Gore Launches Protective Vents For Telecommunications Equipment
Elkton, MD -- W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., offers the Polyvent/M12 Protective Vent as a solution for equalizing pressure in telecommunications equipment exposed to severe weather conditions. Extreme temperature fluctuations cause strong pressure differentials inside the equipment housing and put stress on the housing's seals. This stress can damage the seals, causing corrosion and leaking, ultimately resulting in equipment failure. Available in both plastic and metal, the Polyvent/M12 vent allows air and gases to flow freely in and out of equipment housings, virtually eliminating the stress and damage on housing seals. At the same time, GORE Protective Vents shield the sensitive WiMAX electronics from harsh environmental contaminants, such as rain, snow, salt, and sand. Installing GORE Protective Vents ensures longer product life and minimizes the need for extensive maintenance. These vents are currently being used in cooling filters, bay-station cabinets, mesh-access boxes, antenna heads, power amplifiers, and tower-mounted equipment, just to name a few.
According to Cindy Marra, W. L. Gore & Associates applications engineer, "In an industry that is changing as rapidly as the WiMAX industry is, having easy access to the equipment is essential. Utilizing a vented housing allows equipment to be upgraded with ease, simplifying service and maintenance. In turn, by using GORE™ Protective Vents in their housings, many industry leaders have realized that they are increasing the integrity of their components, without worrying about compromising the reliability of their signal."
The Polyvent/M12 high-airflow GORE™ Protective Vent is offered in plastic or metal. It provides water protection to meet IP66 for water jets, IP 67 for 30 minutes of water submersion, and IP 69K for high-pressure spray, ensuring the highest protection against water entry in any harsh environment. For extremely rugged environments, the metal version of this vent is the best solution. Not only does the metal vent have an explosion rating approval, it can withstand temperature fluctuations from -40°C to 125°C. Like all GORE™ Protective Vents, the Polvent/M12 vent meets hazardous substance thresholds specified in EU Directive 2002/95/EC (Restriction of Hazardous Substances or "RoHS").
Made in an insert-molded construction that incorporates a unique expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane into its own housing, the Polyvent/M12 GORE™ Protective Vent is one of the most robust venting products available. The microporous structure of ePTFE allows air to flow freely in and out of an enclosure, but it also has a low surface tension that prevents water and most environmental contaminants from entering an enclosure, eliminating potential corrosion and damage of sensitive electronics inside the enclosure. Using GORE™ Protective Vents also reduces the possibility of condensation buildup inside the housing because water vapor can escape through the microporous membrane in the vent. GORE Protective Vents are versatile and cost effective because they integrate easily into existing equipment and manufacturing methods as well as into new product designs.
Marra adds, "These Polyvent/M12 screw-in vents can be retrofitted to any housing thickness simply by drilling and tapping a hole, screwing in the vent, and putting a nut on the back to secure it in place. This flexibility allows our customers to insert a vent into any design without having to customize their enclosure. Our engineering team works closely with every customer to select the appropriate vent that provides the right airflow rate for each application. Every application is different, so before recommending a specific vent, we evaluate such variables as the amount of free space inside the enclosure, the speed and range of temperature changes that the enclosure encounters, and the IP standard requirements."
SOURCE: W. L.Gore & Associates