Add-on trough for cable management rack

• US 6,429,376 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Mendoza, Jose-Filonel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nino, Adolfo
• Application Number:
  US09/800,425
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 174/49, 174/60, 174/68.3, 174/72.A, 174/97, 174/99.R, 174/101, 211/26, 211/189, 361/644, 361/650, 361/655, 361/658, 361/730, 361/825, 361/826, 361/827, 379/326, 379/327, 385/134
• US Class Current: 174/97
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0406 Details thereof installation or suspension of conduit channels and other supports H02G3/263
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0437 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames

Abstract

The present invention includes an add-on trough for use with existing telecommunications equipment racks having cable management troughs. The add-on troughs engage the outer edge of the existing troughs and permit higher densities of telecommunications circuits to be incorporated with these racks. Several alternative embodiments are adapted for mounting on either upper or lower troughs, or on lower troughs only. The troughs may incorporate a reinforcement structure as required to support the weight of cables placed within the trough without sagging. A variety of openings for telecommunications cable passage into and out of the troughs are provided. A power cable route is incorporated into the design of certain embodiments.

Claims

1. An add-on cable management trough for use with a trough of telecommunications rack comprising:

a first wall having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side, a second side and a length;

a second wall opposing the first wall, the second wall having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side, a second side and a length;

a bottom having an upper side, a lower side, a first edge, a second edge and a length;

the first edge of the bottom connecting to the bottom edge of the first wall and the second edge of the bottom connecting to the bottom edge of the second wall so that the first side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall and the upper side of the bottom define an open topped channel;

a tab attached to the top edge of the first wall with a first side and a second side;

the tab shaped so that the second side of the tab is parallel to and opposes the second side of the first wall, defining a downward facing slot between the second side of the first wall and the second side of the tab; and

the slot sized and shaped to engage an edge of the trough on the telecommunications equipment rack.

2. The add-on trough of claim 1, wherein a reinforcing member, sized and shaped to fit within the open topped channel, is mounted to the first side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall and the upper side of the bottom.

3. The add-on trough of claim 2, wherein a plurality of spaced apart reinforcing members are mounted within the open topped channel to the first side of the first wall, the first side of the second wall and the upper side of the bottom.

4. The add-on trough of claim 1, wherein a plurality of tabs are attached to the top edge of the first wall, the plurality of tabs defining a plurality of slots for engaging the edge of the trough on the telecommunications equipment rack.

5. The add-on trough of claim 1, wherein a reinforcing leg extends beneath the lower side of the bottom, the reinforcing leg including a flange adapted to rest against a generally vertical portion of the rack below the trough, the flange being shaped to be coplanar to the generally vertical portion when the slot engages the edge of the trough on the telecommunications equipment rack.

6. The add-on trough of claim 5, wherein a plurality of reinforcing legs extend beneath the lower side of the bottom.

7. The add-on trough of claim 6, wherein each reinforcing leg includes a cable opening.

8. The add-on trough of claim 6, wherein a plurality of tabs are attached to the top edge of the first wall, the plurality of tabs defining a plurality of slots for engaging the edge of the trough on the telecommunications equipment rack.

9. The add-on trough of claim 6, wherein the first wall includes an opening for receiving cables from an opening in an outer wall of the trough, the opening of the first wall extending from the top edge of the first wall to the bottom edge of the first wall and defining a gap in the first wall.

10. A cable management system comprising:

a first telecommunications equipment rack having a top and a bottom and holding telecommunications equipment, a first fixed horizontal cable management trough mounted to the first rack, the first fixed horizontal cable management trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a first add-on cable management trough mounted to the outer edge of the first fixed horizontal cable management trough of the first rack;

wherein an outside upright surface of the first fixed horizontal cable management trough faces an inside upright surface of the first add-on cable management trough.

11. The cable management system of claim 10, wherein a second fixed horizontal cable management trough is mounted to the first rack, the second fixed horizontal cable management trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a second add-on cable management trough is mounted to the second fixed horizontal cable management trough, with an outside upright surface of the second fixed horizontal cable management trough facing an inside upright surface of the second add-on cable management trough.

12. The cable management system of claim 11, wherein the first fixed horizontal cable management trough is mounted adjacent to the top of the first rack and the second fixed horizontal cable management trough is mounted adjacent to the bottom of the first rack.

13. The cable management system of claim 10, farther comprising a second telecommunications equipment rack located adjacent to the first rack, the second rack having a top and a bottom and holding telecommunications equipment, a first fixed horizontal cable management trough mounted to the second rack, the first fixed horizontal cable management trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a first add-on cable management trough mounted to the outer edge of the first fixed horizontal cable management trough of the second rack.

14. The cable management system of claim 13, wherein a second fixed horizontal cable management trough is mounted to the first rack and a second fixed cable management trough is mounted to the second rack, each of the second fixed horizontal cable management troughs having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a second add-on cable management trough is mounted to the outer edge of each of the second fixed horizontal cable management troughs.

15. The cable management system of claim 14, wherein the first fixed horizontal cable management trough of the first rack is mounted adjacent to the top of the first rack, the first fixed horizontal cable management trough of the second rack is mounted adjacent the top of the second rack, the second fixed horizontal cable management trough of the first rack is mounted adjacent to the bottom of the first rack and the second fixed horizontal cable management trough of the second rack is mounted adjacent the bottom of the second rack.

16. The cable management system of claim 15, wherein the two first fixed horizontal cable management troughs cooperate to form a continuous upper cable channel, the two second fixed horizontal cable management troughs cooperate to form a continuous lower cable channel, the two first add-on troughs cooperate to form a continuous upper add-on cable channel and the two second add-on troughs cooperate to form a continuous lower add-on cable channel.

17. The cable management system of claim 16, wherein the continuous upper add-on channel includes a plurality of openings through a floor of the channel to permit cables to enter or exit the channel vertically.

18. The cable management system of claim 16, wherein the lower continuous add-on channel includes a plurality of openings through a wall of the channel to receive cables from openings in an adjacent wall of the lower continuous fixed channel.

19. A method for assembling a telecommunications equipment rack comprising the steps of:

providing an add-on open topped cable trough having an inside and an outside with a tab attached to an upper edge of a first wall, the tab shaped so that the tab is parallel to the first wall, defining a downward facing slot outside the trough between the first wall and the tab, the slot sized and shaped to engage an outer edge of a fixed trough on the telecommunications equipment rack;

positioning the add-on trough adjacent to the outer edge of the fixed trough of the telecommunications equipment rack; and

engaging the outer edge of the fixed trough with the slot of the add-on trough.

20. A cable management system comprising:

a first telecommunications equipment rack having a top and a bottom holding telecommunications equipment;

a first fixed horizontal cable management trough mounted to the first rack, the first fixed trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a first add-on cable management trough mounted to the outer edge of the first fixed trough of the first rack;

a second fixed horizontal cable management trough is mounted to the first rack, the second fixed trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a second add-on cable management trough is mounted to the second fixed trough;

wherein an outside upright surface of the first fixed trough faces an inside upright surface of the first add-on trough, and an outside upright surface of the second fixed trough facing an inside upright surface of the second add-on trough.

21. The cable management system of claim 20, wherein the first fixed trough is mounted adjacent to the top of the first rack and the second fixed trough is mounted adjacent to the bottom of the first rack.

22. A cable management system comprising:

a first telecommunications equipment rack having a top and a bottom holding a first plurality of telecommunications equipment;

a first fixed horizontal cable management trough mounted to the first rack, the first fixed trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a first add-on cable management trough mounted to the outer edge of the first fixed trough of the first rack;

a second telecommunications equipment rack located adjacent to the first rack, the second rack having a top and a bottom and holding telecommunications equipment;

a first fixed horizontal cable management trough mounted to the second rack, the first fixed trough having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a first add-on cable management trough mounted to the outer edge of the first fixed trough of the second rack;

wherein an outside upright surface of the first fixed trough of the first rack faces an inside upright surface of the first add-on trough of the first rack and an outside upright surface of the first fixed trough of the second rack faces an inside upright surface of the first add-on trough of the second rack.

23. The cable management system of claim 22, wherein a second fixed horizontal cable management trough is mounted to the first rack and a second fixed cable management trough is mounted to the second rack, each of the second fixed troughs having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a second add-on cable management trough is mounted to the outer edge of each of the second fixed horizontal cable management troughs, with an upright inner surface of the second add-on trough of the first rack is facing an upright outer surface of the second fixed trough of the first rack, and an upright inner surface of the second add-on trough of the second rack is facing an upright outer surface of the second fixed trough of the second rack.

24. The cable management system of claim 23, wherein the first fixed horizontal cable management trough of the first rack is mounted adjacent to the top of the first rack, the first fixed horizontal cable management trough of the second rack is mounted adjacent the top of the second rack, the second fixed horizontal cable management trough of the first rack is mounted adjacent to the bottom of the first rack and the second fixed horizontal cable management trough of the second rack is mounted adjacent the bottom of the second rack.

25. The cable management system of claim 24, wherein the two first fixed horizontal cable management troughs cooperate to form a continuous upper cable channel, the two second fixed horizontal cable management troughs cooperate to form a continuous lower cable channel, the two first add-on troughs cooperate to form a continuous upper add-on cable channel and the two second add-on troughs cooperate to form a continuous lower add-on cable channel.

26. The cable management system of claim 25, wherein the continuous upper add-on channel includes a plurality of openings through a floor of the channel to permit cables to enter or exit the channel vertically.

27. The cable management system of claim 26, wherein the lower continuous add-on channel includes a plurality of openings through a wall of the channel to receive cables from openings in an adjacent wall of the lower continuous fixed channel.