The present invention relates to generator set systems, and, more particularly, to circuit breaker cabinets of generator set systems.
A generator set system (also known as a genset system) is known to include an engine and a generator. The engine produces mechanical energy, and the generator converts the mechanical energy produced by the engine into electrical energy, which is used to power one or more other electrically powered devices, the electrical load.
The genset system can also include a circuit breaker electrically coupled between the generator and the electrical load. This circuit breaker can be a part of a circuit breaker cabinet, which forms a part of the genset system. The circuit breaker cabinet can help to facilitate the electrical coupling of the circuit breaker with upstream (power supply side) and downstream (electrical load side) electrical conductors.
A problem exists with current circuit breaker cabinets. A user may be able to readily interface with a front end (which includes a face that faces forward) of the circuit breaker. However, for example, the circuit breaker face and quick coupling cable receptacles provisions were historically only able to be realized on opposite sides of the circuit breaker cabinet.
What is needed in the art is easier access to at least one way for electrically coupling an electrical device which is external to the circuit breaker cabinet.
The present invention provides a circuit breaker cabinet including a circuit breaker device and an electrical connector apparatus which is spaced apart from the circuit breaker device and includes a front end with a user interface.
The invention in one form is directed to a generator set system, including: a support apparatus; a circuit breaker cabinet coupled with the support apparatus, the circuit breaker cabinet including: a housing including a first region and a second region which is spatially separated from the first region; a circuit breaker device coupled with the housing, being within the first region, and including a front end with a user interface; and an electrical connector apparatus coupled with the housing, being within the second region, and including a front end with a user interface.
The invention in another form is directed to a circuit breaker cabinet for a generator set system, the generator set system including a support apparatus, the circuit breaker cabinet being coupled with the support apparatus, the circuit breaker cabinet including: a housing including a first region and a second region which is spatially separated from the first region; a circuit breaker device coupled with the housing, being within the first region, and including a front end with a user interface; and an electrical connector apparatus coupled with the housing, being within the second region, and including a front end with a user interface.
The invention in yet another form is directed to a method of using a generator set system, the method including the steps of: providing a support apparatus and a circuit breaker cabinet coupled with the support apparatus, the circuit breaker cabinet including a housing, a circuit breaker device, and an electrical connector apparatus, the housing including a first region and a second region which is spatially separated from the first region; coupling the circuit breaker device with the housing, the circuit breaker device being within the first region and including a front end with a user interface; and coupling the electrical connector apparatus with the housing, the electrical connector apparatus being within the second region and including a front end with a user interface.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a universal low voltage 3000 A-4000 A 3-phase AC (alternating current) circuit breaker cabinet (the circuit breaker being OEM agnostic) with integrated quick coupling cable receptacle provisions for temporary generator or temporary load bank connection.
Another advantage of the present invention is that both the circuit breaker and the electrical connector apparatus (which includes the integrated quick coupling receptacle provisions) are readily accessible from the front of the circuit breaker cabinet by a user. This is important when looking at standard interface points and overall manufacturability with respect to including the circuit breaker cabinet as a genset baseframe mounted and wired option.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it overcomes the problem concerning the circuit breaker cabinet profile (that is, the layout) not being able to accommodate circuit breakers—such as those in 3,000 A-4,000 A sizes—made by manufacturers (namely, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)) other than the manufacturer who also makes the circuit breaker cabinet. Thus, the present invention provides for a circuit breaker cabinet which has a profile which is common or universal for circuit breakers (for example, of the aforementioned sized range) made by OEMs which do not also make the circuit breaker cabinet. Thus, the present invention makes it feasible for the circuit breaker cabinet to be integrated behind the genset on a common baseframe of the genset system with minimal clearances.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it can be employed in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, data center applications.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the circuit breaker cabinet can be used in high or low voltage applications, wherein low voltage can be understood to be less than 500 volts AC.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
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Housing 210 can further include a plurality of lifting devices 215, such as four eye bolts 215, positioned at or near the four corners of panel 213g. Eye bolts 215 can be configured for enabling cabinet 104 to be lifted by a lifting mechanism. Further, housing 210 includes or otherwise defines a first region 616 and a second region 617 which is spatially separated from first region 616 (
Circuit breaker device 211 is coupled with frame 212 by suitable fasteners. Circuit breaker device 211 can be any suitable circuit breaker device and can be configured for protecting, switching, and monitoring, as is known. For example and not by way of limitation, circuit breaker device 211 can have a size of 3,000 A-4,000 A. Further, circuit breaker device 211 is positioned within first region 616. Circuit breaker device 211 is, according to one embodiment of the present invention, positioned so as to at least partially extend through a hole (window) in panel 213a, or, alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present invention, circuit breaker device 211 can be positioned entirely behind panel 213 when panel 213a is closed. Circuit breaker device 211 can include a front end cover or face cover (as indicated in
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Electrical connector apparatus 522 is coupled with housing 210 by suitable fasteners, such as by way of panel 527, and apparatus 522 is positioned within second region 617. Further, electrical connector apparatus 522 includes a front end 523 which includes a user interface 524 which projects in forward direction 220 of cabinet 104; that is, front end 523 includes a front face or front surface which further includes interface 524. Interface 524 includes a plurality of electrical connectors 525 each of which faces in forward direction 220 (connectors 525 can be referred to, for example, as quick coupling cable receptacles or quick coupling cable receptacle provisions). Electrical connectors 525 can be any suitable electrical connectors configured for allowing an external electrical device 526 to electrically couple with cabinet 104 by way of electrical connector apparatus 522. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, each electrical connector 525 can be formed as a camlock electrical connector, such as a female camlock electrical connector which is configured for receiving a mating male electrical connector of electrical cables, for example, which are coupled with external electrical device 526; thus, connectors 525 are configured for electrically coupling with device 526. Camlock connectors 525 can be weatherproofed and include color-coded covers. As shown in
Indicia 528 can include instructions to the user. These instructions can include, for example, a cable connection sequence for connecting cables of external electrical device 526 with electrical connectors 525. For example, a user may be instructed to make the connections between these cables and connectors 525 in the following order: (1) equipment ground conductor (G); (2) neutral conductor (N); and (3) phase conductors (A-B-C). Further, disconnecting these cables and connectors 525 should be done in the reverse order.
Referring now to
Conductors 629a-d can each be formed as any suitable type of electrical conductor and each can be a single conductor or a plurality of conductors; for instance conductors 629a, 629b, 629c, and/or 629d can each be formed as a busbar. Conductor 629a electrically connects with circuit breaker device 211 at one end of conductor 629a and with a plurality of electrical conductors 631 at an opposing end of conductor 629a, wherein conductors 631 extend outwardly from cabinet 104 (such as by way of hole 633) to generator 103 (which can be referred to as an alternator), so that device 211 electrically interconnects with generator 103; in this way, conductor 629a (a line busbar 629a) is an electrical input conductor, and conductors 631 (line conductors 631) are electrical input conductors as well. Conductor 629b electrically connects with circuit breaker device 211 at one end of conductor 629b and with a plurality of electrical conductors 632 at an opposing end of conductor 629b, wherein conductors 632 extend outwardly from cabinet 104 (such as by way of hole 634) to electrical load 107, so that device 211 electrically interconnects with load 107; in this way, conductor 629b (a load busbar 629b) is an electrical output conductor, and conductors 632 (load conductors 632) are electrical output conductors as well. Conductors 629a, 629b thus are each electrically connected to and extend rearwardly of circuit breaker device 211, conductor 629a being configured for carrying an input current (line current), conductor 629b being configured for carrying an output current (load current). Conductor 629a is attached to line conductors 631, and conductor 629b is attached to load conductors 632. Further, both conductors 629a, 629b can be mounted at their left ends to circuit breaker device 211 substantially in the same plane, as indicated in
Conductor 629c interconnects with electrical connectors 525 and conductor 629d, so as to electrically interconnects electrical connectors 525 and conductor 629d. Conductor 629d electrically connects with conductors 629a and/or 629b, so as to electrically interconnect connectors 525 with circuit breaker device 211 when using device 526 (either as a temporary generator 526 or a load bank 526). As shown in
Further, though not specifically shown, cabinet 104 incudes a rear side and a bottom side. The rear side can include a single panel (or, alternatively, a plurality of panels) with louvered vents (as indicated in in
Further, according to an optional embodiment of the present invention, circuit breaker device 211 and electrical connector apparatus 522 are mounted substantially coplanar relative to one another. That is, cabinet 104 includes a mounting structure 637 (which can include a plurality of structures and can be the same as or include internal panel 527) that occupies substantially a single vertical plane 637a (which faces forward, like internal panel 527). Mounting structure 637 can include a wall, such as a wooden or metal wall. Plane 637a faces forward and extends toward the viewer of
Further, at a suitable location on cabinet 104, a label may be placed to instruct a user how to connect, for example, temporary generator 526 with cabinet 104 and thus with circuit breaker device 211, which can be referred to as a key interlock sequence for temporary generator 526. Any suitable key interlock sequence may be used; one embodiment of such a sequence is provided here, by way of example. Thus, to make this connection (between temporary generator 526 with cabinet 104) and thereby to access temporary generator 526, the following instructions may be provided to user: (1) open generator 103 with a breaker control switch of circuit breaker device 211; (2) turn and remove a key from a panel mounted interlock switch; (3) insert the key into a key interlock on panel 213b and/or 213c (which may be formed as a door to be opened by the key) to access electrical connectors 525 (which may be deemed, in this example, to be temporary generator connections), and the key will be held captive while panel 213b and/or 213c (which can be referred to as the temporary generator door(s)) is open. Further, to return cabin 104 back to normal generator operations (using generator 103 and no longer temporary generator 526), the following instructions may be provided to user: (1) remove all electrical cables from electrical connectors 525 and thus from a compartment of cabinet 104 that is occupied by electrical connector apparatus 522 (which can be deemed to be the temporary generator connection compartment), and ensure no other electrical connectors are present and connected with connectors 525); (2) close panels 213b and/or 213c (which may be referred to as temporary generator doors, though panels 231b and 213c may optionally form a single such door), and lock panels 213b and/or 213c using the key interlock; (3) remove the key from the lock, and insert it in the panel mounted lock; (4) turn the key so the key cannot be removed, which will allow the breaker control switch to close the breaker 211; (5) close the generator breaker (with respect to generator 103) with breaker 211 control switch. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, turning the key interlock at anytime to remove the key will trip the generator breaker (that is, breaker 211). It can be appreciated that the scope of the present invention may altogether exclude an keyed interlock locations and sequence to be used therewith (keyed interlocks are not a requirement on every cabinet 104) or may use any suitable keyed interlock locations and sequence, which optionally can be added and defined by a user downstream of manufacturing cabinet 104.
In use, cabinet 104 can be installed in genset system 100 and electrically interconnected with generator 103 and electrical load 107, such that circuit breaker device 211 is electrically interconnected therebetween. When, for example, a user wishes to interconnect temporary generator 526 with cabinet 104, this is accomplished by opening the electrical connection with generator 103 and connecting electrical cables of temporary generator 526 with electrical connectors 525. A similar process can be used if external electrical device 526 is load bank 526, except that load 107 is disconnected from cabinet 104 using circuit breaker device 211, rather than generator 103. Finally, external electrical device 526 can be disconnected from electrical connectors 525 of electrical connector apparatus 522.
Referring now to
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.