Cell construction for motor control center for separate disengaging of terminal blocks and bus stabs

Claim 2

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of fIrst conductors engaging said bus bars and a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, the improvement comprising: a plate member mounted in a control unit and slidable relative to said control unit parallel to said first axis; and means mounting the control unit second terminal block on said plate member, with said plate member being manually slidable a distance to engage and disengage the second terminal block with a first terminal block without moving the control unit in the cubical.

Claim 3

A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said plate member includes means defining three slots parallel to said first axis, and the control unit includes a plate portion in sliding engagement with one side of said plate member, said plate portion having a first projecting guide element disposed in one of said slots and second and third projecting retainer elements passing through the others of said slots and engaging the opposite side of said plate member.

Claim 4

A structure as defined in claim 2 in which said projecting guide and retainer elements are formed integral with said plate portion of the control unit.

Claim 5

A structure as defined in claim 2 in which the first terminal block includes a generally U-shaped spring contact and the second terminal block includes a projecting stab, with the sliding movement of said plate member moving said stab into and out of said contact.

Claim 6

A structure as defined in claim 1 in which a control unit includes a control plate carrying a control switch, and support means for positioning said control plate generally in the plane of the front of the cabinet, said support means and control plate including hinge means for rotation of said control plate from the planar position to a position generally perpendicular to said plane.

Claim 7

A structure as defined in claim 5 in which said bus bars include generally rectangular openings for receiving said first conductors and each of said first conductors comprise: first and second strips joined in side by side relation at a first point, separated by a gap at a second point, and having interengaging notches and tabs at a third point, with said second point intermediate said first and third points, and a spring positioned between said strips at said gap urging said strips apart at said gap and together at said tabs, with the distance across said strips at said gap when said tabs are engaged being greater than the width of said bus bar openings providing a push fit for a first conductor in a bus bar opening.

Claim 8

A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said bus bars include generally rectangular openings for receiving said first conductors and each of said first conductors comprise: first and second strips joined in side by side relation at a first point, separated by a gap at a second point, and having interengaging notches and tabs at a third point, with said second point intermediate said first and third points, and a spring positioned between said strips at said gap urging said strips apart at said gap and together at said tabs, with the distance across said strips at said gap when said tabs are engaged being greater than the width of said bus bar openings providing a push fit for a first conductor in a bush bar opening.

Claim 9

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of first conductors engaging said bus bars and having a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, with said bus bars including generally rectangular openings receiving said first conductors, the improvement wherein each of said first conductors comprises: first and second strips joined in side by side relation at a first point, separated by a gap at a second point, and having interengaging Notches and tabs at a third point, with said second point intermediate said first and third points, and a spring positioned between said strips at said gap urging said strips apart at said gap and together at said tabs, with the distance across said strips at said gap when said tabs are engaged being greater than the width of said bus bar openings providing a push fit for a first conductor in a bus bar opening; said first and second strips of each of said first conductors including a right angle flange adjacent the first point providing a T-configuration, and and said control unit including a first insulator block having a T-shaped opening for receiving a first conductor with the first point and flanges therein and with the second and third points projecting therefrom, and a second insulator block affixed to said first insulator block covering the junction of the T and the first point and providing wire access openings to each of said flanges.

Claim 10

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of first conductors engaging said bus bars and having a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, with said bus bars including generally rectangular openings receiving said first conductors, the improvement wherein each of said first conductors comprises: first and second strips joined in side by side relation at a first point, separated by a gap at a second point, and having interengaging Notches and tabs at a third point, with said second point intermediate said first and third points, and a spring positioned between said strips at said gap urging said strips apart at said gap and together at said tabs, with the distance across said strips at said gap when said tabs are engaged being greater than the width of said bus bar openings providing a push fit for a first conductor in a bus bar opening; said first and second strips of each of said first conductors including a right angle flange adjacent the first point providing a T-configuration, and and said control unit including a first insulator block having a T-shaped opening for receiving a first conductor with the first point and flanges therein and with the second and third points projecting therefrom, and a second insulator block affixed to said first insulator block covering the junction of the T and the first point and providing wire access openings to each of said flanges.

Claim 11

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of first conductors engaging said bus bars and having a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, the improvement wherein the cabinet includes a first terminal block mounting plate having a retainer plate supported above and generally parallel to the surface of the block mounting plate on at least one post, and having a tab bendable outward from said surface, and one of the first terminal blocks includes an insulator block having a surface slidable along said block mounting plate at said tab and having a T shaped slot open at one end receiving said retainer plate and closed at the other end engaging said retainer plate as a stop, with said tab engaging said insulator block in stopping relation for maintaining said insulator block on said retainer plate.

Claim 12

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of first conductors engaging said bus bars and having a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, the improvement wherein the cabinet includes a first terminal block mounting plate having a retainer plate supported above and generally parallel to the surface of the block mounting plate on at least one post, and having a tab bendable outward from said surface, and one of the first terminal blocks includes an insulator block having a surface slidable along said block mounting plate at said tab and having a T shaped slot open at one end receiving said retainer plate and closed at the other end engaging said retainer plate as a stop, with said tab engaging said insulator block in stopping relation for maintaining said insulator block on said retainer plate.

Claim 13

A structure as defined in claim 9 including a contact mounted in said first insulator block, said contact comprising a generally T-shaped piece of metal with the arms of the T bent to form a U-shaped stab receptacle with outwardly flared ends, said insulator block having first and second contacting zones with said stab receptacle in the first zone and with the body of the T passing from the first zone to the second zone into a slot in said first insulator block, and a screw lug positioned in said second zone about said contact, said first zone including stop members engaging said flared ends maintaining said contact in said first zone.

Claim 14

A structure as defined in claim 9 in which said bus bars include generally rectangular openings for receiving said first conductors and each of said first conductors comprises: first and second strips joined in side by side relation at a first point, separated by a gap at a second point, and having interengaging notches and tabs at a third point, with said second point intermediate said first and third points, and a spring positioned between said strips at said gap urging said strips apart at said gap and together at said tabs, with the distance across said strips at said gap when said tabs are engaged being greater than the width of said bus bar openings providing a push fit for a first conductor in a bus bar opening.

Claim 15

A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the cabinet includes a first terminal block mounting plate having a retainer plate supported above and generally parallel to the surface of the block mounting plate on at least one post, and having a tab bendable outward from said surface, and one of the said first terminal blocks includes an insulator block having a surface slidable along said block mounting plate at said tab and having a T-shaped slot open at one end receiving said retainer plate and closed at the other end engaging said retainer plate as a stop, with said tab engaging said insulator block in stopping relation for maintaining said insulator block on said retainer plate.

Claim 16

A structure as defined in claim 12 including a contact mounted in said first insulator block, said contact comprising a generally T-shaped piece of metal with the arms of the T bent to form a U-shaped stab receptacle with outwardly flared ends, said first insulator block having first and second contacting zones with said stab receptacle in the first zone and with the body of the T passing from the first zone to the second zone into a slot in said first insulator block, and a screw lug positioned in said second zone about said contact, said first zone including stop members engaging said flared ends maintaining said contact in said first zone.

Claim 17

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of first conductors engaging said bus bars and a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, wherein one of the first terminal blocks includes a first insulator block, the improvement comprising: a contact mounted in said first insulator block, said contact having a generally T-shaped piece of metal with the arms of the T bent to form a U-shaped stab receptacle with outwardly flared ends, said first insulator block having first and second contacting zones separated by an insulating barrier with an opening therethrough, with said stab receptacle in the first zone and with the body of the T passing through said opening from the first zone to the second zone into a slot in said first insulator block, and a screw lug positioned in said second zone about said contact, said first zone including stop members engaging said flared ends maintaining said contact in said first zone.

Claim 18

In a cabinet having means defining a plurality of cubicals, a plurality of bus bars mounted adjacent said cubicals, a plurality of first terminal blocks mounted adjacent said cubicals, and a plurality of control units, each slidable into and out of a cubical along a first axis, each of said control units having a plurality of first conductors engaging said bus bars and a second terminal block engaging a first terminal block, wherein one of the first terminal blocks includes a first insulator block, the improvement comprising: a contact mounted in said first insulator block, said contact having a generally T-shaped piece of metal with the arms of the T bent to form a U-shaped stab receptacle with outwardly flared ends, said first insulator block having first and second contacting zones separated by an insulating barrier with an opening therethrough, with said stab receptacle in the first zone and with the body of the T passing through said opening from the first zone to the second zone into a slot in said first insulator block, and a screw lug positioned in said second zone about said contact, said first zone including stop members engaging said flared ends maintaining said contact in said first zone.