Electrical power distribution system including pressure release mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10283287-B2
Application number	US-201715685262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

An electrical power distribution system includes at least one circuit protection device and a housing defining an interior space to receive the at least one circuit protection device. The housing includes a door positionable between an opened position in which the door allows access to the interior space and a closed position in which the door inhibits access to the interior space. The housing also includes a hinge pivotably coupling the door to the case and a pressure release mechanism coupled to the door and the hinge. The pressure release mechanism includes a tongue positionable between a first position and a second position and a biasing member arranged to bias the door towards the case when the door is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical power distribution system comprising:
at least one circuit protection device arranged to interrupt current flowing through a circuit; and
a housing defining an interior space and arranged to receive said at least one circuit protection device within the interior space, said housing comprising:
a case defining an opening providing access into the interior space;
a door positionable between an opened position in which said door allows access to the interior space and a closed position in which said door covers the opening and inhibits access to the interior space;
a hinge pivotably coupling said door to said case; and
a pressure release mechanism coupled to said case and said hinge, wherein said pressure release mechanism extends along at least one side of said door and is coupled to said door adjacent a first corner and a second corner of said door when said door is in the closed position, said pressure release mechanism comprising:
a tongue positionable between a first position and a second position, wherein said tongue is coupled to said door and is arranged to allow said door to move relative to said case while said door is in the closed position;
a biasing member arranged to bias said door towards said case when said door is in the closed position;
a hinge pin coupled to said pressure release mechanism adjacent said first corner; and
a handle assembly arranged to engage said pressure release mechanism adjacent said second corner when said door is in the closed position.

2. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said biasing member is coupled to said tongue and arranged to bias said tongue towards the first position.

3. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said pressure release mechanism comprises a brace coupled to said case and extending at least partially along a perimeter of said door when said door is in the closed position.

4. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said tongue extends from and is movably coupled to said brace.

5. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said pressure release mechanism further comprises a stop arranged to limit movement of said tongue.

6. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said biasing member is coupled to said tongue and extends between said brace and said stop.

7. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said door is spaced a first distance from said case when said tongue is in the first position and said door is in the closed position, wherein said door is spaced a second distance from said case when said tongue is in the second position and said door is in the closed position, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

8. The electrical power distribution system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said pressure release mechanism is a first pressure release mechanism comprising a first brace arranged to extend along a first side of said door, said housing further comprising a second pressure release mechanism comprising a second brace arranged to extend along a second side of said door opposite said first brace.

9. A pressure release mechanism for an electrical power distribution system, said pressure release mechanism including:
a brace arranged to couple to a case and a door of the electrical power distribution system, wherein the door is positionable between an opened position in which the door allows access to an interior space of the case through an opening defined by the case and a closed position in which the door covers the opening and inhibits access to the interior space, and wherein the opening provides access to at least one circuit protection device positioned within the interior space of the case;
a tongue extending through an opening defined in said brace and movably coupled to said brace, wherein said tongue is positionable between a first position and a second position, wherein said tongue is coupled to the door and is arranged to allow the door to move relative to the case while the door is in the closed position; and
a biasing member in contact with said brace and a stop, said biasing member arranged to bias said tongue towards the first position.

10. The pressure release mechanism in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the stop is arranged to limit movement of said tongue.

11. The pressure release mechanism in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said biasing member extends between said brace and said stop.

12. The pressure release mechanism in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said biasing member is coupled to said tongue on a first side of said brace, and wherein said tongue is coupled to the door on a second side of said brace opposite said biasing member.

13. The pressure release mechanism in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said tongue is a first tongue extending from and movably coupled to said brace adjacent a first end, said pressure release mechanism further comprising a second tongue extending from and movably coupled to said brace adjacent a second end.

14. A method of assembling an electrical power distribution system, said method comprising:
positioning a circuit protection device within an interior space of a housing including a case and a door, wherein the door is positionable between an opened position in which the door allows access to the interior space through an opening defined by the case and a closed position in which the door covers the opening and inhibits access to the interior space;
coupling a pressure release mechanism to the case so that the pressure release mechanism extends along at least one side of the door and is coupled to the door adjacent a first corner and a second corner of the door when the door is in the closed position, the pressure release mechanism including a tongue positionable between a first position and a second position;
coupling a hinge to the door and the case such that the door is arranged to pivot between the opened position and the closed position;
coupling the hinge to the tongue, wherein the tongue is arranged to allow the door to move relative to the case while the door is in the closed position;
coupling a hinge pin to the pressure release mechanism adjacent the first corner; and
arranging a handle assembly to engage the pressure release mechanism adjacent the second corner when the door is in the closed position.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising providing a biasing member arranged to bias the tongue of the pressure release mechanism towards the first position.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising coupling a brace of the pressure release mechanism to the case such that the brace extends at least partially along a perimeter of the door when the door is in the closed position.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein coupling the hinge to the tongue comprises extending the tongue through an opening defined by the brace such that the door and the tongue are movable relative to the brace while the door is in the closed position.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising coupling a stop to the tongue.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Sztuczka Piotr

Classifications

• H02B1/38 Primary

  Hinged covers or doors · CPC title

• H01H9/047 Primary

  provided with venting means · CPC title

• H05K5/0208

  Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof · CPC title

• H05K5/0247

  Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring · CPC title

• H01H71/50

  Manual reset mechanisms {which may be also used for manual release} · CPC title