AU3039599A

AU3039599A - Wiring duct and accessory capable of being directly mounted on said wiring duct

Info

Publication number: AU3039599A
Application number: AU30395/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Jacques Claisse; Eric Guillerault
Original assignee: Planet Wattohm SNC
Current assignee: Planet Wattohm SNC
Priority date: 1998-04-03
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 1999-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-01
Also published as: EP0986849A1; DE69937025D1; PL192613B1; DE69937025T2; BR9906342A; EP0986849B1; ZA997451B; TR199902964T1; PL337236A1; FR2777129B1; WO1999052189A1; HUP0003287A3; AU746545B2; AR018817A1; FR2777129A1; DE986849T1; ATE372600T1; ES2149152T1; ES2149152T3; HUP0003287A2

Description

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 1 "Cable trunking and accessory adapted to be mounted on it" The present invention is generally concerned with cable trunking used in electrical equipment cabinets to 5 route and protect electrical cables, for example. The trunking has a generally U-shaped cross section defined by a base and two side flanges and spaced openings in at least one of the side flanges, in practice in each of them, for local entry or exit of one or more electrical 10 cables at one or more chosen locations along its length. In practice the openings are substantially perpendicular to the base and usually open onto the free edge of the side flanges to facilitate routing the electrical cables, the pairs of openings delimiting 15 parallel tongues on the side flanges. For the side flanges divided into tongues this way to retain sufficient mechanical strength it is currently standard practice for the openings to begin at a distance from the base. 20 Being manufactured in particular lengths, cable trunking of this kind often needs to be cut to length, in particular to suit practical conditions of use. It is usually cut to length in line with the openings to benefit from the existing separation provided 25 thereby. However, the remaining material between the blind ends of the openings and the base sometimes makes cutting the trunking to length difficult and inaccurate. The same applies when a localized region of either 30 side flange must be entirely eliminated to enable the trunking to be butt-jointed laterally to other trunking, for example at a Tee. A general object of the present invention is an arrangement which facilitates the above operations and has 35 further advantages.

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 2 To be more precise, it consists firstly in cable trunking having a generally U-shaped cross section delimited by a base and two side flanges and spaced openings on at least one of the side flanges for local 5 entry or exit of at least one electrical cable, the trunking being generally characterized in that it has at least one orifice vertically in line with at least one of the openings in at least one of its side flanges, between that opening and the base. 10 The orifice advantageously facilitates cutting the side flange concerned at this location by reducing the amount of material to be cut through below the corresponding opening. This advantageously facilitates cutting the 15 trunking to any required length and locally eliminating one of the side flanges by cutting a panel out of it. At the same time, the mechanical strength of the side flanges is preserved. Thus a beneficial compromise has been arrived at 20 between a relatively small size of the openings in the side flanges, so that the side flanges retain satisfactory mechanical strength, and acceptable ease of cutting of the side flanges. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of 25 the orifices provided in accordance with the invention has on the same side as the base of the cable trunking two lateral edges which converge at least locally, with a generally pointed shape directed towards the base. This configuration of the orifices has the 30 advantage of guiding the cutting tool used to cut the trunking to length or to eliminate locally one of its side flanges, which is to the benefit of the quality of the corresponding cut. In addition to facilitating cutting, the orifices 35 provided in accordance with the invention have other 4;~Ap WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 3 advantages. First of all, a cable tie can be passed through them. A tie can be passed between the side flanges and 5 around the base to press some or all of the electrical cables onto the base, which is particularly beneficial when the trunking is vertical, as is frequently the case. A tie can also be one used to fix any article to the trunking, in particular a connecting sheath between it 10 and other trunking, as when one length of trunking is inside an electrical equipment cabinet and another length of trunking is on the back of the door of the cabinet. Either of the orifices provided in accordance with the invention can advantageously be used to attach locally 15 to the trunking an accessory provided specifically for this purpose. In this regard, the present invention also consists in an accessory for cable trunking, characterized in that it includes at least one locally projecting clip adapted to 20 hook onto one of the side flanges of the cable trunking by means of any of the orifices in accordance with the invention in that side flange. The accessory in accordance with the invention can include, for example, in the manner of a bracket, a jamb 25 adapted to be placed against the side flange to which it is to be attached, and which therefore carries projecting clips, and a crosspiece extending cantilever fashion from the jamb and adapted to overlie the base of the trunking at least locally, at a distance from the base and over at 30 least a part of its width. By virtue of this crosspiece, which does not significantly impede the installation of electrical cables, the accessory is advantageously able to assure some retention of the electrical cables either because a cover 35 normally provided for this purpose is temporarily absent,

A

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 4 for example before it is fitted or because it has been temporarily removed, or permanently compensating for its absence if no such cover is provided. In accordance with a further feature of the 5 invention, the accessory used in this way can itself enable the fitting of a cover. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, for example, the accessory has a groove into which a cover can be clipped on its back, i.e. on the side opposite the 10 crosspiece. The present invention further consists in cable trunking equipped with at least one such accessory by means of an orifice in vertical alignment with at least one of the openings in at least one of its side flanges. 15 The invention, its features and advantages emerge from the following description given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: figure 1 is a partial perspective view of trunking 20 in accordance with the invention, figure 2 is a partly cut-away partial view of the trunking in elevation, as seen in the direction of the arrow II in figure 1 and to a larger scale, figure 3 is a perspective view showing the 25 construction of a branch from such trunking, figure 4 is a partial perspective view of another form of cable trunking in accordance with the invention, equipped with accessories in accordance with the invention and associated with a cover, 30 figure 5 is a view of the cable trunking and the accessories fitted to it in cross section taken along the line V-V in figure 4, figure 6 shows the detail VI from figure 5 to a larger scale, 35 figure 7 is a perspective view of an accessory in WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 5 accordance with the invention shown in isolation, figure 8 is an elevation view of the accessory as seen in the direction of the arrow VIII in figure 7 and to a different scale, 5 figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment analogous to that of figure 5, figure 10 shows the detail X from figure 9 to a larger scale, figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of another 10 embodiment of the invention also analogous to that of figure 5, figure 12 shows the detail XII from figure 11 to a larger scale, figure 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of 15 another embodiment of the invention analogous to that of figure 13, figure 14 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of the cable trunking of the invention analogous to that of figure 1, 20 figure 15 shows the detail XV from figure 14 to a larger scale, figure 16 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of cable trunking in accordance with the invention analogous to that of figure 1 and to a different 25 scale, figure 17 is a partial elevation view of this embodiment analogous to that of figure 2, as seen in the direction of the arrow XVII in figure 16 and to a larger scale, 30 figure 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the invention analogous to that of figure 7, and figure 19 is a partial elevation view of another embodiment of cable trunking of the invention analogous to 35 that of figure 17.

LJ

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 6 As shown in the figures, and in a manner that is well known in the art, the cable trunking 10 in accordance with the invention has a generally U-shaped cross section delimited by a base 11 and two side flanges 12. 5 In the embodiments shown the base 11 is f lat and the side flanges 12 are substantially perpendicular to it. In a manner that is well known in the art, at least one of the side flanges 12 has spaced openings 13 for local entry or exit of at least one electrical cable, not shown, 10 if required. As is the case in the embodiments shown, each side flange 12 preferably includes spaced openings 13 in this way. In practice, the side flanges 12 are identical and 15 in particular have the same height. As is the case in the embodiments shown, the openings 13 are preferably at a regular pitch P and the openings 13 in the two side flanges 12 are preferably in corresponding relationship to each other. 20 In practice, the openings 13 are identical. In the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 8 and 14 to 17, they all open freely onto the free edge 14 of the side flanges 12, in the manner of slots or notches. In these embodiments, each therefore extends from a 25 blind end 16 to an open end 17 and pairs of them delimit parallel tongues 18 in the side flanges 12. In the embodiments shown, the width L2 of the tongues 18 is of the same order of magnitude as (slightly greater than) the width Li of the openings 13, although 30 this is not essential. In practice, the blind end 16 of the openings 13 is at a distance from the base 11. In the embodiments shown, the openings 13 have a straight bottom 20 at the blind end 16 substantially 35 parallel to the base 11. AZ 14+ WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 7 For the most part, the lateral edges 21 of the openings 13 are globally straight, parallel and substantially perpendicular to the base 11. However, in the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 5 13, 16 and 17, lugs 22 project locally from each of the lateral edges 21, at one level thereon at least, to locally reduce the width of the openings 13. As shown here, for example, lugs 22 of this kind are provided half way up the openings 13 and near their 10 open end 17. As is the case in the embodiments shown, at least the lugs 22 near the open end 17 of the openings 13 preferably together form a shoulder 24 substantially parallel to the base 11 between the lateral edges 21 of an 15 opening 13. According to the invention, the cable trunking 10 has at least one orifice 25 vertically in line with at least one of the openings 13 in at least one of the side flanges 12, between the opening 13 and the base 11. 20 In the embodiments shown, each of the side flanges 12 has spaced openings 13 and there is at least one orifice 25 vertically in line with each opening. In practice, the orifice 25 has a closed contour. In the embodiments shown, at the end adjoining the 25 base 11 it has two lateral edges 26 which converge at least locally to form a point 27 directed towards the base 11. In the embodiments shown, at least one of the lateral edges 26 of the orifices 25 is substantially perpendicular to the base 11 over at least part of its 30 length. Finally, in the embodiments shown, at the end adjoining the associated opening 13 the orifices 25 have an edge 28 parallel to the base 11 and therefore to the bottom edge 20 of the opening 13, delimiting a flange 30. 35 In the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 15, there ?uA WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 8 is only one orifice 25 under each opening 13 in the side flanges 12 and its width is substantially equal to the width Ll of the openings 13. As is the case in the embodiments shown, the 5 orifice 25 is preferably symmetrical about an axis A substantially perpendicular to the base 11. The axis A is shown diagrammatically in chain dotted line in figure 2. In each of the orifices 25, it passes through the 10 point 27 of the orifice 25. Because of the corresponding symmetry, each of the lateral edges 26 of the orifices 25 is in this case substantially perpendicular to the base 11 over at least part of its length. 15 However, because of the point 27, the lateral edges 26 are perpendicular to the base 11 over only a part of their length from the edge 28. In other words, in the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 15, the lateral edges 26 of the orifices 25 have in 20 succession, starting from the edge 28, a section 31 substantially perpendicular to the base 11 and a section 32 oblique to the base 11, converging towards the corresponding section 32 of the other lateral edge 26 to form the point 27 on the axis A. 25 Cutting the cable trunking 10 to length in line with the openings 13 is facilitated by the orifices 25 provided in accordance with the invention by removing material from between the openings 13 in the side flanges 12 and the base 11. 30 Cutting to length involves only cutting through the corresponding flange 30 and the remaining material between the point 27 of the orifices 25 and the base 11. Because of the point 27, the cutting tool used to cut the trunking to length is advantageously guided towards 35 the corresponding axis A by sliding along the oblique L' r, WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 9 section 32 of one or other lateral edge 26 of the orifice 25 concerned. As shown in figure 3, if required only one of the side flanges 12 can be cut, for practically total local 5 elimination thereof. An opening 34 can be formed in this way in the side flange 12 for butt-jointing the cable trunking 10 laterally, in the direction of the arrow F1 in figure 3, to another length of cable trunking 10, for example to form a 10 Tee. The cable trunking 10 butt-jointed laterally in this way to the trunking that has been cut can be at a right angle thereto. However, it can equally well be at any other angle 15 to the other cable trunking 10 if it is cut accordingly. As mentioned above, the orifices 25 provided in accordance with the invention can also be used to attach a tie, not shown. As shown in figures 4 to 13, they can also be used 20 to attach an accessory 35 of any kind specifically designed for this purpose to the cable trunking 10. Essentially, all that is required for this is that the accessory 35 include at least one locally projecting clip 36 adapted to hook onto one side flange 12 of the 25 cable trunking 10 in any of the orifices 25 vertically in line with the openings 13 in that side flange 12. In the embodiments shown, the accessory 35 in accordance with the invention provided in this way includes a jamb 37 adapted to be placed against one of the side 30 flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10 and which carries a projecting clip or clips 36 and a crosspiece 38 which extends cantilever fashion from the jamb 37 and is adapted to overlie at least locally the base 11 of the cable trunking 10, at a distance from the base 11 and over at 35 least a part of the width thereof.

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 10 As shown here, for example, the jamb 37 is a flat strip and the crosspiece 38 is continuous with the jamb 37 and has the same width L3. As shown here, for example, the width L3 is 5 sufficient that, once applied, symmetrically, to a tongue 18, the jamb 37 of the accessory 35 extends laterally, in the widthwise direction, at least as far as each of the nearest two tongues 18, so covering two openings 13. This is not obligatory, however, of course. 10 To the contrary, the jamb 37 can equally well span only one of the adjacent openings 13, or even extend only along the tongue 18 to which it is fitted (see below). In an embodiment of the invention that is not shown, it can equally span two tongues 18 and one 15 opening 13. The crosspiece 38 extends in the manner of an awning relative to the jamb 37. In the embodiment shown in figures 4 to 8, the crosspiece 38 forms a dihedron and has successively, 20 starting from the jamb 37, a first section 39 oblique to the jamb 37 and a second section 40 oblique to the previous section and forming a rim directed towards the inside of the cable trunking 10 and substantially parallel to the base 11 thereof. 25 In the embodiment shown in figures 4 to 8, the accessory 35 is on the inside face of the side flange 12 to which it is applied and has two closely spaced clips 36 which are oriented in opposite directions and are adapted to grip one of the flanges 30 that the side flange 12 30 concerned of the cable trunking 10 forms locally between its openings 13 and its orifices 25. The fact that the edge 28 of an orifice 25 which delimits a flange 30 in this way is straight and parallel to the base 11 obviously facilitates clipping the 35 corresponding clip 36 onto the flange 30.

UJ!

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 11 Likewise in respect of the bottom 20 of the opening 13 concerned. In practice, the clips 36 of the accessory 35 are elastically deformable and both are hook-shaped. 5 As is the case in the embodiments shown, the accessory 35 preferably includes, at a distance from its clips 36, complementary clipping means adapted to hook onto the side flange 12 concerned of the cable trunking 10. In the embodiment shown in figures 4 to 8, the 10 additional clipping means comprise at least one other clip 36, parallel to the others, and by means of which the accessory 35 can be hooked onto the shoulder 24 formed by the lugs 22 near the open end 17 of the opening 13 concerned. 15 In the embodiment shown, the accessory 35 in practice spans a tongue 18 and two openings 13 and includes, as seen more clearly in figure 8, two pairs of clips 36 at one end of its jamb 37, at the same level and separated by a distance at least equal to the width L2 of 20 the tongues 18 and two clips 36 at the other end of its jamb 37, at the same, higher level, and separated by the same distance as the clips 36 of the previous pairs. All the clips 36 are on the back of the accessory 35, to be more precise on the back of its jamb 37, i.e. on 25 the side opposite its crosspiece 38. In the embodiment shown, the jamb 37 of the accessory 35 has an opening 42 in its middle part, extending parallel to its lateral edges over the greater part of its height between the clips 36 at the lower level 30 and the clips 36 at the higher level and having a width substantially equal to the width L2 of the tongues 18. For example, the crosspiece 38 of the accessory 35 extends at most half the width of the base 11 of the cable trunking 10 and, as shown in the figures, there are two 35 accessories 35 facing each other on the cable trunking 10, WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 12 one attached to one side flange 12 of the cable trunking 10 and the other attached to the other side flange 12, as symbolized for one of them by an arrow F2 in figure 5. However, in another embodiment of the invention 5 that is not shown, the crosspiece 38 extends more than half the width of the base 11 and the accessories 35 alternate between one side flange 12 and the other so that their crosspieces 38 are interleaved with each other. Be this as it may, the accessories 35 used in this 10 way obviously do not impede the installation of electrical cables in the cable trunking 10 but their crosspiece 38 thereafter assures some retention of the electrical cables, if required. In the embodiment shown in figures 4 to 8 the cable 15 trunking 10 is associated with a cover 44. To this end the side flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10, to be more precise the tongues 18 which constitute them, are shaped along their free edge 14 to constitute two back-to-back external grooves 45 into which 20 the cover 44 can be clipped. The cover 44 has two upstanding lips 46 along its longitudinal edges and each of which is curved inwards, for example, as shown here. Alternatively, one function of the accessory 35 in 25 accordance with the invention can be to attach a cover 44 of this kind. This is the case in the embodiments of the invention shown in figures 9 to 17, in which, as in the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3, the side flanges 12 of 30 the cable trunking 10 do not form grooves 45 in the vicinity of their free edge 14. In the embodiment shown in f igures 9 and 10, the accessory 35 is on the inside face of the side flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10, as symbolized for one of them by 35 an arrow F2 in figure 9. Lb 7

\

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 13 However, it has only one clip 36 in line with the orifices 25 in the lateral flanges 12 and adapted to hook onto the corresponding flange 30 by means of the orifices 25, on the same side thereof as the base 11. 5 Also as previously, the accessory 35 has complementary clipping means at a distance from the clip 36 and consisting of a clip 36 which is oriented in the opposite direction to the clip 36 previously referred to and adapted to hook onto the free edge 14 of the side 10 flange 12 concerned. In the embodiment shown, the openings 13 in the side flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10 have a closed contour, for example. However, as previously, the contour could equally 15 well be an open contour, the upper clip 36 then interengaging with a shoulder of the same type as the corresponding shoulder 24. In the embodiment shown, the accessory 35 has on its back, i.e. on the side opposite its crosspiece 38, a 20 groove 48 for clipping on the cover 44 and the cover 44 has at the end of each of its upstanding edges 46 a complementary bead 49 to enable such clipping. As shown here, for example, the groove 48 on the back of the accessory 35 is substantially level with the 25 point at which its crosspiece 38 joins onto its jamb 37. In the embodiment shown, the groove 48 and the beads 49 on the cover 44 are rounded, with a circular cross-section, for pivotal mounting of the cover 44. Accordingly, and as symbolized in chain-dotted 30 outline in figure 9, the cover 44 can be opened from one side or the other, by pivoting about its opposite longitudinal edge, as shown by the arrow F3 in figure 9, for example. In the embodiment shown in figures 11 and 12, the 35 arrangements are substantially the same as those described R ~AL/~

LU

WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 14 with reference to figures 9 and 10, but instead of being on the inside face of the side flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10, the accessories 35 provided in accordance with the invention are on the outside face thereof, as 5 symbolized for one of them by an arrow F'2 in figure 11. The complementary clipping means on the accessory 35 at the level of the free edge 14 of the side flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10 comprise a simple bead 36'. In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 10 13 the arrangements are substantially the same as those described with reference to figures 11 and 12 but, instead of being rounded, the groove 48 on the back of the accessory 35 has a polygonal profile in cross-section, which rules out pivotal mounting of the cover 44. 15 In the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 14 and 15 the openings 13 in the side flanges 12 open freely onto the free edge 14 of the side flanges 12, as in the embodiments described with reference to figures 1 to 8, but there is no lug 22 on the lateral edges 21 of the 20 openings 13. Otherwise, the arrangements are as previously. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the cable trunking 10 has a weaker longitudinal area 51 in at least one of its side flanges 12, in practice in each of 25 them, running its entire length in the vicinity of the orifice(s) 25 on a side flange 12 of this kind, or even level therewith. As shown here, for example, the weaker area 51 is the result of the presence of a groove 52 recessed into the 30 inside face of the side flanges 12. Similarly, in the embodiment shown, the cable trunking 10 has spaced transverse weaker areas 53 on its base 11, in corresponding relationship with the openings 13 in at least one of its side flanges 12, and for example, as 35 shown here, of the same type as the preceding one, each WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 15 resulting from the presence of a groove 54 recessed into the inside face of the base 11 and each extending from one of the side flanges 12 to the other. Obviously, the weaker areas 51, 53 facilitate 5 cutting the cable trunking 10, for example to make a branch connection of the type shown in figure 3. Obviously, the weaker areas 51, 53 are independent of the shape of the side flanges 12 and in particular of the configuration of the openings 13 therein. 10 In the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 16 and 17 there are at least two orifices 25 per opening 13 in the side flanges 12 of the cable trunking 10, at the same level relative to the base 11. As shown here, for example, only two such orifices 15 25 are provided in a side-by-side arrangement and the two orifices 25 are symmetrical to each other about an axis A substantially perpendicular to the base 11. As previously, each has a closed contour. Also as previously, to facilitate the guidance of a 20 cutting tool, they have two lateral edges 26 which converge at least locally on the same side as the base 11 to form a point 27 directed towards the base 11. One of the lateral edges 26, here the outermost one, is substantially perpendicular to the base 11 over its 25 entire length. The other one, and thus here the innermost one, is perpendicular to the base 11 over only part of its length, the remainder being oblique to the base 11 and therefore to the other lateral edge 26. 30 Finally, as previously, to facilitate the action of a clip 36 of an accessory 35, each orifice 25 has an edge 28 parallel to the base 11 on the same side as the associated opening 13. Thus each orifice 25 has a trapezium-shaped 35 contour. ALU ((To 'P~V WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 16 In the embodiment shown, their overall footprint extends in the widthwise direction substantially the width Ll of the associated opening 13. Otherwise, the arrangements are as before. 5 In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 18, and as mentioned above, the accessory 35 in accordance with the invention is adapted to extend in the widthwise direction across only the tongue 18 to which it is fitted. The width L3 of its jamb 37 is then substantially 10 equal to the width L2 of the tongue 18. In this embodiment of the invention the jamb 37 is solid. The bottom clips 36 project from the edges of the jamb 37 and likewise the upper clips 36 which, in order to 15 hook onto a tongue 18, are perpendicular to the bottom clips instead of parallel to them. In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 19 there is one orifice 25 vertically in line with at least two openings 13. 20 As shown here, for example, the orifice 25 is associated with only two openings 13. Alternatively, it can be associated with a greater number of openings 13, however. Otherwise, the arrangements are as before. 25 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown but encompasses any variant execution and/or combination of their various component parts.

WJJI

Claims

1. Cable trunking having a generally U-shaped cross section delimited by a base (11) and two side flanges (12) and spaced openings (13) on at least one of the side 5 flanges (12) for local entry or exit of at least one electrical cable, characterized in that it has at least one orifice (25) vertically in line with at least one 6f the openings (13) in at least one of its side flanges (12), between that opening (13) and the base (11). 10

2. Cable trunking according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifice (25) has a closed contour.

3. Cable trunking according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the orifice (25) has two lateral 15 edges (26) which on the same side as the base (11) converge at least locally to form a point (27) directed towards the base (11).

4. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the lateral 20 edges (26) of the orifice (25) is substantially perpendicular to the base (11) over at least part of its length.

5. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the orifice (25) has an edge 25 (28) parallel to the base (11) on the same side as the associated opening (13).

6. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the orifice (25) is symmetrical about an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the base 30 (11).

7. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that there are at least two orifices (25) for the same opening (13) and at the same level relative to the base (11). 35

8. Cable trunking according to claim 7, WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 18 characterized in that the two orifices (25) are symmetrical about an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the base (11).

9. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 5 to 8, characterized in that at least one of its side flanges (12) has a longitudinal weaker area (51) which runs its entire length in the vicinity of the orifice(s) (25) in that side flange (12), or even level therewith.

10. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 10 1 to 9, characterized in that it includes spaced transverse weaker areas (53) in its base (11) in corresponding relationship to the openings (13) in at least one of its side flanges (12).

11. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 15 1 to 10, characterized in that each of its side flanges (12) has spaced openings (13) and there is at least one orifice (25) vertically in line with each of them.

12. Cable trunking according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that there is one orifice (25) 20 vertically in line with at least two openings (13).

13. Accessory for cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it includes at least one locally projecting clip (36) adapted to hook onto one of the side flanges (12) of the cable trunking (10) by 25 means of any of the orifices (25) in that side flange (12) vertically in line with its openings (13).

14. Accessory according to claim 13, characterized in that it includes two closely spaced clips (36) adapted to grip a flange (30) that the side flange (12) concerned 30 of the cable trunking (10) forms locally between its openings (13) and its orifices (25).

15. Accessory according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized in that it includes a jamb (37) adapted to be placed against one of the side flanges (12) of the cable 35 trunking (10) and from which its clip(s) (36) extend(s) and WO 99/52189 PCT/FR99/00762 19 a crosspiece (38) extending cantilever fashion from the jamb (37) and adapted to overlie at least locally the base (11) of the cable trunking (10) at a distance from the base (11) and over at least part of its width. 5

16. Accessory according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it includes, at a distance from its clip(s) (36), complementary clipping means adapted to hook onto the side flange (12) concerned of the cable trunking (10). 10

17. Accessory according to claim 16, characterized in that the complementary clipping means comprise at least one other clip (36).

18. Accessory according to claim 16, characterized in that the complementary clipping means comprise a bead 15 (36').

19. Accessory according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that it has on the back, i.e. on the side opposite its crosspiece (38), a groove (48) into which a cover (44) can be clipped.

20 20. Accessory according to claim 19, characterized in that the groove (48) on its back is rounded for pivotal mounting of the cover (48).

21. Accessory according to claim 19 or claim 20, characterized in that the groove (48) in its back is 25 substantially level with the point where its crosspiece (38) joins onto its jamb (37).

22. Cable trunking according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is equipped with at least one accessory (35) according to any one of claims 13 to 21.