GB2398180A

GB2398180A - Cable tray extension bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2398180A
Application number: GB0300297A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Raymond Lane
Original assignee: Alan Campbell Group Ltd
Current assignee: Alan Campbell Group Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-07
Filing date: 2003-01-07
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Also published as: GB0300297D0

Abstract

A cable tray extension bracket 10 comprises a cable receiving portion 14 allowing additional cabling to be laid spaced from the cable tray, an attachment portion 12, which may be elongate, having at least one aperture (26 fig.3), preferably slotted, allowing fastening of the bracket 10 to an exterior cable tray surface, preferably the underside, and a brace 36 extending between the portions 12, 14. Where more than one slotted aperture is preferred, they are arranged to be mutually perpendicular along an attachment portion axis. The brace 36 may be located in respective recesses (fig. 3, 44, fig. 4, 46) of the cable receiving and attachment portions, the recesses preferably being through holes or open sided slots, the slots preferably having a dog-leg shape. The brace may comprise a threaded bar, or a rod having blind recesses in opposing ends, the recesses adapted to receive threaded fasteners. A cover 18 and cover support portion 16 may also be provided, the brace preferably extending to the cover support portion 16.

Description

2398 1 80 Cable Bracket 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 telephone 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 of existing 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 comprising a cable receiving portion and an attachment portion, 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 a cable tray, the bracket including a brace extending between the cable receiving portion and attachment portion.

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. 1

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 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 may be l O 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 alternately perpendicular and parallel to said axis.

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 l 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.

The brace extends between cable receiving portion and the attachment portion and thereby rigidities the bracket and resists deflection of the cable receiving portion. In one embodiment the brace comprises a threaded bar which is located to respective recesses of the cable receiving and attachment portions by lock nuts and washers. The recess may be through holes or, alternatively, open sided slots of said portions. The slots may have a dog-leg shape. In an alternative embodiment the brace may be retained to one of the cable receiving or attachment portions by a linkage such as a hinge. In a further embodiment the brace may comprise a rod having blind recesses in opposing ends thereof, which recesses are adapted to receive threaded fasteners. The brace may optionally extend between the cable receiving portion and the cover support portion.

The bracket may be provided with a cover which is supported by a cover support portion of the bracket. Said cover support portion is provided over the cable receiving and attachment portions of the bracket An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows a side view of a bracket in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a bottom plan view of the bracket of Figure 1; I O Figure 3 shows an end view of the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the cross-sectional view indicated by arrows A-A on Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a side view of a bracket according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring firstly to figures 1 to 4 there is shown a bracket generally designated 10. The bracket 10 comprises an attachment portion 12, a cable receiving portion 14 and a support portion 16 for a cover 18. The bracket 10 is manufactured from two elongate members 20,22. In the embodiment shown the elongate members 20,22 are manufactured from metal, for example mild steel. The first member 20 is formed by a bending operation into a 'C" shape to define the attachment and support portions 12,16.

It will be noted that these portions 12.16 are provided along planes substantially parallel to one another and are separated by an intermediate portion 24 such that the attachment portion 12 is provided over the support portion 16, in use.

The second member 22 defines the cable receiving portion 14 of the bracket 10 and is attached to the intermediate portion 24. In the embodiment shown the second member is attached to the intermediate portion by a welding operation. It will be appreciated that the second member may be attached to the first by alternative means such as, for example, the use of appropriately configured mechanical fasteners. The cable receiving portion 14 is provided along a plane intermediate and substantially parallel to the attachment and cover support portions 12, 16.

Both the attachment portion 12 and cable receiving portion 14 are provided with a plurality of slotted through apertures 26, 28. In the case of the attachment portion 12, the apertures 26 enable the bracket 10 to be connected to a cable tray 30. The slotted nature of the apertures 26 enables the bracket 10 to be connected to cable trays 30 having a range of differing widths. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the bracket is able to accommodate cable trays 30 having widths of 150 mm, 225 mm, 300 mm and 450 mm. The bracket 10 is attachable to a cable tray 30 by the use of appropriate fasteners passing through the slotted apertures 26 and corresponding apertures in the base of the cable tray 30.

The apertures 28 of the cable receiving portion 14 of the bracket enable cables to attached thereto. The cables may be contained in one or more additional cable trays which are attached to the cable receiving portion 14 in the manner described above.

Alternatively the cables may provided in bundles secured by cable clamps 32, as illustrated in Figure 1, which are attached to the cable receiving portion 14. The bundles may be attached in any appropriate manner. For example, the slotted apertures 28 of the cable receiving portion 16 may be utilised to mount one or more posts thereto.

A cable bundle may then be positioned such that the post extends the cables, and an appropriate end cap fitted to the end of the post to retain the cable bundle in place.

The support portion 16 is provided with through apertures 34 to enable the attachment of the cover 18 by the use of appropriate fasteners. The cover 18 is formed form a thin sheet of material and protects both the cable tray 30 and the additional cables from damage from, for example, falling objects.

Extending between the attachment portion 12 and the cable receiving portion 14 is a brace 36. The brace 36 comprises a threaded bar 38 upon which are mounted pairs of lock-nuts 40 and washers 42. In use, the brace 36 is fitted to respective open sided slots 44, 46 of the attachment and cable receiving portions 12, 14 of the bracket. The open sided slots 44,46 have a dog-leg configuration so as to ensure that the brace 36 cannot be easily dislodged, for example by a sharp impact. The dog-leg also provides a clearly visible indication as to whether the brace 36 is correctly fitted to the bracket 10. The brace 36 serves to rigidify the bracket 10 and resists deflection of the cable receiving portion 14. In an alternative embodiment the brace 36 may be hinged to one of either the attachment or cable receiving portions 12, 14, with appropriate latch means being provided on the other of the attachment or cable receiving portions 12, 14 to enable the brace 36 to be secured therebetween.

In use, a plurality of brackets 10 can readily be fitted to a cable tray 30 either before or after installation of the tray 30 to, for example, an exterior wall of a building. Each bracket 10 is positioned such that the attachment portion 12 rests against the underside of the cable tray 30 and the slots 26 align with through apertures of the base of the tray 30. The bracket 10 can then be secured to the tray 30 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 12 is configured such that the cable receiving portion 14 is spaced above the cable tray 30 as can be seen from Figure I. The clearance between the cable receiving portion 14 and the cable tray 30 ensures that the bracket 10 does not foul any lid or covering which may be attached to the cable tray 30.

Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown a further embodiment of a bracket according to the present invention and generally designated 48. Features of the bracket 48 common to the first described embodiment are identified with like reference numerals.

The bracket 48 differs from the previously described embodiment in the configuration of the brace 36. The brace 36 extends between the attachment portion 12 and cable receiving portion 14, as before, and further extends between the cable receiving portion 14 and the support portion 16. The brace 36 comprises upper and lower rods 50, 52, a bolt 54 and a double-ended bolt 56. The lower rod 52 is provided at each end with a threaded blind hole 58 which is adapted to receive a bolt 54,56. The upper rod 50 is provided with a single threaded blind hole 58 adapted to receive an end of the double bolt 56.

In use, the bolts 54,56 are located to the rods 50, 52 and the bolt/rod assembly fitted to the bracket 48 via the open sided slots 44,46 of the attachment and cable receiving portions 12,14. Once in position, the bolts 54,56 are tightened to clamp the attachment and cable receiving portions 12,14 to the lower rod 52. The upper rod 50 is rotated relative to the double-ended bolt 56 so as to bias the rod 50 upwardly into contact with the support portion 16.

It will be appreciated that the provision of the cover 18 and cover support portion 16 of the brackets 10,48 are optional, and accordingly the brackets 10,48 may be manufactured from a single elongate member fashioned so as to define the attachment and cable support portions 12, 14.

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 an existing cable tray or to replace an existing cable tray with one of grater capacity.

Claims

Claims 1. A cable tray extension bracket comprising a cable receiving

portion and an attachment portion, 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 a cable tray, the bracket including a brace extending between the cable receiving portion and attachment portion.
2. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is elongate and adapted to fit to an underside of the cable tray.
3. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment portion is provided with a plurality of slotted apertures.
4. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slotted apertures are arranged so as to be mutually perpendicular.
5. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slotted apertures are arranged along an axis of the attachment portion.
6. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the apertures are arranged so as to be alternately perpendicular and parallel to said axis.
7. An extension bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the brace is located in respective recesses of the cable receiving and attachment portions.
8. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 7, wherein the recesses are through holes.
9. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 7, wherein the recesses are open sided slots.
10. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 9, wherein the slots have a dog-leg shape.
11. An extension bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the brace comprises a rod having blind recesses in opposing ends thereof, which recesses are I adapted to receive threaded fasteners.
12. An extension bracket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the brace comprises a threaded bar.
13. An extension bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is provided with a cover which is supported by a cover support portion of the bracket.
14. An extension bracket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the brace extends to the cover support portion.
15. An extension bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.