Fastening devices for explosion-proof enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9366058-B2
Application number	US-201314025896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

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:
a top enclosure portion comprising a central portion, a top flange, and a first top engagement feature, wherein the first top engagement feature is a planar extension of the central portion, wherein the central portion has a thickness defined between a top surface and a bottom surface of the central portion;
a bottom enclosure portion mechanically coupled to the top enclosure portion, wherein the bottom enclosure portion comprises 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; and
a first fastening device mechanically coupled to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature, wherein the first fastening device has a length disposed substantially perpendicular to the thickness of the central portion of the top enclosure portion, wherein the first fastening device rotates about the length between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature,
wherein the first fastening device, in the engaged position, creates and maintains a flame path between the top flange and the bottom flange,
wherein the first fastening device, in the disengaged position, fails to maintain the flame path between the top flange and the bottom flange,
wherein the flame path provides an uninterrupted path, from within a cavity formed by the top enclosure portion and the bottom enclosure portion 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 toward the ambient environment outside of the cavity, and
wherein the top enclosure portion and the bottom enclosure portion, when coupled to each other by the first fastening device, contain an explosion that originates within the cavity.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the bottom flange comprises at least one beveled edge, and wherein the top flange comprises at least one complementary beveled edge.

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

4. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the top enclosure portion further comprises a second top engagement feature, and wherein the bottom enclosure portion further comprises a second bottom engagement feature that mechanically couples to the second top engagement feature.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 , wherein the second top engagement feature is disposed on a substantially opposite end of the top enclosure portion than the first top engagement feature.

6. The enclosure of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second fastening device mechanically and movably coupled to the second top engagement feature and the second bottom engagement feature.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first fastening device comprises a first oblong section positioned toward a distal end of the first fastening device and a second oblong section positioned toward a proximal end of the first fastening device.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the first fastening device further comprises a cap disposed at the proximal end, wherein the cap controls a lateral position of the first fastening device relative to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the first fastening device further comprises a keyhole disposed between the first oblong section and the second oblong section.

10. The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the first top engagement feature comprises a keyway, wherein the keyhole is accessible in the keyway when the first fastening device is mechanically coupled to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the keyway allows the keyhole to rotate less than 360°.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein rotation of the keyhole in the keyway moves the first fastening device between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

13. The enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the rotation of the keyhole in the keyway is performed using a tool that fits into the keyhole.

14. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first top engagement feature comprises at least one first aperture, wherein the first bottom engagement feature comprises at least one second aperture that aligns with the at least one first aperture when the top enclosure portion is mechanically coupled to the bottom enclosure portion.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the at least one second aperture comprises a pair of second apertures, wherein the first fastening device is disposed within the at least one first aperture and the pair of second apertures, wherein the first fastening device comprises a first oblong section and a second oblong section that are disposed within the pair of second apertures.

16. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the top enclosure portion is substantially circular when viewed from above.

17. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the top enclosure portion is one of a plurality of top enclosure portions, wherein each of the plurality of top enclosure portions is mechanically coupled to the bottom enclosure portion.

18. An enclosure system, comprising:
a first enclosure, wherein the first enclosure comprises:
a first top enclosure portion comprising a first top central portion, a first top flange, and a first top engagement feature, wherein the first top engagement feature is a first planar extension of the first central portion, wherein the first top central portion has a first thickness defined between a first top surface and a first bottom surface of the first top central portion;
a first bottom enclosure portion mechanically coupled to the top enclosure portion, wherein the first bottom enclosure portion comprises a first bottom flange that mechanically couples to the first top flange and a first bottom engagement feature that mechanically couples to the first top engagement feature; and
a first fastening device mechanically coupled to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature, wherein the first fastening device has a first length disposed substantially perpendicular to the first thickness of the first top central portion of the first top enclosure portion, wherein the first fastening device rotates about the first length between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to the first top engagement feature and the first bottom engagement feature,
wherein the first fastening device, in the engaged position, maintains a first flame path between the first top flange and the first bottom flange, and
wherein the first fastening device, in the disengaged position, fails to maintain the first flame path between the first top flange and the first bottom flange,
wherein the first flame path provides a first uninterrupted path, from within a first cavity formed by the first top enclosure portion and the first bottom enclosure portion toward an ambient environment outside of the first cavity, along which one or more first gases from within the first cavity cool as the one or more first gases travel from within the first cavity toward the ambient environment outside of the first cavity, and
wherein the first top enclosure portion and the first bottom enclosure portion, when coupled to each other by the first fastening device, contain a first explosion that originates within th

Assignees

• Zhao Yabin
• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Zhao Yabin
• Manahan Joseph Michael

Classifications

• B65D2543/00277

  Metal · CPC title

• F42D5/045

  Detonation-wave absorbing or damping means · CPC title

• B65D2543/00092

  circular · 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

• B65D2543/00546

  NO contact · CPC title