Bus duct including improved housing

Claim 2

A section of bus duct comprising a housing, and a section of a plurality of bus bars means supported in said housing, said secTion of bus duct comprising a main body part intermediate to the ends thereof, said housing of said main body part of said section of bus duct comprising a housing means comprising a generally congruent pair of oppositely disposed generally Ishaped housing members.

Claim 3

A section of bus duct according to claim 1, said I-shaped housing members being secured together by fastening means which extend transversely with respect to said I-shaped housing means.

Claim 4

A section of bus duct according to claim 1, wherein each of said housing members includes a first pair of oppositely disposed generally parallel sides, a third side generally perpendicular to and joining said first pair of sides, said third side including a generally U-shaped depression formed into it and large enough to accommodate at least a portion of said bus bar means, opening outwardly in a first direction and terminating at said third side, a fourth side comprising a second generally U-shaped depression opening outwardly in a second direction which is generally opposite to said first direction, said fourth side being joined on the ends of each leg of said second U-shaped depression to said first pair of sides by connecting segments, said fastening means uniting said housing members with one another such that the third sides of each said housing member is employed in a face-to-face relationship causing contact with and forming an enclosure of said bus bar means by said housing means, said bus bar means comprising a plurality of flat bus bars, said bus bars being positioned in a mutually flatwise, face-to-face relationship in the U-shaped depressions of said housing members, the remainder of the said third side of each member other than the U-shaped depression being positioned approximate to the remainder of the other said third side in such a manner as to allow for variations of pressure on said insulating bus bars as the securing means is adjusted.

Claim 5

A section of bus duct according to claim 3 wherein said individual housing members are formed from a heat-conducting metallic material for dissipation of heat from said bus bars and for structural strength.

Claim 6

A section of bus duct according to claim 4, wherein said housing members are formed primarily from aluminum for efficient dissipation of heat from said bus bars.

Claim 7

A section of bus duct according to claim 5, wherein the surface of each of said housing members contains a plurality of surface undulations adding more surface area to the housing member to thereby facilitate the removal of more heat from said housing members.

Claim 8

A section of bus duct according to claim 6, wherein said housing members include interlocking means to facilitate the joining of both members and to aid in completely enclosing the bus bars.

Claim 9

A section of bus duct comprising a housing, a plurality of bus bar means supported by said housing, said section of bus duct comprising a main body part intermediate the ends thereof, said housing of said main body part of said section comprising a housing portion, said housing portion comprising first and second pairs of oppositely disposed aluminum housing members, said first pair of aluminum housing members including slot means to engage said second pair of aluminum housing members, said second pair of aluminum housing members and said first pair of aluminum housing members being joined by securing means to form said housing portions, said second pair of aluminum members being secured to said first pair of members in such a manner as to apply pressure on said bus bar means.

Claim 10

A section of bus duct comprising a housing, a plurality of bus bar means supported by said housing, said section of bus duct comprising a main body part intermediate the ends thereof, said housing of said main body part of said section comprising a housing portion, said housing portion comprising first and second pairs of oppositely disposed aluminum housing members, said first pair of aluminum housing members including slot means to engage said second pair of aluminum housing members, said second pair of aluminum housing members and said first pair of aluminum housing members being joined by securing means to form said housing portions, said second pair of aluminum members being secured to said first pair of members in such a manner as to apply pressure on said bus bar means.

Claim 11

A section of bus duct according to claim 8, wherein said housing structure encloses a plurality of spaced openings to accommodate separate sets of bus bars, each set of bus bar means being electrically separated from adjacent sets by an insulating means.

Claim 12

A section of bus duct comprising a housing, a plurality of bus bar means supported by said housing, said section of bus duct comprising a main body part intermediate the endS thereof, said housing of said main body part of said section comprising a housing portion, said housing portion comprising first and second pairs of oppositely disposed aluminum housing members, each one of said first pair of aluminum housing members having a generally E-shaped cross-sectional area and including a pair of spaced slots and a pair of end portions, each of said second pair of aluminum housing members being generally rectangular in shape and being disposed in the spaced slots, each of said first pair of housing members including a back portion and including at least one tapered surface adjacent to each slot thereof said first and second pairs of aluminum housing members being joined by securing means in such a manner as to enclose said bus means, said securing means exerting forces against said end portions of said first pair of housing members to thereby compress said end portions and said second pair of aluminum members against said tapered surfaces of said first pair of housing members, said bus means comprising a plurality of generally flat bus bars, said bus bars being positioned in a mutually flatwise face-to-face relationship, said bus bars being contacted by said first and second pairs of aluminum members in such a manner as to apply constricting pressure on said bus bars.

Claim 13

A section of bus duct comprising a housing, a plurality of bus bar means supported by said housing, said section of bus duct comprising a main body part intermediate the endS thereof, said housing of said main body part of said section comprising a housing portion, said housing portion comprising first and second pairs of oppositely disposed aluminum housing members, each one of said first pair of aluminum housing members having a generally E-shaped cross-sectional area and including a pair of spaced slots and a pair of end portions, each of said second pair of aluminum housing members being generally rectangular in shape and being disposed in the spaced slots, each of said first pair of housing members including a back portion and including at least one tapered surface adjacent to each slot thereof said first and second pairs of aluminum housing members being joined by securing means in such a manner as to enclose said bus means, said securing means exerting forces against said end portions of said first pair of housing members to thereby compress said end portions and said second pair of aluminum members against said tapered surfaces of said first pair of housing members, said bus means comprising a plurality of generally flat bus bars, said bus bars being positioned in a mutually flatwise face-to-face relationship, said bus bars being contacted by said first and second pairs of aluminum members in such a manner as to apply constricting pressure on said bus bars.

Claim 14

A set of bus duct according to claim 10, wherein a housing portion encloses a plurality of sets of bus bars separated from others by insulating means.

Claim 15

A section of bus duct according to claim 11, wherein each insulating means comprises a spacer constructed in such a manner as to facilitate using a plurality of securing means in conjunction with spacers to further secure said members and at the same time isolate independent bus bars from others.