GB2034528A

GB2034528A - Equipment housings

Info

Publication number: GB2034528A
Application number: GB7937259A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1978-11-06
Filing date: 1979-10-26
Publication date: 1980-06-04
Also published as: GB2034528B

Abstract

A housing (1, 3, 5, 7, 11) for rack mounted equipment wherein each rack (9) is pivotally mounted to allow the rack to be swung out of the housing, and is slidably mounted to allow the rack to be at least partially withdrawn from the housing before pivotting. The racks are suitably mounted on a side (11) of the housing which is pivotally mounted on a frame (15) which is slidably mounted in the housing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Equipment housings This invention relates to equipment housings.

The invention relates particularly to equipment housings of the kind including one or more racks on which equipment to be placed in the housing may be mounted, the or each rack being pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent a front edge of the rack to allow the rack to be swung out of the housing to give access to the rear of equipment mounted thereon.

The term front edge is used herein to designate an edge adjacent the side of the housing out of which the rack is swung.

Such housings find application where access to the rear of equipment in the housing via the back of the housing is not practicable. They are typically in the form of free standing floor mounted cubicles with the racks pivotally mounted about a vertical axis.

With known housings of the kind specified it is necessaryforthe housing width to be greater than that of the width of the racks and/or equipment thereon by an amount dependent on rack and/or equipment depth to give clearance to the rear of the rack and equipment when it is swung out of the housing.

According to the present invention in an equipment housing of the kind specified the or each said rack is slidably mounted to allow the rack to be at least partially withdrawn from the housing before pivotting.

It will be appreciated that in a housing in accordance with the invention the widths of the housing and the rack and/or equipment can be more nearly the same, thus giving a more compact arrangement.

One equipment housing in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the housing with the equipment inside; and Figures 2 and 3 illustrate two stages in withdrawal of the equipment from the housing.

Referring to the drawings, the housing constitutes a free standing floor mounted cubicle and comprises a rectangular main frame (not visible) to which are secured a rear panel 1,side sheets 3, a roof plate 5 and a plinth 7. The equipment to be housed is mounted on racks 9 which in turn are supported on a front frame 11 of the housing. The front frame 11 is provided with load bearing wheels 13 at the bottom.

The front frame 11 is hinged along its left vertical edge to a C-shaped sub-frame 15 which is provided with rearwardly extending horizontal limbs 17 which run in slides 19 fixed to the main frame of the housing (see Figure 3).

The housing further includes facilities (not shown) for accommodating incoming cables, terminations and glanding arrangements.

In the drawings adjacent housing cubicles are indicated by chain dotted lines.

Access to the inside of the housing and the rear of equipment is obtained by inserting keys 21 into two key holes 23, one on either side of the front frame 11.

By turning the keys 21 through 900 the front frame 11 is released from the main part of the housing 1, 3, 5, 7, and may then be pulled forward, together with the 'C' frame 15, using the keys 21 as handles (see Figure 2).

When the front frame 11 has been pulled out to the fullest extent allowed by stops (not shown) provided on the slides 19, it locks in position. Pins (not shown) locking the right hand side of the front frame 11 to the 'C' frame 15 are then removed allowing the front frame 11 to pivot on its hinge to the 'C' frame 15 through an angle of about 1200 to give full access to the inside of the housing and the rear of the equipment.

In one particular embodiment the equipment racks are 483 mms wide and the main part of the housing 1, 3, 5, 7 provides a compartment 600 mms wide and 450 mms deep. However, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to housings of virtually any dimensions wherein it is desired to house equipment of such a depth that access to the rear by hinging along a front edge can only be obtained by making the housing appreciably wider than the equipment.

Claims

1. An equipment housing including one or more racks on which equipment to be placed in the housing may be mounted wherein the or each rack is pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent a front edge of the rack to allow the rack to be swung out of the housing to give access to the rear of equipment mounted thereon and the or each rack is slidably mounted to allow the rack to be at least partially withdrawn from the housing before being swung out.

2. An equipment housing according to Claim 1 wherein the or each rack is pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.

3. An equipment housing according to Claim 2, the housing constituting a free standing floor mounted cubicle.

4. An equipment housing according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each rack is pivotally mounted on a frame which is slidably mounted in the housing.

5. An equipment housing according to Claim 4 wherein the or each rack is supported on a side of the housing which is pivotally mounted on said frame.

6. An equipment housing according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein said frame is C-shaped with rearwardly extending limbs which run in slides in the housing.

7. An equipment housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.