U.S. patent application number 10/699972 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for enclosure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.. Invention is credited to Josten, Harry W., Raker, Joshua.
Application Number | 20050092588 10/699972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34423460 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050092588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Josten, Harry W. ; et
al. |
May 5, 2005 |
ENCLOSURE
Abstract
A method and a door arrangement for a switchgear enclosure, with
the enclosure having a top and bottom panel, a back panel and two
opposing side panels. The enclosure includes an interior framework
supporting a draw-out circuit breaker. The door arrangement
comprises a front extension coupled to the enclosure. An exterior
door is pivotably mounted in an offset position to the front
extension and configured to move from one of a closed position and
an open position on one side of the enclosure. The breaker door is
pivotably mounted to the interior framework and configured to move
from one of a closed position and an open position on another side
of the enclosure and move clear of the offset exterior door.
Inventors: |
Josten, Harry W.;
(Grapevine, TX) ; Raker, Joshua; (Lewisville,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James A. Wilke
Foley & Lardner
Suite 3800
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee
WI
53202-5306
US
|
Assignee: |
Siemens Energy & Automation,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34423460 |
Appl. No.: |
10/699972 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02B 11/12 20130101;
H02B 13/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
200/293 |
International
Class: |
H01H 009/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A door arrangement for a switchgear enclosure, the enclosure
having a top and bottom panel, a back panel and two opposing side
panels and including an interior framework supporting a draw-out
circuit breaker, the door arrangement comprising: a front extension
coupled to the enclosure; an exterior door pivotally mounted to the
front extension at an offset exterior door frame post and
configured to move from one of a closed position and an open
position on one side of the enclosure; and a breaker door pivotally
mounted to the interior framework and configured to move from one
of a closed position and an open position on another side of the
enclosure and clear of the offset exterior door frame post.
2. The door arrangement of claim 1, wherein the exterior door and
breaker door open to more than ninety degrees from the respective
closed positions.
3. The door arrangement of claim 1, wherein the front extension
allows the exterior door to be closed with the circuit breaker in a
disconnected position.
4. The door arrangement of claim 1, wherein the front extension
allows the breaker door to open clear of the exterior door.
5. The door arrangement of claim 1, wherein the exterior door opens
to more than ninety degrees from the closed position to allow one
of the installation and removal of the circuit breaker.
6. The door arrangement of claim 1, wherein the front extension is
integrally formed with the enclosure.
7. A switchgear enclosure for a draw-out circuit breaker, the
enclosure comprising: structure having a top panel coupled to a
bottom panel with a back panel coupled to two opposing side panels
defining an interior space; a framework mounted in the interior
space of the structure and configured to support a circuit breaker;
a front extension coupled to the structure; an exterior door
pivotally mounted to the front extension at an offset exterior door
frame post and configured to move from one of a closed position and
an open position on one side of the structure; and a breaker door
pivotally mounted to the interior frame work and configured to move
from one of a closed position and an open position on another side
of the structure and move clear of the offset exterior door frame
post.
8. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7, wherein the exterior door
and breaker door open to more than ninety degrees from the
respective closed positions.
9. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7, wherein the front extension
allows the exterior door to be closed with the circuit breaker in a
disconnected position.
10. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7, wherein the front
extension allows the breaker door to open clear of the exterior
door.
11. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7, wherein the exterior door
opens to more than ninety degrees from the closed position to allow
one of the installation and removal of the circuit breaker.
12. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7, wherein the front
extension is integrally formed with the structure.
13. A method of housing a circuit breaker, the method comprising
the steps of: providing an enclosure defining an interior space;
providing a framework configured to support the circuit breaker;
mounting the framework in the interior space; providing a front
extension; coupling the front extension to the enclosure; providing
an exterior door configured to move from one of a closed position
and an open position; providing an offset exterior door frame post;
mounting the exterior door on the offset exterior door frame post
at one side of the enclosure; providing a breaker door configured
to move from one of a closed position and an open position;
mounting the breaker door on another side of the enclosure;
mounting the circuit breaker on the framework.
14. The method of housing a circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein
the exterior door and breaker door open to more than ninety degrees
from the respective closed positions.
15. The method of housing a circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein
the front extension allows the exterior door to be closed with the
circuit breaker in a disconnected position.
16. The method of housing a circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein
the front extension and offset exterior door frame post allows the
breaker door to open clear of the exterior door.
17. The method of housing a circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein
the exterior door opens to more than ninety degrees from the closed
position to allow one of the installation and removal of the
circuit breaker.
18. The method of housing a circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein
the front extension is integrally formed with the structure.
19. The method of housing a circuit breaker of claim 13, including
the steps of moving the circuit breaker to a disconnected position
and closing the exterior door while the breaker is in the
disconnected position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to enclosures for
switchgear, panel boards, circuit breakers, and more particularly
to a non-walk-in enclosure for low voltage switchgear and
switchboard assemblies.
[0002] Switchgear and switchboard are general terms which cover
metal enclosures, housing switching and interrupting devices such
as fuses, circuit breakers, relays along with associated control,
instrumentation and metering devices. The enclosures also typically
include devices such as bus bars, inner connections and supporting
structures used for the distribution of electrical power. Such
metal enclosures can be maintained in a building such as a factory
or commercial establishment, or they can be maintained outside of
such facilities and exposed to environmental weather conditions.
Typically, hinge doors or covers are provided on the front of the
switchgear or switchboard sections for access to the devices
contained therein.
[0003] Low voltage switchgear and switchboards operate at voltages
up to 600 volts and continuous currents that can exceed 5000 amps.
It is also possible that in short circuit conditions, intermittent
currents exceeding 100,000 amps are possible.
[0004] When metal enclosures are used out of doors, switchgear and
switchboard assemblies are typically housed in NEMA type 3R
enclosures. Previous non-walk-in enclosures had the exterior doors
closed over the circuit breaker doors and sealed against the indoor
switchgear frame when the frame was wider than the circuit breaker
doors. Other enclosures had the door sealed against a spacer that
was used in the same plane as the front of the switchgear frame
when the circuit breaker doors and the frame are nominally the same
width. The spacer was needed to provide a sealing surface for the
exterior door. Such prior art spacers are typically approximately
two inches wide and are placed between each section of switchgear
and switchboards. Such spacers add cost and proliferates parts to
accommodate the added width of the enclosure. Conventional
enclosure designs also lack space between the circuit breaker door
and the exterior door of the enclosure thereby preventing a
draw-out type circuit breaker from being placed in a disconnected
position with the exterior door of the enclosure closed. In a
situation where the enclosure is housed inside of a building, the
additional width requirement takes up additional space.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for a non-walk-in enclosure for low
voltage switchgear and switchboard assemblies that does not require
the additional width of spacers between sections. There is a
further need for an enclosure that will accommodate circuit breaker
compartment doors that are nominally the same width as the sections
in which the circuit breakers are housed. There is an additional
need for an enclosure to allow the exterior doors to be closed when
an enclosed circuit breaker is in a disconnected position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] There is provided a door arrangement for a switchgear
enclosure, with the enclosure having a top and bottom panel, a back
panel and two opposing side panels. The enclosure includes an
interior framework supporting a draw-out circuit breaker. The door
arrangement comprises a front extension coupled to the enclosure.
An exterior door is pivotably mounted to the front extension at an
offset exterior door frame post and configured to move from one of
a closed position and an open position on one side of the enclosure
and move clear of the offset exterior door frame post. A breaker
door is pivotably mounted to the interior framework and configured
to move from one of a closed position and an open position on
another side of the enclosure. Another embodiment provides that the
front extension allows the exterior door to be closed when the
circuit breaker is in a disconnected position.
[0007] There is further provided a switchgear enclosure for a
draw-out circuit breaker. The enclosure comprises the structure
having a top panel coupled to a bottom panel with a back panel
coupled to opposing side panels defining an interior space. A
framework is mounted in the interior space of the structure and
configured to support a circuit breaker. A front extension is
coupled to the structure. An exterior door is pivotably mounted to
the front extension at an offset exterior door frame post and
configured to move from one of a closed position and an open
position on one side of the structure and move clear of the offset
exterior door frame post. A breaker door is pivotably mounted to
the interior framework and configured to move from one of a closed
position and an open position on another side of the structure.
[0008] There is also provided a method of housing a circuit
breaker. The method comprises the steps of providing an enclosure
defining an interior space. Providing a framework configured to
support the circuit breaker. Mounting the framework in the interior
space. Providing a front extension and coupling the front extension
to the enclosure. Providing an offset exterior door frame post.
Providing an exterior door configured to move from one of a closed
position and an open position. Mounting the exterior door on the
offset exterior door frame post at one side of the enclosure.
Providing a breaker door configured to move from one of a closed
position and an open position. Mounting the breaker door on another
side of the enclosure and mounting the circuit breaker in the
framework.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure defining an
interior space and including a framework supporting a circuit
breaker, with the enclosure including a front extension and an
exemplary embodiment of a door arrangement.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional top view of an exemplary
embodiment of an enclosure having a front extension and a circuit
breaker in a connected position with a circuit breaker door in a
closed position and an exterior door in a closed position.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional top view of the enclosure
illustrated in FIG. 2, with the circuit breaker in a disconnected
position and the exterior door in a closed position.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the enclosure illustrated in
FIG. 2, with the circuit breaker being removed from the enclosure
and the breaker door and exterior door in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is illustrated exemplary
embodiments of the enclosure 5 with a door arrangement 30 for a
switchgear enclosure.
[0014] The enclosure 5, also referred to as switchgear enclosure,
comprises a structure 7 having a top panel 6 and a bottom panel 8,
a back panel 10 and two opposing side panels 12 which define an
interior space 14. A typical enclosure 5 is composed of metal such
as steel but can also be aluminum and such other material as is
appropriate for the attended application as defined by the
manufacturer or user of the enclosure 5. The enclosure 5 is
typically assembled by fastening the various panels together, for
example by fasteners (screws, bolts, rivets) or welding.
[0015] The enclosure 5 is provided with a door arrangement 30
mounted on a front extension 32 which is coupled to the enclosure
5. The front extension can be coupled to an existing enclosure 5 by
using fasteners, such as nuts and bolts or welding, or can be
fabricated with the enclosure as an integral, single unit.
[0016] An exterior door 34 is pivotably mounted to the front
extension by a door hinge or pivot 36. The door hinge 36 is mounted
on an offset exterior door post 35 which may be attached to
enclosure 5 at the interior framework 16. The exterior door 34 is
configured to move from one of a closed position 38 and an open
position 37 on one side 18 of the enclosure 5. A circuit breaker
door 40 is pivotably mounted to an interior framework 16. The
interior framework 16 is configured to support a circuit breaker 25
such as a draw-out circuit breaker. The interior framework 16 can
be composed of any suitable material sufficient for its intended
use such as steel or aluminum. The interior framework may or may
not be coupled to the enclosure 5.
[0017] The breaker door 40 is configured to move from one of a
closed position 44 and an open position 43 on another side 20 of
the enclosure 5.
[0018] The exterior door 34 and the breaker door 40 are hinged
opposite of each other, i.e., not on the same side of the enclosure
5. The exterior door 34 and the breaker door 40 can open to an
angle .O slashed. from the respective closed positions 38, 44. The
angle .O slashed. can be more than 90.degree. and can also be at
least 110.degree..
[0019] The exterior door 34 can open from a closed position 38 to
an open position 37 where .O slashed. is at least 110.degree.
thereby allowing one of the installation and removal of the circuit
breaker 25 (See FIG. 4). In such operation, the front extension 32
and offset exterior door post 35 allows the breaker door 40 to open
clear of the exterior door 34. The exterior door 34 can be mounted
in an off-set position on a frame post coupled to the enclosure 5.
In addition, the circuit breaker 25 (can be a draw-out circuit
breaker) is off-set to one side of the center line of the
switchgear section to allow the exterior door and breaker door
clearances described above. A typical off-set is one inch to the
left (away from the exterior door frame post, See FIG. 4).
[0020] A combination of the front extension 32, the off-set of the
circuit breaker (described above) and the off-set of the exterior
door 34 allows the installation and removal of circuit breakers
without the need to increase the section widths beyond their
nominal widths which is typically 22 or 32 inches. Such arrangement
allows for the placing of additional switchgear enclosure sections
adjacent to each other without including width extensions in order
to service, install or remove circuit breakers 25 or other
electrical equipment in the enclosure 5.
[0021] In operation, the method of housing a circuit breaker 25
comprises the steps of providing a structure 7 having a top panel 6
coupled to a bottom panel 8 with the back panel 10 coupled to two
opposing side panels 12. Such enclosure 5 defines an interior space
14. Providing a framework 16 configured to support the circuit
breaker 25 and mounting this framework 16 in the interior space 14.
Providing a front extension 32 either by coupling to an existing
enclosure 5 or being formed integrally with the enclosure 5.
Providing an exterior door 34 configured to move from one of a
closed position 38 and an open position 37. Mounting the exterior
door on one side 18 of the enclosure 5 with a door hinge or pivot
36. Providing a breaker door 40 configured to move from one of a
closed position 44 and an open position 43. Mounting the breaker
door 40 on another side 20 of the enclosure 5 with the door hinge
or pivot 42. Mounting the circuit breaker 25 on the framework 16
with an off-set away from the mounted exterior door 34.
[0022] The method of housing a circuit breaker 25 can also include
the steps of moving the circuit breaker 25 to a disconnected
position 27 and closing the exterior door 34 while the breaker 25
is in the disconnected position 27. While the circuit breaker 25 is
in the connected position 26, the breaker door 40 and the external
door 34 may be in either the open position 37, 43 or the closed
position 38, 44 as determined by the user of the door arrangement
30.
[0023] It should be understood that the door arrangement 30
described herein is set up as viewed in the Figures with the
breaker door hinged on the left side of the enclosure 5 and the
exterior door hinged on the right side of the enclosure 5. However,
it should be understood that the hinging of each door can be
reversed, for example, the breaker door can be hinged on the right
side of the enclosure 5 and the exterior door hinged on the left
side of the enclosure 5. In the above described alternative
configuration, the circuit breaker 25 would be off-set to the right
of the exterior door 34 hinge 36.
[0024] Although the disclosed embodiments have been described in
some detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments
without departing from their spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *