CLIAMS:1. A busbar support assembly comprising:
a busbar holder configured with at least one projection, wherein said at least one projection is configured to fit said busbar holder onto a support channel; and
a clip configured to engage with said at least on projection and hold said busbar holder in its position on said support channel.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said projection is cylindrical and has a tapering shape with broader base and narrower tip projecting outwards.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said busbar holder further comprises rectangular projections that engage with corresponding rectangular recesses that are configurd on said support channel.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support channel is configured with holes to receive said at least one projection.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said clip is annular with plurality of clamping arms projecting out of inside diameter towards centre of said clip.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said clamping arms are configured to collectively form a circle at their tips, and wherein said circle is sized to engage with said projection of said busbar holder.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein engagement of said circle with said at least one projection is by friction.

8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said clamping arms are curved to collectively take a hemispherical shape to provide springing property to said clamping arms.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said busbar holder is insulated.

10. A busbar assembly comprising:
a busbar coupled with support channel by means of a busbar holder, said busbar holder comprising:
at least one projection, wherein said at least one projection is configured to fit said busbar holder onto a support channel; and
a clip configured to engage with said at least on projection and hold said busbar holder in its position on said support channel.
,TagSPECI:FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of low and medium voltage electrical supply system. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system to hold busbar supports on a support channel.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Low and medium electric power distribution installations, whether domestic or industrial, generally have electric switchboards (also known as distribution panels/switchboard panels/control panels/power control centres ("PCC", which is a sub-type) that house various control devices. Electrical connectivity between these devices within the distribution/switchboard panels is provided by means of busbars that are a convenient means to supply relatively high electric currents at rated voltage. Busbars are usually made of good conductors of electrical energy such as aluminium or copper, and are usually supported by insulators. Such assemblies are not only convenient from an electrical point of view, but are also relatively compact and easily accessible for maintenance purposes.
[0004] As stated earlier, busbars are generally supported on insulators. They may also be completely surrounded by insulation and such a support is conventionally called busbar holder. Busbar holder is needed to rigidly hold busbars in an installation and avoid current leakage and also protect busbars from electromagnetic forces developed due to passage of large currents through them.
[0005] While there are many configurations of busbar holders in use depending upon the requirements of installations, one known arrangement attachment of busbar holder in busbar compartments or support channels is presently attained by making a projection on bottom side of holder which is inserted in the support channel. A support channel herein relates to any internal or external part of framework or chassis of a switchboard. Busbar holder has to be held in place with the help of some glue or some component (screws/bolts etc.) holding busbar holder with support channel.
[0006] As stated, bus bars must be rigidly supported to maintain busbars in their desired orientation and place, thus maintaining proper interconnectedness of busbars despite high displacement forces such as short-circuit produced magnetic forces under whose influence conventional screw/ bolt tend to lose their hold and also preferably support means must be compact to conserve the limited available space.
[0007] Also is known to persons skilled in the art that heat is released as a consequence of joule heating effect when current flows through a conductor. Heat in switchboards is known to focus at the connecting points which connect the control devices to busbars, and heat is also released in busbars themselves due to current flowing through them. This Heat tends to reduce the adherence of conventional glues such as chemistick used to adhere busbar holder with support channel of switchboard.
[0008] Friction fitting is an efficient method to fasten by using frictional energy and as known to people skilled in the art requires external force or thermal expansion and contraction which are not possible to apply onto a switchboard since it imposes risk of damaging other components.
[0009] Also using the conventional fastening methods it takes more time for mounting of components and assembling of switchboards. This factor becomes very significant and decisive during routine management of switchboards.
[00010] Moreover, in any of the aforementioned functional failures of conventional fastening methods, there is a risk that as a consequence, the busbar fails or trips, and in such a situation, the switchboard will stop functioning. If it is the case of heavy application of busbar as in a transformer, then its failure will lead to the supply interruption to a large number of consumers.
[00011] In view of the above stated drawbacks of the conventional systems for holding busbar holders onto the support channels, there is a need for a system that performs efficiently during and after electrical stresses like short circuit, holds busbar holder firmly against vibrational and gravitational forces, and is preferably quick to allow shorter assembling time and is neat and compact.
[00012] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
[00013] As used in herein and throughout the specification that follows, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[00014] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[00015] Same word may have varying meaning when used at different places in the specification and thus a given word is not supposed to have a limiting meaning but it may change according to remaining part of the sentence where it belongs to.
[00016] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all markush groups used in the appended claims.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[00017] It is foremost object of the present disclosure to overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the conventional technologies associated with fastening of busbar holders onto support channels used in switchboards.
[00018] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a fastening component for switchboards which ensure durable and efficient operation and thus reduces chances of busbar and/or failure of switchboard.
[00019] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a component that firmly fastens busbar holder onto support channels in a switchboard under normal functioning of busbar.
[00020] Also it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a component that friction fits onto busbar holder without application of external force and/or thermal expansion and contraction.
[00021] Also an object of the present disclosure is to provide a component that negates the displacement effect acting on busbar holder at the time of short circuit.
[00022] Also an object of the present disclosure is to provide a component which firmly holds busbar holder onto the support channel against vibrational forces.
[00023] Also an object of the present disclosure is to provide a fastening component that firmly holds busbar holder onto the support channel against gravitational forces.
[00024] Also an object of the present disclosure is to provide a fastening component that works efficiently even at elevated temperatures.
[00025] Also an object of the present disclosure is to reduce assembly time of the switchboards during manufacturing and routine maintenance.
[00026] Also an object of the present disclosure is to provide a neat, clean, and compact system of holding the busbar holder onto the support channel.

SUMMARY
[00027] Aspects of the present disclosure relates to a busbar support assembly. In particular, it relates to fastening of busbar holder onto a support channel in a switchboard. The present disclosure discloses a component for efficient fastening of a busbar support onto a support channel under normal and abnormal circumstances.
[00028] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a fastening component that friction fits into the busbar holder and has springiness that enables it to rigidly fasten the busbar holder onto a support channel. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a fastening component that does not require external force or thermal energy to friction fit. In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a fastening component that is made of a material having high strength and durability.
[00029] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a fastening component that effectively works to negate displacement forces acting on busbar support during short circuit. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a fastening component that holds busbar sholder firmly against gravitational pull.
[00030] In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a fastening component which makes assembly and disassembly of switchboards quick and neat comparative to present methods.
[00031] Various object, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent with the following detailed description of preferred embodiments accompanied with drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00032] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of busbar holder fastened onto a support channel in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00033] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a busbar holder, used to fix a busbar onto a switchboard in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00034] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of bottom portion of the busbar holder consisting of projection used to fit the busbar holder into a support channel in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00035] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of clip used to hold busbar holder onto the support channel as an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[00036] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the friction fitted busbar holder onto the support channel using the clip fastened onto projection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00037] The following is the detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure using the drawings wherever necessary. The embodiments are in such details so as to clearly explain the disclosure. However, the amount of detail revealed is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments; on the contrary the intention is to cover all the variations, modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[00038] Each of the following claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[00039] Various terms used herein are shown below. Definition of these terms is not given in the claims and must be given the broadest possible definition as known to people skilled in the art and as reflected in the printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[00040] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to system to support busbars used in switchboard. Electrical connectivity within switchboards is maintained by using conductors called busbars. Busbars are held by busbar support assemblies in switchboard. In particular, the disclosure pertains to fixing of a busbar support assembly onto a support channel in a switchboard, wherein the busbar support assembly includes a busbar holder and a clip to hold the busbar holder to busbar support channel. Embodiments pertain to a clip that fits into the projection on the busbar holder and firmly holds the busbar holder onto the support channel under normal and abnormal conditions, and is also neat and quick at the time of assembly of switchboard.
[00041] In another embodiment, the clip with an industrial standpoint ensures quicker assembly of switchboards during manufacturing, and in another aspect, quicker disassembly of switchboards for maintenance and is neat.
[00042] It is to be understood that while the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to busbar, and in particular with reference to a particular configuration of busbar, they can as well be applied with alterations/modifications that will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, to any other insulating part of any other configuration, that requires similar mechanical and electrical properties and all such applications are well within the scope of the present disclosure.
[00043] Some of the many embodiments of the present disclosure will be described as follows with reference to the drawings.
[00044] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view 100 of busbar holder 104 positioned onto a support channel in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The support channel 108 can be a part of switchboard panel that may typically consist of feeder breakers and supply breakers, monitoring devices, control devices etc. It is also known as distribution panels/switchboard panels/control panels. As depicted in FIG. 1, there can be recesses or spaces such as 102-1 and 102-2 (collectively referred to as 102 hereinafter) configured on support channel 108 at suitable spacing/pitch to position busbar holders (details explained in subsequent paragraphs).
[00045] The support channel 108 illustrated herein can pertain to any internal or external part of framework or chassis of a switchboard. Electrical connectivity within switchboards is maintained by conductors known in art as busbar (not shown). Busbars are generally made of a good conductor such as copper or aluminium and conducts electricity to transmit power from the source of electric power to the load .The size of the busbar can be determined by its application and the amount of current that it is required to carry. The smallest cross-sectional area of a busbar can be as little as 10 mm2. However, it is not unusual for certain applications to have busbars with a diameter of more than 50 mm as they carry great amounts of current. Further busbars can be tubular, solid or flat depending on the application and to serve different needs. Busbars can be mounted onto a busbar holder 104. The exemplary busbar holder 104 can hold two busbars on to grooves 106-1 and 106-2. It should be appreciated that shape and number of grooves 106 can change depending on configuration of busbar i.e. round/rectangular etc. and its numbers.
[00046] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view 200 of the busbar holder 104, used to fix a busbar onto a switchboard in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Busbars holder 104, in context to busbars, can be multifunctional since it can fasten the busbars to the support channel 108 in a switchboard, and can also protect busbars from electromagnetic forces experienced by busbars on account of large current they normally carry or that may arise during short circuit conditions. A busbar holder can be typically insulated with epoxy, electrofiber epoxy, polyester resin, and fibre glass or combinations thereof or can be made of an electrically insulating material so as to avoid leakage of current and provide overall protection. Various modifications of the busbar holders are possible, to mount varying numbers of busbars and all such modifications are well under the scope of present disclosure.
[00047] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary perspective view 300 of bottom portion of the busbar holder 104 having a projection used to fit the busbar holder 104 into the support channel 108 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The back side of the busbar holder 104 can incorporate rectangular projections 304-1 and 304-2 that can engage with corresponding rectangular recesses 102 on the support channel 108. In addition, backside of the busbar holder104 can incorporate at least one projection 302, which can be of a solid cylindrical and tapering (conical with a small cone angle) shape with narrower tip projecting outwards and slightly broader base. Accordingly, the support channel 108 can be configured with corresponding hole placed between a set of two rectangular recesses 102 to receive the projection 302. Busbar holder 104 can be fixed onto the support channel 108 by inserting the projection 302 into the hole provided on the support channel 108; simultaneously rectangular projections 304-1 and 304-2 can fit into recesses 102-1 and 102-2 (not shown). It should be appreciated that these fastening components are only illustrative and other modifications and alternatives are also possible and are well under scope of present invention.
[00048] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of clip 400 used to hold busbar holder onto the support channel 108 as an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The clip 400 can be round in shape and annular with outside diameter 402 and inside diameter 404. In an embodiment, there can be plurality of clamping arms such as 406-1, 406-2, 406-3, 406-4 (collectively referred to as 406 hereinafter) projecting out of inside diameter towards centre of the clip 400. The clamping arms 406 can be dimensioned to collectively form a circle at their tip. The circle formed by the tips clamping arms 406 can be sized to engage with projection 302 of the busbar holder 104. Each of these clamping arms 406 can be curved so as to collectively take a shape roughly resembling a hollow hemisphere or a section of a hollow sphere. In an embodiment, the curved shape of the clamping arms 406 can provide springing property to the clamping arms 406 so as to firmly fit and hold the projection 302 by friction. Friction fit is a type of fastening in which the force holding the two objects together is friction, generally friction fits depends upon the tensile strength and compressive strength of the two objects on which it acts and mandatorily needs objects to be of size such so as to completely fit into each other. External force or thermal expansion and contraction can be applied to attain friction fit in a system. As an embodiment of present disclosure, the flaps have arced narrow tips and broad base and while moving the clip 402 onto the projection 302, the increasing diameter of the projection 302 moves the clamping arms 406-1, 406-2, 406-3, and 406-4 outward due to the springiness of clamping arms and allows the clip 402 to adjust its profile to adapt the shape of projection 302 and thus friction fit without application of external force or thermal expansion. In another aspect, the clip 402 once adjusted, cannot fall out.
[00049] In one embodiment, knowing the required characteristics of the clip 402, it can be made of a variety of materials such as spring steel, polymers, resins, and sintered materials having properties such as high yield strength, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, strength and durability.
[00050] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the friction fitted busbar support onto the support channel using the clip fastened onto projection. Depicted therein is clip 402, which is friction fitted to the projection 302 of busbar holder 104 mounted onto the support channel 108 of a switchboard. By fitting with the projection 302, the clip 402 firmly holds the busbar holder 104 onto the support channel 108. Further support is provided by rectangular projections 304 on busbar holder 104 into the spaces on the support channel 108.
[00051] In an embodiment, the clip friction fitted to busbar holder ensures rigid fastening of busbar holder onto the support channel 108 under normal functioning or under abnormal circumstances like short circuits during which electromagnetic forces intensify and then tend to displace busbars, also when busbars carry alternating currents then a short circuit leads to vibrational forces which too can displace busbars. In another aspect, the present disclosure performs efficiently against gravitational pull. In another aspect, the present disclosure is neat and less time consuming at the time of assembly of switchboards.
[00052] While the aforementioned description signifies various embodiments of the disclosure, but various other embodiments consistent with the spirit of the invention may be devised. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples which are cited to enable a person with ordinary skills in the art to make and use the invention. Also as known to the person skilled in the art, various modifications and alterations relevant to the invention are feasible and lie well within the spirit and scope of the invention.

ADVANTAGES OF INVENTION
[00053] The present disclosure overcomes disadvantages and drawbacks associated with the current methods employed to hold a busbar holder onto a support channel used in a switchboard.
[00054] The present disclosure provides a fastening component that firmly holds busbar holder onto the busbar support channels via friction fitting without application of external force or heat expansion to achieve frictional fitting.
[00055] The present disclosure provides a fastening component that efficiently holds busbar holder onto the support channel via friction fitting under normal functioning of busbar and/or during and after an electrical stress like short circuit.
[00056] The present disclosure provides a fastening component that firmly holds busbar holder onto the support channel via friction fitting against vibrational and gravitational forces.
The present disclosure provides a fastening component which can be made with the heat resistant material and works efficiently at elevated temperatures.
[00057] The present disclosure provides a fastening component that reduces time invested into assembly of busbar holder onto support channels in switchboards.
[00058] The present disclosure provides a fastening component that is neat, clean and compact to be used for holding busbar holder onto the support channel in switchboards.