having a Y-shaped cross-section, with the upper portion of the Y coupling with the periphery of said front panel and the lower portion of the And equaling with the periphery of said enclosure. 4. A transformer tank according to claim 1 wherein said interface material is secured to the periphery of said front panel. 5. A transformer tank according to claim 1 wherein said interface material is removably secured to the periphery of said front panel. 6. In a transformer that has a transformer tank with a metallic front panel for mounting an electric cable, a pair of metal side walls connected to the opposite ends of the front panel and a metal top panel connected to the upper edges of the front panel and interconnecting the pair of side walls, a one-piece enclosure of flame-resistant, non-conductive material for cooperation with the front panel to provide an enclosed compartment for cable for the tank, the improvement of a resistant material box to the flame, non-conductive having a bifurcated edge to mount the interface on the periphery of the front panel and a non-bifurcated edge arranged to match the periphery of the enclosure to provide a seal between the front panel of the tank and the enclosure for the compartment of cable.