GB2541659A

GB2541659A - A temporary power supply outlet device

Info

Publication number: GB2541659A
Application number: GB1514991.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thorne Stephen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-24
Filing date: 2015-08-24
Publication date: 2017-03-01
Also published as: GB201514991D0

Abstract

A portable temporary power supply outlet comprising: a housing 10 containing a live terminal 12, a neutral terminal 14 and a ground terminal 16 each comprising a recess 18, to receive an end portion of a conductor core of a cable, with a threaded hole 22 and 24, adapted to receive a fixing screw 25, opening into the recess. The housing also comprises a power supply socket 26 and a circuit breaker 28. The live and neutral connections of the power supply socket are connected to the live and neutral terminals via the circuit breaker. Preferably the housing comprises a mounting feature 42. Preferably the current breaker is a residual current device (RCD) with test and reset buttons (44 and 46, figure 5). The outlet may be configured for operation with a three-phase supply.

Description

A temporary power supply outlet device

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to temporary power supply outlet devices, and in particular to such outlet devices that may be used during short term maintenance on electrical installations.

Background

During maintenance work on electrical installations there is often a need to maintain power supplies to essential equipment such as refrigerators, power tools, etc. A temporary power outlet separate to the incoming main supply is needed. A number of designs exist for temporary power outlet socket devices are known, but each has significant disadvantages for use in temporary connection to high power supplies, such as ‘meter tails’ from the main switch to the electricity meter. The present invention aims to provide a simple device that may be connected rapidly to such supplies.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: US20120220164 discloses a portable outlet box encompasses an electrical box housing an AC outlet with a short flexible three conductor electrical cord emanating from it. The electrical cord has the outer covering stripped away from the end revealing a white, a black, and a green insulated pigtail, each terminated in an insulating boot covering a connector spring clip. The clips for the white (neutral) and black (hot) pigtails are larger general purpose clips, while the clip attached to the green (ground) pigtail is a smaller boot-covered alligator clip to emphasize that it is different from the other two. The pigtails are electrically clipped to terminals of the unit being serviced. The electrical box has attached flat ceramic magnets on the back side to permit removably mounting it to any ferromagnetic surface. Preferably, the outlet is supplied through an integral GFI interrupter for safety. GB2483686 discloses a temporary portable electrical distribution unit comprising a stand. The stand incorporates a consumer unit that is wired to at least one electrical socket and to a cable that extends from the consumer unit for connection to a mains power supply. The unit may further comprise a light, power switches, a light switch and/or a residual current device (RCD). The stand may have an inverted V-shape having two substantially rectangular legs joined at their upper ends, and may be made from polycarbonate. A battery may be provided to supply electrical current to the light and optionally to other components when the unit is not connected to the mains power supply, to provide illumination while it is being wired in. The consumer unit may use a 6A MCB to protect the light and a 32A MCB to protect the sockets. The cable may be stored on a reel inside the stand. US6266233 discloses a single housing containing an electric power meter compartment and a circuit breaker-power receptacle compartment that is adapted for use at a temporary construction site employing underground utility cables in a utility secondary cable enclosure. The meter compartment and circuit breaker-power receptacle compartment are disposed in a side-by-side arrangement in the housing which is adapted for secure mounting to a pedestal connected to the underground utility cables. The power circuit breakers and receptacles are protected from the environment by means of an overhanging access door pivotally attached to the power receptacle(s) compartment. The attached plug-type power load cable connections in the housing are also environmentally protected by means of the access door overhang. Disposed in the circuit breaker-power receptacle compartment is a receptacle to provide electric power on a temporary basis such as to a contractor during the construction phase of a housing development.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device to provide a portable temporary power supply outlet comprising: a housing containing: a live, neutral and a ground terminals each comprising a recess to receive an end portion of a conductor core of a cable with a threaded hole, adapted to receive a fixing screw, opening into the recess, a power supply socket, and a circuit breaker. wherein the live and neutral connections of the power supply socket are connected to the live and neutral terminals via the circuit breaker.

Preferably, the circuit breaker is a residual current device (RCD).

In an embodiment at least one recess is sized to receive a conductor core having a diameter of 25mm.

In some embodiments all three recesses are sized to receive a conductor core having a diameter of 25mm.

The one or more recesses may have a minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the axis of the recess extending from the opening in the range 25 to 40mm, or in the range 25 to 30mm.

The housing may comprise a cable aperture aligned with each terminal recess to allow a cable to enter the housing and the core to be received within the recess.

In some embodiments the housing comprises a guide channel aligned with the recess of each terminal, each guide channel having a length extending from the recess towards an edge of the housing, each guide channel comprising a base, a first and a second opposing sidewalls, and having an open top for at least part of its length.

The guide channel may be aligned with the said cable aperture in the housing such that in use a cable may be guided by the channel to enter the cable aperture.

In this way the device provides a temporary power supply socket adapted to be connected to existing power supply cables, such as meter tails from a main fuse box or switchboard that may be disconnected from the meter and connected to the device during maintenance work on the electrical system connected to the meter, configured such that the said cables may be connected easily to the device, the terminals being sized to receive the cables such as meter tails, the cables being guided into place by means of the guide channels.

The guide channels may be sized to receive the insulation layer of a cable having a conductor core diameter up to 25mm and may have a spacing between the sidewalls in the range 28mm to 45mm, such as 30mm to 35mm.

The terminals may be of the ‘Henley’ type as known in the art, and may comprise a metallic conducting body with a recess extending within it, and a first and a second screw threaded hole opening to the recess, the first opening closer to an open end of the recess adjacent to the guide channel and the second opening further from the open end. In this way the cable end may be retained by both a first and a second retaining screw within the holes, to provide a more secure fixture than if a single retaining screw were provided.

Advantageously so as to facilitate its temporary use in some embodiments the housing may comprise a mounting feature to allow the housing to be mounted on a surface; which mounting feature may comprise a hook, an eye, a slot to receive a screw head, or other fixing means as known in the art. This mounting feature is rotatable from a first usage position to a second storage position

The housing may comprise a projection from the rear surface of the housing parallel to the rear surface, having an aperture or slot within it, to provide a mounting feature.

The device may comprise an on/off switch in the connection between the terminals and the power supply socket via the circuit breaker.

The device may comprise a plurality of power supply sockets, each connected to the terminals via a circuit breaker. Two or more sockets may be connected via a single common circuit breaker or each via a separate circuit breaker. Two or more sockets may be connected to the terminals via a single common on/off switch or each via a separate on/off switch.

The circuit breaker may be a suitable type as known in the art to protect a user from electric shock from a circuit connected to a domestic power supply outlet, such as a residual current device (RCD). The circuit breaker may comprise test and reset controls as known in the art.

The device may be formed from ABS, with terminals and connections within the power supply sockets being formed from a metallic conductor as known in the art. the power supply socket and the threaded holes and retaining screws for the terminals may all be provided on the top surface of the device. In this way the power supply socket, the open top of the guide channels and the retaining screws for the terminals are provided on the same surface of the device for ease of access.

The device may comprise an insulating cover to cover the retaining screws. The cover may be mounted on the housing for example using a hinge or a clip. The cover may be retained in place by means of one or more screws threaded into holes in the housing. In this way accidental contact with the retaining screws is prevented.

In some embodiments the device is configured for operation with a three-phase supply and comprises a first, second and third phase and a ground terminals, each comprising a recess to receive an end portion of a cable and a fixing screw adapted to extend into the recess to contact and to retain the end portion of the cable within the recess, a first, second and third power supply socket, a circuit breaker, and an on/off switch, wherein the live and neutral terminals of the first power supply socket are connected to the first and second phase terminals respectively via the on/off switch and the circuit breaker, the live and neutral terminals of the second power supply socket are connected to the second and third phase terminals respectively via the on/off switch and the circuit breaker, and the live and neutral terminals of the third power supply socket are connected to the third and first phase terminals respectively via the on/off switch and the circuit breaker.

The three power supply sockets may be connected via a single common circuit breaker, configured such that a fault condition detected by the circuit breaker interrupts all three power supply connections to the terminals. In some embodiments each power supply socket is connected to its respective phase terminals via a separate circuit breaker. The device may comprise an on/off switch controlling power supply to all three power supply sockets and may comprise further on/off switches to control each socket individually.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front isometric view of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a front exploded view of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a rear exploded view of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a rear isometric view of the embodiment of figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

Referring to figures 1 to 5, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises: a housing 10, a live 12, neutral 14 and a ground 16 terminals each comprising a recess 18 to receive an end portion 20 of a conductor core of a cable and a threaded hole 22, 24 adapted to receive a fixing screw, opening into the recess, such that in use a fixing screw 25 within the recess may contact and retain the end portion of the conductor core within the recess, a power supply socket 26, and a circuit breaker 28, optionally a residual current device (RCD), and wherein the live and neutral connections of the power supply socket are connected to the live and neutral terminals via the circuit breaker, and wherein at least one recess 18 is sized to receive a conductor core having a diameter of 25mm.

In this embodiment all three recesses 18 are sized to receive a conductor core having a diameter of 25mm.

The housing 10 comprises a cable aperture 30 aligned with each terminal recess to allow a cable to enter the housing and the core to be received within the recess.

The housing 10 comprises a guide channel 32 aligned with the recess of each terminal, each guide channel having a length extending from the recess towards an edge of the housing, each guide channel comprising a base 34, a first and a second opposing sidewalls 36, 38, and having an open top for at least part of its length.

The guide channel is aligned with the said cable aperture in the housing such that in use a cable may be guided by the channel to enter the cable aperture.

The guide channels are sized to receive the insulation layer of a cable having a conductor core diameter up to 25mm and may have a spacing between the sidewalls in the range 28mm to 45mm, such as 30mm to 35mm.

The terminals 18 are of the ‘Henley’ type as known in the art, and each comprise a metallic conducting body 40 with a recess in the form of an aperture extending through it, and a first and a second screw threaded hole 22, 24 opening to the recess, the first opening closer to an open end of the recess adjacent to the guide channel and the second opening further from the open end. In this way the cable end may be retained by both a first and a second retaining screw 25 within the holes, to provide a more secure fixture than if a single retaining screw were provided.

In this embodiment the power supply socket 26, the threaded holes 22, 24 and retaining screws 25 for the terminals and the open top of the guide channels 30 are all provided on the top surface 15 of the device for ease of access.

The housing comprises a mounting feature 42 to allow the housing to be mounted on a surface in the form of an eye mounted on the rear surface of the housing.

The circuit breaker 28 may be a residual current device (RCD), comprising test 44 and reset 46 controls as known in the art.

The device may be formed from ABS, with terminals and connections within the power supply sockets being formed from a metallic conductor as known in the art.

Referring in particular to figures 3 and 4, the embodiment comprises the following components: a lower housing component 50, an upper housing component 56, an electrical unit 52 comprising the circuit breaker 28 and the connections for the power socket 26, a receiving location 53 defined by the lower 50 and upper 56 housing components to receive the electrical unit 52, channel features 54 in the lower housing component and 62 in the upper housing component to receive and retain in place the terminals 12, 14, 16, each channel feature comprising sidewalls 36, 38 to define the sidewalls of the cable receiving channels 32, retaining screws 25, provided within individual screw locations 60, insulated from one another, within a recess 58 in the upper housing that may be closed by cover (not shown) that may be held in place by screws to avoid contact with the retaining screws in use, apertures 64 through the upper housing component to allow the pins of a plug connected to the socket connections in the electrical unit 52 to pass through the upper housing component, buttons 66 to operate the test and reset functions of the circuit breaker in the electrical unit 52, and a assembly screw 68 to hold the lower and upper housing components together.

The electrical connections between the terminals and the circuit breaker and power socket connections in the electrical unit 52 are not shown but will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A device to provide a portable temporary power supply outlet comprising: a housing containing: a live, neutral and a ground terminals each comprising a recess to receive an end portion of a conductor core of a cable with a threaded hole, adapted to receive a fixing screw, opening into the recess, a power supply socket, and a circuit breaker, wherein the live and neutral connections of the power supply socket are connected to the live and neutral terminals via the circuit breaker.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein at least one recess is sized to receive a conductor core having a diameter of 25mm.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein all three recesses are sized to receive a conductor core having a diameter of 25mm.

4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more recesses have a minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the axis of the recess extending from the opening in the range 25 to 40mm.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises a guide channel aligned with the recess of each terminal, each guide channel having a length extending from the recess towards an edge of the housing, each guide channel comprising a base, a first and a second opposing sidewalls, and having an open top for at least part of its length.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises a projection from the rear surface of the housing parallel to the rear surface, having an aperture or slot within it, to provide a mounting feature.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the mounting feature is rotatable from a first usage position to a second storage position.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein the mounting feature is a hook.

9. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a plurality of power supply sockets, each connected to the terminals via a circuit breaker, optionally a separate circuit breaker for each socket.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the power supply socket and the threaded holes and retaining screws for the terminals are all provided on the top surface of the device.

11. A device according to any preceding claim comprising an insulating cover to cover the retaining screws.

12. A device according to any preceding claim configured for operation with a three-phase supply, the device comprising: a first, second and third phase and a ground terminals, each comprising a recess to receive an end portion of a cable and a fixing screw adapted to extend into the recess to contact and to retain the end portion of the cable within the recess, a first, second and third power supply socket, and a circuit breaker, wherein the live and neutral terminals of the first power supply socket are connected to the first and second phase terminals respectively via the on/off switch and the circuit breaker, the live and neutral terminals of the second power supply socket are connected to the second and third phase terminals respectively via the on/off switch and the circuit breaker, and the live and neutral terminals of the third power supply socket are connected to the third and first phase terminals respectively via the on/off switch and the circuit breaker.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the three power supply sockets are connected via a single common circuit breaker, configured such that a fault condition detected by the circuit breaker interrupts all three power supply connections to the terminals.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein each power supply socket is connected to its respective phase terminals via a separate circuit breaker.