ARC-RESISTANT SWITCH GEAR ENCLOSURE DOOR LATCH AND SEALING MECHANISMS OF A SWITCH GEAR

An arc resistant switch gear comprises a switchgear enclosure including a circuit breaker a high voltage door and enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms. These mechanisms are configured to provide a combination of latching and sealing functionality to seal and latch the switchgear enclosure with the high voltage door via a door latching and sealing system in combination with a latch part and a door frame. To remove the circuit breaker out of the switchgear enclosure a door sealing slider which is in the switchgear enclosure must be removed.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a switch gear including an arc-resistant switchgear enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms.

2. Description of the Related Art

To seal and latch a switchgear enclosure with a high voltage door, so far multipoint door latches, sealing plates, flaps and gaskets are used to seal an enclosure with an ARC resistant door. The enclosure has an opening to drive the circuit breaker into the switchgear. This opening is sealed with a slide on the enclosure.

Therefore, a combination of latching and sealing is then needed to seal and latch a switchgear enclosure with a high voltage door.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, aspects of the present invention relate to a combination of a latching and sealing system for an enclosure and a high voltage door for an arc resistant switch gear.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an arc resistant switch gear comprises a switchgear enclosure including a circuit breaker, a high voltage door and enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms configured to provide a combination of latching and sealing functionality to seal and latch the switchgear enclosure with the high voltage door via a door latching and sealing system in combination with a latch part and a door frame. To remove the circuit breaker out of the switchgear enclosure a door sealing slider which is in the switchgear enclosure must be removed.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided. The method comprises providing a switchgear enclosure including a circuit breaker for use in an arc resistant switch gear, providing a high voltage door and providing enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms configured to provide a combination of latching and sealing functionality to seal and latch the switchgear enclosure with the high voltage door via a door latching and sealing system in combination with a latch part and a door frame. To remove the circuit breaker out of the switchgear enclosure a door sealing slider which is in the switchgear enclosure must be removed.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. While it would be desirable to provide one or more of these or other advantageous features, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned advantages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various technologies that pertain to systems and methods that provide a combination of latching and sealing to seal and latch a switchgear enclosure with a high voltage door are presented. The drawings discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged apparatus. It is to be understood that functionality that is described as being carried out by certain system elements may be performed by multiple elements. Similarly, for instance, an element may be configured to perform functionality that is described as being carried out by multiple elements. The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with reference to exemplary non-limiting embodiments.

To facilitate an understanding of embodiments, principles, and features of the present invention, they are explained hereinafter with reference to implementation in illustrative embodiments. In particular, they are described in the context of a combination of a latching and sealing system for an enclosure and a high voltage door for an arc resistant switch gear. Embodiments of the present invention, however, are not limited to use in the described devices or methods.

These and other embodiments of the system are provided for providing a in switch gear including an arc-resistant switchgear enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms according to the present disclosure are described below with reference to FIG. 1 herein. The drawing is not necessarily drawn to scale.

An arc resistant switch gear comprises a switchgear enclosure including a circuit breaker (not shown), a high voltage door and enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms configured to provide a combination of latching and sealing functionality to seal and latch the switchgear enclosure with the high voltage door via a door latching and sealing system in combination with a latch part and a door frame. To remove the circuit breaker out of the switchgear enclosure a door sealing slider which is in the switchgear enclosure must be removed.

Consistent with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 represents a switch gear enclosure 105 having a partially opened door 107 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An arc resistant switch gear comprises the switch gear enclosure 105 including enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms configured to provide a combination of latching and sealing functionality as explained in detail below.

Switch gear is a term that describes a collection of switching devices that serve to control, protect and isolate power systems. Also, the definition will extend to circuit breakers and devices that meter a power system. This definition can be extended to include devices to regulate and meter a power system, circuit breakers, and similar technology. Switch gear includes fuses, switches, relays, isolators, circuit breaker, potential and current transformer, indicating device, lightning arresters, etc. There are three primary types of switch gear: low voltage (less than 1 kV), medium voltage (up to 36 kV), and high voltage (above 36 kV). There are three basic functions of switch gear power systems: electrical protection, electrical isolation, and control. Switch gear power systems are the combination of electrical disconnects that serve the function of isolating electrical equipment. The electrical disconnects can either be fuses or circuit breakers.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2B, they illustrate views of the switch gear enclosure 105 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The door 107 seals openings 202(1-2) and circuit breaker wheels. Enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms include a slider (305, as seen in FIG. 3B) includes a sealing member (307, as seen in FIG. 3B) disposed along a door button side 205 and a flange 207 of the door 107 and in enclosure seals 210 along an inside (310, as seen in FIG. 3B) of the button part (312, as seen in FIG. 3B).

Turning now to FIGS. 3A-3B, they illustrate views of the switch gear enclosure 105 where the door 107 is in a closed position as latched in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The door 107 also seals the openings 202(1-2) and the circuit breaker wheels 302(1-2). The slider 305 is mounted between 2 plates 315(1-2) that are mounted on a door 320. There are 2 slots (605(1-2), as seen in FIG. 6C) in the slider 305 for moving up and down a part (610, as seen in FIGS. 6C and 6F). The slider 305 is locked in when a handle 615 is closed, the slider 305 can't move up when a force through an arc flash hits the door 107.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate views of a switch gear enclosure where the door is in opened position as unlatched in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The slider 305 includes the sealing member 307 disposed along the door button side 205 and the flange 207 of the door 107 and in the enclosure seals 210 along the inside 310 of the button part 312.

As seen in FIGS. 5A-5B, they illustrate views of an inner side of the door: unlatched and latched in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 6A-6F, they illustrate views of an inner and outer side of the door mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 7, it illustrates a front view of a door 707 in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. With regard to FIG. 8, it illustrates a front view of the door 707 in a closed (locked) position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

With respect to FIG. 9, it illustrates an inside of the door view in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 illustrates an inside of the door view in a closed (locked) position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 illustrates details of the inside of the door view in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 illustrates details of the inside of the door view in a closed (locked) position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In operation, rotate a handle 705 on the door 707 against a door panel 710 and a door slider (or a door closing ledge) 712 moves downwards. The 45 deg 715 slot on a door closing ledge lower 717 will change a direction of movement 730. A sloping surface 720 will change the direction of movement 730. Enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms include a door sealing and latching ledge 722 that will move. A surface 725 will lock the door sealing and latching ledge 722 in position when the door is locked.

FIG. 13 illustrates a view of the door from the inside with a structure door in an open position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 illustrates a view of the door from the inside with a structure door in a closed (locked) position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates a view of the door from the inside with a structure door in a closed (locked) position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 illustrates a view of the door from the inside with a structure door in a closed (locked) position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The main part of the enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms is a door sealing and latching ledge 1322 and it moves up and down when the handle's rotation. The door sealing and latching ledge 1322 is mounted between a Door Closing Cover Lower 1317(2) and a Door Support Lower 1317(3) and close to a Door Closing Ledge Lower 1317(1). When an arc pressure 1307 hits a door, the door sealing and latching ledge 1322 will get pressed to a Door Frame 1305. The door sealing and latching ledge 1322 will provide door sealing 1325(1) and provide door latching 1325(2) to keep the arc pressure 1307 in a switchgear.

FIG. 17 illustrates a door sealing and latching ledge 1722, is leading behind a door frame 1705 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 illustrates a sealing area 1805 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 illustrates the door sealing and latching ledge 1722 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 illustrates the door frame 1705 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates door sealing and latching that works on an arc pressure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An arc pressure 2107(1) hits the door and the Door Frame 1705 holds the door in place. The Door Frame 1705 is sandwiched in between a Door Closing Cover 2110 and a Door Support 2115. These two parts absorb the force and energy to bring it into the door and structure.

FIG. 22 illustrates how door sealing and latching ledge drives to close a door in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The door sealing and latching ledge 1722 drives to close the door. The Door Closing Ledge Lower 2217(1) moves to the right side and moves the door sealing and latching ledge 1722 down. At the ½ closed position the door sealing and latching ledge 1722 is in the closed position. The Door Closing Ledge Lower 2217(1) moves to the end closed position to lock in the door sealing and latching ledge 1722. The door sealing and latching ledge 1722 can't move back up when the arc hits the door, and it is in the locked in position.

FIG. 23 illustrates how door sealing and latching ledge drives to open a door in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The door sealing and latching ledge 1722 drives to open the door. The Door Closing Ledge Lower 2217(1) moves to the left side. At the ½ closed position the door sealing and latching ledge 1722 starts to move up. The Door Closing Ledge Lower 2217(1) moves to the end open position to open the door sealing and latching ledge 1722.

FIG. 24 illustrates a method 2400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference is made to the elements and features described in FIGS. 1-23. It should be appreciated that some steps are not required to be performed in any particular order, and that some steps are optional.

The method 2400 comprises a step 2405 of providing a switchgear enclosure including a circuit breaker for use in an arc resistant switch gear. The method 2400 further comprises a step 2410 of providing a high voltage door. The method 2400 further comprises a step 2415 of providing enclosure door latch and sealing mechanisms configured to provide a combination of latching and sealing functionality to seal and latch the switchgear enclosure with the high voltage door via a door latching and sealing system in combination with a latch part and a door frame. To remove the circuit breaker out of the switchgear enclosure a door sealing slider which is in the switchgear enclosure must be removed.

While a high voltage door is described here a range of one or more other charging doors are also contemplated by the present invention. For example, other doors may be implemented based on one or more features presented above without deviating from the spirit of the present invention.

The techniques described herein can be particularly useful for an arc resistant switch gear. While particular embodiments are described in terms of this arc resistant switch gear, the techniques described herein are not limited to such a system but can also be used with other types of systems.

Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular embodiment and as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms.

Respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in a specific embodiment” or similar terminology in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any particular embodiment may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the invention.