Fastening devices for explosion-proof enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569938-B2
Application number	US-201615164614-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2016
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

An enclosure can include a top enclosure portion having a top flange and a first top engagement feature. The enclosure can also include a bottom enclosure portion mechanically coupled to the top enclosure portion, where the bottom enclosure portion has a bottom flange that mechanically couples to the top flange and a first bottom engagement feature that mechanically couples to the first top engagement feature. The enclosure can further include a first fastening device mechanically and movably coupled to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature. The first fastening device, in an engaged position, can maintain a flame path between the top flange and the bottom flange. The first fastening device, in a disengaged position, can fail to maintain a flame path between the top flange and the bottom flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure comprising:
an enclosure cover comprising a central portion, a cover flange, and a plurality of first fastening devices disposed along an outer perimeter of the central portion, wherein each first fastening device of the plurality of first fastening devices comprises a first base and a first extension that extends from a first side of the first base at a distal end of the first base, wherein the cover flange comprises at least one beveled edge; and
an enclosure body mechanically coupled to the enclosure cover, wherein the enclosure body comprises at least one side wall, a body flange disposed at a distal end of the at least one side wall, and a plurality of second fastening devices disposed along the body flange, wherein the body flange mechanically abuts against the cover flange, wherein each second fastening device comprises a second base and a second extension that extends from a second side of the second base at a distal end of the second base, wherein the second extension of each second fastening device of the plurality of second fastening devices couples to the first extension of each first fastening device of the plurality of fastening devices, wherein the body flange comprises at least one complementary beveled edge,
wherein the cover flange and the body flange form a flame path that is properly set when the plurality of first fastening devices and the plurality of second fastening devices are coupled to each other, wherein at least a portion of the flame path is disposed between the beveled edge and the complementary beveled edge, wherein the flame path provides an uninterrupted path from within a cavity formed by the enclosure cover and the enclosure body toward an ambient environment outside of the cavity, along which one or more gases from within the cavity cool as the one or more gases travel from within the cavity along the flame path toward the ambient environment outside of the cavity, and
wherein the enclosure cover and the enclosure body, when coupled to each other using the plurality of first fastening devices and the plurality of second fastening devices, contain an explosion that originates within the cavity.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one complementary beveled edge is disposed within a bottom surface of the central portion of the enclosure cover.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the enclosure cover forms a circle.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the body flange forms the circle when viewed from above looking into the cavity of the enclosure body.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first base and the first extension of each first fastening device are planar with the central portion of the enclosure cover.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , where the second base and the second extension of each second fastening device are orthogonal relative to the at least one side wall of the enclosure body.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first base and the first extension of each first fastening device are orthogonal relative to the central portion of the enclosure cover.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 , where the second base and the second extension of each second fastening device are planar with the at least one side wall of the enclosure body.

9. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first fastening devices engage the plurality of second fastening devices by rotating the enclosure cover in a first direction relative to the enclosure body from a disengaged position to an engaged position.

10. The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the first direction corresponds to the first side of the first base of each first fastening device.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the first extension of each of the plurality of first fastening devices engage the second extension of each of the plurality of second fastening devices as the enclosure cover and the enclosure body move toward the engaged position.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein each first extension and each second extension create an interference with each other, wherein the interference draws the enclosure cover and the enclosure body toward each other.

13. The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first fastening devices disengage from the plurality of second fastening devices by rotating the enclosure cover in a second direction relative to the enclosure body from the engaged position to the disengaged position, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 , wherein the enclosure cover can be physically separated from the enclosure body when the enclosure cover and the enclosure body are in the disengaged position.

15. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first base of each first fastening device has a width that is greater than a length of the second extension of each second fastening device.

16. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the second base of each second fastening device has a width that is greater than a length of the first extension of each first fastening device.

17. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first fastening devices are disposed equidistantly around the outer perimeter of the central portion of the enclosure cover.

18. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein each first extension of the plurality of first fastening devices comprises a cam surface.

19. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein each first extension of the plurality of first fastening devices comprises a radial surface.

20. An enclosure comprising:
an enclosure cover comprising a central portion, a cover flange, and a plurality of first fastening devices disposed along an outer perimeter of the central portion, wherein each first fastening device of the plurality of first fastening devices comprises a first base and a first extension that extends from a first side of the first base at a distal end of the first base, wherein each first extension comprises a first cam surface; and
an enclosure body mechanically coupled to the enclosure cover, wherein the enclosure body comprises at least one side wall, a body flange disposed at a distal end of the at least one side wall, and a plurality of second fastening devices disposed along the body flange, wherein the body flange mechanically abuts against the cover flange, wherein each second fastening device comprises a second base and a second extension that extends from a second side of the second base at a distal end of the second base, wherein the second extension of each second fastening device of the plurality of second fastening devices couples to the first extension of each first fastening device of the plurality of first fastening devices, wherein each second extension comprises a second cam surface, wherein the enclosure cover and the enclosure body are drawn toward each other when the first cam surface of each first extension of the enclosure cover engages the second cam surface of each second extension of the enclosure body,
wherein the cover flange and the body flange form a flame path that is properly set when the first cam surface and the second cam surface engage each other, wherein the flame path provides an uninterrupted path from within a cavity formed by the enclosure cover and the enclosure body toward an ambient environment outside of the cavity, along which one or more gases from within the cavity cool as the one or more gases travel from within the cavity along the flame path toward the ambient environment outside of the cavity, and
wherein

Assignees

• Zhao Yabin
• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Zhao Yabin
• Manahan Joseph Michael

Classifications

• E05C17/02

  by mechanical means (E05C17/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2543/00546

  NO contact · CPC title

• E05C19/00

  Other devices specially designed for securing wings, {e.g. with suction cups}(movable draft sealings additionally used for bolting E06B7/18) · CPC title

• B65D43/0225 Primary

  secured by rotation · CPC title

• F42D5/045

  Detonation-wave absorbing or damping means · CPC title