The present invention relates to three-phase alternating current electricity transmission or distribution networks, and in particular to an underground enclosure for such networks, and to a method and device for providing a wire termination within a distribution enclosure of such networks.

Underground electricity transmission or distribution networks are popular in providing the tidy and clean transfer of electricity from substations to homes and industrial installations while being unaffected by the weather and other environmental hazards. Conventionally, wire terminations in an underground electricity transmission or distribution network have been made within above ground enclosures or pillar boxes located outdoors. Where wire terminations are made underground they are either buried where the need for further access to the termination is not anticipated, or left loose in the bottom of an underground enclosure, or pit, buried with its access top flush with ground level. If access to the wire terminations, such as fuses, is needed at a later date the pit is uncovered and the wires fished-out of the pit. The cover of such pits is generally not secured and merely rests in place under its own weight. There is a risk that an internal electrical arc may occur in the pit, or that the pit may become inundated with contaminated water. Both of these situations can pose a risk to the public or technicians accessing in the pit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an underground enclosure for wire terminations in an electricity transmission or distribution network. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be an object of the present invention to provide a method and device for providing a wire termination within an electricity distribution enclosure. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be an object of the present invention to at least provide the public with a useful alternative to the conventional practice hitherto in relation to underground enclosures and/or to wire terminations in underground (or outdoor) enclosures.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an underground enclosure for a wire termination including a stand having a first mounting portion for mounting one or more wire terminations and a pit for storingthe stand below ground level. The pit includes a housing having an open top, a bottom wall and a housing perimeter wall extending between the open top and bottom wall, a first support for supporting the stand within the housing in spaced relationship from the bottom wall, and a second support adjacent the open top, wherein the stand is movable between a lowered storage position supported by the first support and a raised service position supported by the second support.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an underground enclosure as herein described with reference to any one of figures 1 to 16.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a strand and bell for facilitating a wire termination in an underground enclosure as herein described with reference to any one of figures 7 to 12 and 30.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a wire termination in an enclosure, the method including providing each wire termination with its own separate stand-off or mounting foot as herein described with reference to any one of figures 17 to 20.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a wire termination device for use in an enclosure, the device comprising a base portion configured to be mounted within an electricity distribution enclosure, and at least one stand-off portion extending from the base portion and having a distal end that facilitates mounting of a wire termination device at a spaced distance from the base portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a device, for providing a wire termination device for use in an enclosure, as herein described and illustrated in figures 21, 22, 24 and 25.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a device for providing a wire termination in an enclosure as herein described and illustrated in figures 26 to 29. According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a device for providing a wire termination in an enclosure as herein described and illustrated in figure 30.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a device for providing a wire termination in an enclosure as herein described and illustrated in figures 31 to 32.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided an underground enclosure for a wire termination including a first enclosure defining an arc-initiation-protected-zone and a second enclosure defining an IP-4X rated zone, wherein the first enclosure is stored within the second enclosure. Preferably, the first enclosure is stored within the second enclosure below ground level. Preferably, the first enclosure is movable between the stored position below ground level and a raised service position at least partially above ground level. Preferably, a mounting device can be used to mount a wire termination within the first enclosure.

Further features and aspects of the invention are set forth in one or more of the appended claims.

Yet further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description and viewing the attached drawings, which are given by way of example only to illustrate the invention.

Examples of some aspects of the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 is a perspective illustration of an underground electricity distribution enclosure according to one aspect of the invention, figure 2 is an exploded perspective illustration of the underground enclosure showing different elements thereof, figure 3 is a side elevation section illustration showing different elements of the invention including a stand in a stored position, figure 4 is a side elevation section illustration showing the stand in a service position, figure 5 is a top illustration showing the stand in the service position, figure 6 is a top illustration showing different elements including the stand in the stored position, figure 7 is a top perspective illustration of a first embodiment of a stand of the invention, figure 8 is a bottom perspective illustration of the first embodiment of the stand, figure 9 is a top perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a stand of the invention, figure 10 is a perspective section illustration of the second embodiment of the stand, figure 11 is an end section illustration of the second embodiment of a stand and a bell, figure 12 is a top perspective illustration of an optional bell of the invention, figure 13 is a top perspective illustration of a cover of the invention, figure 14 is a bottom perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a cover, figure 15 is a side section illustration of an upper portion of a pit and a locking bar of the invention, figure 16 is a top perspective illustration of the locking bar, figure 17 is a side elevation illustration of a wire termination mounting in an enclosure according to another aspect of the invention, figure 18 is another side elevation illustration the wire termination mounting according to figure 17, figure 19 is a front elevation illustration of the wire termination mounting according to figure 17, figure 20 is a top illustration of the wire termination mounting, figure 21 is a perspective illustration of one example of a stand-off or mounting foot for a wire termination mounting according to the invention, figure 22 is a side elevation illustration of the stand-off or mounting foot of figure 21, figure 23 is a perspective illustration of a mounting rail, figure 24 is a top/plan illustration of sections of mounting rail positioned with the standoff or mounting foot of figure 21, figure 25 is a top/plan illustration of an alternative arrangement of a longer section of mounting rail positioned with the stand-off or mounting foot of figure 21, figure 26 is a perspective illustration of a second example of a stand-off or mounting foot having an integral wire termination mounting flange, figure 27 is an end elevation illustration of the second stand-off of figure 26, figure 28 is a top illustration of the alternative stand-off of figure 26, figure 29 is a side elevation illustration of the alternative stand-off of figure 26, figure 30 is a perspective illustration of a third embodiment of a stand of the invention having an integrally included stand-off, figure 31 is a perspective illustration of yet another embodiment of mounting a wire termination in an enclosure according to the invention, and figure 32 is a side illustration of the wire termination mounting of figure 30.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise the terms "wire" or "cable" used herein both refer to a single conductor comprising one or more conductive stands grouped in a common insulated protective sheath acting as a single conductor. A wire termination includes but is not limited to a point in an electrical enclosure or cabinet where a terminal, fuse, circuit breaker or device of like nature is provided and to which it is intended for a wire to be connected or terminated for distribution and/or protection purposes.

Referring to figures 1 to 6 there is schematically depicted an underground enclosure for one or more wire terminations 63 in a typical underground electrical distribution network. The enclosure includes a pit 20 that, in use, is buried below ground level with an open top 29 generally flush with the ground level. In use, the pit 20 receives an incoming underground three-phase electrical supply side 61 and serves an underground outgoing distribution side 62 for suppling a plurality of separate electrical installations in the network. The pit 20 defines a pit interior space that accommodates a stand 10 having a mounting portion 15 for mounting one or more wire terminations 63 (for example, fuses or circuit breakers) in which the supply side 61 is split into the plurality of outgoing distribution branches 62. The stand 10 is movable between a lowered storage position, shown in Figures 3 and 6 for example, in which the stand 10 is wholly within the pit interior space and a raised service position, shown in Figure 4 and 5 for example, in which a portion of the stand 10 extends out of the pit interior space and above ground level to facilitate ease of service of the wire terminations 63. In the preferred, illustrated, embodiment the stand 10 is removably received within and secured with a bell 40 having a bell interior space 41 enclosing the mounting portion 15 of the stand 10 and wire terminations 63 mounted thereon. The pit 20, containing the stored stand 10 and bell 40, is closed by a cover 50 installed in the open top 29 of the pit 20 to be flush with ground level. In some embodiments a locking bar 70 is installed within the pit 20 above the stored position of the stand 10, and optionally bell 40, and below the cover 50. The locking bar 70 prevents unauthorized movement of the stand 10 from the stored position to the raised service position, and where used with a bell 40, prevents unauthorized removal of the bell 40 from the stand 10.

The pit 20 is generally square or rectangular in cross-section and configured to be installed sunken into and flush with ground level. It includes an open top 29 which in use is flush with ground level, a closed bottom wall 23 defining a bottom of the pit 20, and a pair of end walls 21 and a pair of side walls 22 defining a perimeter of the pit interior space and extending between the open top 29 and bottom wall 23. The end walls 21 and side walls 22 are provided with corrugated structures 24, 25 arranged to increase the strength of the pit walls 21, 22 for use underground. In one embodiment the pair of opposing end walls 21 have longitudinal corrugated structures 25 running longitudinally from top to adjacent a bottom of the end walls 21. In the same embodiment the side walls 22 have transverse corrugated structures 24 running transversely along the side walls 22 between corner edges with opposing end walls 21. In one embodiment the pit housing 20 is made in one piece by rotationally moulding (roto-moulding) plastic such as high-density Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Acrylonitrile- Butadiene-Styrene, and the like. In an alternative embodiment the pit housing 20 including its related features discussed herein are integrally formed in two separately moulded halves 26, 27 that are subsequently plastic welded together along opposing mating edges forming a welded seam 28 between the halves 26, T1. Preferably, the pit is made of a polyethylene based material by roto-moulding.

Four stand support structures 33 are provided in the manner of tabs 34 at each at the four corners edges between respective ones of the pair of ends walls 21 and pair of side walls 22. The four support tabs 34 are provided adjacent to a lower portion 38 of the pit housing 20 so as to support the stand 10, and optionally bell 40, wholly within the pit interior space below the open embodiments the support tabs 33/34 are integrally formed with the end walls 21 and side walls 22 in one piece. In other embodiments the support tabs 33/34 are provided on a support frame (not shown) that rests on the bottom wall 23 of the housing 20 to space the stand 10 above the bottom wall 23. The stand 10 is supported by the support tabs 33/34 to be raised above the pit bottom wall 23. The area below the stored position of the stand 10 between the support tabs 33/34 and the pit bottom wall 23 defines a chamber 36 in the lower portion 38 of the pit interior space. The chamber 36 defines both an accommodation area for supply side 61 and distribution side 62 cables (or wires) and a receptacle for liquids that may accumulate within the pit 20. One or more of the side walls 22 or end walls 21 have cable entries 64 for the underground three- phase electrical supply 61 and underground outgoing distribution side 62. Preferably, the cable entries 64 comprise a plurality of apertures with cable glands for clamping the cables or wires in the apertures as required by respective regulations. In preferred embodiments cable glands also serve to maintain the IP-4X integrity of the enclosure, as discussed later, around the cable entries 64. In some embodiments the bottom wall 23 of the pit 20 is provided with one or more openings 65 for allowing liquids that may accumulate in the chamber 36 to drain into the surrounding ground medium in which the pit 20 is installed. In preferred embodiments the opening may comprise a plurality of perforations of less than 1mm to maintain the IP-4X integrity of the enclosure.

The side walls 22 and end walls 21 extend from the open top 29 to the bottom wall 23. The top of each end wall 21 and side wall 22 has an outwardly turned flange 30 extending to an upwardly turned lip 31 forming a pit peripheral collar 35 that define the open top 29 of the pit housing 20. The outwardly turned flange 30 is a second support for supporting the stand 10 in the raised service position or for supporting the cover 50 when the pit 20 is closed. The two pit housing side walls 22 each have an outwardly extending recess 32 located adjacent and below the pit peripheral collar 35. The outwardly extending recesses 32 are diametrically opposed and adapted to receive opposite distal ends 75 of an articulating locking bar 70 (discussed in more detail below) for securing across the open top 29 of the pit housing 20 and, in situ, preventing movement of the stand 10 from the stored position (figures 3 and 6) to the raised service position (figure 4 and 5), and where used with a bell 40, to prevent unauthorized removal of the bell 20 from the stand 10. Figures 7 and 8 schematically depict a first embodiment of a stand 10. The stand 10 is generally a complimentary square or rectangular cross-section (refer to figure 5) configured to be received within the interior space of the pit 20 for engagement with the support tabs 34 in the stand stored position. The stand 20 comprises a lower peripheral skirt 12 with a generally square or rectangular cross-section. A pair of stand side walls 14 extend upwardly from the skirt 12 to a top wall 15 extending between top edges 14a of the side walls 14. The stand top wall 15 defines a generally planar mounting portion 15a on an upper surface for mounting one or more wire terminations 63. Front and rear ends 15b of the stand top wall 15 have downwardly extending end wall flanges 17 which at lateral sides 17a thereof are connected with the stand side walls 14 to provide lateral rigidity for the stand top wall 15. Below the downwardly extending end wall flanges 17 and above the stand skirt 12, the ends walls of the stand have openings 16 to facilitate a wire routing path for cables/wires 66 from below the stand 10 to the wire termination mounting portion 15a on the upper surface of the stand top wall 15. Between the stand skirt 12 portion and the stand walls 14 and stand open ends 16 is a peripheral stand collar 19 for accommodating the lower end of bell 40 walls as discussed later. The stand skirt 12, being generally square or rectangular in cross section, has four corners. Each corner has a chamfer 13. In the preferred embodiment the stand has a generally square cross section and the skirt chamfers are 45-degrees. In other embodiments the stand may be generally rectangular in shape and the skirt chamfers may be between 30-degrees and 60-degrees. The skilled addressee will appreciate that other angles may also fulfill the purpose of the invention although angles between 30-degrees and 60-degrees, and preferably 45-degrees provide superior results. The extent of the chamfer 13 on each corner is configured such that a distance X between diagonally opposite chamfered corners 13 of the stand skirt 12 is marginally less than a second distance Y between diametrically opposite upwardly turned lip 31 of the pit peripheral collar 35 that define the open top 29 of the pit housing 20, but greater than a third distance Z between opposing pit side or end walls 21/22 of the housing 20. Accordingly, when the stand 10 is rotated through and angle 0 (theta), which in the preferred embodiment of 45-degrees, between a stored rotational orientation and a service rotational orientation relative to the pit housing 20 the chamfered corners 13 of the stand skirt 12 can rest on the outwardly turned flange 30 of the pit peripheral collar 35 that define the open top 29 of the pit housing 20. The lower edge of the stand skirt 12 has a recessed portion at each of chamfered corners 13 forming an abutment 18 at each of the chamfered corners 13. The abutments 18 bear on the outwardly turned flanges 30 of the pit peripheral collar 35 when the stand 10 is in the service rotational orientation to define the stand service position. The skirt 12 has downwardly extending portions 11 between adjacent ones of the abutments 18 at each of the chamfered corners 13. Edges of the downwardly extending skirt portions 11 bear on inside edges of the side and end walls 21, 22 when the stand 10 is in the service position to ameliorate the risk of unintended stand rotation, which may cause the abutments 18 to move off the outwardly turned flanges 30 causing the stand 10 to fall back into the pit housing 20. In the preferred embodiment the angle 0 (theta), is 45 degrees. In other embodiments it may be between 10 and 80 degrees, or between 20 and 70 degrees, or between 30 and 60 degrees, or between 40 and 50 degrees.

In preferred embodiments the stand 10 is made either in one piece by roto-moulding or separate pieces by moulding plastic such as high-density Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, and the like. Preferably, the stand is made from Polycarbonate. In the preferred embodiments the stand 10 including its related features discussed herein are integrally formed by moulding in one piece.

In preferred embodiments a bell 40 is provided to enclose the mounting portion 15a on an upper surface of the stand top wall 15. The bell 40 includes a bell top wall 42, an open bottom 43 and a bell peripheral wall 44 extending between the bell top wall 42 and the bell open bottom 43. The bell top wall 42 and peripheral walls 44 define a bell interior space 41 that is of a complimentary square or rectangular cross-section configured to snugly accommodate the stand wall 14, 17 and mounting portions 15a of the stand 10. The bell wall 44 has a lower edge 45 that, when accommodating the stand walls 14, 17 and mounting portion 15a of the stand 10, engages with the upper stand peripheral collar 19 of the stand skirt 12. A latching mechanism 80 is provided to secure the bell 40 over the stand 10. In a preferred embodiment the latch 80 is an over-centre toggle type latch having a tongue 81 and a bail 82 arranged as an over-centre mechanism mounted on the stand skirt 12 and configured to engage with a tongue latch 84 adjacent the bottom edge 45 of the bell wall 44. Alternatively, the latch mechanism 80 is an integrally formed resiliently flexible tab 85 on the stand skirt 12 with a projecting latching lip 86 that engages with a complimentary recess 87 of the lower edge of bell wall 44. The upper surface of the bell top wall 42 include a pair of handles 47 adapted to be grasped from above. In preferred embodiments, the bell 40 is made, either in one piece or separately, from moulding plastic such as high-density Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Acrylonitrile- Butadiene-Styrene, and the like. In the preferred embodiments the bell 40 including its related features discussed herein are integrally formed by moulding in one piece. Preferably the bell material is clear or transparent Polycarbonate capable of being seen through to facilitate observation of the bell interior space 41 and in particular the stand mounting surface 15a and wire terminations 63 therein.

In use, the bell 40 is secured over the stand 10 and wire terminations 63 mounted thereon, and the stand 10 and bell 40 lowered into the stored position within the pit housing 20. The bell 40 conveniently provides a housing to direct any liquids that may enter the pit 20 from above away from the stand 10 and wire terminations 63 and into the pit lower chamber 36. In addition, in circumstances where a liquid level in the pit 20 may rise to the level of the stand 10 the bell 40 defines an airtight space between the bell top wall 42 and bell peripheral wall 44 trapping a pocket of air in the bell interior space 41. The pocket of air excludes water from the stand mounting area 15a and wire terminations 63 mounted thereon. The locking bar prevents the bell 40 and stand 10 from rising, or floating, due to the trapped pocket of air as the liquid level rises in the pit housing 20.

The bell handles 47 provide a convenient means to move the stand 10 from the lower stored position to the above ground service position. Using the bell handles 47 a service technician is able to lift the bell 40 and stand 10 upwardly out of the pit 20. Still holding the bell handles 47 the technician rotates the bell 40 and stand 10 by an angle of 45-degrees and lowers the stand 10 so that the skirt abutments 18 bear on the outwardly turned flange 30 of the peripheral collar 35 that defines the open top 29 of the pit housing 20. The latches 80 are then released to remove the bell 40 from the stand 10 allowing servicing of the wire terminations 63 mounted to the stand mounting area 15a. When the service interval is complete, the technician replaces the bell 40 over the stand 10 and secures the latches 80. The bell handles 47 again provide a convenient means to lift the stand 10, rotate it by 45-degrees and lower the stand 10 and bell 40 back into the pit 20, bring it to rest on the support tabs 33, 34 in spaced relationship with the pit bottom wall 23. In some embodiments the bell 40 and stand 10 are made of electrically non-conductive material to function as an arc initiation protected zone (AIPZ) within the bell interior space 41 that surrounds the wire terminations 63. The AIPZ contains any internal electrical arc and associated pressure and gases that may occur at the wire termination.

Preferably, the underground enclosure is used in a three-phase alternating current electricity transmission or distribution network, and more particularly for feeding an incoming alternating current electricity power supply 61 to a plurality of separate electrical installations in the network. The wire termination 63 is a wire termination for each wire and includes a terminal, fuse, or circuit breaker for each phase wire 66 feeding the plurality of separate electrical installations from the incoming supply 61.

Figures 9 and 10 schematically depict a second embodiment of a stand 110. The second stand 110 has a second wire termination mounting area 114a provided for wire termination of neutral, or non-live or hot, wires used to feed the plurality of separate electrical installations from the incoming supply. Referring to figures 9 to 11, a side wall 114 of embodiments of the second stand 110 is positioned inwardly from the peripheral skirt 12 of the second stand 110 to have, in situ with the bell 40 or pit housing 20, a spaced relationship from the bell wall 44 or pit side walls 21, 22. The stand top wall 15 intends outwardly in a flange or lip portion 115 beyond the plane of the side wall 114 to define a partition between the first wire termination mounting area 15a on the upper surface of the strand top wall 15, and a second wire termination surface 114a on the exterior of the stand side wall 114. When the stand 10 is received within the bell 40 the stand flange 115 and bell wall 44 together partition the bell interior space 41 into a first interior space 41a for the first mounting portion 15a and a second interior space 41b for the second mounting portion 114a. In the one embodiment the second mounting portion 114a provides a convenient mounting position for an electrical busbar that can be used for wire terminations of neutral, or non-live, or non-hot wires used to feed the plurality of separate electrical installations from the incoming supply. When the second stand 110 is in the service position with the bell 40 removed that busbar on the second mounting area 114a can be conveniently accessed for termination or testing purposes. Condensation may form within the bell 40 interior space due to environmental and/or temperature changes within the pit housing 20. In some embodiments the stand top wall 15 is sloped transversely or longitudinally by an angle a (alpha) to facilitate the draining of condensate from the mounting portion 15a. In other embodiments the top wall 15 is provided with a mounting stand 116 that is sloped transversely or longitudinally by the angle a (alpha) to facilitate the draining of condensate from the mounting portion 15a.

In preferred embodiments the underground enclosure is provided with an articulating locking bar 70 to prevent unauthorized and/or unintended movement of the stand 10 from the stored position to the raised service position, and where used, prevent unauthorized removal of the bell 40 from the stand 20. The locking bar also prevents the bell 40 (and stand 10, 110) from floating upwardly if a water level in the pit 20 rises higher than the lid 50. The locking bar 70 comprises a first bar portion 71 and second bar portion 72 that are connected by a pivot 73 adjacent a middle of the locking bar 70. A first bar portion 71 overlaps the second bar portion 72 adjacent to the pivot 73. Edges of the bar in the overlapping region have orthogonally turned edges in the manner of a U-channel. Complimentary apertures 74 (74') in the orthogonally turned edges provide for the accommodation of a locking pin or padlock 76 through the apertures 74 (74') to lock the first bar portion 71 and second bar portion 72 in a linear alignment and prevent any pivoting. Pivoting of the bar portions 71, 72 allows the bar ends 75 to be engaged, and disengaged, with outwardly extending recess 32 located adjacent and below the pit peripheral collar 35 in diametrically opposed pit housing walls 22.

The pit housing 20 is closed by a cover 50 to protect the stored stand 10 and discourage unauthorized access to the pit 20. A further function of the cover 50 is to enclose the pit housing 20 to define an IP-4X rated enclosure for housing the bell 40 and stand 10 (110, 120) - the bell 40 and stand 10 further define an AIPZ (arc initiation protected zone) within the IP-4X enclosure. The cover 50 and pit housing 20 also further contain and dissipate arc induced pressure and gases dissipated from the bell 40. The pit cover 50 has a complimentary square or rectangular crosssection configured to be received within the upwardly turned lip 31 of the pit peripheral collar 35 that defines the open top 29 of the pit housing 20, and to rest on the outwardly turned flange 30 of the pit peripheral collar 35. The cover includes a top, or outer, surface 51, a bottom, or inner, surface 52 and a peripheral wall 55 extending around the outer periphery of the cover between the top and bottom surfaces 51, 52. A keyway 57 is provided for engaging a key to aid in removal of the cover 50. The keyway 57 does not interrupt the full depth of the cover peripheral wall 55, such that when the cover 50 is in place with the enclosure 50 the cover peripheral wall 55 and enclosure upwardly turned lip 31 cooperate to define an IP-4X rated interface between the cover 50 and enclosure 20. An IP-4X rating excludes objects larger then 1mm.

The cover 50 further has a plurality of ribs 53 extending therefrom in a grid pattern having recesses 54 between the ribs 53. The top or outer surface 51 may be embossed or adorned with a pattern to provide a non-slip type surface. In some embodiments the cover 50 is made from metal or a composite material. In other embodiments the cover 50 is made either in one piece or separate pieces from moulding plastic such as high-density Polyethylene, polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, and the like, to provide a strong lightweight cover. Preferably, the cover is made from a Polyethylene based material. In some embodiments of a cover 50 has reinforcing bars 56 extend through one or more of the ribs 53. The reinforcing bars 56 are made from strong lightweight metal and have a cross section suitable for providing longitudinal rigidity such as round, oval, U, T, or I -shaped beams. The bars 56 may be located into the cover by insert moulding, with the beams being positioned into cover moulds before injection of cover moulding material.

In some embodiments of the invention a separate stand-off or mounting foot 200 (210) is provided for the mounting of the wire termination 63 for each wire or groups of wires on a common power phase to the stand 10. Preferably, the wire termination 63 for each wire includes a terminal, fuse, or circuit breaker for each phase wire. Each phase or wire termination 63 is provided with its own separate stand-off or mounting foot 200, 210, 310 to increase the point- to-point surface distance between each wire termination 63, or between common phase groups of wire terminations 63, on the mounting area 15a. One embodiment of the stand-off 200 includes base portion 211 arranged to be mounted to the mounting area 15a and at least one stand-off portion 213 extending from the base portion 211 and having a first stand-off distal end 214 that facilitates mounting of the wire termination 63 at a spaced distance DI from the base or a mounting area 15a of the stand 10. The base portion 211 of the stand-off 200 (210) includes a fixing portion 212 for fixing the stand-off 200 (210) to the mounting area 15a of the stand 10. In a preferred embodiment the fixing portion is an aperture 212 through which a fixing device such as a screw or bolt 218 can pass. Alternatively, the fixing portion of the base 211 includes on its underside a recess with inwardly extending edge protrusions or lips that secure over the outwardly turned flanges of a conventional mounting rail (not shown) that is fixed to a mounting area 15a of the stand 10.

The stand-off portion 213 extends away from the base portion 211 and has a distal affixing face

214 at which the wire termination, such as a fuse or breaker 63, is positioned. In some embodiments a single portion of mounting rail 330 having outwardly turned mounting flanges 331, 332 is provided at affixing face 214 to accommodate the mounting of a conventional "din rail" mount fuse or breaker 63 at a distance DI from the base or a mounting area 15a of the stand 10. Alternatively, in some embodiments of a stand-off 210 has outwardly turned mounting flanges 231, 232 integrally formed with the affixing face 214 for directly accommodating a din rail mount fuse or breaker 63 on the alternative stand-off 210.

In one embodiment, the stand-off 200 includes a second stand-off portion 215 extending away from the base portion 211 adjacent the first stand-off portion 213. The second stand-off portion

215 has a distal affixing face 216 at which a second wire termination, such as a fuse or breaker 63, can be positioned. A second single portion of mounting rail 330 having outwardly extending mounting flanges 331, 332 is provided at second affixing face 216 to accommodate the mounting of a second conventional "din rail" mount fuse or breaker 63 at a distance DI from the base or a mounting area 15a on the strand 10. Alternatively, a longer, double, length of mounting rail 333 may extend across both affixing face 214 and second affixing face 216 of respective stand-off portions 213 and 215. In other embodiments a stand-off device 210 has outwardly turned mounting flanges 231, 232 integrally formed with the affixing face 214 for directly accommodating a din rail mount fuse or breaker 63 on the device 210. One of the outwardly turned flanges 231 has one or more recess portions or notches 219 in an outer flange edge. The recess portion or notch 219 defines an index or position for laterally positioning the din rail mount fuse or breaker 63 on the stand-off device 210. In some embodiment a stand-off device 200 (210) has one or more lateral tabs 117, 217 at distal ends of the outwardly turned mounting flanges 231, 232, 331, 332. The lateral tabs 117, 217 define a lateral limit for laterally positioning a din rail mount fuse or breaker 63 on the device 200 (210). In some embodiments the lateral tabs 117, 217 are integrally formed with one or more lateral ends of the outwardly turned mounting flanges 231, 232. In yet other embodiments the base 211 of the stand-off device 200 (210) has one or more orthogonally turned flanges 111, 112 for positioning the base 211 with mounting shoulders 226 or mounting channels 225 of the mounting area 15a.

In another embodiment a third stand 120 has one or more stand-offs 310 (310', 310”) integrally included on the mounting surface 15a of its top wall 15. In the third stand 120 the integrally included stand-off(s) 310 includes integrally included stand-off portions 213/215 extending from the stand top wall 15. An affixing face 214 and a second affixing face 216 are included at the distal ends of the integrally included stand-off portions 213/215. Each of the affixing face 214 and second affixing face 216 has outwardly turned mounting flanges 231, 232 integrally formed with the affixing faces for directly accommodating a din rail mount fuse or breaker 63 on the alternative stand-off 210. Other features of third stand 120 are the same as first stand 10. Some versions of third stand 120 may include a second mounting area 114a on a set-back side wall 114 in the manner of second stand 110. In preferred embodiments the third stand 120 and integrally included stand-off(s) 310 are made or formed in one piece by moulding Polycarbonate. In other embodiments the stand 120 including its related features discussed herein are integrally formed in one piece by roto-moulding or separate pieces by moulding plastic such as high-density Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, and the like.

In embodiments of the stand-off 200, 210, 310 having stand-off portion 213 and second standoff portion 215 for accommodating two wire terminations 63, both wire terminations 63 should be on the same phase of the three-phase alternating current electricity transmission or distribution network. Referring to figure 19, three mounting devices 210, 210' and 210” can be positioned adjacent and spaced apart from each other by a second distance D2 to accommodate wire terminations 63 of each of three phases of a three-phase supply. A first stand-off device 210 can accommodate one or more wire terminations, say A and B, of a first phase R of the three- phase supply. A second stand-off device 210' can accommodate one or more wire terminations C and D of a second phase Y of the three-phase supply. And a third stand-off device 210" can accommodate one or more wire terminations E and F of a third phase B of the three-phase supply.

In other embodiments shown in figures 31 and 32, a first, second or third stand 10, 110, 120 may include a third embodiment of a stand-off 410 used to accommodate 3 larger, say 160A, fuses 163. Each larger 160A fuse is provided for each of three phases. In the various embodiments a neutral bar may be include on a second mounting area 114a as described in relation to second stand 110, or alternately a neutral stud 164 may be provided on the first, second or third stand 10, 110, 120 mounting surface 15a. In yet further embodiments a neutral wire termination may be made at another point in the enclosure, and a neutral test point 165 provided on the mounting surface 15a of stand top wall 15.

One or more aspects and alternatives of the invention have been described by way of example only. It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred aspects and alternatives described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention. The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the drawings and/or specification, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, those equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any country in the world.