Abstract:
A wiring trough provides ease of installation onto a wide variety of metered panelboards, while also providing attractive aesthetics.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention provides an improved auxiliary wireway trough for mounting to a metered panelboard.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Wiring troughs are used to protect &amp; secure the incoming entry wiring that energizes a metered panelboard. Many electricians facilitate the entry of wiring using a conduit and elbows. The elbow and conduit combination proves difficult to pull the cable through, and is an unattractive method.  
           [0005]    Several presently available housings include various integral wiring troughs or conduits. Such integral wiring troughs are only useful with the particular housing for which they are designed, and significantly constrain the wiring installation space.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for an easily installed, aesthetically pleasing, rain-resistant wiring trough that may be used with a wide variety of metered panelboards.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides an easily installed, aesthetically pleasing, wiring trough that may be used with a wide variety of metered panelboards.  
           [0008]    The wiring trough includes a base, a cover, and a pair of end caps.  
           [0009]    The base includes a first side for mounting to the side of the metered panelboard cabinet, a back extending substantially perpendicular to the first side, and a lip extending from the opposite edge of the back, substantially perpendicular to the first side. The first side includes a plurality of keyhole shaped openings dimensioned and configured for receiving an existing screw mounted on the metered panelboard. The edge of the first side opposite the back includes a lip having a plurality of mounting threaded studs extending therefrom, with the lip being substantially perpendicular to the first side, and the threaded mounting studs being substantially parallel to the first side.  
           [0010]    The cover includes a first side and a front, with the-front being dimensioned and configured to fit over the base&#39;s lip, and the first side having a plurality of apertures dimensioned and configured to receive the threaded mounting studs on the base. A lip extends from one edge of the first side, substantially parallel to and opposite the front. The cover has a J-shaped profile when viewed from either end.  
           [0011]    A top end cap and a bottom end cap are dimensioned and configured for installation on the ends of the wiring trough. The top end fits over the wiring trough, while the bottom cap fits into the wiring trough. The top end cap includes a large aperture dimensioned and is configured to receive wiring, and a plurality of smaller holes for use in bolting a gasket and a hub cap to the top end cap. Both caps are secured to the base with rain-resistant rivets.  
           [0012]    The wiring trough is typically installed with the top and bottom end caps secured in place, and the cover removed. To install the wiring trough on a metered panelboard, an opening provided by the electrician may be cut at the desired height on the metered panelboard. This facilitates the incoming wire entry from the wireway into the metered panelboard.  
           [0013]    Next, a plurality of existing screws located in the side of the metered panelboard are loosened. The large diameter portions of the keyhole openings in the base are then positioned over these screw heads, and the base is slid downwards so that the narrow slotted portions of the keyhole openings engage the screw shafts. The screws are then retightened, thereby securing the wireway to the metered panelboard. A strip of adhesive-backed gasket material secured to the underside lip of the top cap is now compressed during this process forming a rain-resistant barrier between the wireway and the metered panelboard.  
           [0014]    A gasket and hub cap bolted to the top end cap must then be removed, to allow the electrician to install the appropriate threaded hub mounting to pass the entry wires through into the wireway. The wireway provides ample access to navigate the wiring along the base, and into the metered panelboard, by having two open sides. Lastly, the cover is installed by sliding the top end underneath the top cap, and rotating the cover into position with the apertures on the first side engaging the threaded mounting studs on the base. Wing nuts with apertures may be installed on the threaded mounting studs to secure the cover in place. Additionally two screws secure the cover to the base flange near the backwall mounting. Additional mounting means, if so desired, are provided through the base backwall openings to further secure the wireway to the mounting structure.  
           [0015]    The wiring trough is scaleable for facilitating auxiliary wire entry in other metered panelboards. In addition, the wiring trough is rain-resistant and sealable due to the external mounting method and the security hardware installed. This permits the device to be compliant with various utility specifications to prevent power theft. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a front view of a base for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a side view of a base for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a top view of a base for a wire trough according to the present invention  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a front view of a cover for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a side view of a cover for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a top view of a cover for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a top view of a top end cap for a wire trough of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a back view of a top end cap for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a front view of a top end cap for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a side view of a top end cap for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a bottom end cover for a trough according to the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is a side view of a bottom end cover for a-wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 is a side view of a bottom end cover for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 14 is a front view of a bottom end cover for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 15 is a front view of a base and top end plate for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 16 is a side view of a base and top end plate for a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 17 is a top view of a base and top cover for a wire trough according to the present invention  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 18 is a front view of a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 19 is a side view of a wire trough according to the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 20 is a top view of a wire trough according to the present invention  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 21 is a front view of a wire trough according to the present invention, installed on a metered panelboard.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 22 is a side view of a wire trough according to the present invention, installed on a metered panelboard.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 23 is a top view of a wire trough according to the present invention, installed on a metered panelboard.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0039]    The present invention provides an easily installed, aesthetically pleasing wiring trough that may be used with a wide variety of metered panelboards.  
         [0040]    Referring to the drawings, the wiring trough  10  includes a base  12 , a cover  14 , a top ends cap  16 , and a bottom ends cap  18 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , base  12  is illustrated. The base  12  includes a first side  20 , and a back  22 , which are preferably substantially perpendicular to each other. The first side  20  includes means for mounting the base  12  to a metered panelboard cabinet, with a preferred means being the mounting holes  24 . A preferred embodiment of the mounting hole  24  is keyhole shaped, having a large diameter portion  26  and a small diameter portion  28 . The large diameter portion  26  is dimensioned and configured to permit passage of a screwhead therethrough, while the small diameter portion  28  is dimensioned and configured to permit passage of a screw shaft therethrough, but not a screwhead. Additional mounting apertures  30  may also be provided. A wire outlet aperture  32  may be provided at any point on the first side  20 , corresponding to the location of a wire inlet aperture on the housing of the metered panelboard  86  to which the trough will be mounted. Alternatively, the base  12  may be supplied without a wire outlet aperture  32 , permitting the wire outlet aperture  32  to be cut in any location desired at the time of installation.  
         [0042]    The back  22  extends from the edge  34  of the first side  20 . The back  22  may include mounting apertures  36 . A lip  38  extends from the edge  40  of the back  22 , extending substantially parallel to the first side  20 . The lip  38  includes end portions  42 , having a greater width than the remainder of the lip  38 , and defines a pair of apertures  43  for receiving cover-securing screws. Both the first side  20  and back  22  include a flange  73  at their top end, defining a plurality of holes  72  for securing a top end cap  16  (described below).  
         [0043]    A shelf  44  extends from the edge  46  of the first side  20 , opposite and substantially parallel to the back  22 . The shelf  44  preferably includes means for securing a cover  14 , which may include a plurality of threaded studs  48  extending substantially perpendicular from the shelf  44 .  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS.  4  to  6 , a cover  14  is illustrated. The cover  14  includes a first side  50 , and a front  52 , extending substantially perpendicular from the  30  edge  54  of the first side  50 . A lip  55  extends from the opposite edge  53  of the first side  50 , substantially parallel to the front  52 . The front  52  is dimensioned and configured to fit over the lip  38  of the base  12 , and includes the slots  56 , corresponding to the apertures  43  of the base&#39;s lip  38 . The first side  50  includes an aperture  57  for receiving each of the threaded studs  48  on the base  12 .  
         [0045]    Referring to FIGS.  7  to  10 , a top end cap  16  is illustrated. The top cap  16  includes a top face  58 , and a back, first side, front, and second side  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 , respectively. The top face  58  includes a wire inlet aperture  68 , dimensioned and configured to permit running electrical wiring to the trough  10 . The second side  66  includes a lip  67 , dimensioned and configured to overlap the top of a metered panelboard  86 , with a gasket secured to its underside  69 . A plurality of mounting apertures  70 , corresponding to the mounting apertures  72  on the base  12 , facilitates securing the top end cap  16  to the trough  10 . The apertures  74  defined within the top face  58  permit a gasket  98  and hub cap  100  (FIG. 21) to be secured to the top end cap  56 . The wiring trough  10  will typically be supplied with the top end cap  16  installed on the base  12  (shown in FIGS.  15 - 17 ), and the hub cap  100  secured to the top end cap  16 .  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS.  11  to  14 , a bottom end cap  18  is illustrated. The bottom end cap  18  includes a bottom face  76  and a pair of sides  78 ,  80 . Each of the sides  78 ,  80  may include apertures  82  for securing the bottom ends cap  18  to the trough  10 . Typically, the wiring trough  10  will be supplied with the bottom end cap  18  secured in place.  
         [0047]    The procedure for assembling the trough  10 , and mounting the trough  10  on the housing  84  of a metered panelboard  86 , is illustrated in FIGS.  15  to  23 . Beginning with FIGS.  15 - 17 , the aperture  32  is cut in the base  12  if such an aperture does not already exist. Alternatively, an aperture may be cut in the housing of the metered panelboard  86  to correspond to a preexisting aperture  32 .  
         [0048]    Referring to FIGS.  21 - 23 , a plurality of screws  88  within the metered panelboard&#39;s housing  84  are loosened, the first side  20  of the base  12  is placed up against the housing  84  so that the screws  88  pass through the large diameter portion  26  of the mounting holes  24 . The base  12  is then lowered so that the screws  88  are placed in the small diameter portion  28  of the mounting holes  24 . The screws  88  are then tightened. At this point, the gasket on the underside  69  of lip  67  is pressed against the housing of the metered panelboard  86 , thereby forming a rain-resistant seal between the wireway trough  10  and metered panelboard  86 .  
         [0049]    The hub cap  100  and gasket  98  are removed to allow installation of the appropriate threaded hub mounting to pass the entry wires through into the wireway. At this point, electrical wires  90 ,  92  and  94  may be run through the aperture  68  into the trough, down the length of the trough  10 , through the aperture  32 , and into the housing  84  of the metered panelboard  86   
         [0050]    Lastly, as shown in FIGS.  18 - 20 , the cover  14  is installed on the trough  10 . The front  52  of the cover  14  is positioned over the lip  38  of the base  12 . The cover  14  is then rotated so that the lip  55  fits over the base&#39;s first side  20 , and the apertures  57  on the first side  50  engage the threaded studs  48 . Fastening means such as the wing nuts  96  may then be secured to the threaded studs  48 , securing the cover  14  in place. Screws passing through the aperture  43  and slot  56  are used to secure the cover&#39;s front  52  to the base&#39;s lip  38 .  
         [0051]    While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.