GB2284366A - Manufacture of cable trays - Google Patents
Manufacture of cable trays Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2284366A GB2284366A GB9324632A GB9324632A GB2284366A GB 2284366 A GB2284366 A GB 2284366A GB 9324632 A GB9324632 A GB 9324632A GB 9324632 A GB9324632 A GB 9324632A GB 2284366 A GB2284366 A GB 2284366A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- apertures
- rows
- punches
- carriageway
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/04—Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D28/00—Shaping by press-cutting; Perforating
- B21D28/24—Perforating, i.e. punching holes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
- Punching Or Piercing (AREA)
Abstract
A metal sheet (1) of desired length is inserted into a punching apparatus having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart punches (11). The punches (11) are marked on arms (12) fixed to a bed of the punching apparatus (10). A carriage (13) is fixed to a sleeve (14) which is slidably movable along slider rods (15). Gripping elements (25) engage the sheet (1) to retain it in position on the carriage (13). Aligned parallel rows (30, 31, 32) of apertures are formed and the sheet (1) is then repositioned to form further offset rows (33, 34). The sheet (1) is then bent to form a cable tray. <IMAGE>
Description
uanufacture of Cable Trays
The invention relates to the manufacture of cable trays.
A cable tray is usually a length of channel member having a base and side flanges. At least the base has apertures to hold cables, trucking and the like.
Cable trays are required in a wide variety of dimensions to suit particular applications. This invention is directed towards providing a method for manufacturing a range of different sized cable trays in a cost and time efficient manner.
According to the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a cable tray comprising the steps of:
de-reeling sheet metal material from a coil;
cutting the sheet metal to a required length;
inserting the sheet underneath a row of longitudinally
spaced-apart punches;
engaging the sheet against a stop means;
gripping the sheet to fix it in position in a carriage
and relative to the row of punches;
punching a first row of apertures across the width of
the sheet;
repositioning the sheet relative to the punches to form
a second row of apertures transversely and
longitudinally offset with respect to the first rows;
releasing the gripping means; and
bending the sheet with the apertures therein to form a
cable tray having a base and a pair of side flanges
extending from the base.
Preferably the method includes the step after punching the first row of apertures of moving the carriageway with the sheet fixed thereto to locate the sheet under the punches to form further first rows of apertures across the sheet transversely spaced apart but aligned with the first rows.
In a preferred arrangement the method includes the step after punching the second row of apertures of moving the carriageway with the sheet fixed thereto to locate the sheet under the punches to form further second rows of apertures across the sheet.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, after forming the first rows of apertures in the sheet the sheet is released from the carriageway and repositioned on the carriageway.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sheet with the first rows of apertures formed therein is engaged against the stop means and gripped in a desired position on the carriageway.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, after forming the first rows of apertures in the sheet the carriageway is moved relative to the punches to reposition the sheet metal under the punches for forming the second rows of offset apertures.
At least two rows of apertures may be formed in a single punching operation.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first or second rows and preferably both the first and second rows of apertures are of elongate shape and plan view.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the largest dimension of the slots extend longitudinally with respect to the sheet.
The invention also provides cable trays whenever manufactured by a method of the invention.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus used in
the method of the invention,
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of portion of the
apparatus of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of
portion of the apparatus of Fig. 2,
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 2,
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of
Fig. 2,
Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the rear of the
apparatus of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 7 is a plan view of an apertured metal sheet
formed using the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 6.
Referring to the drawings in the method for manufacturing a cable tray according to the invention, sheet metal material is de-reeled from a coil and then cut using a guillotine to a required lengtn.
A sheet 1 of desired length is inserted into a punching apparatus indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart punches 11. The punches are mounted on respective mounting arms 12 which are fixed to a bed 13 of the punching apparatus 10. A carriage 13 is fixed to a mounting sleeve 14 which is slidably moveable in the direction of the arrows X (see Fig. 5) along slider rods 15. A sheet of metal 1 to be punched is inserted underneath the punches 11 on the carriage 13 until the sheet 1 is engaged against back stops 20. Gripping elements 25 are pivotally mounted to respective rams 26 which are activated when the sheet 1 is engaged against the back stops 20 to push the gripping elements 25 forwardly and downwardly into engagement against the sheet 1 to retain it in position on the carriage 13. A first row of apertures 30 are then punched across the width of the sheet by operating a foot pedal 29. With the gripping elements 25 fixing the sheet to the carriage 13, the carriage is then moved in the direction of the arrow X in
Fig. 5 to reposition the punches to form another row 31 of apertures in line and parallel to the row 30. The carriage is again moved to form further aligned and parallel rows of apertures 32 across the width of the sheet 1.
When the aligned parallel rows 30, 31, 32 of apertures have been formed, the grippers 25 are released by operating the rams 26 allowing the sheet 1 to be repositioned relative to the carriageway 13 to form a second row 33 of apertures offset from the first rows 31, 32. As soon as the sheet is in a desired position, the rams 26 are activated again to engage the grippers 25 against the sheet 1 and hold it in position on the carriageway. After punching the second row of apertures 33, the carriageway is again moved in the direction of the arrow X to a position parallel to the second row 33 of apertures for forming a further row of apertures 34 aligned with the row 33. This process is repeated until the desired arrangement of apertures has been formed in the sheet 1.
When all the apertures have been formed, the sheet 1 is removed from the punching apparatus 10 and bent to form a cable tray having a base and a pair of side flanges extending from the base.
The invention provides a method for forming a wide range of cable trays of different sizes in a cost efficient manner.
It will be appreciated that more than one row of apertures may be formed in the sheet at the same time.
It will also be appreciated that in some cases it may be appropriate to arrange the carriageway to be moveable both transversely and longitudinally to speed the changeover from one alignment of apertures to another.
Many other variations and modifications on the invention will be readily apparent and accordingly, the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.
Claims (12)
1. A method for manufacturing a cable tray comprising
the steps of:
de-reeling sheet metal material from a coil;
cutting the sheet metal to a required length;
inserting the sheet underneath a row of
longitudinally spaced-apart punches;
engaging the sheet against a stop means;
gripping the sheet to fix it in position in
a carriage and relative to the row of
punches;
punching a first rcw of apertures across the
width of the sheet;
repositioning the sheet relative to the
punches to form a second row of apertures
transversely and longitudinally offset with
respect to the first rows;
releasing the gripping means; and
bending the sheet with the apertures therein
to form a cable tray having a base and a pair
of side flanges extending from the base.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step
after punching the first row of apertures of
moving the carriageway with the sheet fixed
thereto to locate the sheet under the punches to
form further first rows of apertures across the
sheet transversely spaced apart but aligned with
the first rows.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 including the
step after punching the second row of apertures of
moving the carriageway with the sheet fixed
thereto to locate the sheet under the punches to
form further second rows of apertures across the
sheet.
4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3
wherein, after forming the first rows of apertures
in the sheet the sheet is released from the
carriageway and repositioned on the carriageway.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sheet
with the first rows of apertures formed therein
is engaged against the stop means and gripped in
a desired position on the carriageway.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein after
forming the first rows of apertures in the sheet
the carriageway is moved relative to the punches
to reposition the sheet metal under the punches
for forming the second rows of offset apertures.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein
at least two rows of apertures are formed in a
single punching operation.
8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein
at least one of the first or second rows of
apertures are of elongate shape in plan view.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein both the
first and second rows of apertures are of elongate
shape.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the
largest dimension of the slots extends
longitudinally with respect to the sheet.
11. A method for manufacturing a cable tray
substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. Cable trays whenever manufactured by a method as
claimed in any preceding claim.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9324632A GB2284366B (en) | 1993-12-01 | 1993-12-01 | Manufacture of cable trays |
| BE9400032A BE1006064A6 (en) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-01-11 | Method for manufacturing cable supports. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9324632A GB2284366B (en) | 1993-12-01 | 1993-12-01 | Manufacture of cable trays |
| BE9400032A BE1006064A6 (en) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-01-11 | Method for manufacturing cable supports. |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9324632D0 GB9324632D0 (en) | 1994-01-19 |
| GB2284366A true GB2284366A (en) | 1995-06-07 |
| GB2284366B GB2284366B (en) | 1996-01-31 |
Family
ID=25662857
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9324632A Expired - Fee Related GB2284366B (en) | 1993-12-01 | 1993-12-01 | Manufacture of cable trays |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| BE (1) | BE1006064A6 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2284366B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0999627A1 (en) * | 1998-11-06 | 2000-05-10 | Legrand | Raceway base with preformed holes and method for obtaining same |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111490512B (en) * | 2020-05-25 | 2021-03-19 | 安徽省飞龙新型材料有限公司 | Protection structure for preventing water and soil erosion of cable in cable groove and production method thereof |
| CN112318132B (en) * | 2020-10-26 | 2022-04-29 | 广州品发机电科技有限公司 | Bridge production line |
| CN112387848B (en) * | 2020-10-26 | 2023-01-20 | 天津鹏鹄科技有限公司 | Rapid bar cutting machine and cutting method thereof |
| CN113083990A (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2021-07-09 | 伍梦文 | Punching processing machinery and method for manufacturing aluminum alloy cable bridge |
| CN113300295B (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2022-08-05 | 安徽力盾网络科技有限公司 | Wire fixing mechanism and network communication cabinet with same |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1205656A (en) * | 1967-05-31 | 1970-09-16 | Alpha Products Inc | Expanded metal products and method of fabricating same |
| GB1585433A (en) * | 1977-02-04 | 1981-03-04 | Bohnacker R | Sheet metal blank for making shelves or containers |
| US5105640A (en) * | 1991-01-25 | 1992-04-21 | Iowa Precision Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for forming box-shaped sheet metal ducts |
-
1993
- 1993-12-01 GB GB9324632A patent/GB2284366B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1994
- 1994-01-11 BE BE9400032A patent/BE1006064A6/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1205656A (en) * | 1967-05-31 | 1970-09-16 | Alpha Products Inc | Expanded metal products and method of fabricating same |
| GB1585433A (en) * | 1977-02-04 | 1981-03-04 | Bohnacker R | Sheet metal blank for making shelves or containers |
| US5105640A (en) * | 1991-01-25 | 1992-04-21 | Iowa Precision Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for forming box-shaped sheet metal ducts |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0999627A1 (en) * | 1998-11-06 | 2000-05-10 | Legrand | Raceway base with preformed holes and method for obtaining same |
| FR2785731A1 (en) * | 1998-11-06 | 2000-05-12 | Legrand Sa | CHUTE BASE WITH PREFORMED FIXING HOLES, AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING SAME |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2284366B (en) | 1996-01-31 |
| BE1006064A6 (en) | 1994-05-03 |
| GB9324632D0 (en) | 1994-01-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20051201 |