GB2055441A

GB2055441A - Ducting for under-floor cables and pipes

Info

Publication number: GB2055441A
Application number: GB8023035A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-07-17
Filing date: 1980-07-15
Publication date: 1981-03-04

Abstract

Ducting for under-floor cables and pipes, which can be keyed rigidly with the material (9) forming the floor without separate fastening, comprises a channel member (1) having a base (2) and upwardly-converging side walls (3) which define a channel with a dovetail-shaped cross-sectional profile. The free edges of the side walls (3) have flanges (4) which are parallel to the base (2) and receive a removable cover (5), the upper surface of which is coplanar with the floor surface (F-F). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ducting for under-floor cables and pipes The present invention relates to ducting for under-floor cables and pipes.

It is common practice in modern buildings to form floors from poured concrete or cement screed traversed by ducting which houses the heating and plumbing pipes and electricity cables, and which has a removable cover to allow access for maintenance. Until now this ducting, which is placed in position before the concrete or cement screed is laid, has been made in rectangular crosssectioned channels of sheet metal or wood. This cross-sectional shape has necessitated the anchoring of the ducting to the floor foundation to prevent movement after the floor has been laid. In the case of wood ducting the movement is considerable due to the shrinkage of the wood as it dries.

The object of the present invention is to provide ducting of the aforesaid type which can be laid quickly and simply, without the need for anchoring in position to prevent movement when the floor has been laid.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides ducting for under-floor cables and pipes, comprising a channel member with upwardly-converging side walls, the free edges of the side walls lying in a common plane and having respective means for receiving and/or locating a removable cover.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of installing under-floor ducting for cables and pipes, comprising the steps of: placing on a substantially flat foundation surface below the finished level of the floor a channel member having upwardly-converging side walls, the free edges of which lie in a common plane; releasably securing a cover to respective means carried at the free edges of the side walls, and laying a floorforming material on the foundation surface and around the ducting so that the latter is keyed into the material forming the floor, the material being laid to a thickness whereby the finished floor surface is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the cover.

One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section through a floor showing ducting according to the present invention in its installed position.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown ducting for under-floor pipework in, for example, a central heating system. The ducting comprises a channel member 1 having a flat elongate base 2 and a pair of upwardly-converging side walls 3 which define a channel of uniform dovetail-shaped cross-section. The free edges of the side walls 3 have respective flanges 4 which project outwardly from the walls and lie in a common plane parallel to the base 2. A removable cover 5 is secured to the flanges 4 by self-tapping screws 6.

As shown in broken outline, the flanges may have upstanding lips 7 with a height corresponding to the thickness of the cover 5, to locate the latter with a close fit.

The channel member 1 is made from a sheet material, preferably galvanised sheet steel, in sections of convenient size: for example, each section may comprise 22 SWG galvanised sheet steel with a length of 2m, and a basal width of 20 cms. Although, in this example, the cover 5 is made from plywood, it may also be made from sheet metal, chipboard and the like.

When the ducting is installed, the channel member 1 is placed on a flat surface upon which the floor is to be laid, in this example the oversite concrete foundation 8 of a ground floor, the pipes or cables are positioned and connected, and the cover 5 is screwed to the flanges 4. The material forming the floor itself, in this case cement screed 9, is then laid on the oversite concrete foundation 8 around the ductijg to a thickness whereby the finished floor surface F-F is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the cover 5, allowing for a floor covering if necessary.

By virtue of its dovetail-shaped cross-sectional profile, the ducting is keyed with the material of the floor, thus avoiding the need for separate fasteners and ensuring a secure installation which is rigid with the finished floor.

1. Ducting for under-floor cables and pipes, comprising a channel member with upwardlyconverging sidewalls, the free edges of the side walls lying in a common plane and having respective means for receiving and/or locating a removable cover.

2. Ducting as claimed in Claim 1, in which the means for locating and/or receiving the cover comprise respective flanges which project outwardly from the free edges of the side walls.

3. Ducting as claimed in Claim 2, in which the flanges have upstanding lips along their free edges.

4. Ducting as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the channel member has a substantially dovetail-shaped cross-sectional profile.

5. Ducting as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the channel member is made from galvanised sheet steel.

6. Ducting for under-floor cables and pipes, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

7. A method of installing under-floor ducting for cables and pipes, comprising the steps of: placing on a substantially flat foundation surface below the finished level of the floor a channel member having upwardly-converging side walls, the free edges of which lie in a common plane; releasably securing a cover to respective means carried at the free edges of the side walls, and laying a floorforming material on the foundation surface and around the ducting so that the latter is keyed into

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ducting for under-floor cables and pipes The present invention relates to ducting for under-floor cables and pipes. It is common practice in modern buildings to form floors from poured concrete or cement screed traversed by ducting which houses the heating and plumbing pipes and electricity cables, and which has a removable cover to allow access for maintenance. Until now this ducting, which is placed in position before the concrete or cement screed is laid, has been made in rectangular crosssectioned channels of sheet metal or wood. This cross-sectional shape has necessitated the anchoring of the ducting to the floor foundation to prevent movement after the floor has been laid. In the case of wood ducting the movement is considerable due to the shrinkage of the wood as it dries. The object of the present invention is to provide ducting of the aforesaid type which can be laid quickly and simply, without the need for anchoring in position to prevent movement when the floor has been laid. Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides ducting for under-floor cables and pipes, comprising a channel member with upwardly-converging side walls, the free edges of the side walls lying in a common plane and having respective means for receiving and/or locating a removable cover. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of installing under-floor ducting for cables and pipes, comprising the steps of: placing on a substantially flat foundation surface below the finished level of the floor a channel member having upwardly-converging side walls, the free edges of which lie in a common plane; releasably securing a cover to respective means carried at the free edges of the side walls, and laying a floorforming material on the foundation surface and around the ducting so that the latter is keyed into the material forming the floor, the material being laid to a thickness whereby the finished floor surface is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the cover. One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section through a floor showing ducting according to the present invention in its installed position. Referring now to the drawing, there is shown ducting for under-floor pipework in, for example, a central heating system. The ducting comprises a channel member 1 having a flat elongate base 2 and a pair of upwardly-converging side walls 3 which define a channel of uniform dovetail-shaped cross-section. The free edges of the side walls 3 have respective flanges 4 which project outwardly from the walls and lie in a common plane parallel to the base 2. A removable cover 5 is secured to the flanges 4 by self-tapping screws 6. As shown in broken outline, the flanges may have upstanding lips 7 with a height corresponding to the thickness of the cover 5, to locate the latter with a close fit. The channel member 1 is made from a sheet material, preferably galvanised sheet steel, in sections of convenient size: for example, each section may comprise 22 SWG galvanised sheet steel with a length of 2m, and a basal width of 20 cms. Although, in this example, the cover 5 is made from plywood, it may also be made from sheet metal, chipboard and the like. When the ducting is installed, the channel member 1 is placed on a flat surface upon which the floor is to be laid, in this example the oversite concrete foundation 8 of a ground floor, the pipes or cables are positioned and connected, and the cover 5 is screwed to the flanges 4. The material forming the floor itself, in this case cement screed 9, is then laid on the oversite concrete foundation 8 around the ductijg to a thickness whereby the finished floor surface F-F is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the cover 5, allowing for a floor covering if necessary. By virtue of its dovetail-shaped cross-sectional profile, the ducting is keyed with the material of the floor, thus avoiding the need for separate fasteners and ensuring a secure installation which is rigid with the finished floor. CLAIMS

7. A method of installing under-floor ducting for cables and pipes, comprising the steps of: placing on a substantially flat foundation surface below the finished level of the floor a channel member having upwardly-converging side walls, the free edges of which lie in a common plane; releasably securing a cover to respective means carried at the free edges of the side walls, and laying a floorforming material on the foundation surface and around the ducting so that the latter is keyed into the material forming the floor, the material being laid to a thickness whereby the finished floor surface is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the cover.