NZ548270A - An electrical switchboard cabinet assembly with mounted electrical devices movable with at least two degrees of freedom on sets of rails - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical cabinet assembly including a movable mounting arrangement to which electrical devices may be attached. The movable mounting arrangement may be repositioned horizontally or vertically within the cabinet using releasable fasteners sliding in pairs of horizontal and vertical rails. The cabinet door provides a plurality of removable plates, any of which may be removed to provide access to electrical devices within the cabinet when the door is closed. Also provided is a kit of parts for assembling the cabinet.

Description

548270 AN ELECTRICAL SWITCHBOARD CABINET ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrical cabinet assembly for housing electrical and electronics equipment. The present invention has particular, but not exclusive application to electrical cabinets for housing power distribution and switching equipment.

BACKGROUND Electrical cabinets and switchboards are widely used in buildings for housing electrical power and communications equipment. The type of equipment housed in cabinets is varied, depending on the application, and the layout of 15 equipment in different cabinets is also often quite varied. Electrical cabinets are often fitted with electrical devices such as circuit breakers and meters which extend to the outside of the cabinet so as to facilitate access of these devices by the user.

At present, electrical distribution cabinets are custom built by specialist technicians depending upon a particular application. Typically, a technician is provided with a list of equipment for a given cabinet and installs shelving within the cabinet upon which the equipment can rest. In some cases, large numbers of circuit breakers are required for regulating the electrical 25 distribution equipment whereas, in other applications, a comparatively smaller number of circuit breakers are required. When space in the cabinet is at a premium, careful consideration must be given to where the circuit breakers will be located so that all of the equipment can fit in the cabinet. Specialised mounting means must be installed for locating the circuit breakers in the 30 cabinet and, accordingly, lead times of 6-8 weeks for the manufacture of cabinets are common owing, in part, to the time spent customizing each cabinet. iponz 3 jul aft It is an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet assembly which allows for the location of circuit breakers to be readily customized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical cabinet assembly including: an electrical cabinet; and a moving arrangement to which one or more electrical devices can be 10 attached and for moving the electrical devices with at least two degrees of freedom within the electrical cabinet. In this manner, the electrical devices (e.g. circuit breakers) can be readily moved, as required, when customizing the cabinet.

Preferably, the moving arrangement includes: a first moving arrangement for moving the electrical devices along a first axis of the cabinet; and a second moving arrangement for moving the electrical devices along a second axis of the cabinet.

The first moving arrangement may include a first pair of rails fixed to the cabinet. The second moving arrangement may include a second pair of rails for moving with respect to the first pair of rails. Each rail may be generally C-shaped.

The electrical cabinet assembly may further include a plate to which the electrical devices can be mounted and for moving with respect to the second pair of rails. In one embodiment, the electrical devices are circuit breakers.

Preferably, the moving arrangements are located within the cabinet.

The electrical cabinet assembly may include a fastening arrangement for releasably fastening the electrical devices in a desired location with respect to the cabinet. The fastening arrangement may include a plurality of fa-steneTsr: S 2 £ i \ \ 3 Each fastener may include a threaded bolt and a retainer defining an aperture through which the bolt can be threaded. Each fastener may further include a coil spring for being located around the shaft of the bolt.

The electrical cabinet assembly may further include a door. In turn, the door may include a plurality of removable plates. A user can access the electrical devices within a closed cabinet when one or more removable plates are removed.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for assembling an electrical cabinet assembly, the kit including: a moving arrangement to which one or more electrical devices can be attached and for movably attaching to an electrical cabinet so that the electrical devices can be moved with at least two degrees of freedom within 15 the electrical cabinet.

The kit may further include the electrical cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding 25 Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a front view of an electrical cabinet assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2a is a front view of a fastener which is releasably fastening a mounting plate to a horizontal rail in accordance with the first embodiment. 4 Figure 2b is a cross sectional side view of the fastener of Figure 2a taken through section A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional front view of a pair of fasteners and an elbow 5 bracket which are releasably fastening a horizontal rail to a vertical rail in accordance with the first embodiment.

Figure 4 is a front view of an electrical cabinet assembly showing a door in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical cabinet assembly 2 as shown in Figure 1. The cabinet 15 assembly 2 can be used to house electrical distribution equipment having a current rating of between 150 to 800 amps. The electrical distribution equipment is regulated by a bank of circuit breakers (not shown) which can be mounted to terminals 14 located on a mounting plate 12. The electrical cabinet assembly 2 is portable and includes: an electrical cabinet 3 formed 20 from three wall panels, a floor panel and a roof panel; and a door 8a which is connected with hinges 10 to the cabinet 3. In general use, the door 8a is closed so as to conceal the electrical distribution equipment in the cabinet 3 The cabinet assembly 2 includes a moving arrangement for moving the mounting plate 12, and therefore the circuit breakers, in the doorway of the cabinet 3. The moving arrangement includes a vertical moving arrangement for moving the mounting plate 12 along a vertical axis of the cabinet 3, and a horizontal moving arrangement for moving the mounting plate 12 along a 30 horizontal axis of the cabinet 3. In this manner, the mounting plate 12 can be freely moved by a user within a plane defined by the vertical and horizontal axes of the cabinet 3. i *) 9 •! •* The vertical moving arrangement includes a pair of vertical rails 4a, 4b which are fixed in parallel on opposing sides of the cabinet 3. The horizontal moving arrangement includes a pair of horizontal rails 6a, 6b which are attached in parallel to the vertical rails 4. The horizontal rails 6 are able to move vertically with respect to the vertical rails 4 as shown by the double-ended vertical arrow in Figure 1. The mounting plate 12 is moveably fixed to the horizontal rails 6 and maintains the separation distance between the horizontal rails 6. The mounting plate 12 is constrained to move horizontally along the horizontal rails 6 as indicated by the double-ended horizontal arrow in Figure 1.

The rails 4, 6 and mounting plate 12 are located within the cabinet 3. When customizing the electrical cabinet assembly 2 to receive electrical equipment, a required number of circuit breakers are each fastened between a pair of terminals 14 on the mounting plate 12. The mounting plate can be moved to a 15 desired location in the doorway of the cabinet 3, depending upon the layout of the electrical equipment within the cabinet assembly 2. The electrical cabinet assembly 2 further includes a fastening arrangement for releasably fastening the mounting plate 12 at the desired location with respect to the cabinet 3. The fastening arrangement includes a plurality of like fasteners which, in turn, 20 each include a bolt 16.

The construction and function of each fastener is described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 2 shows one of the four fasteners for releasably fastening the mounting plate 12 to the horizontal rails 6a, 6b. Each fastener includes a threaded bolt 16, a planar retainer 26 defining a threaded aperture through which the bolt 16 can engage, and a coil spring 22 which surrounds the shaft of the bolt 16. As can best be seen in Figure 2b, the horizontal rail 6 is generally C-shaped and 30 has two free ends which are folded over to define a pair of retaining lips 20a, 20b. The retainer 26 is located within a chamber 24 defined by the horizontal rail 6. The coil spring 22 is also located within the chamber 24 and is in compression so as to press against the retainer 26 and the floor of the horizontal rail 6. The retainer 26 is retained within the chamber 24 by-fee — \ ' CFFiCf: J K ■■ •? «•. 6 retaining lips 20a, 20b. The shaft of the bolt 16 extends through the mounting plate 12, between the retaining lips 20a, 20b, through the retainer 26 and into the chamber 24.

In use, the fastener can fasten the mounting plate 12 to the horizontal rail 6 by turning the bolt 16 in a first direction which causes the mounting plate 12 and retaining lips 20 to be compressed between the head of the bolt 16 and the retainer 26. The spring 22 facilitates the threading of the retainer 26 onto the bolt 16 during fastening.

In contrast, turning the bolt 16 in a second and opposite direction will cause the retainer 26 to move along the shaft towards the tail of the bolt 16 and thereby release the mounting plate 12 and the retaining lips 20 from compression. The coil spring 22 is thereby further compressed and impedes 15 the retainer 26 from being freed from the tail of the bolt 16. When each fastener is released in this manner, the mounting plate 12, bolt 16, retainer 26 and coil spring 22 can slide along the horizontal rail 6.

Figure 3 shows a pair of fasteners which can be used in conjunction with a 20 right angled elbow bracket 30 for fastening a horizontal rail 6 to the vertical rail 4b. The vertical rails 4 and horizontal rails 6 of the cabinet assembly 2 are all of like C-shaped construction. The first and second fasteners are of like construction, and each fastener has a similar construction to that previously described in relation to Figure 2. The elbow bracket 30 is formed by bending 25 a metal plate into a right angle so as to define a first arm 32 and a second arm 34.

When fastening the horizontal rail 6 with respect to the vertical rail 4b using the first fastener, the first arm 32 and retaining lips 20a, 20b of horizontal rail 6 30 are both compressed between the first bolt 16a and a first retainer (not shown) located in a first chamber 24a. In addition, the second arm 34 and retaining lips 20c of the vertical rail 4b are compressed between the bolt 16b and a second retainer 26 of the second fastener. The cabinet assembly 2 includes four angle brackets 30 located at respective ends of the horizontal 7 rails 6a, 6b. When each of the four second fasteners are released, the horizontal rails 6a, 6b can be moved to a desired location with respect to the vertical rails 4 as shown by the double ended arrow in Figure 3.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a switchboard cabinet assembly 2 which includes a door 8b as shown in Figure 4. The door 8b is effectively a planar panel to which a number of DIN connectors 40 and meters 42 are fastened. The DIN connectors 40 and meters 42 are electrically wired to electrical switchboard equipment housed 10 within the cabinet assembly 2. A handle 44 is fastened to the door 8b to facilitate opening of and closing of the door 8b. A lock (not shown) may also be provided to lock the door 8b of the cabinet assembly 2 shut.

The door 8b is a planar panel and includes two columns of six removable 15 plates 46. Each removable plate 46 is defined by an enclosed loop of four perforated lines defined in the door 8b. Once the mounting plate 12 has been located in a desired location within the cabinet assembly 2, a select number of removable plates 46 may be removed so that the terminals 14 (and therefore the circuit breakers) can be accessed by a user. In practice, switches of the 20 circuit breakers would protrude through an aperture 48 formed by the removal of the plates 46 so that a user can readily reset any tripped switches without having to open the cabinet assembly 2.

The foregoing cabinet assemblies 3 can be sold in either an assembled or kit 25 form.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, there was provided first and second moving arrangements for moving the circuit breakers long first and second axes in the doorway of the cabinet 3. In an alternative embodiment, there is further provided a third moving arrangement for moving the circuit breakers"a|ong Tfie \ ! 2 ^ J 8 depth of the cabinet assembly 2 (i.e. the circuit breakers can be moved in three dimensions). In yet another alternative embodiment, the cabinet assembly may include a moving arrangement for moving the circuit breakers along a single axis only (i.e. the circuit breakers can be moved in only one 5 dimension).

In the first embodiment, there was provided a plurality of fasteners for releasably fastening the location of the mounting plate 12 with respect to the cabinet assembly 2. In an alternative embodiment, there is instead provided a 10 relatively high amount of friction between each of the moving parts connecting the mounting plate 12 with respect to the cabinet 3 so that the plate 2 remains in a fixed location once it has been moved to that location.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language 15 more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims 20 appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (19)

What I claim is:

1. An electrical cabinet assembly including: an electrical cabinet; and a moving arrangement to which one or more electrical devices can be attached and for moving the electrical devices with at least two degrees of freedom within the electrical cabinet.

2. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving arrangement includes: a first moving arrangement for moving the electrical devices along a first axis of the cabinet; and a second moving arrangement for moving the electrical devices along a second axis of the cabinet.

3. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first moving arrangement includes a first pair of rails fixed to the cabinet.

4. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second moving arrangement includes a second pair of rails for moving with respect to the first pair of rails.

5. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each rail is generally C-shaped.

6. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 4, further including a plate to which the electrical devices can be mounted and for moving with respect to the second pair of rails.

7. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical devices are circuit breakers.

8. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving arrangement is located within the cabinet. - 10

9. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including a fastening arrangement for releasably fastening the electrical devices in a desired location with respect to the cabinet.

10. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening arrangement includes a plurality of fasteners.

11. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein each fastener includes a threaded bolt and a retainer defining an aperture through which the bolt can be threaded.

12. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein each fastener further includes a coil spring for being located around the shaft of the bolt.

13. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 1 further including a door.

14. An electrical cabinet assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the door includes a plurality of removable plates.

15. A kit for assembling an electrical cabinet assembly, the kit including. a moving arrangement to which one or more electrical devices can be attached and for movably attaching to an electrical cabinet so that the electrical devices can be moved with at least two degrees of freedom within the electrical cabinet.

16. A kit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the moving arrangement includes: a first moving arrangement for moving the electrical devices along a first axis of the cabinet; and a second moving arrangement for moving the electrical devices along a second axis of the cabinet. 11

17. A kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein each moving arrangement includes a pair of rails.

18. An electrical cabinet assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A kit for assembling an electrical cabinet assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 26th day of July 2006 SWITCHBOARD INNOVATIONS PTY LTD by my attorneys Eagar & Buck Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys