Expandable Bused Elbow for Modular Metering Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular metering equipment installations face challenges in tight spaces, especially around corners, due to varying construction tolerances and the need for additional installation space, which complicates electrical connections and requires a suitable expandable bused spacer or elbow for snug connections.
Innovation Solution
An expandable modular metering spacer and elbow with a sliding mechanism and bussing expansion mechanism that allows for adjustable width to fit in tight spaces and facilitate electrical connections, accommodating construction variations and saving installation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed-size bused spacer or elbow is used, then the electrical connections can be made snugly, but the device cannot fit in tight installation spaces with construction variations
Solution Approach 1:
The bused spacer or elbow incorporates an expandable mechanism that allows the device to be compressed to a small size for installation in tight spaces, then expanded to provide adequate room for electrical connections. The expansion mechanism includes movable walls that can be adjusted to different positions to accommodate construction variations and provide the necessary working space for making electrical connections snugly.
2Ease of operation
If additional installation space is provided for electrical connections, then snug connections can be made, but the overall device size increases and cannot fit in tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a fixed outer housing and an expandable inner assembly. The outer housing maintains a compact size for fitting in tight spaces, while the inner assembly can be expanded to provide the necessary space for electrical connections. This segmentation allows the device to have different effective volumes for installation versus operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable inner assembly is nested within the fixed outer housing. When not in use, the inner assembly remains compact within the outer housing. During installation and connection-making, the inner assembly can be expanded outward against the inner walls of the outer housing to provide the necessary working space, then collapsed back for a compact final installation.
3Volume of moving object
If the bused spacer or elbow is made smaller to fit tight spaces, then installation space is reduced, but there is insufficient room for electrical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a compact state for installation to an expanded state for electrical connections. The expansion mechanism allows the internal volume to increase dynamically when needed for making connections, then return to compact size for final installation in tight spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable bused elbow is provided for connecting modular metering equipment around an inside corner. The expandable bused elbow comprises an enclosure configured to fit in a gap between modular equipment. The enclosure has a box assembly with a sliding mechanism that enables expansion of the box assembly. The expandable bused elbow further comprises a first bussed interior assembly enclosed within the enclosure having a first bottom end and a second bussed interior assembly enclosed within the enclosure having a second bottom end. The first bussed interior assembly has a first bussing expansion mechanism that enables expansion of the first bussed interior assembly. The second bussed interior assembly has a second bussing expansion mechanism that enables expansion of the second bussed interior assembly. The expandable bused elbow further comprises a center corner assembly disposed in a middle space between the first bussed interior assembly and the second bussed interior assembly.