GB2062970A - Electronic equipment practice - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic equipment practice, e.g. for data processing or telecommunication systems, is based on a vertical wall-like member (1) which may have flanges along its vertical edges. On the front of this member there are individual rectangular equipment units (3) of modular type, mounted with narrow gaps between them, which gaps can be used for wiring access. The whole is enclosed by a front cover (4), and if free-standing, by a back cover (9). When the assembly is floor- supported, the walls lower end fits into a plinth, (2) or (8), which may include air filters or blowers for cooling. In the latter case, we can also provide an extractor fan assembly (6), possibly with a hood and chimney (7) above it. A simple wall-mounted assembly merely uses the wall-like member - attached to a building wall - with the individual circuit units and front cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic equipment practice This invention relates to an electronic equipment assembly, or so-called equipment practice, especial ly for use in telecommunications and industrial installations.

In such installations the size of individual compo nents is greatly reduced with the result that circuit units get smaller. Owing to the high packing density now attained heat dissipation problems may arise. In addition it is desirable for the equipment practice to be able to accommodate changes in technology, and it is also desirable to obtain as high a degree of modularity and flexibility as possible.

An object of the invention is to provide an electronic equipment practice which obtains the above desiderata.

According to the invention there is provided an electronic equipment assembly, which includes a number of electronic equipment units each of which is a parallelepipedal form, a mounting wall on one face of which the equipment units are assembled with gaps between adjacent ones of the equipment units, the assembly of said units on the wall being such that a substantial proportion of said one face is occupied by the equipment units as need such means, and a cover plate for the assembly which encloses the equipment units.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which; Figure 1 is an exploded view of the basic assembly embodying the invention, with several optional features.

Figure2 is an assembled view of the arrangement of Figure 1, with optional features.

Figure 3 is a suite of assemblies each as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a picture frame like wall-mounted assembly embodying the invention.

In Figure 1 we have a wall-like structure 1 which, in an installation in which a great deal of heat has to be dissipated, is of heat-sinking material. This is supported by a plinth 2 with the lower edge of the wall 1 fitting into the recess in the upper surface of the plinth. Mounted on the front face of the wall 1 are a number of electronic and electrical modular units or sub-units indicated at 3. As will be seen these are rectangular in form to simplify location on the wall 1, and are located relatively close to each other, with small gaps between them.

Where the majority of the units 3 are relatively low heat-dissipative, the wall 1 is a relatively simple structure, e.g. of so-called top hat cross-section, with the highly heat-dissipative units provided with their own heat sinks.

The assembly formed by the wall 1 and the units 3 has a front cover 4 which encloses the units.

Mounted above the assembly there is a top cover member 5, which includes various alarm and display devices.

Where the whole assembly is highly heat dissipative it may be provided with an extractor fan assembly in a generally rectangular assembly 6 mounted above the member 5. Above this, if neces sary, there is a chimney 7 for disposal of the heated air, which may be recycled and used for heating the building in which the assembly is installed or, for instance, heating a greenhouse. In some cases where a high degree of cooling is called for, a different plinth 8 including an air filter and possibly also a blower may be used.

In some cases the assembly may be free-standing, i.e. clear of the walls of the room in which it is installed, in which case it also has a read cover 9.

Where the extractor fan and/or blower is used, the operating conditions may be such that they are only needed for relatively short periods. In such a case they are controlled by thermal switches responsive to ambient temperature. Thus if the ambient temper- ature exceeds a preset level, the thermal switch reponds and switches the fan and/or blower on.

When the temperature falls below the present level, the switch again responds, this time to switch the fan and/or blower off.

The spacing between the units 3 is modular to allow for inter-unit cabling, with all faces of a unit other than the one against the wall 1 available for cable access. If any of the side faces of such a unit are so used, the "connectivity" is accomplished without extra wires by extension of the backplane formed by the wall 1 to provide connectors. This permits easy frontal access to the plug-in units. If full frontal cabling access is needed, it can be done by either plugging into the fronts of cards in the units, so that those cards would have connectors at back and front edges, or by additional wiring.

During assembly of the units to the walls, each unit, before it is permanently fixed is positioned on the wall either by hooking it to the wall or by the use of dowels. Where an individual unit generates so much heat that it needs its own cooling arrangements, modular air inlets and outlets from and to the cooling systems are incorporated.

Figure 2 shows the assembly of Figure 1 as assembled but with its front cover off: in view of the description given this figure does not need any further description.

Figure 3 shows a suite of units such as that of Figure 2 in line, the one being shown with its front cover hinged outwards. Note that the front cover can fit on the rest of the assembly like a box lid, or be hinged.

Figure 4 shows a relatively simple assembly in which we have a back plate or wall-like structure 10 mounted on a wall 11 of the room in which the assembly is located. This structure 10 carries a number of modular units indicated by broken lines 12, all enclosed by a cover 13.

Figure 5 shows an arrangement with two assemblies each with its own wall-like structure 15, 16 on which the units are assembled. This can use common plinth, front cover, back cover, and such cooling arrangements as needed.

We mentioned above that where an individual unit generates much heat it has its own heat sink: this is shown in Figure 6. Here the unit 20 is attached to one side of the wall 21,which is flanged as shown. The heat sink 22 for the unit 20 is in heat conductive relation with the unit but on the opposite face thereof.

In some cases a unit may extend across the width of the assembly: such a unit - with heat sinks - is shown in Figure 7. This can be referred to as a horizontal multishelf.

Claims (5)

1. An electronic equipment assembly, which includes a number of electronic equipment units each of which is of parallelepipedal form, a mounting wall on one face of which the equipment units are assembled with gaps between adjacent ones of the equipment units, the assembly of said units on the wall being such that a substantial proportion of said one face is occupied by the equipment units, heat sink means associated with such of the equipment units as need such means, and a cover plate for the assembly which encloses the equipment units.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, and in which the wall is a flat plate with flanges along its vertical edges, and carries a backplane for inter-unit wiring.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and in which the lower edge of the wall is received in a plinth on the floor, which plinth may accommodate air filters andlor blowers.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, and in which when the plinth accommodates air filters these upper edges of the assembly co-operates with an extractor fan.

5. An electronic equipment assembly substantially as described with reference to the accompany ing drawings.