FR2941752A1 - Cover fixing element for latticed wire section of cable tray, has hooking zone with semi-circular section spanning specific angle, and support zone provided on cover, where support zone is complementary to upper face of cover - Google Patents

Abstract

Element (1) for fixing a cover (2) on a wire of substantially circular cross-section, in particular a wire (8) for the edge of a section (3) of wire mesh cable tray, the element (1) ) extending between two edges (13,14), and the element (1) comprising, when viewed in a cross-section, two elastic zones (15, 16) each extending respectively from one of said edges ( 13, 14): - an attachment zone (15) on the wire (8), comprising an arcuate section describing an angle greater than or equal to 180 °, of radius of curvature greater than or equal to the radius of the wire ( 8); - A zone (16) of support on the lid, shaped to be complementary to an upper face (11) of the lid (2).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to cable trays, and more specifically to cable trusses made of wire mesh with a cover.

The cable trays are structures that can support, in a vertical as well as horizontal configuration, in particular electrical cables, telephone cables, optical fiber cables, computer network cables or pipes.

A cable tray conventionally comprises a bottom and two lateral wings, the section generally forming a U, although there are other forms, for example in G as shown in WO 2007 068 813. cables are made in various ways.

Mainly, the cable trays are made from folded solid shelves, shelves with openings or from wire organized lattice. The cable trays are conventionally in the form of sections, abutted to each other. The sections can be bent. The conventional length for such sections is about three meters. Thus, the assembly of several sections makes it possible to form a cable tray adapted to the cable runs. The assembly is carried out for example by means of a part called splint, which straddles two sections of consecutive cable trays and keeps them solid. Optionally, the cable trays are equipped with accessories, for example clamps enclosing the cables and holding them against the cable tray, or separators making in the same path several compartments, allowing the physical separation of cables of different nature. A cover can be mounted to close the cable tray, providing some protection for the cables from foreign bodies, such as dust. Several ways of fixing the lid can be used.

For example, the cover can be snapped onto the flanges of a section, as described in DE 9010986, DE 8704502 C008 B006 EN - tqd or US 4951716. However, the latching does not always ensure a sufficient maintenance of the cover, especially with regard to the stresses on the sections. Furthermore, snapping requires the production of complementary shapes on the sections and on the cover, forcing the use of non-standard sections and thereby increasing costs. It is also known to use fasteners for fastening the cover, as described for example in document EP 0 599 753. Fasteners, in addition to requiring the use of tools which can be tedious for an operator, and particularly when it works at height, is unsuitable in the case of small width sections, because the screws protruding into the space where the cables are arranged decreases this space while risking to hurt the cables.

The document FR 2 723 270 describes another embodiment of fixing the cover, in which the latter comprises deformed tabs for gripping a wire of a wire mesh section. This embodiment avoids the use of hardware, but still requires the implementation of tools. In addition, when the lid must be removed, especially for maintenance operations, and then fixed again, the tabs undergo repeated deformations that can weaken the connection with the section or lead to breakage. It is known to use an elastic fastening element, in the form of a clip, for attaching the cover to the section by energizing the element. For example, documents FR 2 794 297, FR 2 858 481, FR 2 852 156 and FR 2 838 569 may be referred to. Document FR 2 794 297 describes a clip formed from a U-shaped wire, comprising two hooking portions extending towards one another, formed by folding at the free ends, to insert these portions in perforations, in a crevice or in the eyelets of a sheet metal cable tray. The clip can then be pre-assembled on a section of cable tray and then folded on the cover by pivoting around the two attachment portions. The document FR 2 858 481 has an elastic fastener comprising a curved section shaped to be introduced into an opening of a wing of a section. C008 B006 EN - tqd However, such elements may not be mounted on a section of wire mesh cable tray. In the document FR 2 852 156 a rigid section is secured to a wire edge of the section. A cover placed over the support is held by an elastic member, which abuts over the cover and encloses the profile. Document FR 2 838 569 discloses an elastic element in the form of a folded strip. It comprises a first portion complementary profile to that of the lid, a second portion forming a first groove and a third portion forming a second groove. The branch of the third part is held in abutment against a wire of a section and the first part is inserted into a groove of the cover. However, these fasteners must be mounted once the cover is placed on the section. Therefore, when assembling the lid, an operator must both maintain the position of the lid and the establishment of the element, which can be tricky in view of the dimensions of the lid and the position of the cable tray. Moreover, the element being reported at the time of assembly, stocks of this element must be kept, generating costs related to their management. The invention aims in particular to provide a solution to the various problems mentioned above, by providing a fastener of a cover on a cable tray section adapted to the wire mesh limiting the cost, and requiring a minimum of effort for its implementation. A first object of the invention is to provide a fastening element of a cover on a wire mesh cable tray section that can be pre-mounted on the section.

A second object of the invention is to provide a fastening element of a cover on a wire mesh cable tray section for assembling a cover on the section without tools. For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a fastening element for a cover on a wire of substantially circular cross-section, in particular a wire of a side of a trellis cable tray of C008 B006 FR - tqd the element extending between two edges, and the element comprising, when viewed in a cross-section, two elastic zones each extending respectively from one of said edges: - an attachment zone on the wire, comprising an arcuate section describing an angle greater than or equal to 180 °, of radius of curvature greater than or equal to the radius of the wire; - A support zone on the lid, shaped to be complementary to an upper face of the lid. The fastener can then catch on the wire, inserting this wire into the hooking area, and can pivot around this wire. According to a preferred embodiment, the bearing zone comprises a V-shaped section, complementary to a groove on the upper face of the lid. Thus, the support zone is inserted into the groove to hold the lid.

Advantageously, the fixing element comprises an intermediate elastic zone connecting the bearing zone and the attachment zone, allowing elastic deformations of the element to facilitate its setting in position in support on the lid. According to a first embodiment, the intermediate zone comprises for example two linear sections forming an angle so as to present a primer of articulation, facilitating the elastic deformation of the zone. According to a second embodiment, the intermediate zone comprises two linear sections connected by a fillet describing an arc angle of less than 90 °. The intermediate zone is preferably connected to the attachment zone by a fillet describing an angle substantially equal to 180 °, forming a return so that a portion of the attachment zone is substantially parallel to a portion of the intermediate zone.

Furthermore, the intermediate zone is connected to the support zone by a fillet describing an angle of between 90 ° and 180 °, so as to maintain the lid against the bearing zone. According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a cable tray comprising a wire mesh section and a cover, the cover being profiled along two longitudinal edges, a cable tray in which the cover is fixed to the section by elements of C008 B006 EN - tqd fixing as described above, each element can take two positions: - a premounting position in which the attachment zone of the element is inserted on a side edge of the section, the element being free in rotation around the wire; - An assembly position in which, from the pre-assembly position, the support zone of the element bears against an upper face of the cover, blocking the rotation of the element around the edge wire.

The pre-assembly position advantageously makes it possible not to have to store the elements separately from the cable tray sections. According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a method of fixing a lid shaped along two longitudinal edges on a section of wire mesh cable tray by means of a fastening element as described above, comprising the following steps: - hooking of the element on a wire edge of the section by insertion of the wire in the attachment zone; placing the cover on the section, a lower face of the cover being supported on the attachment zone of the element; rotating the element around the wire until the bearing zone comes on an upper face of the lid; locking the element in a shaped edge of the lid.

Thus, the fastening element and the cover are not handled at the same time, making it easier to place the element against the cover. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fastener of a cover on a wire mesh cable tray according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a side view of the element of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fastener for a cover on a wire mesh cable tray according to a second embodiment; FIG. 4 is a side view of the element of FIG. 3; - Figure 5 is a side view of the fastener of Figures 1 and 2 mounted on a wire mesh section, the element being in a pre-assembly position; Figure 6 is a detail view of Figure 3; - Figure 7 is a side view of the fastener of Figures 1 and 2 mounted on a wire mesh section, the element being in an assembly position on the cover; Figure 8 is a detail view of Figure 5; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a section of wire mesh cable tray on which the cover is fixed along two longitudinal edges, by means of fastening elements of FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIGS. , there is shown an element 1 for fixing a cover 2 on a section 3 of wire mesh cable tray.

The section 3 generally comprises longitudinal son parallel to each other and substantially rectilinear, called son 4 chain. They are crisscrossed by curved parallel transverse threads called weft yarns. The weft threads 5 are, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, curved in a U-shape, although this shape is not limiting. The chain yarns 4 are mainly grouped together on the bottom 6 and on the flanges 7 of the U formed by the weft yarns 5. The warp threads 4 placed on the ends of the weft threads are called edge threads 8. The wires 4, 5, 8 of the section 3 have a section that is preferably substantially circular. The section 3 delimits an internal volume 9 defined as the space bordered by the bottom 6 and the wings 7, in which are arranged for example cables. The cover 2 is in the form of a plate, shaped along two longitudinal edges. According to a preferred embodiment and shown in the figures, the cover 2 comprises, on a top face 1100, two grooves 12, obtained by V-folding of the plate along the longitudinal edges, so as to get an angle a. The fastening element 1 extends between two free edges 13, 14.

The element 1 is for example formed from an elastic band folded parallel to the two opposite free edges 13, 14, or from a folded wire. By elastic means here the property of a material to be deformed under the action of a force, and to resume an initial state in the absence of force. The thickness of the element 1 is for example less than one millimeter. The element may be for example metal, alloy or plastic. Referring firstly to Figures 2 and 4, having the cross section of the fastening element 1 according to two different embodiments. The element 1 comprises two zones 15, 16 elastic, connected by an intermediate elastic zone 17: - an attachment zone 15 on the section; a zone 16 of support on the lid.

The hooking zone 15 comprises, from the first 13 of said free edges 13, 14, a section 18 in an arc of an circle, describing an angle greater than 180 ° and having a radius of curvature greater than the radius of a wire 8 of the section. The arc thus forms a housing 19 for the wire. Section 18 in an arc is extended tangentially by a linear section. The support zone 16 is shaped to take a shape complementary to the upper face 11 of the lid. According to the preferred embodiment, the support zone 16 comprises a first linear section 21 extending from the second free edge 14 of the element 1 and forming an angle f3 with a second linear section 22, so as to form V. According to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate zone 17 comprises a fillet 23 tangential to the linear section 20 of the attachment zone 15, the fillet 23 describing a closed arc at a lower angle or substantially equal to 180 °. From the fillet 23, a first linear section 24 tangent to the fillet 23 forms an angle with a second linear section, so as to obtain a hinge primer on the angle, that is to say say a region 26 deforming preferentially under the action of a force tending to move the sections 24, 25 away from the intermediate zone 17. A second fillet 27 describing a preferred angle between 90 ° and 180 ° tangentially connects the second linear section of the intermediate zone to the second linear section 22 of the bearing zone. According to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intermediate zone 17 comprises a fillet 23 'describing a closed arc at an angle of between 90 ° and 180 °, extending tangentially from the linear section of the zone 15 of attachment. From the fillet 23 ', a first linear section 24' tangent to the fillet 23 'extends to a second fillet 27', which describes an angle less than 90 °. A second linear section 28 connects the second fillet 27 'to the second linear section 22 of the support zone 16. When the element 1 is in an initial state, it has the following geometrical characteristics: the angle R of the support zone 16 is greater than the angle a on the lid 2. The angle R is then preferably greater than 90 °, and is for example 120 °. the smallest distance measured between the attachment zone and the support zone 16 is less than the thickness of the cover 2. This distance corresponds for example in the first embodiment to the distance between the section 18 and the arc of the hooking zone 15 and the second linear section 22 of the support zone 16; or, in the second embodiment, it corresponds to the distance between the arcuate section 18 of the hooking zone 15 and the second linear section 28 of the intermediate zone 17. The element 1 thus formed can take two positions. In a first pre-assembly position (FIGS. 5 and 6), the element 1 is hooked on a wire 8 of the edge of the section 3 by insertion 35 of the wire 8 in the housing 19 defined by the section 18 in an arc. The element 1 can thus pivot around the edge wire 8. 0008 B006 EN - tqd 25 In a second so-called assembly position (FIGS. 7 and 8), the element 1 is blocked on the cover 2 by moving, from the pre-assembly position, that is to say the edge wire 8 remaining in the housing 19, the support zone 16 in contact on the upper face 11 of the cover. The assembly of the cover 2 on the section 3 by means of the element 1 is described below. The element 1 is put in pre-assembly position by forcing the edge wire 8 into the housing 19 provided in the hooking zone 15. The angle described by the arc being greater than 180 °, the wire 8 can not come out of its housing 19 unless under the action of sufficient force. Furthermore, the friction between the element 1 and the edge wire 8 in the housing 19 can be implemented to limit the rotational or sliding movements relative to the wire 8, so that, for example, the element 1 in pre-assembly position is not subject to sudden movements. The cover 2 is brought on the section 3, the longitudinal edges 10 of the cover 2 being parallel to the warp threads 4 of the section 3. The cover 2 is placed on the edge threads 8, and more specifically a bottom face 29 of the cover 2. is placed on the arcuate section 18 of the hooking zone 15 of the element 1 pre-assembled on the section 3. From the pre-assembly position, the element 1 is then pivoted around the edge wire 8, and is deformed on the intermediate zone 17, so as to move the bearing zone 16 away from the hooking zone 15 in order to be able to insert the lid 2 between them. This deformation can be obtained for example by virtue of the different hinge zones on the element 1: the fillet 23, 23 'of the intermediate zone 17; the fillet 27, 27 'of connection between the intermediate zone 17 and the support zone 16; in the first embodiment, the articulation primer on the intermediate zone 17 between the linear sections 24, 25.

As the elastic element 1 tending to return to its initial state, the cover 2 is trapped between the two zones 15, 16. C008 B006 EN - tqd The support zone 16 of the element 1 is brought against the upper surface 11 of the 2 to block the element 1. According to the preferred embodiment, the linear sections 21, 22 of the bearing zone 16 are brought together so that the angle 13 becomes substantially equal to the angle a, so that the zone 16 of support can be introduced by complementarity in a groove 12 of the lid 2. Then, thanks to the elasticity of the element, the support zone 16 is stuck in the groove 12. The lid 2 can thus be fixed along its two longitudinal edges 10 by several elements 1 distributed on the two edge wires 8 of section 3 (Figure 9). The fastening element 1 thus produced makes it possible to be pre-assembled on a section 3 of wire mesh cable trays, limiting the management of the stocks.

In addition, the establishment of the lid 2 on the section 3 is done before the attachment with the element 1, so that an operator does not need to handle both the lid 2 and the element 1. In addition, the assembly by the element 1 does not require tools. The element 1 does not enter the volume 9 of the section where cables are arranged, not decreasing the volume 9 and not risking harming the cables. Furthermore, the first fillet 23 describing an angle substantially equal to 180 °, the intermediate zone 17 is substantially parallel to the linear section of the hooking zone. Thus, the part 1 in the attachment position does not exceed a plane substantially parallel to the flanges 7 of the section 3, so as not to represent a projection on the outside of the section that could interfere with the assembly. On the other hand, thanks to the elasticity of the element 1, and in particular of the intermediate zone 17 on the fillet 23 and the region 26, the element 1 in the pre-assembly position can take a position as close to that as assembly, then be deformed so that the support zone 16 comes against the cover 2, so that the pivoting amplitude of the element 1 is decreased. This has an advantage especially in the case where the section must be mounted with a flange 7 along a wall, the amplitude of the pivoting element 1 then determining a minimum distance to the wall. C008 B006 EN - tqd

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. Element (1) for fixing a cover (2) on a wire of substantially circular cross-section, in particular a wire (8) for the edge of a section (3) of wire mesh cable tray, the element (1) ) extending between two edges (13, 14), and the element (1) comprising, when viewed in a cross-section, two elastic zones (15, 16) each extending respectively from one of said edges ( 13, 14): - an attachment zone (15) on the wire (8), comprising an arcuate section describing an angle greater than or equal to 180 °, of radius of curvature greater than or equal to the radius of the wire ( 8); - A zone (16) of support on the lid, shaped to be complementary to an upper face (11) of the lid (2). 2. Element (1) for fixing according to claim 1, wherein the area (16) of support comprises a V-shaped section, complementary to a groove (12) on the face (11) of the top cover (2). 3. Element (1) for fixing according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a zone (17) intermediate elastic connecting the zone (16) support and the zone (15) attachment. 4. Element (1) for fixing according to claim 3, wherein the zone (17) intermediate comprises two sections (24,25) linear forming an angle to present a primer hinge. 5. Element (1) for fixing according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the zone (17) intermediate is connected to the zone (16) support by a leave (27) describing an angle of between 90 ° and 180 ° . 6. Element (1) for fixing according to claim 3, wherein the zone (17) intermediate comprises two sections (24 ', 28) linear connected by a fillet (27') describing an arc angle less than 90 °. 7. Element (1) for fixing according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the zone (17) intermediate is connected to the zone (15) of attachment by a leave (23) describing an angle less than or equal to 180 ° 8. Cable duct comprising a wire mesh section (3) and a cover (2), the cover (2) being profiled along two longitudinal edges (10), cable tray in which the cover (2) is attached to the section (3) by fixing elements (1) according to one of the C008 B006 FR - tqdrevendications 1 to 7, each element (1) can take two positions - a premounting position in which the area (15) d hooking of the element (2) is inserted on a wire (8) of the edge of the section (3), the element (1) being free to rotate around the wire (8); an assembly position in which, starting from the pre-assembly position, the zone (16) of support of the element (1) bears against an upper face (11) of the lid (2), blocking the rotating the element (1) around the edge wire (8). 9. A method of fixing a cover (2) shaped along two longitudinal edges (10) on a section (3) of wire mesh cable trays by means of a fastening element (1) according to the invention. one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps: hooking of the element (1) on a wire (8) edge of the section by insertion of the wire (8) in the zone (15) of attachment; - Installation of the cover (2) on the section (3), a lower face (28) of the cover (2) being supported on the zone (15) of attachment of the element (1); rotating the element (1) around the wire (8) until the support zone (16) comes on an upper face (11) of the cover (2), - blocking of the element (1) in a shaped edge (10) of the lid 0008 B006 EN - tqd