The invention relates to an enclosure of the kind used for electrical components (usually for distribution of electricity) with electrical lines or cables leading to and from the enclosure.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Enclosures of the kind referred to are invariably ground mounted. The electrical cables are connected through a base or root. The root usually supports a frame for the electrical components. A shroud or top fits and is secured over the frame and this commonly has a hinged lid.

The laying and feeding of electrical cables through an open bottomed root or through cable glands fitted into walls of the root can be the cause of some difficulty and/or inconvenience (in relation to installation, maintenance and/or repair).

The known enclosures are currently available moulded (rotationally) from low- density polyethylene. This is considered a cost effective alternative to steel enclosures. However, the strength of such plastics material enclosures is not considered to be optimal.

There is a need to provide an electrical enclosure that makes relatively convenient the installation of cables therefore ameliorating at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. There is a further need for such an enclosure to be moulded from plastics material and provide a product of desirable strength and/or rigidity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided an electrical enclosure comprising:

- a root having two sidewalls that support a frame

- with at least one end wall of the root removably securable to the sidewalls.

The invention further provides for the root to include two removably securable end walls; and for the components of the root to be modular with each sidewall provided from a single mould and each end wall provided from a single mould. Further features of the invention provide for the sidewalls and end walls to be moulded as double-skin components; and for the components to be rotationally moulded from low-density polyethylene.

Further features of the invention provide for the enclosure to include a shroud; for the shroud to be securable to the frame and to have a peripheral skirt that locates around a top end of the root; and for the shroud to secure the end walls to the sidewalls.

A further feature of the invention provides for the top end of the root to be inwardly stepped to provide a seat for a bottom end of the shroud to the inside of the skirt.

Further features of the invention provide for the sidewalls to have outwardly disposed rebates that receive edges of the end walls; for a bottom region of the sidewalls and end walls to have an outwardly extending flange; for the flanges of the sidewalls and the end walls to have overlapping engaging formations; for the engaging formations to be sockets and spigots; and for the spigots to extend from the bottom of the end wall flanges.

Further features of the invention provide for the sidewalls to include upwardly disposed shoulders and for the ends walls to include lips locatable over the shoulders; for the lips and shoulders to have corresponding holes for engagement of the components by screw-threaded fasteners; for nuts to be embedded into the shoulders with bolts providing the fasteners; and for the shoulders to be provided in the rebates of the sidewalls. Further features of the invention provide for the shroud to include a hingeable lid; for the frame to be moulded from polyethylene; and for the shroud to be moulded from polyethelene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of one embodiment, made by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: shows a perspective view of the root and frame fitted with a shroud; shows a perspective view of a root and frame for an enclosure with removable end walls fitted to sidewalls of the root;

shows the same view as Figure 2 with an end wall of the root removed;

shows various views of the sidewall for the root; and

shows various views of the end wall for the root. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, an electrical enclosure is indicated generally by reference number 1 . The enclosure 1 includes a root 2 with two oppositely located sidewalls 3 and two oppositely located end walls 4. These components are illustrated more clearly in Figures 4 and 5.

A frame 5 is supported upright across the sidewalls 3, which it braces apart. The frame 5 provides a supporting structure for electrical components which are connected to electrical cables (not shown) that lead to and from the enclosure 1 and are buried underground.

A shroud 6 is secured over the frame 5 once the electrical installation is completed and can be removed where further connections, changes or repairs are required. A hinged lid 7 on the top of the shroud 6 will be locked down and prevents access to fasteners (not shown) that secure the shroud 6 over the frame 5 and down against the top end of the root 2.

In accordance with the invention, the end walls 4 of the root are removably securable to the sidewalls 3. In this embodiment, the sidewalls 3 and end walls 4 of the root 2 are provided as modular components, with each sidewall 3 provided from a single mould and each end wall 4 provided from a single mould.

These moulds (which are shown in the priority application) are provided as double- moulds to produce the sidewalls 3 and end walls 4 as double-skin components from low-density polyethylene using a rotational moulding process. The double-skin produces parts from this material which have improved strength and rigidity over parts made with a single skin. The remaining components of the enclosure 1 will also be made in the same manner.

The sidewalls 3 have outwardly disposed rebates 8 that receive correspondingly stepped side edges 9 of the end walls 4. An outwardly extending peripheral flange 10 is provided at a bottom region of the root 2. The flange 10 is provided as a continuous component extending along both the sidewalls 3 and the end walls 4.

The flanges 10 of the sidewalls 3 and flanges 10 of the end walls 4 are also correspondingly stepped at outer edges for overlapping engagement and have cooperating mating formations 1 1 and 12. The mating formations are provided as sockets 1 1 on the sidewall 3 flanges 10 and spigots 12 extending from the bottom of the end wall 4 flanges 10.

Upwardly disposed shoulders 13 are provided in the rebates of the sidewalls 3. The ends walls 4 have lips 14 locatable over these shoulders 13. The lips 14 and shoulders 13 have corresponding holes for engagement of the components 3 and 4 by screw-threaded fasteners 15. In this embodiment, nuts 15.1 are embedded in the shoulders 13 with bolts 15.2 providing the fasteners.

A space provided by removal of the end walls 4 allows for cables to be easily connected to opposite sides of the frame 5 and then laid, beneath the root 2. In the prior art, this often requires digging which can take place relatively unobstructed between the sidewalls. The sidewalls 3 and frame 5 can be located in a required position and the installation completed before the end walls are fitted. The end walls 4, which are a corresponding fit to the spaced apart sidewalls 3, are located in position for fastening. The bolts 15.2 are tightened with the socket 1 1 and spigot 12 formations in mating engagement. This secures both the top and bottom ends of the components 3 and 4 together with removal of the end walls 4 requiring access to the bolts 15.2.

The top end of the root 2 is inwardly stepped to provide a circumferential seat 16 for a bottom end of the shroud 6. A downwardly extending, peripheral skirt 17 at the bottom end of the shroud 6 locates around the top end of the root 2. The shroud 6 obstructs access to the bolts 15.2 and thus prevents removal of the end walls 4. Securing the shroud 6 to the frame 5 is effected with the lid 7 open. A suitable locking mechanism for the lid 7 prevents disassembly of the enclosure 1 .

The invention provides an electrical enclosure which facilitates laying and connecting of cables as required to components within the enclosure. The enclosure is easy to assemble once an installation is completed and also to disassemble when required. The components of the root which provide these advantages are modular. The use of double-skin parts for the enclosure structure provides improved strength and durability in a product that is still a lightweight and cost effective alternative to steel enclosures.

The applicant believes that the invention at least ameliorates one of the disadvantages present in the prior art.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of changes can be made to the features described and referred to without departing from the scope of the current invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed with reference to the features of the claims that follow and any equivalents thereto.