Assembled cable tray module

Description

Assembled cable tray module Field of invention The present invention relates to an assembleable cable tray module, of the type used in electrical installations for the routing and protection of cables. Background of the invention In the electrical installation sector, modular cable trays are widely known. These trays are made up of sections or modules that connect to each other to create a continuous conduit. A constant focus has been on facilitating and speeding up the assembly of these modules to reduce installation time and costs, while ensuring a secure and stable connection. Various solutions have been proposed to achieve rapid assembly, often without the need for screws. For example, prior art document ES 1067789 U describes a cable tray module comprising a body (female part) and a narrower end part (male part). The male part has a vertical recess in its upper flange which, upon coupling, creates a "spring effect" to facilitate insertion of the male part into the female part of an adjacent module. However, while this configuration facilitates insertion, it does not effectively prevent rotational movement or bending between the modules once assembled, nor does it prevent possible horizontal displacements, which can compromise the rigidity and safety of the installation in the long term, especially under mechanical loads or vibrations. Therefore, there is a need in the sector for a cable tray module that not only facilitates assembly, but also ensures a mechanically robust and stable connection, blocking bending and displacement without the need for additional fixing elements. Summary of the invention The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a cable tray module with an improved mechanical interlocking system. The invention provides an assembleable cable tray module, comprising a body with a base and two side walls, with an upper flange on each side wall, and an end portion, narrower than said body, the end portion comprising a base, side walls and an upper flange on each side wall, the body and the end portion being joined by an intermediate narrowing, in which - the upper rim of the body has a profile comprising a straight upper surface, a straight side surface and an inclined inner flange, and - the upper rim of the end portion has a profile comprising a wavy section and a straight end section, configured to fit within the upper rim of the body of an adjacent module, so that the inclination of the straight end section of the upper rim of the end part with respect to the straight lateral surface of the upper rim of the body is less than or equal to the inclination of the inclined inner flange of the upper rim of the body with respect to the straight lateral surface. This configuration provides a mechanical interlock that improves the stability and rigidity of the joint. According to one embodiment of the invention, the angle of the inclined inner flange is configured to match the inclination of a section of the upper rim of the body used to secure a tray cover. This creates a protected safety zone that prevents accidental damage to cables or injury to personnel during the installation and handling of the cover. According to another embodiment of the invention, the straight upper surface, the straight side surface, and the inclined inner flange of the upper rim of the body define an approximately triangular space open at the bottom. These features allow for additional secure fastening of the lid using self-drilling screws, preventing the screw tip from damaging the cables housed inside the tray. According to another embodiment of the invention, the distance between the upper end of the flange of the end portion and the inner upper wall of the body flange is less than 5 mm. This relatively small clearance contributes to a firmer and more secure connection between the modules. Brief description of the figures For a better understanding of the invention, and by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two adjacent cable tray modules according to the invention, in a pre-assembly situation. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the two modules in Figure 1 after they have been assembled, illustrating the connection between them. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the profile of the tray body, with a top flange of the end portion of the adjacent section inside. Figure 4 is a detailed view of the top of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with several possible positions of the upper rim of the end portion. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the angle of the inner flange. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the upper flange profile of the tray body, illustrating the support surface for a tray lid and the inclined inner flange. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the tray's side wall profile, illustrating the flat walls for screw fixing of the tray lid, and the internal triangular protection space. Detailed description of the invention Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two identical adjacent interlocking modules 1, 1' of cable trays according to the present invention. Each module 1, 1 comprises a body 3, 3, which acts as a female part, and an end part 4 that acts as a male part (the end part of module 1 that acts as a male part is not visible in Figures 1 and 2). The body 3 and the end part 4 are joined by an intermediate narrowing 5. The body 3 of module 1 consists of a base 8 and two side walls 7, on the upper part of which a safety rim 2 is formed. Similarly, the end part 4, which is narrower than the body 3 to allow its insertion, also comprises a base, side walls, and a rim 6. The main feature of the invention lies in the geometry of the upper rim 6 of the end part 4 and the upper rim 2 of the body 3. As can be seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4, this upper rim 6 of the end part 4 has a profile 10 comprising a wavy zone 11 followed by a straight end section 12. This profile 10 is specifically designed to interact and interlock with the inner surface of the upper rim 2' of the body 3' of an adjacent module 1'. On the other hand, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, the upper rim 2 of the body 3 has a configuration comprising a straight upper surface 13 and a straight side surface 14, which together provide a wide and stable support area for a tray lid 17. Additionally, the rim 2 includes an inclined inner tab 15. The angle of this tab 15 is designed to correspond with the shape of a fixing section 19 of the lid 17, thus creating a safety zone that protects the cables and prevents accidents during handling of the lid 17. The profile 10, comprising a corrugated zone 11, is configured to block rotational movement and horizontal displacement between the coupled modules 1, 1. This significantly increases the safety and structural integrity of the assembled tray system by preventing unwanted bending. The straight end section 12 of the upper rim 6 of the end part 4 may have various angles or inclinations with respect to the straight lateral surface 14 of the upper rim 2 of the body 3. In Figures 4 and 5, the straight lateral surface 14 of the upper rim 2 of the body 3 is in a vertical position. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the inclination of the straight end section 12 of the upper rim 6 of the end part 4 with respect to the straight lateral surface 14 of the upper rim 2 of the body 3 is less than or equal to the inclination of the inclined inner flange 15 of the upper rim 2 of the body 3 with respect to the straight lateral surface 14. The assembly process consists of inserting the end portion 4 of module 1 into the body 3' of module 1', as shown in the transition from Figure 1 to Figure 2. During insertion, the profile 10, comprising a corrugated section 11 and a straight end section 12 of the flange 6, mechanically engages within the flange 2'. This geometric interaction creates a lock that effectively prevents rotational movement (bending) and horizontal displacement between modules 1 and 1' once connected. The result is a rigid and stable joint that maintains the alignment and structural integrity of the cable duct without the need for screws or other fasteners. Figures 4 and 5 show that the distance between the upper end of the upper rim 6 of the extreme part 4 and the inner upper wall of the upper rim 2 of the body 3 is very short, preferably less than 5 mm, and in some cases even about 2 mm. Figure 6 shows that the angle of the inclined inner tab 15 can be configured to match the inclination of a section 19 of the upper rim 2 of body 3 that serves to fix a cover 17 (see cover 17 resting on the upper rim 2 of body 3 in Figure 7). Figures 7 and 8 show a tray lid 17 on the upper rim 2 of the body 3, comprising a straight upper surface 13 and a straight side surface 14, which together provide a wide and stable support area for the tray lid 17. These flat surfaces on the upper rim 2 of the body 3 facilitate the use of a screw 18 (e.g., self-drilling) if additional fixing is required, for example, in vertical mountings. The internal geometry of the profile creates an approximately triangular space 16 open at the bottom. This space 16 acts as a barrier, ensuring that the tip of the screw 18 cannot penetrate the interior of the main channel of the tray, thus protecting the cables housed inside from any damage. The described features contribute to a cable tray system that is both quick to install, mechanically robust, and significantly safer, both for the cables it contains and for the installation personnel. Although some embodiments of the invention have been described and represented, it is evident that modifications within the scope of the invention may be introduced, and the invention should not be considered limited to these embodiments, but only to the content of the following claims.

Claims

1. Assemblable cable tray module (1), comprising a body (3) with a base (8) and two side walls (7), with an upper flange (2) on each side wall (7), and an end portion (4), narrower than said body (3), the end portion comprising a base, side walls and an upper flange (6) on each side wall, the body (3) and the end portion (4) being joined by an intermediate narrowing (5), characterized in that - the upper flange (2) of the body (3) has a profile comprising a straight upper surface (13), a straight side surface (14) and an inclined inner flange (15), and - the upper flange (6) of the end portion (4) has a profile (10) comprising a wavy section (11) and a straight end section (12), configured to fit within the upper flange (2) of the body (3) of an adjacent module (1'),such that the inclination of the straight end section (12) of the upper flange (6) of the end portion (4) with respect to the straight side surface (14) of the upper flange (2) of the body (3) is less than or equal to the inclination of the inclined inner flange (15) of the upper flange (2) of the body (3) with respect to the straight side surface (14).

2. Assembleable cable tray module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the inclined inner flange (15) is configured to coincide with the inclination of a section (19) of the upper flange (2) of the body (3) that serves for fixing a cover (17).

3. Assembleable cable tray module (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the straight upper surface (13),The straight lateral surface (14) and the inclined inner flange (15) of the upper rim (2) of the body (3) define an approximately triangular space (16) open at the bottom.

4. Assemblable cable tray module (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distance between the upper end of the upper rim (6) of the end portion (4) and the inner upper wall of the upper rim (2) of the body (3) is less than 5 mm.