Arc-resistant switchgear enclosure with latch for vent flap
AssigneeCentral Electric Manufacturing Company
InventorPaul W. Gingrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arc-resistant switchgear enclosure has a vent opening and a vent flap. Normally the vent flap is open to allow air to circulate through the enclosure. However, in the event of an arc fault explosion in the enclosure, the vent flap is forced to close by the explosion. As the vent flap closes, a flexible latch member moves along a keeper and prevents the vent flap from reopening. In some embodiments, the latch member contacts the keeper and props the vent flap open for normal operation.
Claims13
An arc-resistant switchgear enclosure, comprising:
- a) a wall defining an interior compartment;
- b) the wall having a vent that communicates with the compartment;
- c) a vent flap movable between open and closed positions, with the closed position being where the vent flap closes the vent, with the open position being where the vent is open;
- d) a latching arrangement comprising a latch member and a keeper, the latch member mounted to one of the enclosure wall or the vent flap, with the keeper mounted to the other of the enclosure wall or the vent flap, the latch member being more flexible than the keeper, the latch member having a free end and the keeper having a surface, the latch member free end engaging the keeper surface when the vent flap is in the closed position, thereby preventing the vent flap from opening.
A method of closing a vent in a switchgear enclosure during an arc fault explosion inside of the enclosure, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a vent flap in an open position relative to the vent to allow air to pass through the vent;
- b) propping the vent flap in the open position;
- c) allowing the arc fault explosion to move the vent flap to close the vent;
- d) as the vent closes, moving a latch member along a surface of a keeper, the latch member becoming bowed;
- e) after the vent flap closes, preventing the reopening of the vent flap by the latch member acting on the keeper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.