Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02830401 2013-10-21
JUNCTION BOX AND COMBINED JUNCTION BOX AND CABLE TRAY
ASSEMBLY
FIELD
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The present invention relates to the field of junction boxes and cable trays
in general, and in particular, electrical junction boxes and cable trays.
BACKGROUND
When an electrical cable tray is installed, electrical junction boxes are
typically installed on the side of the cable tray where access to the cables
in the
tray is required. The junction boxes are typically bolted to a side wall of
the cable
tray. This is a time consuming means of securing junction boxes to cable
trays.
An improved junction box and combined junction box and cable tray assembly
would be desirable wherein the junction box may be readily secured to a cable
tray.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an
electrical junction box including a base, a pair of opposing end walls joined
to the
periphery of the base, a back wall joined to the periphery of the base, the
back
wall including at least one opening for receiving an electrical cable, a top
wall
opposing the base and joined to the end walls and back wall, a removable cover
for closing the open side of the junction box, a hook joined to the outside of
the top
wall, the hook including a flange for engaging the side wall of a cable tray.
The
junction box may further include a flange around the open periphery formed by
the
base end walls and top wall. The junction box may further include a gasket
wherein when closed, the gasket forms a seal between the flange and the cover.
The junction box may further include two or more hooks. Each hook may include
an inclined section which may cooperate with the drip edge of a cable tray
assembly to facilitate the shedding of moisture or water away from the drip
edge.
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According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an electrical cable tray assembling including a base, a pair of
opposing
side walls joined to the tray, a junction box, the junction box including a
base, a
pair of opposing end walls joined to the periphery of the base, a back wall
joined to
the periphery of the base, the back wall including at least one opening for
receiving an electrical cable, a top wall opposing the base and joined to the
end
walls and back wall, a flange around the open periphery formed by the base end
walls and top wall, a removable cover including a gasket for closing the open
side
of the junction box, wherein when closed, the gasket forms a seal between the
flange and the cover, a pair of hooks joined to the outside of the top wall,
the
hooks including a flange for engaging the side wall of a cable tray, the
junction box
on one of the side walls of the tray whereby the flange of the hook engages
the
inside of the side wall of the tray.
DRAWINGS
The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,
and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a junction box according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the junction box of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of the junction box of FIG. 1 with cover
removed;
FIG. 4 is a cable tray and junction box assembly according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is the cable tray junction box of FIG. 4 with a cover on the cable tray
and;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the cable tray and junction box assemble of FIG. 5.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in
conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred
and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed.
This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these
embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this
disclosure
will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the
invention to
those skilled in the art.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3, a junction box according to one
embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at 2. In one
embodiment, the junction box 2 is composed of hot dipped galvanized steel but
may be composed of other suitable non-combustible material(s), such as
stainless
steel, that meets the NEMA 4 rating. The junction box 2 includes a base 4, a
top
5 opposing the base 4, opposing generally parallel side walls 6 and 8 joined
to the
base, and a back wall 10 joined to the base. The back wall includes holes 11
and
13 for receiving cables in the box. A removable cover 12 is provided on the
front of
the junction box 2. The base 4, top 5, side walls 6 and 8 and cover 12 are
square
in shape but can be rectangular and are joined together at their seams by
welding,
but other suitable joining means may be used. A gasket is provided on the
cover
12 to sealingly engage the flange 14 on the front of the junction box 2.
Four holes 16 are provided at the corners of the cover 12 and four threaded
holes 18 are provided at the corners of the flange 14 to close the junction
box 2.
When the holes 16 and 18 are in registration, fasteners, such as stainless
steel
screws, may be inserted into the holes 16 and 18 and tightened to secure the
cover 12 to the junction box 2.
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Hooks indicated generally at 20 and 22 are provided on the top 5 for
attaching the junction box 2 to a cable tray such as the cable tray indicated
generally at 24 in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The hooks 20 and 22 each include a base
26
attached to the top 5, a first vertical section 28 generally perpendicular to
the base
26, inclined section 30, a second vertical section 32 generally perpendicular
to the
base 26, a top section 34 generally parallel to the top 5 and a flange 36
generally
perpendicular to the top 5. In certain embodiments, only one hook may be
provided or more than two hooks may be provided. In still further embodiments,
the hooks may vary in size. In still further embodiments, a hole may be
provided
in the base 26 for receiving a fastener for securing the hook 20 to the top 5
or the
hook 20 may be welded to the top of the junction box 2 or secured by other
suitable means. In still further embodiments, other configurations for the
hook 20
are possible. For example, a single vertical section may be used in place of
the
sections 28, 30 and 32.
The cable tray 24 includes a base 38 and generally parallel side walls 40
and 42 and internal dividers 44 and 46. The internal dividers 44 and 46 are
optional. In other embodiments, more than two internal dividers may be
provided.
The free ends of side walls 40 and 42 include lips 48 and 50 respectively
which
extend generally perpendicularly to the side walls 40 and 42.
The cable tray 24 is provided with a cover 52 having flanges 54 and 56
along the side edges of the cover 52.
Referring to FIGS. 4-6, when the junction box 2 is installed on the cable
tray 24, the top section 34 of each hook 20, 22 rests on the lip 50 and the
flange
36 engages the inside of the wall 42 of the cable tray 24.
In some embodiments, the cable tray 24 can be uncovered, as shown for
example in FIG. 4, while in other embodiments, the cable tray 24 can be
covered
by cover 52, as shown for example in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the cover 52 is in
place, the flange 56 retains the front of the second vertical section 32 of
the hooks
20, 22 to restrict lateral movement of the junction box 2 away from the side
wall
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when the cover is in place on the tray. The cover 52 also restricts movement
of the
junction box away from the tray 24 in a direction parallel to the side wall
42. The
flange 56 also serves as drip edge. In certain embodiments, the inclined
section
30 serves to shed water away from the underside of the flange 56.
In other embodiments, more than one junction box may be secured to the
side wall 42 of the cable tray 24, such as at spaced intervals. In still
further
embodiments, one or more junction boxes 2 may be secured to the side wall 40
in
an analogous manner. Cables (not shown) run in the cable tray 24 may be fished
through one or more holes (not shown) in the side walls 40 and/or 42 and
through
holes 11 and 13 of the junction box 2. The cables may be spliced or otherwise
connected inside the junction box 2. The junction box 2 may be closed with the
cover 12 when access to the inside of the junction box is not required. A hole
60
is provided in the side 6 of the junction box 2 for additional electrical
cables to be
received into the box 2. It is understood that the number of holes in the
junction
box for receiving electrical cables may vary.
While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these
disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the
invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this
invention
pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure
and
the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention
should
be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims
and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art
relying upon
the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.
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