Electrical busbar and method of making same

Abstract

A housing for electrical devices such as connectors, circuit breakers, and face panels. A cable outlet port member is separate from the housing to provide unidirectional resistance to movement of a cable relative to the housing. The non-integral relationship permits the members to be replaced in the event of damage. A busbar formed by a stamping and bending operation is also disclosed for use in combination with conventional circuit breakers.

1. In combination:
 a housing for electrical devices including at least one panel having an opening formed therein;  
 an electrical cable output port member adapted to be removably secured to said panel in substantial registry with said opening;  
 said outlet port member comprising a plurality of cable outlet ports each defined by integral means for unidirectionally resisting passage of an electrical cable there through; and  
 a conductive metallic busbar mounted to said housing and having a plurality of uniformly spaced, parallel stabs projecting into the interior of said housing to receive circuit breakers in operable association therewith;  
 wherein said electrical cable outlet port member is formed with peripheral fingers which straddle the peripheral edge of said opening in the installed position whereby said electrical cable outlet port member may slide into and out of said opening.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said member and said housing are constructed of plastic. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said panel further comprises a peripheral flange and a seat around said opening, said electrical cable outlet port member in the installed position resting within said opening and on said seat, said combination further comprising means for securing said electrical cable outlet port member within said opening. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in  claim 3  wherein said means comprises screws. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a cover which is removably securable to said housing for retaining said member in the installed position. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in  claim 5  wherein said cover is plastic. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in  claim 6  wherein said housing has a peripheral mounting flange. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein said stabs are flat planar elements disclosed in parallel spaced relationship with one another and integral with a baseplate. 
     
     
       9. A busbar for use in making electrical connections to circuit breakers in an electrical housing comprising the integral combination of a plate of conductive metal having a strip-like configuration, a plurality of L-shaped openings formed in said strip-like configuration at regularly, longitidinally spaced intervals therealong and opening to one peripheral edge of the plate; and
 a plurality of L-shaped plate-like stabs integral with said plate, each having a first longitudinal leg and a second transverse leg projecting from said peripheral edge of said plate, said plate-like stabs being defined in part by said L-shaped openings whereby said plate-like stabs may be folded out of the plane of said plate into a configuration wherein each of said first and second logs is orthogonal to said plate and the second transverse legs project transversely of said plate.  
 
     
     
       10. A method for forming a busbar of the type having a planar, rectangular plate of conducive metal having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of orthogonal stabs projecting upwardly and outwardly from the plane of said plate in parallel, regularly spaced relationship to one another formed by the process comprising the steps of
 a. forming a plurality of regularly spaced L-shaped stabs in said plate as integral planar elements thereof to define in each stab a first leg portion directly contiguous with said plate and extending longitudinally therewith and a second leg portion contiguous with the first leg portion and extending transversely outwardly from said plate and, thereafter,  
 b. bending said stabs along parallel transverse lines between the first legs and said plates such that both legs of each stab are orthogonal to said plates and the height of the transverse leg is independent of the spacing between said stabs.