Joint puller for busway assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10903611-B2
Application number	US-201815950502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2018
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A joint puller includes an arm having a first arm end and a second arm end, and a lever having a first lever end and a second lever end. The first arm end is configured to be pivotally connected to a first busway section, and the second lever end is configured to be pivotally connected to a second busway section. The first lever end is pivotally connected to the arm at a location spaced from the first arm end. The joint puller further includes a stopper extending from the lever at a location spaced from the first lever end. The stopper contacts the arm when the arm is pivoted to a predetermined angle with respect to the lever.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A busway assembly comprising:
a first busway section having a first end terminating in a first end block,
wherein the first busway section includes a first plurality of busbars that are exposed at the first end, and
wherein the first end block has a first plurality of apertures;

a second busway section having a second end terminating in a second end block,
wherein the second busway section includes a second plurality of busbars that are exposed at the second end, and
wherein the second end block has a second plurality of apertures;

a bridge joint having a first end and a second end, the bridge joint being disposed between the first busway section and the second busway section,
wherein the bridge joint includes a plurality of bridge plates that are exposed at both the first and second ends of the bridge joint,
wherein the bridge plates are configured to receive the first plurality of busbars at the first end of the bridge joint, and
wherein the bridge plates are configured to receive the second plurality of busbars at the second end of the bridge joint; and

a joint puller assembly including:
a lever having a first lever end and a second lever end,
an arm having a first arm end and a second arm end, the arm being pivotally connected to the first lever end at a location spaced from the first arm end,
a second arm pivotally connected to a second lever, the second arm being pivotally connected to a second side of the first busway section at the first end block, and the second lever being pivotally connected to a second side of the second busway section at the second end block, and
a stopper extending from the lever at a location spaced from the first lever end,
wherein the stopper extends in a direction normal to the lever and normal to the arm, such that the stopper is configured to contact the arm to limit rotation between the lever and the arm,
wherein the first arm end is pivotally connected to a first side of the first busway section at the first end block, through one of the first plurality of apertures, and
wherein the second lever end is pivotally connected to a first side of the second busway section at the second end block, through one of the second plurality of apertures.

2. The busway assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first spacer connected to the first arm end and a second spacer connected to the second lever end.

3. The busway assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rod extending from the first arm to the second arm.

4. The busway assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of apertures are threaded apertures and wherein the second plurality of apertures are threaded apertures.

5. A method of assembling a busway, the method comprising:
providing a first busway section having a first pair of end blocks and a first plurality of busbars;
providing a second busway section having a second pair of end blocks and a second plurality of busbars;
providing a bridge joint between the first busway section and the second busway section, wherein the bridge joint includes a plurality of bridge plates;
providing a joint puller assembly including:
a lever having a first lever end and a second lever end,
an arm having a first arm end and a second arm end, the arm being pivotally connected to the first lever end at a location spaced from the first arm end, and
a stopper extending from the lever at a location spaced from the first lever end, the stopper extending normal to the lever and normal to the arm, such that the stopper is configured to contact the arm to limit rotation between the lever and the arm;

aligning the first plurality of busbars and the second plurality of busbars with the bridge plates;
pivotally connecting the first arm end to a first side of the first busway section at one of the first pair of end blocks;
pivotally connecting the second lever end to a first side of the second busway section at one of the second pair of end blocks;
pivoting the arm such that the first plurality of busbars and the second plurality of busbars each engage the bridge plates; and
removing the first arm end from the first side of the first busway section and removing the second arm end from the first side of the second busway section.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of pivotally connecting the first arm end to a first side of the first busway section includes aligning an aperture on the first arm end with an aperture on the first side of the first busway section, and inserting a first fastener through the aligned apertures.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of pivotally connecting the second lever end to a first side of the second busway section includes aligning an aperture on the second lever end with an aperture on the first side of the second busway section, and inserting a second fastener through the aligned apertures.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of pivoting the arm includes pivoting the arm until the stopper contacts the arm.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the joint puller assembly further includes a second arm pivotally connected to a second lever, and a rod extending from the first arm to the second arm.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising pivotally connecting the second arm to a second side of the first busway section at one of the first pair of end blocks, and pivotally connecting the second lever to a second side of the second busway section at one of the second pair of end blocks.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of pivoting the arm includes manually pulling the rod, such that the arm and the second arm both pivot towards the first busway section.

12. The method of claim 5 , further comprising pivoting the arm in an opposite direction to separate the first and second busway sections from the bridge joint.

13. A joint puller configured to engage a busway, the joint puller comprising:
an arm having a first arm end and a second arm end,
wherein the first arm end is configured to be pivotally connected to a first busway section;

a lever having a first lever end and a second lever end;
wherein the second lever end is configured to be pivotally connected to a second busway section, and
wherein the first lever end is pivotally connected to the arm at a location spaced from the first arm end; and

a stopper extending from the lever at a location spaced from the first lever end, wherein the stopper extends in a direction normal to the lever and normal to the arm, wherein the stopper comes into contact with the arm when the arm is pivoted to a predetermined angle with respect to the lever, thereby limiting rotation between the lever and the arm.

14. The joint puller of claim 13 , further comprising a second arm pivotally connected to a second lever, the second arm being configured to pivotally connect to the first busway section, and the second lever being configured to pivotally connect to the second busway section.

15. The joint puller of claim 14 , wherein the lever is spaced apart from the second lever.

16. The joint puller of claim 14 , further comprising a rod extending from the first arm to the second arm.

17. The joint puller of claim 13 , further comprising a first spacer connected to the first arm end and a second spacer connected to the second lever end.

18. The joint puller of claim 13 , wherein the joint puller is configured to be connected to the first and second busway sections in multiple orientations.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Rode Prashant Pandurang
• Schermerhorn Ben
• Pettersen Gordon

Classifications

• H02G5/007 Primary

  Butt joining of bus-bars by means of a common bolt, e.g. splice joint (electrically conductive connections characterised by contacting members H01R4/58) · CPC title

• H01R25/161

  Details · CPC title

• H02G3/04

  Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs · CPC title

• H02G5/04

  Partially-enclosed installations, e.g. in ducts and adapted for sliding or rolling current collection · CPC title

• H01R25/162 Primary

  Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars (rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64) · CPC title