IES20000282A2 - A construction of trunking - Google Patents

Abstract

A stainless steel trunking assembly made up of separate lengths of conduit (2,3) each being of channel shape having removable covers (10) so as to allow easy access to pipes, cabling, etc. The conduits interengage by plates (15) and catches (20,21). <Figure 1>

Description

The present invention relates to a construction of trunking. Trunking is used extensively to house electrical cable, fibre optic cables, air lines and general flexible carriers of fluids, electrical and other signals, hereinafter referred to generally as cables.

In certain industries where hygiene is at premium such as for example pharmaceutical and food plants, all such cables must be housed in trunking which trunking is very often manufactured from stainless steel. The trunking is usually made up of a series of interconnected enclosed conduits that are welded together. While, very satisfactory from the aspect of providing optimum hygiene, they do suffer from two disadvantages in that all the trunking has to be welded in situ and secondly difficulties can occur when it is required to replace a piece of cabling subsequently when maintenance is required or for example when an additional piece of equipment has to be sited in the factory.

The problem with the present construction of trunking is that the electrician or the technician installing other equipment cannot work on his or her own, but requires the services of a steel fabrication technician with welding skills to install the trunking. Working on existing previously installed trunking causes further problems.

The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems inherent in the present construction of trunking.

Statements of Invention 0 According to the invention, there is provided a trunking assembly comprising:a plurality of elongate channel-shaped conduits, each having a substantially flat base and two upstanding side walls; IE000282 - 2 a flat cover plate across the inside of the side walls of each conduit to form an enclosed length of trunking; -x cover locking means for securing the cover in position; interengagement means for connecting one conduit to another; and locking means for securing the conduits together.

The advantage of this is that the conduit can be put up early during the initial erection process by fabrication staff and when the conduits are all in position and the various cabling, piping, etc. has to be run around the factory, for example, this can be done by other technicians without the need to have fabrication staff present.

In one embodiment of the invention, the upstanding side walls terminate in inwardly directed cover supporting lips and the cover plate is bent along two side edges to form sidewall embracing lips. The great advantage of this is that, not alone is the cover plate held firmly in position, but by bending the cover plate back over the trunking, since the base of the trunking will normally be mounted on a vertical wall, the inside of the trunking is protected from the ingress of moisture such as, for example, from cleaning hoses or the like. While they would not generally damage the contents such as cabling, etc. within the trunking, it is preferable not to have water in the trunking. This facilitates the cleaning of the trunking.

In one embodiment of the invention, the interengagement means comprises a support plate mounted below the base of a conduit to project forwardly therefrom to engage below and support the base of an adjacent conduit and in some embodiments, the support plate is in the form of a channel to contact the base and at least portion of each side wall of the adjacent channel. This is a relatively simple and easy way of mounting the trunking together. Preferably, the locking means used comprises a toggle-like catch mechanism. The toggle mechanism is ideal because it will ensure that the cover plates and the conduits can be pulled together when offered up together thus providing a very strong connection. ΪΕ000282 - 3 It will be appreciated that various corners, bends, etc. may be provided by simply cranking the conduit intermediate its ends and it will be appreciated that ideally the conduit and all the trunking assembly is manufactured from stainless steel as this is more hygienic.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of an example only with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a construction of trunking according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a corner piece conduit forming part of the trunking according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a locking means for two conduits forming part of the trunking which conduits are being offered up to each other; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows A -A of Fig.3; and \ Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view to Fig. 4 showing the two conduits about to be connected together.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig.1 there is illustrated stainless steel trunking, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, formed from two pieces of elongate conduit indicated generally by the reference numerals 2 and 3 respectively. Only portion of each conduit 2 and 3 is illustrated.

Each conduit 2 and 3 is of identical construction and thus only the conduit 2 is .described in detail, the same numerals identify similar parts in each conduit. The conduit 2 comprises a base 5 having upstanding sidewalls 6 terminating in inwardly directed lips 7. A cover 10 formed from a flat sheet of steel terminates independing IE000282 - 4 sidewall engaging lips 11. A support plate 15 is mounted below the base 5 and against the sidewalls 6 on one end of the conduit 2 to form interengagement means.

Locking means is provided and will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive below, and comprises a toggle lock 20 and a receiver 21. The lock 20 and the receiver 21 are each placed on interengaging parts of the trunking.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is illustrated a corner conduit, indicated by the reference numeral 4, parts similar to those described with reference to the previous drawings are identified by the same reference numerals. It will be appreciated that the corner conduit 4 can be used to bring the cables around corners.

Referring now to Figs 3 to 5 there is illustrated a toggle lock 20 which comprises a plate 30 having an upstanding support 31 carrying a toggle on 32 which in turn pivotally supports a loop 33. The receiver 21 comprises a base plate 35 carrying an open mouthed c-shaped catch 36.

In operation, when it is desired to assemble the trunking the conduit 2 is, for example offered up to the conduit 3 or in certain circumstances to a corner conduit 4. Referring now to the drawings in general as the conduit 2 is offered up to the conduit 3 the support plate 15 engages under the conduit 3 and embraces portion of the sidewalls 6 thereof. Then the toggle lock 20 is operated so that the loop 33 engages over the c-shaped catch 36 thus securing the conduit 2 and 3 together. In due course the covers 10 can be placed in position and secured again by the toggle lock 20 engaging in the catch 21.

Many other forms of locking means may be provided and similarly other ways of ensuring that the two portions of the conduits engage each other.

Similarly various types of cover may be provided such as for example a hinged cover of the like.

Various types and constructions of such connectors may be provided.

IE000282 » · * τ - 5 In this specification the terms “ comprises, comprised and comprising “ and the terms “ includes, Included and including “ are used interchangeably and are to be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A trunking assembly comprising:a plurality of elongate channel-shaped conduits, each having a substantially flat base and two upstanding side walls; a flat cover plate across the inside of the side walls of each conduit to form an enclosed length of trunking; cover locking means for securing the cover in position; interengagement means for connecting one conduit to another; and locking means for securing the conduits together and preferably in which the upstanding side walls terminate in inwardly directed cover supporting lips and the cover plate is bent along two side edges to form sidewall embracing lips.

2. A trunking assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the interengagement means comprises a support plate mounted inside the base of a conduit to project forwardly therefrom to engage inside and support the base of an adjacent conduit and preferably the support plate is in the form of a channel to contact the base and at least portion of each side wall of the adjacent channel, preferably the locking means comprises a toggle-like catch mechanism.

3. A trunking assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the conduit is cranked intermediate its ends to form a trunking bend.

4. A trunking assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, manufactured from stainless steel.

5. A trunking assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and IE000282 as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.