CA1316996C - Insulated electrical power distribution busway tabs - Google Patents
Insulated electrical power distribution busway tabsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1316996C CA1316996C CA000598095A CA598095A CA1316996C CA 1316996 C CA1316996 C CA 1316996C CA 000598095 A CA000598095 A CA 000598095A CA 598095 A CA598095 A CA 598095A CA 1316996 C CA1316996 C CA 1316996C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tabs
- bars
- busway system
- electrical connection
- conductive
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G5/00—Installations of bus-bars
- H02G5/005—Laminated bus-bars
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G5/00—Installations of bus-bars
- H02G5/06—Totally-enclosed installations, e.g. in metal casings
- H02G5/08—Connection boxes therefor
Landscapes
- Installation Of Bus-Bars (AREA)
Abstract
INSULATED ELECTRICAL POWER
DISTRIBUTION BUSWAY TABS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric power busway system includes a plurality of closely spaced bus bar conductors with each bus conductor having at least one offset contact blade extension welded or brazed thereto. The contact blades engage corresponding contact spring type receiver stabs within a power take-off assembly with interphase insulators arranged between the corresponding blade receiver stabs.
DISTRIBUTION BUSWAY TABS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric power busway system includes a plurality of closely spaced bus bar conductors with each bus conductor having at least one offset contact blade extension welded or brazed thereto. The contact blades engage corresponding contact spring type receiver stabs within a power take-off assembly with interphase insulators arranged between the corresponding blade receiver stabs.
Description
INSULATED ELECTRICAL POWER
DIsTRIsuTIoN suswAy TABS
:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric power busway used within industrial power distribution systems generally consist of a plurality of rectangular copper or alumimlm bars ; 5 closely spaced and separated by means of an electrically insulative coating. Every two feet or so, the bars are shaped to provide a spaced gap between the indlvidual bars and the bottom edge of each of the bars is abraded to remove the insulative material and expose a contact region on both flat sides of the bar. This exposed contact is then tin or silver-plated to provide an electric contact blade for connection with a power take-off assembly which includes a corresponding plurality of blade receiver stabs which mate with the blade portions of the shaped bars. The air gaps between the shaped bars provide sufficient electrical insulative spacing to prevent arcing between~the different phases of a multi-phase power~system wherein each bar carries one-phase of the system current. The so called "expanded connector region" containing the shaped bars effectively provide electrical access to the busway by means of the contact blades. When a four-bus power distribution ~' ~`i ~;~
, .
, ; ~ ~
1 31 69q6 system is employed, the added length for each expanded connector region corresponds to an increase of approximately six percent for each bar. For the ~; four-bus power distribution system, this represents an equivalent six percent increase in the weight of conductor material over an equivalent linear distance spanned by the closely spaced bars within the remaining extent of the bus system. For the long lengths of busway required in most industrial operations, the amount of extra conductor material required to provide sufficient expanded connector regions is substantial.
Canadian Application Serial No. 582,155, filed November 3, 1988, Hibbert et al, entitled "Thermally Efficient Power Busway Housing" describes a lightweight electrical power bus assembly that includes power bus conductors bolted to the power bus housing. To expand these bus hars to provide for connection with the power take-off assembly would create thermal loads to the system to substantially - ~ reduce the overall thermal efficiency. This Canadian application should be revlewed for its teachings of the use of thermally conductive and electrically insulative coatings.
Canadian Application Serial Mo. 576,343, filed September 1, 1988, Richards et al, entitled "Power Distribution Busway System" teaches the use of an expanded integrally formed contact blade on each of the bus bars in the power take-off region of the system to allow for connection with the power take-off assembly without expanding the respective bus bars.
The use of integrally formed contact blades, however, requires expensive forming equipment that must be incorporated within the bus bar manufacturing operation. The present invention proves a simpler and .
.
1316q96 more cost efficient method of providing extended contact blades.
U.S. patent 4,394,532, issued July 19, 1983 to Aguayo and Japanese Patent 40590 both describe the attachment of linear contact blades to miniaturized bus bars used within electronic computers for electrical connection with the individual bus bars.
The attachment of linear contact blades to industrial power distribution systems carrying currents in excess of hundreds of amperes, however, has not heretofore proved commercially feasible.
One pu~pose of the instant invention therefore, is to provide a power bus system which allows interconnection with a plurality of power take-off assemblies without increasing the amount of conductor material at each individual power take-off position and without having to expand a part of the individual power buses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Rectangular power bus conductors within a closely-spaced power bus system are each provided with an off-set extending conductor blade to provide a power take-off region for electrical connection with a power take-off assembly without increasing the amount of copper material used within the power bus system.
; Each conductor blade is off-set from the preceding blade within the power take off region to provide sufficient interphase air gap for electrical isolation purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a bottom perspective view of a multiphase busway system and power take-off assembly according to the prior art, FIGURE 2 is a front sectional view of a thermally efficient busway system used with bus bars . ~
. . ' ;
1 31 6~6 having the contact blade tabs according to the invention;
FIGURES 3A and 3B are top perspective views of the contact blade tabs and bus bars according to the invention; and FIGURE 4 is a front sectional view of the busway system of Figure 2 containing bus bars having -the contact blade tabs according to the invention.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Before describing the electric power busway system of the invention, it is helpful to describe one example of a power busway system 10 as currently -~ employed which is depicted in Figure 1. The busway system usually includes four bus bar conductors 11-14 (hereafter "bars"~, each carrying a separate phase of a multi-phase power distribution system and each containing an insulative coating 15 to electrically insulate the bars from each other and the housing (not shown). An expanded connector region 9 is shown along the bars wherein each of the bars is shaped to define corresponding spaces 20, 21, 22 and the insulation is removed to expose a copper or aluminum contact blade 16-19 which is subsequently tin or silver-plated.
These expanded connector regions 9 are arranged every two feet or so t accommodate a power take-off assembly 27 for delivering power to associated electrical equipment. A commonly employed power take-off assembly generally comprises a metallic enclosure 28 which~supports three or four corresponding spring type contact blade receiver stabs 23-26 which are electr~ically insulated~from each other and from the enclosure 28. A pair of metal grounding plates 29, 30 are provided outboard of the receiver stabs. A
knock-out 31 is formed within one side of the enclosure~to allow for wire connection between the ~' ~' i ., ' , ~ .
:
.
`-~`" 1 3 1 69q6 contact blade receiver stabs and the associated electrical equipment. When electrical interconnection is made between two separate power busway systems, a similar expanded connector region with the contact blades omitted, is employed. One such power busway interconnecting arrangement is described within Canadian Application Serial No. 594,601, filed March 23, 1989, Hibbert et al, entitled "Adjustable Joint for Electrical Busway", and Canadian App:Lication Serial No.
594,602, filed March 23, 1989, Beberman et al, entitled "Thermally Efficient Splice Joint for Electrical Distribution Busway". Both of these Canadian Applications should be reviewed for their teachings of busway joint connectors.
A thermally efficient busway system 32 such as described in the aforementioned Canadian Application Serial No. 582,155 is depicted in Figure 2 to consist `~ of a pair of side plates 33, 34 encompassing bus bars ;~ 35-38. The side plates and bus bars are held together by means of a thru~bolt 39 and an insulative epoxy coating 40 electrically isolates the bus bars from each other and from the side plates. As noted within the aforementioned Canadian application, the close proximity of the bus bars promotes the transfer of heat out to the side plates 33, 34 whereby the heat becomes dissipated to the surrounding air. It is important therefore not to have to separate the bus bars in order ~ o provide~for interconnection therewith. The ;~ ~ invention accordingly provides means for allowing for electrical connection with the individuaI bus bars within a thermally efficient busway system without ~having to~separate the individual bus bars.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The means for providing electrical connection : ~ :
'~
, , ~,.
,, . , ~ .
DIsTRIsuTIoN suswAy TABS
:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric power busway used within industrial power distribution systems generally consist of a plurality of rectangular copper or alumimlm bars ; 5 closely spaced and separated by means of an electrically insulative coating. Every two feet or so, the bars are shaped to provide a spaced gap between the indlvidual bars and the bottom edge of each of the bars is abraded to remove the insulative material and expose a contact region on both flat sides of the bar. This exposed contact is then tin or silver-plated to provide an electric contact blade for connection with a power take-off assembly which includes a corresponding plurality of blade receiver stabs which mate with the blade portions of the shaped bars. The air gaps between the shaped bars provide sufficient electrical insulative spacing to prevent arcing between~the different phases of a multi-phase power~system wherein each bar carries one-phase of the system current. The so called "expanded connector region" containing the shaped bars effectively provide electrical access to the busway by means of the contact blades. When a four-bus power distribution ~' ~`i ~;~
, .
, ; ~ ~
1 31 69q6 system is employed, the added length for each expanded connector region corresponds to an increase of approximately six percent for each bar. For the ~; four-bus power distribution system, this represents an equivalent six percent increase in the weight of conductor material over an equivalent linear distance spanned by the closely spaced bars within the remaining extent of the bus system. For the long lengths of busway required in most industrial operations, the amount of extra conductor material required to provide sufficient expanded connector regions is substantial.
Canadian Application Serial No. 582,155, filed November 3, 1988, Hibbert et al, entitled "Thermally Efficient Power Busway Housing" describes a lightweight electrical power bus assembly that includes power bus conductors bolted to the power bus housing. To expand these bus hars to provide for connection with the power take-off assembly would create thermal loads to the system to substantially - ~ reduce the overall thermal efficiency. This Canadian application should be revlewed for its teachings of the use of thermally conductive and electrically insulative coatings.
Canadian Application Serial Mo. 576,343, filed September 1, 1988, Richards et al, entitled "Power Distribution Busway System" teaches the use of an expanded integrally formed contact blade on each of the bus bars in the power take-off region of the system to allow for connection with the power take-off assembly without expanding the respective bus bars.
The use of integrally formed contact blades, however, requires expensive forming equipment that must be incorporated within the bus bar manufacturing operation. The present invention proves a simpler and .
.
1316q96 more cost efficient method of providing extended contact blades.
U.S. patent 4,394,532, issued July 19, 1983 to Aguayo and Japanese Patent 40590 both describe the attachment of linear contact blades to miniaturized bus bars used within electronic computers for electrical connection with the individual bus bars.
The attachment of linear contact blades to industrial power distribution systems carrying currents in excess of hundreds of amperes, however, has not heretofore proved commercially feasible.
One pu~pose of the instant invention therefore, is to provide a power bus system which allows interconnection with a plurality of power take-off assemblies without increasing the amount of conductor material at each individual power take-off position and without having to expand a part of the individual power buses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Rectangular power bus conductors within a closely-spaced power bus system are each provided with an off-set extending conductor blade to provide a power take-off region for electrical connection with a power take-off assembly without increasing the amount of copper material used within the power bus system.
; Each conductor blade is off-set from the preceding blade within the power take off region to provide sufficient interphase air gap for electrical isolation purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a bottom perspective view of a multiphase busway system and power take-off assembly according to the prior art, FIGURE 2 is a front sectional view of a thermally efficient busway system used with bus bars . ~
. . ' ;
1 31 6~6 having the contact blade tabs according to the invention;
FIGURES 3A and 3B are top perspective views of the contact blade tabs and bus bars according to the invention; and FIGURE 4 is a front sectional view of the busway system of Figure 2 containing bus bars having -the contact blade tabs according to the invention.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Before describing the electric power busway system of the invention, it is helpful to describe one example of a power busway system 10 as currently -~ employed which is depicted in Figure 1. The busway system usually includes four bus bar conductors 11-14 (hereafter "bars"~, each carrying a separate phase of a multi-phase power distribution system and each containing an insulative coating 15 to electrically insulate the bars from each other and the housing (not shown). An expanded connector region 9 is shown along the bars wherein each of the bars is shaped to define corresponding spaces 20, 21, 22 and the insulation is removed to expose a copper or aluminum contact blade 16-19 which is subsequently tin or silver-plated.
These expanded connector regions 9 are arranged every two feet or so t accommodate a power take-off assembly 27 for delivering power to associated electrical equipment. A commonly employed power take-off assembly generally comprises a metallic enclosure 28 which~supports three or four corresponding spring type contact blade receiver stabs 23-26 which are electr~ically insulated~from each other and from the enclosure 28. A pair of metal grounding plates 29, 30 are provided outboard of the receiver stabs. A
knock-out 31 is formed within one side of the enclosure~to allow for wire connection between the ~' ~' i ., ' , ~ .
:
.
`-~`" 1 3 1 69q6 contact blade receiver stabs and the associated electrical equipment. When electrical interconnection is made between two separate power busway systems, a similar expanded connector region with the contact blades omitted, is employed. One such power busway interconnecting arrangement is described within Canadian Application Serial No. 594,601, filed March 23, 1989, Hibbert et al, entitled "Adjustable Joint for Electrical Busway", and Canadian App:Lication Serial No.
594,602, filed March 23, 1989, Beberman et al, entitled "Thermally Efficient Splice Joint for Electrical Distribution Busway". Both of these Canadian Applications should be reviewed for their teachings of busway joint connectors.
A thermally efficient busway system 32 such as described in the aforementioned Canadian Application Serial No. 582,155 is depicted in Figure 2 to consist `~ of a pair of side plates 33, 34 encompassing bus bars ;~ 35-38. The side plates and bus bars are held together by means of a thru~bolt 39 and an insulative epoxy coating 40 electrically isolates the bus bars from each other and from the side plates. As noted within the aforementioned Canadian application, the close proximity of the bus bars promotes the transfer of heat out to the side plates 33, 34 whereby the heat becomes dissipated to the surrounding air. It is important therefore not to have to separate the bus bars in order ~ o provide~for interconnection therewith. The ;~ ~ invention accordingly provides means for allowing for electrical connection with the individuaI bus bars within a thermally efficient busway system without ~having to~separate the individual bus bars.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The means for providing electrical connection : ~ :
'~
, , ~,.
,, . , ~ .
with the bus bars within the busway system 32 according to the invention is best seen by referring now to Figures 3A and 3~. An off-set contact blade tab 43 hereafter "off-set tab" is formed from a single bar of copper or aluminum to define a planar vertical surface 44 and a curved surface 45. The planar surface is arranged for good electrical connection with a power take-off receiver by welding or braæing the bottom edge 46 of the off-sat tab 43 onto the top surface 42 of a copper or aluminum bus bar 41. When the off-set tab 43 is welded to the bus bar as indicated at 49 in Figure 3s, an epoxy coating 48 is applied to both the bus bar 41 and the off-set tab 43. The epoxy coating electrically isolates the rectangular copper or aluminum bar 47 and the off-set tab 43, except for that part, ~4A of the planar vertical surface 44 to which electrical connection is made. The opposite surface of the off-set tab 43, although not shown, is also masked during the epoxy deposition purpose to insure a good electrical contact with the power take-off receiver.
The function of the curved surface 45 is best seen by referring now to Figure 4 wherein a busway section 50 i5 depicted containing bus bars 25 35' 38', each containing an off-set tab 43 welded thereto. The off-set tabs extend upwards through corresponding slots 52 formed in the cross-piece 51 that joins the upstanding rails 53 on the busway enclosure side plates 33, 34 to define insulating 30 spaces 54, 55, 56 which can receive standard power take-off assemblies such as depicted earlier at 27 in Figure 1. It is noted that the epoxy coating 40 is ; applied to the bus bars 35'-38' except for the exposed surfaces 44A. This provides good electrical isolation to the off-set tabs to prevent inadvertenk contact :
: :
.
` -`` 1 31 699~
The function of the curved surface 45 is best seen by referring now to Figure 4 wherein a busway section 50 i5 depicted containing bus bars 25 35' 38', each containing an off-set tab 43 welded thereto. The off-set tabs extend upwards through corresponding slots 52 formed in the cross-piece 51 that joins the upstanding rails 53 on the busway enclosure side plates 33, 34 to define insulating 30 spaces 54, 55, 56 which can receive standard power take-off assemblies such as depicted earlier at 27 in Figure 1. It is noted that the epoxy coating 40 is ; applied to the bus bars 35'-38' except for the exposed surfaces 44A. This provides good electrical isolation to the off-set tabs to prevent inadvertenk contact :
: :
.
` -`` 1 31 699~
- 7 - 41P~06674 therewith except by means of the power take-off assembly.
The provision of a welded connection between the off-set tabs and the bus bars, readily lends itself to an automated welding process whereby the off-set tabs are robotically welded to the bus bars at predetermined locations during the bus bar manufacturing and assembly process.
.
.: :
( :`
:
: :, :, .
~:
`: :
~,' ~;
' ' ' ":
.: , ' ' ' ~: ` '` ` ' ` '
The provision of a welded connection between the off-set tabs and the bus bars, readily lends itself to an automated welding process whereby the off-set tabs are robotically welded to the bus bars at predetermined locations during the bus bar manufacturing and assembly process.
.
.: :
( :`
:
: :, :, .
~:
`: :
~,' ~;
' ' ' ":
.: , ' ' ' ~: ` '` ` ' ` '
Claims (8)
1. An electric busway system comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive bars, each of said bars being electrically insulated from each other, and extending parallel to each other;
a pair of metallic side plates, one on each side of said plurality of conductive bars, said plates providing a housing enclosure to said conductive bars; and a plurality of tabs, each said tab extending parallel to and being welded or brazed to a respective said conductive bar said tabs being offset from each other to define spaces between adjacent said tabs to facilitate insertion of electrical connection means into said spaces, thereby providing external electrical connection with said tabs.
a plurality of electrically conductive bars, each of said bars being electrically insulated from each other, and extending parallel to each other;
a pair of metallic side plates, one on each side of said plurality of conductive bars, said plates providing a housing enclosure to said conductive bars; and a plurality of tabs, each said tab extending parallel to and being welded or brazed to a respective said conductive bar said tabs being offset from each other to define spaces between adjacent said tabs to facilitate insertion of electrical connection means into said spaces, thereby providing external electrical connection with said tabs.
2. The electric busway system of claim 1 including an insulative coating on said tabs except for predetermined surfaces adjacent said spaces, said predetermined surfaces providing electrical contact with said electrical connection means.
3. The electrical busway system of claim 1 wherein said tabs each comprise a planar surface and a curvilinear surface, said curvilinear surfaces each being arranged proximate to a respective said conductive bar and each said planar surface being arranged away from a respective said conductive bar.
4. The electric busway system of claim 1 wherein said conductive bars and said tabs comprise non-ferrous metal.
5. The electric busway system of claim 2 wherein said insulative coating comprises epoxy.
6. The electric busway system of claim 2 including a tin or silver coating on said predetermined surfaces.
7. The electric busway system of claim 1 wherein said tabs are attached to said conductive bars at predetermined distances along said first plane.
8. An electric busway system comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive bars, each of said bars being electrically insulated from each other and extending parallel to each other;
a pair of metallic side plates, one on each side of said plurality of conductive bars, said plates providing a housing enclosure to said conductive bars; and a plurality of tabs, each said tab extending parallel to and being welded or brazed to a respective said conductive bar, said tabs being offset from each other to define spaces between adjacent said tabs to facilitate insertion of electrical connection means into said spaces, thereby providing external electrical connection with said tabs, said side plates including a top plate having a slot, whereby each of said tabs extends through said slot.
a plurality of electrically conductive bars, each of said bars being electrically insulated from each other and extending parallel to each other;
a pair of metallic side plates, one on each side of said plurality of conductive bars, said plates providing a housing enclosure to said conductive bars; and a plurality of tabs, each said tab extending parallel to and being welded or brazed to a respective said conductive bar, said tabs being offset from each other to define spaces between adjacent said tabs to facilitate insertion of electrical connection means into said spaces, thereby providing external electrical connection with said tabs, said side plates including a top plate having a slot, whereby each of said tabs extends through said slot.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US20395188A | 1988-06-08 | 1988-06-08 | |
| US203,951 | 1988-06-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1316996C true CA1316996C (en) | 1993-04-27 |
Family
ID=22755957
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000598095A Expired - Lifetime CA1316996C (en) | 1988-06-08 | 1989-04-27 | Insulated electrical power distribution busway tabs |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU3117489A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1316996C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112701641A (en) * | 2020-12-22 | 2021-04-23 | 美嘉科技（镇江）有限公司 | Insulating bus duct convenient to installation |
-
1989
- 1989-03-09 AU AU31174/89A patent/AU3117489A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-04-27 CA CA000598095A patent/CA1316996C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112701641A (en) * | 2020-12-22 | 2021-04-23 | 美嘉科技（镇江）有限公司 | Insulating bus duct convenient to installation |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU3117489A (en) | 1989-12-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |