Motor control center and subunit therefor

A subunit for a motor control center, said motor control center including an enclosure having number of compartments, said subunit comprising:

• a housing including a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed opposite distal from said first sidewall, said housing being structured to be removably disposed within a corresponding one of the compartments of said enclosure;
• a shaft extending between said first sidewall and said second sidewall, said shaft including a longitudinal axis;
• a panel assembly including a panel member and a hinge assembly movably coupling said panel member to said shaft,
• wherein said panel member is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of said shaft in order to pivot with respect to said housing, and
• wherein said panel member is translatable along the longitudinal axis of said shaft in order to translate back and forth with respect to said housing.

A subunit for a motor control center, said motor control center including an enclosure having a number of compartments and a plurality of power lines, said subunit comprising:

• a housing including a first side and a second side disposed opposite and distal from the first side, said housing being structured to be removably disposed within a corresponding one of the compartments of said enclosure;
• a plurality of primary electrical contacts movably coupled to said housing;
• an actuating assembly structured to move said primary electrical contacts into and out of electrical contact with said power lines of said motor control center;
• and
• a secondary disconnect assembly including a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, said first electrical connector being structured to be coupled to a portion of said corresponding one of the compartments of said enclosure of said motor control center, said second electrical connector being coupled to a corresponding one of the first side of said housing of said subunit and the second side of said housing of said subunit, said second electrical connector being structured to be electrically connected to said first electrical connector when said subunit is disposed within said corresponding one of the compartments of said enclosure of said motor control center,
• wherein said secondary disconnect assembly is independent from said actuating assembly in order that movement of said primary electrical contacts with respect to said housing does not move said secondary disconnect assembly.

A motor control center comprising:

• an enclosure having an exterior and an interior;
• a number of compartments disposed on the interior;
• a plurality of power lines;
• a number of covers for covering the compartments;
• and
• at least one subunit comprising:
• a housing removably disposed within a corresponding one of the compartments of said enclosure,
• a plurality of electrical contacts movably coupled to said housing,
• an actuating assembly for moving said electrical contacts between a first position corresponding to said electrical contacts being electrically connected to said power lines of said motor control center, and a second position corresponding to said electrical contacts not being electrically connected to said power lines, and
• at least one of a locking assembly for locking the position of said electrical contacts and restricting access to said actuating assembly, a panel assembly, and a secondary disconnect assembly.