Flush to grade underground cabinet

Abstract

Flush to Grade Underground Cabinet is an underground, heat dissipating, electronics cabinet/enclosure that employs remotely vented above-ground atmospheric air to meet electronics cooling and moisture control requirements, including existing and anticipated future battery technology. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a vault having air ducts passing through it leading to an above-ground ventilation pedestal on one end and an enclosure inside the vault that houses batteries and electronic equipment on the other end. The preferred embodiment also is a hybrid system utilizing a closed loop heat-exchanger that cools electronics while managing moisture and eliminating dust/pollution with filters while using tubes to vent battery compartment gases. Alternative embodiments of the invention may incorporate different heat-exchangers, different ventilation pedestals or points, different heat-exchanger locations, different techniques for moisture control air ducts, sumps for moisture control, dehumidifiers, and a variety of latching devices for the vault and enclosure and lifting devices for the various components. To use the preferred embodiment of Flush to Grade Underground Cabinet, an individual would install the vault and enclosure underground, preferably six inches to one foot below grade. The ventilation pedestal would be placed above-ground and connected to the enclosure through the vault via the first air duct and the second air duct attached to the first pressure coupling and the second pressure coupling. The enclosure is preferably bolted down to an optional concrete pad to secure it from forces during flooding conditions. The heat-exchanger on the enclosure has fans to pull cool air coming from the ventilation pedestal through the first air duct and into the enclosure through the heat-exchanger and into a battery tube connected to a battery tray within the enclosure. A separate battery tube also permits warm air and gases from the battery tray to travel into the heat-exchanger and out of the enclosure through a second air duct connected to the ventilation pedestal. When servicing is required, the lid of the vault is unbolted and the enclosure cover is opened to access the various components.

1 . An electronics cabinet comprising:
 (a) a first air duct and a second air duct entering a vault locatable underground; and   (b) a ventilation pedestal for placement above-ground connectable to an enclosure located within the vault via the first air duct and the second air duct.   
   
   
       2 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising an equipment rack and a battery tray located within the enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising a removable lid secured to the top of the vault. 
   
   
       4 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising
 a first pressure coupling and a second pressure coupling located on the enclosure connectable with the first air duct and the second air duct.   
   
   
       5 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising
 a cover located on the enclosure having a set of cover dog latches and a first pivoting arm and a second pivoting arm connected to the cover and the enclosure.   
   
   
       6 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising
 a set of crane lifting eyelets on the upper corners of the enclosure and a set of bolt down eyelets located on the lower corners of the enclosure for securing to a concrete anchor pad beneath the enclosure.   
   
   
       7 . The cabinet of  claim 2  further comprising
 an equipment lifting mechanism for the equipment rack and a battery lifting mechanism for the battery tray.   
   
   
       8 . The cabinet of  claim 7  wherein the equipment lifting mechanism is a first arm connected to the bottom of the enclosure and the side of the equipment rack and a second arm connected to the side of the equipment rack and the first arm and a screw jack located on the second arm. 
   
   
       9 . The cabinet of  claim 7  wherein the battery lifting mechanism is a battery tray screw jack with a battery tray screw jack rod operatively connected to a scissor lift. 
   
   
       10 . The cabinet of  claim 2  further comprising
 a heat-exchanger attached to the front of the enclosure having a first battery vent tube and a second battery vent tube connected to the battery tray.   
   
   
       11 . The cabinet of  claim 10  further comprising
 a first fan, a second fan and a third fan with a catch basin located on one side of the heat-exchanger and a vent on the opposite side of the heat-exchanger.   
   
   
       12 . An electronics cabinet comprising:
 (a) a ventilation pedestal for placement above-ground connectable to a first pressure coupling and a second pressure coupling located on an enclosure within a vault via a first air duct and a second air duct;   (b) an equipment rack and a battery tray located within the enclosure;   (c) a removable lid bolted to the top of the vault;   (d) a cover located on the enclosure having a set of cover dog latches and a first pivoting arm and a second pivoting arm connected to the cover and the enclosure;   (e) a set of crane lifting eyelets on the upper corners of the enclosure and a set of bolt down eyelets located on the lower corners of the enclosure for securing to a concrete anchor pad beneath the enclosure;   (f) a first arm connected to the bottom of the enclosure and the side of the equipment rack and a second arm connected to the side of the equipment rack and the first arm and a screw jack located on the second arm;   (g) a battery tray screw jack with a battery tray screw jack rod operatively connected to a scissor lift beneath the battery tray;   (h) a heat-exchanger attached to the front of the enclosure having a first battery vent tube and a second battery vent tube connected to the battery tray; and   (i) a first fan, a second fan and a third fan with a catch basin located on one side of the heat-exchanger and a vent on the opposite side of the heat-exchanger.   
   
   
       13 . The electronics cabinet of  claim 12  further comprising
 a set of sealed OSP cable terminations located on the enclosure.   
   
   
       14 . An electronics cabinet comprising:
 (a) a ventilation pedestal attached to a first air duct and a second air duct;   (b) a sump having a cool air intake pipe attached to the first air duct and a hot air exhaust pipe connected to the second air duct; and   (c) an enclosure located within a vault and connected to the cool air intake pipe and the hot air exhaust pipe opposite the ventilation pedestal.   
   
   
       15 . The cabinet of  claim 14  further comprising
 a weeping tile with a check valve attached to the sump.   
   
   
       16 . The cabinet of  claim 14  wherein the first air duct and the second air duct are insulated.