Cable tray(s) for a vehicle, assembly comprising associated cable tray(s)
Cable trays coated with a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy address the conductivity and theft issues in railway vehicles by eliminating the need for copper braids, ensuring effective electrical contact and reducing maintenance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022000448
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-01-19
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-01-19
AI Technical Summary
In railway vehicles, the electrical conductivity between aluminum cable trays and stainless steel supports is poor, leading to potential differences that require copper earthing braids, which are prone to theft, increasing maintenance needs.
Cable trays coated with an alloy of zinc, aluminum, and magnesium, eliminating the need for copper braids by ensuring equal potential between the cable trays and stainless steel supports.
The zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy ensures effective conductivity without copper braids, reducing theft risks and maintenance operations.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Cable tray(s) for a vehicle, assembly comprising associated cable tray(s)
[0001] The present invention relates to a cable track(s) for a vehicle.
[0002] The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a path of cable(s), a support and at least one device for fixing the cable tray(s) to the support.
[0003] Prior art already exists an assembly comprising a cable tray(s), a support, and at least one device for attaching the cable tray(s) to the support. More specifically, in the context of a railway vehicle, the support is, for example, the floor of a vehicle's engine cab, and the cable tray(s) are attached to the support using the attachment device. Electrical cables run between the support and the cable tray(s).
[0004] To ensure the safety of operator(s) working in the engine cab of the railway vehicle, it is required that each metallic element be kept at ground potential, and in particular the cable tray(s) and the support. However, in the prior art, the cable tray(s) are made of aluminum while the support is made of stainless steel. When these two materials are in contact, the electrical conductivity between them is significantly poor. Thus, a potential difference is likely to appear between the cable tray(s) and the support.
[0005] To prevent such a potential difference from occurring, a copper earthing braid is arranged in contact with both the cable tray(s) and the support. Since aluminum and stainless steel have good conductivity with copper, the earthing braid ensures that both the cable tray(s) and the support are at ground potential. Indeed, if a potential difference were to appear between the cable tray(s) and the support, a current would flow through the braid to restore equal potential between the cable tray(s) and the support.
[0006] However, the grounding braid is an exposed copper component located in a corridor of the engine cab. Therefore, the braid is easily accessible to a third party inside the engine cab. Consequently, and given the market price of copper, these braids are regularly stolen for resale as raw materials. This leads to an increase in the number of maintenance operations required on the railway vehicle, as these stolen braids must be replaced to ensure the safety of the operator(s) working in the engine cab.
[0007] The invention aims to provide a cable track(s), and an associated assembly to limit the number of maintenance operations related to the theft of grounding braid(s).
[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a cable track(s) for a vehicle, in particular a railway, the cable track(s) being suitable for being fixed to a support to conduct a set of electrical cable(s) between the support and the cable track(s), the cable track(s) having a coating in an alloy comprising zinc, aluminum and magnesium.
[0009] Thanks to the composition of the cable tray coating, the conductivity between said cable tray(s) and the support is improved. It is therefore no longer necessary to use an earthing braid to obtain equal potentials between the cable tray(s) and the support.
[0010] As an optional addition, the cable tray(s) include the following feature:
[0011] The alloy comprises: - a mass percentage of zinc greater than 90%, - preferably a mass percentage of aluminium between 1% and 5%, and - preferably a mass percentage of magnesium between 1% and 5%.
[0012] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a cable tray(s), a support and at least one device for fixing the cable tray(s) to the support,
[0013] the cable path(s) being movable relative to the support between: - a fixed position in which the cable tray(s) is / are fixed to the support by the fixing device, and - a spaced-away position in which the cable tray(s) are moved away from the support.
[0014] As an optional addition, the assembly includes one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination:
[0015] - in the fixed position of the cable tray(s), the cable tray(s) and the support are in contact ;
[0016] - the support is made of stainless steel;
[0017] - the support defines a slide extending along a longitudinal direction, the support further defining an opening extending along the longitudinal direction and leading into the slide,
[0018] the fastening device comprising a screw and a stud, the stud being adapted to receive the screw, and,
[0019] in fixed position of the cable channel(s), the stud being inserted into the slide and the screw being received by the stud, the screw passing through the opening of the slide;
[0020] - the fastening device further comprises a locking member, and,
[0021] in fixed position of the cable track(s), the support and the cable track(s) are clamped between the stud and the locking member;
[0022] - the fastening device further comprises an adjustment member, suitable for being inserted into the slide, in the fixed position of the cable path(s), the stud being in contact with the adjustment element in the slide;
[0023] - the cable path(s) includes at least one opening, and,
[0024] in fixed position of the cable tray(s), the screw passes through one or more of the holes; and
[0025] - the support is a floor of a machine cab of a railway vehicle.
[0026] Various features and advantages of the invention will be highlighted in the reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the attached drawings, on which:
[0027] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a cross-sectional view of an assembly according to the invention;
[0028] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of an electrical cable tray(s) comprising in the whole of [Fig.1].
[0029] In this description, the expression "substantially equal" is understood to mean equality to within 10%, and preferably equality to within 5%.
[0030] Figure [1] shows an assembly 10 comprising a cable track(s) 12, a support 14, and at least one fixing device 15 for the cable track(s) 12 on the support 14.
[0031] The assembly 10 is, for example, integrated into a vehicle, particularly a railway vehicle. More specifically, the assembly 10 is, for example, integrated into the engine cab of a railway vehicle. Electrical cables 16 then run between the support 14 and the cable tray(s) 12. By way of example, the support 14 is the floor of the railway vehicle's engine cab, over which the cables 16 run, and the cable tray(s) 12 is fixed to the support 14 to protect the cables 16. In this example, which will be considered below, the cable tray(s) 12 is fixed to the support 14 in a vertical direction V perpendicular to the plane defined by the floor of the railway vehicle.
[0032] The cable tray(s) 12 preferably has the appearance of a shell designed to cover the support 14. In the example of [Fig. 2], the cable tray(s) 12 defines substantially an L-shaped form oriented along a longitudinal direction L, perpendicular to the vertical direction V. The cable tray(s) 12 defines a substantially flat bottom face 17. The bottom face 17 is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction V when the cable tray(s) 12 is fixed to the support 14.
[0033] As previously stated, the cable tray(s) 12 protects the electrical cables 16 running on the support 14. To allow access to the cable(s) 16, for example during a maintenance operation, the cable tray(s) 12 is movable relative to the support 14 between a fixed position in which the cable tray(s) 12 is fixed to the support 14 by the fixing device 15, and a disengaged position in which the cable tray(s) 12 is disengaged from the support 14.
[0034] In the fixed position of the cable tray(s) 12, the cable tray(s) 12 and the support 14 are in contact. This will be explained later.
[0035] Optionally, the cable tray(s) 12 defines at least one edge 18 extending vertically from one end of the bottom 17 of the cable tray(s) 12 towards the support 14 in the fixed position of the cable tray(s) 12. The cable tray(s) 12 then further comprises at least one flange 20 projecting from the edge 18. The flange 20 extends parallel to the bottom face 17 of the cable tray(s) 12. Preferably, the cable tray(s) 12 comprises several edges 18 and several flanges 20. Each flange 20 is, for example, drilled for the passage of a screw.
[0036] As an optional addition, the cable tray(s) 12 also includes at least one hole 22 on its bottom face 17. Each hole 22 preferably has an oblong shape, advantageously oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The holes 22 are for example aligned along the longitudinal direction L. The holes 22 are intended to receive, at least partially, the fastening device 15, as will be described below.
[0037] The cable tray(s) 12 optionally includes a plurality of holes 24. The holes 24 are preferably oblong in shape and arranged in a line. Unlike the openings 22, the holes 24 extend primarily along their alignment direction.
[0038] With reference to [Fig.2], some of the holes 24 are preferentially arranged in parallel lines extending along the longitudinal direction L. Other holes 24 are, for example, arranged in parallel lines along a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction L. The angle is, for example, equal to 45°.
[0039] The cable track(s) 12 is suitable for being fixed to the support 14 to conduct a set of electrical cable(s) 16 between the support 14 and the cable track(s) 12. The cable track(s) 12 has a coating of an alloy comprising zinc, aluminum and magnesium.
[0040] Optionally, said alloy comprises a zinc mass percentage greater than 90%, an aluminum mass percentage between 1% and 5%, and a magnesium mass percentage between 1% and 5%. By way of example, the alloy is composed of approximately 93.5% zinc, 3.5% aluminum, 3% magnesium, and unavoidable impurities. Such an alloy is then known as Magnelis®, notably marketed by the company ARCELOR MITTAL.
[0041] Advantageously, the cable track(s) 12 is entirely made of the aforementioned alloy.
[0042] The support 14 is, for example, a floor of a railway vehicle's engine cab, intended to receive the electrical cables 16. The support 14 is optionally made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is understood to be an iron-based alloy comprising a mass percentage of carbon less than 1.2% and a mass percentage of chromium more than 10.5%, as well as unavoidable impurities.
[0043] The support 14 defines a slide 26 extending along the longitudinal direction L. The slide 26 is for example raised relative to the rest of the support so that, in the fixed position of the cable track(s) 12, the cable track(s) 12 is in contact with the slide 26.
[0044] The slide 26 has, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, a flat base 28 substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction V. The slide 26 also defines sides 30, extending from the base 28 in a flared geometry. In other words, the base 28 and the sides 30 form, in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, a truncated V shape.
[0045] Furthermore, the slide 26 defines two tabs 32, each extending from one end of a respective side 30, said end being away from the base 28. Each tab 32 extends parallel to the base 28 towards the inside of the slide 26. The support thus defines an opening 34, formed by the tabs 32, extending along the longitudinal direction L and opening into the slide 26. In the fixed position of the cable tray(s) 12, the cable tray(s) 12 is in contact with the support 14, via the tabs 32.
[0046] The fastening device 15 includes, for example, a screw 36 and a stud 38. The stud 38 includes, for example, a threaded receptacle (not shown) adapted to receive the screw 36. The stud 38 is further adapted to be inserted into the slide 26. The stud 38 defines, for example, a substantially parallelepiped geometry with a width greater than the width of the opening 34. Thus, when the stud 38 is inserted into the slide, it is blocked in translation along the vertical direction V and cannot be extracted through the opening 34 of the slide 26.
[0047] In the fixed position of the cable track(s) 12, the stud 38 is preferably inserted into the slide 26 and the screw 36 is received by the stud 38, the screw 36 passing through the opening 34 of the slide 26. Preferably, the screw 36 passes through the opening 34 and one of the holes 22 of the cable track(s) 12, thus blocking the translation of the stud 38 in the longitudinal direction L.
[0048] The fastening device 15 further includes a locking member 40. The locking member 40 is, for example, the head of the screw 36 or a nut screwed onto the screw 36. In the fixed position of the cable tray(s) 12, the support 14 and the cable tray(s) 12 are clamped between the stud 38 and the locking member 40, thus preventing any translation of the cable tray(s) 12 and support 14, relative to each other, along the vertical direction V.
[0049] As an optional addition, the fastening device 15 includes an adjustment member 42. The adjustment member 42 is designed to be inserted into the slide 26. When the adjustment member 42 is inserted into the slide 26, it conforms, at least partially, to the shape of the base 28 and the sides 30 of the slide 26. Optionally, the adjustment member 42 further defines two steps 44 for receiving the stud 38. In the fixed position of the cable tray(s) 12, the stud 38 rests on the adjustment member 42, and more specifically on the steps 44 of the adjustment member 42.
[0050] The fastening device 15 further includes, for example, two washers 46, such as Belleville washers and / or locking washers, intended to be mounted between the cable track(s) 12 and the locking member 40.
[0051] The assembly preferably includes at least three fixing devices 15 to ensure good fixing of the cable tray(s) 12 on the support 14.
[0052] The mounting of the cable tray(s) 12 relative to support 14 will now be described.
[0053] Initially, the cable path(s) 12 is in the offset position.
[0054] The adjustment member 42 is optionally inserted into the slide 26. Then, the stud 38 is also inserted into the slide 26, resting on the adjustment member 42.
[0055] The cable track(s) 12 is then positioned relative to the support 14 so that the threaded receptacle of the stud 38 is opposite an orifice 22 of the cable track(s) 12.
[0056] Optionally, the washers 46 are positioned on the cable track(s) 12, against the orifice 22 opposite the threaded receptacle of the stud 38.
[0057] The screw 36 is then inserted into the orifice, where necessary through the washers 46, until it reaches the threaded receptacle of the stud 38. The screw 36 is then screwed into the threaded receptacle of the stud 38.
[0058] When the locking member 40 is a nut, it is screwed onto the screw 36 until it comes into contact with the cable track(s) 12 or, where applicable, with the washers 46. The nut is screwed so that the cable track(s) 12 and the tabs 32 of the support 14 are clamped between the stud 38 and said nut.
[0059] When the locking member 40 is the head of the screw 36, the screw 36 is screwed into the threaded receptacle until the cable track(s) 12 and the tabs 32 of the support 14 are clamped between the stud 38 and said screw head. The screw head is then in contact with the cable track(s) 12 or, where applicable, with the washers 46.
[0060] The cable path(s) 12 is then in a fixed position.
[0061] The cable tray(s) 12 according to the invention makes it possible to avoid using a braid grounding is used to maintain an equal potential between support 14 and the cable tray(s). Thus, in the absence of a braid, the risk of theft of this component is zero, allowing for a substantial reduction in the number of maintenance operations.
[0062] In addition, the fixing device 15 according to the invention ensures good contact between the cable track(s) 12 and the support 14, in the fixed position of the cable track(s) 12, allowing said cable track(s) 12 and the support 14 to be maintained at equal potentials.
Claims
Demands
1. An assembly comprising a cable tray (12) for a vehicle, in particular a railway, a support (14) and at least one fastening device (15) for the cable tray (12), the cable tray (12) being adapted to be fixed to the support (14) for conducting an assembly of electrical cable(s) (16) between the support (14) and the cable tray (12), the cable tray (12) having a coating of an alloy comprising zinc, aluminum and magnesium, the cable tray (12) being movable relative to the support (14) between: - a fixed position in which the cable tray (12) is fixed to the support (14) by the fastening device (15), and - a retracted position in which the cable tray (12) is retracted from the support (14), in which the support (14) defines a slide (26) extending along a longitudinal direction (L),the support (14) further defining an opening (34) extending along the longitudinal direction (L) and opening into the slide (26), the fixing device (15) comprising a screw (36) and a stud (38), the stud (38) being adapted to receive the screw (36), and in the fixed position of the cable channel(s) (12), the stud (38) being inserted into the slide (26) and the screw (36) being received by the stud (38), the screw (36) passing through the opening (34) of the slide (26).
2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the alloy comprises: - a mass percentage of zinc greater than 90%, - preferably a mass percentage of aluminium between 1% and 5%, and - preferably a mass percentage of magnesium between 1% and 5%.
3. Assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in fixed position of cable tray(s) (12), the cable tray(s) (12) and the support (14) are in contact.
4. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support (14) is made of stainless steel.
5. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing device (15) further comprises a locking member (40), and, in the fixed position of the cable track(s) (12), the support (14) and the cable track(s) (12) are clamped between the stud (38) and the locking member (40).
6. Assembly (10) according to claim 5, wherein the fixing device (15) further comprises an adjustment member (42), adapted to be inserted into the slide (26), in the fixed position of the cable track(s) (12), the stud (38) being supported on the adjustment member (42) in the slide (26).
7. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable track(s) (12) includes at least one hole (22), and, in the fixed position of the cable track(s) (12), the screw (36) passes through the hole(s) (22).
8. Assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (14) is a floor of a machine cab of a railway vehicle.