Electrical apparatus and electrical enclosure therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9635774-B2
Application number	US-201514826404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2015
Priority date	Aug 14, 2015
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

An electrical enclosure is for an electrical apparatus. The electrical apparatus includes a number of electrical components. The electrical enclosure comprises: a frame assembly comprising a frame member having an elongated hinge side portion; a door having an elongated hinge side portion disposed parallel to and proximate the hinge side portion of the frame member, the door and the frame assembly being structured to enclose the number of electrical components; and a containment apparatus comprising a flexible barrier member coupled to the hinge side portion of the frame member and the hinge side portion of the door in order to provide a seal therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical enclosure for an electrical apparatus comprising a number of electrical components, said electrical enclosure comprising:
a frame assembly comprising a frame member having an elongated hinge side portion;
a door having an elongated hinge side portion disposed parallel to and proximate the hinge side portion of said frame member, said door and said frame assembly being structured to enclose said number of electrical components; and
a containment apparatus comprising a flexible barrier member coupled to the hinge side portion of said frame member and the hinge side portion of said door in order to provide a seal therebetween; wherein the hinge side portion of said door has a first distal end portion and a second distal end portion disposed opposite the first distal end portion; wherein the hinge side portion of said frame member has a third distal end portion and a fourth distal end portion disposed opposite the third distal end portion; wherein the first distal end portion is disposed proximate the third distal end portion; wherein the second distal end portion is disposed proximate the fourth distal end portion; wherein said flexible barrier member comprises a fifth distal end portion, a sixth distal end portion disposed opposite the fifth distal end portion, and a body portion extending therebetween; wherein the fifth distal end portion engages the first and third distal end portions; wherein the sixth distal end portion engages the second and fourth distal end portions; and wherein the body portion overlays the hinge side portions of said door and said frame member.

2. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 wherein said containment apparatus further comprises at least one retention member coupled to said flexible barrier member; and wherein said at least one retention member is further coupled to a respective hinge side portion of one of said frame member and said door in order to retain said flexible barrier member thereon.

3. The electrical enclosure of claim 2 wherein said flexible barrier member is disposed between said at least one retention member and the respective hinge side portion; and wherein said containment apparatus further comprises a number of coupling members each extending through said at least one retention member, said flexible barrier member, and the respective hinge side portion in order to retain said flexible barrier member on the respective hinge side portion.

4. The electrical enclosure of claim 3 wherein said at least one retention member comprises a first planar surface and a second planar surface each facing away from one another; wherein said flexible barrier member overlays said first planar surface and said second planar surface; and wherein said first planar surface presses said flexible barrier member into the respective hinge side portion.

5. The electrical enclosure of claim 4 wherein said at least one retention member comprises a first retention member and a second retention member; wherein said number of coupling members comprises a first plurality of coupling members and a second plurality of coupling members; wherein said first plurality of coupling members extends through said first retention member, said flexible barrier member, and the hinge side portion of said door in order to retain said flexible barrier member and said first retention member on the hinge side portion of said door; and wherein said second plurality of coupling members extends through said second retention member, said flexible barrier member, and the hinge side portion of said frame member in order to retain said flexible barrier member and said second retention member on the hinge side portion of said frame member.

6. The electrical enclosure of claim 2 wherein said at least one retention member comprises a first retention member and a second retention member; wherein said first retention member has a rectangular-shaped cross-section; wherein said second retention member has an L-shaped cross-section; wherein said first retention member is coupled to the hinge side portion of said door; and wherein said second retention member is coupled to the hinge side portion of said frame member.

7. The electrical enclosure of claim 6 wherein said frame member has an access opening in order to provide access therethrough; wherein said second retention member comprises a first planar portion and a second planar portion perpendicular to said first planar portion; wherein said first planar portion presses said flexible barrier member into the hinge side portion of said frame member; wherein said second planar portion is disposed perpendicular to the hinge side portion of said frame member; and wherein said first planar portion extends from said second planar portion toward the access opening.

8. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 wherein said flexible barrier member is substantially impervious to arc flash gases and debris.

9. The electrical enclosure of claim 1 wherein said flexible barrier member is made of Kevlar.

10. An electrical enclosure for an electrical apparatus comprising a number of electrical components, said electrical enclosure comprising:
a frame assembly comprising a frame member having an elongated hinge side portion,
a door having an elongated hinge side portion disposed parallel to and proximate the hinge side portion of said frame member, said door and said frame assembly being structured to enclose said number of electrical components; and
a containment apparatus comprising a flexible barrier member coupled to the hinge side portion of said frame member and the hinge side portion of said door in order to provide a seal therebetween wherein said containment apparatus further comprises at least one retention member coupled to said flexible barrier member; wherein said at least one retention member is further coupled to a respective hinge side portion of one of said frame member and said door in order to retain said flexible barrier member thereon; wherein said at least one retention member has a first length; wherein the respective hinge side portion has a second length the same as the first length; and wherein said flexible barrier member has a third length the same as the first length and the second length.

11. An electrical apparatus comprising:
a number of electrical components; and
an electrical enclosure comprising:
a frame assembly comprising a frame member having an elongated hinge side portion,
a door having an elongated hinge side portion disposed parallel to and proximate the hinge side portion of said frame member, said door and said frame assembly enclosing said number of electrical components; and
a containment apparatus comprising a flexible barrier member coupled to the hinge side portion of said frame member and the hinge side portion of said door in order to provide a seal therebetween; wherein the hinge side portion of said door has a first distal end portion and a second distal end portion disposed opposite the first distal end portion; wherein the hinge side portion of said frame member has a third distal end portion and a fourth distal end portion disposed opposite the third distal end portion; wherein the first distal end portion is disposed proximate the third distal end portion; wherein the second distal end portion is disposed proximate the fourth distal end portion; wherein said flexible barrier member comprises a fifth distal end portion, a sixth distal end portion disposed opposite the fifth distal end portion, and a body portion extending therebetween; wherein the fifth distal end portion engages the first and third distal end portions; wherein the sixth distal end portion engages the second and fourth distal end port

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Abee Brandon Matthew

Classifications

• H05K5/03 Primary

  Covers · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H05K5/0247

  Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring · CPC title

• H02B1/28 Primary

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