|
|
|
ML Series of Powered Lightweight Transportable Enclosures for COTS Rapid Deployment Applications.
Resulting from extensive involvement in many major defence programmes Elma-Mektron has developed special integration and manufacturing techniques to provide lightweight composite system enclosure solutions for rapid deployment ATE and data acquisition applications in hostile or benign environments. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Description
Believed to be the only system of its kind in the world Elma-Mektron's ML Series of lightweight powered COTS transportable enclosures has undergone extensive EMC, environmental and safety testing to onerous defence/military standards.
Different height options are available as standard and with custom sizes easily catered for the ML Series offers total flexibility and versatility. Rapid MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) is achieved through the shuttlisation of key components such as power supply and fans, which in turn become LRUs (Line Replacement Units).
Different composite material blends are available enabling significant weight savings, higher survivability and improved longevity over any other container material. Compatible stacking and interlocking enclosures are also available for complementary system equipment such as 19-inch rack mounting assemblies etc.
General Construction
The composite transportable enclosure is available in a number of practical U heights and comprises three parts the main body and front and rear transit covers. The inner surfaces of the main body shell are conductively lined with nickel fibres for electromagnetic compatibility protection. Front and rear aluminium bulkheads, which are electrically bonded to the main body shell, ensure total EMC integrity. A quick release panel is fitted to the front bulkhead allowing rapid access to the boards, power supply and fan trays etc. Transit covers are attached to the front and rear of the main body via eight latches and when secured, hermetically seal the enclosure.
An automatic valve is fitted to balance internal/external air pressures. Four retractable carrying handles are provided either side of the main body in addition to skid rails and locking feet, enabling other units to be stacked on top or underneath. Internal to the enclosure is a rugged shock and vibration isolated mainframe. Compliant with the IEEE 1101.10 specification the mainframe can accommodate a variety of standard and custom backplane slot widths. The power supply is contained within its own shuttle assembly adjacent to the backplane.
In addition to the 9U and 10U units a 12U high enclosure is available specifically designed to accommodate an interlocking receiver assembly on the front bulkhead panel.
Features and Benefits
Land mobile, airborne or sea going applications
Fully tested to MIL/DEF standards for EMC, environmental and safety
Ultra light composite construction
Resistant to projectile impact
Excellent survivability and longevity
Stackable and interlocking
Hermetically sealed
Ruggedised, shock/vibration isolated mainframe
Front access power supply shuttle and fan trays for rapid MTTR
Choice of power supply assembly
AC single/three phase or DC input
Five different thermal management options
Provision for air filtration
195Kgs plus weight-loading capability
Wired to DEF STAN 61-12 Part 18 (Limited Fire Hazard)
Lightweight Carbon Fibre
Like many other Elma-Mektron innovative engineering solutions featured on this website, our experience in the field of applying carbon-fibre techniques to system enclosure technology has been instrumental in a number of major programme successes. In applications where low mass and robustness are vital design considerations, speak to Elma-Mektron immediately.
In certain applications low mass and robustness can prove to be the overriding design considerations. This frequently is the case with military rapid deployment types of projects. For logistical purposes such as ease of lifting and transportation etc. low-weight is often mandated. Equally, because of this mode of operation, equipment obviously needs to be rugged also. Reconciling these two opposing factors from an engineering standpoint throws up a number of challenges.
This is where lightweight carbon-fibre technology can play its part. Some brief features and benefits include:
Carbon-fibre is typically 35% lighter than aluminium
Carbon-fibre is typically 28% lighter than fibre-glass
High screening effectiveness (EMC) using silver nylon lining
Incredibly strong stronger than steel!
Highly resistant to projectile impact
Does not dent or scratch (unlike aluminium)
Elma-Mektron design deployed on Typhoon (Eurofighter) rapid deployment ATE application
Elma-Mektron design deployed on EH101 (Helicopter) rapid deployment ATE application
For more information please refer to a published application article entitled Getting your COTS system up and running takes more than boards and software: A defense enclosure companys perspective from VMEbus Systems magazine written by
Elma-Mektron which discusses a real-life case study. This article may be viewed and downloaded from the Technical Articles part of the website under the 'News' section.
Power Supply Solutions
Elma-Mektron can offer a comprehensive range of power supply options that can be tailored specifically to meet the wide ranging and demanding application requirements of rugged military or commercial/industrial communications system enclosures.
Such is our flexibility that we can accommodate almost any version of MIL-Spec or commercial power supply in the range of 200- to 1800-watt and beyond, AC single/three phase 45 to 440Hz input or DC input. Provision can also be made for redundant N+1 or hot swap plug-in power supply solutions for quick MTTR. Options can include AC and DC power rail monitoring and alarm generation.
Thermal Management
A flexible and innovative thermal management system allows for five different types of filtered cooling convention:
Pressurised, via shuttlised fan trays underneath the 19" cardframe
Pressurised, via rear bulkhead mounted fan tray and metering plate
Pressurised, via external air source
Evacuation, via metering plate and rear bulkhead mounted fan tray
Evacuation, via external air source
Typical Approvals/Certifications:
DEF.STAN 81-41 Level 'J'
DEF.STAN 61-12 Parts 18 & 31
DEF.STAN 66-31/2 Sections 2, 6 & 5
DEF.STAN 05-34/2
DEF.STAN 61-05 Part 2
DEF.STAN 07-55 Part 2
DEF.STAN 00-10/3 Part 2
DEF.STAN 00-03
DEF.STAN 59-41
BS EN 60950
EN 55022 & 50082
EN 100015
EN 1015
CE |
|
|
Powered ML Series lightweight transportable enclosure for COTS rapid deployment applications |
|
|
Typical custom composite rapid deployment equipment setup. |
|
|
Rapid deployment lightweight carbon fibre transportable cases for VXI based avionics test equipment. |
|
|
|
Fibreglass composite operating transit cases (EMC lined) for use in a railway test application.
|
|
|
Thermal jacket for military severe low temperature operation.
|
|
|
Rapid deployment case for crypto communications.
|
|
|
|
![Elma-Mektron logo - [home]](../images/logo3.gif){kind=logo}
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
