Shutter device for an electrical switchgear panel, and related switchgear panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9515462-B2
Application number	US-201414560116-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 8, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A shutter device is disclosed for an electric switchgear panel, including a base configured to be placed on a bearing surface inside the switchgear panel, the base being adapted to support, positioned thereon, a current switching device movable between a connected position wherein the switching device is electrically connected to an associated electrical circuit and a disconnected position wherein the switching device is electrically separated from the corresponding electrical circuit, a frame having at least a portion which rises up transversally from the base and delimits a through aperture, a movable shutter operatively associated with the base and the frame and an actuating mechanism adapted to move the shutter between a first position where the shutter closes at least partially the through aperture and a second position wherein the shutter is retracted and leaves the through aperture at least partially opened.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shutter device for an electric switchgear panel, the shutter device comprising:
a base configured to be placed on a bearing surface inside a switchgear panel, the base being configured to support a current switching device, which is movable between a connected position wherein the switching device is electrically connected to an associated electrical circuit and a disconnected position wherein the switching device is electrically separated from the associated electrical circuit;
a frame having at least a portion which rises up transversally from the base and delimits a through aperture;
a movable shutter operatively associated with the base and the frame; and
an actuating mechanism connected to move the shutter between a first position where the shutter closes at least partially the through aperture to prevent electrical connection of the current switching device with the electrical circuit and a second position wherein the shutter is retracted and leaves the through aperture at least partially opened for allowing electrical connection of the current switching device with the electrical circuit;
wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to move the movable shutter from the first position to the second position while the current switching device is kept motionless on the base.

2. The shutter device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
means for locking the shutter in the first position up to when the switching device is positioned on the base in a predefined position.

3. The shutter device according to claim 2 , wherein the locking means comprise:
a movable front bar having a slot;
a cam lever operatively associated with the front bar; and
a locking lever which includes a locking portion configured to enter into the slot so as to lock the movable front bar and prevent the cam lever and the front bar to move from a locked position up to when the switching device is positioned on the base in the predefined position.

4. The shutter device according to claim 3 , wherein the locking lever comprises:
an unlocking protrusion configured to interact with a corresponding portion of the switching device or of a truck on which the switching device is mounted so as to disengage the locking portion from the slot and allow movement of the front bar and of the cam lever from the locked position towards a freed position when the switching device has reached the predefined position.

5. The shutter device according to claim 3 , comprising:
a handle and an obstructing lever operatively connected to the first rod and the front bar.

6. The shutter device according to claim 3 , wherein the locking means comprise:
at least one end-stroke block positioned along the base at a predefined position for the switching device.

7. The shutter device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
a docking element configured to interact with an associated portion of the switching device or of a truck on which the switching device is mounted, and to render the switching device, or the truck on which the switching device is mounted, motionless when the movable shutter is moved from the first position to the second position.

8. The shutter device according to claim 7 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
a worm screw which is operatively connected to the shutter and to the base, the worm screw being configured to be actuated by a tool so as to cause movement of the shutter between the first and second positions; and
an actuating block which is operatively coupled to the worm screw, the actuating block being connected to the shutter so as to move the shutter between the first and second positions.

9. The shutter device according to claim 8 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
a first rod pivotally connected to the base; and
a second rod which is connected to the first rod, for rotating with the first rod between a raised position and a lowered position.

10. The shutter device according to claim 9 , wherein the first rod and the second rod are positioned along a side of and substantially parallel to the worm screw such that the actuating block, when moving the shutter between the first and second positions, will act on the second rod and keep the second rod in the raised position along a portion of the moving path of the first rod.

11. The shutter device according to claim 10 , wherein the second rod has a length shorter than the worm screw such that the actuating block, when reaching an end-stroke position after moving the shutter between the first and second positions, will disengage from and allow the second rod to rotate from the raised position to the lowered position.

12. The shutter device according to claim 10 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:
a flap which is mounted on the first rod and moves with the first rod between a first position configured to hinder the introduction of an actuation tool devised to cause movement of the switching device and/or of the truck on which the switching device is mounted and a second position where the introduction of the actuation tool is permitted.

13. The shutter device according to claim 9 , wherein the docking element is mounted on at least the second rod for movement with the second rod between a raised position in which the docking element renders the switching device motionless when the movable shutter is moved from the first position to the second position, and a lowered position where the docking element is disengaged from the switching device.

14. The shutter device according to claim 13 , wherein the docking element is mounted on at least the second rod to move with second rod in such a way that the movement of the docking element towards the raised position will be impeded when the switching device is in a position different from a predefined position.

15. The shutter device according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises:
means for adjusting the position of the base relative to the bearing surface.

16. The shutter device according to claim 1 , wherein the movable shutter has a modular structure.

17. The shutter device according to claim 16 , wherein the movable shutter comprises:
a plurality of hollow bars connected to each other.

18. The shutter device according to claim 17 , comprising:
an earthing device configured to ground the shutter device, wherein the earthing device includes an elastically deformable element which is partially inserted inside one or more of the plurality of hollow bars and is securely connected to the one or more of the plurality of hollow bars.

19. An electrical switchgear panel comprising:
a cabinet; and
a shutter device, which is positioned inside the cabinet, the shutter device including:
a base configured to be placed on a bearing surface inside the switchgear panel, the base being configured to support a current switching device which is movable between a connected position wherein the switching device is electrically connected to an associated electrical circuit and a disconnected position wherein the switching device is electrically separated from the associated electrical circuit;
a frame having at least a portion which rises up transversally from the base and delimits a through aperture;
a movable shutter operatively associated with the base and the frame; and

an actuating mechanism configured to move the shutter between a first position where the shutter closes at least partially the through aperture to prevent the electrical connection of the c

Assignees

• Abb Technology Ag
• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Capelli Fabio
• Carera David
• Gemme Carlo
• Pellegrini Fabio

Classifications

• H02B11/28

  Earthing arrangements · CPC title

• H02B11/02

  Details · CPC title

• H02B11/133

  with interlock · CPC title

• H02B11/24 Primary

  Shutters or guards · CPC title

• H01H9/22

  for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts {(explosion-proof cases H01H9/045; built-in fuses and interlocking mechanisms H01H9/104; by automatic release of circuit breakers H01H71/126)} · CPC title