Electrical distribution apparatus with controlled cooling

An electrical distribution apparatus configured to connect a load to a power source, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet;
• a distribution conduction path;
• at least one thermal sensor in thermal communication with the conduction path;
• an electrical disconnect connected in series with the conduction oath and configured to isolate the load from the power source on command, the disconnect being in signal communication with the at least one thermal sensor;
• an airflow generator in signal communication with the at least one thermal sensor and arranged to cause air to flow into the air inlet and out of the air outlet;
• an airflow sensor disposed to sense an air flow arising from the airflow generator, the air flow being a function of applied voltage to the airflow generator, the functional relationship defining a characteristic curve;
• and
• an alarm configured to provide an alarm signal in response to the sensed airflow deviating from the characteristic curve by a defined amount;
• wherein the airflow generator is configured to turn on in response to the at least one thermal sensor sensing a first temperature;
• and
• wherein the disconnect is configured to disconnect the load from the power source in response to the at least one thermal sensor sensing a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

An electrical distribution apparatus configured to connect a load to a power source, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet;
• a distribution conduction path;
• at least one thermal sensor in thermal communication with the conduction path;
• an electrical disconnect connected in series with the conduction path and configured to isolate the load from the power source on command, the disconnect being in signal communication with the at least one thermal sensor;
• an airflow generator in signal communication with the at least one thermal sensor and arranged to cause air to flow into the air inlet and out of the air outlet;
• an ambient thermal sensor in thermal communication with ambient external to the housing;
• and
• an alarm configured to provide an alarm signal in response to a defined temperature difference between the at least one thermal sensor and the ambient thermal sensor;
• wherein the at least one thermal sensor comprises a first thermal sensor and a second thermal sensor, each thermal sensor being in thermal communication with the conduction path;
• wherein the airflow generator is in signal communication with the first thermal sensor, and is configured to turn on in response to the first thermal sensor sensing a first temperature;
• wherein the disconnect is in signal communication with the second thermal sensor, and is configured to disconnect the load from the power source in response to the second thermal sensor sensing a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

An electrical distribution apparatus configured to connect a load to a power source, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet;
• a distribution conduction path;
• at least one thermal sensor in thermal communication with the conduction path;
• an ambient thermal sensor in thermal communication with ambient external to the housing;
• an airflow sensor disposed to sense an airflow arising from the airflow generator, the airflow being a function of applied voltage to the airflow generator, the functional relationship defining a characteristic curve;
• an electrical disconnect connected in series with the conduction path and configured to isolate the load from the power source on command, the disconnect being in signal communication with the at least one thermal sensor;
• a plurality of branch disconnects disclosed within the housing and connected in series wit the electrical disconnect, and configured to isolate an associated circuit of the load from the power source on command;
• an airflow generator in signal communication with the at least one thermal sensor and arranged to cause air to flow into the air inlet and out of the air outlet;
• and
• an alarm;
• wherein the airflow generator is configured to turn on in response to the at least one thermal sensor sensing a first temperature, and disposed to provide a forced airflow across the electrical disconnect and the plurality of branch disconnects;
• wherein the disconnect is configured to disconnect the load from the power source in response to the at least one thermal sensor sensing a second temperature greater than the first temperature;
• and
• wherein the alarm is configured to provide an alarm signal in response to a defined temperature difference between the at least one thermal sensor and the ambient thermal sensor, and is configured to provide an alarm signal in response to the sensed air flow deviating from the characteristic curve by a defined amount.