GB2344613A - Hinge with split spring pin - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge comprises two parts joined by a hinge pin formed as a spit spring pin 40 which extends from a through hole in one part into a blind hole in the other 36. The split spring pin can provide a high degree of friction with the both the through hole and the blind hole. Both may be of the same diameter. The friction may be used to retain a cover or lid open. The hinge may be easily assembled by pressing or driving the pin through the through hole to extend into the blind hole. The friction obtained makes removal of the pin difficult. The hinge is applicable to a cover 26 on the underside of a base station enclosure in a mobile telecommunications network. The hinge helps to conduct heat to a battery on the inside of the cover.

Description

HINGE This invention relates to hinges.

It is desired to make a tamper resistant hinge which can provide significant amount of friction so, for example, as to be capable of retaining a cover or lid in an open position especially against gravity.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a hinge comprising two parts joined by a hinge pin, the hinge pin being a split spring pin and extending from a through hole in one part into a blind hole in the other.

The split spring pin can provide a high degree of friction with the both the through hole and the blind hole.

Both may be of the same diameter. The friction may be used to retain a cover or lid open. The hinge may be easily assembled by pressing or driving the pin through the through hole to extend into the blind hole. The friction obtained makes removal of the pin difficult.

Most preferably, the pin extends from only one side of the through hole . This makes removal of the pin very difficult if not impossible.

In one preferred application a case or enclosure, has a lid or cover attached by a pair of hinges in accordance with the invention, the through holes of the two hinges in the pair, facing in opposite directions.

In a more detailed preferred application base, station equipment for a mobile telecommunications network, comprising a radio unit having data connectors for connection to data transmission lines and mains connectors for connection to a mains electricity supply, has access to said connectors inhibited by a cover hinged to the unit by two hinges in accordance with the invention, the through holes of said hinges facing in opposite directions.

Most usefully, opening the cover may cause it to move upwardly.

The friction obtained in the hinges may be sufficient that a back-up battery for the equipment can be mounted on the inside of the cover and the hinges still retain the cover open. Such equipment may have to operate in extremes of temperature. At low temperatures the operation of the chemical reactions in the battery is impeded. The radio unit generates significant amounts of heat and, at very low temperatures can be additionally heated. Tight fitting of the split spring pins in their holes enhances thermal conduction from the radio unit to the cover and hence to the battery.

The cover preferably includes means for locking the cover closed.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross section through base station radio unit in which a cover, hinged in accordance with the invention, is embodied; Figure 2 is a front view of the cover and hinge of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cover of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of radio unit with the cover open, from the rear and below; and Figure 5 is an underneath plan of the radio unit with the cover open.

The base station equipment shown in Figure 1 is contained by an enclosure 2. In use the enclosure 2 is itself contained by an outer case (not shown) and air circulates between the outer case and the enclosure to cool the latter.

In the enclosure are two transmit/receive units 4, each radio frequency shielded in an aluminium case, a processor board 6, two power amplifiers 8 mounted side by side so that only one is visible in Figure 1, and two duplexers 10 also mounted side by side so that only one is visible.

A power supply unit 12 has a mains connector 14 depending from a bottom wall 16 of the enclosure. The duplexers have co-axial connectors 18 extending through the bottom wall 16 of the enclosure 2 for connection to a respective antenna. A connector interface unit 20 has a panel 22 mounting data connectors 24 from the bottom wall 18 of the enclosure 2. The connector interface unit contains all the interfaces necessary between the data lines and the processor board 6.

In order to impede unauthorised access to the various lines connected to the radio unit, and to give a degree of weather protection, a cover 26 is hinged to the enclosure 2. As can be seen in Figure 4, the enclosure 2 has a downwardly depending back wall 28 and downwardly depending side walls 30 which co-operate with the clover, when closed, to form a chamber containing the connectors 4, 18 and 24, and line end connectors (not shown). The mains, antenna, and data lines exit the chamber via an aperture provided by notch 32, one in the back wall 28 and the other in the bottom wall 34 of the cover. A lock 35 enables the cover to be locked closed.

Bosses 36, formed at the top of a front wall 38 of the cover, receive hinge pins 40 in holes 42. As can be seen from Figure 3 the holes 42 are blind. The hinge pins are driven into the blind holes 42 via through-holes 44 in lugs 46 depending from the enclosure 2, thereby hinging the cover 26 to the enclosure 2. As can be seen from Figure 3 the hinge pins are split spring pins. The holes 42 and 44 are the same size in which the spring pins 40 are a press or interference fit. The holes 44 face in opposite directions.

The pins 40 are pressed into place so that there is no substantial projection from the holes 44. That is each pin extends from only one side of its through-hole. It would thus be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove the pins without breaking the cover or the lugs of the enclosure.

Mounted in the cover 26 is a backup battery 48 which is used to maintain essential memory in the processor in the event of a power failure. Even with the weight of that mounted in the cover, there is sufficient friction between the pins 40 and the holes 42 and 44, to retain the cover right open, e. g. as shown in Figure 5, to allow access to the connectors.

The press or interference fit of the pins 40 into both of the holes 42 and 44, improves thermal conduction between the enclosure 2 and the cover 26. This helps the back up battery maintain an operational temperature when the ambient temperature is low.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS 1. A hinge comprising two parts joined by a hinge pin, the hinge pin being a split spring pin and extending from a through hole in one part into a blind hole in the other.
2. 2. A hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin extends from only one side of the through hole.
3. 3. A case or enclosure, having a lid or cover attached by a pair of hinges as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the through holes of the two hinges in the pair, facing in opposite directions.
4. 4. Base station equipment for a mobile telecommunications network, said equipment comprising a radio unit having data connectors for connection to data transmission lines and mains connectors for connection to a mains electricity supply, access to said connectors being inhibited by a cover hinged to the unit by two hinges as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the through holes of said hinges facing in opposite directions.
5. 5. Base station equipment as claimed in claim 4, wherein opening the cover causes it to move upwardly.
6. 6. Base station equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein a back-up battery for the equipment is mounted on the inside of the cover.
7. 7. Base station equipment as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, including means for locking the cover closed.