Switchgear having a mounting base with an internal arc pathway

Abstract

A mounting base or a riser base for a switchgear is provided with side interior openings to provide an internal arc pathway through which arc gasses or plasma are safely discharged to an outside air. The mounting base includes a front wall having a first end and a second end, a rear wall having a first end and a second end, a first side channel connecting the first end of the front wall to the first end of the rear wall, a second side channel connecting the second end of the front wall to the second end of the rear wall, and forming the mounting base having a central open area in a first section of a switchgear that is adjacent a second section of the switchgear. The mounting base further includes at least one opening in the first side channel for the passage of an arc from the first section of the switchgear to the second section of the switchgear, and thereby forming the mounting base with the internal arc pathway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting base for a switchgear with an internal arc pathway, comprising:
 a front wall having a first end and a second end, a rear wall having a first end and a second end, a first side channel connecting the first end of the front wall to the first end of the rear wall, a second side channel connecting the second end of the front wall to the second end of the rear wall, and forming the mounting base having a central open area in a first section of a switchgear that is adjacent a second section of the switchgear; and   at least one opening in the first side channel for the passage of an arc from the first section of the switchgear to the second section of the switchgear, and thereby forming the mounting base with the internal arc pathway.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting base of  claim 1 , wherein the switchgear is positioned over the mounting base, the switchgear has at least one opening in a base of the switchgear and wherein at least a portion of the at least one opening in the base overlaps with at least a portion of the central open area. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting base of  claim 1 , wherein the switchgear has at least one set of ventilation holes to channel the passage of the arc. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting base of  claim 1 , wherein the switchgear has at least one equipment compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting base of  claim 1 , wherein the switchgear has at least one equipment compartment, and wherein the equipment compartment accommodates at least one equipment selected from a group consisting of a circuit breaker, an electronic device, and an electronic module. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting base of  claim 1 , wherein the switchgear has at least one vent stack for the passage of an arc plasma. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting base of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one vent stack is located on an upper surface of the switchgear. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting base  claim 6 , wherein the at least one vent stack is secured to the switchgear via at least one securing means. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting base of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one opening in the first side channel is on a side plate that channels the arc and arc plasma away from a front compartment of the switchgear to at least one adjacent section. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting base of  claim 1 , wherein the internal arc pathway vents the arc from a front compartment of the switchgear to at least one adjacent section by routing the arc under the switchgear such that arc gases then flow upwards through a rear compartment of the switchgear where the arc gasses are safely discharged to an outside air. 
     
     
         11 . A switchgear with an internal arc pathway, comprising:
 a first section;   a second section adjacent to the first section;   a left end section riser base including a first side plate with no openings and a second side plate with a first opening;   a mid-section riser base including a first side plate with a second opening and a second side plate with a third opening; and   a right end section riser base including a first side plate with a fourth opening and a second side plate with no openings,   wherein at least one opening of the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, the fourth opening provides the passage to an arc from the first section of the switchgear to the second section of the switchgear, and thereby forming the internal arc pathway.   
     
     
         12 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , wherein the switchgear is positioned over the left end section riser base, the mid-section riser base and the right end section riser base. 
     
     
         13 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one set of ventilation holes to channel the passage of the arc.   
     
     
         14 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one equipment compartment.   
     
     
         15 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one equipment compartment, wherein the at least one equipment compartment accommodates at least one equipment selected from a group consisting of a circuit breaker, an electronic device, and an electronic module.   
     
     
         16 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one vent stack for the passage of an arc plasma.   
     
     
         17 . The switchgear of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an upper surface, wherein the at least one vent stack is located on the upper surface of the switchgear.   
     
     
         18 . The switchgear of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one vent stack is secured to the switchgear via at least one securing means. 
     
     
         19 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a front compartment, wherein the internal arc pathway channels the arc and arc plasma away from the front compartment of the switchgear to at least one adjacent section.   
     
     
         20 . The switchgear of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a front compartment; and   a rear compartment, wherein the internal arc pathway vents the arc from the front compartment of the switchgear to at least one adjacent section by routing the arc under the switchgear such that arc gases then flow upwards through the rear compartment of the switchgear where the arc gasses are safely discharged to an outside air.