RACK CABINETS This invention relates to rack cabinets. particularly but not exclusively for housing modules of electrical, electronic or computer equipment.
Typically, such rack cabinets comprise a framework and a cladding of wall and/or door panels attached to the framework, for example with the door panel at the front. Typically, the cabinets might be about 2m high. A typical installation might include a row of such cabinets with electrical or optical cabling interconnecting modules in the same cabinet, in different cabinets and also extending to the outside world.
In one known type of rack cabinet, the framework comprises upper and lower frame members, and uprights each extending between the upper and lower frame members and between which the equipment modules are mounted. The cladding then surrounds the framework. In one known cabinet, the upper frame member, for example, has cut-outs part-way along its front, back and left and right sides to permit cabling to be run along the top of a row of cabinets and then down through, for example, one of the side cut-outs in the upper frame member of one of the cabinets for connection to a module in that cabinet.During initial installation, particularly before the cladding has been attached to the framework, it may be easy enough to route the cable into the cabinets, but if additional cables need to be added later, particularly if they need to be routed through the side cut-outs, difficulties arise, requiring the workman to get above the cabinet, feed the cable down through the side cut-out amongst the cables already installed <RTI>and</RTI> then connect the cable.
One aspect of the present invention is concerned with facilitating the installation of cabling to such rack cabinets, especially but not exclusively the installation of additional cables.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a rack cabinet, comprising: a rack framework for mounting equipment modules; cladding for the framework and including left and right panels; and means for securing the cladding to the framework so that at least one of the left and right panels is spaced from the framework to permit cable from an equipment module in the framework to extend up or down between the framework and said one panel and to exit at the top and/or bottom of the cabinet; wherein the securing means includes at least one member at the top and/or the bottom of the cabinet spacing apart and connecting the framework and said one panel, the member being removable to facilitate addition or removal of cable.With the member at, say, the top of the cabinet removed, cable running along the top of the cabinets can be inserted into the space without having to thread it lengthwise into the space.
Preferably, said member is a cross-member which extends from the left panel to the right panel and is longer than the width of the framework. In this case, preferably, the framework is removably securable to the cross-member at any selected one of a plurality of predefined positions along the cross-member to provide for adjustable spacings between the left panel and the framework and between the right panel and the framework. For example, the framework might be securable (a) at the centre of the cross-member, (b) at the right extreme, or (c) at the left extreme, to provide (a) equal room for cabling at both sides of the framework, or (b) more room at the left, or (c) more room at the right. Thus, flexibility of configuration is provided to meet the requirements of the particular installation, using the same component parts.
Preferably, four such cross-members are provided. at the fronttop, front-bottom, back-top and back-bottom of the cabinet, respectively.
In a known rack cabinet, the framework comprises: upper and lower frame members; front-left, back-left, front-right and back-right generally upright pillars each extending between the upper and lower frame members with the position of each pillar in the depth direction of the cabinet being fixed.
A second aspect of the present invention is concerned with providing flexibility as to the types of equipment which may be mounted in the cabinet and/or as to the location of the space(s) for cabling.
In accordance with the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a rack cabinet, comprising a rack framework and a cladding of wall and/or door panels attached to the framework, the framework comprising: upper and lower frame members; front-left, back-left, front-right and back-right generally upright pillars each extending between the upper and lower frame members for mounting equipment modules; and securing means for securing the upper and lower ends of the front and/or rear pillars each to or towards a respective side of a respective one of the upper and lower frame members at a selected one of a plurality of predefined securing locations such that the positions of the pillars in the depth direction of the cabinet are selectable.
Accordingly, the position in the depth direction of the cabinet of the equipment modules can be adjusted and/or the spacings between the left pillars and between the right pillars can be adjusted to accommodate equipment modules of different depths.
Preferably, the securing locations of both the front and the rear pillars are selectable, preferably independently selectable.
It should be noted that the features of the first aspect of the invention and of the second aspect of the invention can be combined in the same racking cabinet in order to provide even greater flexibility and to facilitate the addition of further cables.
A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of rack cabinet according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, but with the rack cabinet in a different configuration; Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, but with a front panel and front cross-members removed; Figure 4 is a side view of the rack cabinet of Figure 3 with rear and side panels removed; and Figure 5 is a front view of the rack cabinet of Figure 1, but with panels removed.
Referring to the drawings. a rack cabinet comprises top and bottom rectangular frame members 12t, 12b, which are made of, for example, pressed steel or cast aluminium, and which may have a central rectangular opening 14 to reduce weight and permit additional cable access. The front and back edges 16f, 16b of each frame member 12 are each formed with a pair of spaced apart tapped holes 18, and the left and right edges 201, 20r of each frame member 12t, 12b are each formed with a series of six pairs of tapped holes 22.
The cabinet 10 further comprises top-front, bottom-front, top back and bottom-back cross-members 24tf, <RTI>24bf,</RTI> 24tb, 24bb made of, for example, pressed steel. Each cross-member 24 is greater in length than the width of the frame members 12t, 12b. Each cross-member 24 is formed with a series of five fixing holes 25, having a pitch which is half of the pitch of the tapped holes 18 in the frame members, and each cross-member 24 is secured to the respective edge 16 of the respective frame member 12 by a pair of bolts 28 pressing through a selected pair of holes 26 in the cross-member and into the pair of tapped holes 18 in the frame member.
The cabinet 10 also comprises front-left, front-right, back-left and back-right upright pillars 30fl, 30fr, 30bl, 30br made of, for example, pressed steel and having, for example, a generally S-shaped cross-section. The top and bottom of each pillar 30 each have a pair of fixing holes through which a pair of bolts 32 pass into engagement with a selected pair of the tapped holes 22 in the respective edge 20 of the respective frame member 12. In normal use, the front pillars <RTI>30fl,</RTI> 30fr would each be located the same distance from the front edges 16f of the frame members 12, and the back pillars <RTI>30bl,</RTI> <RTI>30br</RTI> would each be located the same distance from the back edges 16b of the frame members 12 so that the four pillars 30 are in a rectangular configuration.Each pillar is formed with a series of fixing holes 34 (see Figure 5) along its length so that modules of electrical, electronic or computer equipment can be mounted between the pillars at selected heights.
The cabinet 10 furthermore comprises a cladding of front, back, left and right panels 36f, 36b, 361, 36r which are secured to the cross-members 24 by removable fastenings which, for simplicity, are not shown in the drawings, and the front and back panel 36f, 36b may, in a known fashion, incorporate opening doors. The cabinet 10 may also be provided with trim strips, castor wheels and lifting hooks, which for simplicity are not shown.
Referring to Figure 1, the cross-members 24 are mounted centrally along the front and back edges of the frame members 12, and it will therefore be appreciated that equal sized spaces 381, 38r are formed between the left panel 361 and the internal framework, and between the right panel 38r and the internal framework, through which cabling can be routed. However, as shown in Figure 2, the cross-members 24 may be secured off-centre with respect to the frame members 12 by using different pairs of the fixing holes 26 in the cross-members 24 for the bolts 28. Figure 2 shows the case where a large cabling space 38r is provided to the right, and a small cabling space 381 is provided to the left. Of course, the offset can be in the other direction, whichever is required to suit best the needs of the particular installation.
Referring back to Figure 1, the upright pillars 30 are secured to the pairs of holes 22 at the ends of the sides 20 of the frame members 12 so as to accommodate equipment modules having a large depth. For equipment modules which are not so deep, the back pillars <RTI>30bl,</RTI> <RTI>30br</RTI> may be relocated towards the front of the cabinet, as shown in Figure 2, and this then provides additional cabling space 38b behind the equipment modules. Alternatively. the front pillars <RTI>30fl,</RTI> <RTI>30fr</RTI> could be relocated towards the rear of the cabinet, and this would then provide increased cabling or access space 38f in front of the equipment modules. It will also be appreciated that for equipment modules having even less depth, there may be a choice of increased space 38f, 38b at the front, or at the back, or both.
Referring in particular to Figures 1 and 3, if it is required to add further cabling which will run along the top of a row of such cabinets and then down into the cabling space 381, 38r, this can be facilitated by removing the front panel 36f, undoing the fastenings which hold the top-front corners of the side panels 361, 36r to the top-front cross-member 24tf, and then removing the two bolts 28 which secure the top-front cross-member 24tf to the front edge of the top frame member 12t. The top-front cross-member 24tf can then be removed to permit uninterrupted access from the top and the front to the cabling spaces 381, 38r as shown by the arrows 40. After the additional cabling has been installed, the cabinet is then reassembled.
Similar procedures can be used to permit uninterrupted access from the bottom and front, from the top and back and from the bottom and back.
It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the cabinet described above. For example, two, or four or more selectable positions for each cross-member 24 may be provided.
More or less selectable positions for the uprights 30 may be provided.
The uprights 30 and cross-members 24 may be secured other than to the outer edges of the frame members 12. Some of the cladding panels may be omitted. Also, for a row of such cabinets, the cross-members 24 may be common to two or more of the cabinets.