GB2047520A

GB2047520A - A cable rack

Info

Publication number: GB2047520A
Application number: GB8006240A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Alcatel CIT SA; Compagnie Industrielle de Telecommunication CIT Alcatel SA
Current assignee: Alcatel CIT SA
Priority date: 1979-03-02
Filing date: 1980-02-25
Publication date: 1980-12-03
Also published as: FR2450523B1; GB2047520B; DE3007229A1; NL8001158A; LU82211A1; BE881691A; IT8067245A0; IE800408L; IT1128368B; IE49277B1; FR2450523A1

Abstract

A cable rack comprises: at least one row of posts (1) each formed by two C-section bars fixed together so that their open slotted sides are disposed side by side in the same plane; cable support arms (9) on which said cables rest, each of which has a hollow body of C- section which tapers uniformly from back to front, said body being provided with a reinforcing and connecting member via which it is fixed at any level up its post by being screwed into both slots in said post; longitudinal girders (20) and cross-members (26) of C-section being provided at various levels up said posts and providing predetermined spacing respectively between posts of the same row and in particular between the posts of at least one row and the walls of said premises. The present invention is used in the field of telecommunications. Various brackets are disclosed for the support and interconnection of the various component parts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cable rack The present invention relates to a cable rack.

In telecommunications installations there is often a need for cables to be conveyed along a tunnel or across a basement or through other such generally confined spaces of more or less awkward access before the cables can be connected to switching apparatus, usually via a main distribution frame. Such cables are generally supported on cable support structures which include horizontal arms on which the cables are laid, shelf-like. Such structures are known as cable racks and must be designed specifically to fit the space available at any given premises.

Tailoring cable racks to fit a given site, and assembling the racks in the often limited space available, have both tended to be expensive operations. Further, a single cable run may include portions presenting quite different problems to cable rack design and installation, e.g. a length in a tunnel followed by a length across a basement. This tends to call for a rather wide range of different types of rack components.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention remedy the disadvantages outlined above and provide a cable rack of simple structure assembled from a small number of standardised components, and readily capable of being assembled on any site at moderate price.

The invention provides a cable rack for supporting and guiding cables in a premises, said rack comprising an assembly of: at least one row of posts each formed by a pair of Csection bars fixed together so that their slotted sides are disposed side by side in the same plane; and cable support arms on which said cables are to rest, each support arm being constituted by a tapering C-section member with a uniform taper from its root to its tip and provided with a reinforcing member at its root via which the arm is fixed to a post at some level along said post by means engaging in each of the slots in the post.

An example of a cable rack in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the posts used in a first fixing mode in a cable rack in accordance with the invention; Figure 2a shows the posts used in a fixing mode in a cable rack in accordance with the invention and Figure 2b shows a fixing bracket; Figure 3 shows a cable support arm used in a cable rack in accordance with the invention; Figures 4a and 4b show longitudinal girders used in a cable rack in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 shows the cross-members used in a cable rack in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 shows a first example of setting up a cable rack in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 shows a second example of setting up a cable rack in accordance with the invention; and Figure 8 shows a third example of setting up a cable rack in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a post 1 formed by two Csection bars 2 and 3 fixed together so that their open sides are disposed side by side and in the same plane. The post is fixed firstly to the ceiling 4 of a premises by means of a jack 5 fitted with a flanged shoe and secondly to the ground 7 by means of another flanged shoe 8 which digs into the ground under the weight of said post. Fig. 1 also shows support arms 9 for cables (not shown) more particularly described with reference to Fig. 3. Said arms are fixed in the slots of the bars 2 and 3 by "quarter-turn" type screws. Any number of arms may thus be fixed at various levels along the post 1.

As can be seen in the drawings the bars 2 and 3 are of a section which is intermediate between channel section and box section. It is equivalent to channel section with the edges turned inwardly to partially constitute a fourth face, or to box section with one face having a centre portion missing to form a longitudinal slot. Such a section is referred to in this specification as C-section.

Fig. 2 illustrates the post 1 fixed to a wall 11 of a premises by the bar 2. The fixing method of Fig. 2 uses brackets 1 2 such as illustrated in Fig. 2b. The brackets are screwed into the slots of the bars 2 and 3 and are fixed to the wall 11 by plugs 1 3. Fig. 2 also shows support arms 9.

Fig. 3 therefore illustrates a support arm 9 for a cable.

Said support arm includes a tapering Csection of stainless steel with a uniform taper decreasing in size from back to front. The body is welded to a rear strengthening member 1 6 with two holes 1 7 in which the screws 10 are inserted (Figs. 1 and 2). Further, end members 1 8 made of a plastics material fit in the ends of the support arms; such end members are provided to prevent personnel using the premises from being injured by the ends of the support arms.

Figs. 4a and 4b show that where the posts 1 are not fixed to the wall, they are kept spaced at a required distance apart by means of longitudinal girders such as 20 which are, of course, spaced out at various levels along said posts. The girders are fixed to the posts by means of bolted brackets 1 2 such as those shown in Fig. 2b.

The girders are formed of C-section bars and they are connected together by means of fish plates such as 21.

Further, reference 22 designates a part which is here called a bend part and which connects together two neighbouring girders 20 when the rack is set up e.g. in a corridor with a bend in it. The bend part is made of flat iron with a suitable radius of curvature and its ends are bolted to two girders. Instead of flat bars, C-section bars split at angles compatible with the bend and likewise connected together by fish plates could also be used for the purpose. The figures also illustrate the support arms 9 fixed to the posts 1 as well as openings 23 which are provided in the premises as cable lead throughs. Fig. 4b shows a cable 24 passing through an opening 23. The cable is fixed to a girder 20 by a clamp 25. The cable finally rests on the support arms 9.

Fig. 5 shows two rows of posts 1 fixed to the ceiling and to the floor of a premises.

Only one post per row is shown in the figure.

To prevent buckling of the rows of posts, cross members such as 26 are used. They are formed by C-section bars and are fixed firstly to the walls either by jacks or by wall plugs, in the same way as the posts 1 (Figs. 1 and 2) and secondly to the posts 1 by brackets such as 12 (Fig. 2b), in the same way as the longitudinal girders (Fig. 4a).

Fig. 6 illustrates the assembly of a cable rack in accordance with the invention in a very wide corridor 30.

Fig. 6 shows the posts 1 disposed in two rows provided with support arms 9. The posts are fixed to the ceiling, to the floor and likewise to longitudinal girders 20, a bend part 22 being provided in each row. The figure also shows the cross-members 26 fixed to the walls and to the posts 1. To make the figure clearer, the cross-members are shown staggered with respect to the posts.

The figure also shows a cable 24 resting on the support arms 9.

Fig. 7 illustrates a way of setting up the cable rack in a wide corridor 31, in which case the posts 1 are fixed to the walls (Fig. 2) and neither girders nor cross-members are used.

Fig. 8 illustrates another way of setting up the cable rack this time in a narrow corridor, in which case the posts 1 are disposed in a central row and are held by cross-members 26 fixed to the walls, the support arms 9 pointing alternately in opposite directions.

Longitudinal girders 20, are also illustrated.

It is therefore seen that a cable rack in accordance with the invention can be used in various configurations by using simple standard parts e.g. fixing parts such as the brackets which are easy to fit together.

The cable rack is easily and rapidly set up in any place and its assembly requires only a minimum amount of labour.

The invention is used in particular for telecommunications cables.

Claims

1. A cable rack for supporting and guiding cables in a premises, said rack comprising an assembly of: at least one row of posts each formed by a pair of C-section bars fixed together so that their slotted sides are disposed side by side in the same plane; and cable support arms on which said cables are to rest, each support arm being constituted by a tapering C-section member with a uniform taper from its root to its tip and provided with a reinforcing member at its root via which the arm is fixed to a post at some level along said post by means engaging in each of the slots in the post.

2. A cable rack according to claim 1, further including horizontal C-section members fixed at various levels up said posts by means of brackets to provide predetermined spacing between posts of the same row and/or between the posts of at least one row and walls of said premises.

3. A cable rack according to claim 2, wherein said horizontal members include cross-members which are fixed to the walls by means of jacks.

4. A cable rack according to claim 2, wherein said horizontal members include cross-members which are fixed to the walls by means of brackets and wall plugs.

5. A cable rack according to any preceding claim, wherein said posts are each fixed firstly to the ceiling of said premises by means of a jack provided with a first flanged shoe and secondly to the floor by means of a second flanged shoe.

6. A cable rack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said posts are fixed to the walls of said premises by means of brackets and wall plugs.

7. A cable rack according to any preceding claim and further including at least one flat member with a predetermined radius of curvature installed between two neighbouring longitudinally directed horizontal members, said flat member being suitable for imparting a predetermined curvature to said row of posts.

8. A cable rack according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further including horizontal Csection members which are split to form a predetermined angle, which are interconnected by fish plates and which are installed between two neighbouring iongitudinally directed horizontal members, the split members being suitable for imparting a predetermined curvature to said row of posts.

9. A cable rack substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.