SE539515C2 - Feed-through system and method of installing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A cable feed-through system for routing cables into a Cabinet orenclosure comprises a frame and a plurality of cover pieces. The framedefines a main opening. The cover pieces are individually mountable in theframe, thereby covering portions of the main opening, defining a plurality ofcable feed-through sub-openings. Flexibility of installation is improved. Suggested figure for publication: Fig. 7b

Description

FEED-THROUGH SYSTEMAND METHOD OF INSTALLING THE SAME Field of the inventionThe present invention relates to a feed-through system for routingcables into a cabinet or an enclosure and a method for installing the same.

BackgroundElectronics cabinets or enclosures designed to prevent break-in or unauthorized access are known in the prior art. Various standards for break-inresistance exist, for example Swedish protection classes SK2 and SK3. Feed-throughs for communication or power cables exist that allow the cables to berouted into the cabinet in a way that does not compromise the security of thecabinet.

Fig. 1 illustrates a cabinet 100 provided with a feed-through 102 asknown from the prior art. The feed-through 102 comprises a number ofindividual, fixed tubes 104 extending into the cabinet from the exterior andeach defining a cable routing opening. Feed-throughs without tubes but withindividual, fixed holes each defining a cable routing opening are also knownfrom the prior art.

Summarylt is an object of the present inventive concept to provide an improved solution for such a feed-through.

To this end, according to a first aspect of the inventive concept, there isprovided a cable feed-through system for routing cables into a cabinet orenclosure. The system comprises a frame and a plurality of cover pieces, theframe defining a main opening. The cover pieces are individually mountablein the frame, thereby covering portions of the main opening, defining aplurality of cable feed-through sub-openings.

The inventive feed-through system thus comprises a frame and aplurality of mountable cover pieces. The inventive feed-through system maybe regarded as a system which allows a user to design and assemble a final 2 feed-through for routing cables. Especially, for increased flexibility andallowing adaption to different situations, the inventive system may includemore cover pieces than actually needed in a specific final feed-through.

The number of cover pieces included in the inventive system may vary.Also, the cover pieces included in the system may be all identical or mayinclude pieces having different configuration/design.

As to the number of cover pieces included in the system, the includednumber may match the number of cover pieces that can be mounted at thesame time in the frame. As an example, ifa maximum often cover pieces canbe mounted at the same time in the frame, the system may comprise exactlyten cover pieces, so that a user by using all or less of these ten cover piecesmay select different degrees of coverage of the main opening, therebydesigning the number and shapes of the sub-openings for the cables. As analternative, the number of cover pieces included in the system may exceedthe number of cover pieces mountable at the same time in the frame for aspecific feed-through, providing even greater flexibility. As an example, if amaximum of ten cover pieces can be mounted at the same time in the frame,the plurality of cover pieces included in the system may include more than tencover pieces, for instance ten pieces of a first type, ten pieces of a secondtype, ten pieces of a third type, etc., where cover pieces of different typesmay differ in size, number of cable openings therein, shape and size of cableopenings, etc.).

The system according to the inventive concept has the advantage ofimproving flexibility of installation. The assembly of the inventive system into afinal feed-through and the installation of cables therein may be performed invarious ways. For example, cables may first be drawn into the cabinet and theframe then installed around the cables, whereafter the cover pieces aremounted in the frame around the cables. Alternatively, the frame may beinstalled first and the cables later drawn through it, either before or after thecover pieces are mounted.

Cables may be drawn through openings defined by already installedcover pieces. Alternatively, cover pieces may be installed in a frame throughwhich cables have already been drawn. 3 The frame may be separate from the cabinet or enclosure andinstallable on the same. As an alternative, the frame may be wholly or partlyintegrated with the cabinet or enclosure, such as formed in one piece with acabinet wall.

An installation engineer may select and insert cover pieces two leaveopenings free of the main opening. Alternatively, specific openings may becreated when the cover pieces are provided with openings. The installationengineer may in that case select specific cover pieces that are provided withspecific kinds of openings, according to need. Openings in cover pieces mayalso be drilled or otherwise machined according to need by the installationengineer or other user, for example at the installation site. For that purpose,cover pieces without openings may be used.

The plurality of cover pieces may thus comprise one or more coverpieces provided with at least one cable opening, the cable opening definingone of the sub-openings (or parts thereof). The inventive system may bedesigned in very many ways with respect to such cable openings arranged inthe cover pieces. ln one possible assembly without using any such coverpieces with cable openings, all the mounted cover pieces are designed suchthat the main opening is completely covered where each cover piece islocated, whereby cables can be routed through the main opening where nocover pieces are mounted. Such sub-openings of the main opening definedby no cover pieces being mounted at that location may be termed “free sub-openings”. ln addition to such “free sub-openings", by using one or morecover pieces provided with one or more cable openings, the assembled feed-through may be designed to comprise “cover piece sub-openings", defined bythe cable openings arranged in the cover pieces. Accordingly, by using coverpieces with or without cable openings the user will have the option andflexibility of creating sub-openings for cable routing as a combination of oneor more “free sub-openings” and/or one or more “cover piece sub-openings”.An advantage of only using “cover-piece sub-openings” is that cover piecesmay then be held in place by other cover pieces in at least one direction.

A cable opening in a cover piece may be open towards an edge or sideof the cover piece, for receiving one or more cables during installation from 4 the open side of the cable opening. This allows the feed-through system to beinstalled where cables are already in place, as an alternative to feeding thecables through closed openings of cover pieces or closed “free sub-openings”. This type of sideways open cable openings in the cover piecesmay as also be arranged in pairs, wherein two cable openings are facingeach other at adjacent cover pieces to form a larger combined sub-opening.ln the case of closed openings, a cable may be pulled through the opening ofthe cover piece before the cover piece is mounted in the frame. ln their mounted positions, the cover pieces may have varying degreesof coverage of the main opening, with all cover pieces having the same outerdimensions. This makes the system flexible, since it is adaptable to differentkinds of cables. Using cover pieces having the same outer dimensions mayalso be advantageous in that all cover pieces may be mounted in the sameway in the frame. The term “outer dimension” may refer to the outer twodimensions of the cover pieces as seen in a plane parallel to the frame. Forinstance, all the cover pieces may present an identical outer essentialrectangular shape and size in the plane of the main opening. The term “outerdimensions” may also refer to the thickness of the cover pieces perpendicularto the main opening. As an alternative, the inventive system may includecover pieces having different outer dimensions.

The main opening may be elongated, with the cover pieces in theirmounted positions being distributed along a longitudinal direction of the mainopening, i.e. the direction along which the opening has its largest extent. lnone embodiment, the cover pieces may be elongated with their longitudinaldirection extending transversely/perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction ofthe main opening when in their mounted positions. ln their mounted position in the frame, the cover pieces are preferablyheld in place by the frame in the direction perpendicular to the main opening.With respect to the other directions, one or more of the cover pieces in theirmounted positions may be held in place in the longitudinal direction of themain opening by one or more adjacent cover pieces. An advantage hereof isthe lack of need for individual fixation of the cover pieces, simplifying thesystem. Cover pieces at either end of the frame may be supported by end 5 parts of the frame. ln addition, or as an alternative, cover pieces may befastened to the frame with fastening means, such as screws, preventing themounted cover pieces to move in the longitudinal direction and/or thetransverse direction of the main opening. Combination configurations arepossible, wherein some cover pieces are held in place only by adjacent coverpieces and/or end parts of the frame, some cover pieces being held in placeby fastening means only, and some cover pieces being held in place both byadjacent cover pieces and fastening means. As an option, fastening meansmay temporarily be used to keep cover pieces in place during installation ofthe feed-through system, later to be removed.

The frame may comprise a first set of flanges and a second set offlanges, where each set of flanges comprises two flanges. The first set offlanges forms a first gap for receiving a first end of each cover piece along atransverse direction of the main opening and the second set offlanges formsa second gap for receiving an opposite end of each cover piece along thetransverse direction. ln their mounted position, the cover pieces are then heldin place in a normal direction of the opening by the sets of flanges. Thetransverse direction should be interpreted as the direction along which themain opening has its smallest extent.

The frame may further comprise a first waist, located at an end of thefirst gap, and a second waist, located at an end of the second gap. One ormore cover pieces are then in mounted position held in place in thetransverse direction by the first waist and the second waist. The first waistand the second waist may also function as spacer elements defining the firstgap and the second gap, respectively.

One or more cover pieces may be configured to be fastened to one ofthe flanges with attaching means, such as screws.

The cover pieces may be mountable in the frame by a rotationalmovement of the cover pieces from an initial insertion position to a mountedposition. The mounted position of the cover pieces may preferably be amounted position in which the frame prevents the pieces from falling out ofthe frame in directions perpendicular to the main opening. 6 Each of the cover pieces may so Shaped, that if rotated from themounted position in the frame around an axis pointing in a normal direction ofthe main opening, for at least one turning direction, the extent of the coverpiece along a transverse direction of the main opening does not increase.This allows a cover piece in mounted position to be held in place by the framein the transverse direction, with the cover piece still being removable from theframe. lt also allowed a cover piece to be rotationally mounted between thewaists and yet be supported by them in mounted position. lf the extent of the cover piece along the transverse directionfurthermore does not exceed a distance between the first waist and thesecond waist along the transverse direction, rotation is thereby not beinghindered by the waists, allowing rotation to continue until the extent of thecover piece along the transverse direction is smaller than a distance betweenthe first set of flanges and the second set of flanges, the cover piece in theresulting position being removable from the frame.

The frame may comprise two or more parts, the parts being joinablearound one or more cables. This allows the frame to be attached to a cabinetin an existing installation where cables are already present, simplifyinginstallation, since the order of laying cables and installing the feed-throughcan be made arbitrary.

The system may further comprise a separately mountable and lockpiece for preventing removal of cover pieces mounted in the frame. The lockpiece may be mounted as a final piece in the frame and locked from theinside of the cabinet for security reasons.

The system may further be configures so that a minimum size along atransverse direction of the main opening exceeds 44.45 mm. This allows a1U-electronics unit, for example one already installed in a cabinet and/or towhich cables have already been attached, to be pulled through the opening,after which cover pieces are mounted. This saves on installation cost andallows flexibility in the order of installation.

According to a second aspect of the inventive concept, there isprovided method of installing a system according the above, comprising thestep of mounting a number of cover pieces in the frame. 7 The method may further comprise the step of attaching the frame to acabinet or enclosure, either before or after mounting the cover pieces in theframe.

The method may further comprise the step of inserting an electronicsunit, to which one or more of the cables is attached, through the frame beforemounting the cover pieces.

The method may further comprise the step of creating an opening inthe cabinet or enclosure, to which the frame may be attached, where theperimeter of the opening runs around one or more cables already installed.

Brief description of the drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe present inventive concept, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments,with reference to the appended drawings, where the same referencenumerals will be used for similar elements, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cable feed-through in a cabinet asknown from the prior art.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a frame of feed-throughsystem according to one embodiment.

Figs 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d show the feed-through at various stages ofassembly.

Fig. 4a is a perspective drawing showing cover pieces according todifferent embodiments. Fig. 4b is a planar view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a planar view showing the mounting of a cover piece in theframe. Structural features hidden from view are shown with dashed lines.

Figs 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d are perspective drawings of variousembodiments, as installed in cabinets.

Figs 7a, 7b, and 7c are perspective drawings showing the mounting ofcover pieces in a frame, where cables are already present. 8Detailed description of the exemplarv embodiments An embodiment of a feed-through system according to the inventiveconcept, and the method for assembling the system into a final feed-through,will now be described with reference to the drawings.

The system comprises a frame 204, as shown in Fig. 2, and a pluralityof cover pieces 400, as shown in Fig. 4, mountable in the frame 204. A lockpiece 202 may lock the cover pieces in place and prevent the cover piecesfrom being removed from the frame. The frame 204 defines an eiongate mainopening having a Iongitudinai direction and a transverse direction.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of a frame 204 and a lock piece 202.The frame 204 is intended to be installed in a cabinet or the like for defining amain opening 204 between the exterior and the interior of the cabinet. Asseen in direction from the exterior to the interior, the frame 204 comprises afront frame section 206, a waist section 212, and a rear frame section 230.The frame is adapted to allow the mounting of one or more cover pieces 400therein (cf. Fig 4).

The front frame section 206 comprises a planar first front flange 208and a planar second front flange 210. ln this embodiment, theflanges 208, 210 are plate-shaped and essentially U-shaped. The terms“front” and “rear” are used solely for explanation purposes and the actualmounting of the frame in this embodiment in the cabinet may differ. ln thisembodiment, the front flange 208 may be intended for mounting on theexterior side of the cabinet and the rear flange 210 may be intended formounting on the interior side of the cabinet. ln an alternative embodiment (notshown), the front frame section may comprise a single flange in a singlepiece.

The waist section 212 comprises a first essentially U-shaped waistpiece 214 and a second essentially U-shaped waist piece 216. The waistpieces are eiongate in the Iongitudinai direction with the legs of the U-shapeof the first waist piece 214 facing the legs of the U-shape of the second waistpiece 216. The two legs of the first U-shaped waist piece 214 present first andsecond waist surfaces 218, 222, which face towards each other in thetransverse direction. The two legs of the second U-shaped waist piece 216 9 equally present first and second waist surfaces 220, 224 which face towardseach other in the transverse direction. The distance D3 (cf. Fig. 5) betweeneach pair of waist surfaces 218, 222 and 220, 224 is adapted to thedimensions of the cover pieces such that the cover pieces may be installedbetween these surfaces and preferably be supported by at least one of themin their mounted position. ln their mounted position, the cover pieces are keptin place by the waist surfaces 218, 222, 220, 224 in the transverse direction.The bottom part of each U-shaped waist piece 214, 216 presents an endsurface 226, 228 preventing the mounted cover pieces from falling out of theframe 204 in the longitudinal direction.

The rear frame section 230 comprises first and second rearflanges 232, 234. ln an alternative embodiment (not shown), the rear framesection may comprise a single flange in a single piece.

The three main parts of the frame, that is the front frame section 206,the middle waist section 212, and the rear frame section 230 may be attachedto each other using fastening means, such as bolts 236 extending throughbolt openings 237, 238, 240 in, respectively, the front 237 (hidden from viewin Fig. 2 behind bolt heads), middle 238, and rear frame 240 sections.

Nuts 242 may be attached to the bolts 236. ln the embodiment depicted,there are eighteen such bolts 236 and eighteen corresponding nuts 242. Thebolts 236 and the holes 237, 238, 240 are located along two outer long edgesof the frame 204. Obviously, for security reasons, the nuts should bearranged on the rear side of the frame. For the same reasons, the bolts arepreferably made from acid-proof steel and have heads arranged to preventengaging with the bolts, preventing unauthorized access from the front side ofthe frame. The bolts may be pre-mounted or integrated with the frame, or maybe mounted during installation of the frame. ln an alternative embodiment, thefront 206, middle 212, and rear 230 frame sections may instead be weldedtogether.

The lock piece 202 shown in Fig. 2 is arranged to be mounted into theframe 204 after all cover pieces have been installed. When the lock piece 202is installed, it is positioned between two respective openings of the 254 of thefront frame section 206, and between two respective gaps between the first waist piece 214 and the second waist piece 216, engaging with the rear framesection 230 and preventing the removal of cover pieces 400 mounted in theframe 204 (Fig. 3d). The lock piece 202 comprises two bolts 244 whichextend through respective holes 246 in the rear frame section 230. The lockpiece 202 may be fixed to the frame by attaching tvvo respective nuts 248 tothe bolts 244. For security reasons, the nuts are located on the rear side ofthe frame. Also for security reasons, the bolts are preferably made from acid-proof steel and preferably the bolt heads are arranged to prevent engagingwith the bolts. ln an alternative embodiment, the lock piece may comprisemore than two bolts, for example four bolts. Alternatively, the bolts may bereplaced with rods which can be held in place by pins.

The frame 204 and the lock piece 204 are preferably at least partlymade from steel.

Optionally, the first and second front flanges 208, 210 may be providedwith holes 250 arranged to receive pins, screws or the like for fixing themounted cover pieces 400 in their mounted positions. Alternatively, the coverpieces 400 may be kept on place only by engaging with each other. Yetanother alternative is to use both functions in parallel for extra stability.

A set of mounting holes 252 in the front frame section 206 allows theframe 204 to be attached to a cabinet or an enclosure by means of bolts. Nutsare then preferably provided on the rear side of the frame, so that the framecannot be removed from the outside of the cabinet. ln an alternativeembodiment, the frame 204 (or at least parts thereof) may be welded to thecabinet or enclosure.

Figs 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d show the feed-through system at variousstages of assembly according to one possible sequence of assembly. Thefeed-through is depicted with the front frame section 206 facing downwardsand the rear frame section 230 facing upwards. As will be described in thefollowing, the parts of the assembled frame form a sandwich structure.

Fig. 3a shows the front frame section 206 with its first front flange 208and second front flange 210 having been brought together. The first waistpiece 214 and the second waist piece 216 have been put on top of the frontframe section 206, completing the waist section 212. ln order for the front 206 11 and rear frame sections to support and hold the cover pieces in the finalassembly, it is preferred that the flanges extend over a part of the coverpieces. To this end, the waist section 212 is so dimensioned that it does notextend all the way out to the main opening, leaving a free edge 217 of theflange adjacent the main opening 201 _ The bolts 236 (if not pre-mounted)have been put through the holes 237, 238 (cf. Fig 2) of the front framesection 206 and the waist section 212. ln Fig. 3b, the first rear flange 232 has been added adjacent to the firstfront flange 208 on top of the waist pieces 214, 216. lt is held in place by thebolts 236. A first gap 302 extending perpendicular to the main opening forreceiving first ends of cover pieces 400 has now been formed between thefirst front flange 208 and the first rear flange 232, with the waist pieces214, 216 functioning as spacers, holding the flanges 208, 232 together.

Fig. 3c shows a fully assembled frame 204 with no cover piecesinstalled. The second rear flange 234 has been added adjacent to the secondfront flange 210 on top of the waist part. A second gap 304 for receivingsecond ends of cover pieces 400 has been formed between the second frontflange 234 and the second rear flange 234. Nuts 242 have been tightenedaround the bolts 236 (cf. Fig. 3a) to fixate the parts of the frame 204. Theassembled frame 204 defines a substantially rectangular elongated mainopening 201.

With reference to Fig. 2, the two flanges 208, 210 of the front framesection have thus been brought together the transverse direction. The twopieces 214, 216 of the waist section 212 have been brought together in thelongitudinal direction, while the two parts 232, 234 of the rear section 230have been brought together in the transverse direction. Thus, one of thelayers of the frame has been brought together in a direction different from theother two. This improves the stability of the frame, since it bridges the gaps ineach layer of the frame. This also allows the flanges to be brought togetheraround one or more cables that have already been installed and extend intothe cabinet. Alternatively, the frame may be assembled first and then pushedalong cables towards the cabinet. 12 Finally, in Fig 3d, a number of separate cover pieces 400 have beenmounted in the frame 204, defining cable openings 308. The main openinghas been filled with cover pieces 400. Cover pieces 400 are held in place in alongitudinal direction by one or more adjacent cover pieces. The cover piecesmay have different kinds of openings or no openings at all, as will bedescribed in detail later. The cover pieces have been locked in place usingthe lock piece 202, which has been fastened to the frame by its two bolts 244and two nuts 248.

Figs 4a and 4b are a perspective view and a planar view, respectively,of a plurality of different types and designs of cover pieces 400 according todifferent non-limiting embodiments. The outer dimensions of a coverpiece 400 - disregarding any cable openings therein - may be defined by twoparallel main surfaces 471, two side edges 472, and two mountingedges 461, 462. Other configurations are possible. The main surfaces areintended to be parallel to the main opening 201 (cf. Fig 3c) with the coverpiece in mounted position. The long edges may be parallel to each other andperpendicular to the main surfaces. Typically, while having differentconfigurations, cover pieces of a specific embodiment take up the samespace in the frame.

The cover pieces may include cover pieces 411-415 so formed thateach of the mounting edges 461 is formed by one or more circular arcs. Thecircular arcs are so arranged that the piece has its maximum extensionessentially in the middle of the piece. Preferably, the circular arcs form partsof a circle having its center aligned with the center of mass of the cover piece.This allows, with the cover piece in mounted position, a maximum amount ofmaterial to engage with the flanges 208, 210, 232, 234 (cf. Fig. 2). For anydesign of a cover piece, the mounting edges 461, 462 are preferably insidethe bounds of such a circle. ln an alternative embodiment, cover pieces 421-425 may be so formedthat each of the mounting edges 462 is formed by one or more linearsegments. The linear segments are so arranged that the piece has itsmaximum extension essentially in the middle of the piece. 13 ln yet an alternative embodiment, cover pieces 431-435 are soformed, that the front and rear surfaces are substantially shaped asparallelograms.

Optionally, the cover pieces are provided with cable openings 450 ofvarious sizes. A cover piece 411, 421, 431, 412, 422, 432, 414, 424, 434 mayhave one cable opening 451, 454, 455. Alternatively, a coverpiece 413, 423, 433 may have several cable openings 452, 453.

A cover piece 412, 422, 432, 413, 423, 433, 414, 424, 434 may beprovided with one or more cable openings 451, 452, 453, 454 that are opentowards a long edge of the cover piece. Alternatively or in addition, a cablepiece 411, 421, 431 may have one or more cable openings 455 that areclosed. The latter kind may be used as a strain relief.

The size and/or shape of the cable openings may be adapted to aspecific cable or to specific cables.

The cover pieces may have openings 463 for optionally fixing them tothe frame 204 (cf. Fig. 2).

The cover pieces may be cast or machined. lf the cover pieces arecast, cable openings may either be cast together with the cover piece ormachined aftervvards.

Preferably, the cover pieces are made from steel. This has theadvantage of allowing an installation engineer to use a magnet to position thecover piece during mounting of the same.

Preferably, the front and rear surfaces of the cover pieces 400 arepoint symmetric, i.e. they are invariant under reflection around a point. Thisallows a cover piece 400 to be mounted in an identical way no matter whethera first mounting edge is mounted in the first set of flanges or the second set offlanges in the frame. Cable openings may then be positioned according towhat is suitable for the situation at hand.

Fig. 5 is a planar view showing a part of the frame 204 from the rearside and the mounting of a cover piece in the frame. The front frame section206 and the rear frame section 230 are visible in the view, whereas the non-visible waist section 212 is shown in dashed lines. 14 A cover piece 400 about to be mounted in the frame is shown in aninitial rotational position P1 where the extent of the cover piece along thetransverse direction does not exceed the distance D2 between the twoflanges 208, 210 of the front frame section 206. ln this initial position, thecover piece 400 may therefore be inserted into the frame 204 and alignedwith the gaps 302, 304 (cf. Fig, 3) in the normal direction. The distance D2between the flanges of the front frame section 206 is larger than the distanceD1 between the flanges of the rear frame section 230. This makes thisalignment easier, since the cover piece 400 can be held against the flanges ofthe rear frame section 230. ls also has the advantage of making it harder toaccidentally drop a cover piece through the main opening 201.

The piece may then be rotated in a plane parallel to the main opening,as shown with a dashed arrow A1. ln the intermediate position P2 in Fig. 5, the cover piece 400 has beenrotated into a position in which the extent or dimension of the cover piecealong the transverse direction does not exceed the distance D3 between thefirst waist surface 220 and the second waist surface 222, allowing the coverpiece to be rotated further towards its final mounted position P3, as shownwith a dashed arrow A2. ln the final mounted position P3, the cover piece 400 has been rotatedinto a position where the openings 463 are now lined-up with the fixingholes 250 of the front frame section 206. ln this final position P3, the coverpiece 400 may optionally be fixed with a screw or the like. The piece is held inplace in the transverse direction by one or both of the waist surfaces 220, 222and in the normal direction by the flanges 208, 210, 232, 234 of the frontframe section 206 and the rear frame section 230.

Similarly, when rotating a cover piece 400 in a normal direction of themain opening 201 to remove it from its mounted position in the frame 204, theextent of the cover piece along the transverse direction does not increase.Furthermore, said extent does not exceed the distance D3 between the firstwaist surface 220 and the second waist surface 222, allowing rotation tocontinue until the said extent is smaller than the distance D2, allowing thepiece to be removed from the frame.

Preferably, the distance D1 is larger than a standard rack unit height.This allows an electronics unit of that size already installed in a cabinet to bepulled through the opening, avoiding the need to reconnect cables attached tothe unit. For a standard 19-inch rack, this standard rack unit height (1 U) is44.45 mm.

Figs 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d show an assembled feed-through installed incabinets 602 according to various embodiments. Fig. 6a shows aconfiguration where the front frame section 206 of the frame is integrated witha cabinet 602, the frame thus forming part of the cabinet wall. The other partsof the frame are welded to the cabinet 602. Fig. 6b shows a similarconfiguration where the front frame section 206 is integrated with acabinet 602, the rest of the frame however being attached to the front framesection 206 using bolts 604. Fig. 6c shows a configuration where the frame ismade as a unit separate from the cabinet 602 and attached to the cabinetusing bolts 606. Finally, Fig. 6d shows a configuration where the lockpiece 202 is located adjacent to an end of the frame, rather than at the centerof the frame as shown in Fig. 2. As for other bolts described previously, thesebolts 604, 606 are preferably made from acid-proof steel and preferably thebolt heads are arranged to prevent engaging with the bolts.

Figs 7a, 7b, and 7c illustrate how the cover pieces can be mounted in aframe where cables are already present. Fig. 7a shows a frame 204 and aplurality of cables 702 extending through the main opening. The frame mayhave been attached to a cabinet or enclosure (not shown) around cablesalready in place. This attachment may have been preceded by the creation ofan opening in the cabinet or enclosure, where the perimeter of the openingruns around cables already in place. Fig. 7b shows the mounting of a coverpiece 704 by rotational movement as already described. An installationengineer may pick any suitable cover piece 706 for the cables 702 at hand.Finally, Fig. 7c shows a finished feed-through. With the cables in neat, tidyorder, the cover pieces are locked in place by the lock piece 202. 16 The inventive concept has mainly been described above with referenceto a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilledin the art, other embodiments than the ones disc|osed above are equaiiy possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patentclaims.

Claims (17)

1. A cable feed-through system for routing cables into a Cabinet orenclosure (602), said system comprising a frame (204) and a plurality ofcover pieces (400), said frame defining a main opening (201), said coverpieces (400) being individually mountable in said frame (204) for coveringportions of said main opening (201) and thereby defining a plurality of cablefeed-through sub-openings (308), wherein said cover pieces (400) aremountable in said frame (204) by a rotational movement of said cover pieces(400) from an initial position to a mounted position.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of coverpieces (400) comprises at least one cover piece (400) provided with a cableopening (450), said cable opening defining one of said sub-openings (308).

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said cable opening (451-454) is open towards an edge of said cover piece (400), for receiving one ormore cables during installation.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said coverpieces (400) in their mounted positions having varying degrees of coverage ofsaid main opening (201 ), all covering pieces (400) having the same outerdimensions.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said mainopening (201) is elongated, said cover pieces (400) in their mounted positionsbeing distributed along a longitudinal direction of said main opening (201).

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein one or more of said coverpieces (400) in mounted position is held in place in said longitudinal directionby one or more adjacent cover pieces (400).

7. The system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said frame (204)comprises a first set of flanges (208, 232) and a second set of flanges 18 (210, 234), each set of flanges comprising two flanges, the first set of flanges(208, 232) forming a first gap (302) for receiving a first end of one or morecover pieces (400) of said plurality of cover pieces along a transversedirection of said main opening, the second set of flanges (208, 232) forming asecond gap (304) for receiving an opposite end of said cover piece along saidtransverse direction, said one or more cover pieces (400) in mounted positionbeing held in place in a normal direction of said opening by said sets offlanges (208, 232, 210, 234).

8. The system according to claim 7, said frame (204) further comprising afirst waist (218, 220), located along said first gap (302) and a second waist (222, 224), located along said second gap (304), wherein one or morecover pieces (400) of said plurality of cover pieces in mounted position is heldin place in said transverse direction by said first waist (218, 220) and saidsecond waist (222, 224).

9. The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein one or more coverpieces (400) of said plurality of cover pieces is mountable to one of saidflanges (208, 210) with attaching means, preferably a screw.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, whereineach of said cover pieces (400) is so shaped, that if rotated from saidmounted position in said frame (204) around an axis pointing in a normaldirection of said main opening (201), for at least one turning direction, theextent of said cover piece along a transverse direction of said main openingdoes not increase.

11. The system according to claim 8 and claim 10, wherein said extent ofsaid cover piece (400) along said transverse direction furthermore does notexceed a distance (D3) between said first waist (218, 220) and said secondwaist (222, 224) along said transverse direction, rotation thereby not beinghindered by said waists, allowing rotation to continue until the extent of saidcovering piece along said transverse direction is smaller than a distance (D2)between said first set of flanges (208, 232) and said second set of 19 flanges (208, 232), said cover piece (400) in the resulting position beingremovable from said frame (204).

12. The system according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein said framecomprises two or more parts, said parts being joinable around one or morecables.

13. The system according to any one of claims 1-12, further comprising alock piece (202) for preventing removal of cover pieces (400) mounted in saidframe (204).

14. The system according to any one of claims 5-13, wherein a minimumsize (D1) along a transverse direction of said main opening (201) exceeds44.45 mm.

15. A method of installing a system according to any one of claims 1-14,comprising the steps of mounting a number of said plurality of cover pieces (400) in said frame(204) either before or after routing the cables through the main opening, and attaching said frame (204) to a cabinet or enclosure (602), eitherbefore or after mounting said cover pieces in said frame.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step ofinserting an electronics unit, to which one or more of said cables areattached, through said frame (204) before mounting the cover pieces (400).

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising the step ofcreating an opening in said cabinet or enclosure (602), to which said framemay be attached, the perimeter of said opening running around one or morecables already installed.