Description
COLOR CABLE TRAY SYSTEM MADE OF ALUMINUM
ALLOY
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, which is fixedly installed at the ceiling of a building in order to support a coaxial cable and painted with various colors through powder painting work. More par¬ ticularly, the present invention relates to a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, in which side rails of the color cable tray system are painted with a red, a yellow, a green or a florescent color through powder painting work, so that high- voltage cables, low-voltage cables, communication cables, and control cables can be installed by means of the color cable tray system while being distinguished from each other. Background Art
[2] In general, a cable tray system 100, as shown in FlG. 1, refers to a structure for supporting wire cables by combining a metal cable tray section with accessory parts. For instance, the cable tray system 100 includes straight sections 1 integrally combined with straight channel sections 2, horizontal channel fittings 3, vertical elbows 4, horizontal elbows 5, horizontal tees 6, horizontal crosses 7, horizontal Y branches 8, reducers 9, joint connectors 10, channel connectors 11, end plates 12, end drop-out parts 13 in order to support the wire cables.
[3] Such a cable tray system 100 is generally suspended to the ceiling of the building in order to support the wire cables provided in each floor of the building.
[4] The cable tray system 100 shown in FlG. 1 is mainly divided into a ladder type cable tray system (see, FlG. 2), a channel type cable tray system, a through type cable tray system, and a combination thereof.
[5] FlG. 2 is a view illustrating a general straight section 1 forming a ladder type cable tray system 100. Referring to FlG. 2, the straight section 1 includes horizontal-axis support square plates 21 having a "D "-shaped sectional structure, which is formed by means of a roller forming machine by using a hot coil steel plate having a thickness of about 1 to 5mm, a galvanized steel plate, or a stainless steel plate, and a longitudinal- axis support square plates 23 welded between the horizontal-axis support square plates 21. In order to form the cable tray system 100 as shown in FlG. 1, the straight section 1 is coupled with various accessory parts, such as straight channel sections 2, horizontal channel fittings 3, vertical elbows 4, horizontal elbows 5, horizontal tees 6, horizontal crosses 7, horizontal Y branches 8, reducers 9, joint connectors 10, channel connectors
11, end plates 12, end drop-out parts 13, which are fabricated in the form of ladder structures identical to the straight section 1. Holes 25 are previously formed at the end portion of the straight section 1 in such a manner that the straight section 1 can be coupled with various accessory parts through bolts and nuts.
[6] The straight section and accessory parts forming the cable tray system 100 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 are generally made of a galvanized steel plate or hot rolled iron, which is plated with a plating solution, in order to prevent erosion.
[7]
Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[8] As mentioned above, since the cable tray system 100 is made of an iron plate, it is difficult to fabricate the cable tray system 100. In other words, in order to fabricate the cable tray system 100, side rails (or U-channels) and rungs are separately man¬ ufactured and welded to each other and then the side rails and rungs are plated with a plating solution so as to prevent erosion, so that a skilled worker is necessary to fabricate the cable tray system 100.
[9] In addition, since the cable tray system 100 installed in the building is made of iron having a heavy weight, not only installation work for the cable tray system 100, but also cutting and perforation works thereof are very difficult.
[10] Further, when the cable tray system 100 made of iron is plated with the plating solution in order to prevent the cable tray system 100 from being eroded, con¬ tamination materials are unnecessarily generated, thereby spoiling environment.
[11] Furthermore, since the cable tray system 100 is installed in a hidden place of the building, an external appearance of the cable tray system 100 is disregarded. For this reason, the external appearance of the cable tray system 100 may become bad as time goes by.
[12] In order to solve the above problems, another conventional cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has been proposed.
[13] FlG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a straight section of the conventional cable tray system and FlG. 4 is a sectional view of the straight section shown in FlG. 3.
[14] The conventional cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy includes the straight section as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The straight section shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 consists of I-shaped side rails 40 and rungs 50.
[15] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wings are provided at lower portions of vertical parts of the I-shaped side rails 40 in order to fix the rungs 50 having rectangular rod shapes while reinforcing the load strength of the side rails 40. The rungs 50 are rectangular rods.
[16] However, the conventional cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy has the weak load strength, so the rungs 50 and the side rails 40 of the conventional cable tray system may be bent when supporting coaxial cables. For this reason, the above con¬ ventional cable tray system has not been extensively used. Technical Solution
[17] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, which can be easily fabricated and installed while facilitating repair and maintenance work thereof.
[18] Another object of the present invention is to provide a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, which is painted with a color pigment through powder painting work, so that environmental pollution materials may not be generated when plating the color cable tray system. In addition, side rails of the color cable tray system are painted with a red, a yellow, a green or a florescent color, so that high-voltage cables, low- voltage cables, communication cables, and control cables can be installed by means of the color cable tray system while being distinguished from each other.
[19] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, which can facilitate and simplify manufacturing work thereof by omitting welding work.
[20] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, in which side rails and rungs are corrugated to reinforce the load strength the color cable tray system in such a manner that the color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy has the load strength substantially identical to that of the conventional steel cable tray system.
[21]
Advantageous Effects
[22] Since the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention has a lightweight, it is possible to easily fabricate and install the color cable tray system while facilitating repair and maintenance work thereof.
[23] In addition, the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention is painted with a color pigment through powder painting work after the color cable tray system has been anodized, so that environmental pollution materials may not be generated when plating the color cable tray system. Side rails of the color cable tray system are painted with a red, a yellow, a green or a florescent color, so that high-voltage cables, low-voltage cables, communication cables, and control cables can be distinguished from each other and the external appearance of the color cable tray system can be improved while facilitating repair and maintenance
work thereof.
[24] Furthermore, the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention can facilitate and simplify manufacturing work thereof by omitting welding work, thereby improving productivity thereof.
[25] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy, the color cable tray system comprising: a straight section assembled with various accessory parts in order to support cables, wherein the straight section including a side rail having a "D"-shaped structure for enhancing a load strength and a lateral tensile strength thereof and including a "D"-shaped upper part, a plurality "D"-shaped corrugated parts, which alternately protrude from a vertical part of the side rail in opposition to each other, a T-shaped wing part formed at a lower end portion of the vertical part and a middle wing part integrally formed with an inner sidewall of the vertical part; and a rung having a rectangular pipe shape, in which an inner portion of the rung is empty, and including upper and lower surfaces formed with at least one corrugated part, lateral surfaces formed with at least one corrugated part, and a partition wall installed in the rung while extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the rung and having a circular screw receiving section formed at a center portion of the partition wall, wherein the straight section includes two side rails facing each other and a plurality of rungs inserted between lower portions of the two side rails with a uniform interval and fixedly coupled to the side rails by means of screws, and a plurality of straight sections made of an aluminum alloy are assembled with each other, thereby forming the color cable tray system.
[26] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rung has a rectangular pipe shape, in which an inner portion of the rung is empty, and includes upper and lower surfaces formed with two corrugated parts and lateral surfaces formed with one corrugated part. A partition wall is installed in the rung while extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the rung and having a circular screw receiving section formed at a center portion of the partition wall.
[27] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined circumferential portion of the circular screw receiving section formed in the rung is opened.
[28] In addition, the side rails and the rung are painted with various colors through powder painting work in order to improve an external appearance and corrosion resistant characteristics of the side rails and the rung.
[29] The color cable tray system further comprises a reinforcement member having an I- shaped structure, wherein an upper portion of the reinforcement member is bent in a form of a "D "-shaped structure and a hole is formed at a central vertical section of the
reinforcement member in such a manner that the rung is inserted into the hole. [30] Preferably, one to three reinforcement members are installed in the straight section.
[31] Brief Description of the Drawings
[32] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [33] FlG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a conventional cable tray system;
[34] FlG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a ladder-shaped straight section of con¬ ventional cable tray system shown in FlG. 1 ; [35] FlG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a straight section of a conventional cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy;
[36] FlG. 4 is a sectional view of the straight section shown in FlG. 3;
[37] FlG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a straight section of a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[38] FlG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a rung of a straight section shown in FlG. 5;
[39] FlG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a rung of a straight section shown in FlG. 5;
[40] FlG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a straight section according to another embodiment of the present invention; [41] FlG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a reinforcement member added to a straight section shown in FlG. 5; and [42] FlG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a straight section according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [43]
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [44] Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. [45] FlG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a straight section of a color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FlG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a rung of the straight section shown in FlG. 5, and FlG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the rung of the straight section shown in FlG. 5. [46] Similar to the conventional cable tray system as shown in FlG. 1, the color cable tray system made of an aluminum alloy according to the present invention is installed in buildings. Thus, the color cable tray system according to the present invention also includes straight channel sections 2, horizontal channel fittings 3, vertical elbows 4,
horizontal elbows 5, horizontal tees 6, horizontal crosses 7, horizontal Y branches 8, reducers 9, joint connectors 10, channel connectors 11, end plates 12, end drop-out parts 13. However, it should be noted that structures of the above elements are modified according to the structure of a straight section 200. Therefore, detailed de¬ scription in relation to the above elements will be omitted below, and following de¬ scription will be focused on the structure of the straight section 200, which is a basic element of the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention.
[47] As shown in FlG. 5, the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention basically includes the straight section 200. The straight section 200 is made of the aluminum alloy, so that the weight of the color cable tray system according to the present invention is reduced to 1/3 as compared with the weight of the conventional cable tray system made of iron. In addition, since the cost of iron rises, the color cable tray system according to the present invention can be fabricated at the cost substantially similar or equal to that of the conventional cable tray system. The color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention has the load strength similar to that of the conventional cable tray system, but it is easily fabricated and installed while facilitating repair and maintenance work thereof.
[48] Referring to FlG. 5, the straight section 200 of the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention has a ladder structure consisting of side rails 110 facing each other in parallel to each other and rungs 130 in the form of rectangular rods, which are connected between the side rails 110.
[49] Each side rail 110 has a substantially "D "-shaped sectional structure. If the side rail
110 is simply formed with the "D"-shaped sectional structure, the strength of the side rail 110 is significantly lower than that of the side rail made of iron. Thus, in order to solve the above problem related to the strength, the side rail 110 according to the present invention is corrugated as shown in FlG. 5.
[50] That is, each side rail 110 includes a "D "-shaped upper part 111, and a plurality
"D"-shaped corrugated parts 112 and 113, which alternately protrude from a vertical part of the side rail 110 in opposition to each other. If the "D"-shaped corrugated parts 112 and 113 are formed in the vertical part of the side rail 110, not only is the strength of the side rail 110 enhanced, but also the load strength and the lateral tensile strength of the straight section 200 are improved. If one "D "-shaped corrugated part is formed in the vertical part of the side rail, the load strength and the lateral tensile strength of the straight section may be enhanced by 10%. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two "D"-shaped corrugated parts are formed in the vertical part of the side rail while protruding in opposition to each other, so the strength of the color
cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention can be enhanced by approximately 20% as compared with that of the conventional color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[51] In addition, a T-shaped lower wing 119 is formed at a lower end portion of the side rail 110. One end of the T-shaped lower wing 119 horizontally protrudes from the lower end portion of the vertical part of the side rail 110 corresponding to the "D"-shaped corrugated part 113. A middle wing 117 is integrally formed with the vertical part of the side rail 110. The T-shaped lower ring 119 may form a "D"-shaped structure together with the middle wing 117 and the rung 130 is fixedly inserted into the "D "-shaped structure.
[52] The rung 130 in the form of a rectangular rod is inserted into the "D"-shaped structure of the side rail 110 and is securely fixed thereto by means of a coupling unit 120, such as a screw. A plurality of rungs 130 are fixedly interposed between two side rails 110. The number of the rungs 130 can be properly selected by taking the size of the cable tray system, the weight of the coaxial cable (not shown) and the length of the rungs 130 into consideration.
[53] Hereinafter, description will be made in relation to the structure of the ring with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, which are perspective and sectional views illustrating the rung, respectively.
[54] As shown in FlG. 6, the rung 130 has a rectangular pipe structure, in which two
"D"-shaped corrugated parts 135 are formed at upper and lower surfaces of the rung 130 and one "D "-shaped corrugated part 135 is formed at both lateral surfaces of the rung 130, respectively. An inner portion of the rung 130 is empty in order to save raw materials for the rung 130. The reason for forming the corrugated parts 135 and 137 on the upper and lower surfaces and lateral surfaces of the rung 130 is to enhance the load strength and the lateral tensile strength of the rung 130.
[55] As shown in FlG. 7, the rung 130 includes a partition wall 131 installed in the rung
130 while vertically extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the rung
130. A screw receiving section 133 is formed at the center portion of the partition wall
131. The screw receiving section 133 has a substantially circular shape, in which a part of the circular shape is opened. However, it is also possible to form the screw receiving section 133 in a circular shape.
[56] Edge portions of the rung 130 make contact with wires, such as coaxial cables, so the edge portions of the rung 130 are preferably rounded.
[57] The color cable tray system including the straight section 200 as shown in FIG. 5 is anodized, and then painted with various colors through powder painting work. If an aluminum alloy product is anodized, the aluminum alloy product represents superior endurance against weak acid gas, ammonia gas, methane gas, CO gas, and CO2 gas as
compared with the aluminum alloy, which is not anodized. In addition, if the aluminum alloy product is painted with various colors through the powder painting work, the aluminum alloy product represents superior functions even if the aluminum alloy product is exposed to above gases.
[58] The cable tray system painted with various colors, such as red, blue and yellow colors, through powder painting work. For instance, a red cable tray system is used for high- voltage cables, a blue cable tray system is used for low- voltage cables, and a yellow cable tray system is used for communication cables, such as Internal cables or telephone cables. Although it has been described that the cable tray system is painted with three colors, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cable tray system installed in the communication tunnel located in the underground can be painted with a fluorescent material in such a manner that the cable tray system can be easily distinguished. In addition, since more colors are required in the underground communication tunnel, the cable tray system installed in the un¬ derground communication tunnel can be painted with various colors besides the red, blue and yellow colors. Mode for the Invention
[59] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to HGS. 8 to 10.
[60] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a straight section according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a rein¬ forcement member added to the straight section shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a straight section according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
[61] Referring to FIG. 8, the straight section of the color tray cable system according to another embodiment of the present invention is substantially identical to the straight section 200 of the color tray cable system shown in FIG. 5, except for a reinforcement member 150 added to the center portion of the rung 130. Thus, the following de¬ scription will be focused on the reinforcement member 150.
[62] In the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy, if the number of cables to be received in the color cable tray system increases, the length of the rung is lengthened. That is, the width of the straight section is enlarged. Thus, if the length of the rung 130 exceeds 90cm, the rung 130 may be bent downward due to the weight of the cables.
[63] In this case (that is, if the length of the rung 130 exceeds 90cm), the reinforcement member 150 as shown in FIG. 9 is inserted into the center portion of the rung 130 to reinforce the strength of the color cable tray system, thereby preventing the rung 130
from being bent downward.
[64] As shown in FlG. 9, similar to the side rails 110 and the rung 130, the rein¬ forcement member 150 is made of an aluminum alloy. The reinforcement member 150 has an I-shaped structure, in which an upper portion of the reinforcement member 150 is bent in the form of a "D" structure. If the upper portion of the reinforcement member 150 is bent in the form of the "D" structure, the strength of the reinforcement member 150 can be significantly enhanced. In addition, a lower portion of the reinforcement member 150 can also be bent in the form of a "D" structure, if necessary. The rein¬ forcement member 150 is formed at a central vertical section thereof with a plurality of holes 155 into which the rungs 130 are inserted. That is, the rungs 130 are securely fixed to the side rails 110 through the holes 155, thereby enhancing the strength of the color cable tray system. Although rectangular holes 155 are shown in FlG. 9, the shape of the holes 155 can be properly selected according to the structure of the rungs 30.
[65] FlG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the straight section according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which two reinforcement members 150 as shown in FlG. 9 are inserted into the straight section. One to five reinforcement members 150 are inserted into the straight section according to applications thereof in order to enhance the strength of the color cable tray system.
[66] Hereinafter, a method of fabricating the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 10.
[67] First, a mold having an internal structure identical to the structure of the side rail
110 shown in FlG. 5 is prepared in order to fabricate the side rail 110 through an extrusion process. The side rail 110 can be continuously formed in an elongated structure through the extrusion process. Thus, the side rail 110 must be cut into a pre¬ determined length during the extrusion process.
[68] In addition, a mold having an internal structure identical to the structure of the rung
130 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is prepared in order to fabricate the rung 130 through the extrusion process. Similar to the side rail 110, the rung 130 is also cut into a pre¬ determined length during the extrusion process. After that, the side rail 110 or the rung 130 is anodized and then painted with various colors through powder painting work.
[69] The side rail 110 and the rung 130, which have undergone the extrusion, cutting and painting processes, are assembled with each other, thereby realizing the straight section.
[70] Then, the straight sections are subject to cutting, connecting and bending processes, thereby forming the color cable tray system. At this time, the reinforcement member 150 as shown in FlG. 9 can be assembled with the straight section, if necessary.
Industrial Applicability
[71] As can be seen from the foregoing, the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy has a lightweight, so that the color cable tray system can be easily fabricated and installed while facilitating repair and maintenance work thereof.
[72] According to the present invention, the color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy is painted with a color pigment through powder painting work after the color cable tray system has been anodized, so that environmental pollution materials may not be generated when plating the color cable tray system. In addition, the side rails of the color cable tray system are painted with a red, a yellow, a green or a florescent color, so that high- voltage cables, low- voltage cables, communication cables, and control cables can be distinguished from each other and the external appearance of the color cable tray system can be improved while facilitating repair and maintenance work thereof.
[73] The color cable tray system made of the aluminum alloy according to the present invention can facilitate and simplify manufacturing work thereof by omitting welding work, thereby improving productivity thereof.
[74] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[75]