Outdoor Floor Box Enclosure with Segmented Cable Door and Drain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical floor box enclosures face challenges in keeping housed devices dry in wet conditions, especially when cables extend out and are exposed to rain or surface water.
Innovation Solution
The enclosure design includes a water-tight junction box, a cable door, and a drain hole in the bottom to allow water to exit, with marine-grade, hard-wired cables that can be stowed and extended as needed, using materials like polymer concrete for durability in wet conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinged cover is used to provide access to the enclosure interior, then ease of operation is improved, but water-tightness deteriorates when the cover is open or when cables extend through it
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into a main cover portion and a separate cable door portion. The cable door can be opened independently to access cable connections while the main cover remains closed, maintaining water-tightness for the enclosure interior while providing selective access to cables.
Solution Approach 2:
A cable door acts as an intermediary element between the enclosed interior and the external environment. It provides a controlled passage for cables while maintaining the water-tight seal of the main enclosure when the cable door is closed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cables are extended out of the enclosure for outdoor use, then adaptability is improved, but water-tightness deteriorates at cable penetration points
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is segmented with individual cable doors for each cable penetration point. Each cable door can be opened to install or access a specific cable while other cable penetrations remain sealed, maintaining water-tightness while providing adaptability for multiple cable connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cable penetration point has its own cable door with sealing characteristics optimized for that specific location. The cable doors are positioned and designed to maintain water-tightness at each penetration point while allowing selective cable access.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure bottom is sealed to maintain water-tightness, then protection against water ingress is improved, but water accumulation deteriorates when the enclosure is in wet conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A drain hole is extracted or provided in the bottom of the enclosure to actively remove accumulated water. This extraction mechanism maintains the water-tight seal of the enclosure walls and cover while periodically draining any water that accumulates inside, preventing water damage to electrical equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor enclosure provides weather protection for electrical equipment. More particularly, an outdoor enclosure having a cover flush with the floor or the ground and an interior space beneath the floor or ground is provided. The interior space is maintained in a water-tight condition when the cover of the enclosure and a door within the cover are closed and a drain is provided in the floor of the interior space to allow water to drain from the interior space if and when such water enters the enclosure. Electrical cables and a receptacle with ground fault protection are stowed within the enclosure and pulled through the door in the cover when a user needs access to electrical power via the receptacle.