GB2130022A

GB2130022A - Cable ducting

Info

Publication number: GB2130022A
Application number: GB08227439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Metcalf; Richard Bruce Carson
Original assignee: SCOTT HOWARD ASSOCIATES LIMITE
Current assignee: SCOTT HOWARD ASSOCIATES LIMITE
Priority date: 1982-09-27
Filing date: 1982-09-27
Publication date: 1984-05-23
Also published as: GB2130022B

Abstract

Cable ducting comprising a body (1) having an elongate main channel (2) of generally C-shaped cross section into which is fitted a longitudinally split sleeve (3) of flexible material which is arranged to close the channel (2), the longitudinal split (4) in the sleeve being positioned so that cables to be contained within the ducting can be fed into or out of the sleeve (3), which defines the inside wall of the ducting, through the longitudinal split (4). Two smaller channels (15, 16) may be arranged on either side of the main channel (2), and various clips (18, 19, 20) may be provided to hold the cables. The sleeve (3) may have a partition (9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cable ducting This invention relates to cable ducting.

Ducting for telephone cables and/or power cables is well known and is used to conceal and/or protect the cables in use.

One of the problems associated with the use of ducting is to provide a neat and simple way of feeding cables into and out of the ducting and the present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention cable ducting comprises a body having an elongate main channel of generally C-shaped cross section into which is fitted a longitudinally split sleeve of flexible material which is arranged to close the channel, the longitudinal split in the sleeve being positioned so that cables to be contained within the ducting can be fed into or out of the sleeve, which defines the inside wall of the ducting, through the longitudinal split.

The sleeve may be made of plastics material which in the region of the longitudinal split is more flexible than the remainder of the plastics material which defines the sleeve.

The plastics material in the region of the split may comprise a pair of abutting or overlapping lips through which cables can be passed.

The body is preferably a metal body, for example an aluminium alloy metal body.

Preferably, the body is generally equilaterally triangular in cross section with the main channel passing longitudinally through it.

The side of the body through which the main channel opens may include two smaller C-shaped channels which are positioned one on either side of the main channel.

The other two of the three sides of the body may each include a longitudinal groove, each groove being suitable for receiving fittings for a side panel, whereby the body can be positioned between two juxtaposed side panels.

The sleeve may include an internal channel adapted to receive a partition member which serves to divide the interior of the sleeve into two compartments.

The smaller channels may be adapted to receive cable clips or other devices.

The sleeve may be arranged to receive internal clips which spring outwardly to make contact with internal surfaces of the sleeve and to provide support for cables within the sleeve.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings by which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of cable ducting; and Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the ducting shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, cable ducting comprises a hard drawn aluminium alloy body 1 ot generally triangular configuration having extending therethrough an elongate generally C-shaped main channel 2 which is arranged to embrace a plastics sleeve 3. The sleeve 3 includes a longitudinal split 4 through which cables 5 and 6 can be passed to be accommodated within the sleeve 3. The sleeve 3 has a main body portion 3A formed of a relatively rigid plastics material and a pair of thinner and flexible abutting lips 3B.

The sleeve 3 is also formed, directly opposite the opening 7, with a channel 8 which is adapted to receive a removable partition 9 which serves to divide the interior of the sleeve 3 into two compartments. This is a particularly desirable feature since it is usually a requirement to separate power cables from other cables such as telephone cables. Thus, the cable 6 could be a power cable and the cable 5 could be a telephone cable.

Sides 10 and 11 of the triangular body 1 are provided with grooves 1 2 and 13 respectively which serve to accommodate fittings for juxtaposed side panels (not shown) whereby the ducting can be positioned between wall or ceiling panels.

A side 14 of the generally triangular body 1 through which the main channel 2 opens is arranged to include two further smaller channels 15 and 16 which open on either side of the main channel 2. The channel 16 is arranged to accommodate a cable 17 which is guided by and retained within the channel 16 by means of a plastics clip 1 8. The channel 1 5 is fitted with a different kind of plastics clip 19 having a generally figure-8 shaped cross section. The clip 1 9 serves to guide and support the cable 5 in spaced apart relationship with respect to the body 1 so that the cable 5 can be neatly entered through the longitudinal split 4 in the sleeve 3 to be accommodated within the ducting. The channels 15, 1 6 are longitudinally serrated as shown.The serrations are of assistance in holding locking members or other devices (not shown) in the channels, the locking members or other devices biting into the serrations.

In order to provide for a neat cable run within the ducting, a clip 20 is fitted within the plastics sleeve 3, the clip 20 being made of springy material which springs outwardly to make contact with the internal surface of the plastics sleeve 3.

The clip 20 has end parts 21 which serve to retain the cables 5 and 6. The clip 20 is not essential and Figure 2 shows a cable 6A which is within the ducting but not held by the clip 20.

Although ducting as just before described is particularly suitable for use as a partition link member within which cables can be neatly accommodated, it is also envisaged that the ducting may be used in the construction of racking or furniture, such as office tables and desks. For this purpose, the ducting may be used as an upright support member, such as a desk leg for example, within which cables operatively associated with equipment carried on the desk can be accommodated neatly and unobtrusively.

The cables can be inserted into the ducting and removed from the ducting at any desired height merely by forcing the cables through the split 4.

Claims

1. Cable ducting comprising a body having an elongate main channel of generally C-shaped cross section into which is fitted a longitudinally split sleeve of flexible material which is arranged to close the channel, the longitudinal split in the sleeve being positioned so that cables to be contained within the ducting can be fed into or out of the sleeve, which defines the inside wall of the ducting, through the longitudinal split.

2. Cable ducting according to claim 1 in which the sleeve is made of plastics material which in the region of the longitudinal split is more flexible than the remainder of the plastics material which defines the sleeve.

3. Cable ducting according to claim 2 in which the plastics material in the region of the split comprises a pair of abutting or overlapping lips through which cables can be passed.

4. Cable ducting according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is a metal body.

5. Cable ducting according to claim 4 in which the metal body is an aluminium alloy metal body.

6. Cable ducting according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is generally equilaterally triangular in cross section with the main channel passing longitudinally through it.

7. Cable ducting according to any one of the preceding claims in which the side of the body through which the main channel opens includes two smaller C-shaped channels which are positioned one on either side of the main channel.

8. Cable ducting according to claim 7 in which the other two of the three sides of the body each include a longitudinal groove, each groove being suitable for receiving fittings for a side panel, whereby the body can be positioned between two juxtaposed side panels.

9. Cable ducting according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which the two smaller C-shaped channels are adapted to receive cable clips.

10. Cable ducting according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sleeve includes an internal channel adapted to receive a partition member which serves to divide the interior of the sleeve into two compartments.

11. Cable ducting according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sleeve is arranged to receive internal clips which spring outwardly to make contact with internal surfaces of the sleeve and to provide support for cables within the sleeve.

12. Cable ducting substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.