Patent Publication Number: US-2013248667-A1

Title: Housing for Mounting an Electrical Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/198,872 and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 121, based on U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/198,872 filed Aug. 5, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     In general, the present invention relates to a rotatable lower housing for a high voltage electrical circuit or other high voltage electrical device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cylindrically-shaped lower housing which is rotatable, a bracket for mounting the lower housing onto a support structure, and a surrounding element which allows the lower housing to be rotatable with respect to the bracket. 
     BACKGROUND  
     In the utilities industry, often times high voltage electrical equipment or other high voltage electrical devices are mounted onto utility structures, such as transmission or distribution poles, prior to electrical cables, wires or connecting electrical equipment being connected to the high voltage electrical circuits or devices. When utility installers connect the electrical cables or wires to the electrical equipment, it is often desirable for the electrical equipment to be in proper alignment with the connecting electrical equipment, as such electrical circuits can be quite heavy and cumbersome to manipulate, often requiring the assistance of a lift truck or other heavy equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     The present invention provides a rotatable lower housing for a high voltage electrical circuit or other high voltage electrical device which allows a utility installer to rotate the high voltage electrical device so that it is in proper alignment with the connecting electrical equipment. The invention comprises a lower housing which is rotatable. A bracket is provided for mounting the rotatable lower housing to a utility structure. The embodiment provided allows for the lower housing to be rotatable with respect to the bracket. For the embodiment presented, the term “rotatable” is considered to be any rotation of at least 5 degrees of the lower housing. The preferred embodiment comprises a one-piece surrounding mounting bracket that completely surrounds the lower housing, allowing the lower housing to be rotatable within the one-piece surrounding mounting bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a rotatable lower housing and a one-piece surrounding mounting bracket for a high voltage electrical device of the present invention taken along section  1 - 1  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 2  is cross-sectional elevation view of a rotatable lower housing and a one-piece surrounding mounting bracket for a high voltage electrical device of the present invention taken along section  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a rotatable lower housing and a one-piece surrounding mounting bracket for a high voltage electrical device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a high voltage electrical device installed in a rotatable lower housing and one-piece surrounding mounting bracket of the present invention with the rotatable lower housing and one-piece surrounding mounting bracket mounted onto a utility structure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a high voltage electrical device installed in a rotatable lower housing and one-piece surrounding mounting bracket of the present invention with the rotatable lower housing and one-piece surrounding mounting bracket mounted onto a utility structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be discussed in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and appended claims, which are to be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which identical reference characters designate like elements throughout the views. 
     Shown in  FIG. 1  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is a rotatable lower housing  10  for a single phase recloser of a high voltage electrical circuit or another high voltage electrical device. The lower housing may be made of a corrosion-resistant metal, such as stainless steel, or a high-strength plastic. The housing may also be painted with a UV and/or corrosion-resistant paint for further protection from the environment.  FIG. 1  shows the cylindrical rotatable lower housing  10  being completely surrounded by a one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12 . The one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12  comprises a ring  14  which completely surrounds the lower housing  10 . At least two parallel side walls  16  are shown protruding from the ring  14 , and a rear wail  18  is shown which connects the two side walls  16  and is perpendicular to the side walls  16 . The rear wall  18  allows the one piece surrounding mounting bracket  12  to be mounted to a support structure  13 , such as a utility or distribution pole, by hardware such as bolts or screws which are received by at least one aperture  11  in the rear wall  18  to attach the rear wall  18  to the support structure  13 . For ease of installation and assembly of the one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12 , it may be a precast component which is made of as metallic or high-strength plastic material. It may also be formed of a weather resistant steel such as stainless steel or galvanized steel. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is an anti-rotation fastener  20 . The anti-rotation fastener  20  is received through an aperture  22  that is contained within the ring  14 . The anti-rotation fastener  20  may, for example, be a screw which can be loosened or tightened within the aperture  22  that is contained in the ring  14  such that when tightened, the screw contacts the rotatable lower housing  10 , thereby preventing rotation of the housing  10 . Likewise, the anti-rotation fastener  20  can be loosened such that it does not contact the lower housing  10 , thereby allowing the lower housing  10  to freely rotate within the ring  14  of the one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12 . In  FIG. 1 , only one anti-rotation fastener  20  is shown, however, it is understood that more than one anti-rotation fastener may be used at multiple locations on the ring  14  of the surrounding mounting bracket  12 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , a radial flange  26  of the rotatable lower housing  10  is shown, and a lip  24  of the radial flange  26  is also shown. The lip  24  and the radial flange  26  are integrally formed with the rotatable lower housing  10 . The presence of the lip  24  prevents downward vertical movement of the rotatable lower housing  10  through the one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12  when the lip  24  is in contact with the one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12 .  FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and again shows each of the elements previously discussed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are a side elevation view and a front perspective view of a high voltage electrical device  48  installed in a rotatable lower housing  10  and one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12  of the present invention with the rotatable lower housing  10  and one-piece surrounding mounting bracket  12  mounted onto a utility support structure  13 . Both figures show how the high voltage electrical device  48  is seated within the rotatable lower housing  10 . From these figures, it is easy to understand how the rotatable lower housing  10  can assist maintenance personnel which would perform work on the high voltage electrical device  48 , because the rotatable lower housing  10  enables the high voltage electrical device  48  to be rotated to the desirable position for the maintenance personnel for easy installation of power lines and other equipment that attaches to the high voltage electrical device  48 . This prevents the need for lift tracks or other heavy equipment to reposition the, usually cumbersome, high voltage electrical device  48 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.