Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~0365-3086 ~3~
A ~ulti-panel Distribution Board with a Buis Bar Syst~m
The present inYe~tion relates tc an electrical distribution board
that inccrporates a plurality o~ assembled panels and bus bars
that extend across several panels, these being arranged within
the overall dimensions of the distribution panel and held in
position by means o~ insulating bu~ bar retainer~.
Distribution panels of this kind, with top mounted bus bars and
rear mounted bus bars, are already known. For example, the
Siemens house publication titled NiedersPannunqs-ssi~l53
8PU.Ol~ CThe 8PU.011 Low-volta~e distribution board~ (Order
numher ~19100-E74-A91, Part nu~ber 174 224 PA 3865) describes a
construction in which the upper area of each panel o~ the
distribution board is separated from the i~stallation area of the
equipmant by a partition and is proYided for accommodation of the
bus bars. Insulated holders completely encircle the bus bars and
~ecure them in the direction that is transverse to theix
longitudinal dimen~ion.
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An~ther construction of a distribut~on board as in DE-A-32 43 07g
has a bus-bar space that extends to the total height o~ the
panel, on the rear o~ each panel. Additionally, a bus-bar space
can be pr~vided at the rear of the distribution panel and extends
only part way up the panel (Siemens house publication ~ieder-
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laqen 8PG t8PG Low-voltage Distribution
BoardsJ, Order number E22V~1877, Part number 122 051 Ps 4735).
From the standpoint of operating sa~et:y and in order to reduce
the number of steps involved in ~s~embly and installation, it is
desirable to in~tall the bus bars at the greate~t possible
continuous lengths when they are used in a multi-panel
distribution board. When this is done, the so-called "push-
through" method is used; in this method, bus bar~ of suitable
length are introduced into the bus-bar space fxom the side. This
method reqUires an unobstructed space that is equal to the length
of the bus bars in the assembly shop. For this reason, twice the
width of the distribution board that is being assembled has to be
kept free in the assembly shop. In order to implify this
method, it i~ already kn~wn that comb-like bus bar hold~rs can be
so attached to the side walls o~ the distribution board that
follow each other in sequence with the notches in opposite
direc:tion~ that once a bus bar ha~; been put in place, it can be
laid; in the notches (DE-B~l ï94 027) .
It i~ the task of the present invention to simplify th~ assembly
of bu~ :bars in multipanel di~;tribution boards and, in
par~icular, to reduce the amount o~ ~pace r~quired for this
purpose in manu~acturing faailitie~. :
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According to the present invention, thi~ taks has been solved in
that a bus-bar ~pace that is accessible to its whole length is
formed by locally setting back or restricting the profiles oE the
supporting elements of adjacent panels, and in that the bus-bar
supports are formed so as to be co~b-liXe, with notches to
accommodate the complete profile of the bus bars. This
configuration makeis the formerly used push-through method, and
the associated space requirement, unnecessary. Rather, the bus
bars can be installed directly into the associated holders. Even
though the bus-bar supports are only provided with notches that
correspond to the profile of the bus bars, the bus bars are held
rigidly enough since there is always a connection with continuing
contact rails, ~o that overall stiffening and strengthening is
achieved in the finished distribution boards.
If tha buis~bar ~pace is provided at the bacX of the distribution
board, it is recommended that the width o~ the notchQs in the
bus-bar holders be ~o dimensioned as to correspond to the greater
dimension of the profile of the bus bars and that the bus bars
that sre associated with the different phases by arranged one
abo~e the other. By this means, it i6 posi~ible to not only
reduce the depth of the bus-bar space and make it easier to lay
the bus bars in the bus~bar holders; the forces that are exerted
on the bus bars by the curr~nti~ ~lowi~g in the bui~ bar~ are ali50
reduced.
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A ~urther 6implification o~ th~ assembly of th~ bus bar3 is
achieved in that the bus-bar holders have undercut projections,
and ~n that carrier elements to ~it th~ projections o~ tha bu~-
bar carrier~ are also used.
In addition, if the bus-bar space is arranged at the back, the
notches in the bus-bar carriers can be arranged at ~n angle to
the bac~ wall ~ the distribution board. Thi~ may improve ~he
secure position of the bus bars as far as the point at which they
are connQcted to the contact rails.
The present invention also describes an assembly tool for
installing the bus bars in a distribution board with a bus-bar
~pace at the back, in an embodiment such that the tool has two
holder~ that incorporate notches that correspond to the notches
i~ the bus-bar carriers, and in that clampi~g devices for
te~porarily securing the bus bars to the holders are provided.
In thi~ way bus bars can be installed on the holders in a
convenient worki~g position. Once the bus bars have been seoured
1~ their holders, the tools can be removed and re-used.
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The present invention is descri~ed in greater detail b~low on the
basis of embodiments shown i~ the drawings append~d hereto.
Th--~ dra~1ng8 show the f ol lowlng:
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Figure 1 A perspecti~e diagrammatic view of the maln components
o f the frame for a low-voltage distribution board with
a bus-bar ~pace at ~he top;
~igure 2 The main components of a low-voltage distribution board
as in ~igure 1, with a ~us~bar spAce at the back;
Figure 3 A top-mounted bus-bar holder;
Fiqure 4 A diagrammatic view o~ a d.istribution board with a bus-
bar space at the back;
Figure 5 An assembly tool for inserting the bus bars in a bus-
bar carrier as in ~igure 4;
Figura 6 A buswbar carrier with oblique notches ~or khe bus
bars.
Figure 1 is an expl3ded, perspective view showi~g the essential
elemQnts o~ a panel used in a low-voltage distribution board. A
left-hand side wall 1 and a right-hand side wall 2 each incor-
porate a profile notch 3, 4~ respectively, and these de~ine a
bus-bar space that is open at thè top. A rear wall 5, an upper
cross bar 6, and a lower cross bar 7 c~mplete the ~rame. Because
of the ~aot that all tha ~ide walls 1, 2 incorporate profile
notches 3, 4, respectively, this results in a ~ull-length bus-bar
~pace in the case o~ a multi-panel system. This make~ it
po~sibl~e to ~nstall con~inuous bus bars without using the push-
through procedure mentioned heretofore. In thiæ manner, tha bus
bar~ simultaneously ~nter into engagement with the notahes in all
the bus-ba~ r~tainers that are prov~ded.
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distribution board with elements as in figure z is particularly
well-~uited to the case when a larger bus-bar space i~ r quired
in order to handle a greater nominal current. As is shown in
figure 2, the 6ide walls lo and 11 incorporate rear pro~ile
notches 12, 13, respectively, and these extend to almost the
whole height of the side walls lo and 11. Upper cross bars 1~,
15 ~nd lower cross bars 16, 17 determine the width oP a panel of
the distribut~on board. Rear, vertical end profiles 20 (left-
hand side) and 21 (xight-hand side), respectively and the
assooiated end cross bars 22 (upper) and 23 (lower) form
suppor~ing ~urface6 for a rear wall that can be installed once
the bu~-bar ~ystem has been installed.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a top bus bar spece
in a di~tribution board. A profile notch is formed by notches 25
in the side walls 26 of the adjacent panals that ~ollow each
other in ~eguenceO A continuous run rZug--Tr.] bus bar ~or all
the adjacent panels c~n be arranged in this profile notch. sus-
bar oarriers 27 that fit with hook-1ike side extensions 30 over
retainers 31 are used. Bus bars 33 are installed in the notches
32 in the bu -bar retainers 27. The depth of the notches 32
corresponds to the height o~ the rectangular proPile of the bus-
bar conductors. Two bus bar conductors 33 are associated with
each phas~. An upper cover or mounting for the bus-bar
conduotor~ is not re~u~red because a sufficiently rigid
attaohment is ensure by connection of the bus-bar conductors 33
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to the contact rail that is ~ecured at a number of puint~ and
which ~ontinues [beyond the distribution board--Tr.]. Such
continua~ion contact r~ils are indicated by ~he da~hed lines i~
~igure 3.
Figure 4 shows a distribution board made up of three adjacent
panels, and also shows a bus-bar space 18 that is located at the
back~ o~ the board. The pa~els con~i~;t Q~ parts that correspond
to those shown in figure 2, ~he reference numbers o~ which ar~
also used in figure 4. A~ can be ~een, the rear o~ the pa~els
incorporate a pro~ile not¢h which is 6haped by the co~iguration
of ~he side walls lO and 11. The pro~ile notches 12, 13, of the ~-
~ide walls lo, 11, respectively, are ~orm~d by angled arm~ 35,
36, respectively, the ends o~ which incorporat~ angled ar~s 37,
38, respectively, the~e being oriented towards the rear of the
panels. The arms35 and 37, and 36 and 3~, respectively, provide
a means for ~ttaching bus-bar retainer6 40 that each consist of
an lower DeCtiO~ 41 and an ~irror-image upper section 42. Two
bus-bar retainers 40 are provided $or each panel.
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As has already been stated, a bus-bar sipace that is located at : .
the rear o~ a distribution panel is partlcularly well-suited for
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bus-bar runs that are o~ large cross-section. In the example
: that is 6hown in ~igure 4, ~our bus ~ars 43 are provided for each
phase, each ~wo bars 43 being parallel, with two fiuch pairB being
ar~anged one above tho otherO The upper 6ections ~1 a~d the
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lower sections 42 o~ the bu~bar retairlex~ 40 extend to the whole
height o~ the bus-bar system.
I~n a65~2mbly lt:ool 50 as i~ E;hown in f ig~lre 5 i6 u~ed to assemble
the bus bars 430 This tool is in the ~hape o~ a fork and
incorporates recesses 31 to accomodate the bus bars 43. In order
to hold the hus bars 43 temporarily, the a~sembly tool 50
incorporates appropriate detent 10cking devices, for example,
with e1ements 52 that are simi1ar to ~a11 snaps. This assemb1y
tool 50 is shown in section in figure 5. This drawing shows two
recesses 51, each of which is ~or two bus bars, i.e., for a total
o~ four bus bars 43 that form a phase 1n the arrangement that is
~hown in f~gure 4. Holes S3 form the attachment points for the
insta11ation tool 50.
In order to insta11 the bus bars, the appropriate number of
inska11ation tools 50 i~ ~irst secured to the side walls 10 and
11 (figure 4), e.g., by means of the holes 53 that re
incorporated in the installation tool 50. Then, the bus bars are
laid;ln the recesses 51j whereupon the bus bars are positioned so
as to be a1igned with correspondin~ notches in the lower sections
41 o~the bus-bar retainers 40. As soon as all the bus bars 43
ha~e been laid into po~ition~ the upper sections 42 can be
installed and secured to the lower ~ections 41 to form comp1ete
~us-bar retainer~ 40. The insta11ation too1s 50 can then be
rc~a~ed nd re u~ed.
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.igure 6 shows a bus-bar support 60 that is also intQnded for use
in con~unction with a rear bus-bar space. The bus-bar support ~o
is used to accommodate bus bars 61 and to this end is so
configured that the lower ~ection 62 and the upper ~ection 63 can
be assembled as an interlocking pair. The lower section 62
incorporates notches 64 that match the 6hape of the bus bars 61,
and the~e notches are inclined towards the rear such that when
the bus bars 61 ars installed in the notches 64, they are in a
stable position. For this reasen there is no need for any i:
temporary attachment o~ the bus bars 61 O~ce all the planned
bus bars 61 have been installed in their associated notches 64
the upper 6ection 63 is installed and connected in a suitable
manner to the lower ~ection 62. The upper part of figure 6 shows
a bus bar 61 between the lower ~ection 62 and thQ upper section
63. The upper ~ectio~ 63 has been omitted from the lower part of
figure 6, ~o that the ~hape of the notch 64 in the lower iection
~2 can be seen more clearly.
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The present invention has been described above with reference to
a bu~-bar arrangem~int that incorporates a plurality of bus bars
for each phase. As can be seen from the foregoing, however, this
new configuration ~or a distxibution board and the associated
installation tool that ha~ also been described is also suitable
for ~ingle bus bars ~or each phase, and also for 6y8tem9 that
incorporate a greater numb~r of ~us bars f or each pha~e.
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