Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a rack for mounting telecommunications equipment for receiving cross-connect modules and cables. The rack includes a frame defining a bay formed between two spaced-apart, vertical end walls. The bay is sized for receiving telecommunications equipment. The rack also includes cable management structure connected to the frame. The cable management structure includes first and second front vertical cable channels. Rear cable supports extend rearwardly from the rack. The vertical channels include two nested channels wherein the two vertical channels face each other. A top of the rack includes two nested channels. A base of the rack includes a first plate, and two transversely extending second plates, and a gusset between the transversely extending plates and the vertical channels.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to high density frames, bays or racks for providing cross-connections between telecommunication circuits. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A digital cross connect system (DSX) provides a location for interconnecting two digital transmission paths. The apparatus for a DSX is located in one or more frames, racks or bays, usually in a telephone central office. The DSX apparatus also provides jack access to the transmission paths. 
     DSX jacks are well known and typically include a plurality of bores sized for receiving co-axial or tip-and-ring plugs. In the case of co-axial plugs, the bores are provided with center conductors and co-axial grounds. In the case of tip-and-ring plugs, a plurality of spring contacts are provided within the bores for contacting the tip-and-ring plugs. The jacks are typically electrically connected to digital transmission lines, and are also electrically connected to a plurality of wire termination members used to cross-connect the jacks. By inserting plugs within the bores of the jacks, signals transmitted through the jacks can be interrupted or monitored. 
     The number of jacks or cross-connect points that are located at a bay of a given size is referred to as the density of a bay. As the cross-connect density increases, the management of telecommunication wires in the bay becomes increasingly complex. For high density DSX bays, wire management is critical. U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,214, commonly owned by ADC Telecommunications, shows a cross-connect rack with cross-connect modules. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,214 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Further developments are desired in the rack area. One area for improvement is strength and durability of the rack, such as during an earthquake. A further area of development is with respect to the size and cable management features which can fit above floor tiles constructed with a 600 millimeter by 600 millimeter perimeter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A rack for mounting telecommunications equipment is provided for receiving cross-connection modules and cables. The rack includes a frame defining a bay formed between two spaced-apart, vertical end walls. Each end wall is preferably constructed as upright vertical channels with the flanges of the channels facing toward the flanges of an opposite channel. Each channel preferably includes first and second nested U-shaped channel supports. A top of the frame preferably includes first and second nested U-shaped channel members. A base of the frame defines first and second rear notches adjacent the floor, for passage of telecommunications cables vertically upward through the floor. The base preferably includes a first base plate extending between the upright channels, and two second base plates extending transversely, and a gusset between each of the second base plates and each upright channel on each side of the base. 
     The rack also preferably includes cable management structure connected to the frame including front cable guides defining vertical cable channels, horizontal cable trays, and back cable support brackets. Each back cable support bracket preferably includes an extension including a linear array of holes, a support tab extending transversely to the extension, a distal tab extending transversely to the extension at an opposite end of the extension from the support tab, and a power cord tab extending from the support tab in a direction toward the extension from an opposite side of the support tab from the extension. 
     A variety of advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a telecommunications rack constructed in accordance with the principals of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the rack of FIG. 1, with the front base cover removed, and the A/C outlet cover removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the rack of FIG. 1 along lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a view looking upwardly from a plane cut at lines  7 — 7  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is a view looking downwardly from a plane cut at lines  8 — 8  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing internal features of an upper comer of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a bottom comer of the rack of FIG. 1 with portions removed; 
     FIG. 12 is a further partial perspective view of the bottom corner shown in FIG. 11, with further portions removed; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a lower portion of the exploded view of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a top view of the outer top rail of the top member of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 16 is a front view of the outer top rail of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is an end view of the outer top rail of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 18 is a top view of the inner top rail of the top member; 
     FIG. 19 is a front view of the inner top rail of FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 20 is an end view of the inner top rail of FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 21 is a front view of the inner vertical support of one of the upright channels of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 22 is a side view of the inner vertical support of FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 23 is a top view of the inner vertical support of FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 24 is a front view of the outer vertical support of one of the upright channels of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 25 is a side view of the outer vertical support of FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a top view of the outer vertical support of FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 27 is a front view of the front base cover; 
     FIG. 28 is a bottom view of the front base cover of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 29 is a back view of the front base cover of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 30 is a side view of the front base cover of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the base plate of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 32 is a side view of the left base bracket of the base plate of FIG. 31, the right base bracket constructed in a mirror image; 
     FIG. 33 is a top view of the left base bracket of FIG. 32; 
     FIG. 34 is a front view of the left base bracket of FIG. 32; 
     FIG. 35 is a top view of the middle base plate of the base plate of FIG. 31; 
     FIG. 36 is an end view of the middle base plate of FIG. 35; 
     FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the left base support of the rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 38 is a front view of the gusset plate; 
     FIG. 39 is a side view of the left base support plate of FIG. 37, the right base support plate constructed in a mirror image; 
     FIG. 40 is a top view of the left base support plate of FIG. 39; 
     FIG. 41 is an opposite side view of the left base support plate of FIG. 39; 
     FIG. 42 is an end view of the left base support plate of FIG. 39; 
     FIG. 43 is a front perspective view of the base without the front base cover or the front base support; 
     FIG. 44 is a bottom view of the front base support; 
     FIG. 45 is a top view of the front base support; 
     FIG. 46 is a back view of the front base support; 
     FIG. 47 is a front view of the rear base support; 
     FIG. 48 is an end view of the front base support; 
     FIG. 49 is a back perspective view of the lower portion of the rack showing the front base support exploded from the remainder of the rack; 
     FIG. 50 is a front view of the back base support; 
     FIG. 51 is a top view of the back base support; 
     FIG. 52 is a back view of the back base support; 
     FIG. 53 is a first side view of the back base support; 
     FIG. 54 is an opposite side view of the back base support; 
     FIG. 55 is a front perspective view of the lower portion of the rack showing the back base support exploded from a remainder of the rack; 
     FIG. 56 is a first embodiment of a telecommunications bay including the rack of FIG.  1  and including cable management features mounted to the rack; 
     FIG. 57 is a side view of the bay of FIG. 56; 
     FIG. 58 is atop view of the bay of FIG. 56; 
     FIG. 59 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the rack of FIG. 1 shown with a template and insulation pad used to mount the rack to a floor tile; 
     FIG. 60 is a back perspective view of the upper portion of the bay of FIG. 56; 
     FIG. 61 is a back perspective view of the lower portion of the bay of FIG. 56; 
     FIG. 62 is a front view of the fuse and power panel mounted in the bay of FIG. 56; and 
     FIG. 63 is a wiring chart for the bay of FIG.  56 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIGS. 1-55 show various views of a preferred embodiment of a telecommunications equipment rack  10 . Rack  10  may be equipped with various cable management features such as in an embodiment of a telecommunications bay  12  of FIGS. 56-63 where bay  12  is configured for use in a cross-connect situation. In bay  12 , various input/output connection locations are defined in equipment spaces  14 . Examples of equipment and a rack for holding the equipment arranged for cross-connecting in/out cables are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,214, previously incorporated by reference. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1-55, rack  10  includes a frame  20  having two upright channels  22  extending from opposite sides of a base  24 . Upright channels  22  are interconnected by a top member  26  at a top of upright channels  22 . Rack  10  defines a front  28  and a back  30 . 
     Each upright channel  22  includes first and second nested channel members  100 ,  102  welded together along base portions  104 ,  106  at slots  107 . Flanges  108 ,  110  are also welded to one another. Flanges  108  are equal in length and face toward the flanges  108  of the opposite channel member  100 . Flanges  110  diverge in opposite directions to engage flanges  108 . A plurality of nuts  112  welded to base portion  106  and aligned with holes  140 ,  142  can be used to fasten rack  10  to adjacent racks or other telecommunications panels. Each of flanges  108  includes holes  114  for receipt of fasteners to mount the equipment, such as a chassis of cross-connect modules as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,214. Spaced channel support plates  116  are welded in place across channel  118  of channel member  102 . 
     Top member  26  includes first and second nested channel members  200 ,  202  welded to one another and to vertical channel members  100 ,  102 . A plurality of nuts  204  are welded to channel member  202  and aligned with holes  240 ,  242  for mounting to system mounting hardware. 
     Base  24  defines a width and a length each less than 600 millimeters in the preferred embodiment. Base  24  includes a base plate  300  extending between upright channels  22 . A base support  302  extends in a cross direction on each end  304  of first base plate  300 . A gusset  306  at base support  302  further connects vertical channel member  102  to second plate  302  through a support plate  116 . Base support  302  includes side slots  308  for receiving flanges  108  of channel member  100 . Bottom slots  310  allow receipt of fasteners to mount rack  10  to the floor. Base support  302  is welded to base plate  300  and to vertical channels  22 . Base plate  300  can be made from individual components welded together: middle base plate  312 , left base bracket  314 , and right base bracket  316 . Middle base plate  312  includes a hole  318  for passage of power cables. A raised grounding strip  320  is provided on middle base plate  312 . Base support  302  includes a plate portion  303  including an upright outer wall  322  spaced from outer wall  324  of base plate  300 . On an opposite side of base support  302  is an upright wall  326  with a horizontal flange  328  spaced from a bottom of base plate  300 . 
     Base  24  further includes an enclosed chamber defined by a front base support  400 , a front base cover  402 , and a rear base support  404 . Front base support  400  and rear base support  404  are welded to base plate  300 . Front base cover  402  is held by fasteners  406  to front base support  400 . Each of front base support  400 , front base cover  402 , and rear base support  404  include an opening  401 ,  403 ,  405  for accessing an internal power supply located within base  24 . Removable A/C covers  408 ,  410  are provided on the front and back of base  24 . Top holes  412  in back base support  404  allow for installer access to bottom slots  310 . Side holes  414  in back base support  400 , base  300  and base supports  302  allow the passage of power cables to adjacent racks. 
     As seen in the top view of rack  10 , back notches  502  are defined by back corners  504  of rack  10  to permit passage of telecommunication in/out cables vertically through the floor, such as for passage to vertical cable channels defined by bay  12  as will be described below. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 56-63, bay  12  includes first and second front cable guides  600 ,  602 . A plurality of spaced apart fingers  604 ,  606  define each of front cable guides  600 ,  602  for receiving cross-connect cables from the cross-connect modules positioned in spaces  14  of bay  12 . The modules are mounted with fasteners through holes  114  of the front flanges  108   a  of each upright channel  22 . Cable guides  600 ,  602  are also front accessible between the fingers. A lower horizontal tray  650  and an upper horizontal tray  652  allow passage of cables horizontally across the front of bay  12 . 
     Along back  30  of bay  12 , rear equipment in/out cable support brackets  700 ,  702  are positioned along upright channels  22 . Each support bracket  700 ,  702  includes an extension  703  with a plurality of holes  704  arranged in a linear array extending from a support or mounting tab  706  to a distal tab  708 . The in/out cables can be conveniently tied to extension  703  through holes  704 . Fasteners  709  mount mounting tab  706  to holes  114  on back flange  108   b  of vertical channel  22 . A power cord tab  710  extends from mounting tab  706  opposite to extension  703 . Power cord tabs  710  allow for power cables extending to and from a top of bay  12  to be segregated from the telecommunications cables held by support brackets  700 ,  702  along extensions  703 . Slots  712  in power cord tabs  710  can be used to tie off the power cords. Adjacent each space  14  in back  30  of bay  12 , a horizontal bar  750  is provided for securing the in/out cables extending into each module. 
     Referring now to FIG. 61, a U-shaped floor support bracket  780  is initially mounted to bay  12  prior to mounting to a floor. Support bracket  780  provides a larger footprint than base  24  to prevent tipping of bay  12 . Support bracket  780  is removed prior to final installation by removal of fasteners  782 , and then discarded. 
     FIG. 59 shows a rack insulating pad  800  with various openings  802  to be used a template for cutting holes in floor tile  808  during installation. After the various holes  804  are cut in the floor tile  808 , pad  800  is used to insulate rack  10  from the floor. In/out cable openings  810  are cut at either side of tile  808 . Notch  812  corresponds with notch  502 . The footprint of bay  12  as shown in FIG. 58 fits within the perimeter of a 600×600 millimeter floor tile  808 . 
     FIGS. 62 and 63 show a fuse and power panel  900  and wiring diagram  902  for one type of power panel which can be mounted to bay  12 , such as towards the top. 
     Rack  10  as shown is generally 2600 millimeters tall, in one preferred embodiment. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the rack  10  can be 2200 millimeters high. Further, the various structural components of rack  10  are made from sheet steel ranging from 0.120 inches for outer and inner channel members  100 ,  102 , outer channel members  200 , base  300 ; 0.187 inches for inner channel member  202 , base support  302 , front base support  400 , back base support  404 ; and 0.250 inches for gusset  306 . In such circumstances, it is believed rack  10  is superstructured to meet Zone  4  of the Earthquake Standards. 
     With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the shape, size and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the specification and depicted aspects be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broad meaning of the following claims.