GB2202689A - Segregated services provisions for floors - Google Patents

Abstract

Segregated services trunking in which one or more of its side walls (12B) are or can be cut away or otherwise be partially opened or closed as a service feed (26, Fig. 1) passage by an associated movable part such as a shutter (32). One or more of media partitions (16) can also be partially opened and closed down (Figures 4 and 5). <IMAGE>

Description

Segregated Services Provisions for Floors DESCRIPTION This invention relates to segregated services provisions for flooring systems having a space below the floor surface, as applies to flooring systems comprised of panels supported on pedestals from a base or subfloor, then most commonly as rectangular panels with pedestals to corners thereof.

Segregated services provision is conveniently by way of lengthwise-partitioned trunking usually slung below flooring panels affording the floor surface and/or run between such panels then usually with special cover plates matching to the level of the floor surface. In both cases, such trunking can be open-topped until closed off by the underside of a flooring panel or a cover plate. Access to the services can obviously be by way of access boxes at and at least to some extent in the segregated trunking, but is often conveniently and alternatively or additionally via access boxes let into holes formed in the flooring panels and thus at least at least to some extent spaced lateraly from general runs of the trunking.

Running service feeds between partitioned ducting runs and laterally spaced access boxes can be done using flexible or other branch trunking, and installation involves running service feeds, for example electrical power, telephone or computer cables, through the partitioned trunking and out laterally to access boxes, say via shallow channels let into the trunking transversely of its length. Preferably, however, sides of the trunking through which such lateral passage takes place are minimally interrupted, i.e. to little if any more than the actual service feed requirement, and that has led to the use of two-part plate-like shields which can be time-consuming to provide and set, especially when using prewired access boxes.

It is an object of this invention to facilitate provisions of trunking for lateral service feed access thereto, especially in relation to such service feeds already provided with a termination, such as a plug, or other connector, intended for easy fitting into a service feed carrier, such as for a bus or track type system. There are, of course, several existing proprietary plug and bus systems for electrical supplies (one example being marketed under the name Electrak), and it must be highly advantageous to facilitate the use of such systems within segregated service provisions.

Accordingly, this invention provides segregated services trunking wherein one or more of its partitions, including sidewalls, is or are or can be cut away or otherwise partially open to a first extent and capable of being closed down to be open to a lesser extent as a service feed passage by a single movable part associated or associatable with the partition concerned where it is partially open. Then, a termination, such as an electrical connector, can pass through said first extent of opening and its feedline such as an electrical cable, or branch trunking therefor, has its cross-section accommodated by said lesser extent of opening.

In one embodiment of this invention, applicable with advantage to outer walls or sides of segregation trunking, such wall or side has a wholly-bounded hole formed therethrough and a shutter movable to expose that hole to said first extent or to close it down to said lesser extent, perhaps further to close it off altogether. The shutter may be adjacent the exterior or the interior surface of the trunking wall or side.

A suitable slidable shutter has spaced parallel edges in parallel runways to opposite sides of the hole, say above and below so as not to require excessive trunking depth. The hole may have a localised extension and/or the shutter a localised slotting each or both as or as part of the lesser extent of opening for a service feed, including any trunking, say flexible, individual thereto.

In another embodiment of this invention, applicable with advantage to an intermediate partition of segregation trunking, such partition is cut away from its upper edge to less than the height of the partition, and a shutter is removable and replaceable relative to such cut-away to present or enlarge it to said first extent or reduce to said lesser extent. A suitable shutter has spaced walls that embrace the partition to some extent adjacent to its cut away, conveniently only below such cut-away, then preferably with one of its walls assuring matching of the shutter to the top of the partition by abutment with the bottom or some other part of the trunking, and further preferably with registering apertures in its spaced walls to provide opening of said lesser extent above the bottom of the cut-away.

It is, of course, feasible for the first-mentioned embodiment to be used for trunking partitions and for the second-mentioned embodiment to be used for trunking outer walls or sides, though, in the latter case, the outer walls or sides would lose more strength.

Accordingly it is particularly preferred herein for segregated trunking to have the first-mentioned embodiment periodically along its sides and the second-mentioned embodiment periodically along its inner partitions, especialy in relation to trunking where proprietary bus or track provision is made in a central or medial segregation, i.e. one beyond one partition often between two partitions. Then, the cut-aways of the second-mentioned embodiment can be the same as provided for installation of in-trunking access boxes.

Specific practical implementation of embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section through three-way segregated trunking; Figure 2 is a fragmentary outer side view on arrow A of Figure 2; Figure 3 shows a shutter on arrow B of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of a partition on arrow C of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic fragementary section on line D-D of Figure 4.

In the drawing, referring first to Figure 1, segregated trunking 10 comprises an outer channel part 12 having spaced parallel sides 12A, 12B upstanding from a base 12C and free edges 12E, 12F in-turned. Two spaced partitions 14 and 16 are shown as sheets or plates each having turned-out edges. (14A, 14B and 16A, 16B) one serving (14A, 16A) for securement to the base 12C of the outer channel part 12 and the other (14B, 16B) matching the in-turns 12E, 12F of the sides of the outer channel part 12. The edges 12E, 12F, 14B, 16B are shown supporting a cover plate 20 between side extension plates 18A, 18B for and secured to the sides 12A, 12B of the outer channel part, and usually secured by screws into the edges 12E, 12F. As thus described, the trunking 10 is generally as we have made it before in modular lengths installed end-to-end between rows of flooring panels (not shown) themselves supported on pedestals from a subfloor, such pedestals being of greater height than the side walls 12A, 12B, and the cover plates 20 matching to the inner surfaces of the panels. Similar trunking, with or without cover plate 20, can be slung under such flooring panels if desired, and other uses for in-floor or under-floor service feeds are possible.

However, we are now concerned to facilitate incorporation of bus or track systems indicated in principle by block 22A as bus or track secured to the base 12C in the central one (24Y) of three segregated service feed ducts 24X, 24Y, 24Z of the trunking 10, and by block 22B as a plug-like connector for a service branch 26. Systems such as 22A, 22B are well known where the bus or track affords many possible connector entries along its length, particularly for electric power when the connectors often enter in one orientation for twisting to another at which the required connection is made. The service branch 26 can be in a flexible conduit.

We are further particularly concerned to facilitate the use of prewired access units from positions, say let into flooring panels, spaced from the trunking 10, and advantageously with connectors 22B also wired-on. That greatly facilitates installation as no wiring-up would then be required on-site, at least for electric power feeds.

Referring further to Figures 2 and 3, outer walls or sides 12B of the trunking 10 have spaced service entry provisions through their sides, one of which is shown and comprises an aperture 30, shown generally rectangular, and a movable shutter 32 that cooperate to define greater and lesser access holes. The greater access hole is conveniently the full size of the aperture 30, and the lesser access hole is shown afforded by the combination of a localised extension 30A of the aperture 30 and a slot 32A in the shutter, though it could be provided wholly by either if desired.

As shown, the shutter 32 is interior of the trunking 10. Further, it is shown slidable in upper and lower runways 34A and 34B formed by a joggled plate 36 and an angle plate 38, respectively, shown secured on the one hand to the side 12B and on the other hand to the base 12C of the trunking outer channel part 12.

The extents of the runway-forming plates 36A and 36B, and the length of the shutter 32, can be sufficient further to allow the aperture 30 to be fully closed off by moving the shutter further to the left in Figure 2.

The shutter 32 is shown with a clamp screw 38A in a fixed nut 38B to serve in setting the shutter 32 against unwanted movement including rattling.

It should be evident that the access provision of Figures 2 and 3 can allow entry of a service complete with connector, then be closed down to the feed itself, often a flexible conduit, and does not interrupt the edge 12F of the trunking, which could be unduly weakening.

Turning to Figures 4 and 5, an alternative service access provision is indicated, this time involving a cut-away 40 from the top of he partition 16 and a shutter 42 removable to expose the cut-away 40 and emplaceable (as shown) to cover it save for a lesser service feed aperture afforded between a slot 42A in the shutter and the bottom 40A of the cut-away 40.

The shutter 42 is shown comprising two plates 44A and 44B secured together at and/or from their tops, one (44A) being shown joggled, and the other (44B) flat, to define a space 46 to embrace the partition 16 below the bottom 40A of the cut-away 40, preferably as a tight fit. Such tight fit is not indicated in Figure 5, nor is the access provision for the partition 16 shown in Figure 1, to avoid clutter. Figures 4 and 5 do, however, indicate that the flat plate 44B is of greater height in the trunking 10, in fact preferably butts onto the bottom 12C of the trunking, to aid aligning out-turned edge 44C of the plate 44B with the edge 16B of the partition 16. Some other abutment provision could, of course, be made for a plate 44B of lesser height, whether via a further part fixed to the partition 16 or a joggle or other formation of the partition itself.

Claims (18)

1. Segregated services trunking wherein one or more of the trunking side walling or medial partitioning is or are or can be cut away or otherwise partially open to a first extent transversely of the trunking and there is for the or each of such partially open side wall or partitioning an associated or associatable movable part for closing down that first extent to an opening of lever extent, whereby a service feed passage is afforded that permits feed termination passage through said side walling or partitioning only when open to said first extent.

2. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each of said side walling or medial partitioning of the trunking has a wholly-bounded hole formed therethrough.

3. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 2 wherein a said associated part comprises a shutter movable to expose said hole to said first extent or to close it down to said lesser extent.

4. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shutter is further movable to close off said hole totally.

5. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said shutter is adjacent the interior surface of the associated trunking side walling or partitioning.

6. Segregated services trunking as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said shutter is slidable.

7. Segregated services trunking as claimied in claim 6, wherein said shutter is slidable by spaced parallel edges in parallel runways above and below said hole.

8. Segregated services trunking as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein said shutter has clamping means operative against its associated side walling or partitioning.

9. Segregated services trunking as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said hole has a localised extension.

10. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claims 3 to 8, wherein said shutter has a localised slotting registering with said localised extension.

11. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each of said side walling or medial partitioning is cut away from its upper edge to an extent less than its height.

12. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 11, wherein said part comprises a shutter removable and replaceable relative to said cut-away so as to present or enlarge said cut-away to said first extent or reduce it to said lesser extent.

13. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 12, wherein said shutter has spaced walls that embrace the side walling or partitioning adjacent to its cut-away and are apertured in registration for said lesser extent above a bottom edge of said cut-away.

14. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spaced walls of said shutter embrace the side walling or partitioning only below its cut-away.

15. Segregated services trunking as claimed in anyone of claims 12 to 14, wherein said shutter has one of its walls assuring matching of the shutter to the top of the partition by abutment with the bottom of the trunking.

16. Segregated services trunking as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one side wall is as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10 and at least one medial partition is as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15.

17. Segregated services trunking as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one segregation thereof has a lengthwise electrical bus or track system fitted thereto for taking services terminations passing through a said side walling and any intervening said medial partitioning.

18. Segregated services trunking substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.