US2756369A - Panel support structures - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HARVARD H. GORRIE July 24, 1956 H. H. GORRIE PANEL SUPPORT STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 19, 1955 a \,JJJJJJJJJJJJJJ)JJJJ JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ F r @a a a @d a b m aa 2 @y af A l Z m V /d JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ151113115 un a. JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ JNUUH JJJJ JMW 11111 11111K July 24, 1956 H. H. GORRIE PANEL SUPPORT STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1955 INVENTOR.

HARVARD H. GORRIE July 24, 1956 H. H. GORRIE PANEL SUPPORT STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19, 1953 INVENTOR.

HARVARD H. GORRIE July 24, 195b H. H. GORRIE PANEL SUPPORT STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 19, 1953 INVENTOR.

HARVARD H. GORRIE A RNEY United States Patent O PANEL SUPPORT STRUCTURES Harvard H. Gorrie, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assigner to Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1953, Serial No. 332,040

Claims. (Cl. 317-122.)

My invention relates generally to measuring and control apparatus, and it has reference in particular to panel boards upon which apparatus units for measuring and/ or control are mounted.

Broadly stated, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved construction for panel boards which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be readily and economically assembled, wired, tubed and installed.

In speaking of panel boards, generally and specifically, I refer to structure, usually formed of 1,41 inch steel plate, which is located at a central control station for a process or steam generating apparatus. A large proportion of the measuring and control units is mounted in cut-outs formed in a face of the structure or attached within it in various arrangements. So gathered at one point, the units can be monitored by personnel, and adjustments can be made to the process, or steam generation, 'to maintain a maximum of efficiency in the operation, or vary certain functions as desired. Thus, panel boards may well be looked upon as the nerve centers of power plants, oil refineries and other industrial processes which have myriads of separate, and related, functions aimed at producing a simple, or many, results and products.

In the last few years a great deal of study has been devoted to improving the layout of equipment mounted on panel boards. The boards themselves have been varied from the simple, vertical, channel shape to those having a bench extending out at about waist level for adding about l1/2 square feet of usable surface area per foot of panel length to the basic vertical type. Also two basic vertical panels have been placed back-to-back with sidewalls of steel plate to actually form complete rooms for accommodation of the growing number of units needed for various processes. Finally, relatively small control desks have been found useful in small, confined working spaces and as ancillary indicating and control centers associated with larger vertical types. On, and in, all the forms of boards, units have grown in number, and the amount of this equipment internally mounted has dictated the lengths of the boards. Flexibility in the overall lengths had begun to disappear and a real danger appeared that if auxiliary equipment, tubing and wiring was to be carried on the inside of the panel face the external dimensions would exceed what would be a reasonable proportion to the amount of units carried on the external face. Consequently, an object of the present invention is to furnish tubing, wiring, and equipment supports for arrangement within panel boards in order to relieve the necessity ot' providing mounting surface on the internal side of the board face, its sides or back.

Taking the practical embodiment of the invention which has been reduced to practice in the vertical panels, it is seen that approximately eight feet is the more common vertical dimension for the panel itself while the novel support structure is about a foot less than this in height. The two widths, presently standard for these panel boards, are 22 inches and 30 inches and the novel support struc- Eis-.terrieri July 23A, 12915@ ICS ture is approximately 3 or fi inches less than these widths. So proportioned, generally, in overall dimensions with those of the panel board, the novel support structure is distributed at stations along the internal length of the panel board in accordance with an overall plan of equipment density distribution.

Normally, the length of the panel board is determined by the number of flush-mounted recorders. When planning the layout of these recorders, it is conventional practice to arrange flush-mounted equipment, above and below the recorders, symmetrically between the width limitations of each group of two recorders. This general plan will, in effect, sectionalize the panel in order that standard panel sections may be selected to form a larger panel and the tube, wire, and equipment support structure of the present invention may be eifectively usedA Roughly, it is desirable at present to use a single species of the novel support structure to a single section of the panel although additional supports may be used if necessary, giving due consideration to the space available for access to the rear of flush-mounted equipment and principal recorders. Incidentally, a comparison of the capacity of the novel equipment, tube and wire supports with the estimated area for mounting auxiliary equipment and the estimated tube and wire terminals required will dictate whether a 22 inch, 30 inch or dual vertical panel or similar size bench panel is needed. In any event, the novel support structure of the present invention is a standard, but flexible, arrangement which can be utilized in its fundamental form with any of the panel boards selected.

As has been indicated supra, one of the most diilicult and troublesome problems in panel design and fabrication is that of providing the support for tubing, wiring, electrical and tubing terminals, and auxiliary equipment provided by the present invention. Experience has indicated that about of all panel changes apply to equipment mounted on the rear or within the panel. It is a result of this problem, that the present invention has been provided. On the novel support structure there can now be mounted:

l. Instrument, pneumatic, and electrical terminals.

2. Vertical interconnecting tubes or wires.

3. Shut-olf valves, supply valves, vent valves, by-pass valves, and instrument test blocks.

4. Auxiliary equipment such as pneumatic or electrical relays, fuse blocks, disconnect switches, pressure switches, solenoid valves, etc.

The following advantages of the present invention result in a reduction in cost and improved delivery of panel boards:

l. The novel supports are made of standard pieces which can be cut easily and assembled into an unlimited number of arrangements. The novel structures themselves are supported by standard brackets attached to the panel and their use requires no special modification to the panel.

2. Individual mounting pads do not have to be designed, manfactured, or located on panels, and as a result, a great deal of design layout time and shop layout time are eliminated.

3. The use of standardized supports provides a means for establishing standards for routing tubes and wires. Spacing the novel support structure between every other major recorder keeps the lengths of lines to a minimum and reduces the number of secondary supports and number of bends per run.

4. Standard shop times can be established for a given job even though it be special. This will provide for better job control and will provide means for estimating shop load in man hours so that a reasonably accurate production schedule can be maintained.

5. Each novel support structure adds approximately 12 to 24 square feet of useful area at the back of the panel. This goes a long way to eliminate congestion at steel plate forms, essentially, a channel.

the rear of the panel and to provide greater accessibility for servicing, etc.

To gain a further concept of the relative size of the novel support structure it is to be observed that one form of the invention which has been reduced to practice consists of a structure I designate as a wireway, approximately twelve inches wide, four inches deep, and' supported thirteen inches from the panel face. From this position', the wireway does not interefere with the hush-mounted Vrecorders, mechanicalA or electronic. They wireway is supported from one side by arigid, vertical channef beam bolted top and bottom to the panel frame, and from the other side by cross members which are bolted toy angle brackets welded to top and bottom panel flanges and panel` stiifening beams running along the` back of the panel face, horizontal to the base.

The wirewayv provides, as one function, a metallic euclosure for electrical terminals and the present embodiment is. designed to accommodate a maximum of eight fabricated terminal boards, Type EB'-6, obtainable from the General Electric Supply Corporation. A specic novelty of the wireway provides a general accessibility to the terminal boards, or blocks, by wires between them andV the panel board. The space` between the terminal blocks in the wireway and the side ofthe wireway away from the panel board is reserved for the customers incoming wires. A removable cover platev is provided to completely enclose the wiring and terminals.

The external rear wall of the wireway provides amounting area twelve inches Wide by approximately six feet high for' mounting tube terminals or supply manifolds. Also miscellaneous auxiliary equipment, such as pneumatic relays, pressure switches, etc., may be mounted on this area.

A bulkhead plate is provided in the lower region of the novel support structure to terminate the pressure lines, pipes, or tubes, from the various instruments.

If a wireway is not required for electrical wiring a somewhat simpler form of the invention is provided which offers approximately ten square feet of mounting area for auxiliary'equipment, and, in addition, provides support for a large number of pressure lines, pipes or tubes.

Although the various types of panel boards have been discussed, the basic invention will be illustrated in connection with the fundamental vertical type, or a combination of two of these types into a duplex panel. The disclosure of a duplex panel is used to illustrate additional novel structure for overhead interconnecting between basic novel vertical support structures.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows two forms of the invention mounted on a basic, vertical panel board.

Fig. 2 is a detailed showing of the components of a part of the invention of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is another view of the structure of Fig. 2 with additional structure for other' purposes.

Fig. 4 is an alternate arrangement of supported structure with respect to the invention of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a combination of the invention of Fig. 1 with additional novel structure for interconnections within a panel board.

To specifically orient the novel structure of the invention with reference to familiar or well-known structure, Fig. l has beenarranged to show the rear of a panel board 1 in isometric with two forms of the novel structure mounted thereon. Conventional features of the panel board are exemplified by at least the cut-outs 2, placed to receive ush-mounted instruments such as recorders. By choice none of these units have been illustrated, that the novel features of the invention may be disclosed to better advantage.v

If a cross-section of the panel board 1 were taken, horizontal to the oor, it would be apparent that the 1A inch Sturdy rightangle beams form an upper horizontal frame member 3 and a lower horizontal frame member 4 to brace and stilfen the panel while simultaneously anchoring the in'- ventive, novel, support structure. The top and bottom edges of the panel board plate are bent toward the center of the channel to form flanges 5 while other sturdy beam members are welded to the back of the panel face to form stiifeners 6. Simple angle brackets, shown partially in view at 7, are welded to the anges 5 and stileners 6 to form points on the panel board to` which the novel structure of the invention may be solidlyV bolted. This bolting to angle brackets 7 and frame members 3 and 4 cornplete the integration of the invention into the panel board.

Before proceeding to describe details of the invention per se, and the relationship of the wires, tubes and utilitarian units supported thereon, notice should be taken of floor shaft 8 to which the novel support structure has a denite relation. Transmission lines, electric wires or fluid piping, enter the panels, in about of the present cases, from a hole formed into the floor ofthe control center. Overhead entrance is feasible andl such arrangements are discussed subsequently. As the present invention has a primary purpose, the support of these transmission lines as they are carried to and from measuring and controlling apparatus on the inventive structure and panel board, the structure in which the invention is embodied is located directly over the shaft, or hole, 8. The present invention is not concerned with the disposition and support of the lines once they drop down into the shaft 8.

As pointed out previously, Fig. l discloses two forms o-f the invention. The form I will designate as the wireway support structure is generally designatedl by 9 while the variation i will designate as the unit support structure is generally designated as 10. It may now be seen that common to each of these variations of the inventive structure are channel mounting brackets 11. one of which is a continuous piece connected between the upper horizontal panel frame member 3 and the lower horizontal panel frame member 0l. The channel mounting brackets l1 are, additionally, arranged vertically aligned to defineV opposite edges of the support structures 9 and 10 While boltedbetween panel flanges 5 and panel stiifeners 6, or rather, the angle brackets 7 welded thereto.

It' may now be seen that right-angle bracket cross members l2 are variously spaced between channel mounting brackets l1, dependent upon the length of wireway 13, the points at which a substantial number of wires are conducted from wireway 13 to the instruments on the panel board and/or the number and location of auxiliary units, relays, etc. actually supported upon the novel structure. In any event, these channel mounting brackets 11' and right-angle bracket cross members 12 may be considered'as the basic frame of reference of the novel support structure of my invention.

With the basic structure of the novel invention outlined, we may now proceed to an appreciation of the various components supported thereon and which constitute an integral part of the novel combinations. As a rst example, in the lower' portion of each of the support structures there is locatedk a bulkhead plate 14 for carrying terminal connections between the customers tubing entering through tloor shaft 3 and the tubing supported to instruments on the panel. These plates 14 offer a precise point to which the tubing supported by structures 9 and 10 may be designed in length and layout o-n the novel structures. The plate becomes exactly what the term bulkhead implies, a structure which forms a planning point in space and which also offers a sturdy anchor point for the tubing coming to the panel. The bulkhead plate 14 may be bolted or welded securely to a right-angle bracket cross member l2 which may runA between the channel mounting brackets 11 or between one of these mounting brackets and the wireway 13. In any event, the bulkhead plate 14 becomes a distinctive feature of the novel support structure of the present invention whenever duid pressure piping serves units carried on the panel 0r novel support structure 9 or 10.

A number of pressure pipes and electrical wires have been disclosed as coming up through iioor shafts 8 for support by the novel support structures. It is to be understood that many more transmission lines are normally brought to a support than are shown here, but enough lines have been disclosed to illustrate the function of my invention without unduly complicating the drawing.

The fluid pressure lines, or pipes, have been extended up to terminal connections in bulkhead plates 14 and shown as extending on upward, toward units served on the panel board or support structure. Further layout of the piping would make an unnecessarily encumbered drawing. Basic support is offered the piping through plate 14 and the details of the ultimate path of the piping are not standard in any case and obviously must depend upon the factors of each panel board layout.

The electrical wiring on wireway support structure 9 better lends itself to definable relationship to the no-vel invention. The wires from floor shaft 8 are supplied by the customer as coming from measurement, control and power source points in the process or power production operation. In general these wires enter wireway 13 on the side away from the panel board face. Subsequent Figs. 2, 4 and 5 show this arrangement and function with equal, or greater, clarity. The customers Wires come in the wireway 13 of support 9 on one side and wires with which the customers wire terminate leave the wireway 13 on the side toward the panel board face in neatly bound groups supported by cross members 12. The result of the cooperation is support and planned layout, with neatly arranged termination, for wiring to and from the panel board. No structure has been previously devised which offers as much simplicity and yet organization of as much of the multitude of individual electrical wiring associated with a panel board. Further, all of this support and layout is in a new position with respect to the panel board. With new space discovered, old space is released for other use, or need for expansion of the external mounting surface of the panel board in accordance with the internal demands for space has been reduced with no loss of accessibility to the mounted measuring and control units as well as the lines, and terminals of the lines, serving the units.

Turning now to a specific consideration of unit support structure 1t), it is seen that only fluid pressure lines, pipes or tubes are shown as emerging from iioor shaft 8 to bulkhead plate 14. This support 1t) is intended to have only units or devices attached thereto for service by the pipes from shaft 8. Of course this may not be absolutely the condition in every case. Conceivably a few electric wires could come from shaft 8 and go to units on the support 1l), or even go to units on the panel board. In general, however, the supports 9 and 10 are made up into the combinations shown for the purposes illustrated in the drawings. The variations of the specific species of the invention and Athe combinations of the species possible are understood to be within the scope of the invention as claimed.

First it should be noted that cross members 12 of support 10 are from the same right-angle beam stock as members 12 of support 9. However, in support 10, these cross members 12 are bolted to their channel mounting brackets so as to present a side for the purpose of bolting thereto bars 15 of cross-sectional Z shape. These bars 15 are termed Z-monnting brackets and, in pairs, are spaced horizontally so as to otler mounting pads, or surfaces, for units heretofore mounted on the rear of the panel board face.

The Z shape of these brackets 1S facilitate the access of wrenches to mounting bolts and nuts for the units to be carried on the brackets. With uniform, elongated per- 6. forations running the length of the surfaces joined together, a high degree of adjustability is available throughout the components of the support combination. The Z-mounting brackets 15 may be spaced apart anywhere along the horizontal length of right-angle bracket cross members 12. Any number of right-angle bracket cross members 12 may be added between channel mounting brackets 11, at any point, to give the strength required and the mounting surface desired. The result is a support structure combination novel to the art of panel board fabrication and possessing the highest utility of mounting and support surface yet provided.

Going now to Fig. 2, it can be seen that wireway 13 has been disclosed in detail. The wireway 13 is composed of several component parts. The basic element of this particular combination is represented by shell 20 which .has a distinctive cross sectional shape in order, in the first instance, to present a continuous, elongated edge surface to the channel mounting bracket 11 which suspends from the upper horizontal panel frame member 3. The problem of referring to the parts of this shell 20 may be now taken up. First it would be well to recognize that a cross section of shell 20 is partially consonant with a rectangle. Two sides of the shell are adjacent on this reference rectangle and there are partial extensions along the remaining sides. The complete, and consonant, side presented to the channel mounting bracket 11 is the shorter of the two adjacent sides and is developed longitudinally along the shell 20 to form the elongated edge surface.

The shell 20 is bolted to channel mounting bracket 11 by bolts through any number of elongated holes placed in a line down both the longitudinal dimensions of the elongated edge surface of the shell and the channel. With these structures having consistent cross sectional shapes, any length required for a particular panel board can be cut from a stock supply of these structures. The variation in these dimensions being only along their length, control of fabrication is made very eflicient and iiexible. Small adjustments of the position of wireway 13 with respect of the panel board 1 can be made by any mechanic capable of removing the bolts joining shell 2t) and channel mounting bracket 11.

With the relation of shell Ztl to the basic frame of the support structure 9 dened, it is next observed that a right angle brace member 22 is attached, by bolts, to the side of shell 20 consonant, in cross section, to the long side of the reference rectangle. This brace 22 fits into the angle formed by the long side of the shell side and the partial extension adjacent thereto, and, therefore, the nnattached leg of the brace extends on, and is substantially consonant with, the remainder of the reference rectangle on that side opposite the side attached to mounting channel 11. With a series of these braces so arranged and established along the length of the shell 20, a dual function is performed. A right angle cover support strip 23 is supported parallel to the longitudinal dimension of shell Ztl to form a fourth corner for the wireway consonant with the reference rectangle. Cover 21 can then extend across the face of the shell and be retained in place by bolts. Right angle brace 22 also forms the specific structure of the wireway 13 to which the angle bracket cross members 12 are attached.

The cross members 12 give rigidity to the wireway 13 and complete the basic frame of the wireway support structure 9. Cross members 12 also give support to wires extending between the wireway and the panel. It is to be noted again that each side of angle bracket cross members 12 carries a line of elongated holes. It is through these holes that bolts extend to make the cross member a rigid support between channel 11 and brace 22. Here again the advantage of the arrangement can be seen in that the brackets can be cut from stock of unifonn cross section having aligned, elongated holes along its length.

Particular note should now be taken of the slot formed between cover support strip 23 and the narrow side of shell 20 opposite the side bolted to channel mounting bracket 11. The combination that provides this slot the length of wireway 13 offers unique advantages to panel board fabricators. For example, given a certain number of wires to come from wireway 13 to the panel board, a grouping is determined which can be gathered into a bundle for extension across the space between the wireway 13V and the back of the panel board face. A point of formation for this bundle is determined and a brace 22 is bolted to the back of shell 2G and cover support strip 23 at that point. lt does not matter where this formation point is located, it can be planned with any other factor of the layout problem of the panel board; wherever it is located along the vertical dimension of the wireway 13, and regardless of the number of such points, a brace 22 and cross sectional member 12 combination is easily arranged from the wireway to the channel mounting bracket 11 attached to the panel board face. T he bundle of Wires is strapped neatly to the member 12 and supported across the space to the panel board. ln all of this novel structure it is apparent that slight adjustments of relative position of the various perforated members bolted together is of no consequence due to the tolerances provided by the elongated holes in the direction of adjustment and the very number of these holes available. Therefore, any longitudinal dimension may be varied in accordance with the specific requirements of a particular panel board, and the same provision for adjustment is available in the width of the novel structure because the same adjustment feature through the elongated holes is available in cross members 12.

Although the transport, or support, of wires from the shell 20 to the panel board 1 has been given, the actual terminal structure for the wires within shell 20 of wireway 13 is of great importance. The basic purpose of the structure within, and on, shell 2l? is to support a series of l-2-point, or 8-point, terminal blocks uniformly along the length of the shell. The terminal blocks presently used are the well known, and previously mentioned, articles of manufacture by the General Electric Company which are easily bolted to any member provided with conveniently sized holes through either end of the blocks 24. Basically, blocks 24 are supported by a light-weight, channel bracket 25 which has a line of elongated holes down its middle. This channel bracket 25, aside from its weight and physical dimensions is generally similar to channel and physical dimensions. is generally similar to channel mounting brackets l1. Any pair of conveniently spaced holes in this channel bracket 25 are utilized by the bolts running through each end of the terminal blocks 24. The channel bracket 2S is, itself, supported by a plurality of terminal block supporting brackets 26 welded to the back of shell 2t). It has been generally the practice to utilize two or three of these supporting brackets 26 along a siX foot length of shell 20. The brackets each carry a single hole by means of which they are bolted to the single channel bracket 25.

The reason for mounting terminal blocks 24 a spaced distance away from the wide interior wall of shell 2t) will now be apparent. A wire guide plate 27 is carried between each terminal block 24 and single channel bracket 25 for the purpose of supporting the wires coming to the terminal block 24 and at the same time forming a retaining shelf spaced from the wall of shell 2t! for all of the wires as a bundle. lt can be readily observed that a number of holes are provided through the wire guide. 27 on each side of a terminal block 24. Wires approach the terminal blocks along the wide wall of shell 20 and are threaded through the holes in the wire guide plate 27 for screw and/or clamp attachment to posty on a block 24. So threaded through these holes, the wire is. partially supported by the guide plate 27 and partially retained against the wall of shell 20 to form a bundle 0f neat appearance. This arrangement is extremely simple and efficient in performing the functions of terminating incoming Wires and terminating take-oli wires to the panel. Once all of the wires are in place within shell 20, cover plate 21 is secured in place and the resulting assembly gives a very neat appearance in its efficient performance as a support and terminal structure.

Turning now to Fig. 3, the wireway 13 of Fig. 2 is shown in isometric and from an angle which allows the back to be examined. This view illustrates additional potentialities of the novel support structure in supporting units heretofore carried directly on the panel board structure itself. The external configuration of representative types of relays, switches and other units regarded as auX- iliary to principle recorders and indicators are shown as carried on this base made available by the present invention which also gives a position from which servicing of all units, primary units on the panel board and auX- iliary units on the supporting structure, is made with a convenience and rapidity not heretofore possible. Again, as indicated supra, the advantages of this structure includes that of space on the panel board being released for a better layout plan and accessibility to the equipment in the layout as Well as a conservation of space to the end that the density of equipment behind the panel board face does not, alone, dictate the external area of panel board space.

The function of this portion of the wireway 13 shown in Fig. 3 overlaps, to a certain extent, with the function of unit support structure 10 of Fig. l. Generally, support structure 10 carries a unit for the same purpose as sought in Fig. 3 with the back of wireway 13. Of course, with the support structure 10, incorporation of a wireway is unnecessary because of the lack of wiring which needs to be supported from shaft S to panel board 1. On the other hand, Fig. 3 illustrates how support structure 9 may well serve a dual purpose and render an additional support structure 10 unnecessary.

Going specifically tothe structure as set forth in Fig. 3, all of the structure I disclosed in Fig. 2 is shown to some extent. Additionally, the wide side of shell 2li offers, on its external surface, space upon which support beam members are horizontally arranged and to which the units are bolted in place. A beam structure 3l) is generally similar, in cross section, to the Z-mounting bracket 15 used as the vertical mounting base in the support structure 10 of Fig. l. These Z-bars 30 are comparatively light-weight with respect to the Z-mounting brackets 15, but the shape and purposes are similar. These comparatively light-weight Z-bars 30 are arranged in pairson the back of shell 20 for the support of unit apparatus of all shapes and types. Supplied with the rows of elongated perforations on each of their parallel mounting surfaces, these Z-bars mayv be bolted to the elongated perforations running the length of shell 20. Obviously the distance between any pair of Z-bars is adjustable by any mechanic having a simple wrench to manipulate the nuts and bolts with which they are attached to the shell 20 and the units. lt is only necessary to plan each row of units to be attached to the wireway shell so that the mounting pads of the units in a single row will correspond to the distance the Z-bars are spaced apart.

It may be desirable, in the mounting of certain types of equipment to use only one, sturdy, mounting beam. It is feasible to use a section of channel mounting bracket 11 in a horizontal position on this back of the shell 20 of wireway 13. Consequently, the lowermost horizontal structure of Fig. 3 illustrates how this channel 11 may be bolted into place on shell 20 as readily andV conveniently as they Z-bars 30. The result of the entire combination disclosed in Fig. 3 is to give a support structure combination having a utility not apparent in the previous tigures and novel over devices heretofore used in panel fabrication.

The structure disclosed in Fig. 4 should now be considered. The general objective of this drawing is to em- 9 body the invention so as to bring transmission lines to the novel support structure, not out of a floor shaft 8, but from an overhead conduit.

Roughly 20% of present day installations arrange for the transmission lines between a control center and the power generation or industrial process to come down to the panel board from an elevated point rather than up through a shaft 8. Reasons for this approach from above the panel board are dictated by the overall layout of the power house, oil refinery or other type of industrial proc* ess. Not all of the lines may drop down to the panel; a mixed situation may exist. Fig. 4 illustrates the ease with which the novel support structure of the present invention is adapted to Whichever route the transmission lines may take, regardless of the percentage of the total lines which may be allocated to either route.

In Fig. 4, panel board 1 is now shown with a cover plate 31 which completely encloses the top of the board. The thought in using cover plate 31 is that with an overhead approach to the board by the lines, the installation is of a character that a fair amount of foreign objects and dirt might possibly fall into the comparatively delicate instrumentalities on, or in, the control panel. Also the plate offers a support for the transmission lines as shown.

It is apparent, from the drawing Fig. 4, that a cut-out may be formed in panel cover plate 31 directly over any of the novel support structures. Wireway support structure 9 is partially disclosed, beneath the cut-out, to illustrate one possible arrangement. Overhead terminal plate 32 is bolted over the cut-out for the purpose of giving a terminal support structure for conduits 33 in which the electric wires to the control panel is carried. From the terminal points in plate 32, the wires easily drop down into the wireway 13 for termination on terminal blocks 24, precisely as was disclosed in connection with Fig. 2.

rIhe conduits 33 need support themselves, as they come to the panel board, and duct work, termed cable tray 34, is partially shown as illustrative of the type of structure satisfactory for this purpose. Therefore, regardless of which of the two routes transmission lines come to the panel board, the present invention adapts itself to the support of the lines within the board and additional structure for bringing these lines to the board is provided as disclosed.

lt is almost too evident to deserve comment, but fluid pressure pipes or tubes can be brought to the novel support structure in the same fashion as disclosed in Fig. 4. The pipes or tubes may be brought to support structure 9 in parallel with conduits 33 or to a support 10 alone. Bulkhead plates 14 may or may not be required near the upper regions of the novel structure to tie-in the pipes directly with the support structures used.

Fig. has been used to illustrate a plurality of features embodied in structure in combination with all the novel supports heretofore disclosed. A room-type of panel is disclosed and designated as 1. To give a separate designation would obscure the close relation of this panel form to the basic vertical type disclosed in Fig. l. Essentially the panel of this Fig. 5 comprises two of the basic vertical types placed back-to-back. One of the vertical faces may be used to mount the recorders and controllers while the rear of the other vertical face, inside the room formed by the two panels, may be used for heavy, basic types of relays, controllers, etc. which do not need to be in constant view of operating personnel. 1n addition to this mounting of equipment, there is frequently the need for the support structure heretofore disclosed.

The wireway support structure 9 is shown in Fig. 5, one of each such support associated with opposite internal rear faces of the room-type of the panel. An access door is not shown, presumably being in the fourth Wall 0f the panel which is broken away in section. All of the support structure heretofore disclosed is shown clearly. The channel mounting brackets 11 which set the vertical diniensions are shown, the right-angle bracket cross mem-y bers 12 and the wireway 13. It remains a problem to show, more clearly, the angie brackets 7 which tie the support structure to the flanges and stifeners 6 on the rear of the panel faces, but the upper and lower horizontal panel frame members 3, 4 are very clearly in evidence, performing their function of integrating the panel and supports into a single, unified combination.

A problem arises with the Fig. 5 type of panel in that sorne means of communication will have to be provided between the two rear faces as well as between the opposite support structures and even support structures on the same faces. Wires and tubes or pipes must connect infinite combinations of instrumentalities in the various positions, and the overhead duct work I have provided performs this function with maximum efficiency.

Specifically, interconnecting ducts 40 are provided at the top of the panel and extend between opposite walls or along one wall, or face, as needed. These troughs are now made of light sheet metal and are primarily suspended from anchor straps 41 which depend from the already familiar upper horizontal panel frame member 3. Secondarily, these ducts 4f), in crossing between the front and rear panel faces, rest upon, and are attached to, the tops of wireways 13. It is obvious enough not to need specific depiction how a hole may be placed in the bottom of the duct, over each wireway 13, for passing wires down to the terminal blocks 24. As the top right-angle bracket cross member 12 may be an extension of the bottorn of the duct, there is n0 need for the duct to continue to the panel face. Pipes, or tubes, in the duct 40 can be taken from the duct over to the wall, or face, along the member 12 or a bulkhead plate 14 can even be placed on the member 12 to neatly arrange the pipes, or tubes, as they drop down to devices on the support structure or on the panel face itself.

The stock from which ducts 40 is cut can be one uniform, stock item. Any desired length, regardless of the size of panel fabricated, can oe cut off by an unskilled mechanic with a hacksaw. Even the juncture of two duct lengths in the center of the panel, as shown, can be arranged with little labor. The various specific ways in which this junction can be made have not been disclosed. The arrangements possible are deemed obvious by a relatively unskilled workman.

The resulting combination of duct 40 and the vertical, support structure gives a plenary consideration to the problems of layout and fabrication in the types of panels disclosed and discussed. Mounting surfaces heretofore undiscovered have been created in this art. Supports for piping and wiring have been integrated into the mounting structure. interconnecting structure has, now, as disclosed in Fig. 5, been provided to link all the conceivable combinations together into one novel support structure. Obviously the specific embodiments possible under the various concepts presented have not been exhausted by the disclosure.

The appended claims are entitled to a reasonable range of equivalents. The invention is to be patentably measured by the scope of these appended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A panel board structure of sheet materia-l having a frontal area of fiat surfaces and a rear area parallel to the frontal area and flat surfaces with all surfaces flanged inwardly of the board structure, horizontal beam stiffeners fiXed 4to the internal surfaces of the frontal and rear areas of the panel board, a series of vertical aligned channel mounting bracket members fixed between the beam stiffeners and fianges of the frontal and rear surfaces, .a single vertical channel mounting bracket member associated with each of the frontal and rear surfaces and each running parallel to the series of channel mounting bracket members of each surface, an elongated sheet metal shell associated with each front and rear surface and tlxed to the single vertical channel mounting bracket member associated with that surface, electrical terminal blocks support-ed within the shell, a series of horizontal right-angle brackets fixed between the shell and each of the series of Vertical aligned channel mem bers associated with each of the frontal and rear surfaces, and an interconnecting duct work extending between the `tops of the twol shells for the support of transmission lines between the front and rear surfaces of the panel board structure.

2. The panel lboard structure of claim l in which additional duct work extends parallel to the front and rear surfaces and intersects the duct work extending between the tops-of the two shells.

3. A support lassembly for suspension from la plurality of points loca-ted about the interior of `a panel housing, the points lying in a single plane, including in combination, a single vertical mounting channel bracket mem ber forming one side of .the assembly and attached to two of the suspension points, a plurality of ver-tical and aligned mounting channel bracket members forming the opposite side of the assembly and detachably secured to pairs of said suspension points, a plurality of horizontally right-angle brackets adapted `to be detachably secured to arbitrarily selected points lon the single vertical channel bracket member and lthe plurality of channel bracket members, a pair of mounting bracket bars of Z cross section parallel lto the single vertical mounting channel bracket member and attached to at least a pair of the horizon-tal right-angle brackets, and an apertured flat plate member secured horizontal-ly to one of .the horizontal right-angle brackets 4adapted -to accommodate junctions of a plurality of lluid pressure tubes.

4. In a panel board structure of sheet metal having a frontal area of flat surface and sides of ilat surfaces extending 'back from the frontal area and flanged inwardly of the structure, -a pair of frame members parallel to ,the frontal surfaces and xed to 4the upper and lower portions `of the board sides extending back from the frontal surface to presen-t a series of suspension points, horizontal stiffening members permanently fixed to the rear of the frontal surface, a series of vertical aligned channel mounting brackets detachably secured between lthe stiffening members and flanges of the frontal surface, `a single vertical channel mounting bracket member parallel -to the ser-ies of channel mounting lbrackets and detachably secured to the pair of upper `and lower frame members, a plurali-ty of horizontal right-angle bracket members detachably secured -to the single vertical and each of the plurality of vertical channel members, and a plurality of vertical mounting bracket members of Z cross section de-tachably secured to the horizontal rightangle bracket members and adapted for the support of uni-ts land transmission lines to units on the vertical Z brackets and 4units mounted on the frontal surface of `the panel board.

5. A panel board structure of sheet metal with a frontal area of fia-t surf-ace and sides of flat `sur-faces extending back from the frontal area land llanged inwardly of the structure, a pair lof frame members parallel to the frontal surface and permanently attached to the upper and lower portions of the board sides extending back from the frontal surface, a plurali-ty of horizon-tal -beam stiieners permanently .fixed to the rear of the frontal surface, a plurality of vertical aligned -channel mounting bracket members detachably secured between the beam stiffeners and flanges of the Ifrontal surface, a single ver-tical channel mounting bracket member parallel :to the plurality of channel mount-ing bracket members .and lixed between the upper and lower frame members, and .an

elongated sheet metal shell detachably secured to the singleY vertical channel mounting bracket member, electrical terminal blocks detachably secured -to supports internal of the shell, and a series of horizontal right-angle brackets detachably secured to the shell and the vertical aligned channel members.

6. A panel board support including an elongated metallic shell member of right-angle cross-sec-tion with legs of unequal length, a plurality of right-angle 4brace members ilxed by one of their legs to the longer leg wall of the shell member at Ispaced .points -tl'ierealong, a rightangle supporting strip secured by one side to the unfixed legs `of the right-angle brace members in parallel inturned relation to the shell member, a Icover plate detachably secured -to the short leg of the shell member and the right-angle supporting strip to define a rectangular cross-section, and terminal block structure mounted within the shell member.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the interna-l support structure of the shell includes a plurality of U shaped 'brackets permanently attached to and aligned 1along an internal wall of the shell member to present a series of mounting pads spaced uniformly along the wall, a lightweight channel bracket attached to the U-shaped bracket mounting pads, and .a rectangular plate attached Ito the channel bracket and having a plurality of apertures adjacent to either side of the terminal block structure for accommodating electric wires to give partial support to wires brought through the apertures and attached to the terminal block structure.

8. The combination of claim 4 in which said horizontal right-.angle bracket members and said vertical mounting bracket members of Z cross section have elongated perforations running lengthwise of the surfaces secured together.

9. The combination of claim 5 including an apertured bulkhead plate secured horizontally to one of the horizontal right-angle bracket members for supporting pressure tube junctions.

l0. A panel board structure of sheet material having a frontal area of flat surfaces and a rear area parallel to the frontal area and flat surfaces with all surfaces flanged inwardly of the board structure, horizontal beam stiffeners xed to the internal surfaces of the frontal and rear areas of the panel board, a series of vertical aligned channel mounting bracket members fixed between the beam stiifeners and flanges of the frontal and rear surfaces, a single vertical channel mounting bracket member associated with each of the frontal and rear surfaces and each running parallel to the series of channel mounting bracket members of each surface, an elongated sheet metal shell associated with each front and rear surface and fixed to the single vertical channel mounting bracket member associated with that surface, electrical terminal blocks supported within the shell, a series of horizontal right-angle brackets fixed between the shell and each of the series of vertical aligned channel members associated with each of the frontal and rear surfaces, and an apertured bulkhead plate mounted horizontally on one of the right-angle brackets fixed between each shell and its corresponding vertical aligned channel members.

References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,376 Anderson Dec. 13, 1938 2,169,727 Graham Aug. 15, 1939 2,480,568 Garvin Aug. 3.0, 1949 2,567,740 Smith Sept. 11 1951 2,593,975 Brown Apr. 22, 1952

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