US 12,224,561 B1
Compartmentalized panel
Dean M Crotteau, Sawyer, MN (US); and Paul R Crotteau, Carlton, MN (US)
Filed by Dean M Crotteau, Sawyer, MN (US); and Paul R Crotteau, Carlton, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/120,203.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/391,923, filed on Jul. 25, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/319,026, filed on Mar. 11, 2022.
Int. Cl. H02B 1/30 (2006.01); H02B 1/06 (2006.01); H02B 11/127 (2006.01)
CPC H02B 1/301 (2013.01) [H02B 1/066 (2013.01); H02B 11/127 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A physically and electrically isolating fully compartmentalized panelboard comprising: a first panel interior having an enclosing cover and a power distribution bus located therein; a second panel interior having an enclosing cover and a power distribution bus located therein; a conductive material connecting the power distribution bus of the first panel interior to the power distribution bus of the second panel interior; an isolating device allowing the contents of the first panel interior to stay energized while the contents of the second panel interior are de-energized by opening the isolating device; a non-conductive physical barrier separating the first panel interior from the second panel interior; and a sealing device located on the nonconductive physical barrier allowing the conductive material to pass from the first panel interior through the nonconductive physical barrier into the second panel interior, the non-conductive physical barrier and the enclosing covers cooperating to physically and electrically isolate the power distribution bus of the second panel interior from the power distribution bus of the first panel interior when power is cut off by the isolating device to allow the power distribution bus of the second panel interior to be completely free of live electrical components when maintenance work is being performed in the second panel interior to eliminate the hazard of accidental user exposure to any energized components while also avoiding the need to shut down all critical equipment of a building or upstream electrical equipment while performing electrical work, further reducing exposure to hazards.
 
10. A physically and electrically isolating fully compartmentalized panelboard comprising:
a first panel interior having an incoming power and a main breaker mechanism located therein;
a second panel interior having a power distribution bus located therein with the main breaker mechanism of the first panel interior electrically connected to the power distribution bus of the second panel interior and controlling the feed of power from the first panel interior to the second panel interior;
a conductive material connecting the main breaker mechanism of the first panel interior to the power distribution bus of the second panel interior;
at least one door enclosing the first panel interior and the second panel interior;
a first dead front panel covering at least the main breaker mechanism of the first panel interior and a second dead front panel covering at least the power distribution bus of the second panel interior;
a nonconductive physical barrier separating the first panel interior from the second panel interior; and
a sealing device located on the nonconductive physical barrier allowing the conductive material to pass from the first panel interior through the nonconductive physical barrier into the second panel interior, the nonconductive physical barrier and the dead front panels physically and electrically isolating the power distribution bus of the second panel interior from the incoming power of the first panel interior when power is cut off by the main breaker mechanism to allow the power distribution bus of the second panel interior to be completely free of live electrical components when maintenance work is being performed in the second panel interior to eliminate potential accidental exposure to the incoming power feed.
 
16. A physically and electrically isolating fully compartmentalized panelboard comprising:
a first panel interior having an incoming power and a main breaker mechanism located therein;
a second panel interior having a power distribution bus located therein with the main breaker mechanism of the first panel interior electrically connected to the power distribution bus of the second panel interior and controlling the feed of power from the first panel interior to the second panel interior;
a conductive material connecting the main breaker mechanism of the first panel interior to the power distribution bus of the second panel interior;
at least one door enclosing the first panel interior and the second panel interior;
a nonconductive physical barrier separating the first panel interior from the second panel interior; and
a sealing device located on the nonconductive physical barrier allowing the conductive material to pass from the first panel interior through the nonconductive physical barrier into the second panel interior the nonconductive physical barrier and the dead front panels physically and electrically isolating the power distribution bus of the second panel interior from the incoming power of the first panel interior when power is cut off by the main breaker mechanism to allow the power distribution bus of the second panel interior to be completely free of live electrical components when maintenance work is being performed in the second panel interior to eliminate potential accidental exposure to the incoming power feed.