Screw type panel mount fuse holder lock out device
An example lock out device includes a plug of electrically insulating material and a hinged bracket to receive the plug. The plug includes a cap and a threaded portion to threadedly engage with a threaded opening of a fuse holder. The hinged bracket includes a first section having a base with a first opening and walls forming a first cavity to permit the threaded portion of the plug to pass through the base portion, and a second section having a lid and walls forming a second cavity. The first and second sections are moveably connected via a hinge to enable movement of the first and/or second section relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. When the hinged bracket is closed a first eye and a second eye are aligned to enable a locking element to pass through both the first and second eye.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a plug comprising an electrically insulating material, the plug including:
a cap; and
a threaded portion sized to threadedly engage with a threaded opening of a fuse holder; and
a hinged bracket to receive the plug, the hinged bracket comprising:
a first section including:
a base portion and one or more walls forming a first cavity;
a first opening in the base portion, the first opening having a first dimension larger than a diameter of the threaded portion of the plug to permit the threaded portion of the plug to pass through the base portion, the first dimension being smaller than a lateral dimension of the cap; and
a first lock portion including a first eye to receive a locking element; and a second section including:
a lid portion and one or more walls forming a second cavity; and
a second lock portion including a second eye to receive the locking element;
wherein the first section and the second section are moveably connected via a hinge to enable movement of at least one of the first section or the second section relative to each other between an open position and a closed position; and
wherein when the hinged bracket is in the closed position the first eye of the first lock portion and the second eye of the second lock portion are aligned to enable the locking element to pass through both the first eye and the second eye.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plug is inserted into the hinged bracket such that the threaded portion extends through the first opening.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second section includes a second opening in the lid portion, the second opening having a second dimension smaller than the lateral dimension of the cap.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the hinged bracket is placed in the closed position such that the lid portion is positioned over the cap of the plug and a top face of the cap is visible though the second opening.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top face of the cap has one or more of a color or a marking to provide a visible contrast between the top face of the cap and the hinged bracket.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a pin inserted into receiving portions of the hinge in one or more of the first section or the second section.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a flexible material connected to the first section and the second section.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plug further comprises a cylindrical portion having a beveled edge between the cap and the threaded portion.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical portion has a larger diameter than a diameter of the threaded portion, and wherein the beveled edge includes a lip to engage the base portion and retain the plug in place within the hinged bracket while permitting the plug to be turned.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plug and the hinged bracket are each comprised of a material to withstand a threshold amount of force when inserted in a fuse holder, placed in a closed position, and then locked.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first section further includes a first support element adjacent to the first lock portion, and wherein the second section further includes a second support element adjacent to the second lock portion.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinged bracket has a size to enable placement in a fuse holder position on a fuse panel.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the size of the hinged bracket is to enable placement of a plurality of hinged brackets in adjacent fuse holder positions on the fuse panel.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a side of the cap includes a surface texture to assist in gripping or turning of the plug.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the side of the cap is tapered.
16 . A method of securing an empty fuse holder, comprising:
inserting a plug comprising an electrically insulating material into a hinged bracket, wherein the plug includes:
a cap; and
a threaded portion sized to threadedly engage with a threaded opening of a fuse holder; and
wherein the hinged bracket includes:
a first section including:
a base portion and one or more walls forming a first cavity;
a first opening in the base portion, the first opening having a first dimension larger than a diameter of the threaded portion of the plug to permit the threaded portion of the plug to pass through the base portion, the first dimension being smaller than a lateral dimension of the cap; and
a first lock portion including a first eye to receive a locking element; and
a second section including:
a lid portion and one or more walls forming a second cavity; and
a second lock portion including a second eye to receive the locking element;
wherein the first section and the second section are moveably connected via a hinge to enable movement of at least one of the first section or the second section relative to each other between an open position and a closed position; and
wherein when the hinged bracket is in the closed position the first eye of the first lock portion and the second eye of the second lock portion are aligned to enable the locking element to pass through both the first eye and the second eye;
wherein the plug is inserted into the hinged bracket such that the threaded portion extends through the first opening;
placing the hinged bracket over the fuse holder such that one or more of the first opening is positioned over a threaded opening of the fuse holder or the threaded portion of the plug is placed at the threaded opening of the fuse holder;
turning the plug to cause the threaded portion of the plug to be threadedly inserted within the fuse holder; and
moving the second section of the hinged bracket over the first section of the hinged bracket and the plug to place the hinged bracket in the closed position.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising placing a locking element through the first eye of the first lock portion and the second eye of the second lock portion when the threaded portion of the plug is threadedly inserted within the fuse holder and the hinged bracket is in the closed position.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second section includes a second opening in the lid portion, the second opening having a second dimension smaller than the lateral dimension of the cap, and wherein when the hinged bracket is placed in the closed position the lid portion is positioned over the cap of the plug and a top face of the cap is visible though the second opening.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plug further comprises a cylindrical portion having a beveled edge between the cap and the threaded portion, wherein the cylindrical portion has a larger diameter than a diameter of the threaded portion, wherein the beveled edge includes a lip to engage the base portion, and wherein placing the plug into the hinged bracket comprises snapping the plug into the hinged bracket such that the lip of the beveled edge protrudes through the first opening and engages the base portion to retain the plug in place within the hinged bracket while permitting the plug to be turned.