Door and Suspension Mechanism Assembly and An Assembly of An Elongated Housing and A Door and Suspension Mechanism Assembly

Abstract

A door and suspension mechanism assembly for use at or near an end of an elongated housing, where the suspension mechanism allows a linear movement of the door relative to the elongated housing and for a pivoting movement of the door relative to the elongated housing. Hence, the door and the suspension mechanism assembly provide access to a cavity in the elongated housing.

Claims

1. A door and suspension mechanism assembly for use at or near an end of an elongated housing, comprising: a door; and a suspension mechanism, wherein the suspension mechanism allows for a linear movement of the door relative to the elongated housing, and wherein the suspension mechanism allows for a pivoting movement of the door relative to the elongated housing.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the suspension mechanism comprises: a pivot hinge; and a support arm having a variable length, and wherein the pivot hinge connects the door pivotally to a first end of the support arm.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support arm has at least two parts that are configured to slide relative to one another.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support arm has at least two parts that are configured to fold relative to one another.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support arm has a second end configured to be secured to the elongated housing.

6. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pivot hinge is attached to the door near the door.

7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pivot hinge is attached to the door at an edge of the door.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the suspension mechanism comprises a planar linkage mechanism.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the door comprises at least a part of one or more openings that allow one or more cables to extend from outside into the elongated housing.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the door is provided with an ingress protection seal associated with the part of the one or more openings.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the suspension mechanism allows the door to move between a closed position and an open position.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the suspension mechanism is provided to retain the door in the open position.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein retaining the door in the open position comprises a snap lock.

14. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein retaining the door in the open position comprises a friction device.

15. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein retaining the door in the open position comprises a bi-stable spring loaded linkage mechanism.

16. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a resilient member causes the door to be retained in a closed position.

17. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the door is connected to the pivot hinge via a bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the disclosure will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a side view of an elongated housing for an antenna unit or RRU with a door and suspension mechanism according to an example embodiment,

[0033] FIG. 2 is a detailed elevated view of an end section of the elongated housing of FIG. 1 with the door in the closed position,

[0034] FIG. 3 is another detailed elevated view of the end section with the door in a partially open position,

[0035] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the end section of FIG. 3 with the door in a partially open position,

[0036] FIG. 5 is the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 4 with the door in a completely open position,

[0037] FIG. 6 is the elevated view of FIG. 2 with the door in a completely open position, and

[0038] FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are isometric views of the suspension mechanism used in the previous Figs., and

[0039] FIG. 11 is an elevated view of the end section of the previous Figs. using another example embodiment of the suspension mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, there is shown a door and suspension mechanism assembly for giving access to a cavity 13 (see for example FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 11) in an elongated housing 1. FIG. 1 shows a side view of the elongated housing 1 mounted to a support structure 2 by brackets 3,4. The support structure 2 can be a (vertical) pole or a wall. The elongated housing 1 can in an example embodiment be tubular and can in an example embodiment have a circular, oval, or rectangular cross section, or a cross-sectional shape in between any of these cross-sectional shapes. The elongated housing 1 is in an example embodiment cylindrical, but not necessarily circular cylindrical.

[0041] The elongated housing 1 can be used as a housing for an antenna unit or an RRU, or for housing a combination of an antenna unit and an RRU, i.e. integrated solution. Typically, the equipment inside the elongated housing 1 needs to be cabled, i.e. one or more cables 6 extend from the outside to the interior of the elongated housing 1. These cables 6 have to be connected in situ by maintenance personal. Easy access both visually and physically to the area where the cables 6 are connected to the device or devices in the elongated housing 1, is therefore advantageous. A cavity 13 is provided at one end of the elongated housing 1, normally at the lower end for the typically vertically mounted elongated housing 1. The cavity 13 provides space for connectors (not shown) that are used to connect the equipment in the elongated housing 1 to the cables 6. Service personal needs access to this cavity 13 in order to connect the cables 6 to a connector (not shown) in the cavity 13.

[0042] Access to the cavity 13 is provided via a door 5. The door 5 is suspended from the elongated housing 1 by a suspension mechanism that in an example embodiment includes a pivot hinge 7 and a suspension arm 8 (see for example FIG. 3). The length of the suspension arm 8 is variable, i.e. the suspension arm 8 can provide a linear movement by changing the length of the suspension arm 8. At one end the suspension arm 8 is connected to the elongated housing 1 and the other free end of the suspension arm 8 is connected to the pivot hinge 7. The pivot hinge 7 also connects to the door 5, preferably via a bracket 10 (see for example FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0043] The longitudinal end of the elongated housing 1 where the door 5 is arranged is typically but not necessarily provided with vents 25 (see for example FIG. 2) for providing air to a heat sink in the elongated housing 1. The position of the vents 25 is such that the airflow is unhindered by the bracket 4 and the cables 6.

[0044] In FIG. 2, the longitudinal end with the door 5 is shown with the door in a closed position and the door 5 secured to the housing by means of screws 22. In this embodiment, the door 5 has a curved front surface 18, but this is optional. For other embodiments, with a different cross-sectional shape of the elongated housing 1 the front surface 18 can be correspondingly differently shaped, as will be clear to those skilled in the art. For example, a rectangular cross sectional shape of the elongated housing 1 could be accompanied by a matching flat front surface 18 with opposing matching flat side surfaces and right angles to the flat front surface 18. The door 5 has also a bottom surface 17 that connects to the front surface 18. The bottom surface 17 can be substantially flat, but could also have other shapes, as required by circumstances.

[0045] In an example embodiment, the door 5 is shaped and sized as a cutout of the elongated housing 1 such that the elongated housing 1 can have a regular outline, such as for example an elongated rectangle, a cylinder or any shapes there between, when the door 5 is in its closed position. The elongated housing 1 is provided with a cutout corresponding to the shape and size of the door 5.

[0046] In FIG. 3 the door 5 is shown in a partially open position. From the closed position in FIG. 2 the door 5 has made a linear movement to arrive in the partially open position of FIG. 3. The linear movement is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by arrow X.

[0047] In FIG. 5 the door 5 is shown in a completely open position. The door 5 has reached this position by a linear movement provided by the suspension arm 8 followed by a pivoting movement of the door 5 about the pivot hinge 7. The linear movement and the pivotal movement may be carried out in an overlapping fashion, i.e. the movements do not meet to be strictly sequential, although the movement will preferably start with a linear movement. The pivoting movement is illustrated by the arrow Q in FIG. 5.

[0048] In order to move the door 5 from the completely open position to the closed position the operation is reversed, i.e. the door 5 is pivoted back in the direction opposite to the arrow Q and the door 5 is pushed back with a linear movement with a direction opposite to the arrow X, again in a not necessarily strictly sequential order, although the return movement will end with a linear movement.

[0049] The door 5 is provided with a part 15 of one or more openings 16 that allow one or more cables 6 to extend from the outside of the elongated housing 1 to the cavity 13 in the elongated housing 1. The openings 16 (see for example FIG. 2) are directed longitudinally from the end of the elongated housing 1 so that the cables 6 can be threaded into the elongated housing 1 straight from below. Thus, any cables 6 that are guided from the support structure 2 will not need to make any sharp bends or have any section with a tight radius on their way to the (openings 16) in elongated housing 1.

[0050] The edge of an opening around the cavity 13 in the elongated housing 1 is provided with another part 14 of the one or more openings 16. Thus, in the closed position of the door 5 the two parts 14 and 15 form a complete opening 16 allowing the cables 6 to extend from the outside of the elongated housing 1 into the cavity 13.

[0051] The door 5 is provided with an abutment surface 11 and the elongated housing 1 is provided with a corresponding abutment surface 12. The abutment surface 11 and/or the abutment surface 12 are/is provided with an ingress protection seal 24 (best seen in FIG. 6). The abutment surface 12 and the ingress protection seal 24 sealingly close an opening around the cavity 13. In the closed position of the door 5 the two abutment surfaces 11 and 12 face one another and abut one another with the ingress protection seal 24 at least partially compressed there between. The ingress protection seal 24 can be conventional ingress protection seal made of conventional ingress protection seal materials. Rubber bungs 26 provided for closing the openings 16 when no cables 6 present are a part of the ingress protection seal 24.

[0052] The abutment surface 12 with the opening giving access to the cavity 13 therein is angled such that service personnel that is facing an elongated housing 1 that is mounted to an upright support structure 2 allows direct visual and physical access from a substantially transverse direction into the cavity 13. Hereto, the component of the normal to the abutment surface 12 in the transverse direction is larger than the component in the longitudinal direction.

[0053] A part of the ingress protection seal 24 is formed by seals or gaskets that are provided in the part 14 openings 16. These seals or gaskets can be an integral part of the ingress protection seal 24 or be a separate part. The openings 16 on part 15 are provided with a separate ingress protection seal or the like to form a complete seal around the cables 6.

[0054] The door 5 is provided with bores 41 for receiving the screws 22 that are used to secure the door 5 in its closed position to the elongated housing 1. Corresponding threaded holes 23 are provided in the elongated housing 1. The threaded holes 23 (and the bores 41 when the door 5 is in its closed position) are arranged at a right angle relative to the abutment surface 12 such that the tightening force of the screws 22 is most effectively applied to the ingress protection seal 24.

[0055] The suspension mechanism that connects the door 5 to the elongated housing 1 includes the support arm 8 with the variable length that is in an example embodiment formed by two slider parts 9 and 19 that can slide relative to one another. Part 19 is secured to the elongated housing 1 and part 9 is connected to the pivot hinge 7. FIGS. 7 to 10 show an example embodiment of the suspension mechanism in greater detail.

[0056] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 the suspension mechanism is provided with the support arm 8 that has two parts that can slide relative to one another, a first slider part 9 that is to be secured to the elongated housing 1 and a second slider part 19 that can slide relative to the first slider part 9. The second slider part 19 forms a first end of the support arm 8. The first slider part 9 forms a second end of the support arm 8 that is configured to be secured to the elongated housing 1, e.g. by a screw through a hole in the first slider part 9.

[0057] The second slider part 19 can slide relative to the first part 9 by means of guide rails (or any other suitable guide structure) that are integrated in either the first slider part 9 or the second slider part 19. The support arm 8 can in an embodiment (not shown) have a telescopic structure with the parts of the support arm 8 fitting into one another and guiding one another. In the shown embodiment the support arm 8 is provided with means to provide an end stop for both the retracted and extended position of the support arm 8 in the form of a slit 28 in the second slider part 19 and a pin 29 secured to the first slider part 9. The pin 29 is slidably received in the slit 28 and prevents the support arm 8 from being overextended.

[0058] The pivot hinge 7 is arranged at the free end of the second slider part 19, i.e. at or near the first end of the support arm 8. The pivot hinge 7 includes a pin 42. The second slider part 19 is provided with holes for receiving and retaining the pin 42.

[0059] A bracket 10 is pivotally suspended from the pin 42. The bracket 10 is provided with corresponding holes for receiving the pin 42. The bracket 10 is configured to be attached to the inner side of the door 5 such that the door 5 can pivot around the pin 42. Hereto, the bracket 10 has a shape and size that is suitable for attachment to the inner side of the door 5. Further, in the present example embodiment, the bracket 10 is provided with screw holes 27 that facilitate the attachment of the bracket 10 to the door 5 by screws (not shown) that will engage threaded bores (not shown) on the inner side of the door 5. The bracket 10 is shaped and sized such that the pivot axis of the hinge is positioned at or near an edge of the door 5.

[0060] The support arm 8 is provided with two helical wire springs 21 (a single spring, of any suitable type, e.g. of an elastomeric material or the like could also be used instead). One end of the helical wire springs 21 is connected the second slider part 19 and the other end of the wire springs 21 is connected to the bracket 10. The helical wire springs 21 are mounted as a tension springs. Hereto, the second slider part 19 and the bracket 10 are provided with respective hooks. The hooks are placed such that the helical wire springs 21 extend on one side of the longitudinal axis of the pin 42 when the door 5 is in its closed position and on another side of the longitudinal axis of the pin 42 when the door 5 is in the fully open position shown in FIG. 5. This means that the helical wire springs 21 are most stretched when the door 5 assumes an intermediate position in between its closed and fully open positions. The result is a bi-stable mechanism, with the helical wire springs 21 urging the door 5 towards its closed position when the door 5 is in any position between the intermediate position and its closed position and with the helical wire springs 21 urging the door 5 towards its open position when the door 5 is in any position between the intermediate position and its fully opened position. The bi-stable mechanism causes the door 5 to assume a stable completely open position and prevents the door 5 from falling back towards the closed position, regardless of the orientation in which the elongated housing 1 is mounted to a support structure. Also the rotational position of the door 5 that corresponds to the rotational position of the closed position will be a stable position. These two stable positions facilitate the handling of the door 5 by maintenance personnel, for example by rendering it unnecessary for maintenance personnel to hold the door 5 open when working in the cavity 13.

[0061] In shown embodiment, the suspension mechanism is hidden from view when the door 5 is in its closed position.

[0062] In order to open the door service personnel will remove the screws 22, pull the door 5 away from the elongated housing 1 in a linear movement as shown by the arrow X, followed by a pivoting movement as shown by the arrow Q, the first part of the pivoting movement being against the force of the helical springs 21 with the last part of the pivoting movement being supported by the force of the helical springs 21. The door 5 is retained in the fully open position by the force of the helical springs 21 and thus service personnel has both hands free to work in the cavity 13. Due to the fact that the door 5 opens relatively wide service personnel has a good direct view into the cavity 13 when standing in front of a vertically mounted elongated housing 1. When work is finished in the cavity 13, service personnel will rotate the door 5 in the direction opposite of the arrow Q, first against the force of the helical springs 21 and then supported by the force of the helical springs 21. Next, the service personnel pushes the door 5 in the (linear) direction against the arrow X back to its fully closed position. In the last part of the closing movement, the ingress protection seal 24 around the cavity 13 and around any cables 6 seals the cavity 13. Any openings 16 that are not having a cable inserted there through a closed by means of the rubber bungs 26. Next, the service personnel tightens the screws 22 and the cavity 13 is now hermetically sealed.

[0063] FIG. 11 shows another example embodiment of the door 5 and suspension mechanism assembly. The example embodiment of FIG. 11 is essentially identical to the example embodiment described here above, except for the construction of the support arm with the variable length. In the example embodiment of FIG. 11, the support arm 38 includes a planar linkage that allows the length of the support arm to be adapted between a retracted position and an extended position (shown). The first free end of the support arm 38 is provided with a hinge 37 including a pin 42 that connects to a bracket 40 that is suited for being secured to the door 5. The second end of the support arm 38 is secured to a subframe 31 that is configured to be connected to the elongated housing 1. Various forms of planar linkage can be used for the support arm 38. The operation of the door 5 and suspension mechanism assembly shown in FIG. 11 is essentially identical to the operation of the door 5 and suspension mechanism assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0064] The suspension mechanism does not necessarily need to include a variable length arm with a hinge at an end thereof. Other suspension mechanisms that provide a combination of a linear movement and a pivoting movement can equally well be used. Such suspension mechanisms can use straight and/or curved guide rails or slits, chains, wires, gears or combinations thereof.

[0065] In an embodiment the suspension mechanism is provided with means to retain said door in said open position. The means to retain the door and the open position can use a snap lock, a friction device and/or a bi-stable spring loaded linkage mechanism.

[0066] The disclosure has been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.