Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02211956 1997-07-29
1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
2 1. Field of the Invention
3 This invention relates to brackets for control equipment, command enclosures
4 and similar devices. More particularly, it concerns support brackets with a
carrying
section and a channel section for placement of cables and similar electrical
lead wires.
6 2. Description of the Prior Art
7 Brackets for control equipment, command enclosures and similar devices are
8 known. They are typically designed as closed hollow pieces with the
disadvantage
9 that, in general, cables with connected serial plugs cannot be passed
through, and that
- if there are several cables - cables with the same contour cannot be
identified and
1 1 must be traced through, which is a complicated process. DE 4331124 Al
discloses
12 backets where extra strips or clamps are mounted in the inside which
separately
13 localize the particular cables to be able to identify them.
14 For mounting cables with attached, prefabricated serial plugs it is known
to
split hollow members into two pieces in which cables can be placed from above.
As
16 in most cases, the split runs along the entire surface, the hollow piece
changes to a U-
17 profile and mainly loses its stiffness against torsion. Therefore, in the
solutions
18 disclosed in DE 9202556 Ul and ER 0330027 Bi, a U-profile channel is
mounted onto
19 a carrying tube in such a way that they only share the bottom bridge of the
U-channel
part and the top of the carrying tube part, but otherwise are separate profile
parts
21 which add up in height, so that by the separate assignment of the tasks;
Carry and
22 Receipt of Cable - there is a relatively high total profile which results
in voluminous
23 other components like hinges, connections etc. To obtain an increase in the
stiffness
24 against torsion of the carrying tube without increasing the volume, there
are cross-
2 5 shaped diagonal ribs in DE 9202556 Ul, which on the other hand results in
a
26 complicated inside geometry of the carrying tube.
2 7 OBJECTS
28 A principal object of the invention is the provision of brackets for
control
29 equipment, command enclosures and similar devices wherein cables, strands
of
cables, etc. with mounted, prefabricated plugs, even if these are larger than
the
31 widths of the channels, can be easily inserted and easily replaced in case
of defects.
32 A further object is the provision of such brackets where coordination of
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CA 02211956 2004-11-25
cables, even strands of cables without identification colors,
is possible.
Another object is the provision of such brackets in
which construction height and overall cross-section is as small
s as possible, with good stiffness against bending and torsion,
together with simplicity of geometry and assembly.
According to a broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided a bracket system for control or command
equipment. The bracket system comprises a support section for
to bending and torsion stability and a channel profile section for
receiving cables. The support section is formed in the shape
of a double T and comprises an integrally formed central
vertical bridge defined, in part by vertical sides, an upper
and a lower horizontal bridge. The vertical bridge is enlarged
i5 at its junction with the upper horizontal bridge and forms a
longitudinal cylindric torsion rod. Vertical thin walls extend
integrally and upwardly from the lower horizontal bridge of the
support section and spaced apart from the vertical sides of the
central vertical bridge and extends upwardly less than the
2o distance between the upper horizontal bridge and the lower
horizontal bridge. The channel profile section comprises in
part empty spaces between the vertical thin walls and the
vertical sides of the vertical bridge. The empty spaces
provide channels for receiving cables and being accessible
2s through access openings that exist above the vertical thin
walls. Cappings are engagable with the vertical thin walls to
close the access openings.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of
the present invention will become apparent from the detailed
3o descriptions given herein; it should be understood, however,
that the detailed descriptions, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration
only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit
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CA 02211956 2004-11-25
and scope of the invention will become apparent from such
descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of the invention can be
s obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
generic parts of the illustrated matter are indicated by
arrowhead lines associated with the designation numerals while
specific parts are indicated with plain lines associated with
the numerals and wherein:
io FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a bracket
profile of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to
FIG. 1 with cables inserted in the cables channels and pushed-
on cappings in place.
i5 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to
FIG. 2 with cables, pushed on cappings and inserted adapter
sleeves and screws in provided channels.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to
FIG. 2 with cables and one capping on the left before it is
2o pushed in or off and one inserted capping on the right.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to
FIG. 4 with inserted cables, partly pushed-on cappings and with
a screw driver each at the top and bottom of the grooves for
pushing the cappings.
2s FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to
FIG. 2 with inserted cables, pushed-on cappings and inserted
adapter sleeves and screws in provided channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects are accomplished in accordance with
3o the invention by the provision of a bracket system for
control equipment, command enclosures and similar
devices comprising a carrying section and a channel section
for reception of cables or the like. The bracket 1 of
the invention is mainly shaped like a double T, and the two
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CA 02211956 1997-07-29
1 empty spaces near the vertical bridge of the double T are used as
installation channels
2 2.
3 Where the vertical bridge of the double T meets the horizontal bridge, the
4 carrying section is enlarged to a longitudinally directed torque portion la
the center of
which has a channel lb for receiving main connecting bolts 13 for face
mounting.
6 The horizontal bridges contain channels 6 for receiving bolts 11 or similar
for
7 transmitting the torsion forces to the connecting parts, and a channel 3a
for auxiliary
8 fastening bolts 12 in the lower part of the vertical double T bridge.
9 The empty spaces of the double T which are used as installation channels 2
are
laterally closed by vertical walls 7 on the two outer sides. These vertical
walls are
11 built onto the two outer ends of the lower horizontal bridge. At the top,
these
12 installation channels are closed by cappings 9 which are pushed vertically
onto the
13 sidewalk by means of a built-on nose 9a which reaches behind the walls.
These cap-
14 pings 9 are resiliently supported on the sides of the horizontal bridges of
the double T
and engage at the end of the slide path 8, 8a.
16 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
17 With reference in detail to the drawings, the bracket system 1 of the
invention
18 is designed mainly as a double T and, where the vertical bridge 3 of the
double T
19 profile passes over into the horizontal bridge 4, is enlarged to a
longitudinally directed
cylindrical bar part la. For the purpose of stiffness against torsion, in
which for
21 flexural strength and for stiffness against torsion, optimum basic forms
are connected
22 in one part.
23 The free space of the double T profiles on both sides of the vertical
bridge 3
24 is used as installation channels 2 partially closed by vertical thin walls
7 which are
shaped as outside walls on the bottom horizontal bridge S of the double T. By
this
26 interlacing of channels and bracket profile, one obtains an arrangement of
both in the
27 smallest space.
28 The spaces enclosed by the vertical bridge 3, the bottom horizontal bridge
S
29 and the vertical outer sidewalls 7 form cable channels 2 which are open at
the top and
the outside and into which the cables C can be placed. The identification of
the
31 cables C is guaranteed because of separate defined positions, but also
because the
32 cable channels 2 can be looked into from the outside.
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CA 02211956 1997-07-29
1 The other components of the bracket system 1, i.e., joints, bends and
terminal
2 connectors, are designed in such a way that a wall transition, e.g., through
a
3 equipment wall to a connecting wall to a wall transition into a control
command
4 enclosure, all cables C can be inserted simply and orderly because of the
invention.
The connection between the bracket profile and the other components of the
6 system is made as plug type and screw connection.
7 By means of channels 6,6a which are formed in the horizontal bridges 4 & 5,
8 the system parts are plugged onto the bolts or adapter sleeves embedded at
the front of
9 the other components, terminal connectors, joints etc., and are connected on
the face
by means of main screw 13 via the screw channel lb in the torsion rod and by
means
1 1 of the auxiliary screw 12 via the screw channel 3a in the lower vertical
bridge 5.
12 The installation is made in a way that at first the complete bracket system
is
13 mounted, then the cables are inserted in the installation channels 2 and
thereafter the
14 cappings 9 are placed laterally and pushed on or in at the bottom, as
indicated by the
arrow 15.
16 By means of a longitudinal built-on nose 9a the cappings 9 grip behind the
17 sidewalls which have offsets at the top. The nose 9a presses the slightly
resilient
18 cappings during the pushing down against the sidewalk 7 of the horizontal
upper and
19 lower bridges 4,5 of the double T. This pressure tension is also used for
the catches
8, 8a at the bottom of the cappings 9. Grooves 10, formed to permit
displacement of
21 the cappings towards the top and bottom of the horizontal bridges 4,5, is
helpful for
22 easier insertion and removal of the cappings 9, because here a screw driver
S can be
23 used which pries against the bridge side of the groove and pushes the
cappings 9 away
24 from the grooves 10. In this way the cappings 9 can be pushed to the bottom
into the
catch with only little force, if the screw driver S is placed in the top
groove (arrow
26 15), or to the top out of the catch, if the screw driver is placed in the
bottom groove
27 (arrow 14).
28 As shown, the cappings 9 are inserted deeper than the lateral edges of said
29 horizontal bridges of said double T via the grooves 6 formed in such
lateral edges.
Advantageously, the width of said grooves is approximately 3/4 of an average
screw
31 driver.
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