US2871284A

US2871284A - Enclosed panelboard mounting

Info

Publication number: US2871284A
Application number: US286911A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ervin E Wills
Original assignee: Federal Electric Products Co
Current assignee: Federal Electric Products Co
Priority date: 1952-05-09
Filing date: 1952-05-09
Publication date: 1959-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1976-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1959 Filed May 9, 1952 k E. E. WILLS ENCLOSED PANELBOARD MOUNTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I 2 lsz 43 1; F f U 40 5A 2056 78 i62 J m n-L A OKIVEYI Jan. 27, 1959 E. E. WILLS 2,

ENCLOSED PANELBOARD MOUNTING Fil ed May 9, 1952 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 III] /1/ E 76 86 v j FIG .4 v1

FIG 5.

/ INVENTOR. [rV/n E. W/'//. L MM ATTORNEG Jan. 27, 1959 E. E. WILLS ENCLOSED PANELBOARD MOUNTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 9, 1952 W/[ZS M am- L o-L ATTORNEYS Jan. 27, 1959 E. E. WILLS ENCLOSED PANELBOARD MOUNTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9, 1952 INVENTOR [PW/Vi. VI /MS CQdM ML;- Nev-L,

ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1959 E. E. WILLS ENCLOSED PANELBOARD MOUNTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1952 INVENTOR [PW/V5 W/ZZS' ATTO R N EYS United rates Patent Q ENCLUED PANELEOARD MQUNTING Ervin E. Wills, Ailfton, Mm, assignor to Federal Electric Products Company, Newark, N. 1., a of Delaware Application May 9, 1952, Serial No. 286,911

11 laims. (Cl. 174-52) This invention relates in general to wall type installations of cabinets or enclosures for electrical panel boards and in particular to means for mounting the pan or support for the electric instrumentalities thereof. This application is a continuation in part of my United States applications, Serial No. 240,661, filed August 7, 1951, now Patent No. 2,758,257, dated August 7, 1956, and Serial No. 255,117, filed November 6, 1951, now Patent No. 2,760,123, dated August 21, 1956.

Panel board arrangements of the type under consideration generally include a sheet metal boX or enclosure containing a back plate or mounting pan adapted to mount and support a panel of circuit protector devices, such as for example, circuit breakers, fuses, switches, starters, etc., or any combination thereof, a door and trim or front plate, and a shield or panel housing which completes the barrier between the panel and the front plate. Where the cabinet is to be flush mounted in a Wall, the box or enclosure is ordinarily set in the wall during the course of construction and the front plate is put in place after the finish plaster has been completed. However, for various reasons, the box or enclosure, after the completion of the finish plastering, is frequently found to be out of true with the finish plaster line, it being usually impossible to predetermine accurately how far back it will be from the finish plaster line. In providing for a plaster adjustment for the circuit protective devices, means are usually provided to resiliently urge the mounting pan toward the front of the enclosure for adjusting the mounting pan to expeditiously align the protective devices with the face of the enclosure and the wall surface by biasing said devices against the protective shield therefor. However, with the shield removed, for example for wiring said devices in the enclosure, it is possible that the mounting pan may accidently slip off its mounting means.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for mounting the pan Within the enclosure in such a manner that the pan will be prevented from accidently slipping off its mounting means.

Pursuant to the foregoing object, the pan is resiliently mounted on a plurality of supports extending from the rear of the enclosure toward the front thereof, and it is therefore another object to provide means to prevent the pan from slipping off the supports when the front cover or trim plate is removed from the enclosure.

Another object is the provision of improved mounting means for the pan utilizing resilient means which occupy a minimum front to rear space in the enclosure when the pan is in the maximum inward position thereof within said enclosure.

in connection with the foregoing objects, another object is the provision of a support for the pan, which support has provision to secure the resilient means in the operative position thereof.

Another object is the provision of asupport for the pan, said support being adapted to secure the trim in position on the enclosure.

2,871,284 Fatented Jan. 27, 1959 In connection with the flush or surface mounting of the box or enclosure, the box may be inadvertently mounted in reversed vertical position. Heretofore, this required the removal of the box from the wall and its remounting in correct position. However, this requirement is obviated in accordance with another object of the present invention, pursuant to which it is only necessary to reverse the panel on the supports Without the necessity of remounting the box.

The enclosures for multi-circuit panel boards vary in size, according to the number of circuits to be controlled, and where a large number of circuits is involved, the enclosure is comparatively large, and requires a correspondingly large and heavy trim or front closure member. Heretofore, it required the services of two workmen to install one of these large trim members, one workman holding the trim member in position on the enclosure, while the other secured the trim member to the enclosure. However, in accordance with a further object of the present invention, one man alone can install these large trim members.

Pursuant to the foregoing object, provision is made for first hanging or supporting the trim in the enclosure so that it is prevented from falling, the sole workman then having both his hands free for securing the trim to the enclosure. in this connection, a still further object is to provide for the automatic alignment or registry of the securing apertures in the trim with companion securing apertures in the enclosure.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an enclosure pursuant to the present invention, the cover and shield housing thereof being removed, and parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with parts broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and showing a circuit breaker in position on the mounting pan;

Fi 4 is a fragmentary sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4--4 of Pig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and including the front closure and shield of the enclosure, certain of the parts being omitted;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view illustrating a portion of an enclosure, a mounting pan and a front closure or trim member therefor, pursuant to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, pursuant to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7, with parts broken away for purposes of illustration;

Pi 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of sectional view taken on the line 10-10 Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-41 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 and illustrates the initial hanging of the trim member on the panel supports within the enclosure;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating a modification in the panel of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line i l-14 of Fig. 13 with the panel engaged on the brackets;

-Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-45 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating a portion of the trim member and a mounting bracket, pursuant to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view illustrating the initial hanging of the trim member, pursuant to the embodiment of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is similar to Fig. 17 and illustrates the trim member in the secured position thereof on the enclosure;

'Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 2O i a rear view of a front closure or trim mem ber pursuant to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 21 is a View illustrating'the relative positions of thetrim member illustrated in Fig. 20, and the enclosure during the installation of said trim member; and

- Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 and illustrates the trim member in position on theenclosure.

Referring now to Figs. 1-6-of the drawings in detail, there is shown a box or enclosure 10 of any suitable type and provided, as usual, with knockouts or other means for the introduction of the electrical connectors and with mounting apertures 12, said box being preferably formed of sheet metal. As hereshown, the rear wall 14 of the enclosure 10 is provided with means to adjustably mount therein a mounting pan or back plate 16. More specifically, the rear wall is provided with the four posts or rods 18 which extend outwardly from the rear wall toward the front of the enclosure. Each rod is provided with a'resilient volute member constituted by a helically coiled tapered spring member 20 (Figs. 4 and In order to receive the rods 18, the pan 16 is provided, at the upper end corners thereof, with the apertures 22 which receive the upper rods 18 with slight clearance, and adjacent the lower corners thereof the pan is provided with the elongated slots 24. t will be understood that, when mounted within the enclosure, the pan is supported by said upper rods and is positioned within the enclosure by all of the rods. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the spring members 20, being disposed between the pan 16 and the rear wall 14, tend to yieldingly resist the rearward movement of the pan toward the rear wall.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, and as is fully illustrated and described in my above identified copending application, Serial No. 240,661, the enclosure is provided with a front closure or trim member '26 which is suitably secured thereto and which preferably includes a front door 28 for obtaining access to the desired portions of electrical devices which may be carried by the pan 16. For eX- ample, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the pan 16 is illustrated as supporting a plurality of circuit breakers 30, as hereinafter described in detail, said circuit breakers being provided with handles or operating members 32 which are accessible when the front door 28 is opened. In addition, the front closure 26 is provided with a shield or barrier 34 which is provided with openings which align with the operating members of the circuit breakers so that the latter may project therethrough, as fully described in my copending application, Serial No. 240,661. From the foregoing, it will be understood that when the front closure or trim member 26 is placed in position against the outer surface S of a building wall W, in which the enclosure 10 is mounted, the shield 34 will engage the front of the circuit breakers 36 to move the pan l6 inwardly against the bias of the springs to the extent required for the proper alignment of the front closure 26 against the wall surface. to those skilled in the art, the enclosure ltl is customarily inserted in an opening formed in the building wall before the outer surface of the building wall is plastered so that provision must be made for the adjustment of the pan 16 forwardly and rearwardly in order that the portions of the front closure 26 which project beyond'the enclosure l0'may abut the surface S of the facing of the building As previously indicated, and as is well known 4 wall, after the latter is finished, and also have the shield 34 engaged or lying close to the circuit breakers or other instrumentalities which are mounted on the pan 16. In this connection, as described in my copending application, Ser. No. 240,661, the springs 2t bias the pan 16 toward the front closure 26 to tightly seal the circuit breakers against the shield 34 to compensate for variations in the mounting of the enclosure 10 and for variations in the thickness of the plaster to provide a plaster adjustment, said shield serving to prevent the entrance of dirt or other for; g material into the interior of the enclosure, as well as to prevent access to any part of the electric instrumentalities except desired ornecessary portions thereof, such as the handles 32.

Pursuant to one highly desirable feature of the present invention, the springs 20, as previously indicated, are of tapered construction. By reason of the taper of the springs, the convolutions thereof can nest Within each other, as the spring is compressed, so that in the fully compressed condition of the spring, for the maximum inward adjustment of the mounting pan 16 toward the rear wall 14, it will be readily apparent that the front to rear space occupied by each of the springs is no greater than the thickness of the largest spring convolution 36 (Figs. 4- and 5). This enables the enclosure lit) to be made shallower or less deep than would be the case if a nontapreed helical spring was mounted on each rod.

Pursuant to another feature of the invention the rods 18 are provided at the free ends thereof with the hooked portions 38, it being noted, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, that the hooks on the upper rods are bent in the direction of the bottom wall 40 of the enclosure and the hooks on the bottom rods are bent in the direction of the top wall 42 of the enclosure. The function of these hooked portions, especially those on the upper rods, is to prevent the pan 16 from slipping off the rods while the enclosure is being wired. In this connection, it will be understood that while the wiring is being done, the pan i6 is moved to the forward ends of the rods 18, as indicated in broken lines in Figs. 4 and 5 which show the relative disposition of an upper and a lower rod on the same side of the enclosure, so that the electrician can more easily perform the wiring that may be necessary. Thereafter, the pan and the electric instrumentalities carried thereby are moved back on the rods 18 to the normal position of the pan against the springs 29. As previously indicated, the upper apertures 22 in the pan, which receive the upper rods 13, are circular and only slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of said rods so that the pan will be prevented from slipping off the hooked ends 38 of the upper rods 18. As illustrated in Pig. 4, these ends are directed downwardly and have the lowermost or intermediate hook portions 36A disposed below the main body of the upper rods 18 whereby the pan slides off the upper rods and onto the hooks 38, as indicated in broken line. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the hook portions 33 of the lower rods, while bent toward the upper wall 42, have their intermediate portions directed upwardly of the main body of the lower rods 1%. Therefore, it will be apparent, as indicated in broken line in Fig. 5, that the upwardly directed portions 388 will be engaged by the upper ends 24A of the elongated slots 24 to oppose the forward movement of the lower end 16A. of the pan beyond the hook portions 388 of the lower rods 18. However, said elongated slots 24 at the lower end of the pan enable the pan to be moved upwardly from the broken line position thereof in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the upper end 16B will be moved toward the main body of the upper rods 13, which movement is required in order to move the pan rearwardly from the hooked portions 32'; of the upper rods. Similarly. it will be apparent that when the upper end 163 of the pan is positioned rearwardly of the hooked portions of the upper rods, the lower end may then be swung clear of the hooked portions of the lower rods, as illustrated in broken line in Fig. 2, to permit for the removal of the pan from the rods or conversely in order to initially mount the pan on the rods. the pan on the rods, the pan should be first disposed, as illustrated in broken line in Fig. 2, from which position the lower end may be readily mounted on the lower rods to clear the hooked portions thereof.

The pan 16 is preferably formed of a suitable sheet metal and is provided adjacent the side edges thereof with the preferably sheet metal members 41 which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, for example, as by spot welding or braising. Said members are provided with the struck-out formations or retaining elements 43 which are adapted to engage in complementary recesses provided in the circuit breaker casing M, as illustrated at as. It will be understood that the members 41 at each side of the pan may be constituted either by one continuous member or by a series of separate members, as illustrated in Pig. 1. Extending longitudinally thereof, and between the members 41 at the sides thereof, the pan is provided with a layer of insulation material 48 on which there extends longitudinally of the pan, the bus bars 5i) and At the upper ends thereof, the bus bars are secured on the insulated plate 48, as by the screws 54, and at their lower ends the bus bars are secured to terminals as for connect-ion to the power lines. Said terminals are carried in a housing 53 formed of insulating material and mounted on the pan as .by the screw 6%. A neutral terminal assembly is illustrated at 57. Pursuant to the present invention, each pair of members 41, having the retaining elements 43, is provided with a companion electric device mounting member 62 positioned intermediate the pair as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The member 62 is preferably molded of insulating material and is secured on the insulated plate d8 by the screws 64. In addition, said member 62 is provided With a series of screw apertures 66 which register with apertures 68 provided in the bus bar 50, and with the apertures 70 which register with the apertures 72 provided in the bus bar 52. As illustrated in Fig. 3, screws 74 extend through the apertures as into bus bar St) for securing the mount ing member 62 in position. A terminal connector element '76, formed of suitable conducting material, is disposed within an enclosure 78 defined in the member 62, by the barrier portions 80 thereof, which extend longi tudinally of said member 62, and by the barrier portions 2%2 thereof, which extend transversely of said member. As illustrated in Fi 3, it will be noted that the terminal member 76 is provided with the oppositely directed upper and

lower flange portions

84 and 86, respectively. The flange portion 86 extends through an opening 88 formed adjacent the bottom of the member 62 and is engaged with the bus bar 52 by the screw 9' 3 which enters the screw aperture '72. The upper flange 8 is provided with the slotted portions 92 which are adapted to receive the prongs or stab terminals 94 of the circuit breaker 3b. The stab terminal 94 is preferably of the type fully illustrated and described in the copending United States application of Thomas M. Cole and Paul M. Christensen, Serial No. 127,432, filed November 15, 1949, and assigned to the assignee hereof. It will be understood that the terminal elements 76 are connected alternately to the bus bars 52 and dill. More specifically, while the terminal element 76A in Fig. l is connected, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to the bus bar 52, it will be understood that terminal elements NE, at either side thereof, are reversed so as to be connected to the bus bar 50. In this connection it will also be understood that where the terminal element 76 is reversed from the position illustrated thereof in Fig. 3, the apertures 7t 74 and the opening 38 is also reversed from the position thereof illustrated in said figure.

From the foregoing, and as illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be apparent that the circuit breakers are disposed directly on the mounting members 62 and are retained in position thereon by the engagement of the retaining element 43 in the aperture as of the casing, as well as by the engagemerit of the prong or stab 94 in the companion slot 92. As here shown, each mounting member 62 is adapted When mounting to accommodate a total of 10 circuit breakers, there being five circuit breakers arranged on each side thereof.

While the mounting members 62, the companion bus bars 50 and 52, and the neutral terminal assembly 57, provide for a single phase, three wire, solid neutral panel board, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that it is within the scope of the present invention to provide the mounting pan 16 with provision for other circuit arrangements. For example, and not by way of limitation, the mounting pan 16 may have provision for a three-phase, four wire solid neutral arrangement, as illustrated and described in the copending United States application of Alexander R. Norden, Serial No. 276,415, filed March 13, 1952 and assigned to the assignee hereof.

As heretofore described, and as will be readily apparent from Figs. 4 and 5, the rods 18 are all identical, the lower rods being merely positioned in reversed relation to the upper rods so that the hooks of the lower rods are directed oppositely the hooks of the upper rods. In the event that the enclosure 10 is inadvertently flush or surface mounted in reversed vertical position from that illustrated in Fig. l, the pan 16 would also be in reversed vertical position with the power line terminals 56 adjacent the upper Wall of the enclosure rather than in the preferable wiring position thereof, wherein said terminals are adjacent the lower enclosure wall, as illustrated. However, since the upper and lower rods are identical and the hooks thereof reversed, it is not necessary to remove the enclosure and remount it in correct position. It is merely necessary to reverse the pan and the latter will then be supported in the desired position thereof on the rods 18, without reversing the enclosure.

Referring now to Figs. 7 through 12 in detail, there is shown a modified construction for supporting the mounting pan or back plate, pursuant to which the enclosure it is provided with brackets in place of the previously described rods 18. More specifically, there is preferably provided a pair of brackets A and 10013 which are spaced longitudinally of the enclosure Ill, as illustrated in Fig. 8, so that the upper bracket MBA is adjacent the upper wall at), and the lower bracket 100B is adjacent the lower wall 42 of the enclosure. Each bracket is provided with a base 1%, which is suitably secured to the rear wall 14 of the enclosure, for example as by soldering or by welding, and with the forwardly extending opposing arms ltld and 156, each of which is notched, as at 192;, at the marginal edge thereof confronting the adjacent wall. Said arms are provided with the oppositely directed flanges 11d and 112, respectively, each flange being provided with a threaded aperture 114.

In order to mount the helical tapered springs 20, the rear wall 14 of the enclosure M is pressed outwardly, as at 116, as best illustrated in Fig. 10, to define a generally circularly recess therein for seating the spring convolution 36 of maximum diameter. In order to retain the spring in position in said recess, the base portion 102 of the bracket is provided with a circular aperture 118, best illustrated in Pig. 8. The confronting lugs or tabs l2tl12tl extend from the wall of the aperture 118 to overlie the convolution 36 to retain the latter in position in the recesses 32, as illustrated in 10. It will be understood, therefore, that there is provided a pair of recesses 118 underlying each of the bracket bases, for seating a pair of springs 26, which springs are retained in the companion recesses by the lugs 12tl-l2tl which overlie the largest convolutions thereof.

In order to mount the pan 16A so that it will depend from the upper bracket, the pan is provided with the laterally extending tabs or lugs 122 and 124 at the upper end thereof. If desired, a similar pair of lateral tabs may be provided at the lower end thereof, only one of the latter being illustrated in Fig. 8, the other having been broken away for purposes of illustration. The width of the pan 16A between the side edges 126 and 128 thereof is such .that the pan will fit between .the spaced arms on each of the brackets. The pan is mounted in .position in the enclosure by positioning the

tabs

122 and 124,'at the upper end thereof, on the upper marginal edges of the arms 104 and 1116 of the bracket 100A, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10 so that the pan is supported .by and depends from said arms. The notches 108-108in the arms .of the upper bracket 100A serve to prevent the pan 16A from inadvertently slipping off the

arms

104 and 166 while the enclosure '10 is being wired. In this connection, it .will be understood that while thezenclosure is being wired, the pan 16A may be slidalongsaid arms and moved away from the rear wall 14 so that the

upper tabs

122 and 124 .will beengaged in the notches 1118-108, respectively, as illustrated in broken line in Fig. 9, so that the electrician can more easily perform the wiring that may be required. It will be noted that in this position, the pan 16A may be readily swungin and out of .the enclosure, as required, with the

tabs

122 and 124 serving as pivots, the notches constituting'bearing for said pivots.

In the event that the enclosure 10 is inadvertently mounted in reversed vertical position, so that the enclosure is reversed from the position thereof illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, with the bracket 100A lowermost, the pan 16A may still be properly positioned within the enclosure without reversing the latter. In this connection, it will be understood that the pan 16A is adapted to be provided with a suitable arrangement for mounting a desired plurality of current control devices, such as the circuit breakers 30, as in the case of the previously described pan 16 in Fig. 1. As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is preferable that the terminals 56 of the bus bars 52 and 54, to which terminals the power lines are connected, should for convenience in wiring be disposed at the lower end of the enclosure, with the neutral terminal assembly 57 disposed adjacent the upper end of the .enclosure. Since the brackets 1011A and 11303 are identical, except that they are positioned in reversed relation, as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that the notches 108 areat the upper marginal edge of the bracket 100A and saidnotches are at the lower marginal edge of the bracket 100B, it-will be apparent that with the enclosure reversed by 180 degrees from the position thereof shown in Fig. 8, the bracket 1&113 will be disposed adjacent the upper end of the enclosure with the notches 10% thereof in the upper marginal edge thereof. Consequently, it will be apparent that the pan A may still be mounted in the desired disposition thereof, with the enclosure reversed, by depending from the bracket 14193, in the described reversed position of the latter, so that the neutral terminal assembly 57 will still be at the upper end of the enclosure and the power. line terminals of the bus bar will be at the lower end of the enclosure.

Pursuant to another highly desirable feature of the present invention, provision is made for a one-man installation of the trim for the enclosure. In this connection, it will be understood, that an enclosure large enough to contain about thirty or more circuit breakers requires a trim member of corresponding size and weight. Heretofore, it required the services of two workmen to mount a trim member of this size, one to hold the trim in position on the enclosure while the other secured the trim to the enclosure. However, pursuant to the present invention, the installation of such large and heavy trim members can be accomplished by only a single workman. In this connection, the trim member 26A is provided at the-rear surface thereof, above the barrier 34A, with the spaced outwardly extending hangers or

hook members

130 and 132, provided with the depending

portions

134 and 136, respectively. Said portions are cut-away or notched at the opposing marginal edges thereof, as at 138 and 140, respectively. In addition to said hangers, the

trimmember26a is also provided with a shield or barrier 3AA having the customary openings -35 which align with lit 8 the operating members 32 of the circuit breakers, so that the latter may project therethrough for the operation thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The trim member 26A is also preferably provided with a front door or closure 28A, which overlies the barrier 34A for obtaining access to the operating members 32 of the circuit breakers. In order to secure the trim member to the enclosure, the barrier is provided with the threaded apertures 142 which cooperate with the previously described aperture 114 in the flanges of the brackets A and 1%3, as hereinafter described.

With the pan 16A depending from the upper bracket in the enclosure, as previously described, the

tabs

122 and 124 being positioned on the upper edges of the bracket arms, rearwardly of the notches therein, the trim 26A can then be conveniently lifted by a single workman and hung so that the downwardly directed portions 13 and 13d of the

hangers

136 and 132, respectively, engage behind the flanges and 112, respectively, of the upper bracket 100A, as illustrated in Fig. 12. It will be understood that in this position, the notches 138 and 14-11 will be disposed adjacent the outer surfaces of the adjacent bracket arms, as in Fig. 10, to prevent the lateral displacement of the trim member 26A. With the trim member hanging on the upper bracket in the enclosure, as described, both of the workmans hands are free to proceed with the securement of the trim member to the enclosure, since he need not support the trim member after it has been hung in the described manner. The trim member is then moved in toward the enclosure, from the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 12, to the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 11 so that the apertures 142 in the barrier 34A will align with the apertures 114 in the bracket flanges. It will be understood that the pan lugs 122 and 124 are removed from the notches 108 before the trim is hung. As the trim is moved toward the rear of the enclosure to engage the wall W, as in Figs. 10 and 11, the pan lugs slide along the bracket arms, the lugs being engaged by the

hanger portions

134 and 136 and the barrier engaging the circuit breakers, the rear surface of the pan being engaged by the springs 20 which resiliently oppose said inward movement of the pan. Suitable securing elements 144 are threaded into the companion apertures on the barrier and on the brackets 190A and 1008 to firmly secure the trim member on the enclosure. As has been previously described, and as is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10, the door or front closure 28A in the trim member 26A, when closed, overlies the barrier and apertures .142 therein and consequently will overlie the securing elements 14 With said securing elements threaded into the bracket flanges of the enclosure, it will be apparent that if the door 28A is provided with a lock, the trim member cannot be removed from the enclosure when the door 28A is locked.

With the trim member secured on the enclosure and abutting the wall W, it will be apparent that the openings 35 in the barrier or shield 34A will be aligned with the operating elements 32 of the circuit breakers 30, the springs 20 abutting the rear surface of the mounting pan will resiliently bias the latter toward the barrier so that the operating elements 32 will project through the barrier openings, the springs thereby providing the previously described plaster adjustment for the enclosure.

A modification of the mounting pan construction is illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. Pursuant to said modification, the previously described

tabs

122 and 124 are enlarged, as illustrated by the tabs 124A in Fig. 13, and said latter tabs are provided with the openings 146. Said openings are constituted by the laterally extending slots 148 to accommodate the flanges on the companion bracket arms and by the vertically extending slot portions 150 which cooperate with the bracket notches 1118. As illustrated in Fig. 15, it will be notedthat the laterally extending slot portions 143 of said slots are dimensioned asvnaea to provide clearance for the adjacent bracket flanges so that the bracket arms may be readily received within the openings in the cooperating tabs of the pan for supporting the latter in depending disposition. In addition, the pan will be prevented from slipping 01f the brackets by the engagement of the notches ms, in the upper bracket l i'ilA, with the upper end wall of the slotted portion 150, as illustrated in the full line position of the pan in Fig. 14. In all other respects, the pan illustrated in Fig. 13 will cooperate in the same manner with the enclosure brackets, as has been described in connection with the pan 16A of Fig. 7. it will also be apparent that the inadvertent reversed vertical mounting of the enclosure will not interfere with desired disposition in the pan illustrated in Fig. 13, since the brackets 100A and 1MB are identical, as previously described, and since the slot formations in the laterally extending pan tabs are also identical.

Referring now to Figs. 16 through 19 in detail, there is illustrated a modification in the provision for hanging the trim member on the enclosure prior to the securement thereof to the enclosure. In this connection, the trim member 268 is provided, adjacent the upper sides of the barrier 334 B thereof, with the rearwardly extending hook members 152. Said hangers are provided, adjacent the free ends thereof, with the hook portions 154 having the inclined surfaces 156. in order to cooperate with said hangers 152, the flanges on the brackets 1051A and 1MB, carried by the enclosure, are provided with the slots 158 laterally outwardly of the threaded apertures 114 therein.

in order to hang the trim member 2613 on the enclosure, the hangers 152 are inserted into the slotted portions 158 of the upper bracket in the enclosure, so that the hooks 154 are engaged with the slot walls, as illustrated in Fig. 17. Thereafter, upon pushing the trim member 268 toward the enclosure to abut the wall, from the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 17, to the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 18, the inclined portions 156 of said hangers 152 will ride upon the slot walls to raise the trim member so that the threaded apertures 142 in the barrier 348 will align with the cooperating threaded apertures in the bracket flanges. In this connection, it will be understood that the apertures 142 are disposed laterally inwardly of the companion hangers 152 to the same extent that the apertures 11% are disposed laterally inwardly of the slots 158, to permit said alignment thereof with the apertures in the bracket flanges. As in the previously described embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, the services of only one workman are required to hang the trim member on the enclosure, and with the trim member so supported, the workman is free to align the apertures, as described, and to insert the securing elements 144 therein, as in Fig. 19, to securely retain the trim member in position on the enclosure. it will be understood that in the present modification, the door 28B of the trim member 26B also overlies the securing elements 144, as illustrated in Fig. 19, so that When the door is locked, the trim member cannot be removed from the enclosure.

Referring now to Figs. 20, 21 and 22 in detail, there is illustrated another embodiment for hanging the trim member on the enclosure, prior to the securement thereof to the enclosure, to permit for a one-man installation thereof. In this connection, it will be noted that the trim member 26C is provided, outwardly of the barrier 34C thereof, with the upwardly directed hook 16d above the barrier and with the spaced downwardly directed hooks 162 below the barrier, all of said hooks being on the rear surface thereof. in order to install the trim member 26C, the upper hook 169 is first inserted under the flange 164 on the upper wall 49 of the enclosure. The trim 26C is then raised, so that the lower hooks 162 thereof will clear the flange 166 on the lower Wall 42 of the enclosure, and the trim member is then pushed toward the rear of the enclosure, as indicated by arrow 167 in Fig. 21. The trim member is then lowered so that the books 162 engage on the marginal edge of the bottom flange 166, as illustrated in Fig. 22. It will be noted that the upper hook 169 is so dimensioned that in said latter position, the upper free edge 168 thereof extends laterally above the free edge 17% of the upper flange 164,, as illustrated in Fig. 22, whereby to prevent the trim member from falling forwardly and outwardly of the enclosure 10. The workman now has both his hands free to secure the trim member 26C to the enclosure it}, by inserting fastening elements through cooperating apertures in the trim member and in the flanges at the front of the enclosure 10, or through cooperating apertures in the barrier member 34C and in the bracket flanges in the enclosure 10, as previously described.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for an electric device, said enclosure having a front opening and a part within said enclosure extending from the rear thereof toward said front opening, and trim means for securement to said enclosure at said front opening, said trim means having a part within the marginal edges thereof and extending toward the rear of said enclosure, said parts having releasably interengageable portions for suspending said trim means in unsecured disposition on said enclosure for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said trim means from said enclosure prior to securement thereto, said enclosure part and said trim means having cooperating apertures defined therein, respectively, which are adapted to receive a securing element for securing said trim means to said enclosure, said apertures being automatically aligned in registry upon said suspension of said trim means on said 1 enclosure, and said parts being concealed by said trim means.

2. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for electric devices, said enclosure having a front opening and bracket means within said enclosure extending from the rear thereof toward said front opening, and combined barrier and trim means for securement to said enclosure at said front opening, said combined barrier and trim means being apertured for exposing the manipulative portions of said devices, said trim means having integral rearwardly proiectiug hood means projecting rearwardly therefrom for booking onto said bracket means for suspending said trim means in unsecured disposition on said enclosure for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said trim means from said enclosure prior to securement thereto, and additional fastening means extending from the front of said trim means and therethrough for securing said trim means to the enclosure, said bracket means and said hooking means being concealed by said trim means.

3. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for an electric device, said enclosure having a front opening and bracket means extending from the rear thereof toward said front opening, and trim means for securement to said enclosure at said front opening, said trim means having rearwardly extending hook means for hooking onto said bracket means for suspending said trim means in unsecured disposition on said enclosure for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said trim means from said enclosure prior to securement thereto, said bracket means having a slotted portion in which said hooking means is engageable, said slotted portion and said trim means having cooperating apertures defined therein respectively, which are adapted to receive a securing element for securing said trim means to said enclosure, and said apertures being automatically aligned in registry upon insertion of said hooking means into said slotted portion.

4. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for electric devices, said enclosure having a front opening and bracket means within said enclosure extending from the rear thereof toward said front opening, and combined barrier and trim means for securement to said enclosure at said front opening, said combined barrier and trim means being apertured for exposing the manipulative portions of said devices, said trim means having integral rearwardly projecting hook means projecting rearwardly therefrom for hooking onto said bracket means for suspending said trim means in unsecured disposition on said enclosure for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said trim means from said enclosure prior to securement thereto, and additional fastening means extending from the front of said trim means and therethrough for securing said trim means to the enclosure, said bracket means and said hooking means being concealed by said trim means, said bracket means having a flanged portion on which said hooking means is engageable.

5. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for an electric device, said enclosure having a front opening and bracket means within said enclosure extending from the rear thereof toward said front opening, and trim means for securement to said enclosure at said front opening, said trim means having means projecting rearwardly therefrom for booking onto said bracket means for suspending said trim means in unsecured disposition on said enclosure for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said trim means from said enclosure prior to securement thereto, said bracket means and said hooking means being concealed by said trim means, said bracket means having a flanged portion on which said hooking means is engageable, said flanged portion and said trim means having cooperating apertures defined therein, respectively, which are adapted to receive a securing element for securing said trim means to said enclosure, and said apertures being automatically aligned in registry upon engagement of said hooking means on said flanged portion.

6. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for electrical devices, said enclosure having a front opening, a ponderous cover for said front opening comprising a trim member provided with a barrier which is apertured to align and expose the manipulative portions of a number of enclosed electrical devices, fastening means extending from the front of the cover and therethrough for securing said cover to the enclosure in position to close said front opening while leaving exposed said portions of the electrical devices in the enclosure, said cover having integral'supporting means spaced inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and projecting rearwardly into the enclosure, and said enclosure having means underlying and cooperating with said rearwardly projecting means to support said cover in said position prior to the secure ment of said cover to said enclosure, said cover having an imperforate continuous face at the places from which said rearwardly projecting means extend to thereby conceal both said rearwardly projecting means and said underlying and cooperating means that support the cover prior to securement thereof in said position.

7. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for electrical devices, said enclosure having a front opening, a ponderous cover for said front opening comprising atrim member provided with a'barrier which is apertured to align and expose the manipulative portions of a number of enclosed electrical devices, fastening means extending from the front of the cover and therethrough for securing said cover to the enclosure in position to close said front opening while leaving exposed said portions of the electrical devices in the enclosure, said cover having integral means spaced inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and projecting rearwardly into the enclosure, and said enclosure having fastening means underlying and cooperating with said rearwardly projecting means to support said cover in said position prior to the securement of said cover to said enclosure, said cover having an imperforate continuous face at the places from which said rearwardly projecting means extend to thereby conceal both said rearwardly projecting means and said underlying and cooperating means that support the cover prior .to securement thereof in said position, said rearwardly projecting means being rearwardly elongated and extending into supporting engagement with said underlying means when said cover is spaced substantially forward of said enclosure, and said rearwardly projecting means having sliding engagement with said underlying means to guide said cover toward said enclosure and into said position of securement.

8. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for an electrical device, said enclosure having a front opening, a ponderous cover for said front opening comprising a trim member provided with a barrier which is apertured to align and expose the manipulative portions of a number of enclosed electrical devices, fastening means extending from the front of he cover and therethrough for securing said cover to the enclosure in position to close said front opening whil leaving exposed said portions of the electrical devices in the enclosure, said cover having integral fastening means spaced inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and projecting rearwardly in the enclosure, and said enclosure having means extending from the rear wall thereof and inwardly of the side walls thereof and disposed for underlying and cooperating with said rearwardly projecting means to support said cover in said position prior to the securement. of said cover to said enclosure, said cover having an imperforate continuous face at the places from which said rearwardly projecting means extend to thereby conceal both said rearwardly projecting means and said underlying and cooperating means that support the cover prior to securement thereof in said position.

9. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for an electrical device, said enclosure havin a front opening, a ponderous cover for said front opening comprising a trim member provided with a barrier which is apertured to align and expose the manipulative portions of a number of enclosed electricai devices, fastening means extending from the front of the cover and therethrough for securing said cover to the enciosure in position to close said front opening w ile leaving exposed said portions of the electrical devices in the enclosure, said cover having integral fastening means spaced inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and projecting rearwardly into the enclosure, and said enclosure having hook means underlying and providing hooked interengagement with said rearwardlyprojecting means to support said cover in said position and to prevent inadvertent disengagement prior to the securement of said cover to said enclosure, said cover having an imperforate continuous face at the places from which said rearwardly prcjectin means extend to thereby conceal both said rearwardly projecting means and said underlying and cooperating means that support the cover prior to securement thereof in said position.

10. A panelboard construction comprisin an enclosure forelectrical devices, said enclosure having a front opening, a ponderous cover for said front opening comprising a trim member provided with a barrier which is apertured to align and expose the manipulative portions of a number of enclosed electrical devices, fastening means extending from the front of the cover and therethrough for securing said cover to the enclosure in position to close said front opening while leaving exposed said portions of the electrical devices in the enclosure, said cover having integral fastening means spaced inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and projecting rearWard-iy into the enclosure, ,and said enclosure having means underlying and cooperating with said rearwardly projecting means to sup- 13 port said cover in said position prior to the securement of said cover to said enclosure, and said underlying means having portions in laterally confining relationship With said rearwardly extending means to laterally align said cover on said enclosure, said cover having an imperforate continuous face at the places from which said rearwardly projecting means extend to thereby conceal both said rearwardly projecting means and said underlying and co operating means that support the cover prior to securement thereof in said position.

11. A panelboard construction comprising an enclosure for electrical devices, said enclosure having a front opening, a ponderous cover for said front opening comprising a trim member provided with a barrier which is apertured to align and expose the manipulative portions of a number of enclosed electrical devices, fastening means extending from the front of the cover and therethrough for securing said cover to the enclosure in position to close said front opening while leaving exposed said portions of the electrical devices in the enclosure, said cover having a pair of integral laterally spaced elongated brackets inwardly of the marginal edges thereof and projecting rearwardly into the enclosure, and said enclosure having a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending brackets underlying and cooperating with said rearwardly projecting brackets to support said cover in said position prior to the securement of said cover to said enclosure, said cover brackets having portions flanking said enclosure brackets to afford lateral alignment of the cover on the enclosure and the extremities of said brackets having interengaging offset portions limiting inadvertent movement of the cover away from the enclosure,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 522,664 Kleinsteuber July 10, 1894 851,597 La Paugh Apr. 23, 1907 946,646 Pratt Jan. 18, 1910 1,066,805 Fisher July 8, 1913 1,672,683 Knoderer June 5, 1928 2,036,044 Hammer Mar. 21, 1936 2,138,408 Rowe NOV. 29, 1938 2,167,419 I-Ieanes July 25, 1939 2,177,756 Van Valkenburg Oct. 31, 1939 2,183,872 Rowe Dec. 19, 1939 2,246,323 Schaelchlin June 17, 1941 2,261,987 Frank Nov. 11, 1941 2,325,095 Auth July 27, 1943 2,393,034 Ellis Jan. 15, 1946 2,544,761 Kilminster Mar. 13, 1951 2,599,695 Christensen June 10, 1952 2,612,283 Cole Sept. 30, 1952 2,630,477 RypinSki Mar. 3, 1953 2,681,966 Christensen June 22, 1954 2,760,123 Wills Aug. 21, 1956