Abstract:
A busway fitting wherein the switch and/or fuse are disposed in a horizontal orientation. As the switch assembly and/or fuse are disposed in a horizontal orientation, the buses coupled to the switch assembly and/or fuse also extend horizontally. As such, the buses coupled to the switch assembly and/or fuse occupy a reduced amount of space. In this configuration, the transition buses may extend in a generally horizontal direction and, as such, the size of the busway fitting may be reduced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a busway fitting and, more specifically, to a busway fitting having switch assemblies mounted perpendicular to the primary axis of the busway. 
   2. Background Information 
   A busway may be used to distribute power over an extended length, such as, but not limited to, through multiple floors of a building. The busway, typically, includes multiple busway sections each having a plurality of conductive members, or buses, disposed in an extruded housing. The housing, typically an aluminum extrusion, acts to support the bus members and to dissipate heat over most of the busway length. That is, the extruded housing is used to protect and support the bus members as the busway extends between floors. At selected locations, for example, on each floor, there is a busway fitting and a meter stack coupled to the power distribution system for that floor. The busway fitting is a housing structured to enclose the busway and any buses extending to the meter stack. The meter stack is, typically, disposed immediately to the side of the busway with a plurality of generally horizontal stabs extending toward the busway. A horizontal meter stack bus for each bus member in the busway extends between, and is in electrical communication with, the busway and the meter stack. Typically, the busway fitting also encloses a switch assembly that is disposed between the busway and the meter stack buses. Additionally, a fuse is often disposed between the switch and the meter stack. The switch assembly may be manually opened or closed to control the supply of electricity to the meter stack. Upon an over-current condition, the fuse will break the circuit between the meter stack and the busway. 
   In the prior art, the switch and fuse were mounted with their axis being generally parallel to the primary axis of the busway. That is, each switch and fuse had a line terminal and load terminal and these terminals extended in a direction parallel to the busway primary axis. Thus, in a typical busway fitting where the busway primary axis extended in a vertical direction, each meter stack bus was required to have one or more transition buses structured to join the vertical busway with the horizontal meter stack stabs. Typically, the transition buses included a right angle bend. This configuration is not optimal as the transition buses require extra space, extra parts, and labor related to their installation and maintenance. 
   There is, therefore, a need for a busway fitting wherein the switch and/or fuse extend in a horizontal orientation. 
   There is a further need for a busway fitting wherein the buses coupled to a switch and/or fuse occupy a reduced amount of space. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These needs, and others, are met by the present invention which provides a busway fitting wherein the switch and/or fuse are disposed in a horizontal orientation. As the switch and/or fuse are disposed in a horizontal orientation, the buses coupled to the switch and/or fuse also extend horizontally. As such, the buses coupled to the switch and/or fuse occupy a reduced amount of space. In this configuration, the transition buses may extend in a generally horizontal direction and, as such, the size of the busway fitting may be reduced. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a busway fitting and a meter stack. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric cut away view of a busway fitting. 
       FIG. 3  is front view of a busway fitting. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a busway fitting. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. 
   As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
   As used herein, “encircle” means surround and does not require a shape similar to a geometric circle. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a busway  1  includes at least one, and typically four, elongated bus members  2 . Typically, three bus members  2 A,  2 B,  2 C are “live” conductors coupled to a power source. The fourth bus member  2 D is a neutral bus member  2 . The bus members  2 A,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D are sandwiched in a non-conductive housing  3 . The busway  1 , typically, has a generally quadrilateral cross-sectional shape. The busway  1  has a primary axis  4  extending along the longitudinal axis and which is shown as extending in a vertical direction. It is understood that a busway  1  may extend in any orientation. The busway housing  3  has lateral openings (not shown) structured to allow a busway fitting bus assembly  90  (described below) to be coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the bus members  2 . At selected locations along the busway  1  there are busway fittings  10  that are typically coupled to a meter stack  12 . The meter stack  12  has at least one stab  14 , that is, a conductor, extending toward the busway fitting  10  and structured to be coupled to the busway fitting bus assembly  90 . 
   The busway fitting  10  includes a housing assembly  20  and a current interruption assembly  50 . The housing assembly  20  includes a generally planar first end member  22  with at least one opening  24 , a generally planar second end member  26  with at least one opening  28 , a generally planar front side member  30  having a door (not shown) thereon, a generally planar first lateral side member  32 , a generally planar second lateral side member  34 , and a generally planar back side member  36 . The first end member  22 , the second end member  26 , and the side members  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  form a box-like enclosure  40  about the busway  1 . The busway  1  extends generally through the middle of the enclosure  40  and passes through the first end member  22  at least one opening  24  and the second end member  26  at least one opening  28 . Thus, the busway  1  has a first side  5  adjacent to and facing the first lateral side member  32 , a front side  6  adjacent to and facing the front side member  30 , and a second side  7  adjacent to and facing the second lateral side member  34 . The first lateral side member  32  has an opening  33  disposed adjacent to the meter stack stabs  14 . The second lateral side member  34  may also have an opening  35  so that a meter stack  12  or other device may be disposed on the other side of the housing assembly  20 . 
   The current interruption assembly  50 , preferably, includes both at least one switch assembly  60  and/or at least one fuse  80  and a bus assembly  90 . As noted above, the typical busway  1  has three live bus members  2 A,  2 B,  2 C and there is typically one switch assembly  60  and/or at least one fuse  80  associated with each bus member  2 . Accordingly, the following description shall be addressed to a busway fitting  10  configured with three switch assemblies  60 A,  60 B,  60 C and/or three fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C. There may, however, be more or less than three of each component in a busway fitting  10 . Each switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C includes an operating mechanism  62  and two contacts (not shown). The operating mechanism  62  is structured to move the contacts between a first position, wherein the contacts are in electrical communication, and a second position, wherein the contacts are not in electrical communication. Each switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C also includes a line terminal  64  and a load terminal  66  disposed on opposite sides of the operating mechanism  62 . A switch assembly axis  68  extends between the switch assembly line terminal  64  and the switch assembly load terminal  66 . Each line terminal  64  and load terminal  66  is structured to be coupled to a member of the busway fitting bus assembly  90 . Where there is more than one switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C, the current interruption assembly  50  may also include a linking device  70 . The linking device  70  is structured to operatively link the switch assemblies  60 A,  60 B,  60 C. The linking device  70  has a handle  72  extending outside the housing assembly  20 . Each fuse  80 A,  80 B,  80 C also includes a line terminal  82  and a load terminal  84 . Each line terminal  82  and load terminal  84  is structured to be coupled to a member of the busway fitting bus assembly  90 . 
   The busway fitting bus assembly  90  includes at least one first transition bus  92  and at least one second transition bus  94 . Where there is both a switch assembly  60  and a fuse  80 , there is also at least one third transition bus  96 . Again, in a typical busway there are three live bus members  2 A,  2 B,  2 C. For each bus member  2 A,  2 B,  2 C there is one first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C, one second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C, and one third transition bus  96 A,  96 B,  96 C. Each first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C is structured to be coupled to, and in electrical communication with, both one busway bus member  2 A,  2 B,  2 C and one switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C line terminal  64 . Each first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the primary axis  4  of the busway  1 . As such, each switch assembly axis  68  of each switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C coupled to a first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C may also extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the primary axis  4  of the busway  1 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, each switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C is disposed between the busway front side  6  and the housing assembly front side member  30 . In this configuration, the switch assembly  60 A,  60 B,  60 C may be accessed via the door on the housing assembly front side member  30 . Accordingly, each first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C is preferably coupled to the busway bus members  2 A,  2 B,  2 C on the busway first side  5 . Each first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C has a first portion  100  that wraps around, that is, partially encircles, the busway  1  and a second, generally planar portion  102  extending between the busway front side  6  and the housing assembly front side member  30 . Each switch assembly line terminal  64  is coupled to a first transition bus  92 A,  92 B,  92 C at the distal end of each first transition bus second portion  102 . 
   Where a busway fitting  10  includes fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C as well as switch assemblies  60 A,  60 B,  60 C, it is also preferred that the fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C be disposed between the busway front side  6  and the housing assembly front side member  30  so that the fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C may be accessed via the door on the housing assembly front side member  30 . To allow both the switch assemblies  60 A,  60 B,  60 C and the fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C to be between the busway front side  6  and the housing assembly front side member  30 , the fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C may be axially spaced from the switch assemblies  60 A,  60 B,  60 C. That is, each third transition bus  96 A,  96 B,  96 C extends in a direction parallel to the primary busway axis  4 . Thus, each third transition bus  96 A,  96 B,  96 C includes a first portion  110 , a second portion  112 , and a third portion  114 . The third transition bus first portion  110  extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the busway primary axis  4 . The third transition bus second portion  112  extends in a direction generally parallel to the busway primary axis  4 . The third transition bus third portion  114  extends in a direction generally perpendicular to said busway primary axis  4 . Each third transition bus first portion  110  is structured to be coupled to a switch assembly load terminal  66 . Each third transition bus third portion  114  is structured to be coupled to a fuse line terminal  82 . Each third transition bus third portion  114  partially wraps around the busway  1  so that each fuse  80 A,  80 B,  80 C may be disposed between the busway front side  6  and the housing assembly front side member  30 . 
   Each second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C is structured to be coupled to both, and in electrical communication with, a switch assembly load terminal  66  and a meter stack stab  14 . Where the busway fitting  10  includes fuses  80 A,  80 B,  80 C, the second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C is coupled indirectly to the switch assembly load terminal  66  via a fuse  80  and a third transition bus  96 . In this configuration, each second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C has a generally planar first portion  120  extending adjacent to the busway front side  6  and a second portion  122  wrapping around the busway  1 . As such, each second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the busway primary axis  4 . The second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C first portion  120  is coupled directly to a fuse load terminal  84 . The second transition bus  94 A,  94 B,  94 C may also include a third portion  124 . The second transition bus third portion  124  extends generally parallel to the housing assembly back side member  36 . The second transition bus third portion  124  has a first end  126  and a second end  128 . Each second transition bus third portion first end  126  is structured to be coupled to a meter stack stab  14  and is disposed adjacent to the first lateral side member opening  33 . Each second transition bus third portion second end  128  is structured to be coupled to a meter stack stab  14  and is disposed adjacent to the second lateral side member opening  35 . 
   The present invention may also be practiced with a busway fitting  10  that has only a switch assembly  60  or a fuse  80 . Is this configuration (not shown), there is only a need for a first transition bus  92  and a second transition bus  94 ; and the second transition bus first portion  120  is coupled directly to the switch/fuse load terminal  66 / 84 . 
   As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the busway fitting bus assembly  90  may include a neutral bus  130 . The neutral bus  130  is not coupled to a switch assembly  60  or a fuse  80 . The neutral bus  130  is structured to extend from the neutral bus member  2  to a neutral meter stack stab  14 . 
   While specific embodiments of the invention have 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. For example, instead of having a door on the housing assembly front side member  30 , doors may be disposed on each lateral side. Thus, a switch assembly  60  could be located on one side and a fuse  80  could be located on the other side  32 ,  34 . In this configuration, the third transition bus  96  need not extend in a direction parallel to the busway primary axis  4 . Instead, the third transition bus  96  would simply wrap around the busway  1 . Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.