FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
"Control Facia for MCC switchboard module"
2. APPLICANT:
(a) NAME: Larsen & Toubro Limited
(b) NATIONALITY: Indian Company registered under the
provisions of the Companies Act-1956.
(c) ADDRESS: Larsen & Toubro Limited
Electrical & Automation North Wing, Gate 7, Level 0, Powai Campus, Saki Vihar Road, Mumbai 400 072, INDIA
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Control Facia for MCC switchboard module
Field of invention
The present invention relates to MCC switchboard modules and more particularly to a control facia of the MCC switchboard module.
Background of Invention
The draw out feeders in of motor control center (MCC, hereinafter) switchboard modules normally operate in three operating positions namely a Service position, a Test position, and an Isolation position. These positions are defined by an engaged position and/or a disengaged position of the power contacts and auxiliary contacts respectively. In the service position, the power contacts and auxiliary contacts both are in the engaged condition. In the test position, the power contacts are in engaged condition and the auxiliary contacts are in disengaged condition. In the isolated condition, the power contacts and auxiliary contacts both are in the disengaged condition.
The prior art switchboard modules are normally mounted on a stationary tray on which the Service, Test and Isolation positions are marked at predefined distances. The trays of these prior art modules include stickers marked as 'Service', 'Test' and 'Isolation' enabling the operator to see three positions of the tray and manually move the switchboard modules with respect to the trays. Normally, the power contacts and auxiliary contacts are fixed on rear sides of these switchboard modules which essentially need the front door of the switchboard module to be manually opened. These modules need to be physically moved for movement of the power and auxiliary contacts. However, opening of the front door of the switchboard module compromises the degree of protection that is essential in the operating conditions of these modules. Also, the opening of

the front door of the modules exposes the operator to dangerous effect of internal arc during the module operation,
There are few attempts seen in the art wherein the 'Service', 'Test' and 'Isolation' positions of the tray are achieved without movement the module. These devices utilize a racking mechanism that includes a control plate in conjunction with the control facia. However, these control facia essentially need at least four mounting inserts. These devices are spring operated and essentially need the handle to be held by the user during insertion of the mechanism handle. Hence, these devices are not operator friendly. Also, for padlocking two springs and one padlock component needs to be used in these devices. This unnecessarily increases the numbers of components in the assembly of these devices.
A control facia for a MCC switchboard module is needed that facilitates safe operation of the operator module in a closed door condition of the switchboard module. Further, a control facia for the MCC switchboard module is needed that provides a control means adapted for preventing an unwanted operation of the switchboard module.
Object of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide an access mechanism for a MCC switchboard module in a closed door condition without removing a front door of the switchboard module.
Another object of present invention is to provide a means for controlling a plurality of operating conditions of the MCC switchboard module in a stationary position of the switchboard module.

Further object of present invention is avoid mismatch between facia opening and mechanism shaft.
Furthermore object of present invention is to provide padlocking arrangement at any operating position (i.e. Service, test, Isolate) of the Module.
Yet another object of present invention is to allow operator to prevent unwanted operation of the feeder by padlocking of mechanism.
Yet another object of present invention is to fulfill requirement to have Service, Test and Isolation Position without moving the module and with closed-door position.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a control facia assembly for a MCC switchboard module comprising a control facia body and a control facia top cover. The control facia body is mounted on a bracket. The control facia body is having a first conical shaped portion that defines a plurality of ribs. The control facia body is having a first handle that defines a first padlocking means. The control facia top cover connects to the control facia body through a hinged mechanism. The hinged mechanism facilitates movement of the control facia top cover from a closed position to an open position . To achieved press fitting feature in this facia assembly control facia and Top cover matting portion are made conical shape . Material properties also, contribute major role to achieve this feature. Thickness of the middle portion of the top cover is 0.8mm and is made of Nylon material. To achieved press fitting feature in this facia assembly middle portion of the top cover to be pressed. When middle portion of the top cover is pressed, it opens the top cover conical shape, which is locked with the facia. The "Nylon" material of the top cover and 0.80mm thickness in the middle of the top cover help the

opening of the conical shape of the top cover. Material hardness is mainly contributing the opening of the top cover while fitting with the facia.
At lifting feature of the top cover, provision of padlock has been provided. Control plate where indicating lamp and meter mounted will be outside of the module. This control plate is fixed with the fascia and mechanism bracket . As control plate is placed at outer part of the Switchboard, so DOP should be maintained. To achieve the DOP (i.e. TP54), between fascia and control plate provision of gasket ting is made on fascia.
Brief Description of the drawings
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a control facia assembly adapted for a MCC switchboard constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the control facia assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a control facia body of the control facia assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the control facia body of the control facia assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the control facia body of the control facia assembly of FIG.
l;
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a control facia top cover of the control facia assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the control facia top cover of the control facia assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the control facia assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a front perspective view illustrating the control facia assembly of FIG. 1 having a closed position of the top cover; and
FIG. 10 is a front perspective view illustrating the control facia assembly of FIG. 1 having an open position of the top cover.
Detailed description of present 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 embodiment. This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.
The present invention provides a control facia adapted for MCC switchboard module which used for operation of control mechanism in closed door condition while maintaining the IP norm in electrical system. In addition, the present invention also provides a padlocking arrangement for the control mechanism.
Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a control facia assembly 10 adapted for a MCC switchboard is illustrated. The control facia assembly 10 includes a bracket 12, a control facia body 14 and a control facia top cover 16. The control facia body 14 is mounted on the bracket 12. The control facia top cover 16 is hingedly connected to the control facia body 14 to facilitate movement of the control facia top cover 16 from an open position to a closed position in this one preferred

embodiment. The control fascia body 14 is adapted to be directly mounted on the control mechanism of the MCC switchboard module thereby preventing misalignment of a mechanism shaft and a handle of the switchboard module. The control facia assembly 10 facilitates achievement of the different positions of the MCC switch board module in the closed door condition namely a 'service', a 'test' and an 'isolation' condition of the MCC switchboard module.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the control facia body 14 has a front surface 18 and a rear surface 20. The front surface 18 and the rear surface 20 mutually define a first conical shaped portion 22. The first conical shaped portion 22 is having a plurality ribs having a conical configuration adapted to snap-fittedly engage with the control facia top cover 16 in the closed position of the control facia top cover 16. The control facia body 14 includes a first hinging hole 24. The first hinging hole 24 assists in hingedly connecting the control facia top cover 16 to the control facia body 14. The control facia body 14 includes a first handle 26 adapted to facilitate a first padlocking means to the control facia assembly 10. The first handle also facilitates a means for lifting the control facial top cover 16 during the handle insertion. The control facia body 14 includes a slot 28 that is having a semicircular configuration. The slot 28 facilitates mounting of a control plate of the MCC switchboard module such that the indicating lamp and meter are mounted outside of the switchboard module. The control plate is fixed at outer part of the MCC switchboard module such that the DOP is maintained by providing a provision of gasketting (not shown) in the control facia body 14. The front surface 18 includes a pair of mounting holes 29 adapted to facilitate mounting of the control facia body 14. The conical shaped portion 22 defines an opening adapted for insertion of the handle.
Referring to FIGS. 6-7, the control facia top cover 16 includes a second conical shaped portion 30. The second conical shaped portion 30 defines a plurality of annular indentations configured to snap-fittedly engage with the respective plurality of ribs of the first conical shaped portion 22 in the closed position of the

control facia top cover 16. The control facia top cover 16 includes a second hinging hole 32 that communicates with a protrusion 34 to define an elongated opening 36 within the protrusion 34. The protrusion 34 is configured to pass through the first hinging hole 24 during engagement of the control facia top cover 16 with the control facia body 14. The control facia top cover 16 includes a second handle 38 that facilitates a second padlocking means. The first handle 26 and the second handle 38 can be externally padlocked to prevent access to the module mechanism which indirectly padlocks whole MCC switchboard module thereby keeping the control facia top cover 16 in the closed position.
In this one preferred embodiment, the control facia top cover 16 includes a middle portion 40. The middle portion is specifically designed to have a predefined thickness essential in achieving press fitting feature for the control facia assembly 10. The thickness of the middle portion 40 is 0.8 mm in this one particular embodiment. However, it is understood that the thickness of the middle portion 40 may vary in other alternative embodiments of the control facia assembly 10. The middle portion 40 is adapted to be pressed to unlock the control facia top cover 16 that is locked with the control facia body 14. The middle portion 40 in the pressed condition facilitates the indentations of the second conical shaped portion 30 to get unlocked with the ribs of the first conical shaped portion 22 thereby opening the control facia top cover 16 from the control facia body 14. The control facia top cover 16 is made of Nylon material in this one particular embodiment that advantageously promotes the flexing of the middle portion 40 during the engagement and disengagement of the control facia top cover 16.
Referring to FIG. 8, a preferred method of connecting the control facia top cover 16 to the control facia body 14 is illustrated. The control facia top cover 16 is connected to the control facia body 14 such that a spring 42 is positioned within the first hinging hole 24 and a washer 44 is positioned over the first hinging hole 24. A self tapping screw 46 is inserted through the first hinging hole 24 of the control facia body 14 and engaged within the protrusion 34 of the control facia top

cover 16 through the opening 36 to define a hinged mechanism. The hinged mechanism connects the control facia top cover 16 over the control facia body 14. However, it is understood here that the control facia top cover is rotatable over the control facia body 14 in the connected position. The assembly of the control facia top cover 16 to the control facia body 14 is such that the power/auxiliary contacts in MCC switch board module are not rigidly fixed to a module frame thereby facilitating the movement of the contacts without moving the door with respect to the module frame. A racking mechanism is provided in the module that racks out or racks in Power and auxiliary contacts to achieve the Service, Test and Isolation conditions of the MCC switchboard module. In accordance with the present invention, the MCC switchboard module does not move but only the power and auxiliary contacts move in the closed position of the switchboard module wherein insertion of the mechanism handle is facilitated by a first annular portion 22 and the problem of open cut-out on the door to achieve required DOP is eliminated. The opening on the first annular portion 22 helps to maintain the DOP of the MCC switchboard board module.
Referring to FIGS. 9-10, the control facia top cover 16 is shown in a closed position and an open position respectively. In the closed position, the control facia top cover 16 remains press-fittedly engaged with the control facia body 14. In the closed position, the first handle 26 and the second handle 38 are aligned to facilitate the padlocking arrangement wherein the first handle 26 and the second handle 38 can be externally padlocked.
The control facia top cover 16 needs to be pulled using the second handle 38 while moving the control facia body 14 from the closed position to the open position. In the open position, the press-fit engagement between the control facia top cover 16 and the control facia body 14 is disengaged. In the open position, the control facia top cover 16 remains engaged with the control facia body 14 along the first hinging hole 24 and the second hinging hole 32. However, the control facia top cover 16 is easily rotatable in the open position. In the open position, the

control facia top cover 16 needs not to be fully removed from the control facia body 14 and can be parked over the control facia body 14 thereby eliminating the need of holding the top cover 16 by the user during handle insertion to the MCC switchboard module. In the closed position, the control facia top cover 16 is fitted on the control fascia body 14 by pressing the middle portion 40 of the top cover 16. The top cover 16 cannot be removed from the control facia body 14 without pulling the top cover 16.
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; which is defined by the scope of the following claims.
Advantages of the present invention
1) The control facia body 14 helps to meet IP of the module in the service, test and isolation condition of the MCC switchboard module.
2) The control facia assembly 10 facilitates achievement of the different conditions of the MCC switch board module in the closed door condition.
3) The first handle 26 and the second handle 38 facilitate external padlocking arrangement in all operating conditions of the switchboard module such as for example Service condition, Test condition and Isolate condition.

4) The press fitting arrangement facilitated by the indentations on the first annular portion 22 and the second annular portion 40 to block the access to the mechanism for module operation in the closed door condition.
5) The control facia prevents mismatch between the opening of the control facia and the mechanism shaft during the operation of the MCC switchboard module.

We claim:
1. A control facia assembly for a MCC switchboard module, the control facia
assembly comprising:
a control facia body mounted on a bracket, the control facia body having a first conical shaped portion defining a plurality of ribs, the control facia body having a first handle defining a first padlocking means; and
a control facia top cover connecting to the control facia body through a hinged mechanism, the hinged mechanism facilitating movement of the control facia top cover between an open position and a closed position, the control facia top cover having a second conical shaped portion defining a plurality of indentations, the control facia top cover having a middle portion of a predefined thickness adapted for assisting in a snap-fitted engagement of the indentations with the ribs, the top cover having made of a Nylon material, the control facia top cover having a second handle defining a second padlocking means, the second padlocking means aligning with the first padlocking means to facilitate padlocking in the closed position.
2. The control facia assembly for the MCC switchboard module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control facia body and the top cover are having matting portions that are of conical shape and the middle portion of the top cover is having a thickness of 0.8 mm such that the Nylon material of the top cover and the 0.8 mm thickness in the middle of the top cover help the opening of the top cover middle portion when the top cover is pressed.
3. The control facia assembly for the MCC switchboard module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a padlocking arrangement is achieved through control facia.
4. The control facia assembly for the MCC switchboard module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conical shaped portion facilitates insertion of a handle to

access the mechanism to achieve a plurality of different positions of the module in a closed door position.
5. The control facia assembly for the MCC switchboard module as claimed in claim 1, wherein this facia assembly helps to meet IP of the module in service, test and isolation position.