Electrical equipment rack and cable management arm assembly

• US 6,805,248 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Champion, David Frederick, McNulty, Edward John, White, Charles Edmond III, Schultz, Kevin Lavern
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/160,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 211/26, 211/175, 211/189, 211/192, 211/195, 361/826, 361/829, 361/683, 361/727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/265.1, 248/637, 248/646, 248/674
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1491 having cable management arrangements management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06

Abstract

A cable arm assembly manages cables between an equipment rack and an equipment unit slidably installed in the equipment rack. The assembly includes two cable arms, each having an offset bracket at one end, which are pivotally joined to provide a minimum bend radius for cables. A first hinge plate is pivotally attached between the first cable arm and a rack mounted bracket. A second hinge plate is pivotally attached between the second cable arm and a bracket mounted on the equipment unit. Fingers extending from the hinge plates limit the pivotal movement of each plate with respect to its bracket. The finger on the first plate prevents the arm assembly from hitting the opposite side of the rack as the equipment unit is sliding forward. The finger on the second plate prevents the two arms from locking when the equipment unit is extended fully forward.

Claims

1. An electrical equipment rack assembly, comprising:

an electrical equipment rack including a rack attachment bracket;

an electrical equipment unit slidably attached to said rack and having a fully inserted position and a fully extended position, said equipment unit including a unit attachment bracket; and

a cable arm assembly having a normal, service and extended position, the cable arm assembly comprising;

a first cable arm having first and second ends;

a second cable arm having first and second ends;

a first joint pivotally attaching the first end of said first cable arm to the first end of said second cable arm;

a first hinge plate having first and second ends, the first end of said first hinge plate being pivotally attached to said rack attachment bracket, the second end of said first hinge plate being pivotally attached to the second end of said first cable arm;

a second hinge plate having first and second ends, the first end of said second hinge plate being pivotally attached to said unit attachment bracket, the second end of said second hinge plate being pivotally attached to the second end of said second cable arm; and

said first hinge plate including a first stop means for limiting the rotation of said first hinge plate relative to said rack attachment bracket;

wherein;

when said equipment unit is in said fully inserted position, said cable arm assembly can be positioned in either said normal position wherein said cable arm assembly is positioned adjacent said equipment unit, or in said service position wherein said cable arm assembly is positioned away from said equipment unit; and

when said equipment unit is in said fully extended position, said cable arm assembly is in said extended position.

2. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein said second hinge plate includes a second stop means for limiting the rotation of said first hinge plate relative to said unit attachment bracket.

3. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein said first joint includes first and second offset brackets coupled, respectively, to said first ends of said first and second cable arms, said offset brackets creating a minimum bend radius at said first joint.

4. The rack assembly of claim 3, wherein:

said first stop means includes a first finger extending from said first hinge plate and contacting said rack attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said first hinge plate; and

said second stop means includes a second finger extending from said second hinge plate and contacting said unit attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said second hinge plate.

5. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein said first joint includes first and second offset brackets coupled, respectively, to said first ends of said first and second cable arms, said offset brackets creating a minimum bend radius at said first joint.

6. The rack assembly of claim 5, wherein said first stop means includes a finger extending from said first hinge plate and contacting said rack attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said first hinge plate.

7. The rack assembly of claim 6, further comprising a quick release hinge pin for attaching said second hinge plate to said unit attachment bracket.

8. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein said first stop means includes a finger extending from said first hinge plate and contacting said rack attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said first hinge plate.

9. The rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a quick release hinge pin for attaching said second hinge plate to said unit attachment bracket.

10. A cable arm assembly, for use with an electrical equipment rack including a rack attachment bracket and an electrical equipment unit slidably attached to the rack, the equipment unit including a unit attachment bracket, said cable arm assembly comprising:

a first cable arm having first and second ends;

a second cable arm having first and second ends;

a first joint pivotally attaching the first end of said first cable arm to the first end of said second cable arm;

a first hinge plate having first and second ends, the first end of said first hinge plate being pivotally attachable to the rack attachment bracket, the second end of said first hinge plate being pivotally attached to the second end of said first cable arm;

a second hinge plate having first and second ends, the first end of said second hinge plate being pivotally attachable to the unit attachment bracket, the second end of said second hinge plate being pivotally attached to the second end of said second cable arm; and

said first hinge plate including a first stop means for limiting the rotation of said first hinge plate relative to the rack attachment bracket.

11. The cable arm assembly of claim 10, wherein said second hinge plate includes a second stop means for limiting the rotation of said first hinge plate relative to the unit attachment bracket.

12. The cable arm assembly of claim 11, wherein said first joint includes first and second offset brackets coupled, respectively, to said first ends of said first and second cable arms, said offset brackets creating a minimum bend radius at said first joint.

13. The cable arm assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said first stop means includes a first finger extending from said first hinge plate for contacting the rack attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said first hinge plate; and

said second stop means includes a second finger extending from said second hinge plate for contacting said unit attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said second hinge plate.

14. The cable arm assembly of claim 10, wherein said first joint includes first and second offset brackets coupled, respectively, to said first ends of said first and second cable arms, said offset brackets creating a minimum bend radius at said first joint.

15. The cable arm assembly of claim 14, wherein said first stop means includes a finger extending from said first hinge plate for contacting the rack attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said first hinge plate.

16. The cable arm assembly of claim 15, further comprising a quick release hinge pin for attaching said second hinge plate to the unit attachment bracket.

17. The cable arm assembly of claim 10, wherein said first stop means includes a finger extending from said first hinge plate for contacting the rack attachment bracket to limit the rotation of said first hinge plate.

18. The cable arm assembly of claim 10, further comprising a quick release hinge pin for attaching said second hinge plate to the unit attachment bracket.