Supports: racks – Special article – Electrically powered
Patent
1998-12-04
1999-11-02
Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
Supports: racks
Special article
Electrically powered
211189, 361829, 3122654, A47F 500
Patent
active
059753153
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to rack structures, e.g. for containing telecommunications equipment, and in particular to equipment racks provided with resistance to earthquake induced forces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is an increasing need for ruggedised racking for the installation of telecommunication equipment, e.g. switching equipment, in zones that are potentially subject to earthquake damage. These earthquake zones are classified according to the potential risk and the magnitude of earthquake damage, the most severe damage being expected in zone 4. There is a requirement that, in the event of an earthquake, the equipment supported in the rack will be protected from damage so that a communication service can be maintained without interruption. To meet this objective, an equipment rack must provide effective damping of the earthquake induced vibrations so as to minimise the forces that are transferred to the equipment mounted in the rack. The requirements for earthquake resistance are described in a test procedure detailed in the Bellcore NEBS standard entitled GR-63-CORE, Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) which recommends applied forces and wave forms which the rack should be able to resist.
One approach to this problem is described in specification number U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,107 which describes a rack in which the base portion is reinforced with metal gussets to provide a strong box-like structure which braces the rack against applied forces. While this provides an effective rugged structure which is resistant to applied forces resulting from an earthquake, the box-like base section occupies a significant proportion of the rack volume and limits the quantity of equipment that can be supported on the rack. Thus a larger number of racks are required to house a given volume of equipment than would be the case with conventional racking systems. This can limit the use of such a rack in confined situations where space is at a premium.
The object of the invention is to minimise or to overcome this disadvantage.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved earthquake resistant rack construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an equipment rack for supporting communications equipment, including a generally rectangular base member, first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the base member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base member, a top member coupling the free ends of the side members, and means for securing the base member to a support surface, wherein the securing means is adapted to prestress the base member so as to transfer force from the base member to the side members whereby to raise the vibrational response of the rack to a value at which earthquake induced vibration of the rack is inhibited.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an earthquake resistant structure including a generally rectangular base frame member, first and second elongate side members extending from opposite sides of the base member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base member, a generally rectangular top member coupling the free ends of the side members, and means for securing the base member to a support surface, wherein the securing means is adapted to prestress and distort the base member so as to transfer force from the base member to the side members whereby to raise the vibrational response of the structure to a value at which earthquake induced vibration of the structure is inhibited.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mounting an equipment rack for supporting communications equipment on a support surface, the rack including a generally rectangular base member, first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the base member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base member, a top member coupling the free ends of the side members, and means for securing the base member to the support surface, wh
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Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
Northern Telecom Limited
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