DESCRIPTION CONTROL CENTER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a control center housing a plurality of functional units. In particular, the present invention relates to the control center including power distributors for distributing power received from buses to the respective functional units.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A control center is connected, via electric wires, to facility apparatuses such as motors and illuminations used in a power plant or the like, for the purpose of distributing power to the respective facility apparatuses and controlling the facility apparatuses. Therefore, the control center houses: functional units connected to the respective facility apparatuses via the electric wires; and buses for supplying power to the functional units. The power received from the buses is distributed to the respective functional units via power distributors disposed in the control center. [0003] As for a conventional control center including such power distributors, a control center having a structure shown in FIG. 12 has been known, for example. In FIG. 12, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side sectional view as viewed in the

direction of B-B in (a), and (c) is a plan sectional view as viewed in the direction of C-C in (a).
As shown in FIG. 12, the control center has a unit chamber 22 on a front-surface side in a control center housing 21. In the unit chamber 22, a plurality of functional units 2 3 are housed in multiple rows and multiple stages.
FIG. 12 illustrates a case of 4 rows and 6 stages. The numbers of rows and stages vary depending on the number of apparatuses to be controlled. The functional units are sometimes called control units.
A bus chamber 24 is provided on a back-surface side of the unit chamber 22. In the bus chamber 24, three-phase four-pole vertical buses 25 are housed in the vertical direction. Between the functional units 23 and the vertical buses 25, power distributors 26 are provided. One power distributor 2 6 is provided for each stage so as to correspond to a plurality of functional units 23 housed in the stage. In the case of FIG. 12, since there are six stages, six power distributors 26 are prepared. As shown in (c) of FIG. 12, on the lateral side of the unit chamber 22, a wiring chamber 27 is provided in which wires (not shown) connecting the functional units 23 to the external facility apparatuses are housed. [0004] In each functional unit 23, a breaker, an

electromagnetic switch, a control circuit, etc. (not shown) are mounted, and ON/OFF of the breaker is switched by an operating handle provided at the front surface of the functional unit 23.
The power received by the vertical buses 25 is supplied to the power distributor 2 6 via bus engagement means 28 provided on the back surface of the power distributor 26, are distributed by branch conductors (not shown) provided in the power distributor 26, and are supplied to the respective functional units 23 via engagement portions 29. The load side of each functional unit 23 and the control circuit thereof are connected, via the engagement portion 29, to a terminal block (not shown) disposed in the wiring chamber 27 through a wiring inside the power distributor 26. The terminal block is connected to an external apparatus by an electric wire (external wire) connected to the terminal block (refer to Patent Document 1, for example).
CITATION LIST
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4046688
(pages 4 to 5, FIG. 1 to FIG. 4)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006] In the conventional control center as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for the purpose of relaying the wiring to be connected to the external facility apparatus and control apparatus from the functional unit 23 through the inside of the power distributor 26, the terminal block for external-wire connection is disposed inside the wiring chamber 27, as described above. Therefore, wiring work for the electric wire from the inside of the power distributor 2 6 to the terminal block needs to be performed after the power distributor 26 is mounted in the unit chamber 22.
In addition, when the power distributor 26 is, for example, inspected or modified, the power distributor 26 needs to be extracted from the control center. Every time the power distributor 2 6 is extracted, the wiring between the power distributor 2 6 and the terminal block needs to be disconnected, resulting in poor workability.
Further, since the bus engagement means 28 provided on the back surface of the power distributor 2 6 are connected by fitting to the vertical buses 25, a great force is needed for attachment/detachment at the fitting portion when the power distributor 2 6 is mounted in or dismounted from the unit chamber 22.
[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and an objective of the present invention is to provide a control center which improves workability for

mounting/dismounting of a power distributor in/from a unit chamber.
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS
[0008] A control center according to the present invention includes: a unit chamber for housing a plurality of functional units in multiple rows and multiple stages; a bus chamber provided on a back-surface side of the unit chamber, the bus chamber housing vertical buses; a wiring chamber provided on a lateral-surface side of the unit chamber, the wiring chamber housing external wires connecting the functional units to external devices; and power distributors provided between the vertical buses and the functional units such that one power distributor is provided for the plurality of functional units housed in the same stage, each power distributor distributing power from the vertical buses to the functional units. Each power distributor includes, at a front surface thereof, engagement means to be engaged with the functional units, and includes, at a back surface thereof, bus engagement means to be detachably fitted to the vertical buses. An external-wire connection terminal block to be connected to an external wire is provided on a side surface on the wiring chamber side. The power distributor is configured to be inserted and extracted from a front-surface side of the unit chamber while being integrated with the

external-wire connection terminal block.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the control center of the present invention, the power distributor for distributing the power from the vertical buses to the respective functional units includes, at the front surface thereof, the engagement means to be engaged with the functional units, and includes, at the back surface thereof, the bus engagement means to be detachably fitted to the vertical buses. The external-wire connection terminal block to be connected to the external wire is provided on the side surface on the wiring chamber side. The power distributor is configured to be inserted and extracted from the front-surface side of the unit chamber while being integrated with the external-wire connection terminal block. Therefore, wiring work between the engagement means on the front-surface side and the external-wire connection terminal block on the lateral-surface side can be performed outside the control center in advance. When inspecting or modifying the power distributor, the power distributor can be extracted from the control center without the necessity of disconnecting the wiring between the engagement means and the external-wire connection terminal block. Thus, workability is improved, and reduction in work time is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power distributor used in a control center according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the power distributor shown in FIG. 1 is mounted in a unit chamber of the control center.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a process of mounting the power distributor shown in FIG. 1 into the unit chamber.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a manner of setting an auxiliary tool in a case where bus engagement means of the power distributor shown in FIG. 1 is fitted to vertical buses.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of inserting the bus engagement means of the power distributor into the vertical buses by using the auxiliary tool.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a state where the power distributor is mounted in the unit chamber and further, functional units are mounted in the unit chamber.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7.

[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a side sectional view as viewed . in the direction of an arrow A-A in FIG. 7.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a manner of setting the auxiliary tool in a case of extracting the power distributor frontward.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating an operation of extracting the power distributor frontward by using the auxiliary tool set as shown in FIG. 10.
[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 illustrates a front view, a side sectional view, and a plan sectional view of a conventional control center.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0011] Embodiment 1.
Hereinafter, a description will be given based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a power distributor used in a control center according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the power distributor has been inserted to be mounted in a unit chamber of the control center and functional units are not yet attached to the unit chamber. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a process of mounting the power distributor shown in FIG. 1 in the unit chamber.
4
Since the overall view of the control center is

similar to FIG. 12 used for description in the section "BACKGROUND ART", illustration and description thereof are omitted.
Since the present invention has a feature in the structure of particularly the power distributor disposed inside the control center, the power distributor will be mainly described hereinafter. In the description, if the relation with the entirety of the control center needs to be described, FIG. 12 will be referred to. Regarding the chambers and the vertical buses, in the control center, other than the main part of the present invention, these components are denoted by the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 12 to facilitate understanding.
[0012] The power distributor 1 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the power distributor 26 shown in the plan view of (c) of FIG. 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, the power distributor 1 has, on a back-surface side of a power distributor housing 2, bus engagement means 3 to be connected to vertical buses 25, and has, on a front-surface side of the housing 2, power-supply-side main circuit engagement means 4, load-side main circuit engagement means 5, and control circuit engagement means 6, as engagement means to be engaged with functional units 9 described later.
Further, as a feature of the present invention, a

side plate 2a, of the power distributor housing 2, on a side opposing the wiring chamber 27 (refer to FIG. 12) is extended frontward, and a main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and a control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8 are provided outside the side plate 2a, as external-wire connection terminal blocks to be connected to external wires.
[0013] Although not shown in the figure, on a rear-surface side of the power distributor housing 2, a branch conductor for individually connecting each bus engagement means 3 to each power-supply-side main circuit engagement means 4 is provided. Further, on the rear-surface side of the power distributor housing 2, each load-side main circuit engagement means 5 is connected to the main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 by an electric wire, and each control circuit engagement means 6 is connected to the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8 by an electric wire.
The power distributor 1 configured as described above has a function of distributing power received from the vertical buses 25 to a plurality of functional units 9, respectively.
Further, an attachment insertion port 2b is provided in a front-side lower portion of the power distributor housing 2. The purpose of the attachment

insertion port 2b will be described later. [0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a state where the power distributor 1 shown in FIG. 1 has been mounted in a unit chamber 22 of the control center and the functional units 9 are not yet attached to the power distributor 1.
The unit chamber 22 is partitioned into a plurality of stages in the vertical direction by a shelf board 11 supported by frames 10 forming a housing of the control center.
Each functional unit 9 corresponds to the functional unit 23 described with reference to FIG. 12. The function unit 9 is equipped with: devices such as a breaker and an electromagnetic switch for controlling an external facility apparatus; and a control circuit for controlling these devices (none of them is shown). The function unit 9 includes, on a front surface thereof, an operating handle 9a for switching ON/OFF of the breaker, and includes, on a back surface thereof, connectors (not shown) to be engaged with the power-supply-side main circuit engagement means 4, the load-side main circuit engagement means 5, and the control circuit engagement means 6 of the power distributor 1, respectively.
[0015] Next, a procedure for mounting the power distributor 1 shown in FIG. 1 in the unit chamber 22, as shown in FIG. 2, will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates the unit chamber 22 viewed from the top. At positions, to be opposed to the bus engagement means 3, on a wall at the back side of the unit chamber 22, through-holes are formed which allow the bus engagement means 3 to pass therethrough.
First, as shown in (a) of FIG. 3, the power distributor 1 integrated with the external-wire connection terminal block is obliquely inserted into the unit chamber 22 from the front-surface side of the unit chamber 22. Next, as shown in (b) of FIG. 3, the side plate 2a of the power distributor 1, and the main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8 which are fixed to the side plate 2a, are inserted through the frames 10 supporting the shelf board 11 of the unit chamber 22. Next, as shown in (c) of FIG. 3, the posture of the power distributor 1 which has been obliquely inserted is returned to be parallel to the back surface of the unit chamber 22. Then, as shown in (d) of FIG. 3, the side plate 2a is fitted to the frames 10, whereby the bus engagement means 3 on the back surface of the power distributor 1 come to positions opposing the vertical buses 25 in the bus chamber 24.
[0016] When the power distributor 1, in the state shown in (d) of FIG. 3, is pushed backward, the bus engagement means 3 are fitted to the vertical buses 25. Then, the power

distributor housing 2 is fixed to the shelf board 11 and to the frames 10, thereby completing the mounting work.
Since the bus engagement means 3 and the vertical buses 25 are configured such that each bus is nipped with a predetermined pressure to ensure electrical connection at the fitting portion, considerable force is needed for insertion.
In the present invention, an auxiliary tool 12 described below is prepared to facilitate the work of fitting the bus engagement means 3 to the corresponding vertical buses 25 from the state shown in (d) of FIG. 3. [0017] As described above, the attachment insertion port 2b is formed in the front-side lower portion of the power distributor housing 2 which is a component of the power distributor 1.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating the attachment insertion port 2b and its vicinity, for explaining a manner of setting an attachment 13 of the auxiliary tool 12. FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining an operation in a case where the bus engagement means 3 on the back surface of the power distributor 1 are inserted in the vertical buses 25 by using the auxiliary tool 12. FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5.
The auxiliary tool 12 is composed of the attachment 13 and an insertion/extraction handle 14. [0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the attachment 13 is formed

from a plate-shaped member. The attachment 13 has, at a front side thereof (i.e., a side opposed to the attachment insertion port 2b provided in the power distributor housing 2), a projecting portion 13a which can be fitted in and engaged with the attachment insertion port 2b, and has, at a rear side thereof, an elongated hole 13b which is long in the left-right direction.
At a position, on the shelf board 11 which partitions the unit chamber 22 and near the front side of the attachment insertion port 2b, an engagement hole 11a is provided which can be engaged with a later-described second projection 14b of the insertion/extraction handle 14.
First, the attachment 13 is placed on the shelf board 11, and the projecting portion 13a is inserted in the attachment insertion port 2b as shown by an arrow to be engaged with the attachment insertion port 2b. [0019] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the insertion/extraction handle 14 is combined with the attachment 13. The insertion/extraction handle 14 has two projections at a surface thereof opposing the attachment 13. One of the projections is a first projection 14a which can be engaged with the elongated hole 13b of the attachment 13, and the other is the second projection 14b which can be engaged with the engagement hole 11a provided in the shelf board 11.
In a state where the first projection 14a is

engaged with the elongated hole 13b and the second projection 14b is engaged with the engagement hole 11a, the insertion/extraction handle 14 is turned in the direction of an arrow around the engagement portion of the second projection 14b, as shown in FIG. 6. This operation causes the power distributor 1 to move in the direction of a thick arrow together with the attachment 13. Thus, the power distributor 1 is moved to a position indicated by an alternate long and short dash line, and the bus engagement means 3 on the back surface are fitted to the vertical buses 25.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a state where the power distributor 1 is mounted at a predetermined position in the unit chamber 22, and further, the functional units 9 are mounted in the unit chamber 22. FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a side sectional view as viewed in the direction of an arrow A-A in FIG. 7.
When the power distributor 1 is mounted at the predetermined position in the unit chamber 22, the bus engagement means 3 on the back surface are fitted to the vertical buses 25 in the bus chamber 24. Next, the functional units 9 are inserted from the front side, and the connectors on the rear side of the functional units 9 are engaged with the respective engagement means on the front surface of the power distributor 1, resulting in the state

shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
The main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8 are integrally incorporated in the power distributor 1, and therefore are exposed inside the wiring chamber 27 when the mounting of the power distributor 1 is completed.
After the power distributor 1 and the functional units 9 are similarly mounted in each of the stages of the unit chamber 22, external wires are connected to the main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8, thereby completing assembly of the control center. [0021] Next, a case where the power distributor 1 is extracted from the unit chamber 22 will be described. First, in a procedure reverse to the assembly, the external wires are disconnected from the main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8, and the functional units 9 are taken out. Next, from this state, an operation as follows is performed by using the same auxiliary tool 12 as used for the assembly.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a manner of setting the auxiliary tool 12 in the case of extracting the power distributor 1. In FIG. 10, (a) is a partially enlarged

perspective view illustrating the attachment insertion port 2b and its vicinity, and (b) is a plan sectional view of (a) . FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the extracting operation.
[0022] A center portion, in the front-rear direction, of the attachment 13 is narrowed. The attachment 13 has lock portions 13c formed behind the front-side projecting portion 13a, and the lock portions 13c can be locked with both end .portions of the attachment insertion port 2b from the inside. The projecting portion 13a is used when the power distributor 1 is inserted while the lock portions 13c are used when the power distributor 1 is extracted. Thus, both of them are engagement portions to be engaged with the attachment insertion port 2b.
The front end portion of the attachment 13 is obliquely inserted in the attachment insertion port 2b as shown in (a) of FIG. 10, and the lock portions 13c are locked at the inside of a front-surface plate of the power distributor housing 2 as shown in (b) of FIG. 10. [0023] Next, as shown in FIG. 11, in a state where the first projection 14a of the insertion/extraction handle 14 is engaged with the elongated hole 13b and the second projection 14b thereof is engaged with the engagement hole 11a, the insertion/extraction handle 14 is turned in the direction of an arrow around the engagement portion of the second •

projection 14b, whereby the power distributor 1 is moved in the direction of a thick arrow to be located at a position indicated by an alternate long and short dash line. In this position, since the fitting between the vertical buses 25 and the bus engagement means 3 on the back surface is canceled, the power distributor 1 can be easily extracted from the unit chamber 22 in the procedure reverse to that shown in FIG. 3. [0024] Next, effects will be described.
In the conventional control center, the external-wire connection terminal block to which the external wire is connected is generally solely fixed in the wiring chamber 27. In such a structure, after insertion of the power distributor 1, wiring work between the power distributor 1 and the external-wire connection terminal block is needed. Further, when inspecting or modifying the power distributor, the power distributor needs to be.extracted from the control center. Every time the power distributor is extracted from the control center, the wiring between the power distributor and the external-wire connection terminal block needs to be disconnected.
In contrast to the conventional control center, in the present invention, since the power distributor 1 is integrated with the main circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8, wiring work between the main

circuit external-wire connection terminal block 7 and the load-side main circuit engagement means 5 of the power distributor 1 and wiring work between the control circuit external-wire connection terminal block 8 and the control circuit engagement means 6 of the power distributor 1 can be performed outside the control center in advance. In addition, when inspecting or modifying the power distributor 1, the wiring therebetween need not be disconnected. [0025] Further, the auxiliary tool 12 composed of the attachment 13 and the insertion/extraction handle 14 is used when the power distributor 1 is mounted in the unit chamber 22 or extracted from the unit chamber 22. Since the auxiliary tool 12 facilitates attachment/detachment of the bus engagement means 3 of the power distributor 1 to/from the vertical buses 25, workability is improved.
The attachment 13 is detachable and used only when the power distributor 1 is inserted and extracted, and therefore does not become an obstacle when the functional units 9 are mounted or dismounted.
[0026] As described above, the control center according to Embodiment 1 is a control center including: a unit chamber for housing a plurality of functional units in multiple rows and multiple stages; a bus chamber provided on a back-surface side of the unit chamber, the bus chamber housing vertical buses; a wiring chamber provided on a lateral-surface side of

the unit chamber, the wiring chamber housing external wires connecting the functional units to external devices; and power distributors provided between the vertical buses and the functional units such that one power distributor is provided for the plurality of functional units housed in the same stage, each power distributor distributing power from the vertical buses to the functional units. Each power distributor includes, at a front surface thereof, engagement means to be engaged with the functional units, and includes, at a back surface thereof, bus engagement means to be detachably fitted to the vertical buses. An external-wire connection terminal block to be connected to an external wire is provided on a side surface on the wiring chamber side. The power distributor is configured to be inserted and extracted from a front-surface side of the unit chamber while being integrated with the external-wire connection terminal block. Therefore, wiring work between the engagement means on the front-surface side and the external-wire connection terminal block on the lateral-surface side can be performed outside the control center in advance. When inspecting or modifying the power distributor, the power distributor can be extracted from the control center without the necessity of disconnecting the wiring between the engagement means and the external-wire connection terminal block. Thus, workability is improved, and reduction in work time is achieved.

[0027] The control center further includes the auxiliary tool for assisting attachment/detachment operation between the vertical buses and the bus engagement means of the power distributor, and the auxiliary tool is configured to be mountable between a front surface of a housing of the power distributor and a shelf board partitioning the stages of the unit chamber. Therefore, attachment/detachment of the bus engagement means of the power distributor to/from the vertical buses is facilitated, thereby improving workability. [0028] The auxiliary tool is composed of: a detachable attachment having an engagement portion to be engaged with an insertion port provided at the front surface of the housing of the power distributor; and an insertion/extraction handle having a projection to be engaged with an engagement hole provided in the shelf board, and a projection to be engaged with an elongated hole provided in the attachment, the insertion/extraction handle being capable of moving the power distributor together with the attachment in a front-rear direction. Therefore, the auxiliary tool can perform both the insertion operation and the extraction operation. Since the auxiliary tool is attached only when the insertion/extraction operation is performed, the auxiliary tool does not become an obstacle when the functional units are mounted or dismounted. [0029] It is noted that, within the scope of the present

invention, the above embodiment may be modified or simplified as appropriate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS [0030] 1 power distributor
2 power distributor housing
2a side plate
2b attachment insertion port
3 bus engagement means
4 power-supply-side main circuit engagement means
5 load-side main circuit engagement means
6 control circuit engagement means

7 main circuit external-wire connection terminal block
8 control circuit external-wire connection terminal block
9 functional unit
9a operating handle
10 frame
11 shelf board
11a engagement hole
12 auxiliary tool
13 attachment
13a projecting portion 13b elongated hole

13c lock portion
14 insertion/extraction handle
14a first projection
14b second projection
21 control center housing
22 unit chamber
2 3 functional unit 2 4 bus chamber
25 vertical bus
26 power distributor
27 wiring chamber
2 8 bus engagement means 2 9 engagement portion

CLAIMS [1] A control center comprising:
a unit chamber for housing a plurality of functional units in multiple rows and multiple stages;
a bus chamber provided on a back-surface side of the unit chamber, the bus chamber housing vertical buses;
a wiring chamber provided on a lateral-surface side of the unit chamber, the wiring chamber housing external wires connecting the functional units to external devices; and
power distributors provided between the vertical buses and the functional units such that one power distributor is provided for the plurality of functional units housed in the same stage, each power distributor distributing power from the vertical buses to the functional units, wherein
each power distributor includes, at a front surface thereof, engagement means to be engaged with the functional units, and includes, at a back surface thereof, bus engagement means to be detachably fitted to the vertical buses,
an external-wire connection terminal block to be connected to an external wire is provided on a side surface on the wiring chamber side, and
the power distributor is configured to be inserted

and extracted from a front-surface side of the unit chamber while being integrated with the external-wire connection terminal block.
[2] The control center according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary tool for assisting attachment/detachment operation between the vertical buses and the bus engagement means of the power distributor, the auxiliary tool being configured to be mountable between a front surface of a housing of the power distributor and a shelf board partitioning the stages of the unit chamber.
[3] The control center according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary tool includes:
a detachable attachment having an engagement portion to be engaged with an insertion port provided at the front surface of the housing of the power distributor; and
an insertion/extraction handle having a projection to be engaged with an engagement hole provided in the shelf board, and a projection to be engaged with an elongated hole provided in the attachment, the insertion/extraction handle being capable of moving the power distributor together with the attachment in a front-rear direction.