Patent Grant
11676776
This application claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 202021024790 entitled “A Finger Safe Cover For a Terminal of an Electrical Switching Device” filed on Jun. 12, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
The present disclosure relates to sealed electrical enclosures with circuit breakers/switches/fuses for use in hazardous locations inside an electrical panelboard. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to finger-safe requirements for breaker modules from electrical panel boards.
IPXXB protection level: High voltage sources are enclosed in barriers that prevent direct human contact with the high voltage sources. The ‘ingress protection (IP)’ levels are defined as per size of the test tools that represent the smallest object that should not contact with the high voltage source. IPXXB protection prevents incidental contact of the hazardous part (i.e., the high voltage source) with a human finger. An IPXXB probe is a jointed test finger of 12 mm diameter and 80 mm length.
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
The users of an electrical panelboard such as electricians and maintenance personnel often interact with panelboards for wiring or maintenance routines. These personnel often tend to handle the panelboard while the circuit breaker terminals are electrically live. The personnel need to always stay alert to ensure that they do not touch the live terminals.
Most of the existing arrangements are not electrically mistake-proof. There is a possibility of the user touching the live parts. If the user touches the live terminal components, there is a hazard of electrocution.
While certain terminals from existing arrangements of circuit breakers have the provision to meet finger safe requirements, they are designed to suit only a single specification of a conducting cable. Circuit breakers are often required to connect with conducting cables which vary in size.
Certain other arrangements involve use of accessories to meet finger safe requirements, which adds to the cost as well as requires the user to be more alert and use the accessory to prevent any hazard.
Thus, there is a need of a finger safe arrangement for a circuit breaker terminal, which ameliorates the aforementioned issues.
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
A primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a finger safe arrangement for an electrical switching device.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a finger safe arrangement for an electrical switching device, which passes the standard requirements for ingress protection.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a finger safe arrangement for an electrical switching device, which accommodates a plurality of sizes of conducting cables.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a finger safe arrangement for an electrical switching device, which eliminates the need of safety accessories.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a finger safe arrangement for an electrical switching device, which is easy to install.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure envisages a finger safe cover for a terminal of an electrical switching device. The finger safe cover comprises a cover body with an expandable aperture section. The expandable aperture section is located on the cover body to allow a conducting cable to pass therethrough and make electrical contact with the terminal.
In an embodiment, the expandable aperture section has an annulus defining a primary aperture and a frangible coupling section defined in the operative outer periphery of the annulus. The primary aperture is configured to allow a first conducting cable of a first diameter to pass therethrough. The coupling section is configured to couple the annulus to the cover body. The aperture section defines a secondary aperture that is configured to be revealed when the annulus is detached from the cover body by breaking the coupling section. The secondary aperture is configured to allow a second conducting cable of a second diameter that is greater than that of the conducting cable of the first diameter to pass therethrough. In an embodiment, the coupling section is defined by ribs connecting the primary aperture with the secondary aperture. The ribs are separated by slits. In another embodiment, the coupling section is defined by serrations provided along the operative outer perimeter of the primary aperture. In an embodiment, annuli are concentrically cascaded with couplings sections defined between adjacent annuli.
In another embodiment, the expandable aperture section has an annular window defining a primary aperture and having coupling tabs in the operative outer periphery of the annular window, and a secondary aperture. The primary aperture is configured to allow a first conducting cable of a first diameter to pass therethrough. The coupling tabs are configured to facilitate mounting of the annular window on the cover body. The secondary aperture is configured to be revealed when the annular window is removed from the cover body. The secondary aperture is configured to allow to pass therethrough a second conducting cable of a second diameter that is greater than that of the first conducting cable. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling tabs are configured to snap-fit onto the rim of the secondary aperture. In an embodiment, annular windows are configured to be mounted in a concentrically cascading manner.
Typically, the cover body of the finger safe cover has a front plate, a bottom plate and two side plates, wherein the expandable aperture section is located on the front plate and the fitment of the finger safe cover on the housing of the electrical switching device is facilitated through the side plates and the bottom plate.
In an embodiment, the finger safe cover has a pair of ears configured to allow snap-fitment of the finger safe cover on the housing of the electrical switching device.
The finger safe cover is adapted to be fitted between the terminal and an explosion-proof enclosure.
Preferably, the finger safe cover is made of an insulating transparent material.
A finger safe cover, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component or section from another component or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Personnel handling an electrical panelboard while the circuit breaker terminals are electrically live always need to stay alert to ensure that they do not touch the live terminals. Certain existing arrangements of covering the terminals are not fool-proof and thus pose risk for the users. While certain terminals from existing arrangements of circuit breakers have the provision to meet finger safe requirements, they are designed to suit only a single specification of a conducting cable. Circuit breakers are often required to connect with a range of conducting cables which vary in size. Certain other arrangements also use accessories to meet finger safe requirements, which is an additional cost as well as a hassle.
There is a need of a finger safe arrangement for an electrical switching device which passes the standard requirements for ingress protection (IPXXB test), accommodates a plurality of sizes of conducting cables, eliminates the need of safety accessories and is easy to install.
The present disclosure envisages a finger safe cover for a terminal of an electrical switching device. The finger safe cover comprises a cover body with an expandable aperture section. The expandable aperture section is located on the cover body to allow a conducting cable to pass therethrough and make electrical contact with the terminal. Typically, the cover body of the finger safe cover has a front plate, a bottom plate and two side plates, wherein the expandable aperture section is located on the front plate and the fitment of the finger safe cover on the housing of the electrical switching device is facilitated through the side plates and the bottom plate, e.g., by providing holes for threaded fasteners.
One embodiment of a finger safe cover 100a of the present disclosure is illustrated with the help of
In another embodiment, the coupling section 126a is defined by serrations provided along the operative outer perimeter of the primary aperture 124a. The annulus 122a can be broken from the cover body 110a by using a simple tool such as a screwdriver. In an embodiment, annuli are concentrically cascaded in the cover body 110a with couplings sections defined between adjacent annuli. Thus, a range of conducting cables of different diameters can be passed through the finger safe cover while maintaining safety.
In another embodiment that is illustrated through
As shown in
The finger safe cover of the present disclosure is adapted to be fitted between the terminal and an explosion-proof enclosure (not illustrated in Figures). In an embodiment, the finger safe cover is adapted to snugly fit between ribs of an F-frame circuit breaker and the bosses at the bottom of the housing.
Preferably, the finger safe cover is made of an insulating transparent material that makes it not only safe but convenient for placement and handling, by allowing visibility of the inner conducting cables and any open wires.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a finger safe cover for an electrical switching device, that:
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202021024790 | Jun 2020 | IN | national |
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| 209328811 | Aug 2019 | CN |
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| Entry |
|---|
| First Examination Report (FER) of Indian Patent Application No. 202021024790 dated Dec. 30, 2021, pp. 1-6. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220059300 A1 | Feb 2022 | US |
