Fastening devices for explosion-proof enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100869-B2
Application number	US-201514830149-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2012
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A system for fastening a cover to a body of an explosion-proof enclosure using a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device can include a first load distributing member disposed on a body flange of a body of the explosion-proof enclosure, and a second load distributing member disposed on a cover flange of a cover of the explosion-proof enclosure. A fastening device can also include a securing member having a top end disposed on the first load distributing member and a bottom end disposed on the second load distributing member. A fastening device can further include a cam rotatably coupled to and positioned atop the first load distributing member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical enclosure, comprising:
a first enclosure portion comprising a flange;
a second enclosure portion comprising an opposing flange; and
a plurality of fastening devices, wherein each fastening device of the plurality of fastening devices comprises:
a bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a back side, wherein the top side is movably coupled to a first outside portion of the flange of the first enclosure portion of the electrical enclosure, and wherein the bottom side is movably coupled to a second outside portion of the opposing flange of the second enclosure portion of the electrical enclosure, wherein the top side, the bottom side, and the back side each have an inner surface and an outer surface;
a fastener receiver positioned between the flange and the opposing flange and coupled to the opposing flange, wherein the fastener receiver is positioned adjacent to the inner surfaces of the bracket;
a first fastener positioned on a third outside portion of the back side of the bracket and hingedly coupled to the fastener receiver, wherein the first fastener traverses a first aperture in the bracket;
a securing device that movably abuts against the back side of the bracket; and
a cam mounted on the first enclosure portion and hingedly coupled to the securing device, wherein rotation of the cam moves the securing device relative to the back side of the bracket,
wherein the bracket, through the first fastener and the fastener receiver, remains coupled to the second enclosure portion when the securing device does not abut against the back side of the bracket.

2. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a lever, wherein the lever has a fully-closed position, wherein the cam forces the securing device to push the bracket inward and secure the bracket against the electrical enclosure when the lever is in the fully-closed position.

3. The electrical enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the electrical enclosure is an explosion-proof enclosure.

4. The electrical enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the bracket applies a force to the flange and the opposing flange of the explosion-proof enclosure to create a flame path therebetween.

5. The electrical enclosure of claim 2 , further comprising:
an engaging member disposed in a second aperture that traverses the lever, wherein the engaging member secures the lever in the fully-closed position.

6. The electrical enclosure of claim 5 , wherein the engaging member releases the lever from the fully-closed position using a tool that is placed in the second aperture in the lever.

7. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a link disposed within the cam and coupled to the securing device.

8. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wear plate removably coupled between the cam and a base of a lever.

9. The electrical enclosure of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second fastener movably coupled to the wear plate, wherein the second fastener adjusts a position of the wear plate relative to the cam.

10. The electrical enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the position of the wear plate determines an amount of force that the securing device applies to the bracket when the lever is in a fully-closed position.

11. The electrical enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the second fastener is positioned substantially parallel with the lever when the lever is in a fully-closed position.

12. The electrical enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the second fastener is positioned substantially perpendicular to the lever when the lever is in a fully-closed position.

13. The electrical enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the second fastener is adjusted using a tool.

14. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the fastener receiver is fixedly coupled to the opposing flange using a second fastener.

15. The electrical enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the second fastener is accessible through a second aperture in the flange.

16. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the flange has a second aperture disposed therein.

17. The electrical enclosure of claim 16 , further comprising:
an alignment pin disposed in the second aperture in the flange and in a third aperture in the opposing flange, wherein the alignment pin aligns the flange and the opposing flange.

18. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of protrusions disposed on the outer surfaces surface of the bracket, wherein the plurality of protrusions structurally reinforces the bracket.

19. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises at least one rib disposed on the inner surfaces surface of the bracket, wherein the at least one rib structurally reinforces the bracket.

20. A system for fastening a cover to a body of an electrical enclosure using a plurality of fastening devices, wherein each fastening device of the plurality of fastening devices comprises:
a bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a back side, wherein the top side is configured to be movably coupled to a first outside portion of a flange of the electrical enclosure, and wherein the bottom side is configured to be movably coupled to a second outside portion of an opposing flange of the electrical enclosure, wherein the top side, the bottom side, and the back side each have an inner surface;
a fastener receiver positioned between the flange and the opposing flange and configured to be coupled to the flange, wherein the fastener receiver is positioned adjacent to the inner surfaces of the bracket;
a first fastener positioned on a third outside portion of the back side of the bracket and hingedly coupled to the fastener receiver, wherein the first fastener traverses an aperture in the bracket;
a securing device that movably abuts against the back side of the bracket; and
a cam configured to be mounted on the electrical enclosure and that is hingedly coupled to the securing device, wherein rotation of the cam moves the securing device relative to the back side of the bracket,
wherein the bracket, through the first fastener and the fastener receiver, is configured to remain coupled to the electrical enclosure when the securing device does not abut against the back side of the bracket.

Assignees

• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Manahan Joseph Michael

Classifications

• H02B1/28

  dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof · CPC title

• Y10T292/225

  Cam-operating means · CPC title

• F16J13/06

  attached only by clamps along the circumference · CPC title

• E05B65/001 Primary

  for gas- or watertight wings · CPC title

• F16B39/28 Primary

  by special members on, or shape of, the nut or bolt (F16B39/26 takes precedence; locknuts F16B39/12) · CPC title