GB2115853A - False flooring with supports for cables - Google Patents

Abstract

The flooring has supports 12 for a floor 20. On some supports 12, couplings 30 carry cross-connections 32 establishing a level 26 for some cables or other service connections 28 above other cables or service connections 24. Preferably, the couplings are height-adjustable clamps offering slots to T-section ends of cross-connections that carry cable trays 70 via anti-vibration gaskets 74. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flooring systems The invention relates to flooring systems.

So-called false or hollow floors have become common-place for computer rooms, telephone exchange, and other places. Basically, a base floor level has a floor erected thereon via spacers that allow cables, pipes and ducts to lie below the floor, effectively on the base floor. We provide such a flooring system ourselves in which a spaced array of upstanding supports serve to receive and locate individual floor panels. The heights of the upstanding supports will accord with the space required below the floor panels.

We have encountered problems and criticism where, as in a telephone exchange, cables of different sizes are used, for examples thick multi-core cables for telephone system connections and much thinner cables/wires for alarm systems etc. Then, it can be difficult to get at the thinner cables which naturally tend to become buried amongst the heavier and thicker cables.

It is an object hereof to provide a solution to such problems and to meet such criticism.

Accordingiy, we now propose that spaced upstanding floor Supports for floor panels shall have associated therewith couplings, preferably readily height adjustable, for cross-connections of those couplings, preferably readily removably, which cross couplings serve to support some cables or other service connections, preferably via cable trays or the like, at a level above other cables or service connections.

In particularly preferred embodiments hereof, tubular upstanding supports have base-floor-engaging feet at one end and floor panel receiving heads at the other end. Suitable couplings comprise clamps presenting slots into which cross-connections, preferably of T-section will fit at their ends. Such arrangements have advantages relative to alternatives such as tubes or leaved supports that are apertured to take brackets.

One particular embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a section through part of a floor system; Figure 2 shows details of a typical support clamp and a cross-connection; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view.

A base floor level 10, typically of concrete, is shown supporting discrete supports 1 2 by their bases 14 from which extend tubular upstands 1 6 to heads 1 8 for location of floor panels 20. The supports 1 2 will, as shown, be situated at every junction of floor panels 20 with heads to suit junctions of two panels or four panels and also support corners of single panels.

Whilst indicate in full lines for convenience in Fig. 3, the heads of supports 1 2 will not, of course, be fully visible from above through the floor panels 20 which could be rectangular, say square, as desired.

The floor represented by the panels 20 is thus spaced above the base floor level 10 and the space 22 so formed is available in the normal way for tracking cables, pipes, ducts etc 24 for services below or within such false or hollow floor systems.

In addition, however, there is provided selectively a specific further level 26 of support for service cables etc 28. This is done by way of clamps 30 and cross connections 32.

As shown, the clamps 30 are of two-part construction 34, 36 conveniently of pressed metal, with central portions 38, 40 confronting to fit about the tubular upstands 1 6.

Clamp bolts and nuts 42, 44 (one pair only shown in Fig. 2) serve to fix the clamps 30 at any desired height on the tubular upstands via registering holes 46 in the clamp parts 34, 36. Beyond the clamp bolt holes 46, the clamp parts 34, 36 are shown relativeiy opened out to define slots 48 between end portions 50, 52.

Those slots 48 serve to receive T-section ends of the cross connections 32 that are indicated, see Fig. 2, as being entirely of Tsection, conveniently also formed as pressings from metal. To avoid vibration noise, but facilitate ready removal, stems 54 of cross connections 32 preferably have a resilient interference fit in the slots 48.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the clamp parts 34, 36 are shown with ribbings 56, 58 along their lengths for strength, and also with turned-over toothed rims 60, 62 at their central parts. Those toothed rims 60, 62 aid secure iocation of the clamps 30 on the tubular upstands and will usually be present top and bottom of the clamp parts 34, 36. If desired, rather lighter and broader but generally registering ribbings may be provided on the stems 54 of the cross connections 32, say at 64 as indicated in dashed lines 64 to locate in upper clamp ribbings 56.

Fig. 1 also shows cable trays 70 on the cross connections 32, preferably releasably secured thereto, say by self-tapping screws in holes 72 that may be preformed at intervals along the cross connections 32. Vibration noise resistance will be aided by interposing gaskets 74 between the cable trays 70 and the cross connections 32.

It will be apparent that normal access to the service cables etc 24 by lifting floor panels 20 will still be available and little impeded by the cross connections 32 and cable trays 70, which can also be removed whenever desired.

Fig. 1 shows smaller service cables etc 28 carried by the cable trays 70, and larger ones 24 below, as is normally to be expected.

However, basically, the division of service cables etc between the level 26 and below is a matter of choice for any particular installation, perhaps dictated in part by desired routings therefor that do not entirely or always coincide, see Fig. 3 where dashed lines show service cables etc 24 and chain dot lines show service cables etc 28.

As also evident from Fig. 3, the supports 32 are readily provided at branches of 90 and other angles across the floor system, or at least to afford cable tray runs at such angles.

Claims (11)

1. A flooring system comprising floor supports in spaced upstanding relation to carry a floor above a base floor level, couplings for at least some said supports to carry cross-connections to serve in supporting some cables or other service-connections at a level below the floor and above other cables or service connections.

2. A flooring system according to claim 1, wherein said couplings are height adjustable on said supports.

3. A flooring system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said cross-connections are readily removable from said couplings.

4. A flooring system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising cable trays for support by said cross-connections.

5. A flooring system according to claim 4, with anti-vibration gaskets between the cable trays and the cross-connections.

6. A flooring system according to any preceding claim, wherein said supports comprise tubular members with base-level-engaging feet at one end and with floor-panel-receiving heads at the other end.

7. A flooring system according to any preceding claim, wherein said couplings comprise clamps.

8. A flooring system according to any preceding claim, wherein said couplings present slots to receive said cross-connections.

9. A flooring system according to claim 8, wherein said cross-connections are, at least at or near their ends, of T-section to fit stem-first into said slots.

10. A flooring system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A floor of the system of any preceding claim.