IP Library Granted Patent US 7,121,856
Granted Patent B2
US 7,121,856 · App. 11/013,714 · Granted Oct 17, 2006

Device for connection of busbars to equipment of an electrical switchboard

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,121,856
App. No.
11/013,714
Granted
Oct 17, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for connection of a plurality of busbars to at least one apparatus of an electrical switchboard. The device comprises mechanical-coupling means to the busbars. The mechanical-coupling means further comprise at least one first element made of insulating material having a shaped body, on which there are defined housing seats, designed to couple each with corresponding busbars insulating them from one another. In addition the device further comprises connection means, operatively coupled to the at least one first element so as to enable direct electrical connection between the busbars and the at least one apparatus.

Claims (22)

1. A device for connection of a plurality of busbars to at least one apparatus of an electrical switchboard, comprising:

mechanical-coupling means with said busbars, said mechanical-coupling means comprising at least one first insulating element made of insulating material having a shaped body, on which there are defined housing seats, designed to couple each with corresponding busbars and insulate the busbars from one another,

wherein said first insulating element has a substantially parallelepipedal body having a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a rear face, and two side faces, said housing seats being arranged on said front face along the line joining said bottom and top faces, at a predefined distance from one another; and

connection means, operatively coupled to said first insulating element so as to enable direct electrical connection between said busbars and said apparatus.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising said coupling means that comprise retention and protection means, operatively coupled to said first insulating element so as to couple and withhold in a protected position with said connection means and with the busbars.

3. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising said first insulating element provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves defined on said rear face along the line joining the two side faces.

4. The device according to claim 3 , further comprising, on said first insulating element, a plurality of through openings, each through opening setting a housing seat in communication with a corresponding longitudinal groove.

5. The device according to claim 4 , further comprising, on said first insulating element, at least one first through hole set along the line joining the front and rear faces.

6. The device according to claim 4 , further comprising retention and protection means that comprise a second element made of insulating material, designed to be coupled to the first insulating element on the rear face, said second element having a substantially U-shaped configuration with the two side branches having the free edges shaped so as to present surfaces for clamping with accordingly mating surfaces, defined along two edges of the rear face, the central branch being designed to cover longitudinal grooves at the top and being provided with at least one second through hole, which is to be aligned with said first through hole.

7. The device according to claim 4 , further comprising retention and protection means that comprise at least one elastic means, designed to be inserted in said first through hole, a screw-shaped insulating element, designed to be inserted in said first and second through holes and to be gripped on the central branch of the second element in antagonism with said elastic means, and a substantially flat insulating body, designed to be fixed to the free end of said screw element so as to be pulled so that it rests on a pair of adjacent bars during gripping.

8. The device according to claim 3 , further comprising, on said first insulating element, at least one first through hole set along the line joining the front and rear faces.

9. The device according to claim 3 , further comprising retention and protection means that comprise a second element made of insulating material, designed to be coupled to the first insulating element on the rear face, said second element having a substantially U-shaped configuration with the two side branches having the free edges shaped so as to present surfaces for clamping with accordingly mating surfaces, defined along two edges of the rear face, the central branch being designed to cover longitudinal grooves at the top and being provided with at least one second through hole, which is to be aligned with said first through hole.

10. The device according to claim 3 , further comprising retention and protection means that comprise at least one elastic means, designed to be inserted in said first through hole, a screw-shaped insulating element, designed to be inserted in said first and second through holes and to be gripped on the central branch of the second element in antagonism with said elastic means, and a substantially flat insulating body, designed to be fixed to the free end of said screw element so as to be pulled so that it rests on a pair of adjacent bars during gripping.

11. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising, on said insulating element, at least one first through hole set along the line joining the front and rear faces.

12. The device according to claim 11 , further comprising retention and protection means that comprise a second element made of insulating material, designed to be coupled to the first insulating element on the rear face, said second element having a substantially U-shaped configuration with the two side branches having the free edges shaped so as to present surfaces for clamping with accordingly mating surfaces, defined along two edges of the rear face, the central branch being designed to cover longitudinal grooves at the top and being provided with at least one second through hole, which is to be aligned with said first through hole.

13. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising retention and protection means that comprise a second element made of insulating material, designed to be coupled to the first insulating element on the rear face, said second element having a substantially U-shaped configuration with the two side branches having free edges shaped so as to present surfaces for clamping with accordingly mating surfaces, defined along two edges of the rear face, the central branch being designed to cover longitudinal grooves at the top and being provided with at least one second through hole, which is to be aligned with a first through hole.

14. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising retention and protection means comprise at least one elastic means, designed to be inserted in said first through hole, a screw-shaped insulating element, designed to be inserted in said first and second through holes and to be gripped on the central branch of the second element in antagonism with said elastic means, and a substantially flat insulating body, designed to be fixed to the free end of said screw element so as to be pulled so that it rests on a pair of adjacent bars during gripping.

15. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising said connection means that comprise a shaped element made of conductive material and having at least one first end surface for direct electrical connection to said apparatus, one second surface for mechanical coupling to said first insulating element, and one third surface, which is designed for direct electro-mechanical coupling to a corresponding bar.

16. The device according to claim 15 , further comprising said shaped conductive element has a first substantially L-shaped portion, a first branch of said L having a free end, designed to be inserted directly in a coupling seat of the electrical apparatus, the second branch being designed to be inserted within a corresponding longitudinal groove of the first insulating element.

17. The device according to claim 16 , further comprising said shaped conductive element has a second substantially pincer-shaped conductive element, which extends transversely from the second branch of the first L-shaped portion, said pincer-shaped portion being designed to be inserted in at least one through openings of the first insulating element and to grip a corresponding busbar.

18. The device according to claim 17 , further comprising an elastic element mounted on said pincer-shaped portion so as to favour its gripping by pressure on the busbar.

19. A low-voltage electrical switchboard, further comprising at least one connection device according to claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2008
From: ABB SERVICE S.R.L.
To: ABB S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 020859/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2004
From: FONTANA, RODOLFO; MORINI, GIUSEPPE
To: ABB SERVICE S.R.L
Reel/Frame 016100/0016 →