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| Switch redesign in DuPont Rynite PET saves space and cuts costs  Cooper Bussmann, a provider of circuit protection solutions and division of Cooper Industries, is delivering benefits to its customers and reducing manufacturing costs with the redesign of its Telpower 1 fused disconnect switches to use DuPont Rynite PET thermoplastic polyester. Installed in power distribution cabinets for telecommunications equipment, the Telpower TPHCS switch is a patent-pending design that replaces an earlier unit made with thermoset phenolic. It consists of a panel-mountable base and a pull-out fuse carrier. Withdrawing the fuse carrier from the base disconnects load current.The properties of Rynite allowed Cooper Bussman to use thinner walls than phenolic parts, and this was a key factor in reducing part size. The footprint of the Telpower TPHCS measures 5.50 by 2.62 inches (140 by 66 mm), about 47 percent smaller than the earlier phenolic unit. Design freedom provided by Rynite allowed the integration of snap-in assembly features for the handle and fuse contacts. These and other functional features reduce assembly costs and part count. Additional cost savings are achieved with faster moulding cycles than phenolic parts and by recycling sprues and runners. Cooper Bussmann's TPHCS switch meets demanding service requirements. It is rated for service at 70 to 800 A and 80 V, DC. It is UL-recognised (UL 1801) and meets similar Canadian standards. The material selected by Cooper Bussmann is DuPont Rynite FR530L, a 30 percent glass-reinforced grade. It meets this application's requirements for good strength and toughness, a high RTI (relative temperature index) – 155ºC per UL 746B – and a V-0 flammability classification per UL94 and IEC 60695-11-10. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |