GB2359672A

GB2359672A - Extension bracket for a cable tray

Info

Publication number: GB2359672A
Application number: GB0021761A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Raymond Lane
Original assignee: Alan Campbell Group Ltd
Current assignee: Alan Campbell Group Ltd
Priority date: 2000-09-05
Filing date: 2000-09-05
Publication date: 2001-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-05
Also published as: GB2359672B; GB0021761D0

Abstract

Bracket 24 for increasing the cable supporting capacity of a cable tray 10 comprises a cable receiving portion 26 and an attachment portion 28, the attachment portion 28 being provided with a plurality of apertures 40 to enable the bracket to be secured to an exterior surface of the tray 10 by appropriate fixing means. The cable receiving portion may be "C", "L" or "T" shaped, may overlie the tray (Fig 9) and may have apertures 34 for attaching a cable clamp or the like.

Description

1 Cable Bracket 2359672 The present invention relates to a cable bracket

and in particular to a cable bracket for use with the routing of telecommunications cables.

In the mobile telephony industry it is often required to route a plurality of cables between a position at or near the ground and antennae provided at an elevated position. Taking the example where the antennae are situated on the roof of a building, the cables are often required to be. sited on an exterior wall.of the building. Typically the cables are supported in a plurality of substantially channel shaped cable trays. Such cable trays are provided with fixing apertures to enable the. cables to be attached thereto by appropriately configured clamps, and the trays themselves to be attached to the structure of the building.

During the upgrading ofexisting cable installations it is often required to increase the number of cables leading to the antennae.

According to the present invention there is provided a cable tray extension bracket, the bracket comprising a cable receiving portion and an attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion is adapted to fit to an exterior surface of a cable tray.

The present invention provides a bracket which can be readily fitted to a cable tray so as to increase the capacity thereof The bracket can be fitted to a cable tray either prior to installation thereof or in situ once the cable tray has been installed. The present invention is of particular benefit where the cable tray is in a relatively inaccessible position, for example on a substantially vertical surface or wall, which can be reached only by service personnel suspended on access ropes. In such a situation the relatively small size and light weight of the brackets makes then easy to handle and install in a safe manner.

Preferably the attachment portion is elongate and adapted to fit to an underside of the cable tray. Preferably the attachment portion is planar and is relatively thin so as to 2 enable the attachment portion to fit between the underside of a cable tray and a surface to which the cable tray may be installed, in use. The attachment portion is configured so as to enable appropriate fastening means to be utilised to secure the bracket to a cable tray. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment portion is provided with a one or more through apertures adapted, in use, to align with corresponding apertures of a cable tray. The attachment portion may be provided with a plurality of slotted apertures. Said slotted apertures may be arranged so as to be mutually perpendicular. In a preferred embodiment said slotted apertures may be arranged along an axis of the attachment portion. In such an embodiment the apertures may be arranged so as to be 10 alternately perpendicular and parallel to said axis.

In one embodiment the cable receiving portion may extend, in use, laterally from a cable tray to which the bracket is attached. In an alternative embodiment the cable receiving portion may, in use, overlie a cable tray to which the bracket is attached. The cable receiving portion may be substantially "C" shaped having a base and opposed arms extending therefrom. Alternatively, the cable receiving portion may be substantially "L" or "T" shaped having a base and an. upstanding arm The cable attachment portion may include means to enable one or more cables to be secured thereto. The cable attachment portion may be provided with one or more through apertures adapted to receive fixing means, in use.

Preferably the bracket is manufactured from metal, for example mild steel, and is provided with a protective coating, for example a surface layer of paint or plastics material. Alternatively the bracket may be provided with a galvanised coating. In yet a further embodiment the bracket may be manufactured from a corrosive resistant material, for example stainless steel.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional cable tray, cable clamp and cables; Figures 2 to 5 show side, top plan, bottom plan and end views of a clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 3 Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the clamp of figures 2 to 5; Figures 7 and 8 show perspective views of two alternative embodiments of a clamp according to the present invention; and Figure 9 shows aside view of a fourth embodiment of a clamp according to the present invention.

Referring -firstly to figure 1 there is shown a cable tray 10 which comprises a substantially "U' shaped channel folded from a sheet of metal. Attached to the tray 10 is a cable clamp 12 which holds six cables 14 in a predetermined spaced relationship.

The cable clamp 12 is connected to the tray 10 by a fixing 16, for example a nut and bolt arrangement, which locates in a through aperture in the base - 18 of the tray 10. The tray 10 is attached to a surface, for example an exterior wall 20 of a building, by further fixings 22. As can be seen from the figure the fixings 22 are configured such that the tray 10 is spaced from the wall 20. Typically the base 18 of the tray 10 is provided with a plurality of through apertures which enables a choice of fixing positions to be chosen and further reduces the weight of the tray 10. The tray 10 may be fitted with a lid (not shown) so as to substantially enclose the cabes 14.

Referring now to figures 2 to 6 there is shown a first embodiment of a bracket, 20 generally designated 24, according to the present invention. The bracket 24 comprises a cable receiving portion 26 and an attachment portion 28. The cable receiving portion 26 is substantially "U' shaped having a base 30 with two arms 32 extending therefrom. The base 30 and arms 32-are each provided with a through aperture 34 to enable a cable clamp or the like to be attached thereto.

The attachment portion 28 is planar and, in the embodiment shown, is defined by an extension 36 of one of the arms 32 of the cable receiving portion 26. The extension is adapted to fit to the underside of a cable tray 10 as indicated with broken lines in figure 2. To facilitate attachment of the bracket to a cable' tray the extension 36 is provided with a plurality of elongate apertures or slots 40 which, in use, are alignable with through apertures of the cable tray base 18.

4 In the embodiment shown the bracket 24 is manufactured from a first member defining the base 30 and an arm 32 of the cable receiving portion 26, and a second member defining the other arm 32 and the attachment portion 28. The members are manufactured from steel and, once welded together, are given a galvanised coating.

Figures 7 and 8 show two further embodiments of a bracket 24 according to the present invention. Both brackets 24 are provided with a longer attachment portion 28 and are thus adapted for use with wider cable trays.

In use, the brackets 24 can readily be fitted to a cable tray 10 either before or after installation of the tray 10 to, for example, an exterior wall of a building. The bracket 24 is positioned such that the attachment portion 28 rests against the underside of the cable tray 10 and the slots 40 align with through apertures of the base 18 of the tray 10. The bracket 24 can then be secured to the tray 10 with appropriate fastening means. It will thus be appreciated that brackets according to the present invention, by being attachable to an existing cable tray, do not require to be fixed to the building structure. The attachment portion 28 is configured such that the cable receiving portion 28 is spaced from a side of the cable tray 10 as can be seen from figure 2. The clearance between the cable attachment portion 26 and the cable tray 10 ensures that the bracket 24 does not foul any lid or covering which may be attached to the cable tray 10.

Typically the brackets 24 may be spaced along the cable tray 10 at intervals of between 0.5 to 1 metre. Once installed the brackets may be utilised to locate one or more cables. The or each cable may be connected directly to the bracket 24 via a cable tie passing through one of the through apertures 34. Alternatively the or each cable may be provided in a cable clamp which is subsequently connected to the bracket 24 via appropriate fastening means. In yet an alternative configuration the brackets 24 may be utilised to receive and support a further cable tray and lid.

Figure 9 shows a flirther embodiment of a bracket, generally designated 42. The bracket 42 is configured for use in situations where space constraints do not permit the bracket to extend laterally from a side of the cable tray 10. Here the bracket 42 comprises a single elongate member 44 formed into a "C" shape such that the attachment portion 28 is adapted.to underlie a cable tray 10 and, in use, the cable receiving portion 26 overlies the cable tray 10. The cable receiving portion 26 is again provided with a through aperture 34 to enable one or more cables, cable clamps and/or cable tratys and lids to be attached thereto by appropriate fixing means.

While in the embodiment shown in figure 9 the cable receiving portion 26 is essentially planar, it will be understood that this portion 26 of the bracket 42 may be provided with or more upstanding arms so as to define, for example, a cable receiving portion 26 having a "C", "L" or inverted "T" shape.

While the above described embodiments of the present invention refer to the bracket 24, 42 being attached to an underside of a cable tray, it will be appreciated that brackets according to the present invention may equally be fitted to one or both sides of a cable tray. It will further be appreciated that the present invention enables additional cables to be laid along the path of an existing cable tray without the need to disturb cables already supported in said. existing cable tray or to replace said existing cable tray with one of a greater capacity.

j 6

Claims

1. A cable tray extension bracket comprising a cable receiving portion and an attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion is adapted to fit to an exterior 5 surface of a cable tray.

2 A bracket as claimed in claim 1 herein the attachment portion is configured so as to enable appropriate fastening means to be utilised to secure the bracket to a cable tray.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein the attachment portion is provided with a one or more through apertures adapted, in use, to align with corresponding apertures of a cable tray.

4. A bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the attachment portion is provided with a 15 plurality of slotted apertures.

5. A bracket as claimed in claim 4 wherein said slotted apertures are arranged along an axis of the attachment portion

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5 wherein said slotted apertures are arranged so as to be alternately perpendicular and parallel to said axis

7. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said attachment portion is adapted to fit to an underside of a cable tray, in use.

8. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said attachment portion is adapted to fit to a lateral side of a cable tray, in use.

9. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cable receiving portion is adapted extend, in use, laterally from a cable tray to which the bracket is attached

10. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the cable receiving portion is adapted to, in use, overlie.a cable tray to which the bracket is attached.

7 A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said cable receiving portion is planar.

12. A bracket as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cable receiving portion has one or more arms extending therefrom

13. A bracket as claimed in claim 12 wherein said cable receiving portion is substantially "C" shaped.

14. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cable receiving portion is provided with one or more through apertures adapted to receive fixing means, in use.

is. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figures 2 to 6, 7, 8 or 9 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A bracket as claimed in claim 12 wherein said the cable receiving portion is substantially "W shaped.

15. A bracket as claimed in claim 12 wherein said cable receiving portion is substantially "T" shaped.

is 16. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cable attachment portion is provided with one or more through apertures adapted to receive fixing means, in use.

17. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figures 2 to 6, 7, 8 or 9 of the accompanying drawings j t Amended claims have been filed as follows A cable tray extension bracket comprising a cable receiving portion and an attachment pqrtion, the attachment portion being adapted to fit to an exterior surface of a cable tray, wherein the attachment portion is provided with a one or more through apertures adapted, in use, to align with corresponding apertures of a cable tray so as to enable appropriate fastening means to be utilised to secure the bracket to a cable tray, the cable receiving portion being adapted to receive additional cables laid along a path spaced from the path of the cable tray.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment portion is provided with a plurality of slotted apertures.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said slotted apertures are arranged along an axis of the attachment portion.

4. A bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein said slotted apertures are arranged so as to be alternately perpendicular and parallel to said axis 5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said attachment portion is adapted to fit to an underside of a cable tray, in use..

6. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said attachment portion is adapted to fit to a lateral side of a cable tray, in use.

no 7. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cable receiving portion is adapted to extend, in use, laterally from a cable tray to which the bracket is attached 8. A bracket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the cable receiving portion is adapted to, in use, overlie a cable tray to which the bracket is attached.

9 A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said cable receiving portion is p 1 anar.

1 10. A bracket as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cable receiving portion has one or more arms extending therefrom.

11. A bracket as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cable receiving portion is substantially "C" shaped.

12. A bracket as claimed in claim 10 wherein said the cable receiving portion is substantially "L" shaped.

13. A bracket as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cable receiving portion is substantially "T" shaped.