Outdoor base station housing assembly
A base station cabinet assembly (20) includes a first cabinet housing (22). A second cabinet housing (40) generally surrounds and covers over the first cabinet housing (22). In a disclosed example, the first cabinet housing (22) comprises a metal cabinet typically useful for interior base station installations. The second cabinet housing (40) in one example comprises plastic and protects the first cabinet portion (22) from environmental contamination such that the entire cabinet assembly may be used for exterior installations.
This invention generally relates to communication. More particularly, this invention relates to components useful in wireless communication systems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTWireless communication systems typically include base stations arranged to provide wireless communication services over a geographic region, for example. Base stations typically include at least one antenna and a base station transceiver comprising electronic components that facilitate wireless communication with one or more mobile stations. The components of the base station transceiver traditionally have been housed within a metal housing. In the case of interior installations, the metal housing has been a plurality of metal sheets riveted or bolted together, for example. For exterior or outside applications, the metal housings have had welded seams to provide protection against environmental contaminants so that the base station transceiver components will not be affected by weather conditions, for example.
There are several shortcomings with traditional approaches. One is that they are relatively expensive. Because there are minimum requirements for vandalism protection and structural integrity, there is substantial material cost in providing an outdoor metal cabinet. There are labor costs associated with welding and painting the cabinets. It would be useful to be able to provide an outdoor cabinet for base station components that is more economical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn exemplary base station cabinet assembly includes a first cabinet housing comprising a first material. The first cabinet housing supports a weight of operative base station components. A second cabinet housing comprises a second, different material and generally surrounds and covers over the first cabinet housing.
In one example, the first cabinet housing comprises metal while the second cabinet housing comprises plastic. The first cabinet housing in one example is an unsealed cabinet while the second cabinet housing prevents environmental contaminants from entering an interior of the second cabinet housing to protect the first cabinet housing and its contents from any such environmental contaminants.
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrated example includes a base 30 that establishes the bottom of the cabinet assembly 20. In this example, the base 30 establishes a bottom wall of the first cabinet housing 22.
A second cabinet housing 40 is received over the first cabinet housing 22 such that the second cabinet housing 40 generally surrounds and covers over the first cabinet housing 22. In this example, the base 30 establishes a bottom of the second cabinet housing 40. The remainder of the second cabinet housing 40 includes a plurality of sidewalls 42, 44, 46 and 48 and a top 52 (in
In one example, the first cabinet housing 22 comprises metal while the second cabinet housing 40 comprises plastic. In one example, the plastic material of the second cabinet housing 40 comprises a polycarbonate. One example material is commercially available from General Electric and is known as Lexan EXL. Bayer Corporation also sells similar plastic materials. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this description will be able to select an appropriate material to meet the needs of their particular situation. One particular example includes ⅛ inch thick sidewalls 42, 46 and 48 that are made from a single piece of plastic material.
The relief portions 50 facilitate manually folding the piece of material schematically shown in
One example as shown in
In the illustrated example, the bottom of the second cabinet housing 40 is established by the base 30. One example includes not fixing the sidewalls 42, 44, 46 and 48 to the base 30. Instead, a groove or channel 60 as shown in
In
The example of
Another feature of one example embodiment is shown in
One feature of the example foam layer 70 is that it establishes a plurality of passages 72 that allow for air flow within the spacing between the first cabinet housing 22 and the second cabinet housing 40. Such air flow can be strategically used for cooling one or more components within the first cabinet housing 22, for example. The example arrangement facilitates more efficient temperature control within the first cabinet housing 22. Providing the air flow passage 72 allows for establishing a heat exchange type arrangement around the exterior of the first cabinet housing 22. One example includes maximizing the air flow passages 72 that contact the first cabinet housing 22 to maximize the possible cooling effect.
Additionally, the second cabinet housing 40 acts as a sunshield to protect the first cabinet housing 22 from heating up as a result of direct exposure to the sun's radiation, for example.
Another feature of the foam layer 70 is that it adds structural rigidity to the cabinet assembly 20. In one example, the sidewalls of the second cabinet housing 40 comprise a ⅛ inch thick sheet of plastic. These may be displaced by an individual pressing on an outside of one of the sidewalls, for example, until the sidewall contacts the first cabinet housing 22, which is spaced from the second cabinet housing 40 around the entire periphery in one example. Without the foam layer 70 in place, a substantial and visually noticeable movement of the sidewalls of the second cabinet housing 40 may occur. The example foam layer 70 is generally rigid and provides support to avoid the sidewall 42 from moving toward the first cabinet housing 22 more than a minor amount. This example arrangement provides potential cost savings by not requiring heavier gage materials for the sidewalls in addition to providing the additional cooling aspects described above.
Another feature of an example embodiment is shown in
The disclosed examples provide several advantages over known base station cabinet arrangements. Using a second cabinet housing of a plastic material allows for using a first cabinet housing that is otherwise suitable for interior applications but now in an outside installation.
The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
Claims
1. A base station cabinet assembly, comprising:
- a first cabinet housing comprising a first material, the first cabinet housing supporting a weight of operative base station components; and
- a second cabinet housing comprising a second, different material, the second cabinet housing generally surrounding and covering over the first cabinet housing.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein
- the first cabinet housing is unsealed; and
- the second cabinet housing prevents environmental contaminants from entering an interior of the second cabinet housing such that the environmental contaminants are prevented from contacting the first cabinet housing or any components within the first cabinet housing.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein
- the first cabinet housing comprises metal; and
- the second cabinet housing comprises plastic.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second cabinet housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls and a base, one edge of the sidewalls being at least partially received in a groove in the base, the groove having a nominal depth adjacent an outer surface on at least one of the sidewalls and a second, greater depth adjacent an inner surface on the at least one of the sidewalls.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the base has at least one drain hole that allows fluid from within the groove to exit the groove toward an exterior of the assembly.
6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the edges of the sidewalls are maintained at least partially in the groove such that the sidewalls are at least partially moveable relative to the base.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second cabinet portion comprises
- at least three sidewalls that are each at least partially generally planar, each of the three sidewalls being a portion of a monolithic, single piece of plastic.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the single piece of plastic has a groove extending along at least a portion of a length of the piece of plastic at locations corresponding to edges of adjacent one of the sidewalls.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein each groove comprises a generally V-shaped cross section having sides oriented relative to each other at an angle within a range from about 90 degrees to about 150 degrees when two of the sidewalls adjacent a corresponding groove are at least partially coplanar.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the angle is approximately 120 degrees when two of the sidewalls adjacent a corresponding groove are at least partially coplanar.
11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the second cabinet portion includes a fourth sidewall comprising a frame that is secured to at least two of the three sidewalls and a door portion secured to the frame.
12. The assembly of claim 11, comprising a seal between the door portion and a corresponding portion of the frame for sealing the second cabinet portion closed when the door portion is in a closed position.
13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an interior on the second cabinet portion is spaced away from an exterior on the first cabinet portion.
14. The assembly of claim 13, comprising at least one layer between the first cabinet portion and the second cabinet portion, the at least one layer comprising a third material that is different than the first and second materials.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the third material comprises a plastic and includes carbon.
16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one layer establishes a plurality of flow channels between the first cabinet portion and the second cabinet portion for facilitating fluid flow along a spacing between the cabinet portions.
17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one layer is secured to the first cabinet portion and selectively abuts against the second cabinet portion.
18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cabinet portion has an opening through at least one sidewall and the second cabinet portion has an opening through at least one sidewall and aligned with the opening through the at least one sidewall of the second cabinet portion, and comprising an operative component for facilitating wireless communications supported within the first cabinet portion such that a connector on the operative component is received at least partially through the openings of the first and second cabinet portions when the operative component is received adjacent the at least one sidewall of the first cabinet portion.
19. The assembly of claim 18, comprising a seal received generally about the connector and against an exterior surface of the second cabinet portion for sealing off an interface between the connector and the opening in the at least one sidewall of the second cabinet portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 29, 2007
Inventors: Alexander DiNota (Peekskill, NY), Igor Golioto (Fairfield, NJ), Patrick Napolitano (Boonton, NJ)
Application Number: 11/238,940
International Classification: A47B 77/06 (20060101);