Protective apparatus usable with a forced air cooling system and electrical enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10660233-B2
Application number	US-201715484713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2017
Priority date	Sep 18, 2015
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

An electrical enclosure apparatus includes a protective apparatus that permits forced-air cooling of the interior of the enclosure while resisting structures that are within in the interior from being blown out of the electrical enclosure as a result of an arc event or other event. The protective apparatus includes a flow apparatus formed from one or more blocks of ceramic material having foamed therein a plurality of elongated flow channels. The flow apparatus is supported inside a duct with the use of a support apparatus. The ceramic material from which the flow apparatus is formed is configured to withstand the heat that may be experienced in an arc event and is additionally configured to be sufficiently rigid and tough to retain within the duct any structures within the enclosure from being blown out of the protective apparatus, thereby protecting personnel who may be in the area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective apparatus structured for use within a duct of a forced air cooling system of an electrical enclosure assembly, the forced air cooling system configured to draw air out of an interior region of the electrical enclosure assembly and exhaust the air through the duct, the protective apparatus comprising:
a flow apparatus configured to be mounted within the duct and having a plurality of flow channels formed therein to permit air to flow therethrough; and
a support that is structured to mount the flow apparatus within the duct of the forced air cooling system.

2. The protective apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow apparatus is structured to block the passage of articles therethrough in the event of an arc event within the interior region of the electrical enclosure assembly.

3. The protective apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least first support comprises a plate-like member that has formed therein at least a first opening through which the stream of air is structured to flow, the plurality of flow channels being situated in fluid communication with the at least first opening.

4. The protective apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least first support further comprises a number of alignment structures that are engageable with the at least first body to retain the at least first body in a position overlying the at least first opening with the plurality of flow channels being situated in fluid communication with the at least first opening.

5. The protective apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plate-like member includes an upturned tab adjacent the at least first opening, the tab being an alignment structure of the number of alignment structures.

6. The protective apparatus of claim 5 wherein the support apparatus further comprises at least a first bracket structured to be affixed to the forced air cooling system and a retainer affixed to the at least first bracket, the at least first body being situated between the at least first support and the retainer.

7. The protective apparatus of claim 6 wherein the retainer comprises another plate-like member that has formed therein another opening through which the stream of air is structured to flow, the another plate-like member including another upturned tab that is situated adjacent the another opening and that is engageable with the at least first body to retain the at least first body in a position wherein the another opening and the at least first body overlie one another with the plurality of flow channels being situated in fluid communication with the another opening.

8. The protective apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support apparatus further comprises at least a first bracket structured to be affixed to the forced air cooling system and a retainer affixed to the at least first bracket, the at least first body being situated between the at least first support and the retainer.

9. An electrical enclosure assembly comprising the protective apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising:
an arc-resistant electrical enclosure;
a forced air cooling system in fluid communication with the electrical enclosure and with the protective apparatus and being structured to cause a stream of air to flow from the electrical enclosure in a direction generally toward the protective apparatus.

10. The electrical enclosure assembly of claim 9 wherein the support apparatus further comprises at least a first bracket affixed to the forced air cooling system and a retainer affixed to the at least first bracket, the at least first body being situated between the at least first support and the retainer.

11. The electrical enclosure assembly of claim 10 wherein the plurality of flow channels are oriented in a generally vertical orientation and wherein the retainer is situated atop the flow apparatus.

12. A protective apparatus that is structured for use with a forced air cooling system of an electrical enclosure apparatus, the protective apparatus comprising:
a duct having an interior region and structured to be connected in fluid communication with the forced air cooling system and being structured to carry a stream of air therethrough; and
a flow apparatus comprising a plurality of flow channels formed therein, the flow apparatus being structured to be situated in the duct and to have the stream of air flow through the plurality of flow channels.

13. The protective apparatus of claim 12 wherein the protective apparatus is structured to resist the discharge of articles therethrough from an interior region of the electrical enclosure.

14. The protective apparatus of claim 12 wherein the duct comprises a support apparatus having at least a first support that is mounted to the at least first wall, the at least first body being situated adjacent the at least first support, and wherein the at least first support comprises a plate-like member that has formed therein at least a first opening through which the stream of air is structured to flow, the plurality of flow channels being situated in fluid communication with the at least first opening.

15. The protective apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least first support further comprises a number of alignment structures that are engageable with the at least first body to retain the at least first body in a position overlying the at least first opening with the plurality of flow channels being situated in fluid communication with the at least first opening.

16. The protective apparatus of claim 15 wherein the plate-like member includes an upturned tab adjacent the at least first opening, the tab being an alignment structure of the number of alignment structures.

17. The protective apparatus of claim 16 wherein the support apparatus further comprises at least a first bracket affixed to the at least first wall and a retainer affixed to the at least first bracket, the at least first body being situated between the at least first support and the retainer.

18. The protective apparatus of claim 17 wherein the retainer comprises another plate-like member that has formed therein another opening through which the stream of air is structured to flow, the another plate-like member including another upturned tab that is situated adjacent the another opening and that is engageable with the at least first body to retain the at least first body in a position wherein the another opening and the at least first body overlie one another with the plurality of flow channels being situated in fluid communication with the another opening.

19. The protective apparatus of claim 12 wherein the duct comprises a support apparatus having at least a first support that is mounted to the at least first wall, the at least first body being situated adjacent the at least first support, and wherein the support apparatus further comprises at least a first bracket affixed to the at least first wall and a retainer affixed to the at least first bracket, the at least first body being situated between the at least first support and the retainer.

20. An electrical enclosure assembly comprising:
an electrical enclosure having an interior region;
a duct;
a forced air cooling system in fluid communication with the electrical enclosure assembly and the duct; the forced air cooling system configured to draw air out of the interior region of the electrical enclosure and exhaust it out of the duct; and
a flow apparatus comprising a plurality of flow channels formed therein, the flow apparatus being structured to be situated in the duct and to have the air flow thr

Assignees

• Eaton Corp
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Johnson Wesley Byron
• Beaver Jon Christopher

Classifications

• H05K7/20145 Primary

  Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides · CPC title

• H02B1/565

  for cabinets · CPC title

• H02B13/025 Primary

  Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect · CPC title