Supports: cabinet structure – Knockdown or setup type – Skeletal frame
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-12
2001-09-25
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Knockdown or setup type
Skeletal frame
C312S265400, C211S026000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293637
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electronic equipment frames and enclosures, and particularly ones that are resistant to damage from earthquakes and other tremor-related activity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic equipment enclosures, whether of the skeletal frame-type or full cabinet-type, are used for housing electronic equipment, telecommunication switching gear, computer servers, and similar electronic devices. There is an ever increasing need for such electronic equipment enclosures to be so-called “earthquake resistant” or “fault tolerant”. That is, for many locations, they must be designed to withstand high vibratory stresses in three axes, such as are present in earthquake prone locations, military installations, and similar sites. Such high strength is needed to keep the equipment frames and enclosures from going into harmonic vibration which can lead to self destruction, and to withstand high cantilever lateral loads. An industry standard, known as the so-called Seismic Zone
4
standard (issued as the Bellcore Specification NEBS, GR-63-CORE, Issue 1) has been developed for such enclosures. Successful testing to that standard is used by manufacturers of such earthquake resistant electronic enclosures to claim that are Seismic Zone 4 compliant. Such Seismic 4 testing assures sufficient resistance to torsional loads, lateral loads, vibratory loads, and other severe tremor-created conditions.
One prior attempt to create an earthquake-resistant electronic equipment enclosure is U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,672 (Gemra, et al). That electronic equipment enclosure has a unitized or monocoque-type enclosure formed of one continuous corrugated panel, i.e., with all the side, top, and bottom sections formed of corrugated metal. In effect, the connected (or continuous folded) corrugated panels provide a continuous envelope for the structure. However, there are practical difficulties in trying to economically manufacture such an enclosure. Further, there is no side access permitted with that frame design, plus the fastening and mounting locations for the equipment shelves are severely limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an open frame-type electronic frame in which the two sides are each formed of two separate corrugated channel members rigidly connected by a series of cross struts having specially configured bent tang ends and heavy duty offset weld joints. Importantly, each respective corrugated side channel member has a central generally, V-shaped, flat-bottomed trough portion, flat wall extension portions, and two outer, substantially equal length end flanges, with one having a bent lip portion. The lipless flange is notched at several locations along its length to permit assembly and rigid fastening of the respective cross strut members. A top panel member has two corrugated channel members having the same central corrugation profile as that of the side channel members. These top channel members are rigidly affixed, such as by welding, along their length to the underneath side of the top panel member, and at their respective ends to the side channel members. The top panel assembly also includes at least one cable access opening, along with an associated top panel stiffener member, to permit ready access of cable to the electronic equipment housed in the present frame. The bottom panel assembly is a generally U-shaped flat panel member formed without any corrugated channel members, or other cross stiffener members. Anchor plates are provided.
Further, eight separate generally L-shaped bent tube sections are rigidly affixed, such as by welding, a series of four each respectively to the top panel and side members adjacent the side corrugated channel members, and similarly, another series of four each to the lower side wall and bottom panel, again adjacent the side corrugated channel members. They provide the needed bi-axial stress relief to the overall frame. Thus, the resultant equipment frame is lightweight, as compared to prior art earthquake-resistant frames, and is formed of welded-up components, including use of corrugated supports at only the four vertical corners of the frame.
Additionally, if desired, standard-sized front and rear panel doors and side panels (i.e., so-called “skins”) and shelves can be added to the present frame so as to create a full cabinet-type enclosure. However, such additional doors and side panels are not believed needed to satisfactorily pass the Seismic Zone
4
test protocol.
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Anderson Thomas E.
Derango Louis A.
Dickson Glenn
Young Jerry L.
Amco Engineering Co.
Cuomo Peter M.
Hansen James O.
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
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