General Electric Company

David A Hibbert

Larry J Newmark

Harold F Larkin

Clarence W Walker

Anthony L Richards

John D Anderson

Lynn M Harton

Julie A Beberman

James I Smith

Ira B Goldman

Dennis C Zuffelato

Peter C Wung

Conrad R Turmelle

Timothy C Brasel

A locating and alignment pin provided on the bottom of an electric busway switch provides immediate location of the switch connector clips with respect to the busway connector tabs while, at the same time, aligning the switch interlock with the corresponding interlock slot formed within the busway housing while adding to the mechanical support between the electric busway switch and the busway housing. The locating and alignment pin is received within a corresponding locating aperture formed in the top surface of the busway housing next to the busway plug outlet box.

Electric power busway plug alignment arrangement

An electric power bus removable joint includes three spacer-connectors that automatically align the intervening splice plates and insulative plates used to electrically connect between adjoining busway sections. The spacer-connectors automatically attach between the opposing joint face plates without requiring any additional fastening means.

Thermally efficient splice joint for electrical distribution busway

Electric switch enclosure

An electric busway system consists of a plurality of planar bus bars insulated from each other and bolted together for good mechanical strength and for efficient thermal conductivity. The bus bars are additionally perforated to promote convective air current flow through the perforations when the bus bars are mounted in the horizontal plane.

Thermally efficient ventilated electric busway system

Enclosure for circuit protection related devices

The outer surfaces of adjoining electrical busway side frames are shaped to define a protruding rail extending along the vertical axis thereof. A pair of recessed channels formed within the inner surfaces of the side frames of an intervening busway joint receive the busway rails at opposing ends thereof. Clearance arranged within the respective busway joint channels allows lateral movement of the busway side frames relative to the busway joint. Slots are provided on the busway joint side frames for visual indication of the position of the busway rails.

Adjustable joint for electrical busway

A thermally efficient joint for electrical power distribution busway electrically connects between adjacent busway sections. Each busway joint includes a modular assembly containing spaced metallic splice plates separated by corresponding insulating plates. The module is sandwiched between a pair of joint covers by means of an insulated thru-bolt. The spacing between the splice joint for receiving corresponding busway stabs is accurately set by an apertured depression stamped within each of the splice plates.

Molded plastic outlet boxes are attached to an electric busway power distribution system at each location along the system where the bus bar conductors are provided with plug-in stabs. Slotted openings arranged through a top of the outlet box are centered with respect to the busway stabs to assist in connection therewith. A molded plastic access cover can be mounted optionally on either side of the box to electrically isolate the busway stabs.

Outlet box for electric busway system

A two-piece extruded aluminum alloy housing is shaped to provide support and ground conduction facility to power busway conductors contained therein. The two-piece housing is attached together with snap-fit connectors along its top and bottom surfaces. The housing is attached to the busway power conductors by means of insulated bolts. The bolts may be hollow so that air can flow through the bolts to aid in cooling the conductors within the housing by convection.

Thermally efficient power busway housing

A fused disconnect switch is contained within a molded plastic cover pivotally attached to a molded plastic case. The switch contact blade is directly attached to the cover whereby movement of the cover in one direction slidingly connects the switch contact blade between the line and load stabs mounted within the case. Movement of the cover in an opposite direction slidingly disconnects the switch contact blade from the line and load stabs. Tabs integrally formed within the cover and slots integrally formed within the case cooperate to prevent access to the switch components when the switch blade is in its 'ON' position. An opening is provided for locking the switch in either the 'ON' or 'OFF' position.

Fused disconnect switch with non-metallic enclosure

A fused disconnect switch is contained within a molded plastic cover pivotally attached to a molded plastic case. The switch contact blade is directly attached to the cover whereby movement of the cover in one direction slidingly connects the switch contact blade between the line and load stabs mounted within the case. Movement of the cover in an opposite direction slidingly disconnects the switch contact blade from the line and load stabs. Elongated slots integrally formed within the cover and the case cooperate to prevent access to the switch components when the switch blade is in its 'ON' position. The configuration of the slots allow for locking the switch in either the 'ON' or 'OFF' position.

A molded plastic load center enclosure permits the circuit breakers contained therein to be compactly aligned on one side of the enclosure. The insulative properties of the plastic allows the circuit breaker branch straps to be mounted on the bottom and side walls of the enclosure. The end of the bottom-mounted branch strap is formed for direct connection with the line terminals. The end of the side-mounted branch strap is apertured for convenient connection with the line terminals. Metallic attachment caps are pressed within the bottom of the enclosure to facilitate mounting to a support post.

Compact non-metallic load center enclosure

A molded plastic load center enclosure allows the circuit breakers contained therein to be compactly aligned on one side of the enclosure. The insulative properties of the plastic allows the circuit breaker branch straps to be mounted on the bottom and side walls of the enclosure. The end of the bottom-mounted branch strap is formed for direct connection with the line terminals. The end of the side-mounted branch strap is apertured for convenient connection with the load terminals.

A three piece molded plastic enclosure for electric service entry apparatus such as meters, fuses, circuit breakers and switches. The enclosure provides protection against adverse environmental conditions while providing visual access to the components contained therein. The enclosure is tamperproof by virtue of a hinge arrangement formed between a stationary cover and a movable door. Once the door is assembled to the cover, the door cannot be easily removed without a separate tool.

Molded plastic enclosure for electric service apparatus

A three-piece molded plastic enclosure for disconnect switches consisting of a base, cover, and door individually fabricated by means of an injection molding process. The base has integrally molded extension tabs cooperating with an integrally molded hasp on the door for allowing the enclosure to be padlocked. A two-part hinge wherein part of the hinge is integrally formed with the cover and the remaining part is integrally formed with the door allowing the door to be assembled to the cover in a hinge-like fashion. Electrical components are attached to the interior of the base and the base is secured to the cover by means of a screw. The screw is only accessible from behind the door when the compartment is unlocked. Besides providing a disconnect switch that is tamper-proof behind a locked door, the molded plastic enclosure is water-tight and environmentally secure.

Growing community of inventors

South Windsor, CT, United States of America

David A Hibbert