Claims:1. A coffer case assembly (3) for enclosing an electrical joint connection provided within a joint case between a first electrical busway section and a second adjoining electrical busway section, wherein each of said first electrical busway section and said second adjoining electrical busway section having a top housing and bottom housing, wherein said coffer case assembly comprising:
an ingress protection cover means (31) comprises:
a joint cover area (311) having a flat surface resting on flat flanges of said top housing and said bottom housing;
four joint case meeting flange means (312) ;
an ingress protection proofing flange means (313);
a joint cover gasket means (32) provided on said joint cover area;
a flat gasket means (33) provided on each of said joint case meeting flange means;
an IP cover flange gasket means (34) placed on said ingress protection proofing flange means (313).

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover means comprises plurality of top housing fixing apertures (314) on said joint cover area for fixing said cover means with said top housing of said busway sections.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said top housing fixing apertures (314) adapted fix said cover means with one or more top housing inserts of each of said busway sections by using plurality of joint cover fixing means (5).

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover means comprises plurality of IP cover fixing apertures (315) adapted for fixing two of said cover means assembled from top and bottom sides of said first and second busway section by using one or more IP cover flange fixing means (6).

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said joint case meeting flange (312) fix with inserts on said joint case by using one or more joint case meeting flange fixing means (7).
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to busway systems and, more specifically, to cover assembly for ingress protection of busway installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Busways are installed in various orientations in buildings. Busway system can be mounted in edgewise or flatwise orientation. Typically, busways are installed before interior and exterior work of building. At most of installation sites, busways are installed after completing slab work. Plastering and pointing, watering, plumbing, drilling for point fixing and painting work is carried out after busway installation.

[0003] Busways are installed in a sequence of one unit at a time at the installation site. Consequently, once two units get installed, they get joined through joint assembly. The site environment is constantly changing and surrounding region of busduct installation maybe full of dust and wet compared to outside world. Using caps for top and bottom side of joint area does not serve purpose of complete sealing ingress of foreign particles and it also demand for additional components from side to seal micro gap so occurred because of highly compressed flanges by contact pressure mechanisms along the joint bolt direction.

[0004] Feeder accessories have protection against ingress through their enclosure, but this is not case at the joint of two busway feeder accessories. Due to joints, there is high possibility of ingress of foreign particles in busway system. Interference of foreign particle with live parts and insulation degrades its working capability and may lead to electrical faults.

[0005] Reference is made to US20150008007 A1 which teaches a cover assembly for use with a joint between first and second busway sections includes: a lower cover sized and configured to be positioned below the joint; an upper cover sized and configured to be positioned above the joint; and a plurality of elongated fasteners. It further teaches that one or both of the upper and lower covers of the cover assembly may include a gasket member. The gasket member(s) may sealingly engage the barrier plates of the busway sections with the upper cover in place.

[0006] Reference is also made to US 5401906 A which supplementary joint cover system for enclosing the electrical joint connection between a first electrical busway section and a second adjoining electrical busway section. The cover system includes four dam assemblies, four sealing strips, two cover plates, two access hole plugs, and two connecting channels. Each dam assembly includes an inside plate, an outside plate, and a sealing plate. However, the prior art uses a higher number of components which makes it expensive and increases assembly time and labor. Further, this prior art uses an additional sealant.

[0007] Reference is made to US 6180885 discloses a method for sealing joints, gaps, and surfaces in an electrical busway distribution system comprises selecting a self-leveling sealant, applying the self-leveling sealant directly to joints, gaps, or surfaces of the busway system, and allowing the sealant to cure to form continuous seal between the joints, gaps, and surfaces. After applying the sealant, it subsequently flows into the joints, gaps, and across the surfaces solely under gravitational influence so that the joints, gaps and other surfaces are sufficiently filled by the sealant. The prior art uses highly precise components in moderate quantity which make the assembly expensive, time consuming and requires skillful labor. Further, even this prior art uses an additional sealant.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved external self-sustaining cover assembly at joint section of the busway system which can act as an obstruction for foreign particles to ingress inside joints of busway system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved design of ingress protection (IP) cover to overcome limitations of existing IP cover where assembly variations cannot be accommodated and external sealant is an integral part of the assembly.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide IP cover assembly for attaining ingress protection from limited dust ingress and from low pressure water jets from any direction. (IP55), protection from total dust ingress and from low pressure water jets from any direction (IP65), protection from total dust ingress and from high pressure water jets from any direction (IP66), protection from total dust ingress and from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth (IP67).

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of ingress protection (IP) cover installed in a busway unit around the joint block area such that no foreign particle ingress can take place.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a structure that is self-sustaining for providing ingress protection without the usage of any external sealant material over and above assembly.

[0014] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention a coffer case assembly for enclosing an electrical joint connection provided within a joint case between a first electrical busway section and a second adjoining electrical busway section, wherein each of said first electrical busway section and said second adjoining electrical busway section having a top housing and bottom housing, wherein said coffer case assembly comprising:
an ingress protection cover means comprises:
a joint cover area having a flat surface resting on flat flanges of said top housing and said bottom housing;
four joint case meeting flange means;
an ingress protection proofing flange means;
a joint cover gasket means provided on said joint cover area;
a flat gasket means provided on each of said joint case meeting flange means;
an IP cover flange gasket means placed on said ingress protection proofing flange means.

[0015] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates the general view of the IP cover showing top side, in accordance with the subject matter of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 illustrates the general view of the IP cover showing the inside structure, in accordance with the subject matter of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 illustrates the general view of the IP cover assembly, in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 illustrates the top view of the busway with joint assembly, in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 illustrates general view of the busway with joint section assembled, in accordance with the present invention

[0022] Figure 6 illustrates the IP cover assembly in installed busway, in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 illustrates the exploded view of the IP cover assembly in installed busways, in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0025] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0026] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0027] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0028] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0029] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0030] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0031] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0032] The present invention consists of the first electrical busway section, second electrical busway section, busway joint assembly, ingress protection (IP) coffer cover assembly. Each of the Busway sections consists of housings with flanges. Once two busway sections are joined with the joint assembly, their top and bottom uncovered portion will be easily accessible by foreign particles at the joint area. Accordingly, a box shaped IP cover with gasket assembly will be placed from two sides at the joint area. Meeting surfaces between IP cover assemblies from two sides can be fixed with bolts. Gasket of preferable thickness can be applied between meeting surfaces of IP cover which act as a sealant. The advantage with the assembly is no liquid sealant is required to be applied for taking additional care.

[0033] In one implementation, figure 1 illustrates the general view of the IP cover showing top side. Figure 2 illustrates the general view of the IP cover showing the inside structure and figure 3 illustrates the general view of the IP cover assembly.

[0034] In one implementation, the figure 4 illustrates the top view of the busway with joint assembly. Figure 5 illustrates general view of the busway with joint section assembled

[0035] In one implementation, the figure 6 illustrates the IP cover assembly in installed busway.

[0036] In one implementation, the figure 7 illustrates the exploded view of the IP cover assembly in installed busways.

[0037] In one implementation, the technical features of the present invention along with their reference numeral is as mentioned below:
1. Busway
11 Busway top housing
111 Nut insert top housing
12 Busway side housing
121 Joint case
2. Joint Assembly
3. IP Cover Assembly
31 IP cover
311 Joint cover area
312 four Joint case meeting flange
313 IP proofing flange
314 Top housing fixing hole
315 IP cover fixing holes
316 Joint case contact mating holes
32 Joint cover gasket
33 Flat Gasket
34 IP cover flange gasket
4. Nut insert
5. Joint cover hardware
6. IP cover flange hardware
7. Joint case meeting flange hardware

[0038] In one implementation, the procedure for assembling IP cover assembly (3) on assembly of busway (1) and joint assembly (2) is as follows:
1. The said invention consists of two units of busway (1). For continuity of supply these two busway (1) units will be connected each other through joint assembly (2).
2. Once assembly of (1) and (2) get complete, assemble the IP cover assembly (3) from open accessible portions on top and bottom side.
3. Assemble (3) such that its flat surface of joint cover area (311) will rest on flat flanges of top housing (11) of both busway units (1). To restrict the movement of IP cover assembly (3) towards any of busway unit (1), using joint cover fixing means (hardware) (5) fix the top housing fixing apertures/hole (314) of IP cover assembly with top housing nut insert (111).
4. Place the IP cover flange gasket means (34) on IP proofing flange means (313).
5. Point no.3 needs to be repeated to assemble IP cover assembly (3) on other accessible portion of 1 and 2 assembly.
6. Once both IP cover assemblies (3) are assembled from either sides of (1) and (2) assembly, fix the IP cover fixing apertures/holes (315) of both IP covers with the help of IP cover flange fixing means (hardware) (6).
7. Due to tightening of IP proofing flange, tendency of IP cover leads to creation of bow at joint case meeting flange 312 towards joint cover area 311. To avoid this situation, using joint case meeting flange fixing means (hardware) (7), fix the joint case meeting flange 312 with nut insert 4. Nut insert 4 will be inserted on joint case (121) of the busway side housing (12).

[0039] In one implementation, the procedure for IP cover assembly includes:
1) Taking the IP cover assembly (31) and sticking the joint cover gasket 32 on joint cover area (311).
2) Taking the flat gasket means (33) of width and length equal to joint case meeting flange (312) and stick it on (312).
3) Repeating step number 2 till all four joint case meeting flanges (312) will be covered by flat gasket means (33).

[0040] Some of the noteworthy features of the present invention are:
1. A coffer structure assembly of IP cover used to attain ingress protection of IP rating 55, 65, 66 and 67 at joints of busway system.
2. The structure is self-sustaining for providing ingress protection without usage of any other sealant material over and above assembly.
3. It is a universal cover assembly providing multiple IP ratings.
4. The IP cover doesn’t need any external sealant for IP 66/67 protection.
5. Compatibility for maintenance of Joint Block and reusability of IP cover assembly.

[0041] Some of the non-limiting advantages of the present invention are mentioned below:
• The present invention provides a build structure around the joint block area so that no foreign particle ingress can take place
• The present invention eliminates the use of additional components and provides universality in components for multiple IP ratings
• The present invention eliminates the difficulty of mounting IP covers at the site where busduct assembly have variations in alignments.
• In the present invention, there is no need of additional sealant as the design of the present invention is self-sufficient for its purpose. Further, without the use of external sealant which makes it reusable immediately after assembling.
• The present invention provides ease of maintenance wherein joint block maintenance can be carried out by just dismantling the IP cover assembly.
• The coffer structure of the present invention uses less number of components and no external sealant. Further, there is a bolting mechanism with side flanges unlike the existing cover assemblies.
• There is an ease of assembly and the overall cost is low.

[0042] Although a coffer case assembly for ingress protection of busway systemhave been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described herein. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the coffer case assembly for ingress protection of busway system.