WO2017077273A1 - Agencement permettant de combiner mécaniquement et électriquement des enveloppes d'appareillage de commutation - Google Patents

Agencement permettant de combiner mécaniquement et électriquement des enveloppes d'appareillage de commutation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2017077273A1
WO2017077273A1 PCT/GB2016/053363 GB2016053363W WO2017077273A1 WO 2017077273 A1 WO2017077273 A1 WO 2017077273A1 GB 2016053363 W GB2016053363 W GB 2016053363W WO 2017077273 A1 WO2017077273 A1 WO 2017077273A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
unit according
electrical switchgear
electrical
switchgear unit
cam element
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2016/053363
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Adrian Davies
Original Assignee
Lucy Electric (Ems) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lucy Electric (Ems) Limited filed Critical Lucy Electric (Ems) Limited
Publication of WO2017077273A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017077273A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B1/00—Frameworks, boards, panels, desks, casings; Details of substations or switching arrangements
    • H02B1/26—Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
    • H02B1/30—Cabinet-type casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
    • H02B1/308—Mounting of cabinets together
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B13/00—Arrangement of switchgear in which switches are enclosed in, or structurally associated with, a casing, e.g. cubicle
    • H02B13/005—Electrical connection between switchgear cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electrical switchgear, especially to modular switchgear units, also known as extensible units.
  • electrical switchgear The purpose of electrical switchgear is to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment by providing disconnect switches, fuses, circuit breakers and the like in order to regulate the provision of electrical power to that equipment.
  • the electrical power must therefore be routed through the switchgear in order to be controlled. This has been a longstanding technical problem, addressed originally in GB020,069 and subsequently.
  • switches switches, fuses, circuit breakers etc.
  • the specific configuration of switches, fuses, circuit breakers etc. will of course depend on the installation that is being controlled, and is thus often a bespoke arrangement. Whilst some configurations will be more common than others, in general the providers of switchgear therefore need to provide modular units that can be assembled together to provide the necessary functionality. This requires that the electrical power can be transferred between the modules. As they will usually be assembled in the field, this connection must be easy to make using only routine tools.
  • a compressible connector may be, but not exclusively employed.
  • This comprises a generally cylindrical device with an insulating exterior and a conductive centre. It is placed between a pair of opposing cup-shaped receptacles, one on each module, and the two modules are bolted together to clamp the connector between the receptacles. Contact is made between a conductor in the base of each cup and with the central conductor of the connector, thus linking the two modules electrically.
  • the present invention therefore provides an electrical switchgear unit comprising an enclosure within which a switchgear is contained, having an array of electrical interconnectors arranged on an external face of the enclosure and including a locking mechanism for securing the unit to an adjacent unit, the locking mechanism comprising at least one protrusion and a co-operating cam element able to engage with the at least one protrusion of the unit and a corresponding protrusion of the adjacent unit, the cam element being moveable to draw the two protrusions together.
  • the electrical switchgear modules can be drawn together without needing to access the interior of the casing and thus disturb the electrical insulation arrangements. Furthermore, such an arrangement may be more aesthetically pleasing.
  • the at least one protrusion preferably extends vertically. This allows the cam element to rest on or be supported under the protrusion.
  • the at least one protrusion is preferably substantially cylindrical, as this then eases the design of the cam element.
  • a device defining a slot in which the cylindrical protrusion can extend is straightforward and sufficient.
  • the at least one protrusion can then also be threaded to accept a nut, thereby retaining the cam element in place.
  • the external face is ideally vertical, allowing the electrical switchgear modules to be located next to each other.
  • the array will usually comprise a total of three electrical interconnectors. This allows them to transmit three-phase AC power. More or fewer interconnectors may be provided as required. A multiple of three may be preferred.
  • the electrical interconnectors in the array can be aligned in a row, as this will ease the operation of the cam.
  • a pair of locking mechanisms is preferably provided, one on either side of the row.
  • the row is conveniently arranged horizontally.
  • a bearing surface can be provided at one end of the row; it is then preferred that the locking mechanism further comprises a second cam element acting against the bearing surface to urge the said cam element and thereby draw the two protrusions together.
  • the second cam element is ideally a rotatable element; a removable lever can be provided, attachable to the second cam element thereby to effect its rotation.
  • the second cam element can comprise a latch to retain it in at least an actuated state.
  • the latch (or other latches) can also retain it in one or more other states, such as a disconnected state.
  • the latch can comprise a latching element that is biased to move into a latched state, such as by gravity.
  • the second cam element may further comprise a latch guard, which can optionally retain the second cam in one or more states.
  • the at least one protrusion ideally extends from a horizontally-extending shelf projecting from the external face.
  • the shelf is preferably integral with the bearing surface (where this is present), as this will improve the overall rigidity of the structure.
  • the shelf can comprises at least one tongue projecting beyond a surrounding part of the shelf, the protrusion being mounted on the tongue.
  • these can have respective arrays of electrical interconnectors on adjacent external faces and respective locking mechanisms, located on the external faces so that the tongues interdigitate.
  • Figure 1 is a view of a single switchgear unit, from above;
  • Figure 2 shows a pair of linked units, from above;
  • Figure 3 shows the unit of figure 1 prior to connection, from the side;
  • Figure 4 shows the apparatus of figure 3 from the side, in a connected state;
  • Figure 5 shows the apparatus of figure 3 in a perspective view;
  • Figure 6 shows the latch arrangement of figure 5 in more detail.
  • FIG. 1 shows a single electrical switchgear unit 10 according to the present invention.
  • the switchgear (not shown) is located within an external casing or housing 12 and can be of any preferred nature or configuration as is required for the application in question. Generally, this will comprise switching mechanisms, fuses, circuit breakers and the like in order to control and regulate a low- or medium-voltage electrical supply to a device, i.e. up to about 36kV.
  • the unit 10 does of course need to receive the incoming electrical power supply in order to be able to regulate it, so along one vertical side face of the unit 10 there is an array 14 of three electrical contacts 16, 18, 20, also visible in figures 3 and 5. Three contacts are provided in order to transmit each of the three phases of a medium-voltage AC supply, but more or fewer contacts could be provided if the nature of the supply called for this.
  • Each contact comprises a recessed cup portion into which projects a conductive electrical contact element; the supply is connected to the unit 10 by interposing a compressible bridging element between each of these cup portions and a corresponding facing cup portion and urging the cup portions together. This brings the respective electrical contact elements of each of the opposing cup pairs into contact with a conductor running through the centre of the bridging element, thus connecting the two contacts and supplying power to the unit 10.
  • a second array 22 of electrical contacts 24, 26, 28 is provided on the opposite vertical side face of the unit 10, in order to allow power to be passed through the unit 10 to an adjacent unit.
  • the adjacent unit will have a corresponding array on its opposing side face and can thus be connected in the same manner. This allows a chain of switchgear units to be created, all working from the same supply, to create the necessary configuration.
  • Each unit may pass the electrical power through uninterrupted, thus allowing several units to feed power from the same ultimate supply to different consumers.
  • one or more units may regulate the supply by providing a switching function, over-current protection, over- voltage protection or the like before passing it to the adjacent unit.
  • Figure 2 shows two units next to each other, being the above-described unit 10 and a second unit 10'.
  • the second unit 10' is externally compatible with the first unit 10 in that its second array 22' faces the first array 14 of the first unit 10 and is at the same height, has the same spacing (etc) as the first array 14.
  • the two units can be connected by interposing a set of compressible bridging elements, one between each pair of facing cup portions, and drawing the two units together.
  • the present invention provides a locking mechanism which includes a shelf 30 above the array 14 from which a plurality of protrusions 32, 34, 36 extend in an upward direction.
  • Each protrusion 32, 34, 36 is located at a locally deeper part of the shelf 30, or (expressed alternatively) the shelf has a locally shallower section between each pair of protrusions, so that the shelf has a castellated aspect with the protrusions extending from the deeper shelf sections.
  • the protrusions are also arranged in a straight line pattern, which simplifies the remaining parts of the locking mechanism but which is not strictly necessary. As illustrated, three protrusions are shown but more or fewer could be employed as desired.
  • the second array 22 has a corresponding shelf 38 above it, positioned at substantially the same level as the first shelf 30. It has a complementary castellated aspect, with deeper shelf sections that are aligned with the shallower sections of the first shelf 30. Similar protrusions 40, 42, 44 are provided on this shelf, again located on the deeper shelf sections.
  • the complementary nature of the two shelves mean that when like units are brought together, the deeper shelf sections of the opposing shelves interdigitate allowing the two rows of protrusions to be located close to each other whilst also providing good mechanical support to the protrusions.
  • a cam element 46 can then be fitted.
  • This comprises a generally flat plate in which oblique slots have been formed and into which the protrusions of both units 10, 10' project.
  • the slots are in alternating pairs, with one set accepting the protrusions of the first unit 10 and the other accepting the protrusions of the second unit 10'.
  • the two sets of slots are angled in opposite senses, so that drawing the cam element linearly in the direction of the sets of protrusions will draw each set of protrusions in the opposite direction.
  • a lever 48 is attachable to second cam element 50 so as to draw the (first) cam element 46 in the direction apt to draw the two units 10, 10' together.
  • the two units can be urged together thus compressing the bridging elements and connecting the two units 10, 10' electrically as well as physically. No access to the interior of the units 10, 10' is needed and thus the units can be connected easily in the field.
  • the protrusions are cylindrical in profile, thus easing the cam action, and are externally threaded. This allows the units 10, 10' to be locked together in their final position by attaching a nut to the protrusions and tightening this against the cam element in order to fix it in place. As the nuts are located in the gap between the units, they can be accessed from above the units easily using a socket driver and extension bars (if necessary), standard tools that are widely available.
  • the second cam element 50 will now be described, with particular reference to figures 3, 4, and 6.
  • This comprises a rotary cam element 52 that bears against a vertical cam surface 54.
  • the cam surface is formed integrally with the adjacent shelves 30, 38, thus giving it the necessary rigidity and strength.
  • the rotary cam element 52 is rotatably fixed to a crossmember 56 that bridges the upper and lower first cam elements 46; as the rotary cam element 52 is operated through drawing the lever 48, its cam surface 58 bears on the bearing surface 54 and forces the crossmember 56 and hence the upper and lower first cam elements 46 away from the bearing surface 54.
  • the sets of slots of the first cam elements 46 are therefore angled so that this direction of movement draws the units 10, 10' together, so this action connects the units as intended.
  • a latch is provided for the rotary cam element 52, in the form of a floating pin 60. This moves in a latch slot 62 formed in the rotary cam element 52 and is held in place laterally using washers, retaining rings, or the like in a generally known manner. It is free to move under gravity and will thus move to the instantaneously lowest point of the latch slot 62 unless manually raised.
  • the latch slot 62 is substantially a circular arc shape centred on the rotational centre of the rotary cam element 52 but with L-shaped drop points 64, 66 at either end, each positioned to be at the lowest point when the rotary cam element 52 is at one or other extremity of its intended range, i.e. either fully open or fully locked.
  • a latch guard 68 is provided, to prevent the floating pin 60 from being lifted out of a drop point.
  • lever 48 is removable from the remainder of the second cam 50, as once installed it is likely that the units 10, 10' will be left in place for some time. Removal of the lever means that it does not intrude into workspaces and further discourages accidental operation of the second cam 50. Switchgear units often have loose levers for operating one or more controls on the front panel of the switchgear, and the removable lever for the second cam 50 could be the same lever.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Patch Boards (AREA)

Abstract

Selon la présente invention, des unités d'appareillage de commutation électrique sous enveloppe adjacentes peuvent être connectées par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau d'interconnecteurs électriques agencés sur une face externe de l'enveloppe et comprenant un mécanisme de verrouillage permettant de fixer l'unité à une unité adjacente, le mécanisme de verrouillage comprenant au moins une saillie et un élément de came coopérant pouvant venir en prise avec l'au moins une saillie de l'unité et une saillie correspondante de l'unité adjacente, l'élément de came étant mobile pour rapprocher les deux saillies l'une de l'autre. De cette manière, les modules d'appareillage de commutation électrique peuvent être réunis sans avoir besoin d'accéder à l'intérieur du boîtier et de perturber ainsi les agencements d'isolation électrique.
PCT/GB2016/053363 2015-11-02 2016-10-31 Agencement permettant de combiner mécaniquement et électriquement des enveloppes d'appareillage de commutation WO2017077273A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1519356.8A GB2543854B (en) 2015-11-02 2015-11-02 Electrical switchgear
GB1519356.8 2015-11-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017077273A1 true WO2017077273A1 (fr) 2017-05-11

Family

ID=55130561

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2016/053363 WO2017077273A1 (fr) 2015-11-02 2016-10-31 Agencement permettant de combiner mécaniquement et électriquement des enveloppes d'appareillage de commutation

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2543854B (fr)
WO (1) WO2017077273A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107069460A (zh) * 2017-05-16 2017-08-18 陈信发 一种断路器管理方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1984004632A1 (fr) * 1983-05-09 1984-11-22 Convergent Technologies Inc Enceinte modulaire pour systeme d'ordinateur
JPH05207616A (ja) * 1992-01-27 1993-08-13 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 盤連結装置
WO2011157550A2 (fr) * 2010-06-18 2011-12-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif de connexion et ensemble tableau de distribution
EP2658053A1 (fr) * 2012-04-27 2013-10-30 Schneider Electric Industries SAS Dispositif d'accouplement d'au moins deux cellules moyenne tension et tableau électrique comportant au moins deux cellules accouplés au moyen d'un tel dispositif

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1984004632A1 (fr) * 1983-05-09 1984-11-22 Convergent Technologies Inc Enceinte modulaire pour systeme d'ordinateur
JPH05207616A (ja) * 1992-01-27 1993-08-13 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 盤連結装置
WO2011157550A2 (fr) * 2010-06-18 2011-12-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif de connexion et ensemble tableau de distribution
EP2658053A1 (fr) * 2012-04-27 2013-10-30 Schneider Electric Industries SAS Dispositif d'accouplement d'au moins deux cellules moyenne tension et tableau électrique comportant au moins deux cellules accouplés au moyen d'un tel dispositif

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107069460A (zh) * 2017-05-16 2017-08-18 陈信发 一种断路器管理方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2543854A (en) 2017-05-03
GB201519356D0 (en) 2015-12-16
GB2543854B (en) 2021-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
KR101286812B1 (ko) 스위치 기어
US9472369B2 (en) Retractable connector for a single vertical main bus stack panel board motor starter
US8134828B2 (en) Configurable deadfront fusible panelboard
KR101024727B1 (ko) 산업용 분전반용 분기 접속자 키트 및 이를 구비하는 산업용 분전반
KR100984143B1 (ko) 다중도체 접속장치 및 이를 이용한 배·분전반
KR101964915B1 (ko) 스위칭 디바이스 및 스위칭 디바이스 어레인지먼트
CN102844947A (zh) 具有并联馈电线分布的配电板
US9124077B2 (en) Meter socket and load center combination apparatus, electrical distribution systems, and methods of assembly
EP3163695B1 (fr) Barre omnibus de distribution verticale fixe
US10601204B2 (en) Electrical unit for a motor control center with ingress protection
WO2017077273A1 (fr) Agencement permettant de combiner mécaniquement et électriquement des enveloppes d'appareillage de commutation
CA2911355C (fr) Dispositif de commutation et ensemble adaptateur connexe
KR101236917B1 (ko) 조립식 컴팩트형 표준 분전반
US9263860B2 (en) Power distribution system, and switchgear assembly, and mounting member therefor
KR101885709B1 (ko) 전원 분배장치
US10297985B2 (en) Modular electrical devices and methods for assembling and mounting the same
EP3627640B1 (fr) Disjoncteur débrochable
KR101029293B1 (ko) 착탈식 멀티 어댑터 조립체를 이용한 배전반
CN213401878U (zh) 一种中置柜结构
US20230066713A1 (en) Assembly for facilitating electrical connection between a circuit breaker and cables inside a panelboard
WO2016171706A1 (fr) Sous-système coupe-circuit, unité coupe-circuit, centre de commande de moteur et procédé de fabrication d'une unité coupe-circuit
KR20220152685A (ko) 전기 접속 커넥터
GB2498019A (en) Electrical distribution board
WO2012156926A2 (fr) Dispositif de distribution d'électricité pour systèmes électriques domestiques ou industriels
JPH0145801B2 (fr)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 16788776

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 16788776

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1