GB2358664A

GB2358664A - Trunking cable gate

Info

Publication number: GB2358664A
Application number: GB0002048A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Slade
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-28
Filing date: 2000-01-28
Publication date: 2001-08-01
Also published as: GB0002048D0

Abstract

The trunking cable gate has a base (10), which is fitted to the trunking with a suitable nut, and bolt (15); the spring clip (13) then clips to this. This forms the cable gate that will retain the cables in the trunking while allowing others to be added without the need to remove the spring clip (13).

Description

2358664 112 TRUNKING GATE CLIP The purpose of this clip is to retain

cables in an electrical trunking system.

Electrical trunking is normally manufactured in 3 meter straight lengths, the cross section is C shaped as shown in fig. 3, once all of the trunking has been fixed in position the electrical cables can be placed inside the trunking. When installing electrical cables into a trunking system the main problems are that on long straight runs the cables tend to fall out unless some sort of device is used to retain them. This is also a problem on internal bends where the cables group up tight making installing additional cables very difficult. Presently such things as blocks of wood or welding rods, which are obviously not intended for this purpose, are being used. Despite the fact that they work they are not very satisfactory as they have to be completely removed, and then replaced again whilst trying to stop the existing cables falling out when, installing the new ones. It is also unprofessional.

The purpose of this invention is to prevent cables from bunching on bends and to assist in the wiring of trunking without the need of removing and replacing some makeshift 'clip'.

Also as a by-product of this clip it means that cables are less likely to get damaged when fitting the trunking lid, as well as preventing the trunking from becoming overcrowded The gate clip consists of two parts; the base (10) and the spring clip (13). The base is made of 1 mm thick mild steel and is fixed inside the trunking with a nut and bolt (15) utilising the factory prepared holes that are used to join trunking together. The base is suitable for all trunking sizes. The spring clip is made of I mm diameter sprung steel and comes in different sizes according to the size of the trunking and simply clips into the base when wiring is ready to commence. The spring clip pivots on its base (12), which enables cables to be passed over the top of it without having to remove it.

Other materials could be used in the construction of the two parts, as long as they are robust enough the effect of the clip will be the same.

Assuming the base to be made of steel it could be attached to the trunking and internal bends at the point of manufacture with a 'spot weld'.

12 Fig. 1 shows a top and side view of the base (10), which has a fixing slot (11) and the receptacle (12) for the base of the spring clip (13).

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the spring clip (13) the gap at the bottom is so the base of it can be pulled apart enough to clip into its receptacle (12) on the base (10).

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of trunking (14) with the spring clip (13) in positions A, B, and C showing the range of movement as it pivots on its base (10).

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the gate clip positioned outside of the trunking as used when wiring long straight runs.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of the gate clip being used for lighting trunking.

As shown in fig. 1 the base has a fixing slot (11) in it. This is so that the gate clip is compatible with different manufacturers who use different fixing centres on their trunking. The ridge (12) towards the other end is to accept the base of the spring clip (13) as shown in fig. 3.

The spring clip (13) shown in fig. 2 varies in size as shown below:

Trunking size measurement X Measurement Y 50mm x 5 22mm 57min 75mm, x 75mrn 22mrn 85mm.

I 0Omm X loomm 22mm. 105mrn 15Omm x 150mm 22mrn 1055mm In fig. 3 positions A, B and C denote how the spring clip pivots around point 12 of the base. Position A shows the clip at rest before any cables have been introduced to the trunleing, position C shows where the clip would be once the trunking contained cables. Position B would enable additional cables to be passed over the top of the clip and into the Ug, the spring clip would then return to position C.

Fig. 4 shows the spring clip (13) outside of the trunking, the benefit of this would be for wiring straight runs of trunking, the cable once looped over the spring clip would fall into the trunking once it was pulled tight. When the wiring is complete the spring clip is then unclipped, placed inside the hunking, and then clipped back onto the base.

The gate clip can also be used for lighting trunking as shown in figure 5.

3 1

Claims

1 After the insertion of the base of the clip (10) into the trunking, the spring clip (13) can be clipped into its receptacle (12) so that it can pivot in the base pointing either in or out of the trunking.

2 Due to claim 1, when the spring clip is pointing outwards it will keep the existing cables in the tmffldng as well as aiding the installation of additional cables.

3 Due to claim 1 when the spring clip is pointing inward it will act as a gate. This will keep the existing cables in the trunking, while allowing other cables to be added without the need to remove the spring clip.

4 Due to claim 3 all the cables will be kept away from the edge of the trunking which reduces the chance of the trunking lid fouling any of the cables during fitting.

Due to claim 3 the trunking will not become overcrowded.