Patent Application
20140253268
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A transfer switch is an electrical switch that reconnects an electric power source from a primary source to a standby source. A transfer switch may be manually or automatically operated. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) may include an operator-panel portion and a pole-assembly portion. The operator-panel portion may include at least one solenoid and associated wiring. Operator-panel portions having a single solenoid or operator-panel portions having dual solenoids are common in existing ATSs. Further, pole-assembly portions of ATSs commonly include a switch that indicates the operational state of the ATS. For instance, the switch may have respective positions that correspond to a normal-operation position and an emergency-operation position.
In one example aspect, a cover assembly for an automatic transfer switch (ATS) is provided. The ATS may include an operator-panel portion and a pole-assembly portion, wherein the operator-panel portion comprises at least one solenoid and associated wiring. The cover assembly includes an operator-panel cover and a pole-assembly cover. The operator-panel cover is configured to cover the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed. Further, the operator-panel cover includes a first plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation. Still further, the pole-assembly cover is configured to cover the pole-assembly portion. The pole-assembly cover includes a second plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation.
In an example embodiment, the pole-assembly portion includes a switch having a plurality of positions comprising a normal-operation position and an emergency-operation position, and the pole-assembly cover includes a side-viewing panel configured to allow an operator to identify each of the plurality of positions of the switch. In another example embodiment, the operator-panel cover comprises a locking arrangement, wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one snap-fit locking mechanism configured to interact with at least one corresponding snap-fit locking mechanism of the ATS. In yet another example embodiment, the operator-panel cover is configured for use with a dual solenoid arrangement as well as a single solenoid arrangement.
In another example aspect, an operator-panel cover for an operator-panel portion of an ATS is provided. The operator-panel portion may include at least one solenoid and associated wiring. The operator-panel cover may include (i) a body configured to cover the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed and (ii) a locking arrangement, wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one snap-fit locking mechanism configured to interact with at least one corresponding snap-fit locking mechanism of the ATS.
In yet another example aspect, a pole-assembly cover for a pole-assembly portion of an ATS is provided. The pole-assembly portion may include a switch having a plurality of positions comprising a normal-operation position and an emergency-operation position. The pole-assembly cover includes (i) a body configured to substantially cover the pole-assembly portion including the switch; (ii) a plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation disposed on the body; and (iii) a side-viewing panel positioned on a side of the body corresponding to a location of the switch on the pole-assembly portion, the side-viewing panel configured to allow an operator to identify each of the plurality of positions of the switch.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the figures and the following detailed description.
a is an illustration of the example operator-panel cover shown in
b is an exploded view of the operator-panel cover of
a is an illustration of the example pole-assembly cover shown in
b is an exploded view of the pole-assembly cover of
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) is an electrical switch that reconnects an electric power source from a primary source to a standby source. High speed transfer of loads between alternate sources of power may be achieved by a solenoid-operating mechanism in the ATS. An ATS may include an operator-panel portion and a pole-assembly portion. The operator-panel portion may include at least one solenoid and associated wiring and components. In this regard, operator-panel portions having a single solenoid or operator-panel portions having dual solenoids are common in existing ATSs.
Various safety concerns and issues are associated with the operation, maintenance, and repair of an ATS. For instance, an ATS may operate at high voltages, and thus extreme care must be taken during operation of the ATS and/or when an operator is working with an ATS (e.g., during installation or maintenance of the ATS). Therefore, it is important that an ATS be appropriately covered during installation and operation of the ATS.
Existing ATS covers or cover assemblies have numerous drawbacks. For instance, an ATS having a single-solenoid arrangement requires a different cover than an ATS having a dual-solenoid arrangement. As mentioned above, operator-panel portions having a single solenoid and operator-panel portions having dual solenoids are common in existing ATSs. However, different covers being required for different solenoid arrangements may be undesirable for a number of reasons, including but not limited to lack of interchangeability, manufacturing and cost reasons, and installation/repair time. In addition, existing covers do not cover the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed. Rather, existing covers cover the at least one solenoid while leaving the associated wiring exposed. However, due to the requirements of the safety of the operator as well as to protect the solenoid assembly and related wiring and harness, for example, it may be beneficial to substantially enclose the at least one solenoid and associated wiring.
Cover assembly 104 has numerous example disadvantages. For example, the operator panel 106 is not fully enclosed by the operator-panel cover 110. For instance, the operator panel 106 includes a first solenoid, a second solenoid, and associated wiring 118 and other components. This associated wiring 118 is fully exposed in system 100. As another example, the operator-cover portion 110 includes a separate cover for each solenoid of ATS 102. Specifically, the operator-panel cover 110 includes solenoid cover 114 and solenoid cover 116. As mentioned above, having multiple solenoid covers may be undesirable for numerous reasons. For example, installation of the operator-panel cover requires installation of a plurality of covers. Further, maintenance may require more time due to the need to remove each of the plurality of operator-panel covers 114 and 116 separately.
The disclosed cover assembly beneficially offers an improved cover for ATSs, such as for both single-solenoid ATSs and dual-solenoid ATSs. The cover assembly described herein is an improved cover assembly for an ATS that comprises an operator-panel portion and a pole-assembly portion, wherein the operator-panel portion comprises at least one solenoid and associated wiring. The cover assembly may include an operator-panel cover configured to cover the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed, the operator-panel cover comprising a first plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation. Further, the cover assembly may include a pole-assembly cover configured to cover the pole-assembly portion, the pole-assembly cover comprising a second plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation.
The disclosed cover assembly may address the aforementioned problems by covering the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed. Further, the operator-panel portion may be configured to cover both a single-solenoid arrangement and a dual-solenoid arrangement, beneficially avoiding the need for separate covers for each solenoid of the ATS.
In an example, components included in the operator-panel portion may include a solenoid assembly, a weight and CAM shaft assembly, and an auxiliary contact assembly. The solenoid assembly may include a coil, core tube, moving core, link, spring, and brackets. Electrical supply is to be given to the solenoid assembly due to which it generated electromagnetically attracting force for moving core and thus the whole mechanism operated. Further, the weight and CAM shaft assembly may be connected to solenoid assembly through link. When solenoid operated link pull over the weight shaft assembly. There is a CAM bearing fixed with the weight and CAM shaft assembly which slides along the slots of the drive lever plate in the pole cover area. Still further, the auxiliary contact assembly may be used to provide the position status of the switch to the controller. [INVENTORS: PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE POLE-ASSEMBLY PORTION.]
Additional views of system 200, operator-panel cover 210, and/or pole-assembly cover 212 are shown in
In an example embodiment, the operator-panel cover 210 prevents access to the solenoid(s) and associated wiring when the operator-panel cover 210 is installed over the operator-panel portion 206. As mentioned above, existing operator-panel covers may only cover the solenoid(s), while leaving the associated wiring and other components uncovered (e.g., as shown in
In an example embodiment, the operator-panel cover 210 and pole-assembly cover 212 are separate covers, such that the operator-panel cover 210 and pole-assembly cover 212 may be removed from the ATS 202 independently. For instance, as can be seen clearly in
In an example embodiment, the operator-panel cover 210 is configured for use with a dual solenoid arrangement as well as a single solenoid arrangement. For example, with reference to
Beneficially, the disclosed cover assembly 204 is configured to be used with a plurality of different ATS designs and solenoid configurations. Different ATS designs include, without limitation, open transistor switch ATSs, closed transition transfer switching ATSs, and delayed transition transfer switching ATSs. In an example, an ATS having an open transistor switch may only require a single solenoid arrangement. As another example, an ATS having a closed or delayed switch may require a dual solenoid arrangement. The disclosed cover assembly 204 is a versatile cover assembly, as the operator-panel cover 210 may be used on a plurality of these different ATSs, such as ATSs having different solenoid arrangements. Further, an additional benefit of the disclosed cover assembly is that, since the disclosed operator-panel cover 210 is a single cover that can cover a dual solenoid arrangement, time spent removing the cover of a dual solenoid arrangement may be significantly reduced (as opposed to existing covers that require a separate cover for each solenoid). With reference to
i. Pole-Assembly Cover with Side-Viewing Panel
In an example embodiment, the pole-assembly portion of the ATS may include a switch having a plurality of positions comprising a normal-operation position and an emergency-operation position. For instance, with reference to
It may be beneficial to substantially cover the switch portion, in order to provide improved protection for the ATS and an additional safety measure. The disclosed cover assembly 204 beneficially substantially covers the switch while simultaneously allowing an operator to view the status of the switch. In particular, the pole-assembly cover 212 includes a side-viewing panel configured to allow an operator to identify each of the plurality of positions of the switch.
An example side-viewing panel 230 is depicted in detail in
Although pole-assembly cover 212 is shown as including two slots corresponding to two operational positions, it should be understood that more or fewer slots are possible as well, depending on the number of positions of a switch. For instance, the switch could have three or more operation positions, and the side-viewing panel may include three or more slots. In another example, rather than slots, the side-viewing panel may include at least one hole, wherein each of the at least one hole is positioned so as to allow viewing of a respective position of the plurality of positions. Other configurations of the side-viewing panel are possible as well.
ii. Improved Locking Arrangement for Operator-Panel Cover
The disclosed operator-panel cover also includes an improved locking arrangement for the cover assembly for an ATS. In particular, the operator-panel cover 210 may include a locking arrangement that comprises at least one snap-fit locking mechanism configured to interact with to at least one corresponding snap-fit locking mechanism of ATS 202. For example, as shown in detail in
In another example, the locking arrangement for the operator-panel cover may include a plurality of holes for bolting the operator-panel cover to the operator-panel portion. A locking arrangement of this type may extend the installation and removal time of the operator-panel, as compared to the installation and removal time of an operator-panel cover having a snap-fit locking arrangement. For instance, the operator-panel cover 210 includes slots 280 and 282, which may be configured for mounting (e.g., bolting) the operator-panel cover to the operator-panel portion. [INVENTORS: IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS ABOUT THE MODIFIED FIGURES THAT SHOW THE MODIFIED GEOMETRY FOR MOUNTING. FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS NEW GEOMETRY, OR DOES IT SUFFICE TO MENTION, AS STATED ABOVE, THAT THIS GEOMETRY MAY BE USED FOR MOUNTING (E.G, BOLTING) THE COVER TO THE OPERATOR PANEL?)]
The pole-assembly cover 212 may also include a locking arrangement for attaching the pole-assembly cover to the pole-assembly portion. In an example, as can be seen in
In an example, the pole-assembly cover 212 includes at least one flap that may provide for lug isolation. For instance, the ATS may include at least one lug, and the pole-assembly cover may include at least one flap, wherein each of the at least one flap is configured to isolate a first lug of the at least one lug from a second lug of the at least one lug.
As seen in
iii. Operator-Panel Cover Without Ventilation Louvers
As mentioned above, the operator-panel cover 210 may include a plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation. In another example embodiment, the operator-panel cover may be provided without ventilation louvers. Rather, at least one side of the operator-panel cover may be designed such that heat dissipation may occur from the operator-panel portion to the external environment through the side of the operator-panel cover. With reference to
iv. Example Materials for Cover Assembly The cover assembly 204 may be made of any suitable materials for covering an ATS. In general, any plastic with adequate fire-retardant properties may be used for the cover assembly 204. For instance, example suitable materials include, but are not limited to, SABIC N-190/EN-212 (i.e., Noryl™ Resin N190 or Noryl™ Resin EN212).
As described above, the proposed cover assembly provides and improved cover assembly for an ATS. For example, the disclosed cover assembly may cover the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed. This may beneficially provide improved protection for the operator-panel cover. As another example, the operator-panel portion may be configured to cover both a single-solenoid arrangement and a dual-solenoid arrangement, beneficially avoiding the need for separate covers for each solenoid of the ATS. As yet another example, the disclosed cover assembly includes and improved locking mechanism that may, for example, provide a more simple installation of the ATS and cover assembly.
In addition, in accordance with an embodiment, the disclosed cover assembly may be used with any suitable transfer switch, such as a manual transfer switch (i.e., non-automatic transfer switches). The cover assembly may also be suitable for additional electrical and electronic equipment, such as power meters and switchgear products.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 689/MUM/2013 | Mar 2013 | IN | national |
The present application is a non-provisional of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/448,576 filed Mar. 13, 2013, which claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 689/MUM/2013 filed Mar. 7, 2013. The entire disclosure contents of these applications are herewith incorporated by reference into the present application.
