TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

Telecommunication equipment comprises at least one telecommunication device (208, 209) and a rack (201). The thickness of the telecommunication device is smaller than the width and the length of the telecommunication device. The rack comprises mutually parallel first rails (202, 203) that are substantially vertical when the rack is in its operating position, and second and third rails (210, 211) attached to the first rails. The third rail is parallel to the second rail and a distance apart from the second rail. The second and third rails are arranged to mechanically support the telecommunication device so that the telecommunication device is attached to the second and third rails and the thickness of the telecommunication device is in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first rails. Thus, the telecommunication device can be positioned so that its largest surfaces are in upright position. This facilitates the cooling of the telecommunication equipment.

FIG. 1has been explained already in the background section of this document.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of telecommunication equipment according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention. The equipment comprises a rack201and telecommunication devices installed in the rack. Each telecommunication device can be, for example but not necessarily, an internet protocol “IP” router, an Ethernet switch, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode “ATM” switch, and/or a MultiProtocol Label Switching “MPLS” switch. The rack201comprises mutually parallel first rails202and203that are substantially vertical when the rack is in its operating position. Some of the telecommunication devices are plug-in units that are installed in plug-in unit slots of frames206and207which are attached to the first rails202and203as illustrated inFIG. 2. Two of the plug-in units shown inFIG. 2are denoted with reference numbers204and205. The frames are attached to the first rails202and203as illustrated inFIG. 2. Each of the frames206and207may comprise, for example, wirings such that the plug-in units installed in the frame form a full mesh network or such that a plug-in unit installed in the frame is connected to a central element which may comprise one or more other plug-in units installed in the frame or which may be a functional component integrally built in the frame. The wirings are typically located on the backplane of the frame. The telecommunication equipment shown inFIG. 2is often enclosed with a cabinet and the telecommunication equipment is typically provided with one or more fans for blowing cooling air. Neither the cabinet nor the fans are shown inFIG. 2.

The rack201further comprises a second rail210attached to the first rails202and203and a third rail211attached to the first rails202and203. The third rail211is parallel to the second rail210and a distance apart from the second rail as illustrated inFIG. 2. It is to be noted that the second and third rails210and211do not necessarily have to be separate pieces but there can be one or more vertical connecting parts between the second and third rails so that the second and third rails and the one or more vertical connecting parts constitute a single piece.

The telecommunication equipment further comprises telecommunication devices208and209each having a width, a thickness, and a length, where the thickness is smaller than the width and smaller than the length. The length can be equal to the width, smaller than the width, or greater than the width. The width, the thickness, and the length of the telecommunication device208are denoted inFIG. 2with letters W, T, and L, respectively. The width W can be, for example but not necessarily, about 19 inches, the thickness T can be, for example but not necessarily, about 1.8 inches, and the length L can be, for example but not necessarily, about 12 inches.

The second and third rails210and211are arranged to mechanically support the telecommunication devices208and209so that these telecommunication devices are attached to the second and third rails210and211as illustrated inFIG. 2. The thicknesses of the telecommunication devices208and209are in the direction substantially perpendicular to the first rails202and203and the widths of these telecommunication devices are in the direction substantially parallel to the first rails. Therefore, the telecommunication devices208and209are vertically positioned so that their largest surfaces, i.e. the surfaces defined by the length and the width, are in upright position. This facilitates the cooling of the telecommunication equipment.

In telecommunication equipment according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the distance D between the first rails202and203is such that the first rails are suitable for mechanically supporting the telecommunication devices208and209so that these telecommunication devices can be installed also in the same traditional way as the telecommunication devices108and109are installed in the telecommunication equipment shown inFIG. 1. In other words, the telecommunication devices208and209can be attached to the first rails202and203so that the thicknesses of these telecommunication devices are in the direction substantially parallel to the first rails and the widths of the telecommunication device are in the direction substantially perpendicular to the first rails.

In telecommunication equipment according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the second and third rails210and211are provided with mounting holes and the distance from a mounting hole212of the second rail to a corresponding mounting hole213of the third rail is 19 inches, 21 inches, or 23 inches, or 435 mm, 450 mm, 465 mm, or 600 mm.

In telecommunication equipment according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the first rails202and203are provided with mounting holes, and the distance from a mounting hole214of the first rail203to the corresponding mounting hole215of the first rail202is 19 inches, 21 inches, or 23 inches, or 435 mm, 450 mm, 465 mm, or 600 mm.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims.