Claims:We claim:

1. A busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) for ingress protection comprises of:
a busway (1) having,
• a busway housing (11), the busway housing (11) having a front face (111) and a plurality of mounting holes (112) configured thereon, wherein the busway housing (11) encloses the busbars;
• a mounting plate (12) having a front face (121), the mounting plate (12) further having a plurality of connection slots (122) and a plurality of mounting holes (123) configured thereon, wherein the mounting plate (12) is mounted on the busway housing (11) such that the front face (121) of the mounting plate (12) is coplanar with the front face (111) of the busway housing (11);
a plurality of screws (13) arranged for locating components through concentric engagement of the mounting holes (112) of the busway housing (11) and mounting holes (123) of the mounting plate (12);
a pair of covers (2) capable of sliding over the busway (1) between two positions including an open position and a closed position,the pair of covers (2) having acam slot (21)configured on each cover thereof, the cam slot (21) having profiled ends (211) that shrink in the cross-section thereofwherein, the covers (2) are assembled over the mounting plate (12) such that the plurality of screws (13) restrict motion of the covers (2) within the cam slots(21);
a plurality of gaskets (14) arranged in between the covers (2) and the busway (1) to further tighten interference fit; and
wherein, sliding of the pair of covers (2) over the busway (1) between the open position and the closed position is guided by the plurality of screws (13) that act as stationary followers over the cam slots (21)such that in the open position, the connection slots (122) in the mounting plate (12) are exposed to allow making a connection and in the closed position, the connection slots (122) get enclosed by the pair of covers (2) and further whereina tight fit is created at both the open and closed positions by employing the profiled ends (211) of the cam slots (21) to push the pair of covers (2) towards the front face (121) of the mounting plate (12) in Z-axis, thereby creating a compression in the plurality of gaskets (14) and achieving the interference fit between the covers (2) and the busway (1) for protecting the connection slots (122) from ingress.

2. The busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein due to shape of the covers (2) and shape of the cam slots (21), the covers (2) trace movement only in Y and Z axes.

3. The busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of screws (13) protrudes from sides of the busway (1) and the covers (2) engage with the plurality of screws (13)from the busway (1).

4. The busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profiled ends (211) of the cam slots (21) allow locking in the open and the closed positions without use of any external components.

, Description:Field of invention:

The present invention relates to electrical busway distribution systems and more particularly, to abusway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection.

Backgroundof the invention:

Generally, electrical busways are used to transmit multi-phase, high-current electrical power. The electrical busways consist of long, rectangular bus bars of copper or aluminum material disposed within housing. Modern busways comprises a series of standard straight lengths, elbows, turns, offsets, and tees connected to each other electrically and mechanically by joints. The electrical busways can be installed in various orientations at indoor or outdoor locations. The electrical busways run at lethal voltages and need to be protected from ingress of unwanted material to ascertain safety of the system. Power is tapped from the busways using plug-in points. These plug-in points create a provision for the clips from the plug-in box to connect with the live busbars of the busways. The openings in the plug-in points need protection in the open state from unwanted ingress. The covers should remain in the vicinity of the busway. However, removable covers can be lost during the installation stage.

In prior art, several technologies are available to achieve such ingress protection; the most popular amongst these are shutters and hinged covers.

An electrical busway plug-in brick for mounting on a busway housing is described in US5895279 of Petrisko et al, entitled as ‘Busway plug in brick and cover’.This invention includes a hinged cover mechanism wherein a plastic base with openings is mounted at the plug-in location and a cover is mounted on this base. The cover is fastened onto the base such that it can act as a hinged cover.

Another prior art patent US5525068ofGraham et al. discloses an electric power busway plug connector shutter arrangement. This invention includes a base outlet cover unit using made of an insulating base with slots. A spring loaded sliding cover placed in a mezzanine compartment over the base.

However, these prior art techniques albeit effective, employ several components. The prior art techniques are difficult to replace.

Accordingly, there is a need of abusway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection that overcomes above mentioned drawbacks in the prior art.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide proper ingress protection for plug-in points.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce number of components.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection.The busway plug-in point cover assembly comprises of a busway, a plurality of screws, a pair of covers (hereinafter referred as, “the covers”) and a plurality of gaskets.The busway includes a busway housing and a mounting plate. The busway housing encloses the busbars. The busway housing includes a front face and a plurality of mounting holes configured thereon. The mounting plate includes a front face. The mounting plate further includes a plurality of connection slots and a plurality of mounting holes configured thereon. The mounting plate is mounted on the busway housing such that the front face of the mounting plate is coplanar with the front face of the busway housing.

The plurality of screws is arranged for locating components through concentric engagement of the mounting holes of the busway housing and mounting holes of the mounting plate. The plurality of screws protrudes from sides of the busway and the covers engage with the plurality of screws from the busway.

The covers are capable of sliding over the busway between two positions including an open position and a closed position. The covers include a cam slot configured on each cover. The cam slot includes profiled ends that shrink in the cross-section thereof. The covers are assembled over the mounting plate such that the plurality of screws restricts motion of the covers within the cam slots. Due to shape of the covers and shape of the cam slots, the covers trace movement only in Y and Z axes. The profiled ends of the cam slots allow locking in the open and the closed positions without use of any external components. The plurality of gaskets is arranged in between the covers and the busway to further tighten an interference fit.

The sliding of the covers over the busway between the open position and the closed position is guided by the plurality of screws that act as stationary followers over the cam slots. In the open position, the connection slots in the mounting plate are exposed to allow making a connection. In the closed position, the connection slots get enclosed by the pair of covers and further wherein a tight fit is created at both the open and closed positions by employing the profiled ends of the cam slots to push the pair of covers towards the front face of the mounting plate in Z-axis. Thus, compression is created in the plurality of gaskets, thereby achieving the interference fit between the covers and the busway for protecting the connection slots from ingress.

Brief description of the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of amounting plate of a busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a cover of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a cover of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a busway of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a side view of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a front open view of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 8 shows a front closed view of the busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a busway plug-in point cover assembly for ingress protection.The busway plug-in point cover assembly employs sliding covers using cam slots and screws (guiding pins) capable of enclosing the connection slots of the busway for achieving ingress protection. The busway plug-in point cover assembly can be locked in two distinct positions, namely open and closed positions by an interference fit and/or friction between the cam slots and screws (guiding pins) that act as followers. The busway plug-in point cover assembly provides proper ingress protection for plug-in points and reduces number of components.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1 to 8, a busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) (hereinafter referred as, “the assembly (100)”) for ingress protectionin accordance with the present invention is shown. The assembly (100) comprises of a busway (1), a plurality of screws (13), a pair of covers (2) (hereinafter referred as, “the covers (2)”) and a plurality of gaskets (14).

The busway (1) includes a busway housing (11) and a mounting plate (12). The busway housing (11) encloses the busbars. The busway housing (11) includes a front face (111) and a plurality of mounting holes (112) configured thereon. The mounting plate (12) includes a front face (121). The mounting plate (12) further includes a plurality of connection slots (122) and a plurality of mounting holes (123) configured thereon. The mounting plate (12) is mounted on the busway housing (11) such that the front face (121) of the mounting plate (12) is coplanar with the front face (111) of the busway housing (11).

The plurality of screws (13) is arranged for locating components through concentric engagement of the mounting holes (112) of the busway housing (11) and mounting holes (123) of the mounting plate (12). In an embodiment, the plurality of screws (13) protrudes from sides (not numbered) of the busway (1) and the covers (2) engage with the plurality of screws (13) from the busway (1).

The covers (2) arecapable of sliding over the busway (1) between two positions including an open position and a closed position. The covers (2) includes a cam slot (21) configured on each cover. The cam slot (21) includes profiled ends (211) that shrink in the cross-section thereof. The covers (2) are assembled over the mounting plate (12) such that the plurality of screws (13) restricts motion of the covers (2) within the cam slots (21). In the embodiment, due to shape of the covers (2) and shape of the cam slots (21), the covers (2) trace movement only in Y and Z axes. In a specific embodiment, the profiled ends (211) of the cam slots (21) allow locking in the open and the closed positions without use of any external components.

The plurality of gaskets (14) is arranged in between the covers (2) and the busway (1) to further tighten an interference fit.

The sliding of the covers (2) over the busway (1) between the open position and the closed position is guided by the plurality of screws (13) that act as stationary followers over the cam slots (21). In the open position, the connection slots (122) in the mounting plate (12) are exposed to allow making a connection. In the closed position, the connection slots (122) get enclosed by the pair of covers (2) and further wherein a tight fit is created at both the open and closed positions by employing the profiled ends (211) of the cam slots (21) to push the pair of covers (2) towards the front face (121) of the mounting plate (12) in Z-axis. Thus,compression is created in the plurality of gaskets (14); thereby achieving the interference fit between the covers (2) and the busway (1) for protecting the connection slots (122) from ingress.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) achieves proper ingress protection for plug-in points.
2. The busway plug-in point cover assembly (100) requires minimal number of components.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.