Abstract:
An isolating plate ( 10 ) and insulated bolt assembly ( 51 ) for electrically insulating a cabinet ( 22 ) for holding telecommunications switching equipment. The isolating plate ( 10 ) functions as an installation template to assist an installer with locating and installing cabinets ( 22 ) in a telecommunications center. The precut cable ways ( 12 ) and mounting holes ( 14 ) allow the installer to quickly locate and cut the floor as needed for cables ( 15 ) and bolts ( 26 ) required to install the cabinet ( 22 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates in general to the installation of telecommunications equipment cabinets. More particularly, the invention relates to a means of electronically isolating an equipment cabinet from the floor and allocating floor space for an installation of cabinets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with installing and electronically isolating telecommunications switching equipment cabinets, as an example. 
     The backbone of a telecommunications network consists of switching centers and either wireless or wireline communication links coupling the switching centers. A switching center is a place where telephony and electronic communications are routed from one point to another point in the network service area. The switches and equipment in a switching center are customarily mounted in a cabinet for protection. Typically, cabinets are installed in rows with cabinets placed side-by-side to form what is known in the industry as a “suite”. Suites of cabinets are also placed back-to-back with to create a “double suite”. 
     Since switching centers have a limited amount of floor space, it is important to keep the installation of a cabinet or suite in a precise and compact area. It is a time consuming task for cabinet installers to measure and layout the exact locations for the cabinets. It is especially time consuming to identify the proper location for cabinet mounting bolts and cable ways. Cable ways are chutes which allow cables to pass from the cabinet into areas beneath the floor of the switching center. In some installations, switching centers have a “computer floor”. A computer floor is a raised tile floor which allows cables to be routed between individual cabinets. The cables run from the bottom of a cabinet, underneath the computer floor and up in to another cabinet. 
     It is important for the protection of the equipment inside the cabinet that the cabinet be electronically isolated from the building. if the cabinet is not isolated, damage to the equipment inside the cabinet may result from, for example, electric overcharge or unexpected power supply disturbances. The damage results in unnecessary expense to replace the damaged equipment, loss of revenue from the equipment down time, and possible harm to people. 
     One means of achieving isolation involves the use of an electrically nonconductive material, such as plastic. Pieces of such a material have been placed beneath a cabinet in a manner intended to prevent the cabinet from making direct contact with the floor. These pieces are taken from whatever sources of electrically nonconductive material are available at the time of installation. 
     The disadvantages of this method are that the pieces do not always assure complete isolation of the cabinet, and are not suitable for reuse when cabinets are relocated in a telecommunications switching center or another location. Another disadvantage of many pieces of electrically nonconductive material is that extensive manual labor is required to measure and layout the cabinets in the proper locations. 
     The disadvantages of this method are that the pieces do not always assure complete isolation of the cabinet, and are not suitable for reuse when cabinets are relocated in a telecommunications switching center or another location. Another disadvantage of many pieces of electrically nonconductive material is that a extensive manual labor is required to measure and layout the cabinets in the proper locations. 
     Accordingly, a means of facilitating the installation of equipment cabinets in a telecommunications switching center that provides insulation between the cabinet and the floor upon which it is installed would provide numerous advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method and system for isolating the equipment inside a cabinet of the type typically used in a telecommunications switching center. With the present invention the cabinet is electrically isolated from the floor. 
     Disclosed in one embodiment is a method for installing a telecommunications equipment cabinet. The method includes the step of locating an isolating plate within a desired location of a switching room floor. Next, the cable ways and mounting holes are located in the floor and the cabinets are placed in position over the isolating plate permitting the cables to be routed into the cabinet. 
     In one embodiment, the method includes the step of using an isolator plate as a template for establishing the proper location for a cabinet and the location for openings such as cable ways and bolt holes in the floor. The installer lays the isolating plate in the proper location on the floor. The isolator plate can simply just lay down on the floor or alternatively, the installer attaches the isolating plate to the floor with screws, adhesive or other appropriate means. This allows an installer to quickly establish the location of a cabinet and to cut any holes that need to be made in the floor. 
     In another embodiment, an isolating plate is generally the same size as the base of a cabinet. The isolating plate is placed between the cabinet and a floor to isolate the cabinet. The isolating plate has a precut opening to allow cables to pass through from the computer floor and into the cabinet. The isolating plate is a nonconductive material such as Haysite H950, GPO-3 composite. 
     In another embodiment, the isolating plate is attached to the cabinet prior to the installation on the floor. The isolating plate may be installed on the cabinet at the installation site or at the manufacturing factory. The cabinet is then attached to the floor and the cables are routed as necessary. 
     Disclosed in one embodiment is a telecommunications cabinet mounting system that uses the isolating plate and a insulated bolt assembly to protect the equipment inside the cabinet. 
     A technical advantage of the present invention is a simplified method for installing or relocating cabinets in a switching center, since it allows the exact location of a cabinet to be quickly and accurately determined. 
     An additional technical advantage is the complete electrical isolation of the cabinet, since the entire cabinet is separated from the floor by the isolating plate and the insulated bolt assembly. Electrical isolation is important for the proper functioning of the equipment inside the cabinet and to prevent harm to the equipment, building or people. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, including its features and advantages, reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
     FIG. 1 depicts a typical installation in a telecommunications switching center; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a typical installation of a cabinet and isolating plate according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 depicts an isolating plate according to a preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 depicts an insulated bolt assembly connecting a cabinet to a building floor according to a preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates cross-section of an insulated bolt assembly connecting a cabinet to a building floor according to a preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 depicts an insulated bolt assembly according to a preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 depicts a side view of a coupler assembly according to a preferred embodiment; and 
     FIG. 8 depicts a top view of a coupler assembly according to a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     Corresponding numerals and symbols in the figures refer to corresponding parts in the detailed description unless otherwise indicated. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. These specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, therein is shown a telecommunications switching center  7 . The telecommunications switching center  7  contains a suite  18  consisting of cabinets  22   a,    22   b  and  22   c . The telecommunications switching center  7  has a computer floor  13  which is a raised tile floor. A computer floor  13  is installed a fixed distance above a building floor  19 . An open space is formed between the computer floor  13  and a building floor  19  to allow cables  15  to be routed as required in the telecommunications switching center  7 . An isolating plate  10  is placed in the desired location on top of the computer floor  13 . The isolating plate  10  can simply lay down on the floor or alternatively, the isolating plate  10  is held in place with screws, adhesive or other suitable means of attachment. A specific cabinet is placed on top of an isolating plate  10  and cables  15  are routed beneath the computer floor  13  up through a cable way  12  in the isolating plate  10  and into the cabinet  22 . The cabinet  22  is secured to the building floor  19  by bolts passing through the base of the cabinet  22 , through the mounting holes  14  in the isolating plate  10  and into a threaded floor anchor, nut, or other suitable means of attachment (not shown). 
     With reference to FIG. 1, therein is shown a telecommunications switching center  7 . The telecommunications switching center  7  contains a suite  18  consisting of cabinets  22   a,    22   b  and  22   c . The telecommunications switching center  7  has a computer floor  13  which is a raised tile floor. A computer floor  13  is installed a fixed distance above a building floor  19 . An open space is formed between the computer floor  13  and a building floor  19  to allow cables  15  to be routed as required in the telecommunications switching center  7 . An isolating plate  10  is placed in the desired location on top of the computer floor  13 . The isolation plate  10  can simply lay down on the floor or alternatively, the isolator plate is held in place with screws, adhesive or other suitable means of attachment. A specific cabinet is placed on top of an isolating plate  10  and cables  15  are routed beneath the computer floor  13  up through a cable way  12  in the isolating plate  10  and into the cabinet  22 . The cabinet  22  is secured to the building floor  19  by bolts passing through the base of the cabinet  22 , through the mounting holes  14  in the isolating plate  10  and into a threaded floor anchor, nut, or other suitable means of attachment (not shown). 
     The individual cabinets  22   a,    22   b,    22   c,    22   d,    22   e,    22   f  are attached to each other by joining plates  17   a,    17   b  to form a suite  18 . A joining plate  17   a  is placed on top of cabinets  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   d ,  22   e  and held in place by bolts (not shown) which are inserted through the joining plate  17   a  and into the cabinets  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   d ,  22   e . One joining plate  17   a  may be used to connect up to four individual cabinets. The bolts pass through holes in the top of cabinets  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   d ,  22   e  and are fastened in place with nuts (not shown). Joining plate  17   a  is placed across the intersection of four cabinets  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   d ,  22   e , with one bolt (not shown) attaching the joining plate to each cabinet  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   d ,  22   e . Joining plate  17   b  is placed across two cabinets  22   e ,  22   f  with two bolts (not shown) attaching the plate the joining plate to each cabinet  22   e ,  22   f . For convenience, the terms “cabinet” and “cabinets”, “suite” and “suites”, “hole” and “holes”, “bolt” and “bolts”, “joining plate” and “joining plates”, and cable way” and cable ways” will be referred to interchangeably throughout in connection with both the singular and plural forms of the terms. 
     In FIG. 2, assembly of a cabinet installation is illustrated. The isolating plate  10  is shown with a mounting hole  14  and a cable way  12 . Cable  15  is shown being routed up and out of the floor, passing through the cable way  12  and into a cabinet  22 . Cabinet  22  is secured to the floor by a bolt  26  passing through a bolt hole  27  in the cabinet  22 . The bolt  26  then passes through the mounting hole  14  in the isolating plate  10  and secures into a means of attachment in the computer floor  13  such as a threaded floor anchor or a nut (not shown). 
     Since the isolating plate  10  is initially detached from the computer floor  13 , it can be located, placed, and installed prior to placement of the cabinet  22  within the telecommunications switching center  7 . 
     Given that numerous configurations for a telecommunications switching center  7  are possible, the ability to layout and place the isolating plate  10  in the switching center  7  prior to installation of the cabinet  22  provides numerous advantages. For example, depending on the length and width dimensions of a particular telecommunications switching center  7 , more or less of the isolating plates  10  can be installed to accommodate a particular arrangement of cabinets  22  along the width or length of a telecommunications switching center  7 . Since the cabinets  22  are relatively heavy and thus difficult to move or relocate once installed in the computer floor  13 , the isolating plate  10  eases installation. In addition, due to its insulating characteristics, the isolating plate  10  decreases the risk of damage to the equipment held by a cabinet  22 . For example, the isolating plate  10  can be made from a Haysite H950, GPO-3 composite or other similar material. These and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, therein is shown an isolating plate  10 . The isolating plate  10  is seen to include a cable way  12  through which cables  15  are passed from the computer floor  13 , through the isolating plate  10  and into a cabinet  22  of the type found in a typical telecommunications switching center  7 . This isolating plate  10  also has mounting holes  14  for the bolts  26  securing a cabinet to the building floor  19  (not shown). 
     With reference to FIG. 3, therein is shown an isolating plate  10 . The isolating plate  10  is seen to include a cable way  12  through which cables  15  are passed from the computer floor  13 , through the isolating plate  10  and into a cabinet  22  of the type found in a typical telecommunications switching center  7 . This switching plate  10  also has mounting holes  14  for the bolts  26  securing a cabinet to the building floor  19  (not shown). 
     In FIGS. 4 and 5, a telecommunications cabinet mounting system is shown. In a telecommunications switching center  7 , having a building floor  19  and a computer floor  13 , a C-shaped first channel  59  is attached to the building floor  19 . Those knowledgeable in the art will use bolts (not shown) to attach the first channel  59  to the building floor  19 . The first channel  59  has a base side, two side walls and an open side. The base side is adjacent to the building floor  19  and the open side is opposite the building floor  19 . 
     The first channel  59  and a coupler assembly  56  provide a first anchor means of attachment for connecting the building floor  19  to a threaded rod  66 . The first end of the threaded rod  66  terminates in the coupler assembly  56 . A first washer  53  and a first nut  50  are placed on top of the coupler assembly  56 . The first nut  50  is secured tightly against the coupler assembly  56  to lock the threaded rod  66  in place in the coupler assembly  56 . 
     A second nut  49  and a second washer  46  are placed on the threaded rod  66  above the first nut  50 . The second nut  49  and second washer  46  support a second anchor means to the threaded rod  66 . 
     The second anchor means is shown as a channel anchor plate  43 . The channel anchor plate  43  has a width larger than the width of the channel it supports. The channel anchor plate  43  also has a threaded hole to engage the threaded rod  66 . The second nut  49  is secured tightly against the channel anchor plate  43  to lock the channel anchor plate  43  in position along the threaded rod  66 . 
     A second C-shaped channel  40  is on top of the channel anchor plate  43 . The second channel  40  has a base side, two side walls and an open side. The base side is opposite the channel anchor plate  43  and the open side is adjacent the channel anchor plate  43 . A computer floor  13  is on top of the base side of the second channel  40 . The threaded rod  66  passes through holes in the second channel  40  and the computer floor  13 . 
     An isolating plate  10  is between the computer floor  13  and a cabinet  22 . The isolating plate  10  has a hole to allow the treaded rod  66  pass into the base of the cabinet  22 . 
     The base of the cabinet  22  has a socket to allow the second end of the threaded rod  66  to be recessed within the base of the cabinet  22 . The preferred shape for the socket is cylindrical, although the shape is not limited to a cylinder. A hollow non-conducting insulator  60  is placed in a hole in the bottom of the socket. The insulator  60  is a cylinder with two open ends to allow the threaded rod  66  to pass through the insulator  60 . One end of the insulator  60  has a disk larger in diameter than the hole in end the socket and smaller in diameter than the socket. The insulator  60  extends through the hole in the base of the cabinet  22  to the second channel  40 . The insulator  60  separates the threaded rod  66  from the cabinet  22  and the computer floor  13 . 
     A top securing means is used to hold the cabinet  22  to the threaded rod  66 . The preferred top securing means is a top nut  63 . The top nut  63  is a nut engaged with the threaded rod  66  and has a diameter less than the diameter of the disk on the insulator  60 . The top nut  63  is on the second end of the threaded rod  66  and is tight against the disk of the insulator  60 . 
     In FIG. 6, therein is shown an insulated bolt assembly  51  as described above with the cabinet  22 , isolating plate  10 , channels  40 ,  59  and floors  13 ,  19  omitted for clarity. 
     The coupler assembly  56  is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The coupler assembly  56  has a plate  72  with a top side and a bottom side. The plate  72  is wider than the width of the first channel  59  so the plate  72  will sit on top of the first channel  59 . The top side of the plate  76  has a threaded hole  70  which is connected to the fist end of the threaded rod  66 . A neck  78  having a top end attached to the plate  72  extends down from the bottom side of the plate  72 . The bottom end of the neck  78  is attached to a lobe  74  which holds the coupler assembly  56  in the first channel  59 . The coupler assembly  56  has a spring support  76  to further hold it in place in the first channel  59 . 
     The isolating plate  10  is reusable and may be moved with a cabinet  22 . It is often desirable to move a cabinet  22  or suite  18  to different locations within a telecommunications switching center  7  or to an entirely different location. In either case, the ability to remove the isolating plate  10  from one location, layout the new location and electrically isolate the new installation is seen to have a great deal of improvement in installation flexibility and the time required to install a cabinet  22 . 
     The insulated bolt assembly  51  provides a secure cabinet mount which protects the equipment inside a cabinet  22  from unwanted electrical circuits. In addition, the insulated bolt assembly  51  is adaptable to most installation configurations. It may be used with a computer floor  13  and a building floor  19  or in a single floor installation. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications in combinations of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description.