Adjustable insulating barrier arrangement for air insulated padmounted

Abstract

A barrier arrangement for use in a multiple-phase padmounted switchgear includes a pair of insulated upper and lower barrier panels mounted in spaced vertical tandem and stationary relation one above the other so as to define a gap therebetween and an insulated intermediate barrier panel disposed adjacent to the gap between the upper and lower barrier panels. The barrier panels are disposed within an enclosure of the switchgear between the pairs of multi-phase switchgear assemblies. The intermediate barrier panel is mounted to the upper barrier panel so as to undergo sliding movement between lowered and raised positions relative to the lower barrier panel so as to respectively open and close the gap between the upper and lower barrier panels in response to insertion and withdrawal of a transversely disposed additional barrier panel through the gap. The intermediate barrier panel has a forward edge which includes a lower portion extending downwardly and rearwardly in an declining oblique relation to the direction of movement of the intermediate barrier panel between the lowered and raised positions such that engagement of the transversely disposed additional barrier panel with the lower portion of the forward edge causes a camming action thereon which lifts the intermediate barrier panel from the lowered position to the raised position.