Fastening devices for explosion-proof enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9217460-B2
Application number	US-201414327445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	May 1, 2012
Publication date	Dec 22, 2015
Grant date	Dec 22, 2015

Abstract

A system for fastening a cover to a body of an explosion-proof enclosure using a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device can include a first load distributing member disposed on a body flange of a body of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can also include a second load distributing member disposed on a cover flange of a cover of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can further include a fastener positioned atop the first load distributing member, where the fastener traverses the first load distributing member, the cover flange, and the body flange. Each fastening device can also include a fastener receiver positioned under the second load distributing member and mechanically coupled to the fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for fastening a cover to a body of an enclosure, comprising:
a flange comprising a plurality of first apertures traversing therethrough;
an opposing flange that abuts the flange, wherein the opposing flange comprises a plurality of cavities traversing therethrough; and
a plurality of fastening devices, wherein each fastening device of the plurality of fastening devices comprises:
a fastener receiver disposed in a cavity of the plurality of cavities disposed in the opposing flange, wherein the fastener receiver comprises a second aperture that traverses a height of the fastener receiver, and wherein the fastener receiver further comprises a cam feature disposed on the fastener receiver; and
a fastener comprising a head, a base, and a stem, wherein the head is mechanically coupled to a first end of the stem, wherein the base is mechanically coupled to a second end of the stem, wherein the head abuts against the flange, wherein the stem traverses a first aperture of the plurality of first apertures and the second aperture of the fastener receiver, and wherein the base abuts against an outer surface of the cam feature of the fastener receiver.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener receiver is fixedly coupled to the opposing flange.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener receiver comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is disposed within the cavity, and wherein the second portion is disposed outside of the cavity.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the fastener receiver has a first height, wherein the first height is less than a cavity height of the cavity.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the fastener receiver has a larger outer perimeter than an outer perimeter of the first portion.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the fastener receiver abuts against an outer surface of the opposing flange.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a base length and a base width, wherein the base length is greater than the base width.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the base width is substantially identical to a stem width of the stem.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the base width is less than a first aperture width of the first aperture, wherein the base length is less than a first aperture length of the first aperture.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first aperture width is substantially identical to a second aperture width of the second aperture, and wherein the first aperture length is substantially identical to a second aperture width of the second aperture.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the base is inserted through the first aperture and the second aperture and, once the stem is disposed in the first aperture and the second aperture, rotated to couple the flange to the opposing flange.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cam feature prevents the fastener from rotating beyond an angle, wherein the angle is approximately 90°.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base extends laterally away from the stem at an angle.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is an explosion-proof enclosure, and wherein the flange and the opposing flange form a flame path therebetween.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the flame path is maintained by the plurality of fastening devices.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head and the stem are fixedly coupled to each other, and wherein the base and the stem are fixedly coupled to each other.

17. A system for fastening a cover to a body of an enclosure, comprising:
a flange comprising a plurality of first apertures traversing therethrough;
an opposing flange that abuts the flange, wherein the opposing flange comprises a plurality of second apertures traversing therethrough and a plurality of cam features; and
a plurality of fastening devices, wherein each fastening device of the plurality of fastening devices comprises:
a stem;
a head, wherein the head is mechanically coupled to a first end of the stem; and
a base, wherein the base is mechanically coupled to a second end of the stem,
wherein the head abuts against the flange, wherein the stem traverses a first aperture of the plurality of first apertures and a second aperture of the plurality of second apertures, and wherein the base abuts against an end of a cam feature of the plurality of cam features.

18. A fastening device comprising:
a stem;
a head, wherein the head is mechanically coupled to a first end of the stem; and
a base, wherein the base is mechanically coupled to a second end of the stem,
wherein the head is configured to abut against a flange of an enclosure, wherein the stem is configured to traverse a first aperture of a plurality of first apertures disposed in the flange, wherein the stem is further configured to traverse a cavity of a plurality of cavities disposed in an opposing flange of the enclosure, and wherein the base is configured to abut against an outer surface of a cam feature of a plurality of cam features.

19. The fastening device of claim 18 , wherein the cam feature is part of an outer surface of:
a fastener receiver, wherein the fastener receiver is configured to be disposed in the cavity of the opposing flange of the enclosure, wherein the fastener receiver comprises a second aperture that traverses a height of the fastener receiver, wherein the stem is configured to be disposed within the second aperture.

Assignees

• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Manahan Joseph Michael

Classifications

• H02B1/28

  dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof · CPC title

• E05B65/006

  for covers or panels (for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00) · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• E05B65/001 Primary

  for gas- or watertight wings · CPC title

• E05C19/001

  with bolts extending over a considerable extent, e.g. nearly along the whole length of at least one side of the wing (movable sealing strips E06B7/18) · CPC title