Enclosure arrangements; components; and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10177548-B2
Application number	US-201715429697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

Aspects and techniques of the present disclosure relate to enclosures, such as, electrical enclosures, for example, explosion-proof enclosures, and including advantageous features and methods usable with such enclosures. Disclosed features and techniques relate to: an enclosure fastening device; a visual indicator; an enclosure handling assist arrangement; a control handle; and a reset controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure arrangement comprising:
(a) an enclosure having a cover and a body, the cover having a cover perimeter flange and the body having a body perimeter flange, wherein the cover perimeter flange and the body perimeter flange engage along a joint when the cover and body are in a closed relationship; and
(b) a clamp arrangement configured to secure the cover perimeter flange and the body perimeter flange together, the clamp arrangement comprising at least:
(i) a first clamp member including a jaw flange, the first clamp member being moveable between an engaged position and a retracted position;
(a) the first clamp member, when in the engaged position, being mounted on a first one of the cover and body with the jaw flange extending over a portion of a second one of the cover and body at a location opposite the joint between the cover perimeter flange and the body perimeter flange to apply closing pressure; and
(b) the first clamp member, when in the retracted position, remaining secured to the first one of the cover and body in a manner that does not prevent the cover from opening relative to the body.

2. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the jaw flange extends over a portion of the second one of the cover and body at a location directly opposite the joint between the cover and body perimeter flanges.

3. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the enclosure is an electrical enclosure that encloses operating electrical equipment.

4. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the enclosure is an explosion-proof enclosure.

5. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the first clamp member is an opposing jaw clamp member.

6. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the first clamp member is a fixed jaw clamp member.

7. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the first clamp member is linearly moveable between the engaged position and the retracted position.

8. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) a first rotatable driver arrangement mounted on the first clamp member and configured, upon rotation, to linearly bias the first clamp member between the engaged and retracted positions.

9. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the first rotatable driver arrangement comprises:
(a) an actuator mounted adjacent an outer surface of the first clamp member; and
(b) an interference member positioned in engagement with the actuator, the interference member being located adjacent an inner surface of the first clamp member such that as the first rotatable driver arrangement is retracted, interference between the interference member and the inner surface of the first clamp member causes the first clamp member to move.

10. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein:
(a) the first clamp member includes a first, cover engaging, jaw, an opposite second jaw, and a center portion positioned between the first and second jaws.

11. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein:
(a) the first, cover engaging, jaw has an edge remote from the center portion of the clamp member, the first, cover engaging, jaw having a tapered flange engaging surface that tapers away from the second jaw in extension toward the edge of the first, cover engaging, jaw; and
(b) the first, cover engaging, jaw being configured to ride along and engage a first associated tapered portion of the cover perimeter flange when the first clamp member is moved from the retracted position to the engaged position.

12. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , further including:
(a) a guide system including a first guide arrangement, the first guide arrangement being associated with the first clamp member, the guide system comprising:
(i) first and second guide members mounted on the body and upon which the first clamp member moves between the retracted and engaged positions; and
(ii) an end retraction stop arrangement that prevents the first clamp member from separating from the body of the enclosure when in the retracted position.

13. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein:
(a) the first clamp member is slidably mounted on the first and second guide members such that as the first clamp member moves along the first and second guide members, toward and away from the joint, the first clamp member does not rotate.

14. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein:
(a) each one of the first and second guide members extends through the second jaw, and is mounted to the body of the enclosure.

15. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 10 , further comprising:
(a) a mounting boss integrally formed with the second jaw of the clamp member, the mounting boss being shaped with a driver receiver therein that receives the first rotatable driver arrangement when in the engaged position.

16. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 8 , further comprising:
(a) a first actuator member mounted on the body of the enclosure;
(i) the first actuator member having an extension on which the first rotatable driver arrangement is mounted such that the first rotatable driver arrangement moves along the first actuator member to move the first clamp member between the retracted and engaged positions.

17. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein:
(a) an associated tapered portion of the cover perimeter flange is configured such that, when in the engaged position, the first, cover engaging, jaw does not entirely cover the associated tapered portion of the cover perimeter flange.

18. The enclosure arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the clamp arrangement comprises at least the first clamp member and a second clamp member, each of which is separately moveable between engaged and retracted positions.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Ledgerwood Adam Douglas
• Tuper Terry Lee
• Decarr Graig Edmund
• Manahan Joseph M
• Scarlata Andrew Francis

Classifications

• H02G3/088 Primary

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/081

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• H02G3/10

  for surface mounting on a wall · CPC title

• H02B1/46

  Boxes; Parts thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title