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US 5,410,446 AGranted
Circuit breaker explosion stress absorber
AssigneeCooper Industries, Inc.
InventorsWilliam G. Wright, Nelson L. Lansing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An explosion absorbing apparatus for use with circuit breakers mounted in an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure includes force absorbing plates and rods for attaching the plates to the side panels of circuit breakers. The fastener members draw the force absorbing plates together against the side panels of the circuit breakers to absorb the stress generated by an explosion inside the panelboard enclosure. This apparatus ensures the integrity of circuit breakers contained within a panelboard enclosure during an explosion. The force absorbing plates eliminate catastrophic destruction of the circuit breakers and reduce the cumulative explosion pressure in the panelboard enclosure.
Claims37
An explosion-proof panelboard enclosure having an explosion-proof compartment, comprising:
- a mounting bracket disposed within the compartment and affixed to the enclosure;
- a plurality of circuit breakers disposed within the compartment, each circuit breaker having two side panels;
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having two outside circuit breakers on each end of said row, said outside circuit breakers having an outside end panel;
- at least first and second plates mounted on said bracket, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of one said outside circuit breakers and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said other outside circuit breaker;
- and
- means compressing said plurality of circuit breakers between said first and second plates.
3 more elements
The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said means includes bolts extending between said plates for drawing said plurality of circuit breakers together.
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit breakers disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having a first outside circuit breaker on one end of said row and a second outside circuit breaker on the other end of said row, said outside circuit breakers each having an outside end panel;
- at least first and second force absorbing plates, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said second outside circuit breaker;
- said force absorbing plates being constructed Of any material capable of absorbing a portion of the force generated by an explosion in the panelboard enclosure;
- and
- at least one fastener member connecting said first and second plates and compressing said plurality of circuit breakers between said first and second plates.
3 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a mounting bracket attached to said enclosure:
- a plurality of circuit breakers disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having a first outside circuit breaker on one end of said row and a second outside circuit breaker on the other end of said row, said outside circuit breakers each having an outside end panel;
- at least first and second force absorbing plates mounted on said mounting bracket, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said second outside circuit breaker:
- and
- at least one fastener member connecting said first and second plates and compressing said plurality of circuit breakers between said first and second plates.
3 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit breakers disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having a first outside circuit breaker on one end of said row and a second outside circuit breaker on the other end of said row, said outside circuit breakers each having an outside end panel;
- at least first and second force absorbing plates, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said second outside circuit breaker;
- at least one fastener member connecting said first and second plates and compressing said plurality of circuit breakers between said first and second plates;
- and
- at least one filler plate disposed between said first plate and said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker.
3 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a circuit breaker disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said circuit breaker having a housing with first and second side panels;
- first and second force absorbing plates, said first plate being disposed adjacent said first side panel of said circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said second side panel of said circuit breaker;
- said force absorbing plates being constructed of any material capable of absorbing a portion of the force generated by an explosion in the panelboard enclosure:
- and
- at least one fastener member connecting said first and second plates and compressing said housing of said circuit breaker between said first and second plates.
3 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a mounting blacker attached to said enclosure:
- a circuit breaker disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said circuit breaker having a housing with first and second side panels;
- first and second force absorbing plates mounted on said mounting bracket, said first plate being disposed adjacent said first side panel of said circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said second side panel of said circuit breaker;
- and
- at least one fastener member connecting said first and second plates and compressing said housing of said circuit breaker between said first and second plates.
3 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a circuit breaker disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said circuit breaker having a housing with first and second side panels;
- first and second force absorbing plates, said first plate being disposed adjacent said first side panel of said circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said second side panel of said circuit breaker;
- at least one fastener member connecting said first and second plates and compressing said housing of said circuit breaker between said first and second plates;
- and at least one filler plate disposed between said first side panel and said first absorbing plate.
2 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit breakers disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having a first outside circuit breaker on one end of said row and a second outside circuit breaker on the other end of said row, said outside circuit breakers each having an outside end panel;
- and
- at least first and second force absorbing plates supported by said enclosure, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said second outside circuit breaker:
- and
- said force absorbing plates being constructed of any material capable of absorbing a portion of the force generated by an explosion in the panelboard enclosure.
3 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising;.
- a mounting bracket attached to said enclosure;
- a plurality of circuit breakers disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure:
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having a first outside circuit breaker on one end of said row and a second outside circuit breaker on the other end of said row, said outside circuit breakers each having an outside end panel:
- and
- at least first and second force absorbing plates mounted on said mounting bracket, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said second outside circuit breaker.
2 more elements
An explosion absorbing apparatus for an explosion-proof panelboard enclosure, comprising;
- plurality of circuit breakers disposed within said enclosure and affixed to said enclosure;
- said plurality of circuit breakers forming at least one row of circuit breakers having a first outside circuit breaker on one end of said row and a second outside circuit breaker on the other end of said row, said outside circuit breakers each having an outside end panel;
- and
- at least first and second force absorbing plates supported by said enclosure, said first plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker and said second plate being disposed adjacent said outside end panel of said second outside circuit breaker;
- and
- at least one filler plate disposed between said first plate and said outside end panel of said first outside circuit breaker.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.