Air-conditioned equipment cabinet, in particular for telephony

Abstract

A container ( 1 ) comprises walls ( 2 - 6 ) defining an inside zone ( 7 ) suitable for housing equipment ( 8 ), at least one of the walls being constituted by at least three sub-walls ( 9 - 11 ) spaced apart from one another in such a manner as to define at least a first air circulation space ( 12 ) communicating with the outside of the container via at least two outside openings ( 14 - 16 ), and a second air circulation space ( 13 ) communicating with the inside zone ( 7 ) via at least two inside openings ( 17 - 19 ). The first sub-wall ( 9 ) faces the outside of the container, the second sub-wall ( 10 ) faces said inside zone ( 7 ), and the third sub-wall ( 11 ) is interposed between the first and second sub-walls ( 9 and 10 ). According to the invention, the first sub-wall ( 9 ) is made of a thermally insulating material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container ( 1 ) comprising walls ( 2 - 6 ) defining an inside zone ( 7 ) suitable for housing at least one piece of equipment ( 8 ), at least one of said walls ( 2 - 6 ) being constituted by at least three sub-walls ( 9 - 11 ) spaced apart from one another in such a manner as to define at least first and second air circulation spaces ( 12 ,  13 ), said first space ( 12 ) communicating with the outside of said container via at least two outside openings ( 14 - 16 ), and said second space ( 13 ) communicating said inside zone ( 7 ) via at least two openings, a first one of said sub-walls ( 9 ) facing the outside of said container, a second one of said sub-walls ( 10 ) facing said inside zone, and a third one of said sub-walls ( 11 ) being interposed between said first and second sub-walls ( 9 ,  10 ), the container being characterized in that said first sub-wall ( 9 ) is constituted by a thermally insulating material.  
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , in which said third sub-wall ( 11 ) is constituted by a material for enabling heat to be transferred between said first and second spaces ( 12 ,  13 ).  
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1 , in which said second sub-wall ( 9 ) is constituted by a thermally insulating material.  
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , including at least a first air circulator device ( 20 ) arranged to suck in air from outside said container via at least a first one of said outside openings ( 14 ,  15 ), to cause said outside air to circulate in said first space ( 12 ), and then to expel said outside air through at least a second one or said outside openings ( 16 ).  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , in which at least a portion of said air circulator device ( 20 ) is installed substantially in said second outside opening ( 16 ).  
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 4 , in which said first air circulator device ( 20 ) comprises at least one fan.  
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , including at least one second air circulator device ( 21 ) arranged to suck air in from said inside zone ( 7 ) via at least one of said first inside openings ( 17 ), to cause said inside air to circulate in said second space ( 13 ), and then to expel said inside air through at least a second one of said inside openings ( 18 ,  19 ).  
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7 , in which a portion at least of said second air circulator device ( 21 ) is installed substantially in said second inside opening ( 17 ).  
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 7 , in which said second air circulator device ( 21 ) comprises at least one fan.  
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 4 , including a control device ( 22 ) arranged to control the operation of said first air circulator device ( 20 ) and/or of said second air circulator device ( 21 ).  
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 10 , in which said control device ( 22 ) is arranged to control the operation of said first air circulator device ( 20 ) and/or of said second air circulator device ( 21 ) in such a manner as to regulate the temperature in said inside zone ( 7 ).  
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 1 , in which the direction of air circulation in said first space ( 12 ) is substantially opposite to the direction of air circulation in said second space ( 13 ).  
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1 , in which at least three of its walls ( 2 ,  3 ,  6 ) are constituted by said sub-walls ( 9 - 11 ).  
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 13 , in which said three walls ( 2 ,  3 ,  6 ) communicate with one another in such a manner as to constitute a single-shaped element.  
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 13 , in which one of said three walls ( 2 ,  3 ,  6 ) is a top wall ( 6 ).  
     
     
         16 . A telephone system including a container according to  claim 1  housing telephone equipment ( 8 ).