Electrical equipment enclosure

Abstract

An enclosure for electrical equipment includes a plurality of vertical posts having vertical sides, and a plurality of brackets. Each bracket has first and second generally horizontal legs joined at a juncture. A connection between each bracket and the vertical side of a respective post includes a keyway on one of the post and juncture of the bracket and a key on the other of the post and juncture of the bracket received in the keyway. The first and second legs of the bracket project laterally outwardly from the post. The enclosure further includes at least one horizontal frame member having a first end attached to the first leg of the bracket on one of the posts and a second end attached to the second leg of the bracket on an adjacent post.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An enclosure for electrical equipment comprising: 
 a plurality of vertical posts, each post having vertical sides;    a plurality of brackets, each bracket comprising generally horizontal legs joined at a juncture;    a connection between each bracket and the vertical side of a respective post comprising a keyway on one of the post and juncture of the bracket and a key on the other of the post and juncture of the bracket received in the keyway, and wherein said legs of the bracket project laterally outwardly from the post; and    at least one horizontal frame member having a first end attached to the leg of a first bracket on one of the posts and a second end attached to the leg of a second bracket on an adjacent post.    
     
     
         2 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said posts and brackets are formed by extrusion.  
     
     
         3 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said posts are tubular.  
     
     
         4 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the keyway is on the post and the key is on the juncture of the bracket.  
     
     
         5 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said at least one horizontal frame member is attached to the brackets by vertically oriented threaded mechanical fasteners.  
     
     
         6 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said at least one horizontal frame member has a vertical dimension which is less than one inch for increasing the vertical space of the enclosure useable for mounting electrical equipment and wherein said brackets have a vertical dimension of at least one inch.  
     
     
         7 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said at least one horizontal frame member has a vertical dimension which is significantly less than a vertical dimension of said brackets.  
     
     
         8 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said key and keyway extends substantially a full height of said connection.  
     
     
         9 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said connection comprises at least one fastener extending through holes in the post and bracket for attaching the bracket to the post with the key received in the keyway.  
     
     
         10 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the key is forced into the keyway during attachment of the bracket to the post.  
     
     
         11 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said key and keyway each have tapered surfaces and the keyway has a bottom adjacent its respective tapered surfaces, the key being dimensioned so as to avoid contact with the bottom of the keyway to ensure contact between the tapered surfaces of the key and keyway.  
     
     
         12 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said key and keyway are each tapered at substantially identical angles of between about 10 and about 20 degrees.  
     
     
         13 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said horizontal frame member is attached to the brackets by vertically oriented threaded mechanical fasteners.  
     
     
         14 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said enclosure is a generally rectangular enclosure having four of said posts at respective corners of the enclosure defining a front, a back and opposite sides of the enclosure, said enclosure further comprising a first pair of spaced-apart vertical mounting rails, each such rail having mounting holes facing the front of the enclosure for mounting electrical equipment in a position accessible from the front of the enclosure, and a second pair of spaced-apart vertical mounting rails, each such rail having mounting holes facing a side of the enclosure for mounting electrical equipment in a position accessible from said side of the enclosure.  
     
     
         15 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising horizontal rail mounting bars attached to said brackets on adjacent posts, said vertical rails being attached to said rail mounting bars.  
     
     
         16 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the vertical rails are adapted for mounting cable spools to form a vertical wireway.  
     
     
         17 . An enclosure for electrical equipment comprising: 
 four posts at four corners of said enclosure,    a plurality of generally L-shaped brackets, at least one at each of said corners, each bracket comprising first and second generally horizontal legs joined at a juncture,    horizontal frame members extending between the posts,    a first mechanical connection between each bracket and a respective post comprising a keyway on one of the post and juncture of the bracket and a key on the other of the post and juncture of the bracket received in the keyway, said first and second legs of the bracket projecting laterally outwardly from the post,    a second mechanical connection between the first horizontal leg of each bracket and a first respective horizontal frame member,    a third mechanical connection between the second horizontal leg of each bracket and a second respective horizontal frame member.    
     
     
         18 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the posts and brackets are formed by extrusion.  
     
     
         19 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said posts are tubular.  
     
     
         20 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the keyway is on the post and the key is on the juncture of the bracket.  
     
     
         21 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said first mechanical connection comprises a horizontally oriented threaded fastener extending through holes in the bracket and post.  
     
     
         22 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said key and keyway are tapered at substantially identical angles and said horizontally oriented fastener tends to force the key into the keyway during assembly.  
     
     
         23 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said second and third mechanical connections comprise vertically oriented threaded fasteners.  
     
     
         24 . An enclosure as set forth in  claim 17  wherein at least one of said horizontal frame members has a vertical dimension which is less than one inch for increasing the vertical space of the enclosure useable for mounting electrical equipment.