AU592417B2

AU592417B2 - Sub-rack mounting

Info

Publication number: AU592417B2
Application number: AU70531/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Samuel Dean
Original assignee: Standard Telephone and Cables Pty Ltd; Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Current assignee: Nokia Services Ltd
Priority date: 1986-04-01
Filing date: 1987-03-23
Publication date: 1990-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-23
Also published as: AU7053187A

Description

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592417 ame~merits made un6w Section 49.

aud c t COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-1969 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED "SUB-RACK MOUNTING" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:-

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This invention relates to mounting arrangements for rack mounted equipment, particularly sub-racks for telecommunication equipment.

Presently used sub-racks incorporate terminals and connector sockets on the top horizontal panel thereof, and in order to gain access tc' the terminals and sockets of one sub-rack of a group of sub-racks stacked horizontally on a rack, a mounting arrangement is provided on each sub-rack which permits it to be either fully withdrawn or partially withdrawn in a supporting manner to expose the terminals and connector sockets.

A known mounting arrangement of the aforementioned type comprises a pair of spaced plate members vertically affixed at one end to the rack, each plate member being slidably engaged by a channel means incorporated in a box-like structure attached to each vertical side wall of the sub-rack.

The box-like structure also incorporates a locking arrangement which prevents the sub-rack from being fully withdrawn.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned known mouting arrangement is that the box-like structure extends out from each vertical side wall for a distance of 35mn and thus occupies space that could be otherwise utilized, say for cables.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting arrangement which avoids the abovementioned disadvantage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mounting arrangement which is mechanically simple and easy to manufacture.

According to the invention there is provided a mounting arrangement for a rack mounted sub-rack, said arrangement comprising a pair of spaced plate members extending substantially perpendicular from a rack means witn the major surface of each plate member interfacing, each plate member haviLr~g a pair of oppos1i4e substantially parallel edges which slidably cooperate with channel means provided on the outer surface of each of two spaced side plate members of a sub-rack to slidably support said sub-rack,/ wherein said channel means comprise a pair of opposite discontinuous chan4 nels each channel comprising a plurality of spaced bracket shaped tabs struck out fran the surface of the side plate member by stamping means, said pair of opposite discontinuous channels lying in a plane substantially paraliel and adjacent to said side plate.

In ord.er that the Invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will be described by w~ay of example, with refference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a plate shaped bracket of the p- -sent invention; Fig. 2 shows an end view of the bracket shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a side view of a side plate of a sub-rack incorporating the channel arrangement of the present Invention; p7Lg. 4I shows the side plate of Fig. 3 in cross-section; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional. view of a bracket shaped tab; Fig. 6 I~s a side view of the tab shown in Fig. 5; and Fig 7 shows the bracket of Fig. 1 in co-operation with the sub-rack Side plate of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 shows, a front view of a sub-rack supported by a pair of brackets of the present invention.

2P Fig. 9 is a top view of the supported sub-rack shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a bracket 1, made of mild steel sheet 1. 6=r thick, comprises a base portion 2 in which is provided four open ended apertures for receiving bolts to bolt the bracket to a rack member (not shown), and a planar portion 4I. The planar portion 4I is defined by two parallel edge portions 5 which slidably co-operate with channel means described below. Planar portion It includes q, rectangular aperture 6 one edge of which Is extended outwardly above the surface of the planar portion 4I to provide an abutment 7. A captive locki~ng screw 8, loaded by a helical spring 9, is also included on planar portion 4I.

Referring to Figs. 3 and -11, a right hand side plate 10 of a rectangular box-shaped sub-rack made of mild steel 2mm thick, comprises two discontinuous channels 11 and 12 each formed by four regularly spaced bracket shaped tabs 13 struck out from side plate 10 by stamping means. Tabs 13 have an Isosceles trapezium configuration. Located at the re, oward part of the side plate 10 is a resilient tongue 14i struck from the surface thereof to abut abutment 7 of bracket 1. The engagement of tongue 14l and abutment 7 ccurs when the sub-rack is withdrawn f ran its normal position a predetermined distance, thereby preventing the sub-rack from accidentally fallmost; rearward pair of tabs. If it is necessary to completely withdraw the sub-rack, resilient tongue 141 is manually actuated so that It disengages frmabutment 7, thereby permitting complete withdrawl. Side plate 10 also includes two threaded screw holes 15 and 15a for separate engagement with locking screw 8 on bracket 1. Hole 15 aligns with the point of the locking srw8 when the sub-rack is in its normal position, and hole 15a aligns wit th pontof the locking screw when the sub-rack is in its withdrawn poiinta is the positive determined by abutment 7. By engaging the aligned hole and tightening the locking screw, the sub-rack is secured in the chosen position. Locking screw 8 moreover, provides a reliable electrical coupling between the rack frame (earth) and the sub-rack via the bracket when tightened. The left hand side plate of the sub-rack is a mirror image of side plate 10 and co-operates with another bracket similar to bracket 1. (see Figs. 8 and 9).

Referring to Fig. 7, bracket 1 Is shown co-operating with and slidably supporting side plate 10 in the normal position. Figs. 8 and 9 show an arrangement of a pair of brackets supporting a typical rectangular box-shaped sub-rack 16 In the normal position. To partially withdraw the sub-rack, locking screws 8 are loosened and disengaged from screw holes 15 and and the sub-rack is pulled forward unti~l resllient tongues l14 abut the I I I' ~Ei~FLI~LDli~

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j abutments 7 I with lockin resilient t( While particulars tuted withco j f i 1 of bracket 1. The sub-rack may be serured in this position g screws 8 or withdrawn completely by manually d6 -ngaging the ongues 14.

the present invention has been described with regard to many it is to be understood that equivalents may be readily substiut departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A mounting arrangement for a rack mounted sub-rack, sa-I.d arrange- ment comprising a pair of spaced plate members extending substantially per- pendicular from 6, rack means with the major surface of each plate member interfacing, each plate member having a pair of opposite substantially par- allel edges which slidably co-operate with channel means provided on the outer surface of each of two spaced side plate members of a sub-rack to slidably support said sub-rack, wherein said channel means comprise a pair of opposite discontinuous channels each channel coiyrising a plurality of spaced bracXW t shaped tabs struck out from the surface of the side plate member by stamping means, said pair of opposite discontinuous channels ly- ing in a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to said side plate.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, including stop means which limit the distance said sub-rack can slide on said parallel edges,, in a di- rection away from said rack means.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2. wherein said stop means comn- prises a tongue struck out from said surface of each side plate member such that their f'ree ends abut abutment means provided on said major surface of associated plate members when said sub-rack is slid a predetermined dis- tance in a direction away from the rack means.

4. An arrangement as claimed In any one of the preceding claims, in- cluding locking means provided on at least one plate member for securing said sub-rack thereto, said locking means being arranged such that the sub- rack can be secured at a predetermined distance from said rack means.

An arrangement as claimed In claim 4I as appended to claim 3, wherein said locking means is arranged such that the sub-rack can be se- cured at a location where the free end of said tongues abut the said abut- ment means.

6. An. arrangement as claimed in claim 4I or 5, wherein said locking means comprises a 'threaded screw which co-operates with at least one 11 7 I r-*II-L I ~Z-C~X CVI--- threaded screw hole located at a predetermined location in said associated side plate member.

7. A mounting arrangement for a rack mounted sub-rack, substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A rack mounted sub-rack, incorporating a mounting arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. DATED THIS TENTH DAY OF MARCH, 1987 STANDARD TELEPHONES AND CABLES PTY. LIMITED hI re *e C e