GB2426182A

GB2426182A - Cabinet expansion module

Info

Publication number: GB2426182A
Application number: GB0510095A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin O'toole
Original assignee: EUROCRAFT ENCLOSURES Ltd
Current assignee: EUROCRAFT ENCLOSURES Ltd
Priority date: 2005-05-18
Filing date: 2005-05-18
Publication date: 2006-11-22
Also published as: GB0510095D0

Abstract

An expansion module 2, which can be mechanically affixed to a telecommunications cross connection cabinet 1. The module may include a hinged door 4, which allows access to equipment mounted within the expansion module 2 or can be closed by using vertically extended cabinet doors, which allow access to both the expansion module and the existing cabinet at the same time. Equipment in the expansion unit 2 can be connected to equipment in the cabinet 1 through apertures and conduits in the expansion module and power to active equipment is drawn from the existing telephone line cables.

Description

Cabinet expansion module This invention relates to an expansion module for

telecommunications cross connection cabinets.

Telecommunications network providers use cross connection cabinets to house and protect passive equipment in an external environment away from their telephony exchange rooms. Tens of thousands of cross connection cabinets are located at Street side locations in many different environments, be they commercial, residential, industrial or rural. Telecommunications network providers require a means of deploying active equipment away from their exchange rooms, which creates the minimum level of disruption to the provision of existing network services. The utilisation of existing cross connection cabinets for installation of active equipment is not possible due space constraints within the cabinets. The replacement of an existing cabinet with a larger unit would cause network disruption and downtime during the period connections were removed and re-terminated.

Installation of additional cabinets would require local authority planning consent and the employment of civil engineering contractors to complete the installation.

Because telecommunication networks have been built over a period of many years there are numerous styles of cross connection cabinets in use, however, they can effectively be distinguished under two constructional methods; cast iron and fabricated sheet metal.

To satisfy these requirements, this invention proposes an expansion module to be added to existing cross connection cabinets. This extension is to be affixed to the top of the existing cross connection cabinet after removal of the existing cabinet roof. The invention will take different forms, which are capable of being attached to cross connection cabinets constructed from cast iron or fabricated sheet metal.

The use of an expansion module will eliminate the need to replace an entire cross connection cabinet with a larger cabinet.

The expansion module will enable passive and active equipment to be securely housed and interconnected within the same existing cabinet.

Preferably, the expansion module will eliminate the need for installation by civil contractors, or on-site cutting of metal.

Preferably, active equipment can be installed in the expansion module before delivery to site and the module then affixed to the existing cross connection cabinet without disruption to passive equipment and connections housed therein.

The invention will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in front elevation an expansion module mounted on top of a cross connection cabinet constructed from cast iron.

Figure 2 shows in side elevation an expansion module mounted on top of a cross connection cabinet constructed from cast iron.

Figure 3 shows in side elevation an exploded view of an expansion module for use with cross connection cabinet of cast iron construction.

Figure 4 shows in perspective an expansion module for use with a cross connection cabinet of cast iron construction.

Figure 5 shows in front elevation an expansion module mounted on top of a cross connection cabinet constructed from sheet metal.

Figure 6 shows in side elevation an expansion module mounted on top of a cross connection cabinet constructed from sheet metal.

Figure 7 shows in side elevation an exploded view of an expansion module for use with cross connection cabinet of sheet metal construction.

Figure 8 shows in perspective an expansion module for use with a cross connection cabinet of sheet metal construction.

In figure 1 the existing roof has been removed from the cross connection cabinet of cast iron construction 1 and the expansion module 2 fitted to the cabinet body 1 with bolt fixings using the holes previously used to secure the roof to the body. Sealant tape, mastic or jointing putty will be used to mate the expansion module 2 to the cross connection cabinet 1. The expansion module 2 has a new pitched roof 3, which overhangs both the expansion module door 4 and the doors on the cross connection cabinet body 1. The expansion module door 4 is hinged 5 on the lower horizontal edge to open down and out from the expansion module. The door is secured with a high security compression lock 6 in the middle of the upper face of the expansion module door.

Figure 2 shows the end elevation of a cross connection cabinet of cast iron construction I after its original roof has been removed and the expansion module 2 has fitted to the cabinet. The new pitched roof 3 extends beyond the expansion module door 4 to provide protection from the climatic elements and to prevent unauthorised forced entry to the module.

Figure 3 shows an exploded cross section of an expansion module 2 before its new pitched roof 3 has been fitted and also prior to it being attached to the cross connection cabinet of cast iron construction 1. The aperture 7 on the front face of the expansion module 2 has flanges 8 formed on its horizontal and vertical faces, which match the profile of the expansion module door 4 to provide protection from climatic elements and to prevent unauthorised forced entry to the module. The expansion module 2 is fitted with studs 9, which will be inserted in the holes previously used to secure the original cast iron roof to the cabinet body and will be affixed with bolts. The new pitched roof 3 will be affixed to the expansion module 2 using studs 10. Connections between passive telecommunications equipment mounted in the cross connection cabinet I and active equipment mounted within in the expansion module 2 will be routed through apertures in the base 11 of the expansion module 2. Apertures in the expansion module will be formed during manufacture to avoid the need for anything other than the fastening of bolt fixings and cable connections at the cabinet site. There is no top panel on the cross connection cabinet constructed from cast iron, which will mean that cables can be run vertically to the expansion module at any position. Power supplies to active equipment in the expansion module will be drawn from the existing telephone line cables used by passive equipment in the cross connection cabinet 1 through an aperture in the base 11 of the expansion module 2. This will eliminate the need for a mains electricity supply to be installed to the cross connection cabinet 1.

In figure 4 the expansion module door 4 opens in the direction of the arrows 12 to allow access to active equipment mounted on the base 11 of the expansion module.

In figure 5 the existing roof has been removed from the cross connection cabinet fabricated from sheet metal 12 and the expansion module 13 fitted to the cabinet body 12 with bolt fixings using holes previously used to secure the roof to the body.

Sealant tape, mastic or jointing putty will be used to mate the expansion module 13 to the cross connection cabinet 12. The expansion module 13 has a new pitched roof 14, which overhangs a pair of replacement doors 15, which have been vertically extended to cover the apertures on both the expansion module 13 and the opening to the cross connection cabinet 12. The extent of the original doors is illustrated by the dotted line 16. The extended replacement doors 15 will be hung from the original cross connection cabinet hinges 17 and locked with compression locks 18 mounted at the same vertical height as those on the original cross connection cabinet doors.

Figure 6 shows the end elevation of a cross connection cabinet fabricated from sheet metal construction 12 after its original roof has been removed and the expansion module 13 has fitted to the cabinet. The new pitched roof 14 extends beyond the vertically extended replacement doors 15 to provide protection from the climatic elements and to prevent unauthorised forced entry to the cross connection cabinet 12 and the expansion module 13.

Figure 7 shows an exploded cross section of an expansion module 13 before its new pitched roof 14 has been fitted and also prior to it being attached to the cross connection cabinet of sheet metal construction 12. The aperture 19 on the front face of the expansion module 13 has flanges 20 formed on its top horizontal and both vertical faces, which match the profile of the vertically extended replacement doors to provide protection from climatic elements and to prevent unauthorised forced entry to the module. The expansion module 13 is affixed to the cross connection cabinet 12 with mechanical fixings, which will be inserted in the apertures previously used to secure the original cabinet roof and will be affixed with bolts.

The new pitched roof 14 will be affixed to the expansion module 13 using mechanical fixings. There is a top panel 21 in cross connection cabinets fabricated from sheet metal. To avoid the need to drill or cut this panel 21 on site, connections between passive telecommunications equipment mounted in the cross connection cabinet 12 and active equipment mounted within in the expansion module 13 will be routed through an aperture and conduit located at the front of the units indicated by the arrow 22. Power supplies to active equipment in the expansion module will be drawn from the existing telephone cables used by passive equipment in the cross connection cabinet 12 through the aperture indicated by arrow 22. This will eliminate the need for a mains electricity supply to be installed to the cross connection cabinet 12. The aperture and conduit 22 will be formed during manufacture to avoid the need for any work other than the fastening of bolt fixings and cable connections at the cabinet site during installation.

In figure 8 access 23 to the expansion module 13 is provided once the extended replacement doors have been opened.

Claims

1. An expansion module, which can be added to an existing telecommunications cross connection cabinet to house active equipment without the need for mains power and is affixed using mechanical fixings.

2. An expansion module according to claim 1, which is fitted with a door hinged horizontally to allow access to the active equipment and has apertures in the lower horizontal panel for connections between the cross connection cabinet and the expansion module.

3. An expansion module according to claim 1, which is not fitted with a door and incorporates apertures and conduits for connections between the cross connection cabinet and the expansion module.