SAFETY DEVICE FOR THE LOCKING AND ACTUATION OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS PROVIDED IN EXTRACTABLE DRAWER FOR MCC CABINET

Abstract

A safety device developed to promote more security and better efficiency in its use is provided to operate in the locking and actuation of electrical connectors positioned in extractable drawers for MCC cabinets, thereby setting a safety device capable of connecting or disconnecting the internal connectors, both principal and test connector, provided in the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, the procedure is executed mechanically through an assembly of elements that interconnect two thin laminar plates and, these in turn, interconnected to each other, positioned inferiorly and of conformations corresponding to promote a perfect fit.

Claims

1-29. (canceled)

30. A safety device for the locking and actuation of electrical connectors provided in an extractable drawer for a MCC cabinet, wherein the actuation and the locking of the electrical connectors with their corresponding bus bars, comprising: a power main connector and a test connector, actuated through a mechanical movement of the safety device assembly, which include an autonomous safety device coupled to a door, which is actuated by a means of an actuation key with a locking device, a gear assembly, and at least two laminar plates, wherein the actuation key is connected to the gear assembly properly arranged in a frontal section of the extractable drawer, behind the safety device, wherein the gear assembly is in turn, connected to the at least two lower laminar plates, which are connected to the power main connector and the test connector; wherein the at least two laminar plates are strategically positioned on a lower face of the extractable drawer for the MCC cabinet and are provided with a plurality of small oblong cutouts, further wherein small guide pins are fitted and arranged in a base of the extractable drawer, which is formed in a single piece, the at least two laminar plates are provided with at least two small laminar tabs, which are orthogonal extensions of the at least two laminar plates and, being these orthogonal to its plane and inserted in guide cutouts; wherein the at least two laminar plates are provided with a plurality of small rectangular cutouts aligned with each other and passable of receiving the gear teeth provided in the gear assembly.

31. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein a test device is actuated in a first movement of the actuation key of the extractable drawer, concomitant with pressing the locking device.

32. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the power main connector is actuated in a second movement of the actuation key of the system along with a new actuation of the locking device.

33. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the safety device allows an actuation of the system only in a secure environment.

34. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the actuation of the test device and the actuation of the power main connector, occur with the door of the extractable drawer locked in a closed position.

35. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein an unlocking of the door of the extractable drawer occurs in the actuation of the test command.

36. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the door of the extractable drawer locks when the main power connector is actuated.

37. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein in order to access an interior of the extractable drawer and to be possible to turn on or off the equipment connected to the MCC cabinet, to perform maintenance, first, the actuation key is inserted, positioning the system in test mode, turning on the test command which occurs with the door opened.

38. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein in order to access an interior of the extractable drawer and to be possible to turn on or off the equipment connected to the MCC cabinet, to perform maintenance, first, the actuation key is inserted, positioning the system in the test mode, turning on the test command which can occur with the door closed.

39. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein in order to access an interior of the extractable drawer and to be possible to turn on or off the equipment connected to the MCC cabinet, to perform maintenance, first, the actuation key is inserted, positioning the system in the test mode, turning on the test command which can occur only with the door closed.

40. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the actuation of the system through the actuation key only occurs if the test command is connected and the door of the extractable drawer is closed.

41. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein when the actuation key returns from the actuation position of a power socket to the test position, the door is released.

42. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein a return to the disconnected position, occurs by turning off the command of the test position, being this operation possible only and exclusively if the power input is disconnected.

43. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the safety device is positioned in the door of the extractable drawer and is formed by a frame of fixing and finishing of the safety device, opposite to which is positioned a drive bushing, this in turn, is fitted axially in a body of the safety device, which provides a guide tab and, fitted in the back section of this body is positioned a coupling tab of the drawer and the safety lock actuation.

44. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the same reverse procedure occurs at the system shutdown, when the actuation key should move conversely.

45. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein safety device for the locking and actuation of the electrical connectors arranged in the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, presents a degree of protection IP40 to IP55 and their compartmentalization forms up to, in accordance with the NR10 requirements.

46. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the sealing and locking of the extractable drawer through a padlock or other equivalent locking means are also possible when the compartment is empty, due to the operating system of the extractable drawer coupled to the door.

47. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein a positioner presents a specific encoding and has been developed for different types of extractable drawers.

48. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein a working mechanism of the extractable drawer occurs through oriented gears and operates sequentially through mechanical interlocks.

49. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the gear assembly is interconnected to the lock assembly, and presents internally, a central pendulous element flanked by at least one gear possible of actuating the connection point for the test device, or still, actuating the connection point of the power input or both; the internal additional elements of the gear assembly are constituted by spring elements, wherein each of the gear assembly presents a housing in which these spring elements are positioned; a back face of the gear assembly presents an ergonomic section and a front face of the gear assembly presents two small guide tabs parallel to each other, positioned vertically, holding between them an interstice of housing for guide tab, provided in a back section of a body of the safety device, this being positioned in a back section of the lock assembly and fitting between the tabs of the gear assembly; the front face of the gear assembly presents a central hole, which houses a switch that receives the end of the actuation key for the actuation of the system, wherein the actuation key is provided with a small salience that presses a small button coupled to the switch which when pressed by the salience in the end of the actuation key, in conjunction with the pressing of the locking device or the external button of safety, which is positioned next to the actuation key, rotates the actuation key and then, by pressing again the locking device, rotates the actuation key actuating the assembly of the power input of the equipment where the extractable drawer of the MCC cabinet is connected.

50. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the locking device presents a hole which is a receptor of a safety padlock.

51. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein by pressing the locking device and doing the first rotation of the actuation key, a first small laminar plate of the at least two laminar plates, responsible for the actuation or locking of the test socket, is moved; the door of the extractable drawer remains closed and locked, being passible to be released laterally by a second rotation of the actuation key.

52. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein by pressing the locking device, the second rotation is executed, moving a second large laminar plate of the at least two laminar plates responsible for the connection or disconnection of the power socket, being that the door of the extractable drawer is closed and locked, becoming passible to be released laterally by the actuation key.

53. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein by pressing the locking device, the second inverted rotation of the door which is closed and locked, is executed, becoming passible to be released laterally by the actuation key.

54. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein by pressing the locking device, the first inverted rotation of the door which is closed and locked, is executed, becoming passible to be released laterally by the actuation key.

55. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the test connector of the system is released, primarily through the actuation key after the actuation of the connectors of the test command and then, the entire system is released through the same actuation key, through a sequential movement, actuating the main connectors in the bus bars of the electrical system of the equipment coupled to the MCC cabinet, turning on all the equipment, being that these two steps, the actuation of the test device and the actuation of the main connectors, occur with the door of the extractable drawer locked in the closed position.

56. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein unlocking of the extractable drawer occurs in the actuation of the test command and, posteriorly and in the sequence, the main connection command of the bus bars of the system is actuated and, at this moment, the latch locks the door of the extractable drawer.

57. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the actuation key of the main equipment is actuated, which only occurs if the test command is connected and the door of the extractable drawer is closed, and having no movement of the connecting cables, the door will be automatically locked; the actuation key is returned to the test position, turning off the power input, at this stage necessarily with the door closed, releasing the locks of the door and of the test command, and finally, returning to a disconnected position by turning off the command, the operation is possible only and exclusively if the power input is disconnected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0048] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a top view, in perspective, of an embodiment of an extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, illustrating the door of the extractable drawer, the safety device, the gear assembly and the movement transmission that interconnect the connectors and the bus bars;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a top view, in perspective of an embodiment of the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, illustrating the door of the extractable drawer opened, showing the autonomous safety device coupled to the door, the gear assembly and the movement transmission elements that interconnect the connectors and the bus bars;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a top view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, illustrating the door of the drawer opened, showing the back face of the autonomous safety device coupled to the door, the gear assembly and the orthogonal laminar tabs of the movement transmission elements that interconnect the connectors and the bus bars;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a top view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, illustrating the gear assembly and the orthogonal laminar tabs of the movement transmission elements that interconnect the connectors and the bus bars;

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet, illustrating the gear assembly and the movement transmission elements that interconnect the connectors and the bus bars, mechanically protected;

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a top view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the safety device, the gear assembly and the laminar plates provided with orthogonal tabs of movement transmission that interconnect the connectors and the bus bars;

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a front view, in perspective and exploded, of an embodiment of the gear assembly, showing each internal set of gears;

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a rear top view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the gear assembly;

[0057] FIG. 9 shows a bottom view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the gear assembly;

[0058] FIG. 10 shows a front view of an embodiment of the gear assembly;

[0059] FIG. 11 shows a bottom view, in perspective, of an embodiment of the gear assembly;

[0060] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the door lock assembly of the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet; and

[0061] FIG. 13 shows a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the door lock assembly of the extractable drawer for MCC cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] In accordance with the aforementioned illustrated figures, the following refers more particularly to a safety device 1 notably developed to promote the connection and disconnection of the internal connectors with the corresponding bus bars 12, both the main power connector that actuates the main equipment and the test connector are arranged in the extractable drawer 4 for MCC cabinet 16 of multiple compartments 17, with mechanical movement of the elements provided in the safety device 1, which takes place externally with the door closed, from the movement of a special actuation key 2 that is provided with an autonomous safety device which in turn actuates a pendulum, that moves the gear assembly 6 suitably arranged on the front section of the extractable drawer 4 for MCC cabinet 16, immediately behind the safety device 1, wherein said safety device 1 actuates the gear assembly 6, which in turn move the lower laminar plates 5 and 5A actuating the test connector and subsequently the main connectors, being that the main connectors, when in contact with their corresponding bus bars 12, energize the equipment in which they are connected.

[0063] The laminar plates 5 and 5A are strategically positioned on the lower face of the extractable drawer 4 for MCC cabinet 16 and are provided with a plurality of small oblong cutouts 18 wherein small guide pins 19 are fitted and arranged in the base 20 of the extractable drawer 4, which is formed in a single piece, said guide pins 19 delimit the movement of these plates 5 and 5A.

[0064] Furthermore, said plates 5 and 5A are provided with at least two small laminar tabs 14, which are orthogonal extensions of the plates 5 and 5A themselves, being these orthogonal to its plane and inserted in guide cutouts 21, pressing the connectors provided on the extractable drawer 4 towards their corresponding bus bars 12.

[0065] The laminar plates 5 and 5A are provided with also a plurality of small rectangular cutouts 22 aligned with each other and passible of receiving the gear teeth provided in the gear assembly 6, by moving the laminar plates 5 and 5A to connect or disconnect the connectors of the bus bars 12.

[0066] As stated above, the procedure is performed mechanically through at least one gear assembly 6 which interconnect the safety device 1 with the thin and inferior laminar plates 5 and 5A, these in turn are interconnected to each other, being positioned inferiorly and of corresponding conformations, the larger laminar plate 5 moves the connectors toward the corresponding bus bars 12, energizing therefore the entire system and, in addition, a smaller laminar plate 5A is provided corresponding to the first larger laminar plate 5, being said laminar plate 5A actuated before the larger laminar plate 5, so that a functioning test is performed in order to release the operation of the main equipment for use.

[0067] The test device is actuated on the first movement of the actuation key 2 of the extractable drawer 4, concomitant with pressing the locking device 3, without which the actuation key 2 does not rotates, connecting the test device of said extractable drawer 4 and verifying the proper functioning of the system as a whole.

[0068] Subsequent to the actuation of this test device, through a new movement of the actuation key 2, along with a new actuation of the locking device 3, it will be possible to actuate the main connectors, energizing all the equipment connected therein.

[0069] The same reverse procedure occurs at the system shutdown, when the actuation key 2 should move conversely.

[0070] Thus, the referred safety device 1 allows the actuation of the system only in a secure environment, i.e., the actuation of the main equipment occurs only sequentially through an actuation key 2, wherein the test device is actuated first by means of the special actuation key 2, which has specific conformation, in order to actuate the main equipment posteriorly, so that in the event of any malfunction found in the equipment, whether electrical or mechanical, the first connector designed for testing, is passible to receiving an electric charge substantially lower than the main power, minimizing or even eliminating inconvenience arising from malfunctions in the electrical system or in the equipment itself.

[0071] The connector of test of the system functioning is released, primarily through the actuation key 2 that actuates the connectors of the test command and, then, the entire system is released through the same actuation key 2, actuating the main connectors in the bus bars 12 of the electrical system of the equipment coupled to the MCC cabinet 16, turning on all the equipment, being that these two steps, the actuation of the test device and the actuation of the main connectors, occur in the front of the extractable drawer 4 locked in the closed position.

[0072] The unlocking of the extractable drawer 4 occurs in the actuation of the test command and, posteriorly and in the sequence, the main connection command of the bus bars 12 of the system is actuated and, at this moment, the latch locks the front of the extractable drawer 4.

[0073] Thus, to better illustrate the functioning steps of this system, following is a table showing the moving and connection steps of the bus bars 12 of the extractable drawer 4.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 PHASE PROCEEDING FUNTION OBS 1? PRESS THE LOCKING CONNECT THE TEST THE DOOR 13 OF DEVICE 3 AND DO SOCKET, BLOCKING THE THE FIRST ROTATION AUTOMATICALLY EXTRACTABLE OF THE SPECIAL THE ADVANCE TO DRAWER 4 IS ACTUATION KEY 2, THE NEXT STEP CLOSED AND MOVING THE FIRST LOCKED, SMALL LAMINAR PASSIBLE OF PLATE 5A, WHICH IS BEING OR NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OPENED BY THE CONNECTION MEANS OF THE OR DISCONNECTION MOUNTING OF THE TESTSOCKET CONDITION SELECTED 2? PRESS THE LOCKING CONNECT THE THE DOOR 13 OF DEVICE 3 AND DO POWER SOCKET FOR THE THE SECOND THE CONNECTION OF EXTRACTABLE ROTATION THE BUSBARS, DRAWER 4 IS (SEQUENTIAL), BLOCKING CLOSED AND MOVING THE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED, UNABLE SECOND LARGE THE ADVANCE TO TO BE OPENED IN LAMINAR PLATE 5, THE NEXT STEP THIS CONDITION WHICH IS (ENERGIZED) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONNECTION OR DISCONNECTION OF THE POWER SOCKET 3? PRESS THE LOCKING DISCONNECT THE THE DOOR 13 OF DEVICE 3 AND DO POWER SOCKET, THE THE SECOND DISCONNECTING THE EXTRACTABLE INVERTED BUSBARS AND DRAWER 4 IS ROTATION BLOCKING CLOSED, PASSIBLE AUTOMATICALLY OF BEING OPENED THE ADVANCE TO THE NEXT STEP 4? PRESS THE LOCKING DISCONNECT THE THE DOOR 13 OF DEVICE 3 AND DO TEST SOCKET, THE THE FIRST INVERTED BLOCKING EXTRACTABLE ROTATION AUTOMATICALLY DRAWER 4 IS (SEQUENTIAL) THE ADVANCE TO CLOSED, PASSIBLE THE NEXT STEP OF BEING OPENED

[0074] More specifically, the safety device 1 for the locking and actuation of the electrical connectors arranged in an extractable drawer 4 for MCC cabinet 16, presents a degree of protection IP40 to IP55 and their compartmentalization forms up to 4B, in accordance with the NR10 requirements.

[0075] The sealing and locking of the extractable drawer 4 through a padlock or other equivalent locking means are also possible when the compartment is empty, due to the operating system of the extractable drawer 4 coupled to the door 13.

[0076] The positioner presents a specific encoding and has been developed for different types of extractable drawers 4.

[0077] On the other hand, the modular socket of command and the lateral or back network provide flexibility to the use of different types of connectors, such as PROFIBUS, ETHERNET, or output of power up to 100 A, etc.

[0078] The working mechanism of the extractable drawer 4 occurs through oriented gears and operates sequentially through mechanical interlocks.

[0079] In this way, in order to access the interior of the extractable drawer 4, to be possible to turn on or off the equipment connected to the MCC cabinet 16, to perform maintenance, among others, first, the actuation key 2 is inserted, positioning the system in the test mode, turning on the test command which can occur with the door 13 opened or closed or still, optionally only with the door 13 closed.

[0080] Subsequently, the actuation key 2 of the main equipment is actuated, remembering that the actuation of the system through the actuation key 2 only occurs if the test command is connected and the door 13 of the extractable drawer 4 is closed. Thus, there will be no movement of the connecting cables and the door 13 will be automatically locked.

[0081] Then, the actuation key 2 is returned to the test position, turning off the power input, at this stage necessarily with the door 13 closed, releasing the locks of the door 13 and of the test command.

[0082] Finally, it returns to the disconnected position by turning off the command, said operation is possible only and exclusively if the power input is disconnected.

[0083] The extractable drawer 4 also provides a mounting plate of components 11, positioned transversally.

[0084] The power transmission assembly and the mechanical lock assembly are constituted by a safety device 1, a gear assembly 6 and finally by an assembly of laminar plates 5 and 5A provided with elements that interconnect to the connectors for the actuation/locking of the system with the bus bars 12.

[0085] The safety device 1 is positioned in the door 13 of the extractable drawer 4 and is formed by a frame 10 of fixing and finishing of the safety device 1, opposite to which is positioned a drive bushing 9, this in turn, is fitted axially in a body 7 of the safety device 1, which provides a guide tab 23 and, fitted in the back section of this body 7 is positioned a coupling tab 8 of the drawer and the safety lock actuation.

[0086] On the other hand, the gear assembly 6 interconnected to the lock assembly, presents internally a central pendulous element 6A flanked by at least one gear 6B, 6C, passible of actuating the connection point for the test device, or still, actuating the connection point of the power input 15 or both.

[0087] Internal additional elements of the gear assembly 6 are spring elements 6F that permit the full functioning of all elements, in a precisely and adjusted way, being that each one of the gear assembly 6 presents a housing 6E in which these spring elements 6F are positioned.

[0088] The back face of the gear assembly 6 presents an ergonomic section 6H notably designed to receive the fingers of the operator, allowing the manual movement of the extractable drawer 4 when required.

[0089] The front face of the gear assembly 6 presents two small guide tabs 6D parallel to each other, positioned vertically, holding between them an interstice of housing for a third tab called guide tab 23, provided in the back section of the body 7 of the safety device 1, this being positioned in the back section of the lock assembly and fitting between the tabs 6D of the gear assembly 6, being said device designed to maintaining interlocked the whole safety device 1 and gear assembly 6.

[0090] Furthermore, the front face of the gear assembly 6 presents a central hole 24, which houses a switch 25 that receives the end of a special actuation key 2 for the actuation of the system, wherein said actuation key 2 is provided with a small salience that presses a small button 6G coupled to said switch 25, which when pressed by the salience in the end of the special actuation key 2, allows to rotate the referred actuation key 2, in conjunction with the pressing of the locking device 3 or the external button of safety, which is positioned next to the special actuation key 2, actuating the test device and then, by pressing again the locking device 3, allows to rotate the actuation key 2 to actuate the assembly of the power input 15 of the equipment where the extractable drawer 4 of the MCC cabinet is connected.

[0091] The locking device 3 presents a hole 26, which is designed to receive a safety padlock, the said padlock locks the entire assembly and prevents from being manipulated without permission.

[0092] It should be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps and the use of articles a or an does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.