Abstract:
A bracket assembly for releasably attaching a pilot panel to an electrical enclosure, the bracket assembly comprising: a bracket adapted to support the pilot panel in an open position and a closed position, the bracket including a hook extending form the bracket; a hanger bracket attached to the enclosure, the hanger bracket including a first flange and a second flange depending from the first flange, the hook releasably engages the first flange to support the pilot panel in the closed position and releasably engages the second flange to support the first flange to support the pilot panel in the open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    Electrical enclosures (e.g., motor control centers, switchboards, and the like) generally contain electrical devices having associated pilot devices for providing auxiliary functions along with motor protection and control. The pilot devices are mounted on a display panel that is located in front of the electrical devices providing motor protection and control. The pilot devices in the form of display lamps and push buttons, for example, are usually arranged on the display panel.  
           [0002]    The electrical enclosure is often accessed to remove, inspect and repair the electrical devices providing motor protection and control, however, the display panel requires removal from the electrical enclosure interior to access the electrical devices. The display panel is typically supported by two brackets attached to one side of the enclosure that must first be unscrewed allowing the display panel to be removed and later re-connected when the repair is completed.  
           [0003]    It would be economically beneficial if the wire and equipment located behind the support bracket could be more readily accessed without requiring a substantial investment in time.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0004]    The above and other drawbacks and deficiencies are overcome or alleviated by a bracket assembly for releasably attaching a pilot panel to an electrical enclosure, the bracket assembly comprising: a bracket adapted to support the pilot panel in an open position and a closed position, the bracket including a hook extending from the bracket; a hanger bracket attached to the enclosure, the hanger bracket including a first flange and a second flange depending from the first flange, the hook releasably engages the first flange to support the pilot panel in the closed position and releasably engages the second flange to support the first flange to support the pilot panel in the open position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    Referring to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a front view of a single motor control center lineup having a plurality of motor control units;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motor control unit shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a pilot panel;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket assembly;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is an end view of a bracket from the bracket assembly of FIG. 3; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    A single motor control center lineup  10  is depicted in FIG. 1 and includes a cabinet  12  in which motor control units, drawout units or electrical enclosures  14  are contained. Each enclosure  14  includes a door  16  that is pivotally attached to cabinet  12 . The handle  18  within a handle support  20  operates an electrical device such as a switch or circuit breaker mounted within enclosure  14 . A handle interlock (not shown) interfaces with handle  18  to allow door  16  to be pivotally moved between open and closed positions to access the interior of enclosure  14 . A pilot device panel  27 , hereinafter “pilot panel” extends partially through a slot  30  in door  16  and carries pilot devices  106  such as ground fault relays, phase unbalance relays, elapsed time meters, keypads, displays, indicating lamps  32 , and dial knobs  33  for activating associated electrical devices and for indicating the ON-OFF states of the electrical devices. Enclosure  14  is shown removed from control center  10  in FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that electrical enclosure  14  includes any enclosure having electrical pilot devices which monitor and/or control other devices therein, and is not limited to a motor control center. Electrical enclosure  14  comprises a housing  50  defining interior volume  60 . Disposed within the interior volume  60  is a plurality of electrical components and devices  36 . Pilot panel  27  is disposed at one face of housing  50  and is releasably connected to housing  50  by way of a pair of device bracket assemblies  100  (one of which is best seen in FIG. 3). A plurality of electronic pilot devices  106  is mounted on pilot panel  27 . Electronic pilot devices  106  are electrically connected to electrical devices  36  via wires (not shown). Each electronic pilot device  106  includes an interface portion  108  that is visible when pilot panel  27  is mounted for normal operation (i.e., a closed position), and an electrical portion  107  that is accessible by removing pilot panel  27 . When opened, pilot panel  27  allows access to electrical devices  106  and to the electrical portion  107  of electronic pilot devices  106 .  
         [0012]    As shown in FIG. 3, bracket assembly  100  includes bracket  112  releasably engaged by a hanger bracket  114 . Pilot panel  27  is attached to bracket  112 , and hanger bracket  114  is attached to a complementary hanger bracket  114  attached to side channel  118  which is a portion of housing  50  using fasteners  151 . Fasteners  151  include rivets, bolts, screws, welds and the like. Bracket assembly  100  supports pilot panel  27  in either a closed position or an open position (and vice versa) or allows pilot panel  27  to be removed as is hereinafter described.  
         [0013]    In FIGS. 4 and 5, the bracket  112  of bracket assembly  100  is shown removed from pilot panel  27  and hanger bracket  114 . Bracket  112  comprises a first flange  120  and a second flange  122  extending generally perpendicularly from first flange  120 . Second flange  122  includes a third flange  124  extending generally perpendicularly therefrom in an opposite direction of the extension of first flange  120  and in a perpendicular plane to first flange  120 . Disposed on an end  126  of first flange  120  is a hook  128  for releasable engagement with hanger bracket  114  (FIG. 3). Flange  124  includes a “U”shaped cutout  130  for releasable engagement with hanger bracket  114  discussed hereinafter.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and  5 , engagement between bracket  112  and hanger bracket  114  of device bracket assembly  100  can be described. Hanger bracket  114  comprises a first flange  134  and a second flange  136  extending generally perpendicularly from first flange  134 . First flange  134  includes an aperture  140  defined by a surface  164 . Aperture  140  receives hook  128  for releasably securing bracket  112  against first flange  134  of hanger bracket  114 . Aperture  140  receives hook  128  and a slot  144  formed by an interior portion  145  of hook  128  which slidably engages first flange  134 . Thus, the bracket  112  is releasably secured to the hanger bracket  114  by way of hook  128  engaging first flange  134  through aperture  140  and the first flange  134  providing support to an edge surface  150  on end  126  of bracket  112 . Second flange  136  includes a second slot  154 , which is defined by inside surface  166  and is dimensioned to receive and securably engage hook  128  of bracket  112 . It will be appreciated that slot  154  is optionally configured as an aperture  140  disposed in second flange  136  to receive hook  128 . It will also be noted that edge  150  of bracket  112  interfaces second flange  136  when hook  128  is disposed in slot  154 .  
         [0015]    Hanger bracket  114  includes a protrusion  160 , such as a rod, dowel, and the like, positioned to be received and releasably retained in cutout  130  when hook  128  is fully engaged within aperture  140  (i.e., when pilot panel  27  is in a closed position). In an exemplary embodiment, protrusion  160  is a brass wheel rivet. Protrusion  160  includes a lip  162  distal from surface  134  that prevents translation of third flange  124  along a longitudinal axis of protrusion  160 . More specifically lip  162  has a larger dimension (e.g., cross sectional width) than cutout  130 , thereby preventing translation of the third flange  124  along the length of protrusion  160  and maintaining edge  150  of third flange resting against first surface  134  of hanger bracket  114 .  
         [0016]    When pilot panel  27  is in the closed position, rotation of pilot panel  27  is prevented by inside surface  164  and protrusion  160 . Inside surface  164  is dimensioned to slidably engage hook  128  such that inside surface  164  abuts opposing sides of hook  128  to prevent rotation of pilot panel  27  when pilot panel  27  is in the closed position. Furthermore, one surface of third flange  124  abuts first surface  134  of hanger bracket  114  while an opposite surface of third flange  124  abuts lip  162  to prevent rotation of pilot panel  27  when pilot panel  27  is in the closed position.  
         [0017]    When pilot panel  27  is in the open position, rotation of pilot panel  27  is prevented by inside surface  166 , which is dimensioned to slidably engage interior portion  145  of slot  144  so as to abut opposing surfaces of hook  128 . Furthermore, third flange  124  proximate edge  150  abuts second surface  136  of hanger bracket to prevent rotation of pilot panel  27  when pilot panel  27  is in the open position.  
         [0018]    Bracket assembly  100  supports pilot panel  27  in a closed position or in an open position (and vice versa), while allowing the removal of pilot panel  27  from electrical enclosure  14 . Pilot panel  27  with bracket  112  attached can be opened by pushing up pilot panel  27  in direction  170  until slot  144  clears a portion of surface  164  defining a lower portion of aperture  140 . Once the slot  144  is clear of the lower portion of aperture  140 , pilot panel  27  is removed by pulling pilot panel  27  in direction  171  until hook  128  is removed from aperture  140 . After hook  128  is removed from aperture  140 , pilot panel  27  can be pivoted generally 90 degrees to an open position and held in this position by disposing hook  128  in slot  154  of hanger bracket  114 . In the embodiment shown, the open position is approximately 90 degrees from the fully closed position. In this manner, electrical devices disposed inside of enclosure  14  can be accessed without disengaging electrical wiring to pilot panel  27 . If removal of pilot panel  27  is required, the wiring connected to pilot devices  106  is simply disconnected and hook  128  is removed from slot  154  by lifting pilot panel  27  in direction  170 . Thus, in the fully open position, the pilot panel  27  is held against the force of gravity in a position that is convenient for technicians to install and maintain the electrical devices  36  mounted within the enclosure  14  and the pilot devices  106  mounted to the pilot panel  27 . It will be appreciated that the pilot panel  27  can be reengaged with hanger bracket  114  and secured thereto by reversing the steps outlined above.  
         [0019]    It will be appreciated that the bracket assembly disclosed herein is not limited to use with an electrical enclosure for a motor control center. The bracket assembly described herein has wide applicability to any enclosure having electrical pilot devices and an interior volume requiring access thereto or system whereby a door may be allowed to rotate over an angular extent to a prescribed position and optionally removed from the enclosure or system without any need for tools or additional expenditure of time.  
         [0020]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.