Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-05-08
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S601000, C361S616000, C361S641000, C361S659000, C361S667000, C361S672000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229707
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention resides in methods and apparatus for housing electrical equipment and, more specifically, in calamity-proof door systems for electrical equipment cabinets.
BACKGROUND
Cabinets for electrical equipment are well known as such. In this respect, “electrical equipment” is to be understood in a broad sense, covering such apparatus as telephone substations and other telephone-related or telecommunication equipment, electrical power distribution substations or switching, transforming or distributing equipment, electrical storage battery or other emergency back-up systems, automated teller machines (ATMs) and other electronic equipment housed in cabinets that may, for instance, be free-standing outdoors.
In practice, such cabinets are made of heavy-gauge steel or similarly strong materials that successfully resist hurricane-force calamities as far as top, side and rear walls are concerned. However, doors have continued to be a problem even with strong outdoor cabinets.
This is particularly serious in the case of such apparatus as telephone substations and other telephone-related apparatus or telecommunication equipment, electrical power distribution substations or switching, transforming or distributing equipment, electrical storage battery or other emergency back-up systems, which serve large areas and need to be relied on especially in emergency situations. In a similar vein, automated teller machines (ATMs) and other electronic equipment are inherently vulnerable and can damage assets of a large number of people when invaded or abused.
The state of the art of outdoor cabinets for electrical equipment is exemplified by what has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,058, entitled “Service Pedestal,” by Wallace D. Tessmer, issued Jan. 3, 1995.
In particular, that prior patent in FIGS. 1, 2, 13, 17 and 19, for instance, discloses a cabinet door system comprising a hinged inner door 101 on an interior cabinet space containing circuit breakers, and a hinged exterior door 94. The inner door has a generally rectangular cutout 103 to provide egress for the circuit breakers with exposure of their actuating levers.
The exterior door 94 of that prior patent is solid and has a gasket 96 around its edges which serves to keep moisture out.
Exterior doors of such kind of free-standing or outdoor cabinets are particularly hard hit by larger objects having become airborne in hurricane-force calamities. In this respect, “hurricane-force wind” is a well known term of art referring to a wind, not necessarily a hurricane, having a very high speed, typically above 70 miles per hour or 30 meters per second. Accordingly, a hurricane-force calamity is intended to cover hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons and the like, and is intended to extend to forces of similar magnitude exerted accidentally or intentionally by vehicles or vandals or otherwise by mischievous humans or animals of all kinds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to overcome these problems by shutting openings of electrical equipment cabinets against hurricane-force calamities.
The invention resides in a method of housing electrical equipment in a cabinet having an opening and, more specifically, resides in the improvement of protecting the electrical equipment against hurricane-force calamities, comprising, in combination, covering the electrical equipment with an inner door system inside the cabinet, covering that inner door system and closing the opening of the cabinet with an environmental door system, and overlaying that environmental door system with a calamity-proof door system.
The invention resides also in an electrical equipment cabinet having an opening, and a closure system protecting electrical equipment in that cabinet against hurricane-force calamities, comprising, in combination, an inner door system covering the electrical equipment inside the cabinet, an environmental door system covering that inner door system and shutting the opening of the cabinet, and a calamity-proof door system overlaying the environmental door system when shut.
The invention resides also in a method of housing electrical equipment in a cabinet having an opening, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement of protecting the electrical equipment against hurricane-force calamities, comprising, in combination, covering such electrical equipment with an inner door system inside that cabinet, closing the opening of that cabinet with an environmental door system, and overlaying that environmental door system with a calamity-proof door system, with one of such environmental door system and calamity-proof door system being hinged in line with the earth's gravitational pull, and the other of such environmental door system and calamity-proof door system being hinged transversely to the earth's gravitational pull.
The invention resides also in a method of housing electrical equipment in a cabinet having an opening, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement of protecting the electrical equipment against hurricane-force calamities, comprising, in combination, covering such electrical equipment with an inner door system inside that cabinet, closing the opening of that cabinet with an environmental door system, overlaying that environmental door system with a calamity-proof door system, and using that calamity-proof door system as an on-site temporary roof for installation and service personnel in an upturned position.
The invention resides also in an electrical equipment cabinet having an opening and a closure system protecting electrical equipment in that cabinet against hurricane-force calamities, comprising, in combination, an inner door system covering the electrical equipment inside that cabinet, an environmental door system shutting that opening, and a calamity-proof door system overlaying that environmental door system when shut, with one of such environmental door system and calamity-proof door system hinged in line with the earth's gravitational pull, and the other of such environmental door system and calamity-proof door system hinged transversely to the earth's gravitational pull.
The invention resides also in an electrical equipment cabinet having an opening and a closure system protecting electrical equipment in that cabinet against hurricane-force calamities, comprising, in combination, an inner door system covering the electrical equipment inside that cabinet, an environmental door system shutting that opening, and a calamity-proof door system overlaying that environmental door system when shut and being an on-site temporary roof in an upturned position.
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Keenan James J.
Sevier Richard W.
Hendry Mechanical Works
Koppel & Jacobs
Picard Leo P.
Vortman Anatoly
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