Cabling device for electrical distribution devices
Embodiments provided herein are directed to an improved way to access and increase the area of an electrical distribution device provided for cable pulling and cabling. A rotatable section, on which several electrical components of the electrical distribution device are attached, can be rotated away from the cabling area as a single unit. This permits easier access to the cabling area and increases the size of the cabling area, which results in less time required to pull cables and wire the electrical components of the electrical distribution device.
1 . A cabling access device for an electrical distribution device having a frame for supporting electrical components of the electrical distribution device and a cabling area, the cabling access device comprising:
a rotatable section configured to attach to and support one or more of the electrical components of the electrical distribution device, wherein the one or more of the electrical components includes a first through bus bar mounted on the rotatable section, wherein the rotatable section is further configured to rotatably attach to the frame for rotation between two positions while being attached to and supporting the one or more of the electrical components, wherein in a first position among the two positions access to the cabling area is restricted and the first through bus bar is configured to electrically connect to a second through bus bar of an adjacent electrical distribution device, and in a second position among the two positions access to the cabling area is provided and the first through bus bar is configured to electrically disconnect from the second through bus bar of the adjacent electrical distribution device,
wherein the first through bus bar must be electrically disconnected from any adjacent through bus bars prior to rotating the rotatable section from its first position to its second position.
2 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical components of the electrical distribution device are located in front of the cabling area when the rotatable section is in the first position.
3 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the electrical components attached to and supported by the rotatable section further includes a main breaker/fused switch mounted on the rotatable section and a load bus section.
4 . The cabling access device of claim 3 , wherein the main breaker/fused switch must be electrically disconnected from a line bus section prior to rotating the rotatable section from its first position to its second position.
5 . The cabling access device of claim 3 , wherein the main breaker/fused switch, load bus section, and first through bus bar remain electrically connected when the rotatable section is in either of the first or second positions.
6 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable section is maintained in each of the first and second positions by a single pivotal latch.
7 . The cabling access device of claim 6 , wherein the rotatable section is attached to a first fixed section by a hinge, the first fixed section defining a hole adjacent to the hinge for receiving one end of the pivotal latch as the rotatable section is being rotated from its first position to its second position.
8 . The cabling access device of claim 7 , wherein the pivotal latch has a notch which receives an edge of the hole defined in the first fixed section when the rotatable section has rotated to its second position, the notch preventing the rotatable section from moving until the pivotal latch has been lifted to disengage the edge of the hole.
9 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a structural support member coupled to the frame and configured to provide load bearing support for the rotatable section.
10 . An electrical distribution device comprising:
a frame assembly configured to support components of the electrical distribution device including a cabling access device;
a line bus section configured to be electrically connected to a utility power source and further configured to be electrically connected to a power disconnect device;
a cabling area available for electrical cables that electrically connect the utility power source to line bus bars of the line bus section;
a load bus section configured to be electrically connected to the power disconnect device and further configured to be electrically connected to a through bus bar, wherein the through bus bar is configured to provide an electrical connection to a through bus of an adjacent electrical distribution device;
a rotatable subframe on which the power disconnect device, load bus section, and through bus bar are mounted,
wherein the rotatable subframe is configured to attach to the electrical distribution device frame assembly by a hinge,
the rotatable subframe is configured to rotate between two positions while attached to and supporting the power disconnect device, the load bus section, and the through bus bar,
when in a first position among the two positions, the power disconnect device is electrically disconnected from the line bus section and the through bus bar is electrically disconnected from the through bus of the adjacent electrical distribution device and the cabling area of the electrical distribution device is exposed for providing the access to the cabling area and for providing access for pulling and connecting the electrical cables; and
when in a second position of the two positions, the through bus bar is electrically connected to the through bus of the adjacent electrical distribution device, and the cabling area is behind the through bus bar.
11 . The electrical distribution device of claim 10 , wherein the rotatable subframe includes a first fixed section and a second fixed section, each being temporarily attached to the frame during assembly by double headed rivets received in an L-shaped slot and permanently attached to the frame by screws.
12 . The electrical distribution device of claim 10 , wherein the rotatable subframe is capable of being temporarily attached to the frame via opposed side walls of the frame.
13 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , wherein the cabling area is available for electrical cables that electrically connect the utility power source to line bus bars of the line bus section.
14 . The cabling access device of claim 3 , wherein the restriction of access to the cabling area is due to two or more of the group comprising the main breaker/fused switch, the load bus section, and the through bus bar.
15 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the electrical components attached to and supported by the rotatable section further includes a main breaker/fused switch, and
wherein the rotatable section is configured to rotate together with the main breaker/fused switch.
16 . The cabling access device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the electrical components attached to and supported by the rotatable section further includes a through bus bar, and
wherein the rotatable section is configured to rotate together with the through bus bar.
17 . The cabling access device of claim 3 , wherein the main breaker/fused switch is physically spaced from the through bus bar.
18 . A cabling access device for an electrical distribution device including a main breaker, a load bus bar, a through bus bar and a cabling area, the cabling access device comprising:
a rotatable section on which the main breaker, the through bus bar, and the load bus bar are mounted, the rotatable section being further configured to rotate together with the main breaker, the through bus bar and the load bus bar to provide or restrict access to the cabling area.
19 . The cabling access device of claim 18 ,
wherein in a first position to which the rotatable section is configured to rotate, access to the cabling area is restricted,
wherein in a second position to which the rotatable section is configured to rotate, access to the cabling area is provided, and
wherein the through bus bar is configured to couple to another through bus bar of an adjacent electrical distribution device when the rotatable section is in the first position.