CP Cases is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance cases, racks and textiles used for transportation, operation and storage of essential equipment in a range of sectors, including defence, media, medical and energy. They are also highly adapt at producing customised solutions for data systems, satellite communications and other rack mounted applications.

Here we highlight a couple of special projects, for the defence industry, CP Cases have worked on, applying their skills and competencies to support electronic equipment installation.

Air Carrier Alliance

As a key contractor and supporter to the Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and Type 45 Destroyer programmes, CP Cases has designed, manufactured and delivered a range of maritime electronics cabinets and enclosures:

  • 29U and 33U cabinets for use in maritime computer rooms, incorporating cable management features and flexible 19” racking and shelving. 
  • 2U, 3U and 6U enclosures to support system architecture with electronics distributed throughout the platform, supporting 19” and DIN rail mounted equipment.

The cabinets and enclosures are fitted directly to decks and bulkheads, or mounted on a variety of anti-vibration and anti-shock mounts and a number of innovative features have been developed for the demanding requirements of the Royal Navy, that are equally applicable to hosting electronics within commercial maritime vessels or other vehicular platforms.

  • Cable Entry Ports: These patented entry mechanisms are formed from conductive, compressed, closed-cell foam to provide a flexible cable entry system suitable for copper and fibre data cables.  They enable pre-terminated cables to be passed through the casing and positioned, without the use of tools.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Flexible Shelving: Cabinets and cabling are designed to support a number of different fixed and sliding shelf configurations and are provided with universal brackets to mount non-19” equipment in multiple positions.
  • Power Cabling: Cabinets and enclosures are fitted with IEC connecters, for processing and networking electronics, and with additional earth arrangements meeting Royal Navy safety requirements.
  • Electromagnetic Protection: The combination of the cable entry ports, specially designed ventilation patterns and bonded gaskets have been proven to enable commercial electronics equipment to be used in the presence of electromagnetic environments.

Design Customisation

The cabinets and enclosures have been designed to facilitate the incorporation of custom features to meet user requirements.

  • Colour and Finish: All enclosures are treated with a thermoplastic powder-coated finish applied onto an etch-primed base, providing a hard wearing semi-gloss surface that is tougher and much less hazardous than conventional paint coatings, and has exceptionally high corrosion resistance.
  • Cooling: The cabinet ventilation arrangements support ambient air cooling and can be fitted with additional fans for forced-air cooling. For extreme conditions, the cabinets can be fitted with either thermoelectric or vapour compression air-conditioning units.
  • Specific Features: Cabinets and enclosures can be fitted with bespoke features to meet the environment in which they may be operated, including CO2 injection points for fire fighting.

Aeroflex Incorporated

Aeroflex Incorporated is a leading provider of highly specialized electronics and testing equipment to the global aerospace, defence and communications markets and are suppliers to BAE systems for Workshop Test and Ground Equipment (WSTGE) used with the Eurofighter Typhoon Defence Aid Sub System (DASS).

Aeroflex approached CP Cases to produce a mobile enclosure system that contained all the elements of the test equipment and fulfil a range of vital criteria such as portability, footprint, security and operating environment conditions. The WSTGE also needed to be suitably shielded in accordance with BS EN61326 (EMC shielding), be electrically bonded to the earth conductor of the power cable and be fully maintainable in the field.

Using their patented ERack® design, CP Cases created a modular, rigidised aluminium rack system, comprising of three elements that can be used separately or fastened together as a complete unit.

In addition to being mobile, the enclosure system also includes handling features such as fork lift points and is able to protect systems from ambient temperature fluctuations of -10°C to +60°C as well as humidity levels ranging between 0% and 93%, and is suitable for air transport.

Key footprint dimensions were specified for the enclosure to conform to, with projecting edges kept to a minimum and lockable doors and covers provide protection.

The WSTGE consists of a combination of bespoke elements and commercial off-the-shelf items and is required to interface directly to the aircraft using adapter plugs that need to be available at any time and therefor all accessories must be contained inside the unit. The individually stored test components are located within customised high-visibility foam packing.

The system is mobile, rugged, self-contained and suitable for use in sheltered environments and, while in operation, be compact enough to be used under the wing of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The operator has access to all control and display facilities of the test system from their normal working position and a colour printer is incorporated to provide report printouts.

These two examples demonstrate just some of CP Cases capabilities within the arena of electronics enclosures; for further details call them on 020 8568 1881 or visit www.cpcases.com.