Abstract:
A cable tray apparatus is provided for a people mover system such as a Sky Train or the like. The cable tray apparatus is made up of a plurality of identical cable trays which are secured together in an end-to-end relationship. The cable trays are selectively laterally horizontally adjustable with respect to one another and are selectively vertically adjustable with respect to one another to correspond to curves in the roadway of the system and to correspond to elevational changes in the roadway of the system. Each of the cable trays includes a cover having an upstanding tactile warning device at the side edges thereof. A light is also associated with each of the tactile warning devices.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 12/807,934 filed Sep. 17, 2010 entitled A CABLE TRAY APPARATUS FOR A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a walk-on cable tray apparatus for use with a people mover system such as a Sky Train™ or the like. Even more particularly, the cable trays which make up the cable tray apparatus of this invention are identical and are secured together in an end-to-end relationship at one side of the cars of a single-track people mover system or between the cars of a double-track system. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a cable tray having a hinged cover system and tactile warning devices which protrude upwardly from the outer sides of the cover system of the cable tray. This invention also relates to lights which are incorporated into the upwardly protruding tactile warning devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In people mover systems such as a Sky Train system, a plurality of vehicles or cars travel along a guideway or roadway with the guideway or roadway being normally elevated. In many cases, a double track system is provided with the cars of one of the tracks being horizontally spaced from the cars of the other track. Power and control signals for the cars normally comprise cables positioned in trays which are positioned on the roadway on one side of the cars traveling on the roadway or between the cars of a double-track system. In some cases, the cable trays are used as walkways to enable persons in the cars of the system to walk away from the cars should the cars become disabled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A cable tray apparatus is provided for use with an electric train such as a Sky Train which travels along a power rail positioned on a roadway with the train including one or more cars having opposite sides. In many cases, a double-track system is provided. A plurality of generally rectangular electrical cable trays make up the cable tray apparatus with the cable trays having first and second sides and first and second ends with the cable trays being identical to one another. The cable trays are connected together in an end-to-end relationship and are positioned on the roadway at one side of the cars of the train. In a double track system, the cable trays are positioned between the roadways. The cable trays are selectively laterally horizontally adjustable with respect to one another and are selectively vertically adjustable with respect to one another to correspond to curves in the roadway and to correspond to elevational changes in the roadway respectively. 
     Each of the cable trays include a body portion having a bottom wall with first and second ends and first and second upstanding side walls with upper ends. Each of the cable trays includes a cover, having a first end, a second end, a first side edge and a second side edge. The cover has an outer surface and an inner surface. The cover is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position. The cover, when in its closed position, extends between the upper ends of the first and second side walls of the body portion. The upper surface of the cover, which is usually comprised of a pair of cover members, has a non-slip surface. 
     A first elongated tactile warning device extends upwardly from the outer surface of the cover at the first side edge thereof. The first tactile warning device extends between the first and second ends of the cover. A second elongated tactile warning device extends upwardly from the outer surface of the cover at the second side edge thereof. The second tactile warning device extends between the first and second ends of the cover. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cover is comprised of a pair of cover members which are hingedly secured to the first and second side walls of the body portion. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second tactile warning devices have an inverted V-shaped cross-section. In another embodiment of the invention, the first and second tactile warning devices comprise an upstanding plate. 
     In the preferred embodiment, at least one light is associated with the first tactile warning device for illuminating the cover. In the preferred embodiment, at least one light is associated with the second tactile warning device for illuminating the cover. In the preferred embodiment, a deflector structure is associated with the lights to prevent the rays of the light from passing upwardly. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved walk-on cable tray apparatus for a people mover system. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a walk-on cable tray apparatus for a people mover system wherein the outer surface of the cover of the cable tray has a non-slip surface provided thereon. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a walk-on cable tray apparatus for a people mover system wherein the opposite side edges of the cover thereof have tactile warning devices extending upwardly therefrom along the length of the cable tray. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a walk-on cable tray apparatus for a people mover system which includes tactile warning devices on the sides thereof and which have lights associated therewith. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is an end view illustrating the walk-on cable tray of this invention positioned at one side of a people mover system; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the walk-on cable tray of this invention positioned between the cars of a double track people mover system; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the walk-on cable tray of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial exploded perspective view of one form of the tactile warning device at the sides of the cable tray of this invention which includes a light; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the tactile warning device at the sides of the cable tray of this invention which includes a light; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial exploded perspective view of the hinge mechanism for the cover of the cable tray of this invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the hinge mechanism of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The walk-on cable tray of this invention is designated by the reference numeral  10 . A plurality of the cable trays  10  are secured to one another in an end-to-end relationship such as disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/807,934 filed Sep. 17, 2010 entitled A CABLE TRAY APPARATUS FOR A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM; Ser. No. 12/807,934 filed Sep. 17, 2010 entitled A CABLE TRAY APPARATUS FOR A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM; and Ser. No. 12/927,347 filed Nov. 12, 2010 entitled EXPANSION JOINT FOR A CABLE TRAY APPARATUS FOR A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,534,613 issued Sep. 17, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto to complete the disclosure of this invention if necessary. 
     The cable trays  10  include the expansion joints of U.S. Pat. No. 8,534,613 to enable the trays  10  to be selectively vertically connected together and to be selectively horizontally connected together to compensate for curves and elevational changes in the track system and to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the cable trays  10 . The reference numeral  12  refers to one of the cars of a single track system ( FIG. 1 ) while the reference numerals  12  and  12 ′ refer to the cars of a double track system ( FIG. 2 ). In the single track system of  FIG. 1 , the cable trays  10  are positioned at one side of the car  12 . In the double track system of  FIG. 2 , the trays are positioned between the cars  12  and  12 ′. 
     Each of the cable trays  10  include a body portion  14  having a bottom wall  16 , upstanding side walls  18  and  20 , and ends  22  and  24 . The trays  10  also include partitions  21  such as disclosed in the co-pending applications and an expansion joint between the cable trays to compensate for temperature changes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,534,613. As stated, the trays  10  are connected together in an end-to-end manner, as disclosed in the co-pending applications, to enable the trays  10  to compensate for curves and elevation changes in the roadway. 
     A first cover  26  is hingedly secured to the upper end of side  18  of tray  10  and is movable between open and closed positions. A second cover  28  is hingedly secured to the upper end of side  20  of tray  10  and is movable between open and closed positions. When the covers  26  and  28  are in the closed position, they close the upper end of body portion  14 . Although two covers are preferred, a single cover could be used if so desired. The upper surface of covers  26  and  28  has anti-slip surfaces  30  and  32  thereon respectively. 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , one end of cover  26  has a downwardly projecting lip or flange  34  at its hinge end. Side wall  18  has a horizontally disposed slot  36  formed therein. Lip  34  of cover  26  has a horizontally disposed slot  38  formed therein which registers with slot  36  formed therein which registers with slot  36  when the cover  26  is in the closed position of  FIG. 6 . Side wall  18  of body portion  14  has a pair of horizontally spaced bolt openings  40  and  42  formed therein below slot  36 . The numeral  44  refers to a hinge clip having a lower base  46  having bolt openings  48  and  50  formed therein. Clip  44  also includes a U-shaped portion  52  above base  46  and an upper end portion  54  above portion  52 . 
     The upper end portion  54  is extended through slots  38  and  36  as seen in  FIG. 7  so that upper end portion  54  is at the inner surface of side wall  18  when hinge clip  44  is secured to side wall  18  by bolts  56  and  58  which extend through bolt openings  48  and  50  respectively and through bolt openings  40  and  42  respectively. The inner ends of bolts  56  and  58  have washers  60  and  62  received thereon respectively and nuts  64  and  66  threaded thereon respectively. The hinge clip  44  provides a “loose” hinge connection between the cover  26  and side  18  of body portion  14 . The hinge clip  44  enables the cover  26  to be moved between open and closed positions. As seen in  FIG. 7 , as the cover  26  is moved from the solid line dosed position to the broken line open position, the lip or flange  34  moves outwardly and downwardly on the U-shaped portion  52  of the hinge clip  44 . Cover  28  opens and closes identical to cover  26 . 
     A plurality of the hinge clips  44  hingedly secured the cover  26  to side wall  18 . A plurality of the hinge clips  44  also hingedly secured the cover  28  to side wall  20 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     An elongated tactile warning device  68  is secured to the outer ends of cover  26  and extends upwardly therefrom to assist persons having impaired vision. Device  68  includes an elongated plate  70  which extends between the ends of the tray. Plate  70  is secured to the upper surface of cover  26  by any convenient means such as welding, screws, bolts, etc. Device  68  also includes an upstanding plate  72  which extends upwardly from the outer end of plate  70 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The device  68  preferably has at least one light support  74  which extends upwardly from plate  72 . Light support  74  has a pair of screw openings  76  formed therein adapted to receive screws  78  therein. A flat light deflector plate or shield  80  extends horizontally from the upper end of light support  74 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . As also seen in  FIG. 4 , plate  70  has an opening  82  formed therein which communicates with an opening  84  formed in cover  26 . A light module  86  is positioned at the upper inner side of light support  74  and is secured thereto by the screws  78 . Light module  86  has an electrical lead or cable  88  extending downwardly therefrom. 
     The numeral  90  refers to a housing which is designed to protect the electrical lead  88 . Housing  90  includes a top wall  92  having an opening  94  formed therein, an inclined wall  96  and opposite side walls  98  and  100 . The lower end of housing  90  is open as is the back thereof as seen in  FIG. 7 . Housing  90  is positioned adjacent the inner side of plate  72  below light module  86 , as seen in  FIG. 7 . Housing  90  is secured to tactile warning device  68  by any convenient means such as bolts, studs, screws or welding. Electrical lead  88  extends downwardly through opening  82 , in plate  70 , through opening  84  in cover  26  and into the interior of cable tray  10  for electrical connection to a power source within cable tray  10 . 
     An identical tactile warning device  68  is secured to the outer end of cover  28  to provide tactile warning devices at both sides of the cable tray  10  to aid visually impaired people to guide themselves should they have to walk along the covers of the cable trays should the people mover become disabled. The tactile warning devices may also be helpful to aid sighted people to guide themselves in emergency situations wherein there is limited visibility. The light modules  86 , if used, will light the upper surfaces of the covers  26  and  28  to aid persons with sight to traverse the cable trays  10 . 
     An alternate form of the tactile warning device, illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , is designated with the reference numeral  102 . Device  102  includes an elongated angle member  104  which extends the length of the cable tray  10 . A horizontally disposed plate  106  extends from the inner side of angle member  104  and has an opening  108  formed therein. Plate  106  and/or angle member  104  are secured to the outer side of the associated cover  26  or  28  by welding, screws, studs, bolts, etc. If lights are going to be used with the tactile warning device  102 , a plate  108  will extend upwardly from device  102  and which will have a pair of bolt or screw openings  110  formed therein adapted to receive bolts  112  therein. A light deflector plate  114  extends inwardly from the upper end of plate  108  to serve the same purpose as deflector plate  80  of device  68 . A light module  86  and housing  90  are also used with device  102 . The only difference between the housing  90  of  FIG. 5  and the housing  90  of  FIG. 4  is that the side walls  98  and  100  of the housing  90  in  FIG. 5  have inverted V-shaped openings  116  formed therein which receive the angle member  104  therein. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at last all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.