Spaced Parallel Relationship Patents (Class 361/650)
  • Patent number: 11056861
    Abstract: An electrical conductor for use in a power distribution assembly includes a main conductor portion including electrically conductive material. The main conductor portion extends along an axis. A plurality of flexible branch members include electrically conductive material. The flexible branch members extend laterally from the main conductor portion. Each flexible branch member is selectively bendable and configured for electrical connection to an electrical switching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Joel Furco, Joseph M. Manahan
  • Patent number: 10707655
    Abstract: An energized parts guard is disclosed comprising a panel of substantially rigid, electrically insulative material wherein the substantially rigid panel further comprises a first one or more apertures and a second one or more apertures. The first one or more apertures are so dimensioned to accept one or more circuit breakers inserted into the first one or more apertures such that there is less than a 12.5 mm gap between the panel and the circuit breaker on at least two sides of the one or more circuit breakers. The second one or more apertures are positioned to facilitate access to at least one terminal of each of the one or more circuit breakers when the one or more circuit breakers are inserted into the first one or more apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: JONES LANG LASALLE IP, INC.
    Inventor: David V. Crowell
  • Patent number: 10460856
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprising a bus bar, a frame member, a support block formed from a non-conductive material and having a first side and an opposite second side, one or more first fasteners extending beyond the second side and mechanically coupled to the bus bar, one or more second fasteners extending beyond the first side and mechanically coupled to the frame member, a first insulator located between the first side of the support block and the frame member, and a second insulator located between the second side of the support block and the bus bar. Other apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Jason Parkerson
  • Patent number: 9373948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical distribution board. The electrical distribution board comprises at least one incoming conductor terminal, at least one outgoing conductor terminal, at least one longitudinal bus conductor connected to the at least one incoming conductor terminal, at least one lateral conductor tab connected to the at least one bus conductor for distributing electrical power from the at least one bus conductor to the at least one outgoing conductor terminal, and at least one isolation mechanism for electrically isolating the at least one outgoing conductor terminal from the at least one lateral conductor tab. The at least one isolation mechanism is moveable between a first position in which the at least one outgoing conductor terminal is electrically isolated from the at least one lateral conductor tab and a second position in which the at least one outgoing conductor terminal is electrically connected to the at least one lateral conductor tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Purdie Baker, James David Allen, Terence Edward John Lovett
  • Patent number: 9007745
    Abstract: A configurable electrical panel that may be installed either as a service entrance panel or as a subpanel is disclosed. The electrical panel includes a transfer switch for selectively connecting either a first power source or a second power source to an electrical load, where the transfer switch switches the power leads and the neutral lead from each power source. In a service entrance panel installation, the neutral lead from the first power source is connected to the ground bar and an electrical conductor is provided to connect the ground bar to the neutral input on the transfer switch for the first power source. In a sub-panel installation, the neutral lead from the first power source is connected directly to the neutral input on the transfer switch for the first power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Michael O. Flegel
  • Patent number: 8908355
    Abstract: A combination emergency panelboard includes a relay section and a circuit-breaker section. The relay section includes automatic load control relays and the circuit-breaker section includes emergency circuit breakers. A dielectric barrier is positioned between the relay and circuit-breaker sections to separate them. A busbar is positioned in the circuit-breaker section for distributing a phase of emergency current to a plurality of emergency circuit breakers coupled thereto. A plurality of automatic load control relays is positioned in the relay section. Each of the relays is electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of emergency circuit breakers for distributing the phase of emergency current to a respective load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Heath L. Martin, Scott Jordan, John W. Dyer
  • Patent number: 8755187
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system, which can comprise a basepan comprising a banding stud. The banding stud can be configured to releasably attach a heat sink to the basepan. The heat sink configured to increase a current carrying capacity of a system associated with the basepan from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Fan Zhang, Robert E. Henry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8730653
    Abstract: An interior assembly for a three phase load center. The interior assembly includes a base pan having at least one first module that includes a first receptacle portion and a first base portion. The base pan also includes at least one second module having a second receptacle portion and a second base portion. Each receptacle portion includes a receptacle wall having a receptacle edge portion. Each base portion includes a base wall having a base edge portion wherein upon insertion of the second base portion into the first receptacle portion the receptacle and base edge portions engage to attach the first module to the second module and form a modular base pan. The base pan further includes a bus bar located on a back side of the first and second modules and a plurality of insulators for insulating the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristopher Scott Robinson, Jeffrey Kenton Hudgins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8717746
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus is provided for a switchgear having at least one primary contact to connect to a terminal of a circuit breaker, with a busbar joint connected to the primary contact. The cooling apparatus includes an evaporator associated with the primary contact. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator. Heat pipe structure fluidly connects the evaporator with the condenser. Heat transfer structure is coupled with the busbar joint for removing heat from the busbar joint. Working fluid is in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the heat pipe structure transferring the vapor to the condenser and passively returning condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling the at least one primary contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Patrik Kaufmann, Francoise Molitor
  • Patent number: 8619411
    Abstract: Electrical switchgear comprising electrical switching equipment for a multi-phase electrical power distribution system, a supporting structure for a bus assembly for supplying electrical current to the switching equipment, and a plurality of spaced buses mounted on the supporting structure each for connecting the switching equipment to respective phases of the multi-phase electrical power distribution system. Each bus comprises a plurality of substantially co-planar, spaced, elongated flat conductors arranged with at least one longitudinal edge surface of each conductor in that bus opposed to and spaced from a longitudinal edge surface of another conductor in that same bus, and a connector at each end of said conductors for connecting the plurality of flat conductors in each bus to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric, USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlton R. Rodrigues, Mark J. Fisher, Nicholas J. Pasquerilla, Mauricio Diaz, Jose Carlos Suarez
  • Patent number: 8289680
    Abstract: Embodiment relate to an extruded high power electrical distribution. The bus can be employed in a MCC, a drive cabinet, or any such electrical enclosure to facilitate transmission of power. A body of the bus includes an elongate metal extrusion with first and second ridges extending along a length of the body from opposite edges of the body. Further, the bus includes a first groove and a second groove extending along the length of the body and into the body from a face of the body such that each of the first and second grooves comprises a cross-section having a narrow passage extending from the face into a broader cavity within the body. Additionally, the bus includes machined openings into each groove, wherein each of the machined openings is wider than the width of the corresponding groove to which it provides access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Keegan, Rangarajan M. Tallam, Scott D. Day, Abdolmehdi Kaveh Ahangar
  • Patent number: 7660102
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bus bar block with a first bus bar and a second bus bar, each of which has an insulating enclosure, which is at least partially open on one side across from the base side, with, in each enclosure, at least one terminal bar being arranged on which several terminal lugs are arranged such that they protrude from the enclosure in sections through the at least partially open side, with the two bus bars being arranged on a holding device such that their base areas are facing each other, with the holding device for each terminal bar of one of the two bus bars having an electro-conductive connection element, which is designed such that it can be connected with a first end section using one of the terminal lugs of a terminal bar of the first bus bar and with a second end section using one of the terminal lugs of a terminal bar of the second bus bar and such that it makes a connection to a connection contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Friedrich Gohringer Elektrotechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Friedbert Brütsch
  • Patent number: 7616431
    Abstract: A support assembly is provided for an electrical enclosure including a housing having first and second opposing sides, electrical bus members, and at least one electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. Each of the electrical bus members is electrically connectable to a corresponding one of the circuit breakers. The support assembly includes at least one support member having first and second opposing ends, first and second opposing edges, and a plurality of apertures extending from the first edge toward the second edge and receiving the electrical bus members. A fastener assembly supports the support member(s) between the first and second sides of the housing. Each support member extends only a portion of the width between the first and second sides of the housing, and supports the electrical bus members, without being attached to the housing at a location between the first and second sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley E. Moore, Amy W. Rowell, Michael H. Abrahamsen
  • Patent number: 7548411
    Abstract: This invention prevents a deterioration of efficiency of a power supply apparatus due to a semiconductor power supply voltage drop, prevents an increase in wasted power, and prevents erroneous operations due to feeder wire voltage drop. In the mounting structure of electronic circuits having a plurality of busbars as current paths on a printed circuit board, the plurality of busbars have almost parallel portions spaced a predetermined distance apart; a span of the parallel portions of the plurality of busbars is greater than the predetermined distance; and in the parallel portions of the plurality of busbars, the plurality of busbars are connected by a wiring pattern. In the switching power supply apparatus built on a printed circuit board, with its output voltage of less than 2 V and its output current of more than 100 A, a means is provided for making the power efficiency higher than 70%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideho Yamamura, Naoki Maru, Kazunori Nakajima, Koji Nisisu, Shigeo Oomae
  • Patent number: 7405923
    Abstract: The invention provides a circuit breaker panel with several safety features. The main breaker is separated from the circuit breakers by a non-conducting shield. The main breaker is also covered by a transparent, non-conducting shield. A further transparent non-conducting shield separates the circuit breakers from the neutral and ground bus bars. The neutral and ground bus bars are offset from one another to prevent wire crowding. Bending posts extending from the back plate of the panel help control the wire in the panel to prevent it from crossing bus bars or circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Golden Technology Management, LLC
    Inventors: Sean F. Kelly, John P. Gaus
  • Patent number: 6915567
    Abstract: An housing of a meter unit is inserted from above into a meter unit support hole which is provided in the rear handle cover. Engagement claws of the housing are engaged with claw receiving portions of the rear handle cover, thereby prevent the housing from coming out. Male connector is provided beforehand in the rear handle cover, and inserting the housing of the meter unit into the meter unit support hole causes the female connector of the housing to be automatically connected to the male connector, thus completing the wiring work of the meter unit. The wiring work on the meter unit supported on the rear handle cover of the motorcycle can therefore be performed easily and reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakao, Yukihiro Hayasaka, Hiroshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6905372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power distribution unit with output power terminals and electrical leads with mating portions connected to extensions of the terminals, with adjacent mating portions and connected extensions offset from one another. Alternatively, an electrical power unit may have one or more power output terminals connected to a corresponding number of power distribution circuits by leads, each lead having a portion parallel to and offset from other adjacent leads in a first direction and another portion parallel to and offset from each adjacent lead in a second direction. The present invention further relates to an output power assembly with inner and outer faces, a first set of terminals on the outer face which are electrically connected to a common conductor along the inner face and a second set of terminals each having individual connectors along the inner face, the individual connectors being offset from each adjacent connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Cabrera, Sergio Cardoza
  • Patent number: 6689956
    Abstract: An electrical bus system is disclosed in which first and second bus bar assemblies are provided for conducting electrical currents of respective first and second polarities. A bus duct enclosure is provided for enclosing the bus bar assemblies. The bus duct enclosure is adapted to provide a heat dissipative configuration. In one aspect of the invention, the bus duct enclosure can be formed of a substantially polycarbonate material, for providing conductive heat dissipation from the bus bar assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Southwestern Battery Supply Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Alexander, Larry A. Carson, Lloyd D. Sparks, John T. Leding
  • Patent number: 6642457
    Abstract: An insulator is specified for an electrical busbar system having at least one rail (5), which is in the form of an integral axially symmetrical body (1) and has a hole (3) along the axis of symmetry (2), with a mounting surface (4), which is vertically at a distance from the hole (3) and extends radially as far as the rim region of the body (1), being provided on each of the end faces of the body (1) with respect to the axis of symmetry (2), in order to make flat contact with a rail (5). Furthermore, an essentially ribbed first surface (6) extends in the radial direction between the hole (3) and the mounting surface (4). Furthermore, an insulator system having at least two insulators is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Jochen Rees, Peter Maier
  • Patent number: 6489567
    Abstract: A device for connecting bus bars of a bus bar system with connectors of a piece of electric installation equipment using connecting pieces, which are cut, angled and/or bent from a rectangular flat material. The cost for different bar elements for the connection can be reduced without a need to surrender adaptation to the transmission of current strenghts of different sizes because the connecting pieces are respectively formed by several identical bar elements which are held, vertically with respect to their width, at a distance from each other which corresponds to a thickness of the flat material. The bar elements are maintained apart by a packaging holder which has alternating spacers and holding plates perpendicular with respect to a broad side of the bar elements. The holding plates delimit receivers for the bar elements on both sides of the packaging holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Rittal Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Zachrai
  • Patent number: 6479751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact disc (1) for a conducting plate (2) of busbars, comprising a contact surface (3) projecting upwards with respect to the surface of the conducting plate where the contact surface (3) is integral with the conducting plate (2) and where the segment-shaped slots (4a, 4b 14) are arranged all around, to make possible a deformation of the plate without a significant reduction of the surface of the contact disc provided for receiving an electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Didier Bisson, Philippe Guyon, Christian Pernot
  • Patent number: 6381122
    Abstract: A bus bar system having several bus bars spaced apart from each other in a first connecting plane and of an essentially square cross section and having T-shaped connecting grooves cut into all outsides for a connection with electrical installation devices having flat connectors in a second connecting plane, which is arranged perpendicular to the first connecting plane. With specially embodied connecting and insulating elements, it is possible to displace the connecting planes of the bus bars and of the flat connectors of the installations device parallel and perpendicular with respect to each other without it being necessary to perform elaborate matching assembly work at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Rittal Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans Wagener
  • Patent number: 6205019
    Abstract: A switchboard for mounting and supplying electrical power to a plurality of circuit breakers has all the breakers are mounted on one side of a vertical power stack. The power stack has vertical buses to which the breakers are connected. Insulators and spacers provide air ventilation paths through the power stack. The main bus connecting members on the other side of the power stack from the breakers and are spaced apart vertically to allow for improved heat dissipation. By using vertical bus connectors, the bus connecting members may be connected to through bus connectors at any height on the back of the switchboard. The main bus connecting members are in a vertical chimney for improved heat dissipation. The circuit breaker at the highest location (the “A” phase) has the highest temperature and in the present invention, the main bus connecting member for the A phase is in the highest position to place it closest to the heat source and thereby improve the heat conduction away from the breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Krom
  • Patent number: 6141206
    Abstract: Main circuit breakers and/or tie circuit breakers are connected by upper and lower disconnects to upper and lower sections, respectively, of split risers in a low voltage switchgear assembly. An upper horizontal bus is connected to the upper sections of the split risers while a lower horizontal bus is connected to the lower sections. However, with the main or tie breaker mounted in the "C" position of a switchgear section, the gap between the upper and lower sections of the split risers is positioned vertically such that one of the phase conductors of the lower horizontal bus is above the gap. A unique connector extends downward from this phase conductor and is connected to the corresponding phase of the lower section of the vertical bus through the lower stab which engages the lower disconnect for the main or tie breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney William Bruner, William Edward Wilkie, II
  • Patent number: 6111745
    Abstract: The interface conductors, stabs and runbacks, which are engaged at first ends by quick disconnects on electrical apparatus in a switchgear assembly, are fabricated from a stacked pair of elongated, flat conductors secured together at the first ends by elongated fasteners which are compressed into countersunk through apertures in the flat conductors to form a joint with no lateral projections. The interface conductors are supported adjacent the disconnects by a first support having a base member with through openings in which the conductors are snugly supported, and rigid projections with planar surfaces extending from the base member toward the quick disconnects alongside the openings and against which the interface conductors are secured adjacent free ends of the projections. A second support spaced rearward of the first support provides additional support for the runbacks. Interphase supports formed by C-channels are provided for the runbacks between the first and second supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William Edward Wilkie, II, Rodney William Bruner, Neal Edward Rowe, Steven Dale Walker
  • Patent number: 5450282
    Abstract: A circuit breaker support saddle is assembled automatically from three plastic support pieces without welding or using separate fasteners to secure the pieces together. The metal circuit breaker support rails are positioned onto blocks integrally formed on the two outermost pieces to mechanically hold the pieces together as a single unit. The circuit breaker stab support busses are retained within elongated slots formed within the outer edges of the central support piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy W. Webber, Robert G. Markowski, Peter F. Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 5337211
    Abstract: A plastic panel has a central row of openings, each having a forwardly facing shelf at one end, a plurality of rearwardly directed posts having forwardly facing shoulders, a plurality of projections proximate the respective openings, each projection having a forward facing shoulder a plurality of resilient latches integrally molded in the panel, and lateral sidewalls extending rearwardly well beyond a main body portion of the panel, the sidewalls being parallel to the row of openings. A bus bar selected from two different width bus bars has a plurality of holes to be disposed over the posts and a plurality of branch circuit fingers extending transversely to the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Reiner, David L. Vogel