GB2104303A - Barrier system for laid wireways - Google Patents

Abstract

To separate cables with different functions a number of U-shaped cradles (6) are sprung into wireway 5, where they are self-retaining, leaving the channel open; one or more divider plates (1) are fastened to the raised central portion (9) of the base of each cradle, the fastener(s) co-operating with a slot which allows lateral adjustment to vary the channel division. The plates also have slots with which cable-retaining tabs (16) can engage in selected positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Barrier system for laid wireways This invention concerns a barrier system for lay-in wireways.

In factories and elsewhere, electrical cables have to be protected from dust, dirt, oil and water. One form of protection is provided by metal trunking consisting of channel members of U-section with lids that can be sealed over to close the channel once the wires have been iaid. Various bends and junction pieces of the same U-section are provided to make a kit of parts that can be assembled in an infinite number of layouts.

It is not always desirable to have the cables in a single bundle. For example, it may be required to separate the power cables from signal wires such as those carrying numerical control data. Hitherto the practice has been to provide a plate-like barrier which is fixed by screws into drilled and tapped holes in the base of the U-section. This, of course, defeats the oil-tightness.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a barrier system which does not have this drawback and which can be fitted very much more quickly and easily, and with greater scope for adjustment.

According to the present invention there is provided a barrier system for lay-in wireways, comprising a spring cradle of generally U-form which is self-retaining in a channel wireway in the attitude to maintain the channel open, and a divider plate securable to the base of the cradle to form a longitudinal division of the wireway channel.

Generally, for each divider plate in a wireway system there will be two or more supporting cradles. Preferable the cradle will have slightly diverging arms terminating in inturned flanges. The arms will grip against the sides of the wireway and the flanges will engage under in-turned rims at the mouth of the channel. The base of the cradle may have a raised central portion with its end portions forming feet by which it stands on the base of the wireway. The central base portion of the cradle may have an elongated slot, and the divider plate can then be fixed by adjustable engagement with this slot. Thus the wireway can be divided into selected widths, or there could be more than one divider plate secured at different points along the slot. Instead of a slot, there could be discrete apertures.

The divider plate may be of almost skeletal form, which will save weight and provide means for fitting cable retaining tabs. Preferably the plate will be formed with a large number of longitudinal slots, and the tabs may be of L-shape with press-stud engagement with these slots. Each tab may have one long arm which will extend normally to the divider plate, and this can be cut off or otherwise reduced to a length to suit the width of the part-channel on that side of the divider plate.

Preferably, the plate and cradle will be connected by simple L-shaped brackets, and the plate may have cut-outs to receive and locate the base of each cradle.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a divider plate, Figure 2 is a cross-section of a wireway in which the divider plate is held by a sprung cradle, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the cradle.

The divider plate 1 shown in Fig. 1 is generally rectangular and along one of its longitudinal edges, the one to be lowermost, there are cut-outs 2. The plate is also formed with arrays of slots 3 extending longitudinally, with one array above each cut-out 2, although this arrangemet is not critical. Between the lowermost slot and its associated cut-out 2 there is a small aperture 4.

Such a divider plate is held in a wireway 5 (Fig. 2) by spring cradles 6. These are generally U-shaped with outwardly divergent spring arms 7 in the relaxed position, terminating in inwardly projecting flanges 8. The base of each cradle has a raised central portion 9 which fits transversely in any of the cut-outs 2, and lower end portions 10 which form feet by which the cradle stands on the base of the wireway. The base dimension of the cradle across the wireway is slightly less than the full width of the latter, to allow it to be entered between the inturned rims of the wireway and then twisted into position. As best seen in Fig.

3, a slot 11 extends along almost the whole length of the central portion 9.

The plate 1 is mounted on these cradles by L-shaped brackets 1 2. One arm of each bracket is secured by a nut and bolt 1 3 to the central portion 9, using the slot 11. When the barrier is first fitted, this may be loose so that the barrier can subsequently be adjusted from side to side to vary the proportions by which the wireway channel is divided. When correctly set, the nut and bolt can be tightened.

The other arm of the bracket 1 2 has a stud 14, or a stuck-out barb, which engages the associated aperture 4. It is secured to the plate 1 by a nut and bolt 1 5 above this, using the lowermost slot 3 of the associated array.

The stud 14 prevents the bracket twisting.

The slots 3 can be used for mounting cable retaining tabs 1 6. These are simple L-shaped members with the outside of one arm being formed with a press stud 1 7. This can be pushed through any of the slots 3, and will have a fit such that, although the tab may be slid longitudinally, it will naturally stay in the position at which it is set. The other arm will then project over the part-channel and retain the cables in its.

These wireways may be arranged in many attitudes other than with the base downwards, and it is important that when the lid (not shown) is removed, the cables should not fall out. The projecting arm of the tab 4 5 can be made of a length to span maximum width part-channel, and if it is used in any narrower one, it may be cut off to length. Alternatively, it may be made with slightly weakened transverse zones so that it can be snapped off to the nearest appropriate dimension.

The plate 1 may be of almost any length, and it too may be designed to be cut or snapped off to the desired length. It can be of thin metal sheet, enabling it to be bent around corners in the wireway. It may not be necessary to have a cradle 5 for each cut-out 2.

Claims (11)

1. A barrier system for lay-in wireways whose basic components comprise a spring cradle of generally U-form which is self-retaining in a channel wire-way in the attitude to maintain the channel open, and a divider plate securable to the base of the cradle to form a longitudinal division of the wireway channel.

2. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle has slightly divergent arms terminating in inturned flanges.

3. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cradle has a base whose central portion is raised with reference to the end portions, which form feet on which it stands on the base of the wireway.

4. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the divider plate is securable at different positions along the base of the cradle to vary the division of the channel.

5. A barrier system as claimed in claims 3 and 4, wherein the central base portion of the cradle has an elongated slot with which a plate fastener co-operates.

6. A barrier system as claimed in claims 3 and 4, wherein the central base portion of the cradle has a plurality of apertures with any of which a plate fastener can co-operate.

7. A barrier system as claimed in any preceeding claim, including cable retaining tabs fittable to the divider plate.

8. A barrier system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plate has a plurality of apertures or longitudinal slots with which the tabs can engage.

9. A barrier system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each tab is generally L-shaped, one arm having a stud for press engagement with the divider plate, and the other arm being severable to correspond to the width of the part channel across which it projects from the plate.

10. A barrier system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plate has a cutout to receive and locate the base of the cradle.

11. A barrier system for lay-in wireways substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A lay-in wireway equipped with a barrier system as claimed in any preceding claim