FR3095558A1 - COVER FIXING ELEMENT FOR CABLE TRACK - Google Patents

Abstract

Element (3) for fixing a cover (2) on a section (1) of cable tray extending in a longitudinal direction, the section and the cover defining a space internal to the cable tray, the cover comprising an edge lateral, the fastening element comprising a bearing zone shaped to be complementary to an upper face of the lateral edge of the cover, the fastening element comprising a fastening zone on a wing of the section, the fastening element comprising at least two longitudinally spaced hooks, each hook comprising a part of said bearing zone, each hook comprising a part of said hooking zone Figure for the abstract: FIG. 1

Description

COVER FIXING ELEMENT FOR CABLE TRAY

The invention relates to cable trays, and more specifically to cable trays and cable ladders provided with a cover.

The cable trays can be wire or perforated sheet or not, the expressions "cable tray", "wire cable tray", "perforated cable tray", "cable tray with solid base" being defined in reference to IEC 61537.

Cable trays and cable ladders are mainly present in professional buildings, in particular industrial constructions, stations and tunnels, ports, airports, engineering structures, commercial buildings.

Cable trays are structures for supporting, both in a vertical and horizontal configuration, in particular electric cables, telephone cables, fiber optic cables, computer network cables or pipes.

A cable tray conventionally comprises a bottom and two side wings, the section generally forming a U when the two wings are perpendicular to the bottom.

The cable trays can have other sections, for example with two wings inclined with respect to the bottom, as presented in documents EP57879 or EP2234230, or even a G-shaped section as presented in document FR2417197.

Cable trays are made in various ways.

Mainly, cable trays are made from solid sheet metal bent to form trunking, or sheet metal with openings to form cable trays in perforated sheet metal or sheet metal slab, or even from wires organized in a trellis to form wire cable trays.

The invention relates in particular to cable trays made of perforated sheet metal, comprising a bottom and two wings, perforations being arranged on at least one of the two wings.

These cable trays are conventionally in the form of sections, butted to each other. The conventional length for such sections is about three meters.

Such cable trays have been known for several decades and examples can be found in French patent applications published under the numbers 1457364 (Petit), 1485233 (Mecanoser), 1505517 (Dalami), 1573264 (Ces), 1589099 (Krieg & Zivy), 2044101 (Cadenat), 2098636 (Ces), 2408748 (Mavil), 2478389 (Ces), 2606843 (Ces), 2610145 (Ces), 2611830 (Tolartois), 2615587 (Ces), 2686141 (Mavil), 2691228 ( Planet Wattohm), 2710465 (Krieg & Zivy), 2723167 (Krieg & Zivy), 2723168 (Tolartois), 2824675 (Tolmega), 2825134 (Gewiss), 2894727 (Ces), 2955981 (Gewiss), 3009450 (Gewiss).

The invention can also find application in the technical field of cable ladders.

By cable ladders is meant here structures comprising beams connected from place to place by crosspieces or rungs.

Cable ladders are generally marketed in sections of wide span, of the order of six meters.

An example of a cable ladder is presented in document FR2637349 (Tolartois).

It has been known per se for a long time to put covers on cable ladders.

Examples of cable ladders with covers can be found in documents WO2014068382 (Rowe), EP391392 (Unex), US6313405 (Cooper), US9841123 (White).

It has also been known per se for a long time to place a cover on cable trays made of perforated sheet metal, so as to close the cable tray, giving the cables some protection against foreign bodies, for example dust.

The cover thus contributes to the safety and cleanliness of the installation.

Several methods of fixing the cover on cable trays or cable ladders have been proposed.

According to a first design, the lid is snapped on the wings of a section.

Examples of this early design can be found in DE4036249 (Kleinhuis), DE9010986 (Niedax), DE8704502 (Ackerman), US4951716 (Yakazi), EP590616 (Thealit).

The snap-fastening does not always ensure sufficient retention of the cover, in particular with regard to the stresses undergone by the sections.

Moreover, snap-fastening requires the production of complementary shapes on the sections and on the cover, making it necessary to use non-standard sections and increasing the costs.

According to a second design, the cover is fixed to the section of cable tray using screws.

An example of this second design can be found in US2008007047.

In some implementations, the connection is a rectangular nut. Such an assembly, of a general type known for a long time and described in the document FR1181378, has been proposed for fixing covers on sections of cable trays, as presented in the document EP409806.

In other implementations, the hardware is of the quarter-turn lock type.

The fasteners require the use of tools, which can be tedious for an operator, particularly when the latter works at height.

According to a third design, the covers are provided with at least one deformable tab that folds into a hole made in the side wall of the cable tray.

The plastic deformation of the tab is obtained using a tool such as a screwdriver.

Document FR2698428 (Krieg & Zivy) illustrates such a design.

The use of tools can be tedious for an operator, particularly when the latter is working at height.

In addition, the cable trays can be placed close to a wall such as a wall, leaving no room for the passage of a tool that has to deform the cover fixing lug.

In addition, when the cover has to be removed, in particular for maintenance operations, then fixed again on the section, the lugs undergo repeated deformations which can weaken the connection with the section or lead to their failure by fatigue.

According to a fourth design, an elastic fixing element, in the form of a clip, makes it possible to fix the cover on the section by tensioning the fixing element.

These fixing clips are in the form of a strip of elastic material of constant width, comprising a support zone on the cover and a support zone against a flange of the sheet metal cable tray section.

Examples of such fixing clips can be found in the documents FR2689605 (Ces), FR2725317 (Ces), FR2794297 (Krieg & Zivy), FR2838569 (Tolmega), FR2858481 (Tolmega), CN104753005 (Csr), DE20113566 (Obo Bettermann) , WO2012057718 (Krac).

There are also known cover fixing clips for sections of wire mesh cable trays. These fixing clips are in the form of a strip of material of constant width, provided with folds. Reference can be made to documents FR2852156 (Cts), FR2941752 (Cts), FR3007593 (Cts), ES2325147 (Schneider)

According to a fifth design, strapping is put in place around the assembly formed by the section and the cover.

The strapping can be provided by a strapping band, or a metal strapping frame provided with a toggle closure, or even by the assembly of two U-shaped parts that enclose the cable tray, as described in document GB2233162 (Bticino).

We also know the use of adhesive strips, placed on the longitudinal free edges of the flanges of sections of cable trays.

These adhesive strips are generally offered for small lids.

The diversity of fixing means proposed in the prior art for fixing covers on cable trays shows that no solution is entirely satisfactory.

The applicant has found in particular that the known means do not make it possible to obtain a cover attachment which correctly resists vibrations, in particular the vibrations encountered in the rail transport sector.

The applicant has found in particular that the fixing clips known in the prior art do not allow satisfactory retention of the covers on the cable trays mounted in the locomotives.

As the covers are not properly held in place by the fixing clips, there is a risk of these covers falling.

As the cover can fall from a great height, there is a risk of injury to people.

The invention aims in particular to provide a solution to the various problems mentioned above.

An object of the invention is to provide a means for fixing a cover to a section of cable tray, the hold of the cover on the section of cable tray being firm and high, in particular vis-à-vis vibrations , including when the cable trays are inclined or substantially vertical.

Another object of the invention is to propose a means of fixing a cover on a section of cable tray, the installation of this fixing means being able to be carried out without tools, the setting up of this fixing means thus being quick and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for fixing a cover to a section of cable tray, the removal of this fixing means requiring the application of a force deterring malicious dismantling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixing means satisfying at least one of the above objects, the fixing means being able to be used for cable trays comprising a bottom wall and two wings, at least one of the two wings being provided with perforations.

Another object of the invention is an assembly comprising a section of cable tray, a cover and at least one fixing means corresponding to at least one of the above objects.

Another object of the invention is such an assembly, in which the cable tray section is a perforated cable tray section or a cable ladder section.

For these purposes, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to an element for fixing a cover on a section of cable tray extending in a longitudinal direction, the section and the cover defining an internal space in the path of cables, the cover comprising a lateral edge, the fixing element comprising a support zone shaped to be complementary to an upper face of the lateral edge of the cover, the fixing element comprising a hooking zone on a wing of the section, the fastening element comprising at least two hooks spaced apart longitudinally, each hook comprising part of said support zone, each hook comprising part of said attachment zone.

Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination.

The fastening element advantageously comprises means forming an abutment against the internal face of the wing of the section.

These means forming a stop advantageously allow the fastening element to be snapped onto the section.

Advantageously, each hook has a first groove intended to house the side edge of the cover, and a second groove intended to be placed in the internal space of the section. The opening of the second groove is oriented opposite to the opening of the first groove, the wall defining the second groove carrying means forming an abutment against the internal face of the wing of the section.

Advantageously, the fastening element has a plane of symmetry, halfway between the two hooks.

In some implementations, the fastener has a substantially constant thickness.

Advantageously, the fastening element is made of an elastic material, for example spring steel.

The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to an assembly comprising a section of cable tray, a cover and at least one fixing element as presented above, the section comprising at least one wing comprising at least two perforations spaced apart longitudinally, each of the hooks of the fastening element hooking into a perforation.

The section is a section of perforated sheet metal cable tray or a section of cable ladder.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the description of embodiments, given below with reference to the appended drawings in which:

is a perspective view of a cable tray cover fastener, according to one embodiment;

is a perspective view of a straight section of perforated sheet metal cable tray, provided with a cover, a fixing element as shown in FIG. 1 being approached from a flange of this section;

is a perspective view of a fastening element according to FIG. 1, this fastening element being represented in an intermediate position for attachment to the section represented in FIG. 2;

is a perspective view of a fastening element according to FIG. 1, this fastening element being represented in a snap-fastening position, after manual rotation from the intermediate position represented in FIG. 3;

is a detail perspective view of a transverse end part of the assembly formed by the section of cable tray and the cover shown in Figure 2.

We first refer to Figure 2 which shows in perspective a section 1 of cable tray (hereinafter referred to as section 1), provided with a cover 2, a fixing element 3 being shown close to one of the wings of section 1.

Section 1 is in the form of a slender element, for example with a length of three meters.

Figure 2 shows a straight section, but it is understood that the invention finds application in the fixing of a cover covering any other type of cable tray section known per se, in particular the sections allowing crossings and changes of direction.

The installation of crossings and change of direction in cable tray installations is in itself well known.

Examples of changes of direction and crossings are presented in the documents US361882 (Unistrut), DE202006019238 (Niedax).

• un axe X, définissant une direction longitudinale, horizontale, confondue avec la direction générale d’élancement du tronçon 1,
• un axe Y, définissant une direction transversale, horizontale, qui avec l’axe X définit un plan XY horizontal,
• un axe Z, définissant une direction verticale, perpendiculaire au plan XY horizontal.

An orthogonal coordinate system XYZ comprising three perpendicular axes two by two is defined with respect to section 1, namely:

• an axis X, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction, coinciding with the general direction of slenderness of section 1,
• a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane,
• a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

It is understood that the section 1 is described placed on a horizontal surface, for the sake of simplicity, but that the section 1 can be placed in any way, in particular inclined with respect to the ground, and for example arranged vertically.

In the rest of this description, the terms "longitudinal", "longitudinally" and "length" will be used with reference to the X direction, the terms "transverse", "transversely" and "width" will be used with reference to the Y direction. and the terms "vertical", "vertically" and "height" will be used in reference to the Z direction.

In the embodiment shown, the section 1 comprises a bottom 4 and two wings 5, 6 substantially perpendicular to the bottom 4.

In other embodiments, the section comprises a bottom and two wings inclined with respect to the bottom. This arrangement advantageously makes it possible to stack the sections, for example during their transport or their storage.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom 4 of the section 1 is in the form of a flat plate, forming the bottom wall, and the two wings 5, 6 are in the form of flat plates, forming the side walls.

In other embodiments, the bottom of the section is in the form of a mesh of wires, and the wings are in the form of plates or angles, the section being of the mixed wire/sheet type. Such sections of cable trays are known per se, and for example presented in the documents FR2706973 (Acroba), WO2007135264 (Icm).

In other embodiments, the bottom of the section is in the form of expanded sheet metal, and the wings are in the form of plates or angles, the section being of the mixed expanded metal/sheet metal type. Such sections of cable trays are known per se and an example is described in the document GB2161330 (Bicc).

In other embodiments, the bottom of the section is formed of crosspieces or rungs, the section being of the cable ladder type.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom 4 of the section 1 is in the form of a flat plate.

In other embodiments, the bottom is provided with ribs or embossments, reinforcing its rigidity.

In the embodiment shown, the perforations 7 of the bottom 4 are oblong and extend along several parallel, longitudinal lines.

These perforations 7 lighten the section 1, and allow the assembly of fastening members for the cables extending longitudinally in the section 1.

The perforations 7 can also be used for fixing the section 1 to a support such as a hanger or a console.

In other embodiments, the bottom has no perforations or has perforations of at least two different shapes.

For example, the bottom has circular perforations and oblong perforations, or the bottom has oblong perforations extending transversely and oblong perforations extending longitudinally.

In the embodiment shown, the perforations 7 of the bottom 4 are equidistant and identical on each of the longitudinal lines and these lines are equidistant, the two wings 5, 6 each being provided with two lines of perforations 8 similar to the perforations 7 of the bottom 4 .

This arrangement makes it possible to form the section 1 by folding a perforated sheet, the folding line of a wing 5, 6 extending between two lines of perforation of the sheet.

In the embodiment shown, the section 1 has a vertical plane of symmetry, halfway between the two wings 5.6.

In other embodiments, the two wings of the section are not identical, one of the wings having for example a different height from the other.

In the embodiment shown, the two wings are provided with perforations arranged along the entire length of section 1.

As will appear later in this description, this arrangement advantageously makes it possible to place the fixing elements 3 of the cover 2 in a very large number of positions, and to place a large number of fixing elements 3 on the section 1 , reinforcing the hold of the cover.

In other embodiments, the wings of the section have a smaller number of perforations. For example, the perforations are 50 cm apart for a three meter long section.

In the embodiment shown, in a manner known per se, the cover 2 comprises two longitudinal grooves 9 and the longitudinal free edge 10 of each wing 5, 6 is housed in one of these two longitudinal grooves 9 of the cover 2.

In order to reinforce the hold in position of the lid 2, an adhesive strip can be placed between the free edge 10 of each wing 5, 6 and the bottom of each longitudinal groove 9 of the lid 2.

As a variant or in combination, the shapes and dimensions of the longitudinal grooves and of the free edges of at least one wing cause friction or a snapping of the cover.

As a variant or in combination, one of the two longitudinal grooves of the cover forms with a free edge of a wing of the section an axis of articulation and pivoting for the cover, facilitating its installation.

In the embodiment shown, the cover 2 is in the form of a substantially flat plate, provided with two grooves 9 for the entry of the free edges 10 of the wings 5, 6 of the section 1 and the cover has two other grooves 11 longitudinal support for the fixing elements 3.

In other embodiments, the cover is provided with embossments reinforcing its rigidity.

As a variant or in combination, the cover is provided with non-slip ribs or reliefs, the section being dimensioned to support the weight of a person.

As a variant or in combination, the lid has a transverse V-profile, facilitating the flow of fluids.

As a variant or in combination, the lid is provided with perforations allowing air circulation and cooling of the internal volume delimited by the section.

In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal free edge 10 of the wings 5, 6 is folded over on itself or hemmed.

This arrangement makes it possible to avoid injuries to the operator during interventions.

This arrangement also makes it possible to avoid the risk of damaging the cables during installation or during an intervention.

This arrangement also makes it possible to double the width of the wall of the wings 5, 6 in the support zone of the cover 2 on the wing 5, 6 of the section 1.

Section 1 can be made of steel, in particular galvanized steel, stainless steel, or aluminum alloy.

As a variant, the section is made of polymer material or of composite material, for example with an organic matrix and fiberglass reinforcement.

The cover 2 can be made of steel, in particular stainless steel, galvanized steel or aluminum alloy.

As a variant, the lid is made of a polymer material or a composite material, for example with an organic matrix and glass fiber reinforcement.

In advantageous embodiments, the section and the cover are made of the same material.

In some implementations, the section and the cover, or the section alone, the cover alone, are coated, the surface treatment providing enhanced protection against corrosion and advantageously allowing, by the use of a color code, the identification of the destination of the section, that is to say the nature of the cables it contains.

The assembly formed by section 1 and cover 2 mounted on section 1 defines an internal space for the cable tray.

Reference is made to FIG. 5 which shows a longitudinal groove 11 for receiving a fixing element 3.

The groove 11 comprises a vertical face 12 and an inclined face 13.

In the embodiment shown, with the exception of the groove 11, the cover 2 forms a horizontal upper surface comprising a central part 14 and two side parts 15, the central part 14 and each side part 15 being arranged on either side. other throat 11.

Each side part 15 forms the bottom wall of the groove 9 for receiving the top edge of the wing 5, 6.

More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the hemmed free edge of each wing 5, 6 is housed in a space of U-section formed by a side part 15 of the cover 2, space delimited by the vertical panel 12, a wall 16 horizontal, and a vertical return 17.

We now refer to Figure 1 which is a perspective view of an element 3 for fixing cover 2.

In an advantageous implementation, the fixing element 3 is elastic, this elasticity resulting from the geometry of the fixing element 3 as well as from the material which constitutes it.

By “elastic”, we designate here the property of a body to deform under the action of a force applied manually, and to return to an initial state in the absence of this force.

In the embodiment shown, the fixing element 3 has a substantially constant thickness.

This thickness is for example less than a few millimeters.

The fixing element 3 is made of a metal alloy, a polymer material or a composite material.

In one implementation, the fixing element 3 is made of spring steel.

In the embodiment shown, when seen in perspective, the fixing element 3 is in the form of two separate hooks, connected at their base, the fixing element 3 comprising a plane of symmetry, halfway between the two hooks.

When seen from the front, the fixing element 3 has a general U shape.

The fixing element 3 comprises a first support part 20, intended to bear against the upper surface of the cover 2, in the side parts 15 of the cover 2.

This first support part 20 has a profile complementary to the side edge of the cover 3.

The fixing element 3 comprises a second support part 21, intended to bear against the internal face 5a, 6a of the wing 5, 6 on which the fixing element 3 is placed.

By internal face, we designate here the face of the wings facing the interior space defined by section 1.

The fixing element 3 comprises a third support part 22, intended to bear against the external face 5b, 6b, of the wing 5, 6 on which the fixing element 3 is placed.

In the rest of this description, the fixing element 3 is described with reference to its mounted position, shown in Figure 4.

Starting from a longitudinal free edge 23, each of the two hooks 24 present in the first support part 20 comprises a first inclined section 25, coming to bear against the inclined face 13 of the longitudinal groove 11 of the lid 2.

This first inclined section 25 is followed by a second inclined section 26 bearing against the side part 15 of the cover 2, and more precisely on the fillet connecting the horizontal wall 16 and the vertical face 12.

This second inclined section 26 is followed by a first horizontal section 27 coming opposite the horizontal wall 16 of the lid 2.

Each hook 24 has a second horizontal section 28, carrying means 29 forming a latching stop.

In the embodiment shown, these means 29 forming a latching abutment are in the form of an extra thickness or a relief on the second horizontal section 28.

These means 29 are arranged in the internal space of the section 1, when the fixing element 3 is in place, and these means 29 bear against the internal face 5a, 6a of the wing 5, 6 on which the fastener 3 is installed.

The fixing element 3 penetrates into the internal space of the section 1, by entering the lower part of each hook 24 through a perforation 8 of the wing 5, 6.

This entry into the internal space of the section 1 is just sufficient to allow the support of the means 29 against the internal face 5a, 6a of the wing 5, 6, and does not interfere with the positioning of the cables in the internal space of section 1.

The first horizontal section 27 and the second horizontal section 28 of the hooks 24 are connected by a curved section 30, the hooks 24 thus forming a first groove 31 with an opening oriented towards the external face 5b, 6b of the wing 5, 6 on which item 3 is installed.

This first groove 31 houses the side edge of the cover 2, and more precisely the volume delimited by the vertical face 12, the horizontal wall 16 and the return 17 vertical.

This first groove 31 advantageously comprises a longitudinal fold 32, contributing to the elasticity of the fixing element 3.

As shown in particular in Figure 1, in the embodiment shown, the first groove 31 of each hook 24 has a side view of a polygon shape, close to that of five successive segments of a hexagon.

The multiplicity of longitudinal folds of the hooks 24 gives stiffness to the fixing element 3, for its manual elastic deformation during the installation of the fixing element 3.

Below this first groove 31, each hook 24 has a second groove 33, with an opening facing the outside of section 1.

The radius of curvature of the fixing element 3 is substantially constant, in this second groove 33.

Under this second groove 33, the element 3 has a wall 34 bearing against the external face 5b, 6b of the wing 5, 6 on which the element 3 is installed.

This support wall 34 extends over the entire length of the fixing element 3 and connects the base of the two hooks 24.

For its assembly, the fixing element 3 is first approached to a wing 5, 6 of the section 1, on which the cover 2 has been placed.

The element 3 is advantageously pre-mounted on the section 1, for example through an opening made on a wing 5 6 or on the bottom 4 of the section 1.

The fixing element 3 is then placed in the groove 11 of the cover 2, as shown in Figure 4.

The clipping in of the fixing element 3 is obtained by manual rotation and insertion of the element 3 in two perforations 8 of the wing 5, 6 of the section 1.

In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal distance between the hooks 24 corresponds to the distance between two contiguous perforations 8, of oblong shape, extending longitudinally on the wing 5, 6 of the section 1.

In other embodiments, the longitudinal distance between the two hooks corresponds to the distance between two non-contiguous perforations, provided on the flange of the section.

As a variant or in combination, the fastening element comprises more than two hooks placed at a longitudinal distance from each other, each of the hooks being placed in a perforation of a flange of the section.

For example, the fastening element comprises three identical equidistant hooks, each coming to be housed and snapped into a perforation of a wing of the section.

As a variant or in combination, the fastening element comprises, in addition to the two hooks, an additional means of fastening to the wing of the section.

This additional means can be a snap-fastening means, a screwing means or a deformable lug which is inserted into a perforation of the wing of the section.

In a variant embodiment, to facilitate work on the cable trays, requiring the removal of the cover 2 on certain sections 1, the wall 34 of the fixing element 3 may comprise a hollow, near its free edge 35 This hollow advantageously allows the passage of the end of a tool such as for example a screwdriver, facilitating the dismantling of the fastening element.

Fixing element 3 has been described with reference to its use in fixing a cover to a perforated sheet metal cable tray.

It is however understood that the fastening element can be used in the fastening of covers for cable ladders, since the side members of the ladder are provided with perforations, each of the second grooves 33 of the fastening element 3 capable of entering a perforation of a spar, for snap-fastening of the element 3 for fixing.

If necessary, two covers can be fixed on the cable ladder, in the upper and lower part of the ladder.

It is also understood that the fixing element 3 can be used in the fixing of covers for wire mesh sections, the abutment means 29 coming against a longitudinal wire of a wing of the section, the second grooves 33 of the hooks 24 entering the internal space of the section, through a mesh of the wire mesh.

The fastening element according to the invention has many advantages.

Since the fixing elements 3 provide high support for the lid 2, it is possible to use fewer fixing elements than elastic clips of the state of the art.

This results in a significant gain in the manufacture of the sections, a smaller number of perforations 8 being to be made on the wings, to allow the fixing elements to be fitted.

This results in a gain in mechanical strength for the section, which may have fewer perforations.

Another advantage is a saving of time during the installation of the fixing elements 3, in smaller numbers than the fixing clips previously proposed.

This advantage is particularly noticeable when, as is often the case, the covers are fitted on cable trays placed high up, the operator working at the top of a ladder or with his hands raised, or in an area that is not easily accessible.

The presence of the two hooks ensures more effective holding of the cover, in particular against vibrations.

This resistance of the assembly of the cover is further reinforced by the presence of the two means forming a stop 29.

The snap-in provided by the fastener increases resistance to disassembly, and deters malicious disassembly.

The operator benefits from a sensation during installation, assuring him that the fastener is correctly placed.

This feeling in the operator's hand is all the more useful when the work area is difficult to access and hidden from view, the operator often having to fix covers for cable trays placed at height near to a civil engineering wall.

The fixing elements 3 according to the invention can be put in place without tools, on each side of a section of cable tray.

The manual feeling during installation is advantageously supplemented by a noise during snap-fastening, assuring the operator of the correct positioning of the fastener.

The fixing elements 3 are compact.

They penetrate only slightly into the internal space of the sections and do not interfere with the installation of the cables.

The curvatures of the fixing element advantageously follow the curve of the cover and the fixing element does not significantly increase the size of the cable tray.

The edges of the fixing element 3 are rounded and not hurtful.

The U-shape of the fixing element 3 is recognizable by sight and touch.

The operator can thus easily feel and see if the fastening element is in the correct approach position towards the cable tray, unlike the clips known in the prior art, for which orientation errors are frequent.

The fixing elements 3 can be manufactured at low cost, for example by bending a spring steel plate.

Claims (10)

Element (3) for fixing a cover (2) on a section (1) of cable tray extending in a longitudinal direction, the section (1) and the cover (2) defining a space inside the cable tray , the cover (2) comprising a lateral edge, the fixing element (3) comprising a bearing zone shaped to be complementary to an upper face of the lateral edge of the cover, the fixing element (3) comprising a hooking zone on a wing of the section, the fixing element (3) being characterized in that it comprises at least two hooks (24) spaced apart longitudinally, each hook (24) comprising a part of said bearing zone , each hook (24) comprising a part of said hooking zone. Element (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (29) forming a stop against the internal face of the wing of the section. Element (3) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each hook (24) comprises a first groove (31) intended to house the lateral edge of the cover (2), and a second groove (33) intended to come in. place in the internal space of the section (1). Element (3) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the opening of the second groove (33) is oriented opposite the opening of the first groove (31), the wall defining the second groove (33) bearing means (29) forming a stop against the internal face of the wing of the section. Fastening element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a plane of symmetry, midway between the two hooks (24). Fastening element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a substantially constant thickness. Fastening element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of an elastic material. Fastening element (3) according to claim 7, characterized in that it is made of spring steel. Assembly comprising a section (1) of cable tray, a cover (2) and at least one fixing element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, the section (1) comprising at least one wing (5, 6) ) comprising at least two perforations (8) spaced longitudinally, each of the hooks (24) of the fixing element (3) being hooked in a perforation (8). Assembly according to Claim 9, characterized in that the section (1) is a section of perforated sheet metal cable tray or a section of a cable ladder.