Recessed movable jaws for connecting a plug-in unit to a busway

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9455541-B2
Application number	US-201414574977-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A plug-in unit configured to be coupled to a busway includes a housing configured to be secured to the busway, an electrical coupling assembly coupled to the housing and configured to move between an uncoupled position in which the plug-in unit is uncoupled to the busway and a coupled position in which the plug-in unit is electrically coupled to the busway, and an actuator assembly coupled to the housing and the electrical coupling assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to move the electrical coupling assembly between the uncoupled and coupled positions and to secure the plug-in unit to the housing. Other embodiments of the plug-in unit and a method of securing a plug-in unit to a busway are further disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plug-in unit configured to be coupled to a busway, the plug-in unit comprising:
a housing configured to be secured to the busway;
an electrical coupling assembly coupled to the housing and configured to move between an uncoupled position in which the plug-in unit is uncoupled to the busway and a coupled position in which the plug-in unit is electrically coupled to the busway; and
an actuator assembly coupled to the housing and the electrical coupling assembly, the actuator assembly being configured to move the electrical coupling assembly between the uncoupled and coupled positions and to secure the plug-in unit to the housing.

2. The plug-in unit of claim 1 , further comprising a spring-loaded pin configured to prevent the electrical coupling assembly from moving to the coupled position when the spring-loaded pin is extended.

3. The plug-in unit of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical coupling assembly coupled to the housing and configured to releasably secure the housing to the busway.

4. The plug-in unit of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical coupling assembly includes a bracket configured to engage a top of the busway.

5. The plug-in unit of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly includes a lever coupled to the housing and the electrical coupling assembly, the lever being movable between a first position in which the electrical coupling assembly is in the uncoupled position and a second position in which the electrical coupling assembly is in the coupled position.

6. The plug-in unit of claim 5 , wherein the electrical coupling assembly includes jaws configured to engage the busway.

7. The plug-in unit of claim 6 , wherein the jaws are coupled to the lever, the jaws being movable by the lever when moving the lever from the first position in which the jaws achieve a disengaged position associated with the uncoupled position of the electrical coupling assembly with the jaws being spaced from the busway to the second position in which the jaws achieve an engaged position associated with the coupled position of the electrical coupling assembly with the jaws engaging the busway.

8. The plug-in unit of claim 7 , wherein the electrical coupling assembly includes a guide mounted on the housing and a jaws housing that is movably coupled to the guide, the jaws being mounted on the jaws housing.

9. The plug-in unit of claim 8 , wherein the guide includes two side walls, each side wall having at least one slot formed therein to guide the movement of posts mounted on the jaws housing.

10. The plug-in unit of claim 8 , wherein the actuator assembly further includes a lever fork coupled to the jaws housing, and a lever link coupled to the lever and the lever fork.

11. A plug-in unit configured to be coupled to a busway, the plug-in unit comprising:
a housing configured to mate with the busway;
a plug-in interface coupled to the housing, the plug-in interface being configured to receive a plug-in unit;
means for electrically coupling the plug-in unit to the busway between an uncoupled position in which the plug-in interface is uncoupled to the busway and a coupled position in which the plug-in interface is electrically coupled to the busway; and
means for actuating the movement of the electrical coupling means between the uncoupled and coupled positions.

12. The plug-in unit of claim 11 , wherein the means for actuating the movement of the means for electrically coupling the plug-in unit to the busway includes a lever coupled to the housing and movable between a first position in which the lever is in the uncoupled position and a second position in which the lever is in the coupled position.

13. The plug-in unit of claim 12 , wherein the means for electrical coupling includes jaws configured to engage the busway.

14. The plug-in unit of claim 13 , wherein the jaws are coupled to the lever, the jaws being movable by the lever when moving the lever from the first position in which the jaws achieve a disengaged position associated with the uncoupled position of the electrical coupling assembly with the jaws being spaced from the busway to the second position in which the jaws achieve an engaged position associated with the coupled position of the electrical coupling assembly with the jaws engaging the busway.

15. The plug-in unit of claim 14 , wherein the means for electrical coupling further includes a guide mounted on the housing and a jaws housing that is movably coupled to the guide, the jaws being mounted on the jaws housing.

16. The plug-in unit of claim 15 , wherein the guide includes two side walls, each side wall having at least one slot formed therein to guide the movement of posts mounted on the jaws housing.

17. The plug-in unit of claim 15 , wherein the means for actuating further includes a lever fork coupled to the jaws housing, and a lever link coupled to the lever and the lever fork.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric It Corp

Inventors

• Rathjen Jonathan H
• Alway Malee

Classifications

• H02G5/08

  Connection boxes therefor · CPC title

• H01R43/26

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• H01R25/142 Primary

  Their counterparts · CPC title

• H01R43/20

  for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve · CPC title

• H01R13/73

  Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall · CPC title