Rack Shelf With Captive Ground Lugs For Radio Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for mounting professional radios in racks, particularly compact radios, require disassembly of units for maintenance or replacement, leading to instability and difficulties in reinstallation due to the need for dual radio units and complex grounding procedures.

Innovation Solution

A separate shelf with guide portions and ground lugs allows for individual mounting and removal of radios, providing mechanical stability and easy grounding without the need for connecting radios in pairs, and can be adapted to different rack dimensions using connecting struts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two compact radios are mechanically connected to form a unit for mounting in a rack, then the radios can be mounted in the rack, but the complexity of mounting and maintenance increases due to the need to disassemble and reassemble the unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting capabilityVSAvoidmounting procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system is segmented into separate components: the rack structure with posts, the shelf as an independent mounting platform, and individual radio devices. This allows each radio to be mounted separately on the shelf rather than requiring connection to another radio, simplifying both installation and maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If two radios are connected to form a unit, then they can be mounted stably in the rack, but the time required for maintenance increases due to the need to remove the entire unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf is designed as a separate mounting platform that can hold individual radios independently. Each radio can be removed and replaced individually without affecting other radios on the same shelf, eliminating the time loss associated with removing and reinstalling entire radio units during maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shelf acts as an intermediary mounting structure between the rack posts and the radio devices. It provides a stable platform that simplifies the mounting process while enabling individual access to each radio for maintenance without disturbing other equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a single compact radio is mounted alone on the shelf, then individual maintenance becomes possible, but the mechanical stability decreases due to insufficient width for stable mounting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidmounting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf extends horizontally between the vertical rack posts, creating a stable mounting surface that spans the available width. This dimensional approach allows individual compact radios to be mounted stably on the shelf without requiring connection to another radio, as the shelf itself provides the necessary mechanical support and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of manufacture

If ground screws are not captively held in ground lugs, then the grounding procedure becomes simpler, but the risk of ground screw detachment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrounding implementationVSAvoidgrounding connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ground screw and ground lug are combined into a single captive assembly. The ground screw is permanently attached to the ground lug, ensuring that the grounding connection remains reliable and the screw cannot become detached during operation or maintenance, while still allowing for easy installation and removal of the entire grounding assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3993582B1Shelf for mounting of an electrical device within a rack and rack with at least one shelf of this type
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3993582B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3993582B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3993582B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a shelf (20) for mounting of an electrical device (22) within a rack (10), comprising a bottom portion (24), a left and a right attachment portion (28) connected to the bottom portion (24) and adapted for mounting the shelf (20) on vertical posts (12) of the rack, further comprising a right and a left guide portion (26) on opposite sides of the bottom portion (24), the bottom portion (24) having at a rear side two ground lugs (30) in each of which a ground screw (32) is received. The invention further relates to a rack (10) with a plurality of vertical posts (12) and at least one shelf (20) as defined above.