WO1997050260A1

WO1997050260A1 - Structured wiring installations

Info

Publication number: WO1997050260A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/001716
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barry Alexander
Original assignee: Molex Inc.
Priority date: 1996-06-24
Filing date: 1997-06-24
Publication date: 1997-12-31
Also published as: ZA975473B; EP0951783A1; GB9613175D0

Abstract

A structured wiring installation for use in telecommunication networks includes a rack for mounting patch panels one beneath the other, the rack comprising a pair of tubular uprights (10a, b) spaced apart from one another, each upright having a patch panel mounting bracket (11a, b) associated therewith such that the patch panels when mounted, extend between the brackets one above the other across the front of the rack, and support means (13a, b; 14a, b) extending rearwardly from the uprights for retaining the uprights in an upright position.

Description

STRUCTURED WIRING INSTALLATIONS

This invention relates to a structured wiring installation for use in telecommunication networks, and particularly concerns a rack for mounting so-called patch panels.

A patch panel essentially consists of a generally rectangular panel having an array of electrical connector ports for receiving plug-in electrical connectors. In networked computer installations for example, a large amount of cabling is required and the management of such cabling is becoming increasingly important. Racks of patch panels, sometimes known as "patching frames", are provided to allow interconnection between the various cables, as in a telephone switchboard.

A known patching frame consists of a box-like cabinet constructed from sheet metal the cabinet including perforated panel mounting strips spaced inwardly from metal side walls and extending from top to bottom of the cabinet, the patch panels being secured to the mounting strips one above the other across the front of the cabinet. The cables supplying the patch panels he within channels formed between the respective side w alls of the cabinet and the panel mounting strips, and rounded cable management arms extend across the respective channels at spaced intervals to guide and suppoπ the cables for each patch panel

The use of sneet metal facilitates manufacture of these cabinets, but has the disadvantage that access to the patch panels is restricted and. moreover, precautions must be taken to prevent the edges of the sheet metal from cutting into the cables.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rack which overcomes these disadvantages and which is simple and inexpensive to construct.

According to the present invention, there is provided a structured wiring installation including a rack for mounting patch panels one beneath the other, the rack composing a pair of tubular uprights spaced apaπ from one another, each upright having a patch Danel mounting bracket associated therewith such that the patch panels. when mounted, extend between the brackets one above the other across the front of the rack, and support means extending rearwardly from the upπghts for retaining the uprights in an upright position.

Preferably, the support means comprises a pair of rear upπghts connected to the respective tubular upπghts b\ spaced connecting arms.

The rear upπghts are preferably displaced laterally outwards relative to the front tubular upπghts, and at least one of the connecting arms may then include a first portion extending rearwardly from the respective tubular upπght. and a second portion extending laterally outwards from the first portion to form a recess for accommodating the cabling supplying the patch panels

The tubular upπghts are preferabh rounded, and may be joined to one another at the top and bottom to form a rectangular tubular frame.

At least one of the tubular upπghts ma\ include at least one aperture for receiving a rounded cable suppoπ arm that projects outwardly from the respective upright.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described. b\

of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a patching frame embodying the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a side view of the frame:

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the frame: and

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view.

Referring to these drawings, the frame consists of a main rectangular frame 10 constructed of 50mrr diameter tube The tubular frame 10 is held in its upright position by rearwardly extending arms 13a. 13b welded to the uprights 10a, 10b of the tubular structure at the front and to laterally displaced rear upπghts 14a. 14b at the rear. An opposed pair of standard panel mounting brackets 11a. l ib are secured to the connecting arms 13a, 13b whereby rectangular patch panels 12 are mounted one beneath the other across the front of the frame.

The connecting arms 13a, 13b are shaped as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and include veπically aligned recessed poπions 19 for accommodating the cabimg (not shown) which is plugged into the connector pons 20 in the front of the patch panels 12, and which extends rearwardly from the connectors at the rear of the panels. Cable suppoπ arms 21 constructed from 32mm x 16mm oval tube project outwardly from the tubular uprights 10a. 10b to the respective sides of the frame to assist in supponing and separating the cabling.

The rear uprights 14a. 14b are connected at the top by a rear cross member 23, and additional cable supports 24 for overhead routing extend between the rear cross member 23 and the tubular frame 10.

Further suppoπ for the cables is provided at the rear of the structure b\ an open grid wire trellis 16a 16b constructed of 50mm square weldmesh and secured to the respective arms 13a 13b and extending from top to bottom of the rack. The cables are then attached to the grid as required using cable ties.

The frame is easily constructed without the use of sheet metal and provides good access to the patch panels. The brackets 11 are secured to the upπghts 10a. 10b in any convenient manner, for example by screwing 18. The patch panels 12 are also secured to the brackets 11 in a conventional manner, for example by screws.

The frame may stand alone or. for reasons of security, may be enclosed in a cabinet A base upstand 22 provides the mounting for a lower door sill, and a saddle bracket 240 provides the mounting for a top door sill

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A structured w iring installation including a rack for mounting patch panels one beneath the other, the rack comprising a pair of tubular upπghts spaced apart from one another, each upright having a patch panel mounting bracket associated therew ith such that the patch panels w hen mounted, extend between the brackets one above the other across the front of the rack, and suppoπ means extending rearwardly from the uprights for retaining the uprights in an upright position.

2. An installation according to claim 1 wherein the suppoπ means comprises a pair of rear upngnts connected to the respective tubular uprights b_\ spaced connecting arms.

3. An installation according to claim 2 w herein the rear uprights are displaced laterally outwards relative to the front tubular uprights, and at least one of the connecting arms includes a first poπion extending rearwardh from the respective tubular upπght. and a second portion extending laterally outwards from the first poπion to form a recess for accommodating the cabling supplying the patch panels.

4. An installation according to am one of the preceding claims w herein the tubular uprights are rounded.

5. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular uprights are joined to one another at the top and bottom to form a rectangular tubular frame.

6. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the tubular uprights includes at least one apeπure for receiving a rounded cable suppoπ arm that projects outwardly from the respective upright.