Electrically insulative case including frame having plurality of possible orientations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485122-B2
Application number	US-201715799467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Oct 31, 2017
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

An electrically insulative case for an electrical device includes a housing defining an interior space. The electrically insulative case also includes a frame operatively coupleable to the housing in a plurality of orientations. The frame defines at least one opening that provides access to the electrical device. An inner sidewall of the frame extends into the interior space. The electrically insulative case further includes a restrictor coupleable to the electrical device such that the restrictor extends adjacent to the frame. The restrictor is arranged to inhibit objects from moving from an exterior of said housing into the interior space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically insulative case for an electrical device, said electrically insulative case comprising:
a housing defining an interior space, said housing arranged to receive the electrical device within the interior space;
a frame operatively coupleable to said housing in a plurality of orientations, said frame defining at least one opening that provides access to the electrical device, wherein said frame includes an inner sidewall that extends into the interior space;
a restrictor coupleable to the electrical device such that said restrictor extends from the electrical device and along a side surface of said inner sidewall of said frame, wherein said restrictor is arranged to inhibit objects from moving from an exterior of said housing into the interior space; and
a cover moveable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein said frame includes a first side and a second side, and wherein said first side includes a first engagement feature coupleable to said cover and said second side includes a second engagement feature coupleable to said cover.

2. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said frame is rotationally symmetric about a center point of said frame.

3. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said frame further includes a third side and a fourth side, wherein said third side includes a third engagement feature coupleable to said cover and said fourth side includes a fourth engagement feature coupleable to said cover.

4. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said first engagement feature, said second engagement feature, said third engagement feature, and said fourth engagement feature each comprise a sleeve defining a channel.

5. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said cover comprises a hinge pin arranged to engage any of said sleeves of said first, second, third, and fourth engagement features to couple said cover to said frame, wherein said cover is pivotable about said hinge pin when said cover is coupled to said frame.

6. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said sleeves of said first, second, third, and fourth engagement features each include protrusions arranged to engage said hinge pin.

7. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said sleeves of said first, second, third, and fourth engagement features each define a plurality of slots.

8. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said cover further comprises supports coupled to said hinge pin, said supports extending through the plurality of slots of an associated sleeve when said hinge pin is positioned in the channel defined by said associated sleeve.

9. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said cover is at least partially translucent to allow the interior space to be viewed from an exterior of said housing.

10. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said housing and said restrictor are arranged to form a labyrinth path from an exterior of said housing into the interior space.

11. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said restrictor comprises a base, a collar, and a step extending between said base and said collar.

12. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said collar of said restrictor is arranged to extend along said inner sidewall of said frame.

13. The electrically insulative case in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one seal extending between said frame and said housing.

14. An electrical system comprising:
an electrical device; and
an electrically insulative case for the electrical device, said electrically insulative case comprising:
a housing defining an interior space, said housing arranged to receive the electrical device within the interior space;
a frame operatively coupleable to said housing in a plurality of orientations, said frame defining at least one opening that provides access to the electrical device, wherein said frame includes an inner sidewall that extends into the interior space;
a restrictor coupleable to said electrical device such that said restrictor extends from said electrical device and along a side surface of said inner sidewall of said frame, wherein said restrictor is arranged to inhibit objects from moving from an exterior of said housing into the interior space; and
a cover moveable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein said frame includes a first side and a second side, and wherein said first side includes a first engagement feature coupleable to said cover and said second side includes a second engagement feature coupleable to said cover.

15. The electrical system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said frame further includes a third side and a fourth side, wherein said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side each include a sleeve arranged to engage said cover.

16. The electrical system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said cover comprises a hinge pin arranged to engage any of said sleeves of said first, second, third, and fourth sides to couple said cover to said frame, wherein said cover is pivotable about said hinge pin when said cover is coupled to said frame.

17. The electrical system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said housing and said restrictor are arranged to form a labyrinth path from an exterior of said housing into the interior space.

18. A method of manufacturing an electrical system including an electrical device and an electrically insulative case, said method comprising:
positioning the electrical device within an interior space of a housing of the electrically insulative case;
positioning a frame on the housing such that an inner sidewall of the frame extends into the interior space, the frame defining at least one opening to provide access to the electrical device, wherein the frame is operatively coupleable to the housing in a plurality of orientations;
coupling the frame to the housing in an orientation that accommodates the electrical device, wherein the at least one opening is aligned with the electrical device;
coupling a restrictor to the electrical device, wherein the restrictor extends from the electrical device and along a side surface of the inner sidewall of the frame and inhibits objects from moving form an exterior of the housing into the interior space; and
coupling a cover to a first engagement feature of the frame and to a second engagement feature of the frame, the cover being moveable between an opened position and a closed position.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18 , wherein coupling a cover to the frame comprises engaging a hinge pin on the cover with a sleeve on the frame that defines a channel.

20. The method in accordance with claim 18 , further comprising positioning the restrictor adjacent the housing such that the restrictor forms a labyrinth path from an exterior of the housing into the interior space.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the restrictor includes a base, a collar, and a step, and wherein the method further comprises positioning the restrictor adjacent the frame such that the collar of the restrictor extends along the inner sidewall of the frame.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Rzepecki Ryszard
• Babik Tomasz Jan
• Honkisz Piotr Pawel
• Mrotek Rafal Marek

Classifications

• H02B1/38

  Hinged covers or doors · CPC title

• H01H19/14

  Operating parts, e.g. turn knob · CPC title

• H02B1/14

  Shutters or guards for preventing access to contacts (shielding of isolating-contacts in withdrawable switchgear H02B11/24) · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · CPC title