CA2145813A1 - Cable carrier - Google Patents

Cable carrier

Info

Publication number
CA2145813A1
CA2145813A1 CA 2145813 CA2145813A CA2145813A1 CA 2145813 A1 CA2145813 A1 CA 2145813A1 CA 2145813 CA2145813 CA 2145813 CA 2145813 A CA2145813 A CA 2145813A CA 2145813 A1 CA2145813 A1 CA 2145813A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
spine
cable
support
carrier unit
unit according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2145813
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lodovico Loquercio
Gregory M. Smrke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nortel Networks Ltd
Original Assignee
Northern Telecom Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Northern Telecom Ltd filed Critical Northern Telecom Ltd
Priority to CA 2145813 priority Critical patent/CA2145813A1/en
Publication of CA2145813A1 publication Critical patent/CA2145813A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/26Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor directly on or in walls, ceilings, or floors
    • H02G3/263Installation, e.g. suspension, of conduit channels or other supports

Abstract

Cable carrier for installation in buildings mainly above head height, the carrier having a rigid elongate spine and holding members to suspend the spine from overhead stationary structures. The spine detachably carries cable support members extending across it with cable side supports. The carrier may be assembled in situ with the spine firstly secured in position and other parts added subsequently.

Description

CABLE CARRIER
This invention relates to cable carriers.
For the laying of electrical and telecommunications cable throughout a factory location, cable carriers commonly referred to as "ladder racks" are universally used. Such ladder racks are made in units of about 10 ft lengths and comprise two longitudinal side members held apart by laterally extending spaced-apart parallel supports which are welded at their ends to the 1o side members to give a ladder-like appearance. A ladder rack unit is a pre-finished construction before being raised above head height into a horizontal cable support position. With a finished weight of approximately 70 lbs such a unit is rather difficult to be handled and secured in position by one person. Thus, there is a weight problem concerned with installation of ladder racks as more than one person is normally required for installation purposes.
Since its conception, many years ago, the ladder rack has been adapted for different types of cable support usage 2o which requires the addition of specialized features to the racks without any clear thought having been given to minimization of weight in the racks or to simplifying design to assist in installation of the racks.
The present invention seeks to provide a cable carrier unit which provides the functional requirements of a ladder rack unit and which is easy to install while minimizing the weight problems.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a cable carrier unit comprising a rigid elongate spine, at least one spine holding member, the spine detachably mountable to the holding member, and at least one cable support member detachably mountable to the spine and having a cable support surface element to extend across and laterally beyond each side of the spine, and the support member also having two upwardly extending cable side supports spaced-apart along the support surface element.
With the above carrier unit according to the invention, because the spine holding member and the cable support member are detachable, it is possible to assemble the carrier unit in any desired location within a building by locating the carrier unit parts individually in position and then securing them together. With this type of arrangement, clearly it is preferable to initially locate the spine holding member in a position supported from a building structure, then to locate the spine in position to to the holding member followed by the location of the cable support member on the spine itself. Dependent upon the location of spines to the placed end-to-end in series and then secured to one another, it may be found that two spine holding members may be required for any particular spine to support it. Hence, as the carrier unit is not pre-assembled before location in its desired position, then it is easier to handle particularly by a single person who is capable of lifting the parts of the carrier unit into position. Minimization of weight is of course a prime 2o consideration for the carrier unit construction and for this particular purpose the rigid elongate spine is preferably of tubular construction. The spine also preferably has on its outer surface a plurality of longitudinal grooves for location of holding means for holding the spine holding member and the cable support member in position in any desired location longitudinally of the spine.
As the holding member or members are intended to support the weight of the spine, then each holding member 3o preferably comprises an upwardly open channel for receiving the spine within the channel with the weight of the spine supported by the base of the channel. Each cable support member may also comprise an inverted U-shaped channel for straddling the spine with the sides of the channel extending downwardly on each side of the spine so that the spine carries the cable support member and transmits the .2145813 weight of any cable onto the spine holding members.
Separate support means may be provided for supporting elongate signal transmission means other than cable to be supported directly by the cable support elements, such ~5 signal transmission means possibly being in the form of smaller and lighter cables such as optical cables or optical cable units containing fibers. This support means is preferably in the form of a trough which is locatable in an upwardly open position extending from and secured to io spaced-apart cable support members positioned along the spine.
The invention also includes a cable carrier comprising a plurality of rigid elongate spines locatable in end-to-end series along a desired path of the carrier; a 15 plurality of spine holding members, the spines being detachably mountable to the holding members with the holding members disposed in spaced positions along the desired path; a plurality of cable support members detachably mountable in spaced-apart positions along the 2o series of spines, each cable support member having a cable support surface element to extend across and laterally beyond each side of the spines, and each support member also having two upwardly extending cable side supports spaced-apart along the support surface element.
25 Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 relates to a first embodiment and is an isometric view of a rigid elongate spine of a cable carrier 3o unit according to the embodiment;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1 and to a larger scale Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a spine holding member of the carrier unit:
35 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a cable support member of the carrier unit:

_2145813 Figure 5 is an isometric view to smaller scale of part of a cable carrier of the first embodiment;
Figure 6 is an isometric view of part of a cable carrier according to a second embodiment;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a support means of the carrier unit;
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 of part of a cable carrier according to a third embodiment; and Figure 9 is an isometric view of part of a cable 1o carrier according to a fourth embodiment.
As shown in Figure 1, a rigid elongate spine 10 for a cable carrier unit may be of any desired length, i.e.
between 6 ft and 10 ft in length and is of tubular construction and comprises two sides each of which is formed by two channels 12, each channel having two sides 14 and the two channels being secured together side-by-side with adjacent sides 14 riveted together and with the channels opening sideways of the spine in the same direction. A free end of each side 14 is turned inwardly 2o as a double flange construction 16 with the free end of each flange facing inwardly towards the base of its respective channel as shown by Figure 2. The two pairs of channels 12 are held apart to form the tubular structure by top and bottom plates 18 and 20 which are riveted to the upper and lower sides 14 of the assembled channels 12 on each side of the spine.
As shown in Figure 3 a spine holding member 22 for supporting the channel 10 in a horizontal position extending across a building above head height, comprises a 3o short upwardly open channel section 24 providing an attachment region of the holding member. A rigid beam 26 extending transversely beneath the U-shaped channel 24 and secured thereto provides, at its ends, two carrier support regions in which two holes 28 are formed for supporting vertical support rods 30 (see Figure 5) for hanging the spine holding member from a building structure. Each side of the channel 24 is formed with two spaced pairs of holes 25, the holes in each pair vertically aligned for securing bolts to extend into one or more channels 12 of the spine.
The carrier unit is also equipped with a plurality of cable support members which are to be assembled onto the spine 10 when this has been located in its desired position. As shown by Figure 4, each cable support member 32 comprises a short inverted U-shaped channel 34 for straddling the spine 10, with sides of the channel 1o extending one down each side of the spine. Each side 36 of the channel 34 is formed with two holes 38 for location of securing bolts to extend into one or more of the channels 12 of the spine for holding the cable support member in position. The cable support member is also provided with a cable support element and side supports integrally formed from a single flat bar 38. The bar is bent at two positions to provide a support surface element 42 straddling the U-shaped channel 34 and two spaced apart side supports 44 extending upwardly from the ends of the 2o element 42. At each of the bend positions a bite 41 is provided for strengthening purposes, each bite being formed by pressing material from the plane of the flat bar.
A cable carrier (Figure 5) to be built extending along a desired path through a building comprises a plurality of in-series carrier units 48 each having a spine 10, at least one spine holding member 22 and at least one cable support member 32. The number of members 22 and 32 for each spine 10 is dependent upon the length of the spine and the closeness of the next member 22 or 32 along the 3o carrier path. A plurality of spine holding members 22 are located along the desired path in desired positions apart, are supported by the support rods 30 (Figure 5) from suitable parts of the building structure, and are joined end-to-end by side brackets 46 and securing nut and bolt assemblies 49. These assemblies 49 incorporate a spring to hold the nut against the free ends of the two flanges 16 which face inwardly into the channel 12 within which the nut is received. The nut has two grooves which are forced by the spring onto the free ends of the flanges 16 to prevent nut rotation while the bolt is screwed into position. The assemblies 49 are suitably manufactured by Unistrut and are commercially referred to as "spring nuts".
With the holding members 22 loosely located in position, a plurality of the spines 10 are disposed end-to-end in series along the carrier path and supported inside to the U-shaped channels 24 as shown by Figure 5 and the brackets 46 used to connect the spines. In the case of the path being curved at any position, then a spine 10 (not shown) is pre-formed in a suitably curved shape to follow the desired path at this location. The spines are of minimum weight, partly because of their tubular construction, and in lengths of up to 10 ft, are easily lifted into position inside the U-shaped channels 24 by one person who is then capable of using nut and bolt assemblies 49 through one or more of the holes 25 in the channels 24 2o to be received within one or more of the channels 12 of the spines 10 so as to hold them in position.
After the spines 10 have been secured in the channels 24 and the spine holding members 22 are also secured in their hanging positions from the building structure, then a plurality of the cable support members 32 are disposed in desired positions apart along the spine construction. As shown by Figure 5, this part of the assembly is effected by causing the U-shaped channels 34 to straddle the respective spines 10 and again inserting 3o securing bolts 49 through desired holes 38 and into the channels 12 of the spine.
In this completed assembly, cables 50 may then be fed along the carrier so as to be supported in spaced positions by the cable supporting members 32 as shown by Figure 5.

.~ 214 ~'~.~ ~
In the event that cables tend to droop between the supporting members 32, possibly because of the amount of cables, then as shown by Figure 6, then in a second embodiment a support platform 40 is provided. This platform extends from member to member 32 and is carried by and secured to the support surface elements 42.
If it is required for the cable to support other signal transmission means of smaller cross-section than the cables 50 and there is reason for this signal transmission 1o means to be held separate from the cables 50, e.g. for ease of accessibility, then for this purpose, a support means 52 is provided in a third embodiment as shown in Figures 7 and 8. A support means 52 comprises a straight sided trough with outwardly turned flanges 54 from the free ends of the sides of the trough. As shown in Figure 8, a trough may be located to extend between and be supported by the cable support members 32 and this is made possible by securing bolts 56 passing through holes 58 in the flanges 54 and through aligned holes in turned-over ends 62 of the side 2o supports 44 of the members 32. The trough may also be supported by and riveted to the support elements 42 members 32. As shown by Figure 8, only one trough 52 is included and this is for the purpose of carrying optical cables or fibers in tubes (not shown). However, another trough 52 may be located to be supported by the other side supports 44 of the cable support members 32. The trough 52 is formed at suitable positions with downwardly opening guide channels 64 (Figure 8) for directing optical cables or tubes fibers to terminals.
3o As shown by a fourth embodiment (Figure 9), it is not essential for the spines 10 to require spine holding members such as members 22 to support them from a ceiling.
In the fourth embodiment, where applicable, spines 10 are supported upon stanchions 70 and are secured thereto by holding members in the form of brackets 72 by using nut and bolt assemblies 49 as in previous embodiments.

2~ ~~81 _8_ As may be seen from the above embodiments, the cable carrier of the invention is composed of a plurality of parts which are to be assembled along the intended path of the cable carrier 46. The design of the spine of each carrier unit, which is the element of greatest weight, is such as to minimize that weight for lifting and assembly purposes while providing required strength and rigidity and enabling other parts of the unit to be assembled to it. In addition, a minimal number of parts are required, as shown to by the various embodiments, to provide all necessary functions of the carrier.

Claims (12)

1. A cable carrier unit comprising a rigid elongate spine, at least one spine holding member, the spine being detachably mountable to the holding member and at least one cable support member detachably mountable to the spine and having a cable support surface element to extend across and laterally beyond each side of the spine, and the support member also having two upwardly extending cable side supports spaced-apart along the support surface element.
2. A cable carrier unit according to claim 1 wherein the spine is tubular.
3. A cable carrier unit according to claim 2 wherein the spine holding member has an attachment region for detachably mounting the spine and two carrier support regions extending one from each side of the attachment region to extend laterally outwardly from each side of the spine to support the holding member and the spine from an overhead support structure.
4. A cable carrier unit according to claim 3 wherein the spine is provided with outwardly opening channel elements for location of holding means for the holding member and for the cable support member with the holding and support members in any desired position longitudinally of the spine.
5. A cable carrier unit according to claim 3 wherein the attachment region of the holding member is provided by an upwardly open channel for receiving the spine with sides of the channel disposed one on each side of the spine.
6. A cable carrier unit according to claim 5 wherein the channel sides are provided with at least one aperture for reception of a securing bolt to secure the channel to the spine.
7. A cable carrier unit according to claim 5 wherein the holding member comprises a rigid beam secured to and extend transversely of the channel, the rigid beam having holes at opposite ends for reception of hanging rods at the carrier support regions to enable the holding member to hang from a building structure.
8. A cable carrier unit according to claim 1 wherein the cable support member comprises an inverted U-shaped channel for straddling and receiving the spine with sides of the inverted channel disposed one on each side of the spine and the cable support element extends over the top of and is secured to the inverted channel.
9. A cable carrier unit according to claim 8 wherein the cable support element and the side supports are formed from a single flat bar which is bent upwardly at each end of the support element to provide the side supports, and a strengthening bite is provided at each bend position.
10. A cable carrier unit according to claim 9 including a support means provided for supporting elongate signal transmission means, the support means mountable upon side supports of the cable support members.
11. A cable carrier unit according to claim 10 wherein the support means comprises a trough locatable in an upwardly open position extending from and secured to spaced-apart cable support elements positioned along the spine.
12. A cable carrier comprising:-a plurality of rigid elongate spines locatable in end-to-end series along a desired path of the carrier;
a plurality of spring holding members, the spines being detachably mountable to the holding members with the holding members disposed in spaced positions along the desired path;
a plurality of cable support members detachably mountable in spaced-apart positions along the series of spines, each cable support member having a cable support surface element to extend across and laterally beyond each side of the spines, and each support member along having two upwardly extending cable side supports spaced-apart along the support surface element.
CA 2145813 1995-03-29 1995-03-29 Cable carrier Abandoned CA2145813A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2145813 CA2145813A1 (en) 1995-03-29 1995-03-29 Cable carrier

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2145813 CA2145813A1 (en) 1995-03-29 1995-03-29 Cable carrier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2145813A1 true CA2145813A1 (en) 1996-09-30

Family

ID=4155525

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2145813 Abandoned CA2145813A1 (en) 1995-03-29 1995-03-29 Cable carrier

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2145813A1 (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6637165B2 (en) Raised floor system and support apparatus
US7810438B2 (en) Slot channel overhead storage platform
US6409031B1 (en) Ceiling mounted rack
US6347493B1 (en) Raised floor system and support apparatus
US5899041A (en) Supporting member for lattice structures
AU2004304409B2 (en) Accessory for lifting and bonding wire cable trays
US6192181B1 (en) Optical cable exit trough
US20040055232A1 (en) Raised floor system and support apparatus
US5323988A (en) Seismic brace for electric cable tray
US20020023888A1 (en) Ceiling mounted rack
EP1012937B1 (en) Flexible cable management system
AU3257100A (en) Bar hanger and mounting clip assembly
US4269380A (en) Flat type cable suspension structure
US4781005A (en) Ceiling panel carrier adapter member
WO1988004486A1 (en) Device for securing cables to a ladder-type cable support
CA2145813A1 (en) Cable carrier
US20010007341A1 (en) Flexible cable management system
EP1475559A2 (en) Support bracket for cable-carrier systems
EP1936766B9 (en) Raised floor system and support apparatus
CA2396792C (en) Raised floor system and support apparatus
JPS5926751Y2 (en) cable rack
EP2028739A1 (en) Mounting cable baskets and the like
SU1520617A1 (en) Device for cable laying
FI72232B (en) KABELHAOLLARE SOM MONTERAS I SAMBAND MED EN TRAPPSTEGE
JPH0627418B2 (en) Assembly type grating

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead