Method of crating telephone switching equipment

A crating method wherein the bottom member of an open, metal, switching equipment frame is placed upon a horizontal, rectangular, wooden base, within an opening provided by framing members on the base, and preferably bolted thereto. A side framing assembly is then placed outwardly adjacent each side of the metal frame, the lower ends of each assembly being fixedly attached to the base and a horizontal member extending across the top of each framing assembly having an inwardly facing notch snugly receiving the adjacent side member of the metal frame. The side frame assemblies are then attached to the top member of the metal frame. The metal frame and the side framing assemblies are then enclosed in a flexible covering material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to methods of packing or crating telephone 
bay frames, relay racks, and the like, generally referred to as telephone 
switching equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to crating 
methods permitting storage and shipment of telephone switching equipment 
in a vertical position. 
Telephone switching equipment is conventionally manufactured in the form of 
open, metal frames with spaced, upright members for supporting banks of 
relays, and the like. Such equipment may be temporarily taken out of use 
and placed in storage and/or shipped to another location for use there. 
Due to the relatively fragile nature of the equipment, and the type of 
crating materials used, it has been the customary practise to place the 
equipment on its side within the crate or package. Typical crates for such 
equipment have included a rectangular base with end panels hingedly 
connected thereto for folding movement into covering relation with the 
equipment lying on its side upon the base. The resulting wooden crate is 
covered with corrugated paperboard and banded. 
Due to the weight of the equipment and the possibility of damage, the 
crates containing the equipment should not be stacked on top of one 
another. Since the height and width of the equipment are normally far 
greater than its depth, the space requirements are obviously much larger 
when the equipment is placed on its side and the crated units should not 
be stacked. 
In spite of the added handling required, the more complicated and expensive 
crating with hinged side panels, and the additional space requirements, it 
has not previously been considered practical to crate the equipment in a 
vertical or upright position. This stems, at least in part, from the 
danger of damage to expensive equipment during handling when crated by 
conventional methods. Thus, there has existed a previously unfilled need 
for a crating system which would permit relatively safe, simple and fast 
packing, storing and shipping of telephone switching equipment in its 
normal, vertical position. 
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method of 
crating telephone switching equipment including an upright metal frame 
holding banks of switches, relays, and similar electronic modules, in a 
vertical position. 
A further object is to provide a novel and improved crating method for 
telephone switching equipment wherein the equipment and the crating 
materials become, in effect, an integral unit. 
Another object is to provide a simplified and economical method of crating 
telephone switching equipment for temporary storage and/or shipment. 
Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the foregoing objects, the invention contemplates a 
crating method wherein the bottom member of an open, metal, switching 
equipment frame is placed upon a horizontal, rectangular, wooden base, 
within an opening provided by framing members on the base, and preferably 
bolted thereto. A side framing assembly is then placed outwardly adjacent 
each side of the metal frame, the lower ends of each assembly being 
fixedly attached to the base and a horizontal member extending across the 
top of each framing assembly having an inwardly facing notch snugly 
receiving the adjacent side member of the metal frame. 
In the disclosed embodiment, a pair of flexible straps are then attached at 
one end of each to the top member of the metal frame to extend outwardly 
and downwardly over the horizontal members of the side framing assembly. 
The straps are stretched tautly and bolted at their other ends to 
outwardly facing surfaces of the horizontal members. Alternatively, a 
plywood cap may be nailed to the side framing assemblies and bolted to the 
top member of the metal frame. Depending on the width of the metal frame, 
intermediate framing assemblies may be attached to the base at one or more 
positions between the side framing assemblies. Each intermediate framing 
assembly includes a vertical post on the front and back sides of the 
equipment and a horizontal brace having a downwardly facing notch snugly 
receiving the metal frame top member. 
A corrugated paperboard covering is then placed around the front, sides and 
back of the crating material and a cap, also of corrugated material, is 
placed on top. The unit is then banded by one or more flexible straps in 
the usual manner. A moisture-proof plastic covering, which may be treated 
with an anti-static material, if required, may be placed over the 
equipment to protect against the adverse effects of moisture on the 
electronic equipment. 
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the crating method will 
be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed 
description, taken in conjunction wth the accompanying drawings, wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 is seen, in exploded and 
fully assembled conditions, respectively, base assembly 10 of a type used 
in practising the crating method of the invention. Base assembly 10 
includes a generally rectangular sheet 12 of, for example, 5/8" plywood, a 
plurality of skids 14 and a framing portion consisting of four boards 
16-19. The skids and framing portion are affixed to the lower and upper 
surfaces, respectively, of sheet 12. Boards 16-19 are placed together to 
define a rectangular frame or opening of predetermined size. As seen in 
FIG. 2, the framing portion extends along both side edges of the sheet but 
is arranged inwardly of the front and rear edges. Four openings 20 are 
drilled through sheet 12 in predetermined locations, and notches 22 and 24 
are formed at the center of the front and rear edges thereof. Angle irons 
26 are affixed to the framing portion adjacent the four corners thereof. 
Turning now to FIG. 3, base assembly 10 is shown with side framing 
assemblies, designated generally by reference numerals 28 and 30, erected 
at each side thereof. Each side framing assembly includes a pair of 
vertical posts 32 and 34, each fixedly attached at its lower end to base 
10 by means of angle irons 26. The upper ends of posts 32 and 34 are 
joined by horizontal members 36 and 38, which may be a single, integral 
piece, or two initially separate pieces, as shown. Horizontal members 38 
each include a centrally disposed, inwardly facing notch 40, for purposes 
which will be explained later. Elongated, flexible strap 42 is also shown 
in FIG. 3, passing under sheet 12 in registration with notches 22 and 24. 
In FIG. 4a is shown a conventional, single frame, metal support structure 
of a type commonly used in telephone switching equipment and known as bay 
frames or relay racks. The open, metal frame, denoted generally by 
reference numeral 44, includes top and bottom members 46 and 48, 
respectively, and side members 50 and 52, rigidly attached at adjacent 
ends. Four openings 54 in bottom member 52 are positioned for registration 
with openings 20 when frame 44 is positioned upon sheet 12 with bottom 
member 52 positioned in the rectangular opening provided by boards 16-19 
which is of approximately the same length and width as the bottom frame 
member. 
As a step in the packaging method of the invention, frame 44 is positioned 
on base assembly 10, with bottom member 52 received in the opening formed 
by the framing portion, and bolts are inserted through the aligned sets of 
openings 20 and 54, thereby fixedly attaching the metal frame to the 
crating base. In some cases, it may not be necessary to affix the frame to 
the base with bolts since, as explained later, the metal frame is 
otherwise affixed to the crating members. Although side framing assemblies 
28 and 30 are shown in FIG. 3 as affixed to base assembly 10 prior to 
placement of metal frame 44 on the base, for greater clarity of 
illustration, it is preferred that the frame be positioned on and attached 
to the base prior to erecting and attaching the side framing assemblies to 
the base. Notches 40 are positioned and dimensioned to receive snugly the 
upper portions of frame side members 50 and 52. 
Frame 44 is shown in FIG. 4 positioned upon and attached to base assembly 
10, with banks of relays or other such electronic equipment supported in 
the usual manner in the frame. The loading of such equipment into frame 44 
may be done either before or after the frame is affixed to the base, 
although this has no bearing on the present invention. After side frame 
assemblies 28 and 30 are positioned outwardly adjcent opposite sides of 
frame 44, flexible straps 56 and 58 are fixedly attached adjacent one end 
of each to top frame member 46 by bolts 60 and 62, respectively, extending 
through aligned openings in the straps and top member. Straps 56 and 58 
are extended outwardly and downwardly, and affixed at their opposite ends 
to upper and/or outer surfaces of horizontal members 36 of the side 
framing assemblies. Although the use of straps 56 and 58 in the manner 
described is preferred, other means may be used to secure the upper part 
of metal frame 44 to the crating assembly; for example, a plywood cap may 
be placed over top member 46 of the frame, nailed to horizontal members 38 
and bolted to top frame member 46. 
After completion of the steps described above, a corrugated paperboard 
covering is placed around the crating system, including the integrally 
attached metal frame of the switching equipment, as shown in FIG. 5. The 
covering includes a lower section 64 which wraps around the front, back 
and both sides, and a top section or cap 66, thereby enclosing everything 
above base assembly 10. Lower section 64 has a length greater than the 
circumference of the portion of the crating system which it covers, 
leaving an overlapping flap of several inches for attachment of the lower 
section of the corrugated covering to itself by adhesive, stapling, etc. 
Cap 66 has a depending skirt dimensioned to fit snugly over the top of the 
lower section. In applications where the switching equipment must be 
protected against the adverse effects of moisture on relay contacts and 
other components of the electronic equipment, a moisture-proof bag of 
ployethylene, or the like, such as that indicated in FIG. 5 by reference 
numeral 67 may be placed over the equipment. If required, bag 67 may be 
coated or otherwise treated with a conventional, anti-static material. 
Bags of conventional, moisture-absorbing dessicant may be placed inside 
bag 67. 
Turning now to FIGS. 6-10, the crating method will be described in relation 
to a multi-frame unit of switching equipment. The method again begins with 
construction of a base assembly such as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and 
denoted generally by reference numeral 68. Base assembly 68 includes 
rectangular sheet 70, a plurality of skids 72 and a framing section formed 
by boards 74-77 affixed to the upper surface of sheet 70 to define a 
rectangular opening having a length and width corresponding substantially 
to that of the bottom member of a metal frame for the telephone switching 
equipment to be crated. It will be noted that notches 78 and 80 are formed 
in the outer edges of boards 74 and 76, respectively, in the present 
embodiment. Angle irons 82 are affixed to the framing portion inwardly 
adjacent the four corners thereof. Holes 84 are formed at predetermined 
locations in sheet 70. 
The crating system is shown in FIG. 8 with upper portions attached to base 
assembly 68, and without the switching equipment in place, although it 
will be understood that at least the metal frame of the switching 
equipment is placed upon and attached to the base assembly prior to 
placement and attachment of the upper portions. Such upper portions 
include side framing assemblies 86 and 88, which may be essentially 
identical to side framing assemblies 28 and 30, and intermediate framing 
assemblies 90 and 92, each having a pair of vertical posts 94 and 
horizontal member 96. The lower ends of posts 94 are placed in notches 78 
and 80 and nailed to boards 74 and 76. The upper ends of posts 94 are 
connected by horizontal members 96, each of which includes downwardly 
facing notch 98. 
The switching equipment of the embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 also includes an 
open, metal frame having top, bottom and side members, differing from that 
of FIG. 4a only in that it includes multiple, side-by-side bays for 
holding the electronic equipment. The metal frame top and bottom members 
are indicated by reference numerals 100 and 102, respectively, and the two 
side members by reference numeral 104, in FIGS. 9 and 10. Bottom member 
102 includes four holes which are in registration with holes 84 in sheet 
70 when the metal frame is placed within the opening formed by boards 
74-77. 
Bottom member 102 is bolted to the base assembly, and the side and 
intermediate framing assemblies are then positioned and attached to the 
base assembly at their lower ends. The inwardly facing notches in the 
horizontal members of side framing assemblies 86 and 88 embrace the upper 
portions of frame side members 104, and downwardly facing notches 98 of 
intermediate framing assemblies 90 and 92 embrace top member 100. Straps 
106 and 108 are attached adjacent one end of each by bolts 110 and 112 to 
top member 100, and extend over portions of the horizontal members of side 
framing assemblies 86 and 88 for attachment thereto, thus making the frame 
of the switching equipment and the wooden framing members of the crating 
system an essentially integral unit. 
A corrugated paperboard covering, consisting of lower portion 114 and cap 
116, is then placed over the equipment and upper portions of the wooden 
framing and secured by flexible straps 118 and 120, as in the previously 
described embodiment. Again, the switching equipment may be enclosed, 
within the wooden framing and corrugated covering, within moisture-proof 
bag 122, as shown in FIG. 10. The fully-crated single and multiple-frame 
units are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, respectively. If desired, rigid, low 
density plastic foam may be positioned between the base and skids of the 
base assembly, such as that shown in phantom lines and indicated by 
reference numeral 13 in FIG. 1, and/or between the horizontal members of 
the side and intermediate frame assemblies for shock protection. Crating 
of conventional switching equipment according to the method of the present 
invention has been found to effect a labor savings of approximately one 
man-hour per frame crated over the prior system which required the frames 
to be tipped on one side and placed on the horizontal base or pallet. 
Also, the cost of the crating materials is less since the present method 
does not require the adjustable braces and hinged end panels associated 
with conventional telephone switching equipment crating materials. The 
most significant advantage in many cases is the space saving effected by 
crating the equipment in a manner permitting storage and shipment in the 
upright position, whereby typically three units can be placed in the same 
floor space occupied by one horizontally crated unit of the same size. 
Furthermore, the present crating method may in many cases avoid damage to 
the relatively fragile electronic equipment by eliminating the necessity 
of tipping it to rest on one of its sides.