EP0423047A1 - Method and device for covering electric cabinets in a public thoroughfare - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for covering an electric cabinet (26) in a public thoroughfare, of the type comprising front or side access doors (28), and comprising equipment items to which only authorised personnel may have access. The device comprises: - two fixed supports (4) arranged on either side of the face where the said access doors are located (28); - any telescopic system fixed onto these supports (4), compensated and permitting vertical movement; - a movable frame (29), integral with this telescopic system, equipped with a means of locking and placed in front of the cabinet (26); - and a movable panel (30) fixed onto this frame (29) whose shape in large measure envelops that of the said cabinet, as well as the preceding elements, when the said frame is in the low position and which frees the said doors (28) when it is put in the high position by authorised persons, by virtue of the said telescopic system. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a method and devices for covering electrical cabinets located on public roads.

The technical sector of the invention is the manufacture of frames and panel support mechanism making it possible to dress up to camouflage a volume or an object that one wishes to put out of reach of an unauthorized public, while allowing the access to authorized personnel.

One of the main applications of the invention is the covering of electrical cabinets such as those of signaling lights, of connection of telecommunication or electricity lines, etc., to remove these cabinets from a so-called wild display directly on their surface and their access door, and thus control free display surfaces.

It is known indeed that many organizations. Companies, individuals, Associations ... take advantage of any available and visible area of the general public, therefore on the public highway to affix advertising or propaganda posters without having to rent or pay a user fee.

A privileged target for this display that can be described as wild, is precisely the surface of the electrical cabinets mentioned above, the doors and fairing of which are generally smooth and at eye level with the public: if this display is not controlled can remain on other surfaces such as walls before being cleaned, it is necessary to remove it progressively on these cabinets to allow access for the opening of doors often blocked by these posters .

In addition, each municipality is required, at least in France, to offer, precisely to try to limit this wild posting, a minimum of so-called free posting area controlled and left available to any user without any financial compensation or authorization.

To answer the first problem or the second, various solutions exist and are offered by manufacturers or service companies. We can cite for example the fixed panels arranged a little everywhere on the walls of public buildings or their enclosure which are cleaned or replaced from time to time and which are quite unsightly by themselves and by their disfigurement of the wall where they are attached; moreover their replacement is not very easy and their cleaning on the spot is difficult, dirty and requiring heavy and expensive means.

In addition, manufacturers of electrical cabinets offer cabinets whose front and / or rear face is in one piece and has a surface offset from the edge of the door which allows either a paid display, protected or not by a hinged window , and closed, ie a "controlled" display.

However, in case of overflow of it outside the framework provided, it returns to the previous problem and this is not in any case applicable to existing cabinets.

Other manufacturers have grooves or profiles on the surface of their cabinets making the display more difficult.

There are also, moreover, numerous display systems either independent or integrated into mobile objects or urban furniture with a specific destination, such as waiting shelters for the passage of coaches or buses; lavatories for men or animals, such as that described in patent FR 26 12536 filed March 19, 1987 by MM. LAFUENTE and three other inventors; shopping carts etc; but none of these systems is adaptable after the fact and responds to the specific problem of electrical cabinets located on public roads and which must remain accessible.

Indeed, the problem posed is to be able to camouflage the entire cabinet as best as possible to avoid any display overflow from its surface, to then offer an accessible external surface which can be decorative in itself or allow a display controlled, free or not, to allow despite this dressing the accessibility of the cabinet to only authorized persons and to be able to easily and efficiently clean said surface if necessary.

A solution to the problem posed is a method of covering electrical cabinets located on the public road of the type comprising front or side access doors and containing equipment. in which only authorized personnel can intervene; according to the process of the invention,
- Is fixed on any support capable of receiving them and withstanding the forces that can cause the application of this method, at least two supports arranged on either side of the face where are located said access doors;
- there is on these supports any telescopic compensated system allowing vertical movement at the front of the cabinet of a frame, between a low position where it can be locked and a high position;
- A removable panel is fixed on this frame, the shape of which envelops and hides largely that of said cabinet, the supports and the telescopic system when said frame is in the low position;
- The access doors are released by bringing said panel and the frame then unlocked by an authorized person in the high position without effort and said person can intervene in said cabinet;
- the frame is dismantled and the said panel is changed each time it is necessary such as for cleaning;

In a preferred method, fixed vertical uprights with semi-closed profile are fixed on the supports of a height greater than that of the cabinet each comprising two perpendicular faces, so that one of the faces of one is parallel to that equivalent of the other and that the second face of one is in the same plane as its counterpart of the other;
- One moves vertically along these uprights said movable frame equipped with the locking system, and rollers which can roll on the two said faces of each upright and guiding said frame in its vertical movement, thus achieving said telescopic system;
- Is installed at the upper part of each of said amounts of pulleys supporting a cable, connected on one side to said movable frame and on the other side a counterweight outside said profile.

Another solution to the problem posed is a device for covering an electrical cabinet situated on the public road of the type comprising front or side access doors, and comprising equipment on which only authorized personnel can intervene. ; the device according to the invention comprises:
- two fixed supports arranged on either side of the face where said access doors are located;
- any telescopic system fixed on these supports, compensated and allowing vertical movement;
- a movable frame integral with this telescopic system provided with a locking means and placed in front of the cabinet;
- And a movable panel fixed on this frame whose shape largely envelops that of said cabinet, as well as the preceding elements when said frame is in the low position and which releases said doors, when it is put in high position by people authorized, thanks to said telescopic system.

The result is new methods and devices for covering electrical cabinets located on public roads. These systems provide many advantages over current solutions.

Indeed, they can be used even on existing cabinets already installed and, depending on the method of attachment chosen, it is not necessary to open the cabinet to put them in place, guaranteeing the manager thereof all internal components. These systems can also be offered and installed at the same time as the cabinets they must hide.

These devices can therefore be used on any type of cabinet, and of any shape, and especially on those with a front and flat and opening face.

The movable panel completely camouflages the doors, which are thus protected against vandalism, impact and unauthorized display. This panel can also be used either to decorate by itself, or to allow free and / or controlled display, or to receive advertising posters or information such as for example those of municipalities which can also affix it their acronym.

Indeed, in addition the devices according to the invention in particular the panels can be thanks to their modularity, personalized according to the uses, places and desires of managers.

In a preferred variant the panel is easily removable, which allows on the one hand its cleaning in a place specialized where one can for example completely immerse it and on the other hand to replace it immediately with another already ready, while customizing these panels at the request of the customer.

The vertical operation of the frame and the panel allows total accessibility to the cabinet, and effortlessly thanks to the telescopic compensated system.

In a preferred embodiment, a double operating and locking system allows the use of the mobility of the frames on the one hand, and the dismantling of the panel on the other hand, by different authorized persons.

• La figure 1 est une vue perspective du dispositif installé en position basse sur une armoire.
• La figure 2 est une vue de profil du dispositif en position haute.
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessus en coupe horizontal du dispositif.
• La figure 4 est une vue éclatée des pièces du dispositif.

In the following device, we describe an exemplary embodiment of the methods and devices according to the invention, but other embodiments can be envisaged within the framework thereof: the drawings, figures and description have no limiting character.

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device installed in the low position on a cabinet.
• Figure 2 is a side view of the device in the high position.
• Figure 3 is a top view in horizontal section of the device.
• Figure 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the device.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device installed in the low position on an electrical cabinet 26 located on the public road such as a sidewalk 27 or the street itself. The cabinet is thus completely camouflaged in direct view of passers-by, except of course its rear part which is moreover often leaning against a wall and in some cases like here its lower part in other embodiments, the panel 30 constituting the main visible part of the device and only accessible in the low position, can descend to the ground 27; if the cabinet is not leaned against a wall, a fixed rear structure can be added ensuring the conduct of the covering with the large panel, this one is in the low position.

In the present embodiment, there are also vertical uprights 1 fixed which serve as slides for the panel 30 as described below: these uprights can be fixed by supports to the cabinet itself 26 if the structure thereof allows it, otherwise these amounts can be fixed on feet then anchored in the ground on either side of the cabinet and having a shape allowing accessibility to any front or / and side door: this can be the case for example when the wardrobe is polyester and narrow.

The front face of the panel may include a flat surface 31 slightly behind the edges 32 also constituting the sides of the panel 30, in order to allow a free controlled display on this accessible surface or any other use for decoration, information, etc.

It may be noted that for certain applications, the devices according to the invention can be used in the opposite direction and without the presence of the cabinets which they must camouflage, in order to be able to have vertically movable display panels on which one can easily stick a displays when it is in the low position and without extension brush; you can also change the panel itself in this position; then by raising it we put it out of reach of vandalism and in height for better view of the general public.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device as shown in FIG. 1 in the high position: the panel 30 is raised by a sufficient height to clear the front face of the cabinet 26 and allow the doors 28 to be opened. To allow this vertical translation movement, the panel 30 is preferably mounted on a frame 29 of which the lower part is seen here, which frame is associated with any compensated telescopic system and fixed by any support 4 to the cabinet 26 or to the floor 27: this telescopic system can be a deformable parallelepiped comprising on each side two parallel articulated arms, one end of which is connected to the support and the other to the frame with a spring system of a return. In another preferred embodiment as shown here, these are vertical uprights 1 which are fixed on the supports 4 and which act as slides for rollers integral with said frame as described in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Preferably whenever possible, said fixed supports 4 are fixed directly to the cabinet 26, and said movable panel 30 is removable and easily lockable by any known system on said frame 29 so that it can be removed and replaced at Requirement.

In another embodiment, said supports 4 are then fixed to the ground 27 on either side of the cabinet 26 and then having the form for example of a "C" or an "L" whose lower horizontal cross member is fixed to the ground and the other cross members receiving the frame 29 have a shape allowing access to possible side doors.

In all cases, these supports 4 and the structure of the uprights and the frame must withstand all the stresses suffered by the panel, especially in the high position, such as the thrust of the wind.

As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the panel 30 has a front surface 33 in the form of a concave curve in the vertical and horizontal planes and the lateral sides 32 returning to the sides of said cabinet.

The front face 33 can also include a flat surface 31 as described in FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a top view in horizontal section along the plane AA of Figure 2, of the device according to the preceding figures and exploded in the following Figure 4 but which is therefore only an exemplary embodiment according to the invention.

The movable panel 30 which is preferably removable from the frame 29 comprises at least one lower surface in the shape of a "U" so that placed on the ground this panel is vertically stable by itself, which facilitates handling operations during of its dismantling to be exchanged with another. Preferably, it is the general shape of the panel as shown here which has this "U" shape, the two sides of which are the lateral edges 32 which possibly make the same box to stiffen the assembly, and the central branch and the front face of the panel: in another embodiment, the two edges 32 can be slightly open in order to allow several panels to be embedded in one another and save space in storage.

In our embodiment, the vertical uprights 1₁ and 1₂ are of semi-closed profile with a height greater than that of the cabinet to allow complete release of the panel 30 in the high position above it and each comprising two perpendicular faces so that one of the faces of one is parallel to that equivalent of the other, and that the second face of one is in the same plane as its counterpart of the other.

The frame 29 itself consists of vertical lateral uprights 5 and of a horizontal spacer forming a cross-member 8: the vertical uprights 5 comprise rollers on casters 10 which can roll on the two said faces of each upright 1 so that said frame is guided in its vertical movement and immobilized in the other two directions; return pulleys 20 support a cable 25 connected on one side to the movable frame 29 and on the other side to a counterweight 23 outside said profile.

These pulleys 20 are fixed in the upper part of the fixed uprights 1.

Among the rollers, some 10 are in pairs, at least two of which on each side of the frame, and pinch between them the surfaces of the uprights 1 which are in the same frontal vertical plane: one of them is then adjustable by an eccentric for installation and adjustment.

The other rollers 11, at least 1 of which on each side, are perpendicular to the previous ones and roll on the faces of the uprights 1 which are parallel to each other and in lateral vertical planes.

In order to better guide and protect them, said counterweights 23 ensuring the compensation of the telescopic systems thus produced, can slide vertically in closed guides 2 fixed behind and against said uprights 1.

In this example, the supports 4 are fixed directly to the side walls of the cabinet 26, either by drilling and bolts, or by riveting from the outside without opening the latter, or by double angle. Other methods can be used to adapt to any type of cabinet.

The vertical uprights 1 are then fixed by bolts preferably to these uprights 4 with the possible connecting pieces to compensate for the possible spacing differences.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the device presented above. There is one of the vertical uprights 1 in the shape of "C", on the faces of which the rollers are guided and roll and 11 of the movable frame, some of which 10₁ and 11₁ are adjustable: these are mounted on axes integral with the vertical uprights 5 of the frame here in the shape of a "Z".

These uprights 5 are interconnected by a lower cross member 6 and an upper cross member 8, for example by means of mounting brackets 9. Each vertical upright 1 has, on its rear face and fixed by a connection angle 3, a closed guide 2 for the counterweight 23 connected by a cable 25 to a fastener 21 fixed on the movable frame: the cable passes to the upper part of the upright 1 and of the guide 2 in two return pulleys 20; the parts are covered by plugs 22 at the top.

In order to facilitate the translational strokes of the mobile frame and the counterweight, and limit the risk of jamming and play, a certain number of wedges can be arranged at the end of each course, such as wedges 16 in the lower and upper parts. the upright 1 for the frame and shims 24 at the top of the guide 2 for the counterweight. Finally, shims 17 and 18 can be provided to wedge the panel in the lower part when it is mounted on the movable frame as well as a shim 19 on the upper cross member 8 to center this panel laterally during assembly. These shims can be made of polyamide.

The uprights 1 are connected to the support 4 fixed on the cabinet by possible connecting parts 4₁ and between them preferably by at least one fixed cross-member 7 ensuring their parallelism and their rigidity.

Furthermore, we have described two types of possible displacement, one of the frame movable relative to the uprights and the other of the panel relative to the frame during its disassembly. Taking into account the different people who can carry out one or the other maneuver, the device can comprise on the one hand a locking device 13 by special key usable by the personnel authorized to intervene on the cabinet, which locking device allows in its open position the vertical movement of said panel and its immobilization either in the high position or in the low position, and on the other hand another locking 15 by a different key usable by other personnel, which locking 15 allows the disassembly and reassembly of the panel on the frame mobile 29.

Each of these locks may include the actual lock 13 fixed on a crosspiece of the movable object by a support 12 and the pin switches in a notch in the crosspiece of the fixed support which receives it.

The removable panel can be mounted in the mobile frame thanks to a cross member which fits into the upper 8 thereof in the form of a "∩" and which can then have its front face open from 30 to 60 ° to facilitate this interlocking. . Another lower cross member supporting the panel is then threaded and pressed on the lower cross member 6 of the frame on which the bolt (s) 15 immobilizes it.

Claims (11)

1. Method for covering electrical cabinets (26) located on the public road of the type comprising access doors (28), front or side, and containing equipment on which only authorized personnel can intervene, characterized in that than :
- At least two supports (4) arranged on either side of the face where said access doors are located are fixed on any support capable of receiving them and withstanding the forces that can be caused by the application of the present method. (28);
- There are on these supports (4) any telescopic compensated system allowing vertical movement in front of the cabinet (26) of a frame (29), between a low position where it can be locked or a high position;
- Is fixed on this frame (29) a removable panel (30) whose envelope shape and largely hides that of said cabinet, the supports (4) and the telescopic system when said frame (9) is in the low position;
- The access doors (28) are released by bringing said panel (30) and the frame (29) then unlocked by a person authorized in the high position without effort and said person can intervene in said cabinet;
- the frame (29) is dismantled and the said panel (30) is changed each time it is necessary such as for cleaning 2. Method for covering an electrical cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that:
- Is fixed on the supports (4) vertical uprights (1) fixed semi-closed profile of a height greater than that of the cabinet each having two perpendicular faces, so that one of the faces of the one is parallel to the equivalent of the other and that the second face of one is in the same plane as its counterpart of the other;
- One slides vertically along these uprights (1) said movable frame (29) equipped with the locking system, and rollers (10) which can roll on the two said faces of each upright and guiding said frame (29) in its vertical movement, thereby achieving said telescopic system;
- we install at the top of each of said uprights (1) return pulleys supporting a cable (25), connected on one side to said movable frame (29) and on the other side to a counterweight (23) external to said profile. 3. Device for covering an electrical cabinet (26) located on the public road of the type comprising access doors (28), front or side, and comprising equipment on which only authorized personnel can intervene, characterized in that He understands :
- two fixed supports (4) arranged on either side of the face where said access doors (28) are located;
- any telescopic system fixed on these supports (4), compensated and allowing vertical movement;
- A mobile frame (29) integral with this telescopic system provided with a locking means and placed in front of the cabinet (26);
- And a movable panel (30) fixed on this frame (29) whose shape largely envelops that of said cabinet, as well as the preceding elements when said frame is in the low position and which releases said doors (28), when it is put in the high position by authorized persons, thanks to said telescopic system. 4. Device for covering an electrical cabinet (26) according to claim 3 characterized in that said fixed supports (4) are fixed directly to the cabinet (26), and said movable panel (30) is removable and lockable easily by any known system on said frame (29) in order to be able to remove it and replace it on demand. 5. Device for covering an electrical cabinet (26) according to claim 3 characterized in that said fixed supports (4) are fixed to the ground on either side of the cabinet (26) and said movable panel ( 30) is easily removable and lockable by any known system on said frame (29) so that it can be removed and replaced on demand. 6. Device for covering an electrical cabinet (26) according to any one of claims 3 to 5 characterized in that said telescopic system comprises:
- vertical uprights (1₁) and (1₂) fixed semi-closed profile of a height greater than that of the cabinet (26) each comprising at least two perpendicular faces so that one of the faces of the one is parallel to the equivalent of the other, and that the second side of one is in the same plane as its counterpart of the other;
- Rollers (10) and (11) integral with the movable frame (29) which can roll on the two said faces of each upright (1) so that said frame is guided in its vertical movement and immobilized in the other two directions;
- pulleys (20) for supporting a cable (25) connected on one side to the movable frame (29) and on the other side to a counterweight (23) outside of said profile. 7. Dressing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a locking (13) by special key usable by the personnel authorized to intervene on the cabinet, which locking allows in its open position the vertical movement of said panel and its immobilization either in the high position or in the low position and on the other hand another locking (15) by a different key usable by other personnel, which locking (15) allows disassembly and reassembly of the panel on the movable frame (29). 8. Dressing device according to any one of claims 6 to 7 characterized in that said counterweight (23) sliding vertically in closed guides (2) fixed behind and against said uprights (1). 9, covering device according to any one of claims 3 to 8 characterized in that the panel (30) has a front surface (33) in the form of a concave curve in the vertical and horizontal planes and the lateral sides (32) returning to the sides of said cabinet. 10. Dressing device according to any one of claims 6 to 9 characterized in that the two vertical uprights (1) are interconnected by at least one fixed cross-member (7) ensuring their parallelism and their rigidity. 11. Dressing device according to any one of claims 4 to 10 characterized in that said removable panel (30) movable has a lower surface in the shape of "U" so that placed on the ground, this panel is vertically stable by itself.

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