Mounting system

Abstract

A mounting system (400) comprises a mounting track (100) and a mounting bracket (200) for mounting a piece of equipment (1) to a structure (2). The mounting rail comprises:-an upper end and an opposite lower end, extending in a longitudinal direction of the mounting rail,-a front side and an opposite rear side, both extending between the upper end and the lower end, where the rear side comprises at least one structure mounting interface for attaching the mounting rail to the structure, where the upper end comprises an upper ridge, and where the upper ridge comprises a lower ridge. The lower end comprises a lower ridge, the upper and lower ridges extend along the mounting track and form a first bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket in a first orientation to the front side of the mounting track, and wherein the front side comprises a second bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket in a second orientation to the front side of the mounting track. The mounting bracket is mounted on the front side of the mounting rail in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.

Description

Description of the case

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application date of February 24, 2022, application number 202280089569.2, and invention name “Installation System”. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments herein relate to mounting equipment (e.g., telecommunication equipment in the form of a telecommunication radio unit or the like) to a structure (e.g., a wall, a pole, a frame, a beam, a roof, or a tower). More specifically, embodiments include mounting rails for mounting a piece of equipment to a structure, mounting brackets for use with the mounting rails, mounting kits for mounting the mounting rails to a pole, and mounting systems including at least the mounting rails and the mounting brackets. Background Art

[0003] The amount of telecommunication equipment that needs to be installed at a telecommunication site has grown rapidly over the past few decades due to the increase in data usage. For performance reasons, there is also a trend to move telecommunication radio units from cabinets that are typically placed on the ground to elevated locations closer to the antennas. With the increasing number of visible units, telecommunication sites have become cluttered and overburdened.

[0004] WO2015 / 165628 relates to a mounting system comprising a mounting rail and a mounting bracket which can be used to attach telecommunication equipment to a wall or a pole. The mounting rail provides a mounting interface for mounting several pieces of equipment (each piece of equipment is provided with a mounting bracket) in parallel on a wall or a pole. The mounting system gives the operator the opportunity to gather remote units when installing close to the antenna.

[0005] In view of the rapid development in the field of data communications and the consequent increase in the number of telecommunication units per site, there is a need to provide further improved solutions for the installation of telecommunication equipment, in particular with regard to versatility and cost-efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0006] A primary object of embodiments herein is to provide, at least in some aspect, an improved mounting of a device (particularly, telecommunications equipment) to a structure. Specifically, an object is to provide, at least in some aspect, an improved mounting system and components thereof for mounting telecommunications equipment to a structure (e.g., a wall, a pole, a frame, a tower, or another structure). Another object is to provide a more cost-effective and versatile mounting system and components thereof. Other objects are to provide a mounting system and components thereof that has a relatively low carbon footprint that can be cost-effectively produced and shipped, that has a relatively high strength / weight ratio, and that provides a high degree of flexibility in how equipment can be attached to it and how it can be mounted to a structure.

[0007] According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, at least the primary object is achieved by a mounting rail according to claim 1 .

[0008] The mounting rail is intended for mounting a piece of equipment to a structure, the piece of equipment being provided with a mounting bracket. The mounting rail comprises:

[0009] - an upper end and an opposite lower end extending in the longitudinal direction of the mounting rail,

[0010] - a front side and an opposite rear side, both of which extend between the upper and lower ends,

[0011] wherein the rear side includes at least one structure mounting interface for attaching the mounting rail to the structure,

[0012] wherein the upper end includes an upper ridge, and wherein the lower end includes a lower ridge, the upper ridge and the lower ridge extending along the mounting track and forming a first bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket to a front side of the mounting track in a first orientation, and

[0013] The front side includes a second bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket to the front side of the mounting rail in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.

[0014] According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, at least the primary object is achieved by a mounting bracket according to claim 7 .

[0015] The mounting bracket is intended for use with a mounting rail according to the first aspect to mount a piece of equipment to a structure. The mounting bracket comprises:

[0016] a first portion having a front side configured to be attached to the device and an opposite rear side configured to face the mounting rail, the first portion having an upper end including at least one upper hook-shaped portion configured to engage with an upper ridge of the mounting rail, and

[0017] - a second portion having a lower end comprising at least one lower hook-shaped portion configured to engage with a lower ridge of the mounting rail,

[0018] Therein, the second portion is lockably attached to the lower end of the first portion to clamp the mounting bracket to the mounting rail.

[0019] According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, at least the primary object is achieved by a mounting kit according to claim 13 .

[0020] The mounting kit is intended for mounting a mounting rail according to the first aspect to a pole. The mounting kit comprises:

[0021] a rod adapter configured to be attached to the mounting rail, wherein a front side of the rod adapter faces the mounting rail and a rear side of the rod adapter faces the rod, wherein the rod adapter is formed so that it can be stably placed against the rod in a first orientation and a second orientation, the second orientation being perpendicular to the first orientation,

[0022] - Attachment means for attaching the rod adapter to the rod in at least one of a first orientation and a second orientation.

[0023] According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, at least the primary object is achieved by a mounting system according to claim 15 .

[0024] The mounting system comprises a mounting rail according to the first aspect and a mounting bracket according to the second, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to attach to a first bracket mounting interface of the mounting rail in a first orientation, and wherein the mounting bracket is configured to attach to a second bracket mounting interface of the mounting rail in a second orientation.

[0025] By providing the mounting rail with two mounting bracket interfaces for mounting the mounting bracket in two different orientations, a more versatile mounting system can be achieved. The disclosed mounting rail and mounting bracket can be used to horizontally mount a plurality of telecommunication equipment units on a vertically extending pole when the mounting bracket is mounted to the mounting rail in a first orientation using a first bracket mounting interface, and vertically mount along the pole when the mounting bracket is mounted to the mounting rail in a second orientation using a second bracket mounting interface.

[0026] Advantageous embodiments of the different aspects of the invention are respectively defined in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Examples of embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mounting system according to a first embodiment,

[0029] Figure 2 is another perspective view of a mounting system according to another embodiment,

[0030] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Another perspective view of the mounting system shown,

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Still another perspective view of the mounting system shown,

[0032] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a mounting system according to a second embodiment,

[0033] Figure 6yes Figure 5 Bottom view of the mounting system shown,

[0034] Figure 7 is a side view of a mounting rail according to an embodiment,

[0035] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A cross-section of the mounting rail is shown,

[0036] Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a mounting bracket according to an embodiment,

[0037] Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view of the mounting bracket is shown.

[0038] Figures 11a to 11c Three different embodiments of the mounting bracket are shown,

[0039] Fig.12 is a perspective view of a mounting kit according to a first embodiment,

[0040] Fig.13 yes Fig.12 Another perspective view of the mounting kit shown, and

[0041] Fig.14 is a schematic front view of a mounting rail according to an embodiment.

[0042] The drawings are schematic and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise stated, similar reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The present disclosure relates to a mounting system and components thereof for mounting equipment, in particular telecommunication equipment, to a structure in the form of a wall, pole, frame, beam, roof or tower.

[0044] Figure 1 and Figure 2 4 shows a mounting system 400 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 The mounting system 400 in is used to mount a multi-piece device 1 (here a three-piece device 1) to a structure 2 in the form of a pole 2, wherein the devices 1 are aligned in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the pole 2. Figure 2 In FIG. 4 , the mounting system 400 is used to vertically mount a multi-piece device 1 (here, a two-piece device 1 ) to a pole 2 . Figure 2 The two pieces of equipment 2 are mounted to the pole 2 in a stacked manner.

[0045] The mounting system 400 of the present invention includes a mounting rail 100, at least one mounting bracket 200 (in Figure 2When the structure to which the device is to be mounted is a wall or the like, the mounting system 400 includes the mounting rail 100 and the mounting bracket 200, but need not include the mounting kit 300. Instead, the mounting rail 100 may be attached directly to a wall, a frame, or the like using fastening means such as screws.

[0046] Figure 3 to Figure 4 The mounting system 400 according to the first embodiment is shown in more detail in FIG. Figures 5 and 6 4. The components of the mounting system 400 according to the second embodiment differ from those of the first embodiment only in the length of the mounting rail 100 and the configuration of the mounting kit 300. However, in the second embodiment, the mounting bracket 200 is attached to the mounting rail 100 in a different orientation than in the first embodiment. Figure 3 The mounting system 400 is shown in FIG. 4 and is suitable for mounting a multi-piece device 1 horizontally to a pole 2 (see FIG. Figure 1 ) configuration, while Figure 4 The mounting system 400 is shown in FIG. 4 and is suitable for vertically mounting a multi-piece device 1 to a pole 2 (see FIG. Figure 2 It should be noted that the mounting rail 100 may have any suitable length depending on the intended application.

[0047] The mounting track 100 for mounting a piece of equipment 1 provided with a mounting bracket 200 to a structure 2 comprises an upper end 101 and an opposite lower end 102. The upper end 101 and the lower end 102 extend along a longitudinal direction L of the mounting track 100. The mounting track 100 also comprises a front side 103 and an opposite rear side 104, both of which extend between the upper end 101 and the lower end 102. Thus, the front side 103 and the rear side 104 mechanically connect the upper end 101 and the lower end 102. The rear side 104 comprises at least one structural mounting interface for attaching the mounting track 100 to the structure 2, such as to a wall or a pole. The “upper end” 101 herein refers to Figure 3 to Figure 4 However, the mounting rail 100 may be symmetrical, having the same upper end 101 and lower end 102. In addition, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the mounting rail 100 can be mounted in a vertical orientation, in which case the "upper end" 101 and the "lower end" 102 will also extend vertically. Therefore, in this document, "upper" and "lower" are only used for annotation.

[0048] The upper end 101 of the mounting rail 100 includes an upper ridge 105, and the lower end 102 includes a lower ridge 106. Figure 3 to Figure 4As shown, the upper ridge 105 and the lower ridge 106 extend in parallel along the mounting track 100 (i.e., the longitudinal direction L) and form a first bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket 200 to the front side 103 of the mounting track 100 in a first orientation. The front side 103 also includes a second bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket 200 to the front side 103 of the mounting track 100 in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation (i.e., rotated 90° from the first orientation within a plane defined by the front side 103 of the mounting track 100). Figures 5 and 6 A second orientation is shown in .

[0049] Fig. 9 2 shows in more detail a mounting bracket 200 for use with a mounting rail 100 to mount a piece of equipment 1 to a structure 2. The mounting bracket 200 includes a first portion 210 having a front side 213 configured to be attached to the piece of equipment 1. It also includes an opposite rear side 214 configured to face the mounting rail 100. The first portion 210 has an upper end 211 including at least one upper hook-shaped portion 215, 216 (here two spaced-apart upper hook-shaped portions 215, 216) configured to engage with the upper ridge 105 of the mounting rail 100.

[0050] The mounting bracket 200 also includes a second portion 230 having a lower end 232 including at least one lower hook portion 235, 236 (here, two spaced-apart lower hook portions 235, 236) configured to engage with the lower ridge 106 of the mounting rail 100. The second portion 230 is lockably attached to the lower end 212 of the first portion 210 to clip the mounting bracket 200 to the mounting rail 100.

[0051] For the purpose of attaching the front side 213 of the first part 210 of the mounting bracket 200 to the piece of equipment 1, the first part 210 of the mounting bracket 200 may include a device mounting interface. The device mounting interface may, for example, include a plurality of holes 223 for attaching the mounting bracket 200 to the piece of equipment 1 using fastening means 254 such as screws.

[0052] Figures 5 and 6A mounting rail 100 is shown with two mounting brackets 200 mounted to the mounting rail 100 in a second orientation, i.e., mounted to a second bracket mounting interface. As shown herein, the second bracket mounting interface of the mounting rail 100 may include a plurality of regularly spaced openings 110a, 110b formed in the front side 103 of the mounting rail 100. Each opening 110a, 110b may include at least one lateral edge 111a, 111b, 114a, 114b extending along a lateral direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The lateral edges 111a, 111b, 114a, 114b are configured for engagement with the upper and lower hook portions 215, 216, 235, 236 of the mounting bracket 200. The position and size of the regularly spaced openings 110a, 110b are designed so that the hook-shaped portions 215, 216, 235, 236 of the mounting bracket 200 can be lockedly engaged with the lateral edges 111a, 111b, 114a, 114b of the opening 110. In this article, the openings 110a, 110b are identical, although this is certainly not necessary. In addition, the openings 110a, 110b shown in this article have rounded corners, which is beneficial from a production perspective, but not necessary. The size of the openings 110a, 110b should be designed so that the hook-shaped portions 215, 215, 235, 236 of the mounting bracket 200 can rest on the straight portion of the opening edge. When the corners are rounded, it is preferred to make the radius of curvature as small as possible to provide greater freedom for positioning the mounting bracket 200 in the second orientation.

[0053] The plurality of regularly spaced openings 110a, 110b may include at least two pairs of openings, each pair of openings including an upper opening 110a and a lower opening 110b, wherein the upper opening 110a is closer to the upper end 101 of the mounting rail 100 than the lower opening 110b, and wherein the pairs of openings are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction L. "Upper" and "lower" herein refer to the transverse direction T. In other words, the openings 110a, 110b are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L as well as in the transverse direction T. In the illustrated embodiment, the first pair of openings 110a', 110b' and the second pair of openings 110a", 110b" are movable, i.e., for mounting the mounting bracket 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal spacing between each pair of openings 110a, 110b is half the longitudinal spacing between the two pairs of movable openings 110a', 110b', 110a", 110b". Therefore, another pair of openings is provided in the middle between the first pair of openings 110a', 110b' and the second pair of openings 110a", 110b". The longitudinal distance between the pairs of openings should be set small enough to achieve a universal bracket mounting interface, but large enough not to compromise the strength of the mounting rail 100. No pair of openings, one pair of openings, or several pairs of openings may be provided between the two pairs of movable openings. By making the distance between adjacent pairs of openings as small as possible, a greater number of possible mounting positions of the mounting bracket 200 in the second orientation is achieved.

[0054] In the first orientation, the mounting bracket 200 may be slid along the upper ridge 105 and the lower ridge 106 before securing the mounting bracket 200. Thus, the mounting bracket 200 may in principle be positioned at any position along the mounting rail 100 when in the first orientation.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, each pair of openings 110a, 110b shown herein may be exchanged for a single opening. However, by providing pairs of openings, a stronger mounting rail 100 may be provided.

[0056] Now also refer to Fig.14 , Fig.141 is a schematic diagram of the front side 103 of the mounting rail 100. As shown, the pair of openings 110a, 110b may include a first pair 110a', 110b' and a second pair 110a", 110b", wherein the first pair 110a', 110b' includes a first lateral edge 111a', 111b' configured to engage with a set of upper hook-shaped portions 215, 216 of the mounting bracket 200. The second pair 110a", 110b" may include a second lateral edge 114a", 114b", configured to engage with an opposite set of lower hook-shaped portions 235, 236 of the mounting bracket 200. The longitudinal distance x1 between the first lateral edges 111a', 111b' of the first pair 110a', 110b' and the second lateral edges 114a'', 114b'' of the second pair 110a', 110b' may be equal to the lateral distance x2 between the upper ridge 105 and the lower ridge 106 of the mounting rail 100, or it may differ from the lateral distance x2 between the upper ridge 105 and the lower ridge 106 by no more than ±15%, preferably no more than ±10%, and more preferably no more than ±7%. However, the maximum possible difference between the longitudinal distance x1 and the lateral distance x2 depends on the degree of adjustment of the second portion 230 of the mounting bracket 200 relative to the first portion 210, which will be further discussed in conjunction with the description of the mounting bracket 200.

[0057] In the embodiment shown, the mounting rail 100 is a hollow profile formed from sheet metal (eg, sheet steel). Figure 7 and Figure 8 See most clearly in Figure 7 shows an end view of the mounting rail 100 seen from the longitudinal direction, Figure 8 A cross-section of the mounting rail 100 is shown, the cross-section being cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L through the openings 110a, 110b. The mounting rail 100 thus has an inner space 120 extending between the front side 103 and the rear side 104 and between the upper end 101 and the lower end 102. Due to the hollow profile of the mounting rail 100 and the openings 110a, 110b provided therein, it is possible to vertically mount the multi-piece device 1 with the mounting bracket 200 in the second orientation, thereby greatly facilitating the lifting of the mounting rail 100 with the multi-piece device 1 mounted off the ground. Wires, ropes etc. can be passed through a pair of "free" openings 110a, 110b and the mounting rail 100 with the multi-piece device 1 mounted can be lifted off the ground. By means of a vertical mounting, the entire arrangement including the mounting rail 100 and the multi-piece device 1 will be more stable than a horizontal configuration.

[0058] The metal sheet used to form the mounting rail 100 may preferably be a steel sheet. The metal sheet (e.g., steel sheet) may be roll-formed to form the mounting rail, providing relatively high precision and allowing the use of relatively thin sheets compared to bending or press forming. The metal sheet (e.g., steel sheet) may advantageously be about 2 mm thick, for example 1 to 3 mm thick, or 1.5 to 2.5 mm thick, preferably 2 mm thick. The hollow profile saves weight and material, thereby contributing to cost efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, particularly when steel is used instead of, for example, aluminum to form the mounting rail 100. By using a roll-formed steel sheet, a strong but thin and light mounting rail 100 is achieved. When a roll-formed steel sheet is used, the steel sheet is advantageously galvanized after roll-forming to provide corrosion protection. This also reduces the risk of corrosion stains forming on the structure 2 to which the mounting rail 100 is mounted.

[0059] The metal sheet may be formed into a single outer wall 112 defining a mounting track, such as Figures 7 and 8 As shown. A weld joint (not shown) connecting opposite edge portions of the metal plates may extend along the mounting rail 100, the weld joint being formed at the rear side 104 of the mounting rail 100. Contact overlap of the edges of the metal plates should preferably be avoided in order to minimize passive intermodulation (PIM). Similarly, contact between different portions of the outer wall 112 should preferably be avoided. In the embodiment shown, the mounting rail 100 is thus formed with a single-layer outer wall 112 that defines the interior space 120. In other words, the mounting rail 100 is formed so that no portion of the outer wall 112 is in contact with any other portion of the outer wall 112. Openings 110a, 110b are formed on the outer wall 112. In the regions longitudinally located between the openings 110a, 110b, the outer wall 112 is continuous, i.e., in these regions, there is no gap in the periphery of the mounting rail 100. This results in good torsional stiffness.

[0060] An elongated recess 118 extending in the transverse direction T may be formed in the front side 103. The elongated recess 118 has a reinforcing function. In the embodiment shown, such a recess 118 is provided between each pair of adjacent openings 110a, 110b.

[0061] Each of the plurality of regularly spaced openings 110a, 110b may be defined by a collar 115 that extends into an interior space 120 provided between the front side 103 and the rear side 104 of the mounting rail 100, such as Figure 8As shown. The collar 115 reinforces the mounting rail 100 and extends around the perimeter of the openings 110a, 110b. It also softens the edges of the openings 110a, 110b, thereby reducing the risk of cuts during installation of the device. The collar 115 also supports the hook portions 115, 116, 135, 136 of the mounting bracket 200 when mounted to the second bracket mounting interface. The collar 115 does not contact the rear side 104 of the mounting rail 100.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the structural mounting interface includes an upper T-shaped groove 116 and a lower T-shaped groove 117 formed in the rear side 104, each groove 116, 117 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the mounting rail 100. The T-shaped grooves 116, 117 are advantageously aligned with the openings formed in the front side 103. The T-shaped grooves 116, 117 are advantageously formed by roll forming, wherein a metal sheet is formed into a shape defining the grooves 116, 117. Each groove 116, 117 is bounded by a wall portion 119 forming a portion of the outer wall 112. The wall portion 119 is formed so as not to contact any other portion of the outer wall 112, and the space provided between the wall portion 119 and the remainder of the outer wall 112 should be sufficient to ensure that the entire outer wall 112 can be galvanized.

[0063] Each T-shaped groove 116, 117 has a narrow opening defined by an upper edge 113a and a lower edge 113b and a wider interior measured in the transverse direction T. Thus, a nut or head of a fastening device (e.g., a square nut or square head) can be slidably fitted in the wider interior of the groove. The size of the nut or head is designed to prevent it from rotating within the groove 116, 117. When the fastening device is tightened, the "folded" outer wall 112 provides a spring bias, thereby reducing the risk of the fastening device loosening after attachment.

[0064] Each T-shaped groove 116, 117 herein comprises a bottom 121 in which a plurality of through holes 122 for attaching the mounting rail 100 to a structure such as a wall are formed, each through hole 122 being accessible from the front side 103 via one of the regularly spaced openings 110a, 110b. This facilitates mounting it to a wall or another structure using fastening means such as screws or nails. In addition, through holes 124 are provided near the upper end 101 and the lower end 102 of the mounting rail 100 at the same longitudinal position as the openings 110a, 110b, intended for fastening cables (not shown) using straps or the like.

[0065] The weld joint preferably extends midway between the T-shaped grooves 116 , 117 (ie, in the middle of the rear side 104 ), as this arrangement has been found to be beneficial to the strength of the mounting rail 100 .

[0066] Reference now Figures 9 and 10, a mounting bracket 200 is shown in more detail, which includes a first portion 210 and a second portion 230 thereof. The mounting bracket 200 herein further includes fastening means 251, 252. The second portion 230 is configured to be attached to the first portion 210 by the fastening means 251, 252. The fastening means 251, 252 are configured to be able to adjust the distance between the upper end 211 of the first portion 210 and the lower end 232 of the second portion 230. The fastening means 251, 252 herein include a male fastening member 251 in the form of a screw or bolt 251 and a female fastening member in the form of a nut 252, wherein the male fastening member 251 has a straight shaft 253.

[0067] Thus, the second portion 230 can be telescopically movable relative to the first portion 210 to adjust the distance between the upper hook portions 215, 216 and the lower hook portions 235, 236, thereby enabling the mounting bracket to be clamped to the first bracket mounting interface or the second bracket mounting interface of the mounting rail 100. The fastening means 251, 252 and the telescopically movable second portion 230 also allow for adjustment of slightly different sizes of bracket mounting interfaces. The alignment portions 238, 239 of the second portion 230 are used to align the second portion 230 with the first portion 210 during adjustment of the distance.

[0068] Here, the lower end 212 of the first part 210 includes a first bottom plate 220 having a first through hole therein, and the lower end 232 of the second part 230 includes a second bottom plate 240 having a second through hole therein. The first through hole and the second through hole are configured to receive a straight shaft 253 of a fastening device 251, i.e., a straight shaft 253 of a screw or bolt 251.

[0069] The first through hole and the second through hole herein are arranged to define an axis A, which extends at an angle α (for example, the angle α is 5-15°) relative to a mounting rail contact plane P defined by contact surfaces 217a to 217d provided on the rear side 214 of the first component 210, so that the straight shaft 253 extends downward and forward from the first through hole. In this article, "forward" is the direction from the rear side 214 toward the front side 213. In other words, the mounting bracket 200 is configured to receive the straight shaft 253 extending at a certain angle relative to the contact plane P, wherein the lower end of the fastening member (including the head of the screw or bolt 251) protrudes downward / forward to facilitate fastening it to the mounting rail 100 using an installation tool (for example, a wrench or a screwdriver). This is Fig.10 It is shown in Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of mounting bracket 200 is shown.

[0070] When mounting bracket 200 is mounted to mounting rail 100 , contact plane P is parallel to transverse direction T and longitudinal direction L of mounting rail 100 .

[0071] At least the second base plate 240 may be formed at an angle β (eg, an angle β of 75-85°) relative to the mounting rail contact plane P, such as Fig.10 Advantageously, both the first base plate 220 and the second base plate 240 are formed at the same angle β relative to the mounting rail contact plane P. This applies when the mounting bracket 200 is mounted to the mounting rail 100 and the second part 230 is attached to the first part 210.

[0072] As shown herein, the lower end 212 of the first portion 210 may include a pocket 234 configured to lockably receive a first fastening member 252 of a fastening device 251, 252, such as a female fastening member 252 of the fastening device 251, 252. The size of the pocket is designed to prevent rotation of the female fastening member 252. Of course, the fastening device 251, 252 may alternatively be attached to the head of the male fastening member 251 inside the pocket 234 and to the shaft 253 that receives the female fastening member 251 protruding therefrom. However, by fitting the female fastening member 251 within the pocket 234, the protrusion of the fastening device 251, 252 from the mounting bracket can be minimized. This results in a more stable arrangement when the mounting bracket 200 is attached to the multi-piece device 1 before being mounted on the mounting rail 100. Due to the minimal protrusion of the fastening device, the risk of the arrangement including the multi-piece device 1 and the mounting bracket 200 tipping over when temporarily placed on the ground is reduced. Furthermore, because the female fastening member 252 is disposed in the pocket 234 , the mounting bracket 200 is easier to install on the mounting rail 200 because the head of the male fastening member 251 is generally easier to manipulate during tightening.

[0073] The rear side 214 of the first portion 210 may include four spaced apart contact surfaces 217a to 217d configured to abut the mounting rail (100). The contact surfaces 217a to 217d together define a mounting rail contact plane P. By providing spaced apart contact surfaces, a stable contact interface and reduced PIM risk may be achieved.

[0074] Both the first portion 210 and the second portion 230 of the mounting bracket 200 may be formed from respective metal sheets (e.g., steel sheets). The metal sheet (e.g., steel sheet) may be thicker than the steel sheet used to form the mounting track 100. In contrast to the advantageously roll-formed mounting track 100, the metal sheet may be bent or pressed to form the components 210, 230 of the mounting bracket 200. When the mounting track has a wall thickness of approximately 2 mm, the finished thickness of the mounting bracket 200 may be 3 to 4 mm. By using a metal sheet that is thicker than the metal sheet of the mounting track, the hook-shaped portions 215, 216, 235, 236 may be made smaller. This in turn means that the opening 110 of the mounting track 100 may be made smaller, thereby enabling a smaller spacing between adjacent pairs of openings in the mounting track 100 while maintaining strength. This provides greater freedom for positioning the mounting bracket 200 on the mounting track 100 in the second orientation.

[0075] Figures 11a to 11c The mounting bracket 200 with different widths is shown according to three different example embodiments for mounting multi-piece devices 1 of different sizes. It should be noted that only the first portion 210 of the mounting bracket 200 is different, while the same second portion 230 is used for all three sizes of the first portion 210. In all three embodiments, the distance between the upper hook portions 215, 216 is suitable for fitting into the openings 110a, 110b of the mounting rail 100, so as to be mounted to the first bracket mounting interface and the second bracket mounting interface. Fig.11a In the widest embodiment shown, the overall width of the mounting bracket 200 is greater than the distance between the outer edges of the openings 110a, 110b in the mounting rail 100. To this end, the first portion 210 is herein U-shaped, with the upper hook portions 215, 216 disposed within the "legs".

[0076] The mounting bracket 200, when made of sheet steel, is preferably galvanized to provide corrosion protection.

[0077] Reference now Figure 12 to Figure 13 , which shows in more detail a mounting kit 300 for mounting a mounting rail 100 to a pole 2. The mounting kit 300 includes a pole adapter 310 configured to be attached to the mounting rail 100, wherein a front side 313 of the pole adapter 310 faces the rear side 104 of the mounting rail 100, and a rear side 314 of the pole adapter 310 faces the pole 2. The pole adapter 310 is formed so that it can be stably placed against the pole 2 in a first orientation ( Fig.12 as shown) and resting stably on rod 2 in a second orientation ( Fig.13 ), the second orientation is perpendicular to the first orientation.

[0078] The mounting kit 300 also includes an attachment device 350 for attaching the pole adapter 310 to the pole 2 in at least one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

[0079] Herein, the rod adapter 310 is formed to define a first recess 315 extending along a first direction D1 and a second recess 316 extending along a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1, wherein the two recesses 315, 316 are formed in the rear side 314 of the rod adapter 310 and are configured to receive at least a portion of the rod 2.

[0080] The rod adapter 310 is advantageously formed from sheet metal (e.g., sheet steel). Similar to the mounting bracket 200, the rod adapter 310 can be formed from a thicker sheet metal (e.g., sheet steel) than the mounting rail 100. The rod adapter 310 can be press-formed, for example. The thickness of the sheet can be similar to the thickness of the mounting bracket 200.

[0081] The rod adapter 310 may include a first attachment interface for engaging with the attachment device 350 in a first orientation of the rod adapter 310 and a second attachment interface for engaging with the attachment device 350 in a second orientation of the rod adapter 310. Herein, the first orientation and the second orientation of the rod adapter 310 are defined relative to the rod 2. Figure 1 The rod adapter 310 is shown mounted to the rod 2 in a first orientation, and Figure 2 The rod adapter 310 is shown mounted to the rod 2 in a second orientation. The orientation of the rod adapter 310 relative to the mounting rail 100 is always the same.

[0082] like Figure 12 to Figure 13 As shown, the attachment device 350 according to the first embodiment comprises a clamping member 351. The clamping member 351 and the rod adapter 310 are arranged to abut against opposite sides of the rod 2. Four attachment devices 352 comprising rods and nuts are used to connect the clamping member to the rod adapter 310.

[0083] The first attachment interface for engaging with the attachment device 350 in the first orientation of the rod adapter 310 may include a set of four first through holes, each of which is formed in a respective corner region 317 of the rod adapter 310. The first through holes are used in both orientations of the rod adapter 310 to connect the rod adapter to the T-shaped grooves 116, 117 of the mounting rail 100. For this purpose, a fastening member 320 in the form of a square nut is used. In the first orientation, the fastening member 320 can engage with the rod of the attachment device 352. In the second orientation, a separate screw, such as Fig.13Thus, herein, the first attachment interface is configured for attaching the rod adapter 310 to the mounting rail 100 , and the rod adapter 310 is further configured to be attached to the mounting rail 100 by means of a fastening member 320 that is locked against rotation within the T-shaped grooves 116 , 117 of the mounting rail 100 .

[0084] Herein, the rod adapter 310 also includes four peak areas 318 spaced apart by first and second recesses, respectively. The second attachment interface includes a set of four second through holes, wherein each second through hole is formed in a corresponding peak area 318 in these peak areas 318. The same attachment device 350 can be used to attach the mounting rail 100 to the rod 2 in the first orientation and the second orientation, respectively.

[0085] The peak region 318 may extend between the corner region 317 and the first recess 315, with the corner region 318 being recessed relative to the peak region 318. Thus, the front side 313 of the rod adapter 310 abuts the mounting rail 100 at the corner region 318.

[0086] Figures 5 and 6 An attachment device 350' according to a second embodiment is shown. The attachment device 350' is in the form of an adjustable strap (e.g., an adjustable metal strap) that can be used to mount the rod adapter 310 to a rod 2 that is too wide to be used with the attachment device 350 according to the first embodiment. The first recess 315 can be deeper than the second recess 316. Thus, the shallower second recess 316 allows the introduction of an adjustable strap between the rod adapter 310 and the mounting rail 100. Two straps can be used instead of a single strap, one on each side of the first recess 315.

[0087] 1. When the word “include” or “comprising” is used, it should be interpreted as non-limiting, that is, meaning “consisting at least of…”.

[0088] 2. The embodiments herein are not limited to the preferred embodiments described above, and various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used.

[0089] Numbered Items

[0090] The following is a list of numbered bullet points that describe example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0091] 1. A mounting track (100) for mounting a piece of equipment (1) on a structure (2), the piece of equipment being provided with a mounting bracket (200), the mounting track (100) comprising:

[0092] - an upper end (101) and an opposite lower end (102) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the mounting rail (100),

[0093] - a front side (103) and an opposite rear side (104), both of which extend between an upper end (101) and a lower end (102),

[0094] wherein the rear side (104) comprises at least one structural mounting interface for attaching the mounting rail (100) to the structure (2),

[0095] wherein the upper end (101) includes an upper ridge (105), and wherein the lower end (102) includes a lower ridge (106), the upper ridge (105) and the lower ridge (106) extending along the mounting track (100) and forming a first bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket (200) to the front side (103) of the mounting track (100) in a first orientation, and

[0096] The front side (103) comprises a second bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket (200) to the front side (103) of the mounting track (100) in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.

[0097] 2. The mounting track (100) of numbered item 1, wherein the second bracket mounting interface comprises a plurality of regularly spaced openings (110a, 110b) formed in a front side (103) of the mounting track (100).

[0098] 3. The mounting rail (100) according to numbered item 2, wherein each opening (110a, 110b) comprises at least one lateral edge (111) extending along a lateral direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).

[0099] 4. A mounting rail (100) according to number 2 or 3, wherein the plurality of regularly spaced openings (110a, 110b) comprises at least two pairs of openings, each pair of openings comprising an upper opening (110a) and a lower opening (110b), wherein the upper opening (110a) is closer to the upper end (101) of the mounting rail (100) than the lower opening (110b), and wherein the pairs of openings are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction (L).

[0100] 5. The mounting rail of numbered item 4 as dependent on numbered item 3, wherein the at least two pairs of openings (110a, 110b) include a first pair (110a', 110b') and a second pair (110a", 110b", wherein the first pair (110a', 110b') includes a first lateral edge (111a', 111b') configured to engage with a set of upper hook-shaped portions (215, 216) of the mounting bracket (200), and wherein the second pair (110a', 110b') includes a second lateral edge (114a", 114b") configured to engage with the mounting bracket The opposing set of lower hook portions (235, 236) of the frame (200) are engaged, wherein the longitudinal distance (x1) between the first lateral edges (111a', 111b') of the first pair (110a', 110b') and the second lateral edges (111a'', 111b'') of the second pair (110a'', 110b'') is equal to the lateral distance (x2) between the upper ridge (105) and the lower ridge (106) of the mounting rail (100), or differs from the lateral distance (x2) between the upper ridge (105) and the lower ridge (106) by no more than ±15%, preferably by no more than ±10%, and more preferably by no more than ±7%.

[0101] 6. A mounting rail (100) according to any one of numbered items 2 to 5, wherein each of the plurality of regularly spaced openings (110a, 110b) is defined by a collar (115) extending into an interior space (120) provided between a front side (103) and a rear side (104) of the mounting rail (100).

[0102] 7. The mounting rail (100) according to any one of the preceding numbered items, wherein the mounting rail (100) is a hollow profile formed from a metal sheet such as a steel sheet.

[0103] 8. The mounting rail (100) according to numbered item 7, wherein the metal sheet is formed as a single-layer outer wall defining the mounting rail.

[0104] 9. The mounting rail (100) according to numbered item 7 or 8, wherein a weld joint connecting opposite edge portions of the metal plates extends along the mounting rail (100), the weld joint being formed at a rear side (104) of the mounting rail (100).

[0105] 10. A mounting rail (100) according to any one of the aforementioned numbered items, wherein the structural mounting interface comprises an upper T-shaped groove (116) and a lower T-shaped groove (117) formed in the rear side (104), each groove (116, 117) extending along the longitudinal direction (L) of the mounting rail (100).

[0106] 11. The mounting rail (100) according to numbered item 10 as appended to numbered item 9, wherein the weld joint extends midway between the T-shaped grooves (116, 117).

[0107] 12. A mounting rail (100) according to at least numbered item 10 or 11 which is subordinate to numbered item 2, wherein each T-shaped groove (116, 117) includes a bottom (121) having a plurality of through holes (122) formed therein, the plurality of through holes (122) being used to attach the mounting rail (100) to a structure, each through hole (122) being accessible from the front side (103) via one of the regularly spaced openings (110a, 110b).

[0108] 13. A mounting bracket (200) for use with a mounting rail (100) according to any one of the preceding numbered items to mount a piece of equipment (1) to a structure (2), wherein the mounting bracket (200) comprises:

[0109] a first portion (210) having a front side (213) configured to be attached to the piece of equipment (1) and an opposite rear side (214) configured to face the mounting rail (100), the first portion (210) having an upper end (211) comprising at least one upper hook-shaped portion (215, 216) configured to engage with an upper ridge (105) of the mounting rail (100), and

[0110] a second portion (230) having a lower end (232) comprising at least one lower hook-shaped portion (235, 236) configured to engage with a lower ridge (106) of the mounting rail (100),

[0111] - wherein the second portion (230) is lockably attached to the lower end (212) of the first portion (210) so as to clip the mounting bracket (200) to the mounting rail (100).

[0112] 14. The mounting bracket (200) of item 13, wherein the upper end (211) of the first portion (210) includes at least two spaced-apart upper hook-shaped portions (215, 216), and wherein the lower end (232) of the second portion (230) includes at least two spaced-apart lower hook-shaped portions (235, 236).

[0113] 15. The mounting bracket (200) according to numbered item 13 or 14, further comprising a fastening device (251, 252), wherein the second part (230) is configured to be attached to the first part (210) by the fastening device (251, 252), and wherein the fastening device (251, 252) is configured to be able to adjust the distance between the upper end (211) of the first part (210) and the lower end (232) of the second part (230).

[0114] 16. A mounting bracket (200) according to item 15, wherein the lower end (212) of the first portion (210) includes a first base plate (220) provided with a first through hole, and wherein the lower end (232) of the second portion (230) includes a second base plate (240) provided with a second through hole, wherein the first through hole and the second through hole are configured to receive a straight shaft (253) of a fastening device (251, 252).

[0115] 17. A mounting bracket according to item 16, wherein the first through hole and the second through hole are arranged to define an axis extending at an angle (α) relative to a mounting rail contact plane (P) defined by a contact surface (217a to 217d) provided on a rear side (214) of the first portion (210), such that the straight axis (253) extends downwardly and forwardly from the first through hole.

[0116] 18. The mounting bracket (200) of numbered item 17, wherein at least the second base plate (240) is formed at an angle (β) relative to the mounting rail contact plane (P).

[0117] 19. A mounting bracket (200) according to any one of numbered items 15 to 18, wherein the lower end (212) of the first portion (210) includes a pocket (234) configured to lockingly receive a first fastening member (252) of a fastening device (251, 252), such as a female fastening member (252) of the fastening device (251, 252).

[0118] 20. The mounting bracket (200) according to any one of numbered items 13 to 19, wherein the rear side (214) of the first portion (210) comprises four spaced apart contact surfaces (217a to 217d) configured to abut the mounting rail (100).

[0119] 21. The mounting bracket (200) according to any one of numbered items 13 to 20, wherein the two parts (210, 230) of the mounting bracket (200) are formed from respective metal plates (eg steel plates).

[0120] 22. An installation kit (300) for installing the installation rail (100) according to any one of numbers 1 to 12 on a pole (2), wherein the installation kit (300) comprises:

[0121] - a rod adapter (310) configured to be attached to the mounting rail (100), wherein a front side (313) of the rod adapter (310) faces the mounting rail (100) and a rear side (314) of the rod adapter (310) faces the rod (2), wherein the rod adapter (310) is formed such that it can be stably placed against the rod (2) in a first orientation and in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is perpendicular to the first orientation,

[0122] - Attachment means (350) for attaching the rod adapter (310) to the rod (2) in at least one of a first orientation and a second orientation.

[0123] 23. An installation kit (300) according to item 22, wherein the rod adapter (310) is formed to define a first recess (315) extending along a first direction (D1) and a second recess (316) extending along a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction (D1), wherein the two recesses (315, 316) are formed in a rear side (314) of the rod adapter (310) and are configured to receive at least a portion of the rod (2).

[0124] 24. The mounting kit (300) of item 22 or 23, wherein the rod adapter (310) is formed from a metal sheet (eg, steel sheet).

[0125] 25. An installation kit (300) according to any one of numbered items 22 to 24, wherein the rod adapter (310) may include: a first attachment interface for engaging with the attachment device (350) in a first orientation of the rod adapter (310); and a second attachment interface for engaging with the attachment device (350) in a second orientation of the rod adapter (310).

[0126] 26. The mounting kit (300) according to any one of numbered items 22 to 25, wherein the first attachment interface comprises a set of four first through holes, each first through hole being formed in a respective corner region of the rod adapter (310).

[0127] 27. The mounting kit of item 26, wherein the first attachment interface is further configured for attaching the rod adapter to the mounting rail (100).

[0128] 28. An installation kit (300) according to any one of numbered items 22 to 27, wherein the rod adapter includes four peak areas separated by first recesses and second recesses, respectively, and wherein the second attachment interface includes a group of four second through holes, each second through hole being formed in a corresponding peak area among these peak areas.

[0129] 29. The mounting kit (300) of item 28, wherein the peak region extends between the corner region and the first recess, the corner region being recessed relative to the peak region.

[0130] 30. The mounting kit according to any one of numbered items 22 to 29, wherein the rod adapter is configured to be attached to the mounting rail by a fastening member which is locked against rotation within a T-shaped groove of the mounting rail (100).

[0131] 31. The mounting kit of any one of numbered items 22 to 30, wherein the first recess is deeper than the second recess.

[0132] 32. A mounting system (400), comprising a mounting rail (100) according to any one of numbered items 1 to 12 and a mounting bracket (200) according to any one of numbered items 13 to 21, wherein the mounting bracket (200) is configured to be attached to a first bracket mounting interface of the mounting rail (100) in a first orientation, and wherein the mounting bracket (200) is configured to be attached to a second bracket mounting interface of the mounting rail (100) in a second orientation.

[0133] 33. The mounting system (400) according to item number 32, further comprising a mounting kit (300) according to any one of items numbered 22 to 31.

[0134] 34. The mounting system according to numbered item 32 or 33, wherein each of the mounting rail (100) and the mounting bracket (200) is formed of a metal plate (e.g., a steel plate), wherein the mounting rail (100) is formed of a thinner metal plate than the mounting bracket (200).

Claims

1. A mounting track (100) for mounting a piece of equipment (1) on a structure (2), the piece of equipment (1) being provided with a mounting bracket (200), the mounting track (100) comprising: - an upper end (101) and an opposite lower end (102) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the mounting rail (100), - a front side (103) and an opposite rear side (104), both of which extend between the upper end (101) and the lower end (102), wherein the rear side (104) comprises at least one structural mounting interface for attaching the mounting rail (100) to the structure, wherein the upper end (101) comprises an upper ridge (105), and wherein the lower end (102) comprises a lower ridge (106), the upper ridge (105) and the lower ridge (106) extending along the mounting track (100) and forming a first bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket (200) to the front side (103) of the mounting track (100) in a first orientation, and The front side (103) comprises a second bracket mounting interface for mounting the mounting bracket (200) to the front side (103) of the mounting track (100) in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.

2. The mounting rail (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The second bracket mounting interface comprises a plurality of regularly spaced openings (110a, 110b) formed in a front side (103) of the mounting track (100).

3. The mounting rail (100) according to claim 2, wherein: Each opening (110a, 110b) comprises at least one transverse edge (111) extending along a transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).

4. The mounting rail (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The plurality of regularly spaced openings (110a, 110b) include at least two pairs of openings, each pair of openings including an upper opening (110a) and a lower opening (110b), wherein the upper opening (110a) is closer to an upper end (101) of the mounting rail (100) than the lower opening (110b), and wherein the pairs of openings are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction (L).

5. The mounting rail (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The mounting rail (100) is a hollow profile formed of a metal plate such as a steel plate.

6. The mounting rail (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The structural mounting interface comprises an upper T-shaped groove (116) and a lower T-shaped groove (117) formed in the rear side (104), each groove (116, 117) extending along the longitudinal direction (L) of the mounting rail (100).

7. A mounting bracket (200) for use with a mounting rail (100) according to any one of the preceding claims for mounting a piece of equipment (1) to a structure (2), wherein: The mounting bracket (200) comprises: a first portion (210) having a front side (213) configured to be attached to the piece of equipment (1) and an opposite rear side (214) configured to face the mounting rail (100), the first portion (210) having an upper end (211), the upper end (211) comprising at least one hook-shaped portion (215, 216) configured to engage with an upper ridge (105) of the mounting rail (100), and a second portion (230) having a lower end (232), the lower end (232) comprising at least one lower hook-shaped portion (235, 236) configured to engage with a lower ridge (106) of the mounting rail (100), - wherein the second portion (230) is lockably attached to the lower end (212) of the first portion (210) so as to clip the mounting bracket (200) to the mounting rail (100).

8. The mounting bracket (200) according to claim 7, wherein: The upper end (211) of the first portion (210) includes at least two spaced-apart upper hook-shaped portions (215, 216), and wherein the lower end (232) of the second portion (230) includes at least two spaced-apart lower hook-shaped portions (235, 236).

9. The mounting bracket (200) according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a fastening device (251, 252), wherein: The second part (230) is configured to be attached to the first part (210) by the fastening means (251, 252), and wherein the fastening means (251, 252) are configured to be able to adjust the distance between the upper end (211) of the first part (210) and the lower end (232) of the second part (230).

10. The mounting bracket (200) according to claim 9, wherein: The lower end (212) of the first part (210) includes a first bottom plate (220) provided with a first through hole, and the lower end (232) of the second part (230) includes a second bottom plate (240) provided with a second through hole, wherein the first through hole and the second through hole are configured to receive the straight shaft (253) of the fastening device (251, 252).

11. The mounting bracket (200) according to claim 10, wherein: The first through hole and the second through hole are arranged to define an axis extending at an angle (α) relative to a mounting rail contact plane (P) defined by a contact surface (217a-217d) provided on a rear side (214) of the first portion (210), such that the straight axis (253) extends downwardly and forwardly from the first through hole.

12. The mounting bracket (200) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein: The lower end (212) of the first portion (210) comprises a pocket (234) configured to lockingly receive a first fastening member (252), such as a female fastening member (252), of the fastening device (251, 252).

13. A mounting kit (300) for mounting a mounting rail (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 to a pole (2), wherein: The installation kit (300) comprises: - a rod adapter (310) configured to be attached to the mounting rail (100), wherein a front side (313) of the rod adapter (310) faces the mounting rail (100) and a rear side (314) of the rod adapter (310) faces the rod (2), wherein the rod adapter (310) is formed such that it can be stably placed against the rod (2) in a first orientation and in a second orientation, the second orientation being perpendicular to the first orientation, - Attachment means (350) for attaching the rod adapter (310) to the rod (2) in at least one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

14. The mounting kit (300) according to claim 13, wherein: The rod adapter (310) is formed to define a first recess (315) extending in a first direction (D1) and a second recess (316) extending in a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction (D1), wherein the two recesses (315, 316) are formed in a rear side (314) of the rod adapter (310) and are configured to receive at least a portion of the rod (2).

15. A mounting system (400), comprising a mounting rail (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a mounting bracket (200) according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein: The mounting bracket (200) is configured to attach to a first bracket mounting interface of the mounting track (100) in the first orientation, and wherein the mounting bracket (200) is configured to attach to a second bracket mounting interface of the mounting track (100) in the second orientation.

16. The mounting system (400) according to claim 15, further comprising a mounting kit (300) according to any one of claims 13 to 14.

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