GB2574627A - Electrical panelboard and plug-in device for such a panelboard with improved electrical insulation and modularity - Google Patents

Abstract

A panelboard 1 comprises busbars 2a - 2d of an electrical system and retainers 3 for electrical plug-in devices 4a - 4d being designed for an electrical connection to said busbars. The busbars are fully shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of an insulating enclosure 5 except for recesses 6 fulfilling at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X formed in said insulating enclosure, so that the busbars are protected against contact by objects having a diameter greater than or equal to 12.5mm and installation of the panelboard is finger proof. The recesses are designed as lead through devices for electric conductors providing the electrical connection between said plug-in devices and said busbars. An electrical plug-in device designed for use with the panelboard is further disclosed, comprising metal contacts 13a - 13d arranged to reach through the recesses of the insulating enclosure of the panelboard, wherein each of said metal contacts is designed to connect to one of the busbars.

Description

Electrical panelboard and plug-in device for such a panelboard with improved electrical insulation and modularity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a panelboard, comprising a number of bus bars assigned to phases of an electrical system and at least one retainer for an electrical plug-in device, wherein the plug-in device is designed for an electrical connection to said bus bars. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electrical plug-in device having a number of metal contacts, wherein each of said metal contacts is designed to connect to one of the busbars. Finally, the invention relates to a panelboard of the kind above equipped with an electrical plug-in device of the kind above with each metal contact connecting to one of the busbars.

BACKGROUND ART

Such a panelboard and such an electrical plug-in device in principle is known in prior art. For example, DE 197 07 283 A1 discloses a system for connecting installation devices using at least one insulated busbar. Openings are provided in the encapsulation of the busbar at a distance correlating with the pitch of installation devices. Conducting connecting pieces are used to electrically connect the installation devices to the busbar.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A drawback of the solution proposed above is that insulation is critical in particular if the conducting connecting pieces slip out of the mounting on the switch side and protrude out of the insulating encapsulation of the busbar. Furthermore, the size of the openings is not defined. For these reasons, users of the panelboard or personnel mounting such a panelboard may get a hazardous electrical shock.

Accordingly, a problem of the invention is to provide an improved panelboard and an improved electrical plug-in device. Additionally, the insulation of the bus bars and safety for a user and mounting personnel shall be improved.

The problem of the invention is solved by a panelboard as defined in the opening paragraph, wherein the busbars are fully shrouded along their longitudinal extension

- 2 by means of an insulating enclosure except of recesses fulfilling at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X formed in said insulating enclosure, which recesses are designed as lead through for electric conductors providing the electrical connection between said plug-in device and said bus bars.

Furthermore, the problem of the invention is solved by an electrical plug-in device, comprising a number of metal contacts being designed to reach through the recesses of the insulating enclosure of the above panelboard, wherein each of said metal contacts are designed to connect to one of the busbars. The metal contacts may be designed as plug-on contacts for example.

Finally, the problem of the invention is solved by a panelboard as defined above and an electrical plug-in device as defined above with a plurality of insulating contact covers or contact cover pairs reaching through the recesses in the insulating enclosure and with each metal contact connecting one of the busbars.

In this way, the recesses in the insulating enclosure of the busbars are comparably small. Generally, the standard IEC 60529 IP2X allows contacting conductive structures by objects having a diameter < 12,5 mm. In other words, said conductive structures are protected against contact by objects having a diameter > 12,5 mm. Hence, installation of the panelboard is improved and particularly finger proof. Accordingly, users of the panelboard and personal mounting such a panelboard cannot get a hazardous electrical shock.

Advantageously, the electrical plug-in device comprises a plurality of insulating contact covers or contact cover pairs being designed to reach through the recesses in the insulating enclosure of the panelboard, wherein some of the insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs are equipped with said metal contacts each being designed to connect to one of the busbars. In this way, the plug-in device can be prepared for different types of connection to the electrical system by attaching metal contacts in the contact cover / contact cover pairs in different ways. For example, an electrical connection of the plug-in device to the phase L1 and the neutral conductor N of an electrical system may be made, an electrical connection to the phase L2 and the neutral conductor N, to the phase L3 and the neutral conductor N, to the phases L1 ,.L3 or to the phases L1 ,.L3 and the neutral conductor N.

-3The metal contacts may be embodied as plug-on contacts for example. Advantageously, a metal contact provides electrical contact to said busbar without the need of a screw. In this way a panelboard can be equipped with plug-in devices very fast and simply, that means without the need of tools.

Particularly in the case of plug-on contacts, it is advantageous if each contact cover of a contact cover pair reaches through a single dedicated recess in the insulating enclosure. Accordingly, a panelboard is of advantage, wherein a recess in the insulating enclosure is designed to receive a single contact cover of a contact cover pair of the electrical plug-in device. Accordingly, also an electrical plug-in device is of advantage, wherein a contact cover of a contact cover pair is designed to reach through a single dedicated recess in the insulating enclosure of the panelboard. By use of the above measures, the recesses in the insulating enclosure of the busbars can be kept very small. Nevertheless, it is also possible that both contact covers of the contact cover pair share a single recess in the insulating enclosure.

Beneficially, both contact covers of a contact cover pair are equipped with metal contacts. In this way, a very good electrical contact to the busbars is provided.

For example, the electrical plug-in device is embodied as a switching device, e.g. as a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker, a motor switch, etc. or as an adapter for such a switching device. In case the electrical plug-in device is embodied as an adapter, numerous switching devices of different kind may be connected to the busbars using one and the same interface. Furthermore, at least two switching devices of the same type may be connected to the busbars via adapters of different type, thus providing different types of electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars, for example, L1/N, L2/N, L3/N, L1..L3 and L1..L3/N.

Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the claims and in the description as well as in the figures.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the panelboard, the recesses in the insulating enclosure are arranged in a modular, matrix style with at least two lines and with at least two columns. In this way, a plurality of plug-in devices each having a plurality of metal contacts may be connected to the busbars covered by the insulating enclosure.

-4ln the context of matrix style recesses it is advantageous if the insulating enclosure of the panelboard comprises three or six recesses per column in a three phase system without neutral conductor in case of horizontally orientated bus bars or four or eight recesses per column in a three phase system with neutral conductor in case of horizontally orientated bus bars or three or six recesses per line in a three phase system without neutral conductor in case of vertically orientated bus bars or four or eight recesses per line in a three phase system with neutral conductor in case of vertically orientated bus bars.

In this way, the panelboard may be used for different electrical systems and plug-in devices with contact covers or contact cover pairs. Additionally, the embodiments comprising three or four recesses relate to plug-in devices with a single recess per contact cover or contact cover pair, and the embodiments comprising six or eight recesses relate to plug-in devices with a recess for each contact cover of a contact cover pair.

Furthermore, it is advantageous in the context of matrix style recesses if the insulating enclosure of the panelboard comprises three columns of recesses per plug-in device in a three phase system without neutral conductor in case of horizontally orientated bus bars or two or four columns of recesses per plug-in device in a three phase system with neutral conductor in case of horizontally orientated bus bars or three lines of recesses per plug-in device in a three phase system without neutral conductor in case of vertically orientated bus bars or two or four lines of recesses per plug-in device in a three phase system with neutral conductor in case of vertically orientated bus bars.

In this way, the panelboard may be used for different electrical systems, too. Additionally, the embodiments with three columns relate to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1 ,.L3, with two columns to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1/N, L2/N, L3/N and with four columns to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1 ..L3/N.

-5Additionally, it is advantageous in the context of matrix style recesses if the electrical plug-in device comprises nine insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs in a three phase system without neutral conductor or eight or sixteen insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs in a three phase system with neutral conductor or three insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs in a three phase system without neutral conductor or four insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs in a three phase system with neutral conductor.

In this way, the plug-in device may be used for different electrical systems. Additionally, the embodiments with nine insulating contact covers / contact cover pairs relate to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1 ,.L3, with eight insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1/N, L2/N, L3/N and with sixteen insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs to an electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars for L1..L3/N. The embodiments with three or four insulating contact covers I contact cover pairs especially relate to adapters for switching devices.

In addition, it is very advantageous if the retainers for electrical plug-in devices and recesses according to standard IEC 60529 IP2X are formed on opposite sides of the insulating enclosure. Accordingly, plug-in devices may be connected to the busbars on opposite sides of the insulating enclosure thus doubling the number of possible plug-in devices.

In the above context, it is also advantageous if the busbars, the insulating enclosure, the retainers and the recesses are symmetrically arranged around a vertical centre axis in case of horizontally oriented busbars and symmetrically arranged around a horizontal centre axis in case of vertically oriented busbars. By making the interface for the plug-in devices symmetrically, a connection for the plug-in devices on both sides of the busbars and the insulating enclosure can be provided by a reduced bill of materials.

-6In yet another advantageous embodiment of the panelboard, a connection between an adapter and a switching device is 2-fold rotational symmetric. In this way, one and the same adapter may be used in two positions, thus providing two different types of electrical connection to the busbars. Accordingly, at least two switching devices of the same type may be connected to the busbars via differently orientated adapters of the same type, thus providing different types of electrical connection between the switching devices and the busbars, for example, L1/N, L2/N, L3/N, L1 ,.L3 and L1..L3/N.

A further very advantageous embodiment of the panelboard has a busbar comprising a (copper) U-profile electrically connected to a (copper) flat profile, wherein the flat profile is broader than the U-profile and wherein the U-profile touches the broader side of the flat profile. Particularly the base of the U-profile touches the broader side of the flat profile. Furthermore, the U-profile particularly touches the broader side of the flat profile in its centre region. By combining a U-profile and a flat profile the skin effect can be increased and the heat transmission can be increased in view of prior art designs. Both the increased skin effect and the increased heat transmission improve the overall thermal performance of a busbar of the disclosed kind.

Beneficially, the U-profile is screwed to the flat profile. In this way, a very easy connection between the U-profile and the flat profile is provided. However, it is also possible to connect the U-profile and the flat profile by means of another type of connection, for example by means of welding.

Advantageously, the metal contacts of the electrical plug-in device touch the busbar in the region of the flat profile. Hence, it is very easy to connect a plug-in device to the busbar although the busbar has a simple shape. Additionally, the busbar may have a prismatic shape without the need to take care of the pitch of the plug-in devices being connected to the busbar. Plug-on contacts of the plug-in device may be plugged onto a prismatic busbar at any position. However, the busbar may also have distinct positions for the plug-on contacts.

Although it is beneficial to make the connection between the electrical plug-in device and the busbar in the region of the flat profile, it is also possible that the metal contacts of the electrical plug-in device connect to the busbar in the region of a wing

-7of the U-profile. Furthermore, it is possible to use other profiles for the busbars, for example an l-profile or a simple U-profile (without a connected flat profile).

It should be noted at this point that the use of the busbar in the shape of a U-profile connected to the flat profile is not limited to the features of the independent claims. That means that such a busbar may also be used out of the context of the panelboard with an insulating enclosure having recesses as defined above and also out of the context of a plug-in device for such a panelboard. Thus, an independent claim for such a busbar may look like as follows:

Panelboard, comprising a number of bus bars assigned to phases of an electrical system, at least one retainer for an electrical plug-in device, the plug-in device being designed for an electrical connection to said bus bars, characterised in that a busbar comprises a U-profile electrically connected to a flat profile, wherein the flat profile is broader than the U-profile and wherein the U-profile touches the broader side of the flat profile.

The claims dependent on such a busbar, dependent on the panelboard and dependent on the plug-in device disclosed in the claims section may also refer to the above panelboard as the case may be.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention now is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to particular embodiments, which the invention however is not limited to.

Fig. 1 shows an oblique view of an exemplary panelboard with four busbars, an insulating enclosure around these busbars and a switching device connected to the busbars by means of adapters;

Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the panelboard of Fig. 1 with the switching device and the adapters slightly pulled out of the recesses in the insulating enclosure;

-8Fig. 3 shows an oblique view of an exemplary arrangement of a switching device and adapters used for the panelboard of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows an oblique view of two adapters of a first type;

Fig. 5 shows an oblique view of two adapters of a second type;

Fig. 6 shows a view of the panelboard towards the inner space of the insulating enclosure covering the busbars;

Fig. 7 shows a detailed view of an exemplary busbar;

Fig. 8 shows a front view of the panelboard and

Fig. 9 shows a panelboard with a number of switching devices and a main enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, same parts or similar parts are denoted with the same/similar names and reference signs. The features disclosed in the description apply to parts with the same/similar names respectively reference signs. Indicating the orientation and relative position (up, down, sideward, etc) is related to the associated figure, and indication of the orientation and/or relative position has to be amended in different figures accordingly as the case may be.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary panelboard 1 with a number of busbars 2a..2d assigned to phases L1, L2, L3 and to an optional neutral conductor N of an electrical system. Furthermore, the panelboard 1 comprises a number of retainers 3 for electrical plugin devices 4a..4d, which are designed for an electrical connection to said bus bars 2a..2d.

The busbars 2a..2d are fully shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of an insulating enclosure 5 except of recesses 6 according to standard IEC 60529 IP2X formed in said insulating enclosure 5. Other recesses fulfilling at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X may be formed in the insulation enclosure 5 as well as the case may be. The recesses 6 are designed as a lead through for electric

-9conductors providing the electrical connection between said plug-in devices 4a..4d and said bus bars 2a..2d.

In this example, the electrical plug-in devices 4a..4d are embodied as adapters connected to a switching device 7. The switching device 7, for example, may be embodied as a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker, a motor switch, etc. Additionally, the switching device 7 is electrically connected to the busbars 2a..2d to by means of four adapters 4a..4d as is shown in Figs. 2 to 5 in detail. Of course a different number of adapters 4a..4d, particularly also a single adapter 4a..4d, may be used to connect the switching device 7 to the busbars 2a..2d as well. Moreover, the switching device 7 may also be directly connected to the busbars 2a..2d without the use of adapters 4a..4d.

In the example, the switching device 7 together with the adapters 4a..4d are arranged on a special mounting frame 8. However, this is not a necessary condition, and the switching device 7 with the adapters 4a..4d may also be directly arranged on a base plate 9 of the panelboard 1.

Furthermore, Fig. 1 shows side walls 10a, 10b of the insulating enclosure 5 dividing a safe area, where the switching device 7 and the adapters 4a..4d are arranged, from an unsafe area with bare busbars 2a..2d and other bare conductors. It should be noted that Fig. 1 just shows a cut out of a real electrical arrangement, where a safe area is completely divided from an unsafe area by insulations (the insulating enclosure 5 and the side walls 10a, 10b are just parts of such a complete installation - see also Fig. 9 in this respect).

In Fig. 1, the switching device 7 with the adapters 4a..4d are arranged in a first compartment A for plug-in devices. In addition, there is an optional second compartment B for plug-in devices on the opposite side of the insulating enclosure 5. Accordingly, there are also additional retainers 3 for electrical plug-in devices 4a..4d and recesses 6 according to standard IEC 60529 IP2X on opposite sides of the insulating enclosure 5. Additionally, the insulating enclosure 5, the retainers 3 and the recesses 6 are symmetrically arranged around a vertical centre axis C in this example (see Fig. 8). This counts for horizontally orientated bus bars 2a..2d. Equivalently, the insulating enclosure 5, the retainers 3 and the recesses 6 may

- 10 symmetrically be arranged around a horizontal centre axis in case of vertically oriented busbars 2a..2d.

By the above measures, a further switching device 7 may be arranged and electrically connected to the busbars 2a..2d on the opposite side of the insulating enclosure 5 in the second compartment B.

As can be seen, the recesses 6 in the insulating enclosure 5 are arranged in a modular, matrix style with at least two lines and with at least two columns.

Fig. 2 now shows the panelboard 1 with the adapters 4a..4d and the switching device 7 slightly pulled out of the recesses 6. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the switching device 7, the adapters 4a..4d, and the mounting frame 8a in detail, wherein the arrangement is turned by 180“around a vertical axis with respect to its orientation in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, the contact covers 11 a and 11 b reaching through the recesses 6 of the in the insulating enclosure 5 are visible in Fig. 3.

Two contact covers 11 a and 11 b form a contact cover pair 12. Some of the contact cover pairs 12 are equipped with metal contacts 13a.. 13d for electrically connecting the adapters 4a..4d and thus the switching device 7 to the busbars 2a..2d. Additionally, the adapter 4a is equipped with metal contacts 13a connecting the adapter 4a to the busbar 2a (phase L1). The adapter 4b is equipped with metal contacts 13b connecting the adapter 4b to the busbar 2b (phase L2). The adapter 4c is equipped with metal contacts 13c connecting the adapter 4c to the busbar 2c (phase L3). Finally, the adapter 4d is equipped with metal contacts 13d connecting the adapter 4d to the busbar 2d (neutral conductor N).

Accordingly, the adapters 4a..4d comprise metal (plug-on) contacts 13a..13d being designed to reach through the recesses 6 of the insulating enclosure 5 of the panelboard 1, wherein each of said metal contacts 13a..13d is designed to connect to one of the busbars 2a..2d and to provide electrical contact to said busbar 2a..2d without the need of a screw.

In the example of Fig. 3 each contact cover 11 a, 11 b of a contact cover pair 12 reaches through a single dedicated recess 6 in the insulating enclosure 5, but this is

- 11 not a necessary condition. It may also be the case that a plurality of contact covers 11a, 11b share a recess 6.

Accordingly, there are eight recesses 6 per column in the three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N as shown in Fig. 1. Anyway, the panelboard 1 may also have four recesses 6 per column in said three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N if two contact covers 11a, 11b share a recess 6. Moreover, there are six or three recesses 6 per column in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 without neutral conductor N dependent on whether there are contact covers 11a, 11b or contact cover pairs 12 per busbar 2a..2d and on whether contact covers 11a, 11b share a recess 6. The above counts for horizontally orientated bus bars 2a..2d. Equivalently, beneficially there are three or six recesses 6 per line in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 without neutral conductor N or four or eight recesses 6 per line in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N in case of vertically orientated bus bars 2a..2d.

Fig. 4 now shows the adapters 4a and 4d in detail, and Fig. 5 shows the adapters 4b and 4c in detail. Adapters 4a and 4d may be of different type, but it is beneficial if a connection between an adapter 4a, 4d and the switching device 7 is 2-fold rotational symmetric so that one and the same adapter 4a, 4d may be used in two positions by a rotation by 180° around a horizontal axis. The very same counts for the adapters 4b and 4c, which may be of different type or may be used in two positions by rotation by 180° around a horizontal axis.

One can easily understand that by means of the adapters 4a..4d four different styles of electrical connection between the switching device 7 and the busbars 2a..2d may be provided. For example, an electrical connection of the switching device 7 to the phase L1 and the neutral conductor N may be made or electrical connections to the phase L2 and the neutral conductor N, to the phase L3 and the neutral conductor N, to the phases L1 ,.L3 or to the phases L1 ,.L3 and the neutral conductor N.

Accordingly, there are three columns of recesses 6 I contact covers 11a, 11 b per switching device 7 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 without neutral conductor N (connecting L1 ,.L3) or two columns of recesses 6 I contact covers 11 a, 11 b per switching device 7 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N

- 12 (connecting L1/N, L2/N or L3/N) or four columns of recesses 6 / contact covers 11a, 11b per switching device 7 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N (connecting L1 ..L3/N). Again, this counts for horizontally orientated bus bars 2a..2d. Equivalently, there are three lines of recesses 6 I contact covers 11a, 11b per switching device 7 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 without neutral conductor N or two or four lines of recesses 61 contact covers 11a, 11 b per switching device 7 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N in case of vertically orientated bus bars 2a..2d.

Accordingly, in the three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N of Fig. 1 each adapter 4a..4d has four contact cover pairs 12 each having two insulating contact covers 11a, 11b as this is shown in Fig. 2 . Equivalently, it may have three contact cover pairs 12 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 without neutral conductor N.

It should be noted at this point that different types of connection between the switching device 7 and the busbars 2a..2d are provided by the adapters 4a..4d in the example shown in Figs. 1 to 5. Nevertheless, it is also possible that the switching device 7 itself comprises the means for a connection to the busbars 2a..2d. Additionally, the switching device 7 then itself comprises contact covers 11a, 11b/ contact cover pairs 12 and metal contacts 13a, 13b. The arrangement of the switching device 7 and the adapters 4a..4d then may also be seen as a single onepiece device.

Accordingly, in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 with neutral conductor N the switching device 7 may have eight or sixteen contact cover pairs 12 each having two insulating contact covers 11a, 11b (see the arrangement of the switching device 7 and the adapters 4a..4d having sixteen contact cover pairs 12 in Fig. 3). Equivalently, the switching device 7 may have nine contact cover pairs 12 in a three phase system L1 ,.L3 without neutral conductor N.

Note that the above examples referring to the count of the contact cover pairs 12 of the adapters 4a..4d or the switching device 7 equally refer to contact covers 11 a, 11 b, if just one contact cover 11a, 11 b is assigned to a particular busbar 2a..2d

- 13 Figs. 6 to 8 now show a more detailed view of the busbars 2a..2d. In this example, a busbar 2a comprises a U-profile 14 electrically connected to a flat profile 15, wherein the flat profile 15 is broader than the U-profile 14 and wherein the U-profile 14 touches the broader side of the flat profile 15. In this example, the base of the Uprofile 14 touches the broader side of the flat profile 15. Furthermore, the U-profile 14 touches the broader side of the flat profile 15 in its centre region. Accordingly, a symmetrical busbar 2a is obtained. Nevertheless, the U-profile 14 may also be arranged in an region out of the centre of the flat profile 15, thus providing an asymmetrical busbar. Additionally, the U-profile 14 is screwed to the flat profile 15 by means of screws 16 inserted into the holes 17 and fixed by nuts 18. However, other connecting methods such as welding are possible as well. Furthermore, the busbar 2a..2d may comprise optional cutouts 19, for example for support mouldings.

In the example shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the metal contacts 13a of the adapter 4a touch the busbar 2a in the region of the flat profile 15. Nevertheless, the metal contacts 13a of the adapter 4a may touch the busbar 2a also in the region of a wing of the Uprofile 14 if it is rotated by 90° towards the adapter 2a around its longitudinal axis. In this case, the flat profile 15 may also be omitted so that the busbar 2a just comprises the U-profile 14 without a flat profile 15 connected thereto. However, the panelboard 1 is not limited to the use of U-profiles, but other profiles may be used as well as a busbar 2a..2d, for example an l-profile.

Finally, Fig. 9 shows the panelboard 1 with another switching device, additionally a main switch 20, which may embodied as a fault current circuit breaker. Fig. 9 particularly shows that the busbars 2a..2d are fully shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of the insulating enclosure 5 except of the recesses 6 hence providing shrouded compartments A and B for plug-in devices 7 according to standard IEC 60529 IP2X. Fig. 9 furthermore shows that there is a first compartment A for plug-in devices 7 on one side of the busbars 2a..2d and the insulating enclosure 5 and a second compartment B for plug-in devices 7 on the opposite side of the busbars 2a..2d and the insulating enclosure 5. Note that just the first compartment A is equipped with plug-in devices 7, whereas the second compartment B is empty in this example. It should also be noted that the panelboard 1 is closed with a cover or covers (not shown to provide insight into the panelboard 1) during use to provide full insulation and safe operation.

- 14 It is noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinbefore, but combinations of the different variants are possible. In reality, the panelboard 1 may have more or less parts than shown in the figures. The panelboard 1 and parts thereof may also be shown in different scales and may be bigger or smaller than depicted. Finally, the description may comprise subject matter of further independent inventions.

It should also be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements and the use of articles a or an does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

- 15 REFERENCE NUMERALS panelboard busbar retainer plug-in device (adapter) insulating enclosure recess switching device mounting frame base plate side wall of insulating enclosure contact cover contact cover pair metal contact.

U-profile.

flat profile screw hole nut cutout main switch first compartment for plug-in devices second compartment for plug-in devices axis phases of electrical system neutral conductor of electrical system

Claims (19)

1. Panelboard (1), comprising a number of busbars (2a..2d) assigned to phases of an electrical system (L1 ,.L3, N), at least one retainer (3) for an electrical plug-in device (4a..4d), the plug-in device (4a..4d) being designed for an electrical connection to said busbars (2a..2d), characterised in that the busbars (2a..2d) are fully shrouded along their longitudinal extension by means of an insulating enclosure (5) except of recesses (6) fulfilling at least the standard IEC 60529 IP2X formed in said insulating enclosure (5), which recesses (6) are designed as lead through for electric conductors providing the electrical connection between said plug-in device (4a..4d) and said busbars (2a..2d).

2. Panelboard (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the recesses (6) in the insulating enclosure (5) are arranged in a modular, matrix style with at least two lines and with at least two columns.

3. Panelboard (1) according to claim 2, characterised in three or six recesses (6) per column in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) without neutral conductor (N) in case of horizontally orientated busbars (2a..2d) or four or eight recesses (6) per column in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) with neutral conductor (N) in case of horizontally orientated busbars (2a..2d) or three or six recesses (6) per line in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) without neutral conductor (N) in case of vertically orientated busbars (2a..2d) or four or eight recesses (6) per line in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) with neutral conductor (N) in case of vertically orientated busbars (2a..2d).

4. Panelboard (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in three columns of recesses (6) per plug-in device (4a..4d) in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) without neutral conductor (N) in case of horizontally orientated busbars (2a..2d) or

- 17two or four columns of recesses (6) per plug-in device (4a..4d) in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) with neutral conductor (N) in case of horizontally orientated busbars (2a..2d) or three lines of recesses (6) per plug-in device (4a..4d) in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) without neutral conductor (N) in case of vertically orientated busbars (2a..2d) or two or four lines of recesses (6) per plug-in device (4a..4d) in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) with neutral conductor (N) in case of vertically orientated busbars (2a..2d).

5. Panelboard (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that retainers (3) for electrical plug-in devices (4a..4d) and recesses (6) according to standard IEC 60529 IP2X are formed on opposite sides of the insulating enclosure (5).

6. Panelboard (1) according to claim 5 characterised in that the busbars (2a..2d), the insulating enclosure (5), the retainers (3) and the recesses (6) are symmetrically arranged around a vertical centre axis (C) in case of horizontally oriented busbars (2a..2d) and symmetrically arranged around a horizontal centre axis in case of vertically oriented busbars (2a..2d).

7. Electrical plug-in device (4a..4d), characterised in a number of metal contacts (13a..13d) being designed to reach through the recesses (6) of the insulating enclosure (5) of the panelboard (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of said metal contacts (13a.. 13d) is designed to connect to one of the busbars (2a..2d).

8. Electrical plug-in device (4a..4d) according to claim 7, characterised in a plurality of insulating contact covers (11a, 11b) or contact cover pairs (12) being designed to reach through the recesses (6) in the insulating enclosure (5) of the panelboard (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein some of the insulating contact covers (11a, 11b)/ contact cover pairs (12) are equipped with said metal contacts (13a..13d) each being designed to connect to one of the busbars (2a..2d).

9. Electrical plug-in device (4a..4d) according to claim 8, characterised in that both contact covers (11a, 11 b) of a contact cover pair (12) are equipped with metal contacts (13a..13d).

10. Electrical plug-in according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in nine insulating contact covers (11a, 11b)/ contact cover pairs (12) in a three phase (L1 ,.L3) system without neutral conductor (N) or eight or sixteen insulating contact covers (11a, 11b)/ contact cover pairs (12) in a three phase system (L1..L3) with neutral conductor (N) or three insulating contact covers (11 a, 11 b) / contact cover pairs (12) in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) without neutral conductor (N) or four insulating contact covers (11a, 11b)/ contact cover pairs (12) in a three phase system (L1 ,.L3) with neutral conductor (N).

11. Electrical plug-in device (4a..4d) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that it is embodied as a switching device (7) or as an adapter for such a switching device (7).

12. Electrical plug-in device (4a..4d) according to claim 11, characterised in that a connection between an adapter and a switching device (7) is 2-fold rotational symmetric.

13. Panelboard (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in an electrical plug-in device (4a..4d) according to any one of claims 7 to 12 with the plurality of insulating contact covers (11a, 11b) or contact cover pairs (12) reaching through the recesses (6) in the insulating enclosure (5) and with each metal contact (13a..13d) touching one of the busbars (2a..2d).

14. Panelboard (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that a metal contact (13a.. 13d) provides electrical contact to said busbar (2a..2d) without the need of a screw.

15. Panelboard (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that each contact cover (11a, 11 b) of a contact cover pair (12) reaches through a single dedicated recess (6) in the insulating enclosure (5).

16. Panelboard (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterised in at least two switching devices (7) of the same type are connected to the busbars (2a..2d) via adapters (4a..4d) of different type and/or via differently orientated adapters (4a..4d) of the same type.

17. Panelboard (1) to any one of claims 1 to 6 or according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterised in that a busbar (2a..2d) comprises a U-profile (14) electrically connected to a flat profile (15), wherein the flat profile (15) is broader than the U-profile (14) and wherein the U-profile (14) touches the broader side of the flat profile (15).

18. Panelboard (1) according to claim 17, characterised in that the U-profile (14) is screwed to the flat profile (15).

19. Panelboard (1) according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the metal contacts (13a..13d) of the electrical plug-in device (4a..4d) touch the busbar (2a..2d) in the region of the flat profile (15).