Snap-in and snap-on neutral rail assemblies in a plug-on neutral load center
US8929055B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02B1/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A plug-on load center featuring snap-in or snap-on neutral rails that are retained securely in the load center on or between a dielectric barrier without requiring any fasteners and assembled by installing the dielectric components and neutral rail along the same direction orthogonal to a rear wall of an enclosure that houses the load center. The snap-in configurations feature dielectric barriers with fingers that create a snap-fit connection between the neutral rail and a shield member. The neutral rail is forced between the fingers, which separate and then snap back to their original position once the neutral rail is fully seated in the dielectric barrier. The snap-on configurations feature a neutral rail that is snapped onto the dielectric barrier and retained in the load without any fasteners. The barrier can include retention members that snap-fit into corresponding features of the neutral rail when it is installed onto the barrier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.