CLIAMS:1. A safety shroud for the purpose of covering at least one empty opening in a switch board, comprising:
a curved surface facing convex towards the at least one empty opening in the switch board; and
two or more grip elements allowing the safety shroud to be firmly held between the two figures of one hand.
2. The safety shroud in accordance with claim 1, wherein the curved surface has propensity to level up and lock itself with the at least one empty opening in the switch board when any pressure is applied on the curved surface radially.
3. The safety shroud in accordance with claim 1, wherein the safety shroud is made of at least one material, which is selected from a group comprising of a plastic, a rubber, a resin, a fiber composites or others exhibiting properties of flexibility, impact strength and relevant electrical properties, or a combination thereof.
4. The safety shroud in accordance with claim 1, wherein the curved surface is of 0.5 mm to 2 mm thickness.
5. The safety shroud in clam 1, wherein the two or more grip elements are placed towards the end.

6. The safety shroud in clam 1, wherein the two or more grip elements are on the exterior of the curved surface. ,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter described herein, in general relates to an electric switchboards and, more particularly, to a cover for closing an opening in a surface of the switchboard.

BACKGROUND

Electrical switchboards are generally constituted of a metallic framework forming a box like structure, and walls formed by sheet metal that are mounted to the framework. Electrical equipment is mounted inside sections of these boxes like panels and can be accessed through openings on the front walls (usually removable and referred to as a door).

Some switchboard panels may additionally have a lockable hinged door over the front wall (referred to as the secondary door) which blocks access to the electrical equipment.

When equipment is not mounted in the panel, their respective openings are left vacant thus, creating unintended access to the inside of the panel when the door is absent or open. These openings are highly dangerous as unexpected and unwanted hot air pressure may come out from them and may cause severe injury to the person operating nearby.

Currently a click-fit- table slot covers are available which are meant merely for dust protection and prevent direct contact of hand with live parts. The following drawbacks are encountered in the current technologies:

1. The slots covers available in the prior art are of various designs are available which do not stay intact during short circuit and will break apart. Hence after short circuit due to removal of shroud the live parts will be accessible as shown in figure 1.
2. The available slot covers which are designed to sustain a short-circuit fault are very difficult to remove. An exemplary slot available in the prior art is shown in figure 2.
3. In order to avoid the above mentioned limitations, some manufacturers make dummy models of the equipment itself to cover the slots which are expensive.

So there exists a need to provide a slot or any mechanism using which the openings in a surface of the switchboard are covered.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an improved mechanism of covering openings in the surface of a switchboard. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the subject matter.

In one implementation, the invention intended for use in covering these openings and is more critical in panels where the secondary door is absent.

In one implementation, a pressure reinforced slot cover/ safety shroud for switch Board is disclosed.

In one implementation, the cover that can be fixed and dismantled with great ease is disclosed.

In one implementation, the cover with an easily sealable lock is disclosed.

In one implementation, a safety shroud for the purpose of covering at least one empty opening in a switch board is disclosed. The safety shroud comprises of a curved surface and two or more grips. The curved surface is always facing convex towards the at least one empty opening in the switch board. The two or more grips elements allow the safety shroud to be firmly held between the two figures of one hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.

Figure 1 illustrates a panel board with empty slots and a slot with equipment is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 2 illustrates 2 existing concepts for slot covers available in the market are shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodied invention assembled into the empty slot of a panel is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-section of an enclosure with the embodied invention fitted in the open slot is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 5 illustrates the flattening up of the safety shroud by pressure build up during short circuit is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 6 illustrates the flexing of the curved feature to facilitate easy fitment is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 7 illustrates the fitting of the invention into an empty slot is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 8 illustrates the design of slot cover is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. 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 and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

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.

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

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.

Accordingly, the present invention is a safety shroud for a switch board.

In one implementation, a safety shroud for the purpose of covering at least one empty opening in a switch board is disclosed. The safety shroud comprises of a curved surface and two or more grips. The curved surface is always facing convex towards the at least one empty opening in the switch board. The two or more grips elements allow the safety shroud to be firmly held between the two figures of one hand.

The curved surface of the safety shroud has propensity to level up and lock itself with the at least one empty opening in the switch board when any pressure is applied on the curved surface radially.

The safety shroud is made of at least one material, which is selected from a group comprising of a plastic, a rubber, a resin, a fiber composites or others exhibiting properties of flexibility, impact strength and relevant electrical properties, or a combination thereof.

In one example, the curved surface of the slot cover or safety shroud gets flattened with pressure build up during short-circuit fault and reinforces the hold. By doing this the safety prevents the pressure from being thrown out.

In one example, the curved surface features of the slot cover make it both easy to click-fit and remove.

Referring now to figure 1, a panel board with empty slots and a slot with equipment is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The figure 1 is a prior art showing a panel-board with empty slots.

Referring now to figure 2, 2 existing concepts for slot covers available in the market is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The figure 2 is a prior-art showing the existing slot covers.

Referring now to figure 3, an embodied invention assembled into the empty slot of a panel is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one embodiment of the present invention, a panel board with safety shroud is disclosed.

In one implementation, a safety shroud for the purpose of covering at least one empty opening in a switch board is disclosed. The safety shroud comprises of a curved surface and two or more grips. The curved surface is always facing convex towards the at least one empty opening in the switch board. The two or more grips elements allow the safety shroud to be firmly held between the two fingers of one hand.

In one example, the curved surface has propensity to level up and lock itself with the at least one empty opening in the switch board when any pressure is applied on the curved surface radially. The safety shroud is made of at least one material, which is selected from a group comprising of a plastic, a rubber, a resin, a fiber composites or others exhibiting properties of flexibility, impact strength and relevant electrical properties, or a combination thereof. The curved surface is of 0.5mm to 2mm thickness or any thickness between the given thicknesses. The two or more grip elements are placed exterior to the curved element.

In one example, as and when the gases exert pressure on the curved surface radially, the curve has a tendency to flatten up and lock itself with the thin sheet metal cover body by pushing out tangentially.

The flexibility of the curved surface when the chamber is not pressurized enables easy removal and fitment of the shroud to the slot.
Referring now to figure 4, a cross section of an enclosure with the embodied invention fitted in the open slot is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one example, the safety shroud embodied in this invention features a curved surface which faces convex towards the chamber in which the high gas pressure is expected to build, as shown in the figure 4.

Referring now to figure 5, the flattening up of the safety shroud by pressure build up during short circuit is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one example, as and when the gases exert pressure on the curved surface radially, the curve has a tendency to flatten up and lock itself with the thin sheet metal cover body by pushing out tangentially, as shown in the figure 5.

Referring now to figure 6, the flexing of the curved feature to facilitate easy fitment is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one example, the role of a curved surface during fitment and removal is shown in figure 6.

Referring now to figure 7, the fitting of the invention into an empty slot is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one example, the View of cover fitting into slot is shown in figure 7.

Referring now to figure 8, the design of slot cover is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one example, the 3D views of slot cover are shown.

In one example, the two or more grip elements of the safety shroud are placed towards the end or may be present at the exterior of the curved surface.

Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features:

One feature of the invention is that, the throwing out of the shroud during short-circuit is stopped using the proposed slot cover.

Another feature of the invention is that, the ease of fitment is increased as the loss of flexibility during designing for short-circuit performance is reduced.

Another feature of the invention is that, the large costs of producing dummy models of absent equipment, to cover open slots are reduced.

Another feature of the invention is that, the locking feature of shroud with the slot during short circuit fault.

Yet another feature of the invention is that, the flexibility to remove and fit cover easily when no short circuit fault is occurring is provided.

Although implementations for a safety shroud for the purpose of covering at least one empty opening in a switch board have been described in language specific to structural features and/or the methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of, a safety shroud for the purpose of covering at least one empty opening in a switch board.

It is intended that the disclosure and examples above be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.