GB2218265A - Housing for electrical circuits - Google Patents

Description

G 2218265 1%TLTT-PURPOSE CONNECTING HOUSING This invention relates to a

'rrulti-purpose connecting housina, which also my be described as a Modular Box, intended to serve as support for the different switching, protection, connection, indication and control elements incorported in tele-l,,.:,ne and data processing circuits and in general in any type of electrical signal,. and facilitates the access into the internal wiring without either dismantling or removing them, thus permiting the monitoring of the elements as well as a quick and easy modification of some of the components.

Within the industry engaged in the manufacture of equipment intended for the wiring and switching of signals, both current and voltage signals, such as sound, telephone, etc. circuits, there is a need for the setting up of some small centres where the signals can be branched, by switching them to different items of equipment or lines. These centres are subject to frequent component modifications is as well as to extensions due to future service requirements. These centres must be provided with breaking and connection modules, both with regard to signals and to electrical power supplies. They must oe capaole of being readily extended and serviced both with regard to their wiring and constituent components.

There exist in the market today items of equipment that can incorporate or bring together these elements, but they lack the flexibility to allow them to easily accommodate each modification or extension of the equipment. This gives rise to two disadvantages:

normally the connections of the items of equipment mounted on the existing systems are not readily accessible and a partial removal of the components is requiredr similarly, when the contents Of Some element is to be modified it is necessary to disconnect the entire system, remove the assembly and reassemble again with the new elements.

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With the present invention these two problems are obviated, the first one absolut ely and the second is alleviated by greatly facilitating the element replac ing operation through the installatiox. cf the different items of equipment on plates of the same height which are mounted on guides located on the cover of the Modular Box. This cover can be turned 90 to show the interior of the elements mounted on the different plates. When a revision or modification of the wiring is required, the Modular Box cover is opened and with all the wiring exposed to the operator, the connection or verification is proceeded with. Where it is necessary to replace a plate with elements or with a spare one with different connection /swi tc hing elements the following procedure is followed: the cover of the Modular Box is partially removed by opening it along the end nearest to the plate to be replaced; the front plates are removed by sliding them without having to disconnect them if the wiring had been performed leaving sufficient space; the plates are then put back on the notches provided in the Modular Box coverl the new plate is mounted next and its switching /connection elements are wiredl after performing the pertinent tests and verifications the cover is finally closed allong its end.

The features described, as well as others which characterized the invention, are explained with greater detail in the following description which refers to the attached drawings that show a possible construction provided for illustration sake but not for limiting purposes.

Thus the following can be seen on the attached drawings:

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the Modular Box, with the element supporting cover open, and exposing the rear of the switching# protection, connection, etc. elements.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the assembly of the Modular Box basic parts.

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1 is Figure 3 is also a perspective view of the Modular Box, provided with plates with a different type of switching, connection, protection, etc. ripments. From this figure it can be seen that r-ne box is partially disassembled at one end, so as to facilitate a partial view of the inside of the box. It should be noted that the assembling and disassembling of the equipment from the modular box can be accomplished by removing only the relevant side of the tilting cover instead of the entire side of the Modular Box.

As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, the Modular Box consists of two basic parts: One base or support (1) and one tilting cover (2). The fixed section, base or support (1), is made up of a U shape steel section (3),closed at both ends by lateral plates or crossneads (4). The tilting cover (2) turns around hinges (5). The tilting cover consists of two longitudinal steel sections, the top one (6) and the bottom one (7), closed by two lateral plates or crossneads (8) between which there are a number of plates with switching, connection, protection, etc. elements (9). A label holder (10) is provided on the tilting cover top longitudinal steel section. The tilting cover is held in an open position, at right angles with the closed position, by means of opening stops (11) Finally the tilting cover is held in the closed position by means of some shafts with hooked ends (12), located on the tilting cover and that fit into the closing holes (13) provided in the base crossheads (4). These hooked-end shafts (12) are operated by turning the bolt head (14) located outside the cover crossheads (8).

Figures 2 and 3 show a blow-up view of the assembly and the box partially dismounted, respectively. The Modular Box base steel section (3) and the two longitudinal steel sections (6) and (7) of the tilting cover can be seen in these figures.

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One can also see the two lateral plates (4) which are secured to the t)ase steel section by means of four bolts (15) that go through each base crosshead k4), by way of through-holes (16), and engaging into the base steel section on longitudinal reinforcements or ribs ' (17) provided in this base steel section. The box opening mechanism is based on the existence of the two hinges (5) which are located in tne lower section of the base crossheads (4) and cover crossheads (8) which are joined by them. The two cover crossheads (8), together with the top longitudinal steel section (6) and the bottom longitudinal steel section (7), made up the tilting cover (2) proper. These cover crossheads (8) are secured to the cover longitudinal steel sections (6) and (7), by means of four bolts which pass through four straight-through holes (18) located in the crosshead and engaged in the threads provided in the ends of the longitudinal steel sections (6) and (7) on longitudinal reinforcements or ribs (19) provided in the tilting cover steel sections.

A numiner of plates (9), containing different switching, connection, protection, etc. elements are provided between the two longitudinal steel sections (6) and (7) comprising the Modular Box tilting cover.

The top steel section (6), as already stated, is provided with a label holder (10) running throughout its entire length which bears all the cards or legends indicating the function of the element of the plate located directly below the legend. The procedure to couple the plates to the switching, connection, protection, etc. elements is as follows: introduce these plates (9) along their top and bottom edges into the grooves provided in the tilting cover longitudinal steel sections. These grooves have been provided in each longitudinal steel section and are located in front of each other, leaving room between them for the plates.

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It should be emphasized that the plates (9) containing different switching, connection and protection elements must have the same height and thickness su ds to be able to fit them between the grooves or channels provided in the two steel sections (6) and (7).

However, the plate width (9) can vary according to the element mounted on it. This width can be standardized into three basic dimensions and this standardization can be extended to cover spare plates with no switching connecting element. The spare plates must necessarily have the same edge height and thickness as the plates provided with elements.

The manner in which the Modular Box is erected, once the base is in place, is by inserting the different plates with selected elements in the grooves provided in the steel sections (6) and (7) which make up the tilting cover, building up the length of the box with spare plates thus entirely covering the box front. With the cover in the open position, the box base steel section is secured to a surface. The outside connecting cables may enter the Modular Box through holes opened in weak areas located in the box bottom.

Wiring of the plate elements is accomplished with the cover in the down position. Once these elements have been connected, the cover is closed and secured by turning the bolt head (14) of the closing mechanism (12). The circuits are tested next and, in the event of any connection not meeting the requirements, the box is open again, the fault is put right and the box is reclosed going over the checking operation once more.

The system to fasten the cover in the closed position consists of a bolt (14) provided with a hook-shaped shaft (12); when the bolt is turned from the outsider the hook engages the closing holes (13) located in the two base crossheads (4).

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t The Modular Box subject of tne invention provides a multi-purpose connecting-switching system easily to connect and service. It also allows an easy modification of its components which makes it very versatile.

As already indicated, plates with different connecting, switching, etc. elements can be mounted on the box. These plates are capable of being readily replaced even doing away with spares to incorporate new items.

Having described with sufficient detail the nature of the invention as well as the practical procedure, it should be said that the explanations given above and illustrated on the attached drawings are susceptible of being altered as far as the details are concerned provided the essential principle remains unchanged.

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Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A multi-purpose connecting housing for electrical circuits and the like colTprising a base unit with a removable cover, the cover being in the form of a frame adapted to receive and retain a series of electrical or like component mounting plates; whereby components carried by the cover and connected to circuitry within or passing through the base unit may readily be changed.

2. A housing as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the base unit is an openfronted box of generally rectangular configuration, the cover is hinged to the base unit and an opposed pair of cover frame sides are of facing channel section; whereby rectangularlyshaped component mounting plates may be slid along and retained by the channel section frame sides.

3. A housing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at least one of the frame sides other than the channel-section frame sides is removable; whereby the component mounting plates may be trapp ed in the cover frame.

4. A housing as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the component mounting plates are of standard height and of differing width.

5. A housing as claimed in any of Claim 1 to 4, wherein blanking plates are provided to fill otherwise empty spaces in the cover.

6. A housing as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the base unit is of variable length and is constructed from a U-shaped steel section provided with crossheads to close both ends and the cover is constructed from two parallel longitudinal steel sections joined at their ends to further crossheads to form the frame within which the component mounting plates are installed; hinges - f 8.

for the cover, a cover closing mechanism and means to secure the cover in its open position are located and distributed between the housing formed by the base, the end crossheads and the cover.

7. A multi-purpose end cover as clain.- In Claim 1 and substantially as described in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the Drawings.

Pub -,hed 198)at The Patent Office, State House. 66 71 High Holt orn, London WClR 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Offace.

Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BB,5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con, 1187