Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
ENVIRONMENTAL ENCLOSURE AND METHOD OF SEALING SAME
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1996/028355
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A re-enterable environmentally sealed enclosure (10) for housing circuitry and/or cable components of a communication network employs a removable cover (14) attached to an enclosure base (12) by a pivoting cam-tracking system (16, 18). The tracking configuration positions the cover (14) in a manner that, as it approaches the enclosure base (12) when being closed, a seal located in the cover is evenly compressed along its entire perimeter against a corresponding mating surface on the base, thereby distributing the compressive force equally across the entire seal, with any shear forces substantially eliminated. A tensioning system of cooperating elements in the cover and within the recess (22), assists in evenly distributing force across the seal.

Inventors:
BENN ALEXANDER
HENDERSON PETER
LOHMULLER DETLEV A
SODERBERG PAULMER M
MOISSON MARC F
KOHT LOWELL I
Application Number:
PCT/US1996/002165
Publication Date:
September 19, 1996
Filing Date:
February 14, 1996
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ERICSSON RAYNET (US)
International Classes:
E05B17/00; E05B17/14; E05D3/02; E05D7/10; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; E05B35/00; (IPC1-7): B65D8/04; B65D43/20; B65D55/14; F16B41/00
Foreign References:
US4909579A1990-03-20
US4031312A1977-06-21
GB191202631A1912-11-28
US3734335A1973-05-22
US3746207A1973-07-17
US4194100A1980-03-18
US2782455A1957-02-26
US4496050A1985-01-29
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims
1. An environmental enclosure for housing communica¬ tion network circuitry, comprising: a first portion having a pair of tracking channels and a lip; and a second portion having a pair of cams extending therefrom and a groove, said bracking channels configured to slidably seat said cams, said lip and said groove having a complementary configuration.
2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a seal having a perimeter.
3. The enclosure of claim 2, said tracking channels, cams, lip and groove, respectively, configured such that said seal is substantially evenly compressed across its perimeter, thereby environmentally sealing said enclosure, when said first and second portions are pressed together with said cams seated in said tracking channels and said groove pivotally positioned atop said lip.
4. The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising a tensioning system disposed outside the perimeter of said seal .
5. The enclosure of claim 4, said tensioning system components located proximate said tracking channels and said cams.
6. The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising a locking mechanism disposed outside the perimeter of said seal .
7. The enclosure of claim 1, said first portion removably attachable to said second portion.
8. An environmentally sealable enclosure, comprising: a base having a pair of tracking channels and a pivot lip; a seal; and a cover having a pair of cams and a mating groove, said tracking channelsr cams, pivot lip and mating groove configured such that said seal is substantially evenly compressed when said cover is moved toward said base with said cams seated in said tracking channels and said mating groove positioned atop said pivot lip.
9. The enclosure of claim 8, further comprising one or more tensioning mechanism components disposed in said cover and one or more tensioning mechanism components disposed in said base.
10. The enclosure of claim 9, said seal attached to said cover and having a perimeter.
11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein said tensioning components disposed in said cover are located outside said perimeter.
12. The enclosure of claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism located outside said perimeter.
13. The enclosure of claim 8, said cover portion removably attachable to said base portion.
14. An environmentally sealable enclosure, comprising: a base including a pair of tracking channels and a pivot lip; a cover removably attachable to said base, said cover including a seal having a perimeter, a pair of cams and a mating groove, said tracking channels, cams, pivot lip and mating groove configured such that said seal is substantially evenly compressed when said cover is moved toward said base with said cams seated in said tracking channels and said mating groove positioned atop said pivot lip; a tensioning mechanism; and a locking mechanism.
15. The enclosure of claim 14, said tensioning mechanism including one or more components disposed in said cover and one or more components disposed in said base.
16. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said tensioning mechanism components disposed in said cover are located outside said seal perimeter.
17. The enclosure of claim 14, said locking mechanism disposed in said cover outside said seal perimeter.*& 12.
18. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 25 Gune 1996 (25.06.96); new claims 12, 5, 79, 11 and 1417 amended other claims unchanged (3 pages)].
19. 1 An environmental enclosure for housing communication network circuitry, comprising: a first portion having a pair of tracking channels, a lip, and a first annular region; and a second portion having a pair of tracking channels extending therefrom, a groove, and a second annular region configured to fit said first annular region, said first and second portions sealably connectable with even contact and uniform pressure distribution between said first and second annular regions, said tracking channels configured to slidably seat said cams, and said groove configured to engage said lip.
20. 2 The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said first and second annular regions comprise a seal having a perimeter.
21. 3 The enclosure of claim 2, said tracking channels, cams, lip and groove, respectively, configured such that said seal is substantially evenly compressed across its perimeter, thereby environmentally sealing said enclosure, when said first and second portions are pressed together with said cams seated in said tracking channels and said groove pivotally positioned atop said lip.
22. 4 The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising a tensioning system disposed outside the perimeter of said seal.
23. 5 The enclosure of claim 4, wherein said tensioning system is located proximate said tracking channels and said cams.
24. 6 The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising a locking mechanism disposed outside the perimeter of said seal.
25. 7 The enclosure of claim 1, said first portion removably attachable to said second portion without disassembly of said cams. .„,,.mwr^ 8 An environmentally sealable enclosure, comprising: a base having a pair of tracking channels, a pivot lip, and a first annular region; a cover having a pair of cams, a mating groove, and a second annular region configured to fit said first annular region; and a seal located between said first and second annular regions, wherein said tracking channels, cams, pivot lip, and mating groove are configured such that said seal is substantially evenly compressed when said cover is moved toward said base with said cams seated in said tracking channels and said mating groove positioned atop said pivot lip.
26. 9 The enclosure of claim 8, further comprising at least one tensioning mechanism component disposed in said cover and at least one tensioning mechanism component disposed in said base.
27. 10 the enclosure of claim 9, said seal attached to said cover and having a perimeter.
28. 11 The enclosure of claim 10, wherein said at least one tensioning mechanism component disposed in said cover is located outside said perimeter.
29. 12 The enclosure of claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism located outside said perimeter.
30. 13 The enclosure of claim 8, said cover portion removably attachable to said base portion.
31. 14 An environmentally sealable enclosure, comprising: a base including a pair of tracking channels and a pivot lip; a cover removably attachable to said base, said cover including a pair of cams, a mating groove, and an annular seal having a perimeter, said tracking channels, cams, pivot lip, and mating groove configured such that said seal is substantially evenly compressed when said cover is moved toward said base with said cams seated in said tracking channels and said mating groove positioned atop said pivot lip; a tensioning mechanism; and a locking mechanism.
32. 15 The enclosure of claim 14, said tensioning mechanism including at least one component disposed in said cover and at least one component disposed in said base.
33. 16 The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said at least one tensioning mechanism component disposed in said cover is located outside said seal perimeter.
34. 17 The enclosure of claim 14, wherein said locking mechanism is disposed in said cover outside said seal perimeter.
Description:
DESCRIPTION

Environmental Enclosure and Method of Sealing Same

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains tcrthe field of environmental enclosures for housing circuitry and/or cable components of a communication network.

2. Prior Art Systems and Methods

In conventional communication networks, such as, for example, telecommunication or cable television distribu¬ tion networks, it is often desirable to protect various electrical circuitry components and/or cable connection or splice locations from contamination caused by environmen¬ tal elements such as dust or moisture particles. This is typically accomplished by the use of an environmentally sealed housing, or "enclosure", in which the electrical circuitry and/or cable portions that require protection are stored. Generally, it is desirable that technicians be able to easily access the interior of the enclosures to install, inspect, repair or replace components stored therein and/or perform cable installation or repair activities.

Enclosure access is typically provided through a removable cover or "door", which forms part of the enclo¬ sure when closed. Both detachable and permanently at¬ tached enclosure door designs are known, such as, for example, a removable door attached by one or more screws. A known configuration of a permanently attached door is a door fixed by one or more hinges to the enclosure body at one side, with a "tensioning" latch mechanism located on the other side for securing the door to the enclosure. Both detachable and permanently attached door designs are desirable under certain circumstances; e.g., a removable door will allow a service technician greater working room,

especially if the enclosure is located in a corner of a room or other hard to reach spot, whereas a permanently attached hinged door relieves the technician from having to care for the door during the time the enclosure is open, which is especially important, for example, if the enclosure is located atop a telephone pole, the whether conditions are poor, the ground is muddy, etc.

Typically, a seal is provided along the perimeter of either the inside surface of the door or along the corre- sponding mating edge of the enclosure body so that, once the door is secured, the interior of the enclosure is substantially air and water tight. Typical seals are made of a suitable material, which is selected to have the necessary physical characteristics to compensate for a wide range of fluctuating temperature and atmospheric pressure differences. A "tight" seal is accomplished by a tensioning means, e.g., by manually tightening one or more screws, or by a locking leveraged mechanism, which "pushes" the door against the corresponding mating edge of the enclosure body until the seal is sufficiently deformed about its entire perimeter, thereby closing off access to air and water particles. In known hinged door configura¬ tions, the locking mechanism is generally found on the opposing side of the hinges and also serves to prevent unauthorized access into the enclosure.

Problems with seal failures, however, have been attributed to both types of doors. Fixed hinges along one side of an enclosure cause a differential of applied compressive sealing pressure across the seals as well as sideways shearing forces, thereby causing the sealing material to distort and wear over time. Likewise, multi¬ ple screw points, or other type of fasteners, when not tightened in a synchronized manner, result in the compres¬ sive force being unevenly distributed across the seal and in a differing degree, each time the screws are tightened. Even a single screw, or other type of single fastener is

problematic, since the pressure may not be distributed equally across the seal in the known enclosure art.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention comprises an improved enclosure design, including a removable cover attached to an enclo¬ sure base by a pivoting cam- racking system. The novel pivoting cam-tracking system allows the cover to be positioned in a manner that when sealing the enclosure, as the cover approaches the enclosure base, a seal, prefera- bly residing in the cover is evenly compressed around the entire perimeter of the cover against a corresponding surface of the base, thereby distributing the compressive force equally along the entire seal, substantially elimi¬ nating shear forces. In preferred embodiments, the pivoting cam-tracking system includes grooves configured in a concentric, or semi-circular track, to facilitate the even mating of the seal upon the enclosure base. Prefera¬ bly a single tensioning means is provided adjacent the pivoting cam-tracking system, so that the pivoting cam- tracking system does not operate as a counter-lever to the tensioning means, and visa versa, thereby facilitating the distribution of force along the seal. The wear on the seal is minimized, resulting in greater reliability and longer seal life. The preferred pivoting cam-tracing system also allows the door to remain attached to the enclosure while it is open, or to be completely removed, whichever better suits the needs of the technician under the circumstances.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved design for environmental enclosures housing circuitry and/or cable components of a communication network.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinaf- ter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

It is to be understood that the accompanying drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition -of the limits of the inven- tion. The drawings illustrate both the design and utility of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which: ~

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an environmental enclosure according to the invention, with its base and cover sections separated for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 2 is partial elevated side views of a tracking cam located on the cover and its corresponding mating channel located in the base;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cover, and a side elevation of the base plate;

FIGS. 4A-E illustrate various positions of the cover relative to the base; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cut-away perspective view of the cover and base, wherein the locking and tensioning appara- tus are reveled.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sealed enclosure 10 includes a base portion 12 and a cover portion 14. The pivoting cam-tracking system preferably includes a pair of cams 16 extending from respective opposing corners of the cover. As seen in FIG 1A the cams 16 comprise shaft 13 and a pair of tabs 15 and 17. The cams 16 are preferably configured to fit snugly, but slidably, in a pair of tracking channels 18 located in respective flange exten- sions 20 of opposing sides of base 12. As is best seen in

Fig. 2, the preferred tracking channels 18 include an extended closure portion 26, a central pivot portion 24, a tab rotation chamber 23 and an entry slot 25. To seal the cover 14 to the base portion 12, the cams 16 are first slid into the entry slot 25 by aligning the tabs with the entry slot 25, then into the central pivot portion 24 and

finally, by rotating the door, the tabs are aligned with the extended closure portion 26 and slid along the extend¬ ed closure portion of the respective tracking channels 18. The enclosure 10, as necessary to the application, will include openings for the entry and exit of cables. Examples of the preferred cable retention and sealing devices for the entry and exit of cables can be found in commonly owned, co-pending patent application entitled, "Cable Retention And Sealing Device," serial no. 08/401,527, Lyon & Lyon Dkt. No. 211/109 which was filed on the same date and by the same inventors as the present application, and which is fully incorporated by reference herein.

To open the enclosure and remove the cover 14, (Figs. 4A-E) , the bottom part of the cover 14 is pulled away from the base 12, with the extended closure portion 26 guiding the travel of the cams 16. (Fig. 4B) Once the cams 16 reach pivot portions 24 in the respective tracking chan¬ nels, the cover 14 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the base 12. (Fig. 4C) . Once in this position, the cover may be easily removed by lifting the respective cams 16 through the remaining length of the respective tracking channels 18 (Fig 4D) . In the alterna¬ tive, the technician may allow the cover to pivot com- pletely "downward" along the pivot portion 24, and "hang" below the base 12 (Fig. 4E) . When hanging, the shaft 13 rests in the pivot portion 24 and the tabs 15 and 17 are in the tab rotation chamber 23. The tabs 15 and 17 are captured by the tab rotation chamber 23. To secure the cover 14 to the base 12, the cams 16 must first be placed back into the respective tracking channels 18, and the cover 14 rotates clockwise, until the cams 16 reach the pivot points 24 of the tracking channels, and the top portion of cover 14 reaches over the top portion of base 12. (See FIG. 3) A mating groove 34 located in the upper, inner recess of the cover 14 is configured to rest snugly upon a pivot lip 32 located along the top portion of the

base 12. The lower part of the cover 14 is then "pivoted" forward into the base 12, with the cams 16 moving along, and guided by, the rear portion 26 of the respective tracking channels 18, until the cams 16 abut against the respective ends 27.

In accordance with the invention, as the cover 14 approaches the base 12, the path of the cams 16 in the respective tracking channels 18 causes a seal 28 prefera¬ bly of a rectangular cross-section and affixed to the cover in a conventional fashion located within the inner perimeter of a recess of the cover 14 to mate with a corresponding preferably flat surface 30, which runs around the perimeter of the enclosure base 12, in a manner that the seal 28 is evenly and simultaneously compressed across its entire perimeter against a corresponding mating surface 30 on the base, thereby distributing the compres¬ sive force equally across the entire seal. In preferred embodiments, the tracking grooves 18 are configured in a carefully plotted concentric, or semi-circular track, with the center of the radius of curvature preferably being located at the pivot lip 32, so that the seal 28 compress¬ es squarely against surface 30, thereby minimizing any harmful shear forces on the seal 28.

Referring to Fig. 5, the cover 14 is secured to the base 12 by means of a tensioning system comprising a hook 36 located within the bottom portion of the cover 14, which attaches about a fixed column member 38 located in a recess 22 of the base plate 12. As the cover 14 is pressed against the base 12, the excentric, rotating hook 36, which extends beyond the seal 28, enters the cavity 22 adjacent column 38. To fasten the hook 36 about the column 38, preferably an alien wrench 42, or the like, is inserted into an adjusting mechanism, preferably a nut 40. The adjusting nut 40 causes hook 36 to be pulled into, or away from, column 38, depending upon the direction the wrench 42 is turned. As such, the enclosure seal may be tightened by turning the alien wrench 42 sufficiently.

In preferred embodiments the tensioning system (hook 36, column 38, and adjusting nut 40) is located outside of the sealed portion of the enclosure 10. A security system preferably comprising a key-operated blocking member 46, which prevents the insertion of the wrench 42 into the adjusting nut 40, is provided separately from the above- described tensioning system. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the blocking member 46 is positioned over the adjusting nut 40, by means of a keyed locking mechanism 44. To open the enclosure 10, an appropriate key 48 must be inserted into the locking mechanism 44 and turned to cause blocking member 46 to be rotated away from the adjusting nut 40. Because the tensioning system is provided adjacent the cam-tracking system, (i.e., along the same side of the enclosure) , the tracking system does not operate as a "counter-lever" to the tensioning system,

(and visa versa) , thereby evenly improving distributing the compressive force across seal 28. The resulting wear on the seal is minimized resulting in greater reliability and longer seal life. Further, the locking mechanism is hidden from view providing for "clean" frontal look on the cover, i.e., the lock is not readily apparent to a passer¬ by, thereby reducing possible theft attempts or vandalism. The pivoting cam-tracking system allows the cover 14 to remain attached to the enclosure while it is open, or to be completely removed, whichever better suits the needs of the technician under the circumstances.

When the cover is being secured, the pivot lip 32 and mating groove 34 are tightly engaged and in combination with the cams 16 and tracking channels 18, apply consis¬ tent sealing tension to the top and sides of the seal 28 and surfaces 30. Preferably, a carefully plotted concen¬ tric or semi-circular track (18-26) is used to gently raise groove 34 sufficiently that the cover 14 is free to swing outward when opening. Tabs 15 and 17 in the cams can be used to prevent this motion until they have reached the pivot points 24.

Thus, an improved environmental enclosure and method of sealing same, has been disclosed. While embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.

The scope of the invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.




 
Previous Patent: CRATE COMPATIBLE MULTIPACKS

Next Patent: MODULAR METAL PALLET