ARRANGEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CABLE LADDER SECTIONS OR CABLE PATH SECTIONS

Abstract: Cable ladder sections, respectively cable path sections (10), are adapted to be assembled, possibly through the intermediary of bends/elbows, to form cable ladder/cable path systems. Said sections (10) are provided with cavities (16), the defining portions therefore constituting fasteners for the attachment of cables (24), conduits, pipes tubes, hoses, etc., preferably by means of locking bands/strips (22) which, from an open position, can be closed, stretched, tensioned and locked around a cable (24), etc., and at least one fastener. In order to facilitate the fastening of the locking bands (22) to the fasteners as well as enabling this attachment also when the space at one side of the cable path section/cable ladder section is not available, said fasteners are each shaped and designed as freely projecting fingers (20), the free outer end thereof pointing in the longitudinal direction of the respective section (10).

Description: ARRANGEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CABLE LADDER SECTIONS OR CABLE PATH SECTIONS The present invention relates to cable ladder sections and cable path sections, respectively, for the construction of cable ladders and cable paths, respectively, to be assembled, possibly through the intermediary of bends and elbows, to form cable ladder/ path systems. The main difference between a cable ladder and a cable path is that the former, between parallel stringers, has ladder spokes/steps mutually spacedly distributed in the longitudinal direction of the cable ladder; the cable path, between longitudinal parallel side edges or stringers, having a plate web which, except from fastening holes or cut-away portions, is coherent also in the longitudinal direction of the cable path. Prior art ladder rungs or plate webs of these kinds are provided with elongated, longitudinal and/or lateral apertures closed in both the longitudinal and lateral directions of the ladder rung/plate web, but through-going in the thickness direction of the ladder rung/ plate web. In order to fasten cables, conduits, pipes and hoses extending along a cable ladder section included in a cable ladder (or a cable ladder plant) , to the lateral steps or web member of the cable ladder/ path section, it is used a flexible loop-forming locking band called "strips". Such band is to be passed down through an opening and, then, up again through another opening of the step/web. Even without special problems, this attachment method is awkward and time-consuming. When the respective cable ladder step is not available from the side positioned oppositely the insertion side of the locking band, it is practically impossible to guide the insertion end of the locking band opposite the locking means thereof up through one of the apertures in the cable ladder step. In accordance with the present invention, these essential deficiencies and disadvantages are eliminated through the provision of one or more fingers disposed on a cable ladder section/path section of the kind defined introductorily, the free end of said finger (s) pointing in the longitudinal direction of the cable ladder section/cable path section. Cable ladder sections/path sections shaped and designed in accordance with the invention give rise to a new and very rapid attachment of cables, pipes, tubes, hoses, etc., crossing the ladder rung/step. Then, a locking band is fastened loosely, yet in the shape of a loop, around e.g. a cable bundle, whereupon the locking band is pushed in beneath said finger or beneath at least one of said fingers in case there are more than one at each fastening place, whereupon the locking band is tensioned and locked, the locking means at one band end being a self-locking locking means known per se. If desired, the locking band may also be placed in correct position prior to being closed, establishing the loop thereof . In a first version, a cable ladder section/cable path section may be provided with fingers the free ends thereof pointing in the longitudinal direction of the cable ladder/path and being equidistantly distributed both in the longitudinal and the lateral direction, each section comprising a plurality of lateral rows of fingers, said fingers being positioned parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cable ladder step. At the free, outer end thereof, each finger may have a larger width than the remaining finger body, creating a stop piece in order to prevent the locking band from sliding off the finger subsequently to being tensioned therearound. Preferred exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows in perspective a piece of a cable path section in which the plate web, in which the fastening fingers are formed, is located at a higher level than the side edges/stringers; Figure 2 shows the cable path section piece according to figure l, turned 180° in relation to figure 1; Figure 3 corresponds to figure 1, but here a cable bundle comprising three cables is fastened to the cable path; Figure 4 shows in perspective a cable ladder section comprising two elongate, parallel stringers and four lateral, intermediate ladder steps positioned spacedly in the longitudinal direction of the cable ladder section; Figure 5 is an enlarged partial view in perspective, showing a piece of a stringer and a ladder step connected thereto, said ladder step substantially having the shape of a square pipe, the opposing walls (upper and lower) thereof being provided with fingers with free ends pointing in the longitudinal direction of the stringer shown; Figure 6 shows the partial view of figure 5 turned 180° in relation to figure 5; Figure 7 shows the cable ladder step according to figure 5, but here a cable and two small cable bundles, respectively, are each fastened by means of a locking band; Figure 8 shows the cable ladder step according to figure 7 turned 180° in relation to figure 7, but here a bundle of three cables has been fastened both on top of the ladder step and beneath the same where also a single cable has been fastened. First, reference is made to figures 1 - 3 illustrating the invention in connection with a cable path section 10. The cable path section 10 shown is built up from a central plate web 12 which, laterally, is defined by angled side edge portions or stringers 14 , 14 ' which may be provided with holes 14 ' ' in order to, e.g. by means of screws, to fasten the cable path section 10 to a base. The central plate web 12 of the cable path section 10 is, in a manner known per se, provided with lateral cavities 16 which is positioned mutually spacedly in the longitudinal direction of the cable path section/ plate web. At one lateral edge of each cavity 16, as referred to the longitudinal direction of the cable path section 10, narrow, parallel, longitudinal edge cavities 18 are provided, so that lateral rows of fingers 20 result therefrom, said finger rows follow, one after the other, in the longitudinal direction of the cable path section, the free ends of the fingers 20 pointing in the longitudinal direction of the cable path section 10. These fingers 20 each exhibiting a free end serve in so far the same purpose as the edge portions around the previously used closed cavities, i.e. to form fasteners for locking bands 22 each having a self-locking stop piece or lock 22*, but the freely projecting (cantilever) design enables attachment situations previously impossible or very difficult to achieve. A cable bundle 24 is fastened to the cable path section 10 by means of a locking band 22 which may surround one fastening finger 20. Another locking band 22 is shown in a possible position of readiness, ready to surround as well as being closed and locked around another cable bundle or a single cable, not shown. Another way of fastening which advantageously may be used, is to place the locking band 22 around said cable and close it, leaving a good clearance around the cable, ready for stretching and locking as soon as the locking band loop has been threaded onto one or more than one, adjacent fingers 20. The outer free end 20' of each finger 20 is dimensioned so that it exhibits a larger width than the remaining finger body, in order to counteract the possibility of the locking band 22 to slide off from the finger 20 subsequently to the stretching of the locking band 22. In figures 4 - 8, the invention is illustrated in connection with a cable ladder section 10A. A complete cable ladder section 10A is shown in figure 4, comprising two longitudinal, parallel stringers 14A and 14A' as well as intermediate, lateral ladder rungs 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d. Contrary to the fact that the plate web 12 is formed by one wall, each of the lateral cable ladder steps 26a - 26d according to the embodiment of figures 4 - 8 has the shape of a square pipe. Two opposing walls of each square pipe, the upper and lower walls according to the figures, are each provided with parallel fingers 20A. The fingers 20A have the same shape as in the cable path section 10 of figures 1 - 3, and the free, outer end thereof 20A' has a larger width than the remaining portion of the finger body. The square pipe design of the ladder steps carrying the fingers 20A according to figures 4 - 8 enables the attachment of locking bands 22 also at the underside of the cable ladder steps 26a - 26d. Moreover, the fingers 20A and the locking bands 22 act accurately in the same way concerning the attachment of the cables/cable bundles 24 as in accordance with the preceding exemplary embodiment.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Arrangements in cable ladder sections (10A) or cable path sections (10) , respectively, of the kind being assembled to form cable ladder/cable path systems, said sections (10A; 10) being provided with cavities (16) , defining portions thereof constituting fasteners for the attachment of cables (24) , conduits, pipes, tubes, hoses, etc., preferably by means of locking bands/strips (22), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said fasteners have the shape of fingers (20; 20) each having a free outer end pointing in the longitudinal direction of the respective section (10A, 10) . 2. Arrangements as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the free outer end (20A 1 , 20') of each finger (20A, 20) has a larger width than the remaining finger body. 3. Arrangements as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , in or relating to cable ladder sections wherein the cable ladder steps (26a - 26d) are square-pipe-shaped, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each cable ladder step (26a - 26d) is provided with fingers (20A) in the longitudinal direction of the cable ladder section in two mutually opposing pipe wall portions. 4. Arrangements as set forth in claim 3 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fingers (20A) in each of said opposing pipe wall portions are placed at one row, laterally of each other. 5. Arrangements as set forth in claim 1 or 2, in or relating of cable path sections (10) comprising two outer side edge portions/stringers (14, 14') connected through an intermediate plate web (12) which, disregarding cavities (16, 18) i.a. between and in front of the fingers (20), is coherent in the cable path section's longitudinal and lateral directions, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the plate web (12) is provided with spaced, along the longitudinal direction of the cable path section (10) distributed, lateral rows of fingers (20) pointing in the longitudinal direction of the cable path section (10) .

Inventors: GYA ARNE, GYA, ARNE
Applicants: GYA ARNE, OEGLAEND SYSTEM AS, GYA, ARNE
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H02G3
IPC codes: H02G3