GB2184896A

GB2184896A - Channels for underground cables

Info

Publication number: GB2184896A
Application number: GB08630018A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Geoffrey Fenwick
Original assignee: ECC Quarries Ltd
Current assignee: Camas UK Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-30
Filing date: 1986-12-16
Publication date: 1987-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-16
Also published as: GB2223629B; GB2184896B; GB8630018D0; GB8921418D0; GB2223629A; GB8531852D0

Abstract

An underground cable guiding and protecting assembly comprises a plurality of components 10,50,60 of U-shaped cross-section, the components having grooves 38,40, whereby they can be connected together by means of locking clips of different designs 68,70,80 which can underlie or overlie the junctions between components to engage the grooves and retain the components together. The components can be formed of a pressed cementitious material and can receive top covers as necessary to close the cable passageway. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Constructional components and arrangements This invention relates to constructional components and arrangements and particularly components and arrangements for guiding and protecting cables and like elements.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a constructional component for use with cables and like elements, the component having a passage extending therethrough and having external surfaces so profiled as to locate locking means, whereby a pair of components can be retained in an aligned and/or abutting relation with one another by the locking means overlying the abutting location and co-operating with respective profiled surfaces of each component.

Preferably the component is profiled in each of two opposed external side surfaces, and each profile may comprise a groove extending along at least part of the length of the component. Each groove is preferably positioned towards a lower edge of the element, relative to the disposition in use, and each groove may be defined by a first or lower face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles thereto and a second or upper face extending inwardly and downwardly inclined from the side face to meet with the first or lower face.

Advantageously a further groove is provided on each side face of the component towards the upper edge thereof, and each further groove has a first or upper face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles thereto and a second or lower face extending inwardly and upwardly inclined relative to the side face of the component to meet with the first face.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a constructional component for use with cables and like elements, the component having a passage extending therethrough providing opposed side walls, one of the side walls having a cut-out in one end thereof with the cut-out having the profile of a vertical half section of the passage, thereby providing a handed component, so that, when a pair of different handed ones of the components are provided in an aligned and abutting relationship with one another with said one ends of said one side walls aligned and in abutment, the respective cutouts define a wall opening having the profile of the passage for alignment with a through passage having the same profile in another component, when one end of the latter abuts said one side walls of the pair of handed components.

The invention also provides a constructional arrangement for use with cables and like elements, the arrangement comprising a plurality of components as described in any of the four preceding paragraphs.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a constructional arrangement for use with cables and like elements, the arrangement comprising a plurality of components each of which has a passage extending therethrough and has the same lateral cross section, and which are selected from one or more first components, wherein the passage provides opposed side walls each of which extends over the length of the component, from one or more second components, wherein the passage provides opposed side walls, one of which has a cut-out in one end, the cut-out having the profile of a half vertical section of the passage, and from one or more third components having opposed end faces, one of the end faces extending at other than right angles relative to the longitudinal dimension of the component, whereby the components can be selectively connected together to define a desired path for cables or like elements by means of the communicating passages thereof.

Preferably the arrangement further includes means for locking together adjacent ones of the components when in an aligned and/or abutting relationship with one another.

Preferably also each of the components is profiled in each of two opposed external side surfaces, and each profile may comprise a groove extending along at least part of the length of the component. Each groove is preferably positioned towards a lower edge of the element, relative to the disposition in use, and each groove may be defined by a first or lower face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles thereto and a second or upper face extending inwardly and downwardly inclined from the side face to meet with the first or lower face.

The locking means may comprise a clip for adjacent ones of the components, the clip having at least one part of substantially Ushaped cross section. The base may be of such a dimension that the clip can extend laterally of the respective component with the legs adjacent external side faces thereof, and with the free ends of the legs being profiled to locate in respective ones of the grooves, whereby the clip can overlie an abutting location and lock adjacent ones of the components together.

The clip may be selected from a first clip having a single U-shaped part for connecting an adjacent pair of the first components together, a second clip having three U-shaped parts to connect together an adjacent pair of the second components and another component at right angles thereto, and a third clip having two U-shaped parts for connecting together one of the third components and another adjacent component.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a constructed arrangement for guiding and protecting cables and like elements; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of part of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section through a component used in the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the components used in the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an arrangement to be constructed below ground level for guiding and protecting cables or like elements, the arrangement being constructed from a plurality of selected components disposed in an aligned and/or abutting relationship with one another.

A first of the components, i.e. a component 10, is of substantially U-shaped cross section providing a through channel 12 opening onto an upper face 14 of the component 10 and being profiled to narrow towards the upper face 14, a recessed shoulder 16 being defined in the upper face 14 to extend along the length of each side wall 18 defined by the channel 12.As a cover for the component 10 there can be selected an inset cover 20 having side edges 22 adapted to seat on the shoulders 16 so that the cover 20 seats on the component 10 flush with the upper face 14 thereof, an overlyiny cover 24 profiled to have edges 26 resting on the upper face 14 of the component 10 with a central part 28 extending downwardly into the component 10, or a pressed steel or cast iron cover 30 retained on the shoulders 16 to be flush with the upper face 14 by means of a bolt 32 extending through the cover 30 and engaging with a clamp 34. The covers 20 and 24 are preferably formed of concrete and preferably extend over the length of the component 10 or over half the length thereof.

The component 10 is formed on each of its external side faces 36 with a pair of grooves 38, 40 which are parallel to one another but spaced apart towards respective lower and upper edges of the component 10 and extend longitudinally of the component along the length thereof. Each groove 38 is defined by a first or lower face 42 extending inwardly of the respective side face 36 at substantially right angles thereto (Fig. 3), and a second or upper face 44 extending inwardly and downwardly inclined from the side face 36 to meet with the lower face 42. Each of the grooves 40 has a first or upper face 46 extending inwardly of the side face 36 at substantially right angles thereto and a second or lower face 48 extending inwardly and upwardly inclined relative to the side face 36 to meet with the upper face 46.

A second of the components, i.e. component 50, is of similar construction to the component 10 and like features are denoted by like reference numerals. At one end of one of the side walls 18, the component 50 has a cut-out 52 which, when viewed laterally of the component 50, has the same profile as a vertical half section of the channel 12, providing a lateral shoulder 54 corresponding to the shoulder 16. When the component 50 is provided with the cut-out 52 at the right hand end of the right hand side wall 1 8 as viewed in Fig. 2, a left 'handed' unit is formed, whereas if the component 50 is formed with the cut-out 52 at the left hand end of the right hand side wall 18 as viewed in Fig. 2, a right 'handed' unit is formed.The grooves 38, 40 on an external side face 56 of the side wall 18 having the cut-out 52 extend from the other end of the component 50 but terminate short of the cut-out 52 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A third component of the arrangement, i.e.

component 60, has the same general configuration as the components 10, 50 and again like features are identified by like reference numerals. The component 60 has one end face 62 extending at other than right angles relative to the longitudinal dimension thereof.

The end face 62 extends in a plane which is 22.5 removed from the plane which extends at right angles to the longitudinal dimension.

The component 60 can be made either right or left 'handed' and a cover for the component is purpose made.

To connect adjacent components together there are provided various locking clips from which is selected a clip appropriate to the types of components to be interconnected.

A first clip 64 has a U-shaped configuration, a base 66 of which is dimensioned to extend laterally of the components 10, with legs 68 locating adjacent the external side faces 36.

Each of the legs 68 is vertically split midway between the side edges to define leg sections 69. Each of the latter at a free end is profiled to have a shape complementary to the shape of the grooves 38, 40. When two of the components 10 are located end to end in alignment with the respective end faces in abutment, one of the clips 64 can be located below the abutting location of the components 10 so that the legs 68 extend upwardly adja cent the side faces 36 and the profiled ends of the leg sections 69 locate, preferably by snapfitting, in the grooves 38 of respective ones of the components 10. The overall length of the clip 64 is such that the clip can overlie the adjacent ends of the components 10 and thus connect the components together.A clip 64 may be used in an inverted mode to retain covers 20 in position on the components 10 by overlying adjacent covers 20 and the upper faces 14 of the adjacent components 10 so that the legs 68 extend downwardly and locate within the respective upper grooves 40 of the components 10.

To connect a component 60 to a nonangled end face of an adjacent component 10, 50 or 60, there is provided a clip 70 which is formed of a pair of U-shaped parts 72 of similar profile to the clip 64, the parts 72 being joined together at one side with legs 74 at an appropriate angle, and being retained at the angle by means of a spacer strap 76, or a spacer plate, with the legs 74 offset at said one side. The clip 70 locates below and/or above the abutting location so that the parts 72 engage in respective grooves 38, 40 of tbe respective aligned and abutting components.

To connect adjacent ones of the components 50 in an aligned and abutting relation together with another of the selected components at right angles thereto in a tee configuration as shown in Fig. 2, there is provided a clip 80 formed of three U-shaped parts 82, of the same configuration as the parts 72 of the clip 70, connected by straps 84 or located respectively along three edges of a central square part. Each of the parts 82 on the pair of opposed edges, when the clip 80 underlies the components in the aligned tee relation, can locate its legs 86 in the grooves 38 of the respective components 50 while the part 82 on the other edge can locate its legs 88 in the grooves 38 of the other component. It will be appreciated that the clip 80 can also be used in an inverted mode to extend across the upper faces 14 of the components.

An arrangement for guiding and protecting cables and like elements below ground level can therefore be constructed using selected ones of the components 10, 50, 60 and respective ones of the clips 64, 70, 80, together with selected covers 20, 24, 30. A continuous channel is defined by the aligned channels 12 so that the cables and like elements can be guided in desired directions. It is to be appreciated that the components may be utilised with different types of interlocking arrangements and, for example, certain of the components may be retained in position by means of haunching. It is to be further appreciated that components other than the components specifically described and shown may also be adapted to utilise connecting arrangements of the type described and shown.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the components may be formed with only the lower grooves or the upper grooves, and the grooves in the walls of the blocks formed with the cut-outs may extend full length to facilitate production. Further, the upper grooves and also the profile of the channel and the profile of the grooves may differ from that described and shown. The components are intended to be formed by a pressed cementitious material but can of course be made from other materials if desired. Further the third component may have its end face in a plane at any suitable angle other than 22.5 , and indeed may be splayed at each end to be both right and left handed.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A constructional component for use with cables and like elements, the component having a passage extending therethrough and having external surfaces so profiled as to locate locking means, whereby a pair of components can be retained in an aligned and/or abutting relation with one another by the locking means overlying the abutting location and cooperating with respective profiled surfaces of each component.

2. A component according to claim 1, wherein each of two opposed external side surfaces is profiled.

3. A component according to claim 2, wherein each profile comprises a groove extending along at least part of the length of the component.

4. A component according to claim 3, wherein each groove is positioned towards a lower edge of the element, relative to the disposition in use.

5. A component according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each groove is defined by a first or lower face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles thereto and a second or upper face extending inwardly and downwardly inclined from the side face to meet with the first or lower face.

6. A component according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein a further groove is provided on each side face of the component towards an upper edge thereof.

7. A component according to claim 6, wherein each further groove has a first or upper face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles thereto and a second or lower face extending inwardly and upwardly inclined relative to the side face of the component to meet with the first face.

8. A construction component for use with cables and like elements, the component hav ing a passage extending therethrough providing opposed side walls, one of the side walls having a cut-out in one end thereof with the cut-out having the profile of a vertical half section of the passage, thereby providing a handed component, so that, when a pair of different handed ones of the components are provided in an aligned and abutting relationship with one another with said one ends of said one side walls aligned and in abutment, the respective cut-outs define a wall opening having the profile of the passage for alignment with a through passage having the same profile in another component, when one end of the latter abuts said one side walls of the pair of handed components.

9. A constructional arrangement for use with cables and like elements, the arrangement comprising a plurality of components according to any of the preceding claims and means for locking together adjacent ones of the components when in an aligned and/or abutting relationship with one another.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the locking means comprises a clip for adjacent ones of the components, the clip having at least one part of substantially Ushaped cross section.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the base is of such a dimension that the clip can extend laterally of the respective component with the legs adjacent external side faces thereof, and with the free ends of the legs being profiled to locate in respective ones of the grooves, whereby the clip can overlie an abutting location and lock adjacent ones of the components together.

12. A constructional arrangement for use with cables and like elements, the arrangement comprising a plurality of components each of which has a passage extending therethrough and has the same lateral cross section, and which are selected from one or more first components, wherein the passage provides opposed side walls each of which extends over the length of the component, from one or more second components, wherein the passage provides opposed side walls, one of which has a cut-out in one end, the cut-out having the profile of a half vertical section of the passage, and from one or more third components having opposed end faces, one of the end faces extending at other than right angles relative to the longitudinal dimension of the component, whereby the components can be selectively connected together to define a desired path for cables or like elements by means of the communicating passages thereof.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each of two opposed external side surfaces is profiled.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein each profile comprises a groove extending along at least part of the length of the component.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein each groove is positioned towards a lower edge of the element, relative to the disposition in use.

16. An arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each groove is defined by a first or lower face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles thereto and a second or upper face extending inwardly and downwardly inclined from the side face to meet with the first or lower face.

17. An arrangement according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein a further groove is provided on each side face of the component towards an upper edge thereof.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein each further groove has a first or upper face extending inwardly of the side face at substantially right angles-thereto and a second or lower face extending inwardly and upwardly inclined relative to the side face of the component to meet with the first face.

19. An arrangement according to any of claims 12 to 18, including means for locking together adjacent ones of the components when in an aligned and/or abutting relationship with one another.

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the locking means comprises a clip for adjacent ones of the components, the clip having at least one part of substantially Ushaped cross section.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the base is of such a dimension that the clip can extend laterally of the respective component with the legs adjacent external side faces thereof, and with the free ends of the legs being profiled to locate in respective ones of the grooves, whereby the clip can overlie an abutting location and lock adjacent ones of the components together.

22. An arrangement according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the clip is selected from a first clip having a single U-shaped part for connecting an adjacent pair of the first components together, a second clip having three U-shaped parts to connect together an adjacent pair of the second components and another component at right angles thereto, and a third clip having two U-shaped parts for connecting together one of the third components and another adjacent component.

23. A constructional component for use with cable and like elements, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A constructional arrangement for use with cable and like elements, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.