GB2601763A - Apparatus for elevated cabling - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (figure 1, 199) suitable for supporting cabling or piping (figure 1, 100) comprises a base 3 having two side portions 4 which extend from the base 3 to define a tray. The apparatus further comprises at least two arms that extend fore and aft of the tray to define a connection region for connecting to an adjacent tray. A connection means 13 is provided in each arm for receiving a connector to connect two adjacent trays. The base 3 may be formed from a conductive material such as folded sheet metal. The sheet metal may be stamped to form perforations 15. One or more earth cables 7 may be provided to electrically link adjacent trays.

Description

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATED CABLING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for elevated cabling, in particular for supporting cabling for example in an elevated position.

Background

Increasing numbers or properties, both commercial and residential in many societies rely on cabling and wiring to function.

In a modern property for example some users may require cabling to transfer electricity, telephone wiring, network cabling, and other connective wiring around the 15 property.

It is often easiest to achieve this by running the cabling or wiring within suspended ceilings, or otherwise in spaces under floors.

It is important within these spaces for the cabling to be properly protected and often this may be in piping members or lengths. These members need in turn to be held in place A problem with current systems is enabling curvature or turns. In known systems the 25 supports for the cables need to be large to allow for such movements, and/or which must be accomplished by right angles.

Prior Art

US 2015 0 076 291 (WINN et al) discloses an accessory section for a cable tray system having a first cross member and a second cross member, said accessory section comprising: a base member having a plurality of openings therein and at least two ends, each said end adapted to combine with the cable try system; one or more sidewalls having a plurality of tab members combined therewith; wherein the openings in the base member are configured to receive the tab members to allow the accessory section to transform between an unassembled configuration wherein the base member and one or more side walls are not combined and an assembled configuration.

EP 1 932 225 (BAYAZIT et al) discloses a telecommunications cable management system includes trough elements including a planar top surface and sides for cable routing and management. The trough elements are made from separate parts assembled together with a mating arrangement. The mating arrangement allows assembly of the system on site, such as by snapping the parts together. The trough elements are then assembled together to form the cable management system.

EP 712 189 (GROOT et al) discloses a raceway system composed of parts such as raceway elements and fittings for horizontal and vertical branches for accommodating cables, leads and the like, in which the parts comprise at least one bottom surface and at least one side surface adjoining the bottom surface, characterized in that the parts are manufactured from a single sheet.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus supporting cabling or piping comprises: a base has two side portions which extend from the base to define a tray; at least two arms that extend fore and aft of the tray to define a connection region for connecting to an adjacent tray; and a connections means is provided in each arm for receiving a connector to connect two adjacent trays.

The apparatus in use further includes one or more hanging portions, which hanging portions comprise hanger portions extending vertically above the tray.

In this way the apparatus may be envisaged to support members at height, for example for cabling in a domestic or commercial building, for example in a suspended ceiling environment.

The base may comprise electrically conductive material such as metal. In some embodiments the base may comprise glass reinforced plastic (GRP) where electrically conductive material may be unsafe.

In some embodiments the trays comprise folded sheet metal, for example mild or galvanised steel, that may be stamped or perforated to define slots or apertures which improve cooling and reduce weight and volume of the trays.

In some embodiments the sides comprise perpendicular folds extending upwards from 10 the base, arranged to help hold the cables on the tray, or elongate members in place.

In some embodiments the base comprises two extending arms, opposing, and two sides, also opposing, being substantially square or rectangular in plan. The arms may be used to connect trays sequentially in a number of orientations.

In some embodiments the sides extend upwards from the base a wider part of the base than the width of the arms, for example wherein the sides may be provided on spurs extending from a central square or rectangular basal section from which the arms also extend.

The base including the arms may therefore be cruciform in plan view, wherein the sides may be held on shorter spurs extending laterally with the arms extending longitudinally to provide the connection regions.

In some embodiments the connection means may comprise a hole or holes in the arms, for example such that sequential arms may be riveted or screwed together with connectors. It may be envisaged that the hole or holes may be spaced away from the central section, so as to enable the trays to be interconnected in a plurality of orientations. In this way the apparatus may comprise trays connected in a line or in a curve, easily and flexibly.

In some embodiments the trays and hangers may be joined, for example wherein the hangers may be screwed or rivetted on the sides to the hangers.

In some embodiments the hangers may comprise means to support the trays from below. For example in some embodiments the hanging portions may comprise a laterally arranged hanger portion, and a vertically arranged hanger portion, wherein the laterally arranged hanger portion may be below the tray in use, and the vertical hanger portions arranged vertically to either side of the tray.

The trays may be perforated, locally or globally, both to allow for reduction of weight and volume of material. And so as to allow for connection of other parts, or the members, for example using cable-ties or wire.

The apparatus of the present invention thereby provides a flexible cable management 10 system for construction.

The product is flexible and allows the system to create curved and straight runs for the cable.

The trays may be envisaged to be connected to create curved and straight runs for large diameter cable.

These holes are used to rivet the plates together. The rivets are countersunk and will sit flush to the plate.

Perforations in the plate can be used to cable tie the cables in place and holes in the sides may be used to attach earth braids between trays.

The apparatus may be envisaged to come in a variety of sizes to suit different cable 25 diameters and configurations and light, medium and heavy gauge steel depending on the application and cable weights.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the 35 present invention, with a plurality of elongate members; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the apparatus generally comprising apparatus 199 for elevated cabling or piping members comprising at least two trays 1, which trays are arranged to support one or more elongate items 100, wherein each of the trays comprise a base 3, two sides 4 arranged to extend substantially orthogonally from the base in use, and one or more hanging portions, which hanging portions comprise hangers 6 extending vertically above the tray; and wherein the bases comprise extending arms providing connection means 13.

The pictured embodiment of the apparatus further comprises four elongate members 100, for carrying cabling and hangers comprising horizontal hanger portions and vertical hanger portions.

The apparatus as pictured includes three trays, which are connected by two 25 overlapped connection means. The trays have bases formed from electrically conductive material.

Additionally the trays are joined by an earthing mechanism, comprised in the pictured embodiment by earthing braided wires which reach between the sides 4 of the trays join from one side to another. The sides comprise holes 14 into which screws are screwed to form the earth connection, for an earth connection or cable 7 to connect the tray together.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a 35 cruciform tray 1 with a central section with a plurality of perforations 15 from which central section two short spurs extend, having endmost orthogonally extending sides 4, and two long arms with intermediate holes providing connection regions for passage of rivet connectors for connection with the next tray.

The spurs have perforations and the perforations extend along the initial part of the 5 arms, wherein the arms and spurs, and perforations follow a cruciform with arcuate connections between the longitudinal and lateral parts of the cruciform.

The tray is galvanised steel plate with two folded sides.

The trays may be envisaged to be manufactured in 1.5mm, 2mm and 3mm depending on the weight of the cables and the cable fie perforation dimensions may be 10mm wide by 25mm long. The overall footprint of the trays may be envisaged to be 300mm by 400mm with a height to the sides of 50mm.

The individual trays are joined in a line using rivet connectors where the shape of the trays allows the apparatus to create curved and straight runs for the cable.

The perforations in the base allow a user or installer to use cable ties 10 through the perforation and around the member 1000 so as to tie the members or cables in place.

Because the apparatus is enabled to follow the curve of the cable it eliminates current needs to oversize the tray to achieve the bend radius.

The apparatus as shown further comprises elongate rigid hangers 6 which are vertical 25 in use, extending upwards either side of the tray from horizontal girders 5 so as to provide the hanging portions 2 of the apparatus.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing 30 from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (10)

1. Claims 1 Apparatus for supporting cabling or piping comprises: a base has two side portions which extend from the base to define a tray; at least two arms that extend fore and aft of the tray to define a connection region for connecting to an adjacent tray; and a connections means is provided in each arm for receiving a connector to connect two adjacent trays.
2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base is formed from an electrically conductive material.
3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the conductive material is folded sheet metal, for example mild or galvanised steel.
4. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the sheet metal is stamped or perforated to define slots.
5. 5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim includes one or more hangers, which extend vertically above or below the tray, which connect to girders on which the tray rests.
6. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the arms and connection regions when extended form a cruciform in plan view with the sides extending orthogonally as short spurs and connection regions extending fore and aft.
7. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the connection means comprises holes in the arms.
8. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising one or more earthing cables, arranged to bond electrically at least two trays.
9. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the base has perforations for receiving a cable tie.
10. 10. A plurality of the apparatuses according to any preceding claim connected together in order to define trunking for cables or piping.