Abstract: A switchgear enclosure includes a first circuit breaker compartment having an opening therein defining a first air outlet. A second circuit breaker compartment is adjacent to and vertically below the first circuit breaker compartment. A first door is associated with the first circuit breaker compartment and a second door is associated with the second circuit breaker compartment, with each door having an opening therein defining a door air inlet. A main bus compartment is adjacent to at least the second circuit breaker compartment and has an opening therein defining a second air outlet. An air passage fluidly connects the second circuit breaker compartment with the main bus compartment so that air entering through the door air inlet of the second door can flow into the main bus compartment via the air passage and flow out of the second air outlet.

Abstract: A unique electrical switchgear system may include a circuit breaker compartment having a compartment wall. The electrical switchgear system may also include a tapered floor pan mounted on the compartment wall. The floor pan may have two side walls disposed oblique to each other; a back wall; and a top wall coupled to the side walls and defining a discharge opening adjacent to the back wall. The two side walls, the top wall and the compartment wall may form a tunnel for channeling cooling air in a first direction. The back wall may be operative to redirect the cooling air in a second direction different from the first direction for discharging the cooling air from the discharge opening.

Abstract: A switchgear enclosure includes a first circuit breaker compartment having an opening therein defining a first air outlet. A second circuit breaker compartment is adjacent to and vertically below the first circuit breaker compartment. A first door is associated with the first circuit breaker compartment and a second door is associated with the second circuit breaker compartment, with each door having an opening therein defining a door air inlet. A main bus compartment is adjacent to at least the second circuit breaker compartment and has an opening therein defining a second air outlet. An air passage fluidly connects the second circuit breaker compartment with the main bus compartment so that air entering through the door air inlet of the second door can flow into the main bus compartment via the air passage and flow out of the second air outlet.

Abstract: A door for an arc-resistant compartment includes an opening there-through. Flap structure includes a flap member coupled to the door and movable between an opened position permitting air to pass through the opening, and a closed position covering the opening. Spring structure is engaged with the flap member to bias the flap member to the closed position. Handle structure is coupled to the flap member and extends through the door for moving the flap member to the opened position against the bias of the spring structure. Retaining structure provides a retaining force on the flap member to retain the flap member in the open position, against the bias of the spring structure. During an arcing event in the compartment, pressure within the compartment together with the bias of the spring structure overcomes the retaining force to automatically move the flap member to the closed position.

Abstract: An electrical switchgear system includes a first compartment supplied with cooling air and in fluid communication with an exhaust plenum. A second compartment is in fluid communication with the exhaust plenum. A deflector is operative to deflect an amount of the cooling air from the first compartment and direct it into the second compartment. An electrical switchgear system having switchgear in an enclosure includes a first compartment disposed inside the enclosure and supplied with cooling air. A second compartment is disposed inside the enclosure. A deflector is operative to capture an amount of the cooling air from the first compartment and direct it into the second compartment.

Abstract: A compartment of an arc resistant enclosure for an electrical component includes a plurality of wall structures defining an interior space for housing an electrical component. One of the wall structures has aperture structure for permitting pressure and gases to flow there-from and vent from the compartment. A stop structure is associated with the aperture structure. Flap structure is associated with the aperture structure and is movable from a closed position covering the aperture structure to an opened position extending outwardly of the compartment permitting pressure and gas to exit the compartment through the aperture structure. In the closed position, a portion of the flap structure engages the stop structure to prevent the flap structure from collapsing into the interior space of the compartment.

Abstract: A containment system for internal arc generated gasses includes a compartment having an aperture through a wall thereof. A bus compartment includes an opening through a wall thereof. Arc chamber is in communication with the aperture and the opening. A vent flap member closes the opening and is moveable to an open position to permit gasses to flow through the opening into the arc chamber. Flap structure is associated with the aperture and includes a plurality of interconnected flaps for moving generally simultaneously from an open position, permitting gasses to flow through the aperture into the arc chamber, to a closed position, closing the aperture to prevent gasses from flowing through the aperture. The flap structure includes actuating structure coupled with the interconnected flaps. The vent flap member, when moved to the open position thereof, engages the actuating structure to move the interconnected flaps to the closed position thereof.

Abstract: An electrical switchgear system includes a first compartment supplied with cooling air and in fluid communication with an exhaust plenum. A second compartment is in fluid communication with the exhaust plenum. A deflector is operative to deflect an amount of the cooling air from the first compartment and direct it into the second compartment. An electrical switchgear system having switchgear in an enclosure includes a first compartment disposed inside the enclosure and supplied with cooling air. A second compartment is disposed inside the enclosure. A deflector is operative to capture an amount of the cooling air from the first compartment and direct it into the second compartment.

Abstract: A bushing structure for switchgear includes first and second separate support structures each having surfaces defining at least one opening. The support structures are coupled together so that the openings define a passage through the bushing structure and so that a slot is defined between the first and second support structures, surrounding the passage. A bushing is disposed in the passage and has a body, a bus receiving member, and a compression structure. The bus receiving member has an opening there-through sized to receive a bus bar. When the first and second support structures are coupled together with the bushing in the passage, the compression structure is disposed in the slot, sandwiched between the first and second support structures so that they exert pressure on the compression structure.

Abstract: A unique electrical switchgear system may include a circuit breaker compartment having a compartment wall. The electrical switchgear system may also include a tapered floor pan mounted on the compartment wall. The floor pan may have two side walls disposed oblique to each other; a back wall; and a top wall coupled to the side walls and defining a discharge opening adjacent to the back wall. The two side walls, the top wall and the compartment wall may form a tunnel for channeling cooling air in a first direction. The back wall may be operative to redirect the cooling air in a second direction different from the first direction for discharging the cooling air from the discharge opening.

Abstract: A door for an arc-resistant compartment includes an opening there-through. Flap structure includes a flap member coupled to the door and movable between an opened position permitting air to pass through the opening, and a closed position covering the opening. Spring structure is engaged with the flap member to bias the flap member to the closed position. Handle structure is coupled to the flap member and extends through the door for moving the flap member to the opened position against the bias of the spring structure. Retaining structure provides a retaining force on the flap member to retain the flap member in the open position, against the bias of the spring structure. During an arcing event in the compartment, pressure within the compartment together with the bias of the spring structure overcomes the retaining force to automatically move the flap member to the closed position.

Abstract: A multipoint door latch apparatus for use in a switchgear enclosure comprising a door assembly, a latch handle and latch handle mechanism, a plurality of catch tabs affixed to the face frame of the enclosure. Top, side, and bottom latch bars in latch bar chambers are provided, each having at least one latch tooth and being linked by latch bar linkages such that a displacement of one latch bar along results in the same magnitude displacement in the other two latch bars. The catch tabs or latch teeth, or both, are tapered to provide a suitable seal between the door assembly and the enclosure when the door assembly is latched.

Abstract: A compartment of an arc resistant enclosure for an electrical component includes a plurality of wall structures defining an interior space for housing an electrical component. One of the wall structures has aperture structure for permitting pressure and gases to flow there-from and vent from the compartment. A stop structure is associated with the aperture structure. Flap structure is associated with the aperture structure and is movable from a closed position covering the aperture structure to an opened position extending outwardly of the compartment permitting pressure and gas to exit the compartment through the aperture structure. In the closed position, a portion of the flap structure engages the stop structure to prevent the flap structure from collapsing into the interior space of the compartment.

Abstract: A truck (12?) for mounting a circuit breaker (13) in a switchgear frame (14?) includes wheels (16), a racking screw (20), a nut (22) threaded with the racking screw. The nut floats linearly with respect to the truck. A spring (23) is provided between a portion of the truck and the nut such that during movement of the truck into the frame, rotation of the racking screw causes linear movement of the nut, with the nut pushing against the spring, with the spring pushing the truck to move the truck linearly. Locking structure is coupled with the such that when the truck is stopped and the racking screw continues to rotate, the nut will move to compress the spring, causing the locking structure to move from an unlocked position, disengaged with the frame, to a locked position, engaged with the frame.

Abstract: A contact arm assembly (10) for a switchgear circuit breaker includes a contact arm (11) having a groove (42) in an outer periphery surface thereof. At least one contact finger (13) has a body (38) and a ball member (40) extending from the body. The ball member is received in the groove so that the contact finger makes contact with the contact arm. The contact arm includes a shaft (14) having a longitudinal axis, first and second ends (18, 28), and a constant outside diameter. A plurality of annular rings (16) extends from the outside diameter of the shaft. The rings are spaced along the longitudinal axis to define cooling fins. Diameters of the rings gradually decrease from the first end to generally the center of the shaft, and then gradually increase to the second end of the shaft.

Abstract: A bushing structure for switchgear includes first and second separate support structures (30, 32) each having surfaces defining at least one opening (48). The support structures are coupled together so that the openings define a passage (49) through the bushing structure and so that a slot (50) is defined between the first and second support structures, surrounding the passage. A bushing (40) is disposed in the passage and has a body (42), a bus receiving member (44), and a compression structure (45). The bus receiving member has an opening (46) there-through sized to receive a bus bar (28). When the first and second support structures are coupled together with the bushing in the passage, the compression structure is disposed in the slot, sandwiched between the first and second support structures so that they exert pressure on the compression structure.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling a switchgear is provided. The switchgear has one or more primary contacts supported by a bushing and constructed and arranged to connect to a terminal of a circuit breaker. The cooling apparatus includes at least one evaporator associated with each primary contact, a condenser apparatus located at a higher elevation than the at least one evaporator, fluid conduit structure connecting the at least one evaporator with the condenser apparatus, and electrically insulating working fluid in at least one evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the fluid conduit structure being constructed and arranged to transfer the vapor to the condenser apparatus and to passively return condensed working fluid back to the at least one evaporator.

Abstract: A containment system for internal arc generated gasses includes a compartment having an aperture through a wall thereof. A bus compartment includes an opening through a wall thereof. Arc chamber is in communication with the aperture and the opening. A vent flap member closes the opening and is moveable to an open position to permit gasses to flow through the opening into the arc chamber. Flap structure is associated with the apertore and includes a plurality of interconnected flaps for moving generally simultaneously from an open position, permitting gasses to flow through the aperture into the arc chamber, to a closed position, closing the aperture to prevent gasses from flowing through the aperture. The flap structure includes actuating structure coupled with the interconnected flaps. The vent flap member, when moved to the open position thereof, engages the actuating structure to move the interconnected flaps to the closed position thereof.

Abstract: A multipoint door latch apparatus for use in a switchgear enclosure comprising a door assembly, a latch handle and latch handle mechanism, a plurality of catch tabs affixed to the face frame of the enclosure. Top, side, and bottom latch bars in latch bar chambers are provided, each having at least one latch tooth and being linked by latch bar linkages such that a displacement of one latch bar along results in the same magnitude displacement in the other two latch bars. The catch tabs or latch teeth, or both, are tapered to provide a suitable seal between the door assembly and the enclosure when the door assembly is latched.

Abstract: A contact arm assembly (10) for a switchgear circuit breaker includes a contact arm (11) having a groove (42) in an outer periphery surface thereof. At least one contact finger (13) has a body (38) and a ball member (40) extending from the body. The ball member is received in the groove so that the contact finger makes contact with the contact arm. The contact arm includes a shaft (14) having a longitudinal axis, first and second ends (18, 28), and a constant outside diameter. A plurality of annular rings (16) extends from the outside diameter of the shaft. The rings are spaced along the longitudinal axis to define cooling fins. Diameters of the rings gradually decrease from the first end to generally the center of the shaft, and then gradually increase to the second end of the shaft.