SubscribeThe appearance of aluminium racks can be deceiving. Formidable technology is involved in producing these drab olive green racks to protect military electronics equipment.
E Rack is the culmination of a 2-year Government sponsored development programme between Brunel University, one of Europe’s leading engineering universities and CP Cases.
The prime requirement of a military rack is that it must be robust, with a good strength to weight ratio and that it should protect electronics equipment effectively from the shocks and vibration of transport over uneven terrain, typical rough handling in the field of service and front line action situations, where rapid redeployment in conflict conditions, is common practice.
The outer casing of the E-Rack has some unique features. Constructed from high tensile 1.5mm aluminium alloy, the sealed riveted construction with internal strengthening ribs provides a rigid outer frame. The front & rear detachable lids are secured to the body of the rack and can be removed / replaced easily with access only from the front, even when Arctic gloves are worn. The silicon gasket used between the lids and the body of the rack ensure a watertight seal, and the robust beam strength of the extrusions used ensure the mating faces of both body & lids will retain their “mating” integrity.
All lids are interchangeable, and the racks can be stacked side by side and on top of one another allowing the maximum equipment use in the minimum space – especially important where “in vehicle” use is envisaged. The concept of the design enables simple “in the field” repairs, in addition to a “back to base” full repair & refurbishment programme.
Inside the E-Rack the challenge continued, to find a strong but lightweight floating frame to hold the electronics payload. The solution was a high tensile aluminium alloy sub-frame, incorporating burst holes giving greater rigidity whilst reducing weight the minimum.
The anti-vibration mounts (AVMs) isolating the external casing and internal electronics frame are an engineering masterpiece in their own right. Each of the eight AVMs are mounted to a stainless steel anchor plate rigidly fixed to the case body.
The AVM’s, acting in unison, allow 20 mm of sway space in any orientation and are mounted at a 45 x 45 degree compound angle, to focus at the centre of mass contained in the rack. The shore hardness of the elastomeric rubber mounts are calibrated according to the mass of the payload, and the fragility factors that have to be met, in the attenuation criteria to be met against shock & impact.
Modern warfare frequently occurs in hostile climates and the physical demands placed on military electronics racks are considerable. The E-Rack has been developed to operate in temperatures from –40 C to +70 C. The outer body & inner floating frame are both “earthed” to prevent against accidental static discharge, and EMC shielding can be provided where the application demands. External paint finishes are tailored to suit the customers needs, with Drab Olive & Desert Sand being the most common, offered in both commercial grades and IRR (Infrared Reflective) as requested.
Because every E-Rack is design & manufactured in our own factories, we are able to offer short lead times, and customer specific modifications very rapidly. Some of these are listed below:
- Wheels and wheel boards for extra mobility.
- Various types of PRV (pressure relief valves) either manual or automatic or both
- Silicon gaiters to protect contents when operating in the open with lids removed.
- A variety of handle options and lifting fixtures.
- Various labelling options.
- 19” storage draws and other internal housings.
