PRECONFIGURED WEATHER-RESISTANT ENCLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR TERMINATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly for terminating telecommunication equipment that includes at least one access panel for gaining access to an interior portion, the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure including a backboard portion for mounting telecommunication equipment, and at least one internal bus bar to provide electrical ground. A set of one or more solar panels mechanically coupled to the weather-resistant enclosure. The solar panels are typically mechanically coupled to the top side of the weather-resistant enclosure. A renewable energy power management system that includes one or more outputs that provide at least one of 100 VAC-120 VAC power, 220 VAC-240 VAC, 24 VDC-48 VDC, or a combination thereof, the renewable energy power management system is positioned inside the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure, the renewable energy power management system includes one or more inputs electrically coupled to the set of one or more solar panels.

Claims

1. A preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly for terminating telecommunication equipment comprising: a weather-resistant enclosure with an interior portion and at least one access panel for gaining access to the interior portion, wherein the interior portion comprises telecommunication equipment and a renewable energy power management system; a concrete slab with a bottom side and a top side, the weather-resistant enclosure is mechanically coupled to the top side of the concrete slab, and the bottom side of the concrete slab includes at least one set of parallel channels formed to accept a set of forklift forks to move the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly; and one or more electrical conduit openings disposed perpendicular to the top side of the concrete slab and through to the bottom side of the concrete slab, wherein the one or more electrical conduit openings aligned to provide a contiguous electrical conduit opening with one or more openings in a bottom portion of the weather-resistant enclosure.

2. A preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly for terminating telecommunication equipment comprising: a weather-resistant enclosure with an interior portion and at least one access panel for gaining access to the interior portion; a concrete slab with a bottom side and a top side, the weather-resistant enclosure is mechanically coupled to the top side of the concrete slab, and the bottom side of the concrete slab includes at least one set of parallel channels formed to accept a set of forklift forks to move the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly; and one or more electrical conduit openings disposed perpendicular to the top side of the concrete slab and through to the bottom side of the concrete slab, wherein the one or more electrical conduit openings aligned to provide a contiguous electrical conduit opening with one or more openings in a bottom portion of the weather-resistant enclosure.

3. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure further comprises at least one of telecommunication equipment, a renewable energy power management system, or both.

4. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 3, further comprising: a set of one or more solar panels mechanically coupled to the weather-resistant enclosure.

5. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the renewable energy power management system includes at least one of an AC output, a DC output, or a combination thereof, and the renewable energy power management system receiving one or more DC inputs, the renewable energy power management system is positioned inside the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure, and the one or more DC inputs electrically coupled to the set of one or more solar panels.

6. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 5, wherein the renewable energy power management system further includes one or more outputs that provide at least one of 100 VAC-120 VAC power, 220 VAC-240 VAC, 24 VDC-48 VDC, or a combination thereof.

7. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure includes a backboard portion for mounting telecommunication equipment and at least one internal bus bar to provide electrical ground.

8. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the concrete slab is between 3 inches and 8 inches in thickness, between 4 feet to 10 feet in length, and between 2 feet to 6 feet in width.

9. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the weather-resistant enclosure includes at least one of a cooling fan, an air conditioning unit, a heating-ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, or a combination thereof.

10. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 3, further comprising: at least one 19-inch rack for mounting electronic equipment modules, including electronic equipment modules for converting power generated from the set of one or more solar panels to charge the renewable energy power management system.

11. A preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly for terminating telecommunication equipment comprising: a weather-resistant enclosure with an interior portion and at least one access panel for gaining access to an interior portion a weather-resistant enclosure with at least one access panel for gaining access to the interior portion; a backboard portion for mounting telecommunication equipment installed inside the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure; a concrete slab with a bottom side and a top side, the weather-resistant enclosure is mechanically coupled to the top side of the concrete slab, and the bottom side of the concrete slab includes at least one set of parallel channels formed to accept a set of forklift forks to move the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly; and one or more electrical conduit openings disposed perpendicular to the top side of the concrete slab and through to the bottom side of the concrete slab, wherein the one or more electrical conduit openings aligned to provide a contiguous electrical conduit opening with one or more openings in a bottom portion of the weather-resistant enclosure.

12. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein the backboard portion for mounting telecommunication equipment further includes at least one internal bus bar to provide electrical ground.

13. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure further comprises at least one of telecommunication equipment, a renewable energy power management system, or both.

14. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a set of one or more solar panels mechanically coupled to the weather-resistant enclosure.

15. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 14, wherein the renewable energy power management system includes at least one of an AC output, a DC output, or a combination thereof, and the renewable energy power management system receiving one or more DC inputs, the renewable energy power management system is positioned inside the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure, and the one or more DC inputs electrically coupled to the set of one or more solar panels.

16. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 15, wherein the renewable energy power management system further includes one or more outputs that provide at least one of 100 VAC-120 VAC power, 220 VAC-240 VAC, 24 VDC-48 VDC, or a combination thereof.

17. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein the concrete slab is between 3 inches and 8 inches in thickness, between 4 feet to 10 feet in length, and between 2 feet to 6 feet in width.

18. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein the weather-resistant enclosure includes at least one of a cooling fan, an air conditioning unit, a heating-ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, or a combination thereof.

19. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 13, further comprising: at least one 19-inch rack for mounting electronic equipment modules, including electronic equipment modules for converting power generated from the set of one or more solar panels to charge the renewable energy power management system.

20. The preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of claim 11, further comprising: an electrical connection to an electric power grid; and at least one electricity meter mechanically coupled to an outside wall of the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly to measure an amount of electrical energy consumed by electrical components inside the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present disclosure, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a picture of a prior art control house with the doors open, illustrating telecommunications equipment mounted inside, in accordance with the prior art;

[0018] FIG. 2 is an example of the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly or control house for terminating telecommunications equipment, in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a concrete slab of FIG. 2 with forklift openings and electrical conduit stubs, in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is an interior view of the preconfigured control house of FIG. 2, in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 is another interior view of the preconfigured control house of FIG. 2, illustrating the renewable energy power management system that includes one or more outputs in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0022] FIG. 6 is another interior view showing the floor of the preconfigured control house of FIG. 2, in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0023] FIG. 7 is another exterior view of FIG. 2, showing two HVAC units mounted on the front-facing wall. Also shown is a side view of the set of solar panels, in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the major steps for ordering, creating, and installing the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of FIG. 2 through FIG. 7, in accordance with one aspect of the invention; and

[0025] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the major steps for placing and powering of a remote network component of FIG. 2 through FIG. 7, in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples to show the utility of the transporter. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the concepts.

Non-Limiting Definitions

[0027] The terms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0028] The phrases at least one of <A>, <B>, . . . and <N> or at least one of <A>, <B>, <N>, or combinations thereof or <A>, <B>, . . . and/or <N> are defined by the Applicant in the broadest sense, superseding any other implied definitions hereinbefore or hereinafter unless expressly asserted by the Applicant to the contrary, to mean one or more elements selected from the group comprising A, B, . . . and N, that is to say, any combination of one or more of the elements A, B, . . . or N including any one element alone or in combination with one or more of the other elements which may also include, in combination, additional elements not listed.

[0029] The terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0030] The term Commercial Operation Delivery (COD means the date of charging the project or part thereof to its rated voltage level or, alternatively, the ability to generate revenue based on the agreed-upon megawatts rating of the project.

[0031] The term configured to describes the hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is adapted to, set up, arranged, built, composed, constructed, designed, or that has any combination of these characteristics to carry out a given function. The term adapted to describes the hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that is capable of, able to accommodate, to make, or that is suitable to carry out a given function.

[0032] The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically.

[0033] The terms including and having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).

[0034] The terms prefabricated and preconfigured, as used interchangeably herein, mean the weather-resistant enclosure has been customized and arranged before being shipped to a location to meet the specific needs of the location or customer.

[0035] The term weather-resistant enclosure, as used herein, is an enclosure with at least one access door capable of protecting the ingress of foreign objects and water. Enclosures with NEMA ratings of 4, 4X, 6, 6P are found to meet this requirement.

Overview

[0036] The present invention is a preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly or control house for terminating telecommunications equipment. The present invention is designed to meet the requirements for Commercial Operation Delivery (COD). The requirements include [0037] adequate backboard for mounting network hardware, [0038] proper grounding, such as an internal busbar that will be connected to the same ground circuit of the local electrical grid, and [0039] adequate permanent power.

[0040] The present invention maintains COD rights and thereby avoids potential lost revenue and fines.

[0041] The present invention solves the problem of having a control house ready for the telecommunication company to install network equipment. The present invention is preconfigured off-site and delivered via truck assembled and ready to operate. Telecommunication companies can quickly review the installation and see that their network equipment can be scheduled for installation.

[0042] With a permanent solar array attached and power to actual receptacles in the cabinet, the solution is considered a permanent power solution.

[0043] More specifically, using the two solar panels, such as 400-watt panel and 9 Amps, provides enough generation to supply 5100 watt-hours of power to source a 100-watt draw. The renewable energy power management system is electrically coupled to the solar panel. This solution provides enough stored power to supply the needs of the network equipment for 72 hours without consideration of regeneration efforts.

[0044] Further, the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly is designed to take electric grid power when available. This preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly provides a backup solution to permanent electric grid power. The present invention keeps the network circuit up in the event of an electrical grid outage. State differently, this solution resolves two problems. The first problem solved is being able to install network equipment in a control house ahead of Commercial Operation Delivery (COD). The second problem solved is to provide a backup in the event of power failure at the control house.

Preconfigured Weather-Resistant Enclosure

[0045] FIG. 2 is an example of the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly 200 or control house for terminating telecommunications equipment. Starting from the top, shown is a set of solar panels 240 securely fastened to the top side of a weather-resistant enclosure 220, such as a NEMA 4 box. It is important to note that the present invention is not limited to the specific solar panel and enclosure products and that other products may be substituted, including products that use access panels rather than doors.

[0046] The weather-resistant enclosure is securely fastened to a concrete slab 210. The solar panels 240 and control house 220 are preconfigured and preassembled off-site and delivered as a read-to-install package. In one example, the tilt of the solar panel may be preconfigured based on the latitude and longitude of the site's geographic location. In another example, a solar panel may be installed on the site. Further, the concrete slab 210 is part of the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly 200 and shipped with the control house 220 securely fastened to it.

[0047] The control house is shown enclosed by a chain-link safety fence 250. The electric meter 260, in this example, is located outside the safety fencing 250. The electric meter measures the power consumed by electrical components inside the weather-resistant enclosure when connected to the electric power grid.

[0048] A pair of climate control systems 230, 232, such as a cooling fan, an air conditioning unit, a heating-ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, or a combination thereof, are shown mounted to the side.

Fork Lift Classes

[0049] Turning FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view 300 of a concrete slab of FIG. 2. A pair of forklift channels 302 and 304 are shown in the concrete slab 300. The pair of parallel channels accept a set of forklift forks to enable easy movement of the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure. [0050] Class 2=16 Carriage Height (1500-5500 lbs. capacity) [0051] Class 3=20 Carriage Height (6000-11,000 lbs. capacity) [0052] Class 4=25 Carriage Height (11,500-17,500 lbs. capacity)

[0053] Fork LengthThe most common fork length is 42-inches for both Class II and Class III carriages. This size allows for a standard 48-inch length pallet to be adequately supported without the fork tips protruding and possibly damaging whatever is behind the skid.

[0054] Fork WidthFork width is commonly 4-inches for Class II, 5-inches for Class III, and 6-inches for Class IV. This keeps them within their capacity limits for their classes. Of course, some people will need narrower forks or wider forks, depending on the application. Often wide forks are desired to spread a load more evenly.

Conduit Stubs

[0055] Also shown in the concrete slab 300 are two electrical conduit openings 310, 312, such as 3-inch circular openings that align to provide a contiguous electrical conduit opening with openings in the bottom portion of the weather-resistant enclosure 220.

[0056] Although the concrete slab 300 is shown as rectangular, it is important to note that other dimensions of the slab, the size and position of the forklift opening and the size and location of electrical conduit openings 310, 312 can be modified, and other sizes and locations are within the true scope of the present invention. Typically, the largest side dimension of the concrete slab 300 is selected to fit easily on a regular flatbed tractor-trailer.

[0057] In another example, the concrete slab is shipped separately or fabricated on-site.

Interior View Of Weather-Resistant Enclosure

[0058] FIG. 4 is an interior view 400 of the preconfigured control house of FIG. 2 with the two doors 402, 404 in the opened position. Shown is a back panel or rear wooden interior wall 410 and side wall 412 that act as a backboard for mounting telecommunications equipment. Also shown is a 19-inch rack 420 for securely mounting electronic equipment modules, including electronic equipment modules for converting power generated from the set of one or more solar panels to charge the renewable energy power management system 420.

Renewable Energy Power Management System

[0059] FIG. 5 is another interior view 500 of the preconfigured control house of FIG. 2, illustrating the renewable energy power management system 420 that includes one or more outputs that provide at least one of i) 100 VAC-120 VAC power, ii) 220 VAC-240 VAC, or iii) both. One example of a renewable energy power management system is a solar generator that is capable of being powered by solar panels. The renewable energy power management system is positioned inside the interior portion of the weather-resistant enclosure. The renewable energy power management system includes one or more inputs electrically coupled to the set of one or more solar panels.

Electrical Conduit Stubs Inside Weather-Resistant Enclosure

[0060] FIG. 6 is another interior view 600 showing the floor of the preconfigured control house of FIG. 2. A busbar 650 is shown as a common ground termination point. The electrical conduit stubs 640, 642 are shown for wire and cables coming up through the floor. The electrical conduit stubs are coupled to other pipes buried underneath the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly 200. These electrical conduits are used to route feeder wires that connect to the local power grid.

Climate Control

[0061] FIG. 7 is another exterior view of FIG. 2, showing two HVAC units mounted on the front-facing wall. Also shown is a side view of the set of solar panels.

Installation Method

[0062] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram 800 illustrating the major steps for ordering, creating, and installing the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly of FIG. 2 through FIG. 7, in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The process begins in step 802 and immediately proceeds to step 804.

[0063] In step 804, the requirements are gathered from the local exchange carrier to install network equipment. The requirements include geographic location, the requested date, and power requirements. The process continues to step 806.

[0064] In step 806, the size and components of the preconfigured weather-resistant assembly are determined based on the requirements received in step 804. These components include the physical size of the enclosure, solar panels needed, the backboard space requirement for mounting equipment, the capacity of the renewable energy power management system, rack requirements, climate control, concrete slab type, electrical conduit stub openings, and delivery options needed to meet the requirements. The process continued to step 808.

[0065] In step 808, the components specified in step 806 are assembled off-site to create the preconfigured weather-resistant assembly. The process continues to step 810.

[0066] In step 810, the site is prepared to receive the preconfigured weather-resistant assembly. Preparation may include installing underground conduit, fencing, and clearing vegetation. The process continues to step 812.

[0067] In step 812, the preconfigured weather-resistant assembly is delivered to the site via truck. Once in place, in a matter of hours, the site will be functional enough to meet the requirements of the LOC. The process ends in step 814.

Powering a Remote Network Component

[0068] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the major steps for placing and powering of a remote network component of FIG. 2 through FIG. 7, in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The process begins in step 902 and immediately proceeds to step 904.

[0069] In step 904, a preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly is constructed by (i) installing, inside a weather-resistant enclosure, a backboard portion for mounting telecommunications equipment with at least one internal bus bar to provide electrical ground; (ii) fastening the weather-resistant enclosure on top of a concrete slab; (iii) assembling, inside the weather-resistant enclosure, a renewable energy power management system electrically coupled to an energy storage device; and (iv) assembling, outside the weather-resistant enclosure, solar panels electrically coupled to the renewable energy power management system.

[0070] In one example, the weather-resistant enclosure is fastened on the top side of the concrete slab, and the bottom side of the concrete slab includes at least one set of parallel channels formed to accept a set of forklift forks to move the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly.

[0071] In another example, the angle of the solar panels is adjusted based on the geographic location of the installation site.

[0072] In yet another example, the renewable energy power management system further includes one or more outputs that provide at least one of 100 VAC-120 VAC power, 220 VAC-240 VAC, 24 VDC-48 VDC, or a combination thereof.

[0073] In still another example, at least one a cooling fan, an air conditioning unit, a heating-ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, or a combination thereof is installed during the construction of the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure.

[0074] In still another example, construction the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly further includes fastening the weather-resistant enclosure on top of the concrete slab with one or more electrical conduit openings aligned to provide a contiguous electrical conduit opening with one or more openings in a bottom portion of the weather-resistant enclosure. The process proceeds to step 906.

[0075] In step 906, the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly is transported to an installation site. The transportation may include a vehicle, such as a truck, with a forklift. In this example, transporting the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly to an installation site includes using a forklift to place the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly onto the vehicle. The process continues to step 908.

[0076] In step 908, the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly is placed on top of the ground at the installation site. In one example, a forklift is used to place the preconfigured weather-resistant enclosure assembly onto the ground at the installation site. The process continues to step 910.

[0077] In step 910, a test is made. Specifically, the test made whether adequate electric power is available from an electric power grid at the installation site. If there is adequate electric grid power, the process flows to step 912. In step 912, the renewable energy power management system switches from supplying electric power from the solar panels to the remote component of the network to supplying electric power from the electric grid to the remote component of the network. Otherwise in step 914, if there is not adequate electric power, the electric power is supplied from the renewable energy power management system to the remote component of the network at the installation site. The remote component of the network can be powered for a year time frame or more before electric grid power is available. The process loops back up to step 910, as shown.

Non-Limiting Examples

[0078] Although specific embodiments of the subject matter have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. The scope of the disclosure is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure.