Patent ID: 6414839
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: H02B

Abstract:
In a motor control center including a bus bar having a longitudinal axis and a mounting panel adjacent said bus bar, said mounting panel having a control unit mounting surface opposite said bus bar for receiving a control unit having an electrical connector for connecting said control unit to said bus bar, said mounting panel also including a connector opening for passage of said connector through said mounting panel and into electrical contact with said bus bar when said control unit is mounted on said mounting surface, a shutter mechanism comprising:(a) a shutter panel slidably mounted on said mounting surface for movement along a path generally transverse to said longitudinal axis between a first and a second position of said shutter panel, said shutter panel having a web covering said connector opening in said shutter panel when said shutter panel is in said first position to thereby prevent contact with said bus bar through said connector opening, said shutter panel also having a hole aligning with said connector opening for passage of said electrical connector when said shutter panel is in said second position; (b) a shutter actuator including a shutter pusher plate operably connected to said shutter panel for movement with the shutter panel along said path, said actuator also including a track mounted on said mounting surface for retaining and guiding said pusher plate along said path as said shutter panel moves between said first and second positions, said shutter actuator further including a lever having one end hinged to said pusher plate and extending outward from said pusher plate to a distal end of said lever configured for engaging said control unit, said shutter actuator further including a spring mechanism operably attaching said lever to said pusher plate and track for urging the distal end of said lever to pivot outward from said pusher plate while simultaneously urging said pusher plate to move said shutter panel into said first position; and (c) a flexible joint operably connecting said pusher plate and shutter panel, wherein said flexible joint operably connects said pusher plate and shutter panel on a panel having a second mounting surface not in a common plane with said control unit mounting surface, and wherein said shutter panel is mounted on one of said control unit mounting surface or said second mounting surface, and said pusher plate is mounted on the other of said control unit mounting surface and second mounting surface.