BUS BAR SUPPORT

Abstract: Bus bar support apparatus comprising a first insulating member (12), a second insulating member (14) and a support member (16). The first and second insulating members (12, 14) define a number of pathways (32) through each of which a bus bar (11) may be passed. Each pathway (32) is arranged to surround a peripheral region of the bus bar (11) passing through it. The support apparatus is arranged to maintain a plurality of bus bars in spaced apart relation to one another. The support member (16) may be used to fix the bus bar support apparatus, or to suspend the bus bar support apparatus from any convenient location by means of apertures (34) formed therein. The first and second insulating members (12, 14) and the supporting member (16) are preferably fixed to one another by means of nut and bolt arrangements (22).

Description: BUS BAR SUPPORT The present invention relates to bus bar supports. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided bus bar support apparatus comprising first and second elongate insulating members arranged, in use, to locate a bus bar therebetween, said first and second insulating members being in opposed parallel relation and fixedly attached to one another, the insulating members being arranged, in use, to support respective side faces of the bus bar therebetween. Preferably, the bus bar support apparatus has a pathway defined therethrough and through which the bus bar is arranged, in use, to pass. The first insulating member may comprise a channel member of substantially U-shaped cross-section. The second insulating member may comprise a channel member of essentially U-shaped cross-section having a slot, or a recess formed therein. The pathway may be formed by the slot or recess in the second insulating member cooperating with the first insulating member, the position and dimensions of the slot or recess defining the position and dimensions of the pathway. The bus bar may run substantially at right angles to the bus bar support apparatus. Preferably, a plurality of pathways are provided, each pathway being arranged to have a bus bar passing therebetween. The slot or recess of each pathway in combination with the first insulating member is preferably arranged to surround a peripheral region of the bus bar. The slot or recess may be formed in a lower extent of the U-shaped cross-sectioned second insulating member. The slot may be cut from the insulating member. Alternatively, the second insulating member may be formed with the slots or recesses already in place. Preferably, a plurality of pathways are provided to accommodate a plurality of bus bars. Preferably, the positioning of the slots or recesses define the position of said pathways and, in use, act to keep said bus bars spaced apart from one another. Preferably, a supporting member is provided which is also in fixed relation to the first and second insulating members. The support member is preferably arranged parallel to the first and second insulating members . The support member may be of a U-shaped channel construction. Preferably, the support member is adapted to cooperate with the second insulating member and, where the pathway is defined by a slot in the second insulating member the support member is arranged such that a surface thereof is, in use, in contact with the bus bar. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the support member is arranged to sit within the second insulating member and the first insulating member is attached to both the support member and the second insulating member so as to be in such a configuration that the first insulating member is an upright U-cross-sectioned channel member fixed on top of an upside-down U-cross-sectioned second insulating member and the support member is fitted inside the second insulating member and joined to an uppermost part thereof (i.e. the roof of the upturned U) . The first insulating member and the support member may share the same cross-sectional dimensions. Fixing members may be provided at intervals along the length of the thus configured bus bar support apparatus. The first and second insulating members may be made of the same material as the support member. The material may be a transparent material, such as a polycarbonate material. The first and second insulating members may be constructed from sheets of material, said sheets then being folded to provide the required cross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the insulating members and/or the support member may be manufactured by an extrusion method. Preferably, the outer profile of the support member is arranged to register with the inner profile of the second insulating member. For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figures 1A, IB and 1C show a top view, a side view and a cross-sectional view respectively of one embodiment of a bus bar support; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a section of one embodiment of the bus bar support; Figures 3A and 3B show a top view and a cross- sectional view respectively of a second insulating member of the support; Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show a top view, a side view and a cross-sectional view respectively of a support member; and Figures 5A and 5B show a top view and a cross- sectional view respectively of a first insulating member. As shown in figures 1A, IB, 1C and 2, the bus bar support 10 includes two insulating members 12, 14 and a support member 16. The support member 16, shown in Figures 3A and 3B is elongate and has a generally U-shaped cross-section. Similarly, the first insulating member 12, shown in Figures 5A and 5B, is elongate and has a generally U-shaped cross-section of approximately the same cross-sectional dimensions as that of the support member 16. The second insulating member 14, as shown in Figures 4A to 4C is also of similar general construction with a broader channel form than that of the support member 16. The adjoining surface 18 of the channel type second insulating member 14 (i.e. the channel bottom so to speak) has slots 20, in the form of apertures, defined therein. These slots may be formed by cutting. Opposing sides of the slots 20 extend across the width of the adjoining surface 18 and are substantially parallel and straight. The peripheries of the slots 20 extend for a short distance down the opposing side walls of the second insulating member and are arranged such that a bus bar may be arranged to sit neatly within the slot. The number of slots 20 corresponds to the number of bus bars 11 for the bus bar support 10 will carry and the positioning of these slots defines the positioning (and spacing) of the bus bars 11. The slots 20 are spaced apart from each other by adjoining sections which insulate the bus bars from one another and keep them extending in parallel relation to one another. The insulating members 12, 14 and support member 16 may be made from sheets of insulating material such as a transparent polycarbonate material and may be extruded or hot or cold formed. Such a construction makes the bus bar support 10 relatively simple to manufacture with a low number of components which are low in cost. Whilst slots 20 are shown, it will be appreciated that the same effect may be achieved by forming (rather than cutting window-type slots in) the second insulating member 14 so as to have recesses formed therein. The inner profile of the second insulating member is arranged to substantially correspond to the outer profile of the support member 16. In this way, the second insulating member 14 registers with the support member 16 as shown in Figure 1C. The first insulating member may be arranged such that its adjoining face (i.e. the bottom part of the U-shaped channel) opposes the adjoining faces 13, 18 of the second insulating member 14 and the support member 16, as shown in Figure lC. In this way, the three members all extend parallel to one another and are kept in fixed relation with one another, secured together, for example, by nuts 22 and bolts 24 located through holes 26, 28, 30. As shown, this configuration provides pathways 32 defined through the bus bar support 10 which, as shown in Figure IB and 2 are able to support a plurality of bus bars 11. The pathways 32 are generally rectangular in cross- section and extend transversely through the bus bar support 10 to allow the insertion of bus bars 11 therethrough, so that bus bars 11 and the bus bar support 10 are essentially at right angles to each other. The elongate rectangular pathways 32 provide large surface areas to support the bus bars 11 and thereby resist twisting or rotation of the bus bars is resisted. As shown in Figures 1A, IB and 2, the support member 16 has a greater length that the corresponding first and second insulating members 12, 14. In this manner, slots 34 may be defined in the end sections of the adjoining face of the support member 16 which project beyond the corresponding first and second insulating members 12, 14. These apertures 34 enable the bus bar support 10 to be mounted or secured wherever required and in any orientation. It will be appreciated that, whilst the particular embodiment shown is a particularly effective one, various modifications may be made by a man skilled in the art without departing from the general scope and teachings of the invention. For instance, the support member 16 could in some embodiments be dispensed with if the first and second insulating members are of a sufficiently sturdy construction. In other embodiments, the pathways which hold the bus bars in spaced relation from one another (and whose positioning and dimensions are in the embodiment described defined essentially by the second insulating member) could be defined in part by both the first and second insulating members in combination. For instance, both the first and second insulating members could have corresponding recesses or slots formed therein, the first insulating member having slots which define first, third, fifth pathways etc., and the second insulating member having slots/recesses which define second, fourth, sixth pathways etc . In f rther variations , each pathway could be, in part, defined by the first and second insulating member - in other words, the first insulating member may have a slot or recess formed therein, the depth of which may correspond to approximately half the depth of a bus bar and the second insulating member may have an identical slot/recess formed therein, the combination of the recesses in the first and second insulating members forming a complete pathway having cross-sectional dimensions suitable for carrying the bus bar therebetween. In all embodiments of the present invention, it may be observed that the simple clamping together of a small number of members of very simple construction is utilised in order to provide pathways for bus bars, whereby a number of bus bars may be held in spaced relation separate from one another. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings ) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment ( s ) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Bus bar support apparatus (10) comprising first (12) and second (14) elongate insulating members arranged, in use, to locate an elongate bus bar (11) therebetween, said first and second insulating members (2, 14) being in opposed parallel relation and fixedly attached to one another, the insulating members being arranged, in use, to support respective side faces of the bus bar therebetween. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar (11) is arranged to run substantially at right angles to the bus bar support apparatus. 3. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, when the first insulating member (12) comprises a channel member. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the apparatus has a pathway (32) defined therethrough and through which the bus bar (11) is arranged, in use, to pass. 5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second insulating member (14) comprises a channel member having a slot (20) formed therein. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, as dependent upon claim 3, wherein the pathway (32) is formed by the slot cooperating with the first insulating member (12), the position and dimensions of the slot (20) defining the position and dimensions of the pathway (32). 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said slot (20) comprises an aperture to form transversely with respect to the base of the channel member forming the elongate second insulating member (14). 8. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said slot (20) comprises a recess formed transversely with respect to the base of the channel member forming the elongate second insulating member (14). 9. Apparatus according to claim 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein a plurality of pathways are provided, each pathway (32) being capable of supporting a busbar (11) passing therebetween. 10. Apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the or each pathway defined is arranged to circumferentially surround a region of the or each bus bar. 11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a supporting member (16) is provided in fixed relation to the first and second insulating members (12, 14). 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supporting member (16) is arranged in parallel relation to the first and second insulating members . 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the supporting member (16) is of a channel type construction. 14. Apparatus according to claim 11, 12 or 13 as dependent upon any of claims 4 to 10, wherein the supporting member (16) is adapted to cooperate with the second insulating member and, where the pathway (32) is defined by a slot in the second insulating member, the supporting member is arranged such that a surface thereof is, in use, in contact with the bus bar. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the supporting member (16) is arranged to sit within the second insulating member (14), with the first insulating member (12) being attached to both the supporting member (16) and the second insulating member (14) so as to be in such a relative configuration that the first insulating member (12) is an upright U-cross-sectioned channel member fixed on top of an upside down U-cross-sectioned second insulating member (14) and the supporting member (16) is fitted within the U-shaped channel of the second insulating member (14) and adjoined to an uppermost part thereof (i.e., the roof of the upturned U). 16. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the first insulating member (12) and the support member (16) share substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions. 17. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein fixing member are provided at intervals along the length of the bus bar support apparatus for joining the first and second insulating members together. 18. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, when the first and second insulating members comprise polycarbonate material.

Inventors: ROE GEORGE ROGER, ROE, GEORGE, ROGER
Applicants: ROE GEORGE ROGER, ROLLA LTD, ROE, GEORGE, ROGER, ROLLA LIMITED
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H02G5
IPC codes: H02G5