U.S. patent application number 09/781176 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for concentrical slot telecommunications equipment enclosure.
Invention is credited to Hutchison, Randall D., Shiffbauer, Robert, Smith, Kevan.
Application Number | 20020008962 09/781176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27391530 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020008962 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hutchison, Randall D. ; et
al. |
January 24, 2002 |
Concentrical slot telecommunications equipment enclosure
Abstract
A telecommunications equipment enclosure (10) that dissipates
into the ambient environment heat internally generated by signal
repeater cards and other electronic equipment stored therein,
thereby prolonging equipment life and preventing premature failure
due to damaging levels of retained heat. Equipment-receiving
sleeves (20) are removably arranged concentrically about the
interior of a cylindrical housing (12). The housing (12) is fitted
with a lid (14) having a cylindrically protruding portion (48).
Cooling fins (16) operable to conduct and dissipate heat are
attached to the exterior of the housing (12). Each sleeve (20) is
able to conduct heat away from the heat-generating equipment
received therein, and to transfer the heat along two distinct
thermally conductive pathways. Surge protection (60) is provided on
a removable circuit board (62) located adjacent each sleeve (20)
and replaceable without removing the sleeve (20) or otherwise
disrupting functioning of the cards or other electronic
equipment.
Inventors: |
Hutchison, Randall D.;
(Shawnee, KS) ; Shiffbauer, Robert; (Olathe,
KS) ; Smith, Kevan; (Overland Park, KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOVEY, WILLIAMS, TIMMONS & COLLINS
2405 Grand, Suite 400
Kansas City
MO
64108
US
|
Family ID: |
27391530 |
Appl. No.: |
09/781176 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60182299 |
Feb 14, 2000 |
|
|
|
60221235 |
Jul 27, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/704 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/2049 20130101;
H04Q 1/025 20130101; H05K 5/068 20130101; H04Q 1/035 20130101; H04Q
2201/06 20130101; H04Q 1/143 20130101; H04Q 1/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/704 |
International
Class: |
H05K 007/20 |
Claims
Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention,
what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent includes the following:
1. An enclosure for housing electronic equipment, the enclosure
comprising: a protective housing having exterior and interior
housing surfaces and having an access opening; a removable lid
closably positionable over the access opening, the housing and lid
together defining an interior compartment; and a plurality of
sleeves arranged about the interior compartment and operable to
receive the electronic equipment, each sleeve having an outer
sleeve portion providing a thermally conductive pathway to the
interior housing surface.
2. The enclosure as set forth in claim 1, the housing being
cylindrical in shape, the sleeves being concentrically arranged
about the interior compartment such that the thermally conductive
pathways are all of substantially equal length.
3. The enclosure as set forth in claim 1, further including a
plurality of cooling fins arranged about and attached to the
exterior housing surface and operable to conduct heat away from the
exterior housing surface and dissipate the heat into an ambient
environment.
4. The enclosure as set forth in claim 1, the lid further
comprising exterior and interior lid surfaces, the interior lid
surface presenting a protrusion which projects substantially inward
relative to the housing when the lid is closedly positioned
thereupon.
5. The enclosure as set forth in claim 4, an inner portion of each
sleeve being in direct contact with the interior lid surface.
6. The enclosure as set forth in claim 4, the inner portion of each
sleeve including a spring in compressive, thermally conductive
contact with the interior lid surface.
7. The enclosure as set forth in claim 4, the inner portion of each
sleeve including a spring in compressive, thermally conductive
contact with the interior lid surface, with the spring being
serpentine in shape so as to provide multiple thermally conductive
contact points.
8. The enclosure as set forth in claim 1, the outer sleeve portion
of each sleeve including a leaf spring in compressive, thermally
conductive contact with the interior housing surface.
9. The enclosure as set forth in claim 1, each sleeve including a
slot for receiving electronic equipment therewithin, each slot
having a spring for forcing the electronic equipment into positive
contact with one of the inner and outer sleeve portions.
10. The enclosure as set forth in claim 1, further including a
plurality of surge protection boards, each being associated with
and located adjacent to a different one of the sleeves and
removable from the enclosure without removing the associated
sleeve.
11. An enclosure for housing electronic equipment, the enclosure
comprising: a protective housing having exterior and interior
housing surfaces and having an access opening; a removable lid
having exterior and interior lid surfaces, the lid being closably
positionable over the access opening, the interior lid surface
presenting a protrusion which projects substantially inward
relative to the housing when the lid is closedly positioned
thereupon, the housing and lid together defining an interior
compartment; a plurality of cooling fins arranged about and
attached to the exterior housing surface and operable to conduct
heat away from the exterior housing surface and dissipate the heat
into an ambient environment; and a plurality of sleeves arranged
about the interior compartment and operable to receive the
electronic equipment, each sleeve having an outer sleeve portion
providing a thermally conductive pathway to the interior housing
surface, and an inner sleeve portion providing a thermally
conductive pathway to the interior lid surface.
12. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the electronic
equipment including signal repeater cards.
13. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the housing being an
elongated cylinder having top and bottom portions, the top portion
presenting the access opening, the sleeves being concentrically
arranged about the interior compartment.
14. The enclosure as set forth in claim 13, the protrusion of the
interior lid surface being substantially cylindrical in shape, and
projecting inward substantially parallel to the interior housing
surface when the lid is closedly positioned thereupon.
15. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, each cooling fin being
a substantially rectangular piece of metal attached to the exterior
housing surface and extending perpendicularly outward
therefrom.
16. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the cooling fins being
formed from one or more corrugated pieces of metal attached to the
exterior housing surface, each corrugated piece of metal presenting
a series of ridges and grooves, with the cooling fins being the
ridges.
17. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the cooling fins being
formed from one or more substantially W-shaped pieces of metal
having lower apexes and upright legs, the lower apexes providing
attachment points and the upright legs extending outwardly from the
exterior housing surface.
18. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the sleeves being
detachably received within the housing and removable from the
housing through the access opening.
19. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the outer sleeve
portion of each sleeve being in direct contact with the interior
housing surface.
20. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the outer sleeve
portion of each sleeve including a spring in compressive, thermally
conductive contact with the interior housing surface.
21. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the inner portion of
each sleeve being in direct contact with the interior lid
surface.
22. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the inner portion of
each sleeve including a spring in compressive, thermally conductive
contact with the inwardly projecting protrusion of the interior lid
surface.
23. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the sleeve including
one or more electrical connections operable to engage one or more
corresponding electrical connections on the electronic equipment
received by sleeve.
24. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, the sleeve including
one or more electrical circuit boards operable to engage one or
more corresponding electrical connections on the electronic
equipment received by sleeve.
25. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, each sleeve including a
slot for receiving electronic equipment therewithin, each slot
having a spring for forcing the electronic equipment into positive
contact with one of the inner or outer sleeve portions.
26. The enclosure as set forth in claim 11, further including a
plurality of surge protection boards, each being associated with
and located adjacent to a different one of the sleeves and
removable from the enclosure without removing the associated
sleeve.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority benefit, with regard to all
common subject matter, of provisional application titled "Radial
Slot Telecommunications Enclosure", Ser. No. 60/182,299, filed Feb.
14, 2000, and provisional application titled "Enclosure for
Telecommunications Equipment", Ser. No. 60/221,235, filed Jul. 7,
2000, both of which are hereby incorporated into the present
application by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to telecommunications
equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
telecommunications equipment enclosure for protectively housing and
cooling heat-generating electronic equipment such as signal
repeaters. p 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Telecommunications signal repeaters and other electronic
equipment used by providers of telecommunications services are
typically housed in enclosures that are mounted to telephone poles
or placed next to buildings or in manholes. The enclosures must
protect the electronic equipment from environmental hazards such as
sun, rain, snow, and fire, as well damage from vandalism and
attempted theft. With regard to signal repeaters in particular, the
enclosures must safely and securely house multiple repeater units
or "cards" in a space efficient manner while allowing for the
dissipation of potentially damaging levels of heat generated by the
repeater cards and other electronic equipment.
[0005] Electricity to power fans or other artificial cooling means
is typically not available to the enclosures and so heat
dissipation must be accomplished naturally. One problem with
existing enclosure designs is that they do not make the most
efficient use of natural cooling mechanisms. Thus, for example,
cooling problems are exacerbated in enclosures wherein the repeater
cards are arranged within the housing such that generated heat is
retained and transferred between adjacent cards and equipment
rather than to the environment surrounding the enclosures.
[0006] Furthermore, existing enclosures typically place surge
protection mechanisms beneath the electronic equipment where the
protection connects to both the equipment and cables which exit a
lower portion of the enclosure. Unfortunately, this arrangement
requires that the electronic equipment be removed from the
enclosure or its function otherwise disrupted whenever the surge
protection mechanism is replaced.
[0007] Due to the above-identified and other limitations of the
current art, a need exists for an improved telecommunications
equipment enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention solves the above-described and other
problems and provides a distinct advance in the art of enclosures
for telecommunications equipment. More particularly, the present
invention provides an enclosure that more effectively dissipates
heat from signal repeater cards and other electronic equipment,
thereby prolonging equipment life and preventing premature failure
due to damaging levels of retained, internally generated heat.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the enclosure comprises a
housing; a lid; cooling fins; and a plurality of card/equipment
receiving sleeves. The housing is preferably cylindrical and
presents a top access opening to which the lid closably
corresponds. In underground applications, the interior surface of
the closed lid projects cylindrically into and substantially
parallel to the cylindrical housing. In above ground applications,
a domed cover is added to more effectively shed water. The cooling
fins operate to conduct heat away from the housing and dissipate it
into the ambient environment. The cooling fins are formed from
substantially W-shaped pieces of metal, with the lower apexes
providing attachment points for securing the fins to the exterior
housing surface, and the upright legs providing cooling surfaces
extending substantially perpendicularly away from the housing. The
sleeves are operable to receive and electrically connect to the
cards or other equipment, and are removably arranged concentrically
about the interior of the housing. Furthermore, gas tube lightening
surge protection is provided mounted to removable circuit boards
located adjacent each sleeve and replaceable without removing the
sleeve or otherwise disrupting the function of the card or other
electronic equipment.
[0010] In operation, a card may be removed from or placed within a
sleeve, either while the sleeve is received within the housing or
while removed therefrom. An operational card generates heat which
is conducted to the surrounding sleeve. The sleeve is then able to
transfer heat along two thermally conductive pathways. Along a
first pathway, heat is transferred from an outer sleeve portion to
the housing, and then to the fins wherefrom it is dissipated into
the ambient environment. Along a second pathway, heat is
transferred from an inner sleeve portion to a leaf spring coupled
therewith, and then to the inwardly projecting cylindrical lid
portion whereafter it is dissipated into the ambient
environment.
[0011] These and other features of the present invention are more
fully described below in the section entitled DETAILED DESCRIPTION
OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described
in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a telecommunications
equipment enclosure constructed in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the enclosure of
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the enclosure of FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of the enclosure with the top cover
removed;
[0017] FIG. 5 is cross-sectional view of a card-receiving sleeve
for use with the enclosure of FIG. 1; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a card-receiving sleeve for
use with the enclosure of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a telecommunications equipment
enclosure 10 is shown constructed in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, and operable to protectively
house and cool signal repeater cards and other electronic equipment
contained therein. The preferred enclosure 10 provides at least two
thermally conductive pathways for conducting internally generated
and potentially damaging heat away from the enclosure 10 and
dissipating the heat into the surrounding environment. The
enclosure 10 broadly comprises an outer housing 12; a lid 14; a
plurality of heat-dissipating fins 16; at least one mounting
mechanism 18; and a plurality of card receiving sleeves 20.
[0020] The outer housing 12 is operable to protectively enclose
electronic equipment placed therein. The housing 12 is preferably
cylindrical in shape, with a top portion presenting an access
opening, and is preferably made of stainless steel. Where desirable
and practical, other shapes, such as square or rectangular, and
materials, such as aluminum, may be used without departing from the
contemplated scope of the present invention.
[0021] The lid 14 substantially seals and protects the housing's
interior from various environmental conditions, including dust,
moisture, and wildlife, while providing a convenient means of
accessing the contents located therein. For underground or other
sheltered applications, the lid 14 preferably includes a
cylindrically protruding portion 48 which extends downwardly into
the housing 12 when the lid is closedly positioned over the access
opening. For outdoor applications, a domed cover (not shown) is
added to the lid 14 or the lid 14 is otherwise adapted to shed
water. Alternatively, for outdoor applications exposed to the
natural elements, the cylindrical protrusion 48 may be fitted with
bottom drain holes (not shown), or may extend entirely through the
housing so as to form a substantially doughnut-shaped enclosure
(not shown). The lid preferably includes a handle portion 51 for
convenient use.
[0022] The lid 14 is shown securely fastened to the housing 12 by a
common ring clamp 50 operable to expand to fit over the lid/housing
interface and then compress to tightly engage both lid and housing
surfaces and prevent relative movement thereof. Expansion and
compression of the ring clamp 50 may be accomplished by a levered,
threaded, or other mechanism, as is well known.
[0023] The heat-dissipating fins 16 are operable to naturally
conduct heat away from the housing 12 and dissipate it into the
ambient environment. The ability of the fins 14 to conduct and
dissipate heat depends on various factors, including the amount of
surface area they present and the material of which they are made.
Preferably, the fins 16 are formed of a plurality of W-shaped
segments arranged adjacent to one another about the housing's
exterior. This shape presents a large total surface area for
dissipating heat. Furthermore, in order to facilitate thermal
conduction, the fins 16 are preferably made of metal and attached
to the housing 12 using metal-to-metal contact. Other fin designs
and arrangements may be used depending on heat dissipation
requirements and environmental conditions. For example, the fins
may take the form of a plurality of simple rectangular strips of
metal arranged and attached radially about the housing exterior; or
the fins may be formed from a long, single piece of metal
corrugated so as to present ridges and grooves, with the grooves
providing attachment points and the ridges providing cooling
surfaces. In some applications, fins may be eliminated altogether
as the housing surface itself provides sufficient heat
dissipation.
[0024] The mounting mechanism 18 provides a coupling means with
which to secure the enclosure 10 to a wall, pole, or other
structure as required. Although shown as two L-shaped mounting
brackets 18 having first ends attached to the housing 12 and second
ends adapted to receive fasteners, the nature and design of the
mounting mechanism 18 is application dependent.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the card-receiving sleeves 20 are
positioned within the housing 12. Each sleeve 20 is configured to
receive one or more single-wide or double-wide signal repeater card
or other electronic equipment. Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6,
each sleeve 20 comprises an upper portion 22, which includes one or
more generally rectangular card slots 26, and a depending leg
portion 24.
[0026] Each rectangular card slot 26 is adapted to receive a signal
repeater card. As best shown in FIG. 5, an elongated inner leaf
spring 28 is included within each slot 26 along the inner wall of
the upper portion 22 of each sleeve 20 for biasing the repeater
card received therein outwardly against the outer sleeve wall,
thereby improving conduction of heat from the card to the outer
wall of the sleeve 20. A tang portion 31 of the leaf spring 28
extends above the card slot 26 and functions to releasably hold the
card securely within the slot 26. Once the tang 31 of the spring 28
has engaged the inserted card, the tang 31 must be depressed to
allow subsequent withdrawal of the card from the slot 26.
[0027] Each sleeve 20 also includes one or more elongated outer
leaf springs 29 positioned in one or more channels along the
sleeve's innermost edge. The leaf springs 29 compressively contact
the cylindrically protruding interior surface portion 48 of the
closed lid 14 to improve thermal conduction from the sleeve 20 to
the lid 14. Though shown as providing only a single point of
contact with the interior surface portion 48, it may be preferable
that the spring 29 take an alternative shape, such as serpentine or
corrugated, thereby providing additional contact points for heat
transfer.
[0028] A circuit board 40 operable to electrically condition and
connect the signal repeater card is coupled with the upper portion
22 of each sleeve 20. The circuit board 40 is further electrically
connected to associated wiring (not shown) that enters the bottom
of the enclosure 10. A circular grounding plate 42 interconnects
all of the circuit boards 40 and serves as an electrical
ground.
[0029] Each sleeve 20 also includes a number of gas tube lightning
surge protectors 60 mounted on a removable circuit board 62. Each
circuit board 62 is received within a slot along one side of the
sleeve 20 to electrically engage an electrical connector 64 located
at the bottom thereof and connected to associated wiring (not
shown). Furthermore, each board 62 is provided with a knob 66 to
facilitate easier handling, particularly when withdrawing the
engaged board 62 from the enclosure 10. This arrangement allows the
circuit boards 62 to be easily removed and replaced without
removing the sleeve 20 or otherwise disrupting the cards or other
electronic equipment.
[0030] The upper portions of the sleeves 20 are interconnected by a
ring-shaped mounting plate 44 that fastens to the sleeves 20,
preferably using a screw or other suitable fastener. The mounting
plate 44 includes a plurality of generally rectangular-shaped
cutouts 46 for permitting insertion and removal of the signal
repeater cards from the sleeves 20 once the plate 44 is fastened in
place.
[0031] The depending leg portions 24 of the sleeves 20 are held
against the bottom of the housing 12 by a circular spring assembly
30, having a plurality of upstanding spring elements 32. The spring
elements 32 function to bias the sleeves 20 against the interior
wall of the housing 12 to improve conduction of heat therebetween.
Each spring element 32 has an inwardly projecting tang 34 that
guides the leg portion 24 of the sleeve 20 as it is inserted
between the spring element 32 and the interior wall of the housing
12. Each spring element 32 also has a detent 36 that fit into a
corresponding hole 38 on the leg portion of a fully inserted sleeve
20 to lock the sleeve 20 into its correct operating position at the
bottom of the housing 12. The tang 34 is further operable to
provide a means of releasing the detent and unlocking the sleeve 20
for removal.
[0032] In some embodiments, the sleeves 20 are not the discrete
pieces of individually removable hardware shown in FIG. 2. Instead,
one or more individually removable block sections are provided,
each of which incorporates a plurality of sleeves, wherein each
such entire section is spring-biased against the interior housing
and lid surfaces 12,48. For example, though FIGS. 2 and 4 show each
sleeve 20 as a discrete component and individually removable, one
may imagine that two or four or more sleeves 20 are combined in a
single block section such that removal of one of the sleeves
requires removal of the entire block section of which it is an
integral part. Such a configuration allows, for example, for
quicker removal and replacement of large numbers of sleeves. It is
further contemplated that some applications may require or prefer
that all sleeves be incorporated into a single, removable unit,
each sleeve being an integral part thereof.
[0033] In operation, a technician desiring to remove or insert
signal repeater cards into the sleeves 20 of the enclosure may
remove the lid 14 by expanding the ring clamp 50 and releasing it
from the housing 12, and then pulling the lid 14 upward to withdraw
the cylindrically protruding portion 48 therefrom. With the lid 14
removed, the access opening is exposed and, looking down into the
housing 12, the technician will be presented with the view shown in
FIG. 4. Signal repeater cards may then be easily inserted into the
rectangular card slots 26 of the sleeves 20 or removed therefrom.
Once inserted, the inner leaf spring 28 forces the card into
positive contact with the back wall of the slot 26, and the tang
portion 31 of the spring 28 slips over a top portion of the card to
securely retain it therein. To remove a card, the tang 31 is
depressed until the card can be freely withdrawn from the slot
26.
[0034] The sleeves 28 themselves may be removed by first unscrewing
and removing the grounding plate 42 and unscrewing and removing the
mounting plate 44. The technician is then able to reach into the
housing 12 to depress the tang 34 of the spring element 32
associated with the sleeve 20 to be removed. Depressing the tang 34
causes the detent 36 to release from the corresponding hole 38 in
the leg portion 24 of the sleeve 20, thereby unlocking the sleeve
20 and permitting its removal through the top of the housing 12.
Replacing the sleeve 20 is accomplished by performing the steps of
the removal process in reverse order. Note, however, that the step
of depressing the tang 34 is unnecessary as its shape will allow
the sleeve 20 to automatically slip behind the spring element 32
and engage the detent 36 as the operator pushes the sleeve 20 into
its proper position at the bottom of the housing 12.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows the assembled enclosure 10 with sleeves 20 in
place. As is evident from FIG. 3, an operational, heat generating
card located within the rectangular slot 26 of a sleeve 20 is able
to transfer heat along two different thermally conductive pathways.
Along a first pathway, heat is transferred from the card to an
outer portion of the sleeve 20, then to the housing 12, and then to
the fins 16 wherefrom it is dissipated into the ambient
environment. Along a second pathway, heat is transferred from the
card to the leaf spring 28, then to an inner portion of the sleeve
20, then to the leaf spring 29 coupled therewith, and then to the
inwardly projecting cylindrical lid portion 48 whereafter it is
dissipated into the ambient environment.
[0036] Although the invention has been described with reference to
the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing
figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and
substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the
invention as recited in the claims. For example, as noted above,
the present invention is adaptable to various housing, lid, and fin
shapes, mounting arrangements, and materials. Furthermore, although
described primary as a housing for signal repeater cards, the
present invention is adaptable to accommodate a variety of
electronic equipment.
* * * * *