Electrical Insulation Barriers Having Knock Out Features

The present invention relates generally to a switchgear apparatus. More particularly, the invention encompasses an electrical insulation barrier having knock-out features for a switchgear apparatus. The present invention also relates to enclosures for switchgear, panel boards, circuit breakers, and more particularly to an enclosure for low voltage switchgear and switchboard assemblies. The enclosure can be a walk-in type enclosure or a non-walk-in type enclosure. This invention further provides a rear barrier for switchgear vertical (section) bus insulation assembly. The rear barrier is made from a brittle material, such as, for example, a thermoset insulating material, a glass reinforced polyester laminate (GPO-2 or GPO-3) material, and has a plurality of knock-out pass-through-openings for the bus bars and other hardware. These inventive knock-out design features have been incorporated in the rear barrier to produce openings in these rear barriers by knocking-out pre-defined shapes to allow a clearance for intersecting electrical parts. With this invention a single master or universal-type part can be made and used in many configurations and locations dependant on the design of the switchgear. This invention also consolidates many single use barriers into a few master parts where an assembly technician can customize the rear barrier to fit the desired application.