AU688016B2

AU688016B2 - Electrical metering and distribution enclosure

Info

Publication number: AU688016B2
Application number: AU20217/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Turner
Original assignee: EMWEST PRODUCTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: EMWEST PRODUCTS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-20
Filing date: 1995-05-22
Publication date: 1998-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-22
Also published as: AU2021795A

Description

.ur' I p00011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 0 TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT

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NAME OF APPLICANT: EMWEST PRODUCTS PTY. LIMITED (ACN 002 894 224) ACTUAL INVENTORS: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NOS: Peter Maxwell Associates Blaxland House, Suite 10, 5 Ross Street, 1TORTH PARRAMATTA NSW 2151 ELECTRICAL METERING AND DISTRIBUTION ENCLOSURE PM 5772 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:r r -2- This invention relates to enclosures for electrical meters and distribution boards and, more particularly, to electrical enclosures commonly known as electrical meter enclosures or "meter boxes".

Particular examples of this general form of meter boxes are illustrated in Australian Design AU-S-112,518 and Australian Design AU-S-113,236. Such meter boxes are housings for incoming mains cables from power distribution authorities for domestic dwellings and the like.

10 Meter boxes perform the dual function of housing .i electrical meters for metering domestic electrical power consumption and also form a primary distribution board for electrical reticulation throughout the dwelling.

Generally speaking it is desirable that the distribution board be accessible to the consumer for the purposes of resetting circuit breakers which protect circuits within the dwelling but that the metering equipment not be easily accessible to the consumer.

Unauthorised access can be dangerous both to the person gaining access and perhaps also to others consequential to tampering with the equipment to which unauthorised access has been gained.

A particular problem encountered with such meter boxes has been the lack of a convenient means to isolate supply authority equipment such as meters, main fuses and the like from easy access by the consumer. The primary solution has been to provide a seal which is broken when access is obtained to the interior of individual components such as I I L

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electrical meters, fuse carriers and the like.

This solution is not satisfactory from at least two stand points.

Firstly, the seals do not represent a great impediment to access. Secondly, it is time consuming and something of a nuisance for supply authority personnel to apply seals separately to each and every one of the items of incoming equipment for which they are responsible.

A further problem with such meter boxes is a lack of uniformity in construction standards within each meter box and also between mete boxes. Although incoming electrical fault levels are relatively low for most 10 consumer applications of such boxes and therefore blast containment is not a critical issue, it is nonetheless in the interests of both supply authorities and consumers that the design of the meter box/enclosure permits a consistent quality of construction throughout and for all such enclosures during the construction phase. Ideally, the design of a meter box should be such that the inherent quality of assembly and construction of the enclosure is maintained when additional equipment is added, substituted or replaced after initial installation of the enclosure.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an enclosure for electrical meters and distribution boards, said enclosure having a back plate, side walls, a top and a base and further including first enclosure means for releasable enclosure of non-consumer accessible equipment and a separate second enclosure means for releasable enclosure of consumer accessible equipment.

Preferably, the enclosure includes partition wall means adapted to S divide mechanically said enclosure into a first bay adapted to form part of 'NT2

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said first enclosure means and a second bay adapted to form part of said second enclosure means.

The partition wall means may be attached to and forms part of a first backing plate adapted to reside in said first bay; said first backing plate being spaced from the back plate of said enclosure to provide a cable space therebetween.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the enclosure includes a first closure panel hingedly mounted on the enclosure, said first closure age panel being movable between an open position at which the first bay is S 10 accessible and a closed position in which it closes the first bay to form the oe first enclosure means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the enclosure further includes a second backing plate adapted to reside within said second bay, said second backing plate being spaced from the back plate of the 0000 S 15 enclosure to provide a cable space therebetween.

0S*Preferably, the enclosure includes a second closure panel hingedly mounted on the enclosure, said second closure panel being movable 00 between an open position at which the second bay is accessible and a closed position in which it closes the second bay to form the second enclosure means.

The enclosure of the invention may include an outer door hingedly mounted on the enclosure which when open provides access to the first and second enclosure means.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for producing enclosures for electrical distribution equipment in quantity whereby each enclosure is manufactured to an ascertainable minimum prescribed standard; said method comprising constructing an II 0 electrical distribution and metering enclosure for releasable enclosure of consumer mains distribution equipment; said enclosure including a back plate, side walls, a top and a base and further including first enclosure means for releasable enclosure of non-consumer accessible equipment and second enclosure means for releasable enclosure of consumer accessible equipment.

Preferably, the method further includes providing said enclosure with partition wall means adapted to divide mechanically said enclosure into a first bay adapted to form part of said first enclosure means and a second bay adapted to form part of said second enclosure means. The partition wall means may be formed integrally with a backing plate which is adapted to reside in the first bay. The integrally formed partition wall means and backing plates may have a cross-section in the shape of an a In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put

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15 into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:- I a- I I -6- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure for electrical meters and distribution boards according t- a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of an exemplary layou. of equipment secured within the enclosure of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an enclosure according to a second embodiment of the invention, .i Fig. 4 is a front view of the enclosure shown in Fig. 3 with the door and escutheon plates removed, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows A-A in Fig. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows B-B in Fig. L, Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the manner of assembly of part of the enclosure shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the manner of attachment of a backing plate to the consumer accessible side of the enclosure of Fig. 3, Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating a manner of attachment of a circuit breaker to the backing plate of Fig. 4, -7- Fig. 10 Is a front perspective view of the enclosure of Fig. 3 showing the placement of the first and second escutheon plates, Fig. 11A to Fig. 11F illustrate the manner of attachment of a hinged outer door to the enclosure of Fig.

3, Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram applicable to a 5 jaw meter socket for the non-consumer rl 10 accessible portion of the enclosure of Fig.

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Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram applicable to a 3 jaw meter socket for the non-consumer accessible portion of the enclosure of Fig.

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As shown in Fig. 1 an enclosure for electrical meters oo t and distribu-ion boards according to a first embodiment of e• the invention comprises an outer casing 11 consisting of a rectangular back plate 12, bounded in this embodiment by opposed side walls 13 and 15, top 16 and base 14 so as to define an enclosure volume 17 which can be releasably closed by means of hinged outer door 18 which in this instance is hingedly supported from side wall Secured to and spaced from the inside of back plate 12 is a first backing plate 19. In this embodiment a partition extends forwardly from the first backing plate 19 so as to define a first bay bounded by partition 20, side wall part of the top 16, part of the base 14, first backing plate 19 and hinged inner door 22 (when closed). Hinged inner door 22 is pivotally connected to an inner surface of side 15 and is arranged to swing to a closed position where it can be releasably secured to a free edge 23 of partition 20 so as to seal first bay 21.

Partition 20 also defines second bay 24 between partition 20, side wall 13, a part of top 16, a part of base 14 and a part of the back plate 12. In this particular instance, a second backing plate 25 is secured to the inside 10 of back plate 12 within second bay 24.

4 In a particular preferred form of the first embodiment of the invention the first backing plate 19 and the second backing plate 25 are secured so as to be spaced by the order of at least 1-2 cm from the inside surface of back plate 12 so as to permit cable to pass therebetween.

First backing plate 19 and partition wall 20 can comprise a single component. That is, for example, a single plate may be bent into an L shape with one leg of the L comprising first backing plate 19 and the other leg of the L comprising the partition 20. This form of construction has particular advantages in relation to cost of manufacture, consistency of manufacture and reduction of parts count.

The above described arrangement is such that a first bay 21 is secured by hinged inner door 22 so as to enclose electrical metering equipment, incoming fuses, neutral links and other like equipment which it is not intended be accessible to the domestic consumer. Hinged inner door 22 can be secured to free edge 23 of partition 20 by seals of

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the type currently used to seal fuse carrier covers, meters and the like. Alternatively, cooperating apertures can be provided for a padlock or the like with the appropriate key being available only to authorised persons.

Fig. 2 illustrates a particular exemplary layout of equipment secured to both the first backing plate 19 and the second backing plate Referring to Fig. 2 first backing plate 19 contains thereon kWh meter 26, incoming HRC fuse carrier 27 and 10 neutral link 28.

Main incoming cable 29 can be fed into first bay 21 .either through an aperture in one of the sides, for example

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side 14, or else through back plate 12. The cores of the 4* incoming cable 29 can connect to fuse carrier 27 and neutral link 28 as appropriate.

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A wiring harness 30 connects between the components on first backing plate 19 and the components on second backing plate 25. In this embodiment the wiring harness 30 is adapted to run in the space defined between the backing plates and back plate 12 to which reference has been made earlier in this specification. The wiring harness 30 gains access to this space by passing through appropriately located apertures on the backing plates 19, The components on the second backing plate 25 can comprise a distribution board or distribution board base 31 adapted to receive mains supply from wiring harness 30 and to distribute it through a set of circuit breakers 32 connected into distribution board or base 31. Other components which I can be mounted on second backing plate 25 include, but are not limited to earth leakage circuit breakers, timers and the like.

Electrical reticulation wiring to the dwelling/structure which the electrical enclosure 10 serves is connected to the outgoing portions of the circuit breakers 32 and outgoing portions of distribution board/base 31 as appropriate.

It will be observed that the electrical enclosure 10 of 10 the first embodiment permits mounting of supply authority *non-consumer accessible components in first bay 21 on first backing plate 19 and further permits mounting of consumer accessible non-supply authority components in second bay 24 4 on second backing plate 25. The components on first backing plate 19 are isolated from direct consumer access by hinged inner door 22 sealed against free edge 23 of partition This arrangement allows one seal or lock arrangement to 4: isolate all components on first backing plate 19.

It will be appreciated that the hinged inner door 22 can be of substantial construction allowing secure, tamperresistant locking arrangements to be attached thereto so as to secure inner door 22 in a closed position.

It is to be further noted that the arrangement of components permitted by the electrical enclosure 10 of the first embodiment, as exemplified in Fig. 2, allows a modular approach to be taken in the initial construction of an electrical enclosure 10 according to the first embodiment as well as to subsequent upgrading on site of selected I- -r rr -11- -iicomponents on either first backing plate 19 or second backing plate 25. In the simplest situation this is done by removing first backing plate 19 and replacing it with a substitute backing plate to which have been pre-mouLited the required upgrade components. All that is required then is to ieconnect incoming cable 29 and wiring harness 30. A similar procedure can be followed in respect of upgrades replacement or substitute components required on second backing plate A further benefit which may be derived from this arrangement is that because all major construction and 4 O .i component mounting can be carried out in a factory environment, such construction and mounting can be carried out in ISO certified environments (or equivalent Standards) to ensure that the entire electrical metering and 4. distribution enclosure 10 not only at the time of initial manufacture but also following subsequent upgrades during its 4 4o0o service life will remain Standards compliant.

Figs. 3 to 14 show an enclosure 110 for electrical meters and distribution boards according to a second embodiment of the invention. Where components correspond to components described in respect of the first embodiment the same reference numerals will be used, but preceded by a 100 digit, for example, back plate 12 of the first embodiment becomes back plate 112 in the second embodiment.

With reference to Fig. 3 the enclosure 110 includes back plate 112 bounded by side walls 113 and 115, top 116 and base 114 with "cut out&L" for cable en' y in at least some of those elements as generally illustrated in Fig. 7.

-12- The enclosure volume 117 thus defined is adapted to receive components in the manner generally illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Enclosure volume 117 is adapted to receive a meter section fitting 140 comprising first backing plate 119 integrally formed with partition 120. Tongues 141 protruding from the right side of first backing plate 119 are adapted to pivotally engage with slots 142 at the inside corner of volume 117 defined by the intersection of back plate 112 and 10 side 115. The thus engaged meter section fitting 140 can be "held in place by self-tapping screws or the like passing through first backing plate 119 and into back plate 112.

The meter section fitting 140 can be prewired and .4 premounted with standard incoming interconnected components such as kWh meter 126, HRC fuse carriers 127 and neutral link e: Is 128.

With reference to Fig, 8, in this instance, second backing plate 125 is in the form of a chassis adapted to be mounted to projections 143, 144 located in second bay 124 and further adapted to receive circuit breakers 145 press mounted to projecting bus bar stubs 146 as particularly illustrated in Fig. 9. The stubs 146 are integrally connected to and rise from bus bar 147 which, in turn, forms a structural component for second backing plate 125. Insulated tags 148 are connected to both ends of the bus bar 147 and form the means by which second backing plate 125 is attached to projections 143, 144 within second bay 124.

-13- Second bay 124 is formed by partition 120 together with side wall 113 and portions of base 114, top 116 and back plate 112.

With further reference to Fig. 9 it will be noted that the circuit breakers 145 are secured in place by their attachment to clip 149 on second backing plate 125 (or chassis) and by stub 146, both received within apertures (not shown) in circuit brea,:.r 145.

With reference to Fig. 10 an escutheon plate or inner .10 door 122 is adapted to pivot so as to cover over and enclose e* first bay 121 defined on the right side of partition 120.

The (first) escutheon plate 122 is pivoted along its right hand edge and can be secured along its left hand edge against *0 0 edge 123 of partition 120. The escutheon plate 122 can pivot 0 by means of a tab in slot arrangement 150 operating on the same principles as the tab in slot arrangement used to secure meter section fitting 140 within enclosure 110.

Escutheon plate 122 has a cut out 151 through which at least the face of meter 126 can be viewed.

The enclosure 110 additionally includes a second inner door or escutheon plate 152 adapted to pivot about a left hand side about a tab in slot arrangement also operating along lines similar to that by which meter section fitting 140 is secured within enclosure 110. The right hand edge of second inner door or escutheon plate 152 can be secured against free edge 123 of partition 120 by means which may or may not be releasable by a consumer. The escutheon plate 152 includes a cut out 154 which permits access to at least the -14toggle actuators 155 f circuit breakers 145 (refer Fig. 9) whereby a consumer can turn off, turn on or reset any one of the circuit breakers 145.

Fig. 11 illustrates the manner of pivoting engagement of a hinged outer door 118 from a top leading edge 156 of enclosure 110.

Top leading edge 156 includes a lip 157 of dimension and sufficient extent to engage with a corresponding lip 158 of a top edge of hinged outer door 118. The manner of 10 engagement is illustrated in detail in Figs. lIB through to Figs. (IF. Apertures can be provided on lip 159 on the lower edge of enclosure 110 and in lip 160 on the mating lower edge of hinged outer door 118 so as to receive the hasp of a padlock for the purposes of securing the hinged outer door 118 in a closed position.

*6 Figs. 13 and 14 Illustrates two possible wiring *6S* diagrams for the interconnection of the non-consumer accessible components located within first bay 121 on first backing plate 119.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For example hinged inner door 22 can take many forms whilst fulfilling its primary requirement of sealing first bay 21 against unauthorised entry and access to components mounted on first backing plate 19.

En Hinged inner door 22 can also include clear portions or equivalent which permit visual access to parts of the components mounted on first backing plate 19 so, for example, a reading of kilowatt hour meter 26 can be taken without unsealing/opening hinged inner door 22.

Hinged outer doors 18, 118 can also include cut outs or clear portions whereby at least visual access can be obtained to various internal components of the enclosure 10, 110 without needing to open outer door 18, 118. Furthermore, as 10 described in respect of the second embodiment, the outer door 18, 118 can be made padlockable or provided with alternative locking means which allow the consumer to secure the entire enclosure 10, 110.

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Claims

1. An enclosure for electrical meters and distribution boards, said enclosure having a back plate, side walls, a top and a base and further including first enclosure means for releasable enclosure of non-consumer accessible equipment and a separate second enclosure means for releasable enclosure of consumer accessible equipment.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 including partition wall means adapted to fee divide mechanically said enclosure into a first bay adapted to form part of .*fe said first enclosure means and a second bay adapted to form part of said J second enclosure means. *S

3. The enclosure of claim 2 wherein said partition wall means is I attached to and forms part of a first backing plate adapted to reside in said first bay; said first backing plate being spaced from the back plate of said enclosure to provide a cable space therebetween. 5555 S Sl

4. The enclosure of claim 3 further including a first closure panel hingedly mounted on the enclosure, said first closure panel being movable between an open position at which the first bay is accessible and a closed position in which it closes the first bay to form the first enclosure means.

The enclosure of claim 3 including a second backing plate adapted to reside within said second bay, said second backing plate being spaced from the back plate of the enclosure to provide a cable space therebetween. ~RAti '0QT 0 k I 17

6. The enclosure of claim 5 further including a second closure panel hingedly mounted on the enclosure, said second closure panel being movable between an open position at which the second bay is accessible and a closed position in which it closes the second bay to form the second enclosure means.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 including an outer door hingedly mounted on the enclosure which when open provides access to the first and second enclosure means.

8. A method for producing enclosures for electrical distribution o* equipment in quantity whereby each enclosure is manufactured to an ascertainable minimum prescribed standard; said method comprising constructing an electrical distribution and metering enclosure for releasable enclosure of consumer mains distribution equipment; said enclosure including a back plate, side walls, a top and a base and further including 6S eSS first enclosure means for releasable enclosure of non-consumer accessible S equipment and second enclosure means for releasable enclosure of consumer accessible equipment.

9. The method of claim 8 further including providing said enclosure with partition wall means adapted to divide mechanically said enclosure into a first bay adapted to form part of said first enclosure means and a second bay adapted to form part of said second enclosure means.

The method of claim 9 wherein said partition wall means is formed integrally with a backing plate which is adapted to reside in said first bay, ~I~ 18 said backing plate being spaced from the back plate to define a cable space therebetween.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said integrally formed partition wall means and backing plate is formed having a cross-section in the shape of an

12. An enclosure for electrical meters and distribution boards substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. a

13. A method for producing enclosures for electrical distribution a. equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 8 day of December, 1997 EMWEST PRODUCTS PTY LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES i i- ABSTRACT An electrical metering and distribution enclosure for releasable enclosure of consumer mains distribution 3quipment and method of manufacture therefor; the enclosure including first enclosure means 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22 for releasable enclosure of non-consumer accessible equipment and second enclosure means 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 for releasable enclosure of consumer accessible equipment. SIn a particular form, an integral partition wall and backing plate 19, 20 provides a division between the first *0 and second enclosure means as well as simplifying upgrading or substitution or replacement of components. S eg II