Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02211065 1997-07-22
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to in-floor fittings for
enabling activation of power, communication and/or data services
at the fitting locations. It relates specifically to a signal-
shielding poke-through service fitting.
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Description of the Related Art
Poke-through fittings, for enabling activation of power,
communication and/or data services at the fitting locations, may
be installed in a floor such as a concrete slab or steel deck, in
a structure such as an office building.
Service cables, loosely positioned in the plenum between the
ceiling of the floor below and the floor above, may be pulled
from~the plenum and associated with the service fitting, for
activation of services.
Power service cables may be connected to the service
fitting, to provide in-floor outlets for power plugs for
electrical and electronic equipment.
Communication and/or data service cables may be passed
through passages in the service fitting, for connection to
communication and/or data equipment. -
Such fittings previously have been subject to substantial
interference with the signals transferred therein, resulting from
electro-magnetic interference and radio frequency interference
therein.
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Such fittings further have not been provided with
substantial protection against such interference.
Such fittings also have been subject to breakdown of the
shielding on service cables, resulting in loss of protection from
interference at points of entry and of securing thereof to signal
connector receiving elements in such fittings.
Such fittings also have not included substantial ground
access for draining electronic interferenEe.
Such fittings further have not included radiator elements
for radiating heat to reduce plenum temperatures and retard the
transmission of heat and flame from a fire.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The service fitting of the present invention overcomes
the above problems and others associated with prior service
fittings.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a poke-
through service fitting for enabling service cables including
signal service connectors and power service cables to be
connected thereto and activated by source service cables
including signal service cables and power service cables
connectable thereto, adapted to be installed in an opening
which may be formed at a selected location in a floor, which
fitting is further adapted to separate the power service
cables from the signal service cables so as to shield the
signal services cables from interference from the power
service cables, comprising: (a) an insert, adapted to be
installed in the floor opening and activated by the source
service cables including signal service cables and power
services cables connectable thereto; and (b) means for
separating the power service cables from the signal service
cables so as to shield the signal service cables from
interference from the power service cables, adapted to be
mounted in the insert; and (c) means for enabling mounting of
the separating means in the insert.
The present invention enables activation of power,
communication, and/or data signal services at the fitting
location, for transferring voice or data signals through jack
connections, and for preventing electromagnetic and radio
frequency interference with such signal services.
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Such service fitting includes a barrier for surrounding
the jacks at the points of potential breakdown of wiring
shielding, where wiring enters and is secured to the jacks, to
prevent such interference.
The barrier is further adapted to be grounded so as to
drain interference which may be generated in the fitting.
Such barrier further radiates heat, conducting plenum
temperatures to a fitting flange so as to establish a thermal
path. It reduces plenum temperatures, retarding the
transmission of heat and flame from a fire.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is an elevational partly-sectional view of the
signal-shielding poke-through service fitting of the invention,
installed in a floor opening; and
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the fitting.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention comprises a poke-through service fitting 10 as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, for enabling signal transferring
connectors and/or power cables (not shown) to be connected
thereto, and to be activated by source service cables including
signal and power service cables (not shown) connectable thereto.
Fitting 10 may be installed in a fire-rated floor A of a building
such as a commercial office building. The signal connectors and
cables are capable of transferring signals consisting of
communication (voice) or data signals.
Fitting 10 may be installed in an opening B formed in floor
A to activate a desired location therein, and is adapted to be
activated by the source service cables and to enable power plugs
and signal transferring connectors to be connected thereto,
capable of transferring signals consisting of communication or
data signals. It is further adapted to separate the power
service cables from the signal service cables so ws to shield
data services from interference with the signal thereof.
Fitting 10 is further adapted to retard the transmission of
heat and flame from a fire through plenum C below floor A, and
through floor opening B and fitting 10, to floor A. It is
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operable such that the fire rating of floor A is substantially
the same with or without floor opening B and fitting 10 therein.
Fitting 10 comprises an insert 20, adapted to be installed
in floor opening B and activated by source service cables, and
for retarding the transmission of heat and flame from a fire. It
further includes jacks 22, adapted to be activated by signal
service cables and to enable signal transferring connectors to be
connected thereto.
Insert 20 includes an upper chamber 30, including a top
plate 32 for enclosing a power receptacle 34, forming an internal
central space 36 for receiving power receptacle 34, to which
source power cables (not shown) positioned below floor A may be
connected for activation of power services. Upper chamber 30
further includes internal side spaces 38 for receiving jacks 22,
to which source signal cables (not shown) positioned below floor
A may be connected for activation of signal services.
Upper chamber 30 may have a nominal diameter. of 4 inches,
substantially larger than the internal space therefor in prior
fittings which have a nominal diameter of up to 3 inches, for
enabling any one of a plurality of types of receptacles and jacks
to be mounted therein. Internal central space 36 is adapted to
accommodate most standard 15 and 20 amp receptacles, including
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isolated ground, surge suppressor, ground fault, and receptacles
including external pods for securing the receptacle face to a
bottom cup. Internal side spaces 38 are adapted to accommodate
data connectors such as RJ-45 category 5 connectors.
Insert 20 also includes barrier 40 mounted therein, for
separating power service cables from signal service cables, so as
to shield the signal service cables from interference from the
power service cables. Barrier 40 may include an electromagnetic
interference (EMI) barrier and a radio frequency interference '
(RFI) barrier. Barrier 40 is positionable in insert 20 so as to~-
extend about the position at which signal services enter and are
secured to jack 22, the location at which shielding of the
services may break down.
Barrier 40 is comprised of a material having a dielectric
Buff icient to isolate the power service cables from the signal
service cables, which material may comprise a polycarbonate
polymer. Barrier 40 may be grounded, to drain interference which
may be generated in insert 20.
Insert 20 further includes fire retarding elements 50,
comprised of fire retarding material, which may comprise an
intumescent material. The intumescent material may comprise a
graphite intumescent material in a urethane matrix, cast in a
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generally tubular shape, and encapsulated in a composition such
as polypropylene, to seal each element 5o and render it
substantially degradation-free, and to insure expansion of each
element 50 to substantially the maximum required to seal opening
B.
Fire retarding elements 50 each include a hollow portion
forming a raceway 60 through which power cables are extendable,
and hollow portions forming raceways 62 through which signal
cablea ire extendable.
Insert 20 further includes a bottom plate 70, for supporting
fire retarding elements 50 thereon. Bottom plate 70 may comprise
a casting, for enabling connection of an electrical metalized
tubing (EMT) connector 72 for securing a conduit system thereto
for improving grounding capability. Connector 72 may further be
connected to a junction box (not shown). The junction box may
include a terminal (not shown) for connection of service cables
thereto.
Receptacle 34 may be pre-wired, with wires (not shown)
connected between terminals in receptacle 34 and a terminal in
the junction box and extending through raceway 60 and connector
72. Bottom plate 70 may further include tapped openings 74 for
enabling conduit fittings (not shown) to be connected thereto.
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Insert 20 also includes a retainer 80, for retaining fitting
in floor opening B, and an insert rivet 82, for securing fire
retarding elements 50 between retainer 80 and bottom plate 70.
Insert 20 also includes tubes 90 for passing signal service
cables therethrough. Tubes 90 are comprised of a dielectric
material, which may comprise polyethylene. Fire retarding
elements 50 are comprised of an intumescent dielectric material.
The dielectric of the material of tubes 90 and~the dielectric of
the material of fire retarding elements 50 are substantially the
same as the dielectric of fitting 10 for electrical safety.
Fitting 10 further includes a top assembly 100 comprising a
service head including a flange plate 102, connectable to insert
by screw 104. Top assembly 100 further includes signal jack
openings 106, and a data connector mounting plate 108. It also
includes sliders 110, slots 112 and 114 in sliders 110 alignable
with corresponding slots in receptacle 34, and elements for
enabling sliders 110 to be slidably movable between positions
covering and uncovering the receptacle slots. It still further
includes sliders 116, and elements for enabling sliders 116 to be
slidably movable between positions covering and uncovering insert
signal jack openings 106.
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Top assembly 100 further includes a top face 118, jack 22
includes a top face 120, and jack top face 120 is adapted to
extend substantially flush with top assembly top face 118.
Top assembly 100 may also be adapted to extend above floor A
such that top assembly top face 118 extends substantially flush
with the top of a carpet (not shown) adapted to be installed on
floor A.
To install fitting 10 in floor A, at a desired location for
service activation, floor A may be drilled at the desired
location, as by core drilling, to~form floor opening B, for
access to the power, communication and/or data services.
The power and/or signal service cables may be pulled for
connection to fitting 10. The power cables may be pulled to
connect to terminals and wires in a junction box, to activate
power services. The signal cables may be pulled through tapped
openings and tubes 90 in insert 20 for connection to jacks as 22,
for activation of communication or data services. A signal
connector, such as an RJ-45 Category 5 connector, may be
connected to jacks 22, to activate signal-operable equipment.
Insert 20 and the junction box connected thereto may then be
oriented relative to floor opening B, to be pushed thereinto
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until top assembly 100 rests on floor A such that top face 118 of
top assembly 100 is substantially flush with the top of a carpet.
Retainer 80 grips floor opening B, to resist pulling of fitting
to from floor opening B.
In operation, fire retarding elements 50 are activated by a
fire below floor A, upon exposure to heat and flame from the fire
rising through floor opening B.
Fire retarding elements 50 are preferably comprised of
intumescent material which absorbs heat. They are activated to
expand into floor opening B, about insert 20, and about power and
signal cables extending through raceways 60 and 62, under
pressure. They form flexible foam seals, sealing openings, and
forming very strong refractory chars. They seal openings to form
efficient heat and smoke barriers, retarding transmission of heat
and flame from the fire.
Fire retarding elements 50 are.-thereby activated upon
exposure to heat and flame from a fire to prevent heat and flame
from the fire from being transmitted therethrough. This enables
the fire rating of floor A to be substantially the same with or
without floor opening B and fitting 10 therein.
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In use, sliders 110 in top assembly 100 may be moved so that
outlet slots 112 and 114 in sliders 110 align with corresponding
outlets in receptacle 34. Plugs (not shown) from electrical
and/or electronic devices may be plugged into the receptacle
outlets for activation of power services.
Sliders 116 in top assembly 100 may be moved so that a jack
openings 106 in top assembly 100 and a jacks 22 are exposed.
Signal connectors, such as an RJ-45 Category 5 connector, may be
connected to jacks 22, for activation of signal services.
Barrier 40 shields signal service cables from interference
with the signal thereof, as from electromagnetic and/or radio
frequency interference. It shields such cables at points of
potential breakdown where such cables enter insert 20 and are
secured to jack 22. It also may be grounded to drain
interference which may be generated in insert 20. It further
conducts heat temperatures from a fire to flange 102 of top
assembly 100, such that flange 102 radiates heat.
Internal chamber 30 in insert 20 is substantially larger
than the internal chamber therefor in prior fittings, and is
adapted to accommodate any one of a plurality of types of
receptacles 34.
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Internal side spaces 36 for jacks 22 are adapted to
accommodate any one of a plurality of types of jacks 22. Jacks
22 include terminals (not shown) adapted to be rated gas and
moisture proof. Top face 116 of jack 22 is substantially flush
with top face 118 of top assembly 100. Jack 22 includes
terminals (not shown), accepting service cables from the source
in plenum C through fitting 10 thereto. Sliders 116 are adapted
to close jack openings 104.
Bottom plate 70 of insert 2.O may comprise a casting, for
enabling connection of electrical metalized tubing connector 72
thereto for grounding capability, and for enabling tapped
openings to be formed therein for accepting standard conduit
fittings.
Tubes 90 in insert 20 for passing signal service cables
therethrough are comprised of a dielectric material, such as
polyethylene. Fire retarding elements 50 are also comprised of a
dielectric material, such as an intumescent material. The
dielectric of the signal tubes 90 and of fire retarding elements
50 are substantially the same as the dielectric for electrical
safety for fitting 10.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth
above, for the purpose of explaining the invention. However, it
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is to be understood that variations in such embodiment may be
made which are nevertheless within the scope and spirit of the
invention as set forth in the claims.
