US1912614A - Panel cabinet - Google Patents

Description

F. B. ADAM PANEL CABINET June 6, 1933.

Filed April 28, 1930 INVENTOR @PEDER/CK B ADAM ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK B. ADAIVI. OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK ADAM ELE CTRIC (30., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI PANEL CABINET Application filed April 28,

This invention relates to panel cabinets, guard member is secured to the front as a and more particularly toan improved cabinet which embodies a construction designed to overcome certain difliculties encountered in the installation of flush-type dead-front panel equipment as will hereinafter be explained.

In the installation of electrical outlets, fuse boxes, and panelboards, it is the usual practice to install the boxes at the same t1me that the conduit and wiring is installed, that is, before the plastering of the wall has been accomplished. After the walls have been finished, it is sometimes found that the box is positioned at a depth in the wall so that the front edges do not lie flush with the wall surface. This results in a space being left between the panelboard and the cabinet front which, if the space is great enough, may permit personal exposure to the wiring, and 1n any event mars the appearance of the 1nstallation.

In certain panelboards of heretofore known type, an attempt has been made to remedy this condition by a construction which permits adjustment between the panelboard and wall box, but in which the adjustment must be accomplished before the front or trim has been mounted. Thus, the panelboard is adjusted and secured in the wall box at a distance estimated to be suitable for engagement with the front or trim when that member is afterwards mounted. If the panel has been incorrectly positioned, the front must again be removed and the panel readjusted, until, by trial and error, an approximate mating of the parts is effected.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a panelboard in which the panel member may be positively adjusted in the first instance, by a single, simple operation, to suit conditions of the particular installation after the front has been mounted.

Another object is to provide, in connection with a panelboard, a front or trim which has a depressed portion or return, adapted to serve as a guard member, and which engages a portion of' the pariel member.

A further object of this invention is to' provide a construction in which the recited unit, thereby enabling the ready removal and replacement of the front and guard member for access to the wiring and connections.

These and other objects will appear from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fuse block adapted for use in a wall box which is shown in perspective in Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a unitary structure including a front, a return and a framing-plate for the fuse panel, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the parts in assembled relation.

Referring now by reference numerals to the drawing, the fuse block illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 comprises, preferably, a base 5 of insulating material having a raised por tion 6 in which fuse sockets 7 are disposed and arranged in any suitable formation. The portion 6 by preference is rabbeted to provide a small marginal shoulder 8 which outlines the normally visible portion of the fuse block. Each fuse socket is provided with the customary screw shell which engages a branch terminal member or contact post 9. In the present embodiment, the members 9' extend laterally from their respective sockets, and are seated in depressions 10 in the base. The bottom of the base is recessed to accommodate busses in the form of straps 11, each of which forms a common conductor for a group of fuses, the central terminal of the fuse receptacles in each group being connected to one of the straps. Each strap terminates at one end of the block in a connector lug 12 seated in a depression 13 in the fuse block. At the opposite end and also depressed in the block is a terminal bar 14 having a plurality of binding posts 16 and a terminal lug 17. As is understood by those familiar with the art, the terminal bar 14 adapts the device to various circuit arrangements for both two and three wire systems. While the above description deals with a fuse block, the scope of the invention is in no way restricted to that particular form of panel. The construction herein set forth readily lends itself to panelboards of any practical size.

. wall material and each is provided with a 'threaded aperture for engagement with a cover holding screw 18. The box is provided with apertures for the passage of screws or similar fastening means to secure the box in a wall.

To support the panel, I provide, by preference, a plurality of studs 20, fixedly secured to the box bottom as by riveting, having their free ends slightly tapered for a purpose hereinafter appearing. The panel block is provided with apertures 21, relatively disposed to correspond with the relative positions of the studs with which they are in register and adapted to accommodate. The number of studs and apertures provided is not of particular importance, since any one of the studs is sufficient to support the weight of the panel.

The cabinet front, illustrated in perspective in Fig. 3, comprises essentially, a flat rectangular front or plate having, in the present embodiment, a centrally located door opening. A door 22, hingedly mounted on the front is provided with a knob or handle (not shown) and a latch or staying device 23. Openings 24 are so disposed in the front that when the latter is placed over the box they will be in register with the threaded apertures in the lugs 15. The cover holding screws 18, already mentioned, are by preference of sufficient length to permit, if neces sary, the cover plate to be mounted at a substantial distance away from the edges of the box. This condition arises when the box is set at such a depth that the fastening lugs 15 are remote from the surface of the wall.

For the purpose of providing a completely closed and entirely shielded structure, and one in which only the face portion of the panelboard is visible when the cabinet door is in open position, I provide a return 19 with which is combined a framing-plate 25. In the present example the members 19 and 25 are formed of sheet material and together resemble a shallow pan. Obviously, the return and plate structure may be an integral part of the cabinet front, but I prefer to form it separately, and provide flange portions 26 by which I weld, or otherwise suit- .ably attach, the return to the front. The

inner portion of the plate member 25 is provided with an opening which conforms with the raised portion of the fuse block, and the margins of which 0 pose the shoulder 8. The fuse block and aming plate are fastened together by means of screws 27 which .pass through apertures 28, in the framing wiring brought thereto, the panelboard is inserted so that the apertures 21 receive the studs 20, after which wiring connections are made. The unitary assembly, comprising the front, return and framing plate, may then be applied, with the front against the finished wall surface. The screws 18 are threaded into the seats therefor, in lugs 15, and taken up as far as conditions permit. The panelboard or fuse block may then, if necessary, be moved distantly along the studs to permit inserting and taking up of screws 27, in seats 29, to complete the asscmbly.

It will be understood that the foregoing description relates with particularity to the example illustrated, but is to be understood merely as descriptive, and not in a limiting sense. Obvious changes may be made in the parts, their relation and combinations within the scope of the invention as defined more particularly by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A box, a cover, a panel member supported by the box and detachably associated with the cover, and means for adjustably positioning the panel member responsively to movement of said cover.

2. A box, a cover removably associated with the box, a panel member supported by and within the box, and means relating the cover and panel member, for movement of the anel member responsively to movement of t e cover.

3. A box, a cover therefor, a panel and means carried by the box and associated with the panel for permitting adjusting movement of the panel relative to the box apertured cover, and means for supporting the panel member within the box and permittlng panel-adjusting movement, by manipulation of the panel, through the cover aperture.

6. A box, a panel member, a front, means carried by the front and cooperating with the panel member to form a closure for the box, means for securing the front to the panel member as an assembled unit, and means for permitting movement of the panel member, distantly, relative to the box, irrespective'of its securement to the front.

7. A box, a panel member, a box front, mean for securing the front to the panel in constant distance relation, and means for dis tantly adjusting the assembled front and panel from the front of the box.

8. A box, a panel member, means carried by the box for supporting the panel member in adjustable relation to the box, a front detachably secured to the box and means for securing the panel member to the front, said means adapted upon such securement, t0 fix the position of the panel member With respect to the box.

9. A box, a panel member, a combined support and guide for the panel member carried by the box, means formed by the panel member constituting a seat for. slidably receiving the guide, and means engaging the face portion of the panel member for fixing its position on said support.

10. Enclosed electrical apparatus including a box, a panel member, a panel support projecting from the rear Wall of the box, means on the panel member forming a seat for said support and relating the panel member for distance movement along the support, a box front, and means including the front for distantly positioning the panel member within the box.

' FREDERICK B. ADAM.

Images