Expandable electronic equipment enclosure

An expandable, modular electronic equipment enclosure (8) for telecommunications, signaling, or other electronic equipment, wherein the enclosure (8) includes male and female expansion interfaces (20,22) that allow for expanding the enclosure (8) by adding substantially similar modules (110,210) whenever increased capacity is needed. Broadly, each module (10) includes a housing body (12); a lid (14); a base (16); the male and female expansion interfaces (20,22); and a cap (24). A single cable interface and pressurization control componentry (18) serves all of the modules (10,110,210) of the enclosure (8). To expand the enclosure (8), the male or female expansion interface (120,122) of a subsequent module (110) is interfaced or mated with the corresponding exposed, unmated female or male expansion interface (20,22) of a preceding module (10). The cap (24) seals and protects the exposed, unmated expansion interface (120,122) of the last or end module (110) of the enclosure (8).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates broadly to pressurizable enclosures for electronic equipment, particularly telecommunications or signaling equipment. More particularly, the present invention concerns an expandable, modular pressurizable electronic equipment enclosure for telecommunications, signaling, or other electronic equipment, wherein the enclosure includes male and female expansion interfaces that allow for expanding the enclosure by adding substantially similar modules whenever increased capacity is needed. A single cable interface and pressurization control componentry serves all of the modules of the enclosure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is often necessary to house telecommunications, signaling, and other similar electronic equipment in protective electronic equipment enclosures so that the electronic equipment may be located safely and reliably wherever needed, which is often in relatively harsh operating environments such as mounted on telephone poles or within subterranean manholes. Thus, the enclosures must be designed to protect the electronic equipment from a wide variety of environmental hazards, such as sun, moisture, dust, and debris, as well as damage from vandalism and attempted theft. Typically, this protection is achieved in part by positively pressurizing the enclosures to prevent potentially damaging and otherwise undesirable moisture and dust from infiltrating and reaching the electronic equipment. Such pressurization may be accomplished by splicing a cable stub into a trunk line in order to carry both electrical signals to and from the electronic equipment and pressurized gas (typically air) to the enclosure.

For example, ever-increasing use of wide area networks (WANs), particularly the Internet, and other telecommunication innovations has increased demand for high-speed, high-bandwidth digital telecommunications services, such as ISDN, (X)DSL, and T1, in homes and businesses. Due to signal propagation limitations, these digital services require special electronic equipment, including repeaters and doublers, to regenerate signals when end users are too far from a provider's central office. It is important that the enclosures safely and securely house multiple repeater units or “cards” or other similar electronic equipment in a space efficient manner.

Increasing demand for these services, however, requires a commensurate increase in capacity over time. Prior art electronic equipment enclosures accommodate only a limited number of the repeater/doubler cards, signaling circuitry, or other electronic equipment, whereafter the only recourse for increasing capacity is to install another separate and complete enclosure. This additional enclosure requires its own cable interface and pressurization control componentry, and a new cable stub needs be spliced into the trunk line and connected to the cable interface componentry. It will be appreciated that increasing capacity in this manner is both undesirably costly and time-consuming.

Thus, there exists a need for an improved electronic equipment enclosure that allows for easily and conveniently increasing capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the above-described and other disadvantages in the prior art by providing an electronic equipment enclosure that is advantageously expandable to easily and conveniently accommodate increasing numbers of repeater/doubler cards or increasing amounts of signaling circuitry or other electronic equipment.

The preferred enclosure broadly comprises at least a first module having a first housing body; a first lid; a first base; a cable interface and pressurization control componentry; a first male expansion interface or a first female expansion interface; and a cap. The enclosure is expandable by interfacing or mating subsequent substantially similar modules to the first module. The first housing body receives, retains, and protects the electronic equipment. The first lid movably couples with and selectively seals a top portion of the housing body while allowing access to the electronic equipment as needed. The first base removably couples and substantially seals a bottom portion of the housing body. The first base may be provided with mounting componentry for securing the enclosure to an appropriate mounting surface. The cable interface and pressurization control componentry both interfaces a cable stub with the enclosure, wherein the cable stub carries both electric signals and a pressurizing gas, and allows for controlling pressurization of the enclosure by the pressurizing gas.

The first male or female expansion interface mates with a corresponding second female or male expansion interface of a second module. It should be noted that the second and subsequent modules do not include their own instances of the cable interface and pressurization control componentry, relying instead on the componentry associated with the first module. Each male expansion interface includes a number of pins; one or more air conduits; one or more guide projections; a circumferential seal; and a first half of a securement mechanism. Each female expansion interface includes a number of pin receptacles; one or more air conduit receptacles; one or more guide projection receptacles; a seal surface; and a second half of the securement mechanism. When the male and female expansion interfaces are interfaced or mated together the pins are received within and cooperate with the pin receptacles to carry the electrical signals between the cable stub and the electronic equipment housed within the modules; the air conduits are received within and cooperate with the air conduit receptacles to carry the air or other pressurized gas between the between the cable stub and the housing bodies; the guide projections cooperate and are received within the guide projection receptacles to ensure proper alignment when mating the modules; the circumferential seal cooperates with the seal surface to prevent loss of pressurization and avoid infiltration by moisture, dust, or other potentially damaging or otherwise undesirable substances and otherwise seals the modules together; and the first and second halves of the securement mechanism, which may be, respectively externally threaded rods and internally threaded rod receptacles, cooperate to securely but removably couple the male and female expansion interfaces of the modules. Whereas the first module may have only one male or female expansion interface, the second and subsequent modules will have both male and female expansion interfaces in order to couple with both preceding and subsequent modules.

The cap is adapted and operable to cover and seal the exposed, unmated expansion interface of the last or end module of the enclosure, whether it be the first, second, or a subsequent module. As subsequent modules are added, the cap is relocated to the last or end module of the enclosure.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the electronic equipment enclosure of the present invention provides a number of substantial advantages over the prior art, including, for example, allowing for expansion as needed to accommodate increased capacity in the form of greater numbers of repeater/doubler cards or greater amounts of signaling circuitry or other electronic componentry. This is advantageously accomplished by adding additional modules as needed using the male and female expansion interfaces. Furthermore, because the existing enclosure is expanded to increase capacity, rather than installing additional enclosures, it is not necessary when adding modules to provide and install additional cable interface and pressurization control componentry or to splice a new cable stub, thereby advantageously minimizing cost and installation time.

These and other important aspects of the present invention are more fully described in the section entitled DETAILED DESCRIPTION, below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, an electronic equipment enclosure8is described and disclosed herein as being constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The enclosure8is advantageously expandable to easily and conveniently accommodate increasing numbers of repeater/doubler cards or increasing amounts of signaling circuitry or other electronic equipment

In the preferred embodiment, referring particularly toFIGS. 1-3, the enclosure8broadly comprises at least a first module10having a first housing body12; a first lid14; a first base16; a cable interface and pressurization control componentry18; a first male expansion interface20or a first female expansion interface22; and a cap24. As discussed below, the enclosure8is expandable by interfacing or mating subsequent substantially similar modules to the first module10.

The first housing body12is substantially conventionally adapted and operable to receive, retain, and protect the electronic equipment. The housing body12may be any conventional or otherwise suitable shape (e.g., round, rectangular), and constructed of any conventional or otherwise suitable materials. As shown, the housing body12may incorporate the separated card holders feature described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,4330,044, titled TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENCLOSURE WITH INDIVIDUAL, SEPARATED CARD HOLDERS, issued Aug. 6, 2002, in order to provide more efficient cooling. The aforementioned issued patent is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. It should be noted, however, that the present invention is substantially independent of any particular housing body design.

The first lid14is substantially conventionally adapted and a operable to movably couple with and selectively seal a top portion of the housing body12while allowing access to the electronic equipment as needed. It should be noted that the present invention is substantially independent of any particular lid design.

The first base16is substantially conventionally adapted and operable to removably couple and substantially seal a bottom portion of the housing body12. The first base16may incorporate, couple with, or be otherwise provided with mounting componentry26for securing the enclosure8to an appropriate mounting surface (e.g., a wall or pole). It should be noted that the present invention is substantially independent of any particular base or mounting componentry design.

The cable interface and pressurization control componentry18is substantially conventionally adapted and operable to both interface, connect, or other wise mate a cable stub with the enclosure8, wherein the cable stub carries both electrical signals and a pressurizing gas, and to allow for controlling pressurization of the enclosure8by the pressurizing gas. It will be appreciated by those with skill in the telecommunication and other relevant arts that enclosures such as the present enclosure8are positively pressurized in order to prevent potentially damaging and otherwise undesirable moisture and dust from infiltrating and reaching the electronic equipment. The cable stub is spliced into a trunk line that carries both the electrical signals to and from the electronic equipment and the pressurized gas (typically air) to the enclosure. It should be noted that the present invention is substantially independent of any particular cable interface and pressurization control componentry design.

The cable interface and pressurization control componentry18may be permanently mated with or incorporated or integrated into the base16. In this case, the first module10may be provided with only one of the first male expansion interface20or the first female expansion interface22, located on an opposite or adjacent side of the base16from the componentry18. Alternatively, the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18may be adapted to removably interface or mate with one of the first male or first female expansion interfaces20,22. In this case, the first module10may be provided with both the first male and first female expansion interfaces20,22, one being taken by the componentry18and the other being available for mating with a second module110.

Also, it is contemplated that minimal secondary control componentry (not shown) may be provided for each module. Such componentry may include, for example, a simple cut-off valve or pressure relief valve. Thus, the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18may not be the sole and exclusive means of controlling pressurization of all of the modules, though it is the primary control of the enclosure8generally.

The first male expansion interface20is adapted and operable to mate with either a second female expansion interface122of the second module110, as shown inFIG. 4, or, as mentioned above, with the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18. Similarly, the first female expansion interface22is adapted and operable to mate with either a second male expansion interface120of the second module110or with the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18. As such, in each module the male and female expansion interfaces are located on opposite sides of the base. More particularly, with regard to expanding the enclosure8to accommodate more of the electronic equipment, the second module110, having a second housing body112; a second lid114; and a second base116presenting the aforementioned second male and female expansion interfaces120,122, is mated to the first module10by interfacing either the first male and second female expansion interfaces20,122or the second male and first female expansion interfaces120,22, as appropriate. It should be again noted that the second10and subsequent modules do not include their own instances of the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18, relying, at least primarily, on the componentry18associated with the first module10.

Each male expansion interface20,120includes a number of pins or male terminals30; one or more air conduits or first halves of passages32; one or more guide projections34; a circumferential seal36; and a first half38of a securement mechanism. Each female expansion interface22,122includes a number of pin receptacles or female terminals31; one or more air conduit receptacles or second halves of passages33; one or more guide projection receptacles35; a seal surface37; and a second half39of the securement mechanism. When the male and female expansion interfaces are interfaced or mated together the pins30are received within and cooperate with the pin receptacles31to carry the electrical signals between the cable stub and the electronic equipment housed within the modules10,110; the air conduits32are received within and cooperate with the air conduit receptacles33to carry the air or other pressurized gas between the between the cable stub and the housing bodies12,112; the guide projections34cooperate and are received within the guide projection receptacles35to ensure proper alignment; the circumferential seal36cooperates with the seal surface37to prevent loss of pressurization and avoid infiltration by moisture, dust, or other potentially damaging or otherwise undesirable substances; and the first and second halves38,39of the securement mechanism, which may be, respectively externally threaded rods and internally threaded rod receptacles, cooperate to securely but removably couple the male and female expansion interfaces of the modules.

As indicated, whereas the first module10may have only one male or female expansion interface20,22, particularly if the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18is incorporated or integrated int or otherwise interfaced or mated to the base16, the second110and subsequent modules will have both male and female expansion interfaces in order to couple with both preceding and subsequent modules. As shown inFIG. 5, for example, a third module210may, as needed, be coupled with the second module110in substantially the same manner as the second module110is coupled with the first module10. Thus, the enclosure8expands to accommodate more of the electronic equipment, with each subsequent module added after the first module10effectively doubling the enclosure's capacity.

The cap24is adapted and operable to cover and seal the exposed, unmated male or female expansion interface of the last or end module of the enclosure8, whether it be the first, second, or a subsequent module. The cap24preferably removably couples with the securement mechanism of the expansion interface, and includes a complementary seal or seal surface as well. As subsequent modules are added, the cap24is be relocated to the last or end module of the enclosure8.

In exemplary use and operation, the enclosure8of the present invention may be used as follows. In this example, required capacity is initially such that the necessary electronic equipment fits within the first module10. Thus, the first module10is appropriately mounted using the mounting componentry26, and the cable stub is interfaced or mated with the cable interface and pressurization control componentry18so as to deliver both electrical signals to the electronic equipment and pressurized air to the first housing body12.

Sometime thereafter, demand increases such that additional electronic equipment is needed which will not fit within the first housing module10. Thus, the cap24is removed from the first male or female expansion interface20,22, and the second module110is mated thereto such that the electrical signals are carried to the electronic equipment housed therein and the pressurized air is carried to and pressurizes the second housing body110. The cap24is relocated to the now exposed, unmated male or female expansion interface120,122of the second module110.

Thereafter, subsequent housing modules are added in substantially the same manner as the need arises.

From the preceding description, it will be appreciated that the electronic equipment enclosure of the present invention provides a number of substantial advantages over the prior art, including, for example, allowing for expansion as needed to accommodate increased capacity in the form of greater numbers of repeater/doubler cards or greater amounts of signaling circuitry or other electronic componentry. This is advantageously accomplished by adding additional modules as needed, using the male and female expansion interfaces. Furthermore, because the existing enclosure is expanded to increase capacity, rather than installing additional enclosures, it is not necessary when adding modules to provide and install additional cable interface and pressurization control componentry or to splice a new cable stub, thereby advantageously minimizing cost and installation time.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. Furthermore, applications and uses are contemplated for the device herein described that require only minor modifications to the device as disclosed. Thus, for example, the enclosure of the present invention is substantially independent of any particular housing body, lid, base, mounting structure, or cable interface and pressurization control componentry design.