# US 2021/0242667 A1 · Electrical/electronics distribution equipment cabinet with multiple isolated cable/conduit routing compartments

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- Number: US 2021/0242667 A1
- Document ID: US20210242667A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/162,385
- Filed: 2021-01-29
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-03
- Assignees: Vertiv Corporation
- Applicants: Vertiv Corporation
- Inventors: Christopher Lee HARR; Carl CALDWELL; Michael Thomas OLLER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242667A1

## CPC

- H02B 1/202: {Cable lay-outs}
- H02B 1/305: {Cable entries}
- H02B 1/06: having associated enclosures, e.g. for preventing access to live parts
- H02B 1/14: Shutters or guards for preventing access to contacts (shielding of isolating-contacts in withdrawable switchgear H02B11/24)
- H02B 1/30: Cabinet-type casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
- H02B 1/32: Mounting of devices therein
- H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER

## Abstract

An electrical/electronics power distribution cabinet is disclosed which includes internal components enabling the cabinet to be quickly and easily reconfigured for allowing all cabling to exit an upper end of the cabinet or a lower end of the cabinet. The cabinet includes fully isolated top and bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas and a movable internal wall portion that helps to form an isolated compartment to route electrical cabling within the interior area of the cabinet, while keeping the cabling associated with the two panelboard circuit breaker areas fully separate from one another. This enables access to one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas for service or reconfiguration without the need to access the other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An equipment cabinet comprising:
first and second outer vertical wall panels (26 and 28) spaced apart from one another;
a top wall (36) spanning between upper ends of the first and second outer vertical walls, the top wall including first and second spaced apart openings;
at least one removable top wall panel (38 or 40) removably secured to the top wall (36) in one of the spaced apart openings in the top wall;
a bottom wall (42) spanning between lower ends of the first and second outer vertical walls, the bottom wall including first and second spaced apart openings;
at least one removable bottom wall panel (44 or 46) removably secured to the bottom wall (42) in one of the spaced apart openings in the bottom wall;
an internal plate (24) extending laterally from at least one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels, and creating a horizontal partition to help form a top panelboard circuit breaker area (16) and a bottom panelboard circuit breaker area (22);
at least one of the removable top wall panel (38 or 40) or the removable bottom wall panel (44 or 46) configured to enable a plurality of independent electrical cables to be routed therethrough to an interior area of the equipment cabinet, and further such that at least a first one of the plurality of independent electrical cables is routed into the top panelboard circuit breaker area, and at least a second one of the plurality of independent electrical cables is routed into the bottom panelboard circuit breaker area; and
an internal wall structure (34,48,32,30) including a movable internal panel (48), the internal wall structure being disposed adjacent one of the first or second outer vertical walls of a dimension to help form an independent compartment within a selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas, depending on a placement of the movable internal panel, to isolate the first and second ones of the plurality of electrical cables from one another within the selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas, while permitting one of the first or second ones of the plurality of electrical cables to extend into the other one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable top wall panel includes independently removable first and second top wall panels (38/40).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable bottom wall panel includes independently removable first and second bottom wall panels (44/46).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, wherein:
wherein the at least one removable top wall panel includes independently removable first and second top wall panels; and
wherein the at least one removable bottom wall panel includes independently removable first and second bottom wall panels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, wherein either:
both of the removable top wall panels are configured to include removable plug bushings (44a or 46a) to define a plurality of holes through which the plurality of independent electrical cables may be routed; or
both of the removable bottom wall panels are configured to include removable plug bushings to define a plurality of holes through which the plurality of independent electrical cables may be routed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, wherein the first and second removable top wall panels are interchangeable with the first and second removable bottom wall panels, respectively, such that both of the first and second removable top wall panels are able to be mounted in either the top wall or the bottom wall, and both of the removable bottom wall panels are able to be mounted in either the top wall or the bottom wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The equipment cabinet of claim 6, wherein the equipment cabinet is configured to enable entry of the plurality of independent electrical cables from either the top wall or the bottom wall, depending on the placement of the removable top wall panels and the removable bottom wall panels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one removable top wall panel includes independently removable first and second top wall panels;
the at least one removable bottom wall panel includes independently removable first and second bottom wall panels; and
the internal wall structure includes an upper inner angled panel section secured to an inner surface of the top wall for helping to form a partition between the independently removable first and second top wall panels; and
the internal wall structure further includes a lower inner angled panel section secured to an inner surface of the bottom wall for helping to form a partition between the independently removable first and second bottom wall panels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The equipment cabinet of claim 8, wherein the upper inner angled panel section (30) includes a pair of upper panel portions (30a and 30b) angled to be non-parallel to one another and at least substantially bridging a span between an inner surface of the top wall and an inner surface of one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The equipment cabinet of claim 9, wherein the lower inner angled panel section (32) includes a pair of lower panel portions (32a and 32b) angled to be non-parallel to one another and at least substantially bridging a span between an inner surface of the bottom wall and the inner surface of the one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The equipment cabinet of claim 10, further comprising:
a narrow vertical wall element (34) extending substantially a full length within the equipment cabinet adjacent the one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels; and
the narrow vertical wall element configured to interface with the movable internal panel to help form the independent compartment within the selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The equipment cabinet of claim 1, further comprising an internal vertical wall (18) arranged vertically within the equipment cabinet and extending between the top and bottom walls, and intersecting with the internal plate (24), for assisting in forming the top and bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas (16 and 22).

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The equipment cabinet of claim 12, wherein the internal vertical wall (18) further is configured to assist in forming at least one additional independent compartment (12) within the equipment cabinet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The equipment cabinet of claim 12, wherein the internal vertical wall (18) assists in forming at least top and bottom panelboard main breaker areas (14 and 20) for housing main circuit breakers (14a and 20a) associated with the top panelboard circuit breaker area (16) and the bottom panelboard circuit breaker area (22), respectively.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The equipment cabinet of claim 13, wherein the internal vertical wall (18) assists in forming a control area (12) for housing at least one of a user control or a printed wiring assembly and associated electronics.

### Claim 16

An equipment cabinet comprising:
first and second outer vertical wall panels (26 and 28) spaced apart from one another;
a top wall (36) spanning between upper ends of the first and second outer vertical walls, the top wall including first and second spaced apart openings;
a pair of removable top wall panels (38 and 40) removably secured to the top wall in the first and second spaced apart openings in the top wall;
a bottom wall (42) spanning between lower ends of the first and second outer vertical walls, the bottom wall including first and second spaced apart openings;
a pair of removable bottom wall panels (44 and 46) removably secured to the bottom wall (42) in the first and second spaced apart openings in the bottom wall;
an internal plate (24) extending laterally from at least one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels, and creating a horizontal partition to help form a top panelboard circuit breaker area (16) and a bottom panelboard circuit breaker area (22);
at least one of:
both of the removable top wall panels (38 or 40), or
both of the removable bottom wall panels (44 and 46),
configured to enable a plurality of independent electrical cables to be routed therethrough to an interior area of the equipment cabinet, and further such that at least a first one of the plurality of independent electrical cables is routed into the top panelboard circuit breaker area, and at least a second one of the plurality of independent electrical cables is routed into the bottom panelboard circuit breaker area;
both of the removable top wall panels being interchangeably positionable with both of the removable bottom wall panels, such that the equipment cabinet is able to be configured to enable the plurality of independent electrical cables to enter the cabinet through either the top wall or the bottom wall; and
an internal wall structure (34,48,32,30) including a movable internal panel (48), the internal wall structure being disposed adjacent to, but spaced apart from, one of the first or second outer vertical walls, and being of a dimension to help form an independent compartment within a selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas to isolate the first and second ones of the plurality of electrical cables from one another within the selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas, while permitting one of the first or second ones of the plurality of electrical cables to extend into the other one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The equipment cabinet of claim 16, wherein either:
both of the removable top wall panels are configured to include removable plug bushings (44a or 46a) to define a plurality of holes through which the plurality of independent electrical cables may be routed; or both of the removable bottom wall panels are configured to include removable plug bushings to define a plurality of holes through which the plurality of independent electrical cables may be routed; and
wherein both of the removable top wall panels are of different shapes;
wherein both of the removable bottom wall panels are of different shapes; and
wherein one of the removable top panels is shaped identical to one of the removable bottom panels, and the other one of the removable top panels is shaped in accordance with the other one of the removable bottom panels.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The equipment cabinet of claim 16, wherein the internal wall structure further includes:
an upper inner angled panel section (30) secured to an inner surface of the top wall for helping to form a partition between the independently removable first and second top wall panels; and
a lower inner angled panel section (32) secured to an inner surface of the bottom wall for helping to form a partition between the independently removable first and second bottom wall panels.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The equipment cabinet of claim 18, wherein:
the upper inner angled panel section (30) includes a pair of upper panel portions (30a and 30b) angled to be non-parallel to one another and at least substantially bridging a span between an inner surface of the top wall and an inner surface of one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels; and
the lower inner angled panel section (32) includes a pair of lower panel portions (32a and 32b) angled to be non-parallel to one another and at least substantially bridging a span between an inner surface of the bottom wall and the inner surface of the one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels.

### Claim 20

A method for forming an equipment cabinet, the method comprising:
placing first and second outer vertical wall panels (26 and 28) in a spaced apart orientation from one another;
arranging a top wall (36) to span between upper ends of the first and second outer vertical walls, the top wall including first and second spaced apart openings;
securing first and second removable top wall panels (38 and 40) to the top wall in first and second openings in the top wall;
arranging a bottom wall (42) to span between lower ends of the first and second outer vertical walls, the bottom wall including first and second spaced apart openings;
securing first and second removable bottom wall panels (44 and 46) in first and second openings in the bottom wall (42);
using an internal plate (24) arranged to extend laterally from at least one of the first and second outer vertical wall panels, to create a laterally extending partition to help form a top panelboard circuit breaker area (16) and a bottom panelboard circuit breaker area (22);
further configuring the removable top wall panels (38 and 40) or the removable bottom wall panels (44 and 46) to enable a plurality of independent electrical cables to be routed therethrough to an interior area of the equipment cabinet, and further such that at least a first one of the plurality of independent electrical cables is routed into the top panelboard circuit breaker area, and at least a second one of the plurality of independent electrical cables is routed into the bottom panelboard circuit breaker area; and
disposing an internal wall structure (34,48,32,30) having a movable internal panel (48), such that the internal wall structure is disposed adjacent one of the first or second outer vertical walls and of a dimension to help form an independent compartment within a selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas, depending on a placement of the movable internal panel, to isolate the first and second ones of the plurality of electrical cables from one another within the selected one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas (16 or 22), while permitting one of the first or second ones of the plurality of electrical cables to extend into the other one of the top or bottom panelboard circuit breaker areas (16 or 22).