GB2229325A

GB2229325A - Cable trays

Info

Publication number: GB2229325A
Application number: GB8906195A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eddie Britten
Original assignee: Airedale Sheet Metal Ltd
Current assignee: Airedale Sheet Metal Ltd
Priority date: 1989-03-17
Filing date: 1989-03-17
Publication date: 1990-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-17
Also published as: GB2229325B; GB8906195D0

Abstract

A cable tray shown generally at 10 consists of a floor portion 11 and flange portions 12. Slots 13 extend transversely to the length of the cable tray and slots 15 extend parallel to the length of the tray. The slots 13 are wider than the slots 15 which feature enables bolts to be inserted therethrough for the attachment of cleats to the floor of the tray. <IMAGE>

Description

CABLE TRAYS.

The present invention relates to cable trays.

In buildings such as offices and factories where there is often a large number of wires and cables, it is common practice to convey these cables from one location in the building to another location by means of one or more cable trays. The cable trays are typically located on the ceilings (although they are known in other locations) and may comprise lengths of sheet metal formed into shallow channel sections. Normally the cables and/or wires lie on the floor of the tray and are secured thereto by means of straps, ties, cleats or other fittings which extend through slots in the floor of the tray. In the case of cable cleats it is sometimes the case that bolts or spigots are required to affix the cleat to the floor of the tray. The slots for the ties or straps are often too narrow for the cleat bolts to extend therethrough.Consequently, it is normal practice for holes to be drilled by opening up part of a slot, in order that the bolts may extend through the floor of the tray to secure the cleats thereto. This practice is time consuming and is often quite difficult to accomplish neatly. An additional disadvantage is that any protective coating on the method is damaged by this process.

Accordingly the present invention provides a cable tray for carrying cables, wires and the like comprising a floor portion, there being a plurality of slots in the floor portion, at least some of which slots are of different widths. The cable tray may have a first plurality of slots in the floor portion, which slots each has a longitudinal axis which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the cable tray and a second plurality of slots which each has a longitudinal axis which extends substantially transverse to the length of the cable tray. Having slots in more than one orientation allows for some flexibility in the length and location of the ties or straps.

Preferably the first plurality of slots is comprised of slots of a different width to those slots which comprise the second plurality of slots. The second plurality of slots may be comprised of slots which are wider than those slots which comprise the first plurality of slots. The provision of wider slots obviates the need for the drilling of holes in order that cleat bolts or spigots may extend through the floor of the tray.

Preferably the slots are arranged in rows such that a row of slots of the kind comprising the first plurality of slots is followed by a row of slots of the kind comprising the second plurality of slots.

The invention also includes a cable tray substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to the diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a short length of a first embodiment of cable tray; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the tray in Figure 1 taken along the line II - II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a short length of a second embodiment of cable tray; Figure 4 is a cross-section of the tray of Figure 3 taken along the line Iv - IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a short length of a further embodiment of cable tray, and Figure 6 is a cross-section of the tray of Figure 5 taken along the line VI - VI.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 a cable tray shown generally at 10 consists of a floor portion 11 and flange portions 12 providing a shallow channel structure. It is to be understood that only a very short length of the tray is illustrated in Figure 1, but that in practice the tray is manufactured in lengths of several metres. Slots 13 extend transversely to the length of the tray (which is shown by arrow 14), and slots 15 extend parallel to the direction of the arrow 14. The slots 13 are wider than the slots 15 and, unlike the slots 13, are wide enough to enable cleat bolts to be inserted therethrough for example to enable the attachment of cleats to the floor of the tray.

Typically the bolts are of the size known as M10 and the width of the slots is arranged to accommodate these.

Figures 3 and 5 show similar cable trays with the longitudinally extending slots 16 spaced further apart than the corresponding slots 15 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 6 depict the cross-sections of the trays of Figures 3 and 5 which trays have flanges which return to different extents. The purpose of the returning flange is to enable one end of a connecting member to be inserted therein, which connecting member has its other end inserted into the flange of another section of cable tray, thereby enabling adjacent sections of cable tray to be connected together.

The contents of all papers and documents filed concurrently with this specification are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A cable tray for carrying cables, wires and the like comprising a floor portion there being a plurality of slots in the floor portion, some of which slots are of different widths.

2. A cable tray as claimed in Claim 1 in which a first plurality of slots in the floor portion each has a longitudinal axis which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the cable tray and a second plurality of slots which each has a longitudinal axis which extends substantially transverse to the length of the cable tray.

3. A cable tray as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the first plurality of slots is comprised of slots of a different width to those slots which comprise the second plurality of slots.

4. A cable tray constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

4. A cable tray as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the second plurality of slots is comprised of slots which are wider than those slots which comprise the first plurality of slots.

5. A cable tray as claimed in any of the Claims 2 to 4 in which the slots are arranged in rows such that a row of slots of the kind comprising the first plurality of slots is followed by a row of slots of the kind comprising the second plurality of slots.

6. A cable tray substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4, or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A cable tray for carrying cables, wires and the like comprising a floor portion in which slots are formed in rows, each row extending across substantially the full width of the floor portion, the rows alternating along the length of the floor portion between a first row in which all the slots are of substantially the same width and each slot has a longitudinal axis which extends longitudinally of the cable tray, and a second row in which all the slots are of substantially the same width, which is wider than that of the slots in the first row, and each slot has a longitudinal axis which extends transversely of the cable tray.

2. A cable tray as claimed in Claim 1, in which two slots of a first row are aligned in the longitudinal direction with each slot of an adjacent second row.

3. A cable tray as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which each of the slots in each of the first and second rows is in the form of a rectangle with rounded ends.