Protective casing for electrical equipment

Abstract

Protective casing ( 10 ) for electrical equipment which is to be deployed in a hazardous environment comprises a main body portion ( 12, 14 ) and one or more protective cages each comprising at least one annulus ( 20 A) surrounding the main body portion and attached thereto by two or more spoke members ( 20 ). The invention provides casing which conforms to applicable standards whilst being simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

1 . Protective casing for electrical equipment, the casing comprising a main body portion adapted to receive the equipment, and having a protective cage comprising at least one annulus surrounding the main body portion, and at least two spoke members attaching the annulus to the main body portion.  
     
     
         2 . Casing according to  claim 1  wherein the cage comprises two like annuli which surround the main body portion at different longitudinal positions along the main body portion, which define substantially parallel planes and which are attached to the main body portion by at least two common spoke members.  
     
     
         3 . Casing according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one annulus is substantially circular in shape.  
     
     
         4 . Casing according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one annulus has a length in a dimension parallel to the length of the main body portion equal to approximately 10% of the length of the main body portion.  
     
     
         5 . Casing according to  claim 1  wherein at least one annulus and the main body portion, are welded to the spoke members.  
     
     
         6 . Casing according to  claim 1  comprising two or more protective cages.  
     
     
         7 . Casing according to  claim 1  comprising three or more spoke members.  
     
     
         8 . Casing according to  claim 1  wherein the spoke members and the at least one annulus are resilient.  
     
     
         9 . Protective casing for electrical equipment, the casing comprising a main body portion adapted to receive the equipment, characterised by a protective cage comprising at least one annulus surrounding the main body portion, and at least two spoke members attaching the annulus to the main body portion, wherein the cage comprises two like annuli which surround the main body portion at different longitudinal positions along the main body portion, which define substantially parallel planes and which are attached to the main body portion by at least two common spoke members and wherein the at least one annulus has a length in a dimension parallel to the length of the main body portion equal to approximately 10% of the length of the main body portion.