Flexible interconnect cable tray.

Abstract

The invention relates to an interconnect cable tray (1) comprising a central body (2) and located between at least two profiled cable trays (4) installed in a structure by at least one installation support (4a), each of the profiled cable trays (4) having two ends, a free end (4b) and an interconnecting end (4c), and at least one guide track (4d) for a cable harness between these ends. This interconnect cable tray (1) is continuous and torsionally flexible, it connects the profiled cable trays (4) and it has a rigid attachment end (3) for each connected profiled cable tray (4), each rigid attachment end (3) being integral with the interconnecting end (4c) of one of the profiled cable trays (4).The central body (2) includes at least one interconnection guideway (2c) formed by the bottom (2) and the walls (2b) perpendicular to this bottom (2) and opposite each guideway (4d) of the profiled cable trays (4). Figure from the abstract: [Fig. 1].

Description

Title of the invention: Flexible interconnect cable tray. technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a flexible interconnect cable tray joining two rigid cable trays. Cable trays define the paths of electrical wiring harnesses within a structure, and more particularly within aircraft structures. These wiring harnesses are thus guided and protected by the cable trays.

[0002] The invention also relates to a hybrid cable tray composed of rigid cable trays connected by flexible interconnect cable trays.

[0003] In the aeronautical field, and particularly in aircraft wing structures, cable trays extend throughout the entire wing. However, the wing houses a significant number of systems in a limited space. Rigid cable trays are installed linearly and continuously along the wing, creating unusable space. Furthermore, any non-rigid guide elements are generally omitted to guide the wiring harnesses through the cable trays. Indeed, these elements do not provide sufficient protection during the guidance of the wiring harnesses. Moreover, reducing the number of part numbers in assemblies is a constant objective, especially in the aeronautical field, and adding cable tray sections of a different type than standard cable trays is incompatible with optimizing the number of parts. STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Generally, cable trays consist of sections of profiles extending in one direction. These profiles are fixed to the wing structure by attachment brackets. Each cable tray can have several tracks and thus carry several wiring harnesses in parallel, these tracks protecting and insulating the electrical wiring harnesses they carry.

[0005] Traditionally, cable tray attachment brackets also support the junction between two consecutive cable tray sections to extend the cable tray's span. However, the profile sections have sharp edges that can damage the wiring harness during installation and in aircraft service. Therefore, additional protective measures are necessary at each junction. Furthermore, adding an attachment bracket at the junction between two sections increases the number of elements fixed to the wing structure, which is both detrimental to the structure's strength and increases the cable tray installation time. Also, the Managing cable path deviations is problematic because a non-linear assembly of profiles is only feasible with junction attachment supports equipped with additional protective elements covering the gaps between sections or by increasing clearance spaces around the junction at the expense of the structure and neighboring systems.

[0006] Another approach is to manufacture cable trays with individually molded or machined paths to adapt to the installation environment, with installation supports also being used. This approach leads to increased complexity in terms of tooling and machining to manufacture each cable tray, as well as longer installation times. Furthermore, any modification to the structure requires a complete redesign of the cable tray. This approach is therefore not applicable to the large-scale production of cable trays.

[0007] There are also cable trays with cable carriers made of modular, articulated, and perforated links, which allow a cable harness to follow the movement of a mobile system. However, these chain cable trays do not provide sufficient protection or electrical isolation for the guided cable harnesses. Description of the invention

[0008] In order to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art described above, the main objective of the invention is to allow a simplified and rapid installation of conventional cable trays in a structure.

[0009] To achieve this, the invention provides for making a junction between two sections of cable trays via an adaptable interconnection, while eliminating the need for a junction support.

[0010] More specifically, the present invention relates to an interconnect cable track comprising a central body formed by a base and at least two walls perpendicular to this base and located between at least two profiled cable tracks installed in a structure by at least one installation support, each of the profiled cable tracks comprising two ends, a free end and an interconnection end, and at least one guideway for a wiring harness between these ends.

[0011] The central body of the interconnecting cable tray is continuous and torsionally flexible, connects the profiled cable trays, and has a rigid attachment end for each connected profiled cable tray. Each rigid attachment end is integral with the interconnecting end of one of the profiled cable trays. The central body has at least one interconnecting guideway formed by the base and the walls perpendicular to this base and opposite each guideway of the profiled cable trays.

[0012] Advantageously, the interconnect cable tray performs the same guiding, protective, and insulating functions as a profiled cable tray, providing continuity in the resulting hybrid and continuous cable tray. Furthermore, each guide channel in the rigid cable tray corresponds to a guide channel in the interconnect cable tray.

[0013] Advantageously, the interconnect cable tray also links portions of profiled cable trays arranged in a non-continuous and non-linear manner within the structure. Thus, these portions of profiled cable trays can be inserted into the spaces left free by other elements installed on the structure and connected by the interconnect cable tray, thereby optimizing the arrangement of these elements.

[0014] Advantageously also, the junction between the profiled cable trays does not require the use of attachment supports, the rigid end of the attachment securing the junction between the profiled cable tray and the interconnection cable tray, resulting in a gain in mass, in elements installed on the structure and in installation time of the junction.

[0015] According to preferred embodiments taken alone or in combination: - the central body is self-supporting; - the rigid attachment ends have a base parallel to the bottom of the central body and at least two partitions in line with the walls; - the partitions and the base have U-shaped cavities into which are inserted, on the one hand, the bottom and walls of the central body of the interconnecting cable tray and, on the other hand, the interconnecting end of the profiled cable tray connected by the rigid attachment end; - the rigid attachment ends are secured by clipping them to the interconnection ends; - the clipping is done at 3 locking points of the interconnection ends; - the central body includes a reinforcing frame made of molded plastic material in the bottom and walls; - the central body has an articulated structure; - the base and walls have a honeycomb structure; - the central body includes at least one rigid intermediate section.

[0016] Advantageously, the clip-on connection of the interconnect cable tray to the profiled cable trays allows for quick and easy installation of the junction between the cable trays.

[0017] Advantageously, the reinforcing frame, the articulated structure, or the honeycomb structure also provides additional rigidity to the flexible central body allowing for better support of the wiring harnesses carried by the interconnection cable tray.

[0018] Advantageously also, the rigid intermediate section of the central body allows the interconnection cable track to be fixed to a support in order to reinforce the Injunction installation between the profiled cable tracks.

[0019] The object of the invention also relates to a hybrid cable tray installed in the structure comprising at least two profiled cable trays connected by at least one interconnecting cable tray. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed embodiment, without limiting its scope, by reference to the accompanying figures which represent, respectively:

[0021] - the [Fig. 1], a perspective view of two rigid cable trays connected by a interconnection cable tray according to the invention;

[0022] - [Fig. 2], a side view of the rigid cable trays and the cable tray interconnection of the [Fig.l];

[0023] - the [Fig.3], a cross-sectional view in plane A of the rigid cable trays and the interconnection cable tray of the [Fig.2], and

[0024] - the [Fig.4], a view of the interconnection cable path parallel to plane A of the [Fig.2], DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In the figures, identical reference signs refer to the same element as well as to the corresponding passages of the description.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of an interconnect cable tray 1 according to the invention, located between two adjacent profiled cable trays 4. These profiled cable trays 4 are individually installed in a structure by four mounting brackets 4a. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the profiled cable trays 4 are positioned close to each other and in parallel directions, with one end of the first profiled cable tray facing one end of the second cable tray: these two ends are called interconnecting ends 4c, the other ends being called free ends 4b. This arrangement is representative of the configurations encountered in structures that house cable trays in which linear guidance of the cable harnesses is not feasible.

[0027] Each of the profiled cable trays 4 therefore has two ends, a free end 4b and an interconnection end 4c, as well as four cable harness guideways 4d between these ends. The cable tray The interconnection 1 comprises a continuous, torsionally flexible central body 2 that connects the profiled cable trays 4. This central body 2 has a rigid attachment end 3 for each connected profiled cable tray. Each rigid attachment end 3 is fixed to the interconnection end 4c of one of the profiled cable trays 4. The central body 2 has four interconnection guide tracks 2c opposite each guide track 4d of the profiled cable trays 4.

[0028] The central body 2 of the interconnecting cable tray 4 is self-supporting: it is flexible but sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape without the need for external support. The material of the central body can be, for example, silicone-based, synthetic rubber, or any other plastic material exhibiting a certain degree of flexibility that allows for deformation while retaining a certain rigidity. Furthermore, the material used is compatible with the constraints of the aeronautical field, particularly with regard to flammability and toxicity.

[0029] In the side view of [Fig. 2], with the interconnecting cable tray 1 connected to the two profiled cable trays 4, the rigid ends of the fasteners 3 appear to be clipped to the interconnecting ends 4c. The lateral clipping tabs 3d of the interconnecting cable tray 1 are also shown in [Fig. 2]. This clipping solution eliminates the need for installation supports for the interconnecting cable tray 1, thus providing, in particular, a time saving during installation. Furthermore, the overall dimensions of the interconnecting cable tray 1 are similar to those of the profiled cable trays 4. In this embodiment, the two profiled cable trays 4 are located in the same plane. However, the flexibility of the central body 2 provides interconnection solutions even when the profiled cable paths 4 are located in different planes, parallel or intersecting.

[0030] In the cross-sectional view of [Fig. 3], section along plane A defined in [Fig. 2], the central body 2 of the interconnection cable tray 1 is formed by a base 2a and by five walls 2b perpendicular to this base 2a. Two consecutive walls 2b together with the base 2a form an interconnection guideway 2c. The five walls 2b thus form, in this example, four interconnection guideways 2c which are opposite the four guideways 4d of the profiled cable trays 4.

[0031] The rigid attachment ends 3 at the end of the central body 2 of the interconnection cable tray 1 have a structure similar to this central body 2: a base 3a parallel to the bottom 2a of the central body 2 and five partitions 3b, two external partitions 3g and three internal partitions 3h, perpendicular to this base and in line with the walls 2b.

[0032] These rigid attachment ends 3 then provide a continuous connection between the guideways 4d of the profiled cable trays 4 and the guideways interconnection 2c of the interconnection cable tray 1. In order to achieve this objective, the rigid attachment ends 3 have cavities 3c in the partitions 3b and the base 3a, these cavities 3c being in the shape of “U” into which are inserted, on the one hand, the bottom 2a and the walls 2b of the central body 2 of the interconnection cable tray 1 and, on the other hand, the interconnection end 4c of the profiled cable tray 4 connected by the rigid attachment end 3. Preferably, the bottom 2a and the walls 2b of the central body 2 are inserted into the cavities 3c respectively of the base 3a and the partitions 3b of the rigid attachment end 3.

[0033] As shown in [Fig. 2], the external partitions 3g each have a flexible lateral clipping tab 3d, and the enlargement in [Fig. 3] shows these tabs more clearly, each having a lug 3f at its end. This lug 3f engages with a bearing 4e of the profiled cable trays 4 to lock the clip.

[0034] Fig. 4 illustrates a top view along a plane parallel to plane A of the interconnection cable tray 1 (cf. Fig. 2) and in particular of the rigid attachment ends 3. The base 3a of the rigid attachment ends 3 has two portions: the portion with the cavities 3c for insertion of the profiled cable tray 4 and a portion without a cavity forming a base 3i.

[0035] This base plate 3i advantageously stabilizes the insertion of the profiled cable tray 4 by increasing the contact area between this profiled cable tray 4 and the rigid attachment end 3 of the interconnecting cable tray 1. This base plate 3i also includes a flexible clipping tab: the so-called bottom tab. Thus, the clipping of a profiled cable tray 4 with the interconnecting cable tray 1 is achieved at three locking points by two lateral tabs 3d and a bottom tab 3e.

[0036] Figure 4 also illustrates a securing method for the assembly between the central body 2 and the rigid attachment ends 3 of the interconnect cable tray 1. The central body 2 is first inserted into the cavities 3c of the rigid attachment ends 3, and then secured by screws 2d which join the walls 2b of the central body 2 to the partitions 3b of the rigid attachment ends 3. In this embodiment, the screws 2d are inserted perpendicular to the base 3a, thus limiting the risk of contact with the cable harnesses. Alternatively, any other means of securing the assembly, such as adhesive or clamps or equivalent, may be used.

[0037] The assembly obtained in [Fig. 1] of two profiled cable trays 4 with an interconnecting cable tray 1 results in a hybrid cable tray 5 installed in the structure. This hybrid cable tray 5 is extendable by adding other profiled cable trays connected by interconnecting cable trays, the free end at the end of the profiled cable tray becoming an interconnecting end for another interconnecting cable tray.

[0038] To improve the protection provided by the interconnection cable tray 1, the present invention proposes reinforcement means which stiffen the central body 2, in particular when the length of the interconnection cable tray 1 risks weakening the self-supporting of the central body 2.

[0039] Thus, in a first advantageous variant, the flexible central body has a rigid intermediate section which provides a gain in stability and reinforces self-support when the length of the interconnection cable path is such that the central body deforms under the mass of the wiring harnesses that it guides.

[0040] According to another embodiment, the central body comprises a reinforcing frame made of PEEK or any other thermoplastic material suitable for aeronautical applications, particularly with regard to flammability and toxicity, around which the base and sides are molded. This frame takes the form of parallel rigid hoops molded into the base and sides of the central body to stiffen it. Preferably, the hoops encompass the sides furthest from each other. These hoops are connected to each other by a flexible spine that contributes to the desired flexibility of the interconnecting cable tray. Alternatively, the frame has an articulated structure.

[0041] According to another embodiment, the additional rigidity of the central body is achieved by giving the base and walls a honeycomb structure, this solution providing greater rigidity at the expense of a larger footprint and reduced flexibility. This honeycomb structure can be obtained by molding or 3D printing.

[0042] In this embodiment, the profiled cable trays are arranged in a staggered but parallel fashion. The flexibility of the interconnecting cable tray allows for the connection of profiled cable trays arranged indiscriminately and having different angular orientations.

Claims

Claims

1. Interconnection cable tray (1) comprising a central body (2) formed by a bottom (2a) and by at least two walls (2b) perpendicular to this bottom (2) and located between at least two profiled cable trays (4) installed in a structure by at least one installation support (4a), each of the profiled cable trays (4) comprising two ends, a free end (4b) and an interconnection end (4c), and at least one guide track (4d) for a wiring harness between these ends, this interconnection cable tray (1) being characterized in that: - it is continuous and flexible in torsion, - it connects the profiled cable trays (4) and - it comprises a rigid attachment end (3) per connected profiled cable tray (4), each rigid attachment end (3) being integral with the interconnection end (4c) of one of the profiled cable trays (4) and comprising a base (3a) parallel to the bottom (2a) of the central body (2),at least two partitions (3b) extending the walls (2b) and the cavities (3c) in the shape of a “U” into which are inserted on the one hand the bottom (2a) and the walls (2b) of the central body (2) of the interconnection cable tray (1) and on the other hand the interconnection end (4c) of the profiled cable tray (4) connected by the rigid attachment end (3), and characterized in that the central body (2) comprises at least one interconnection guide track (2c) formed by the bottom (2a) and the walls (2b) perpendicular to this bottom (2a) and opposite each guide track (4d) of the profiled cable trays (4).,

2. Interconnecting cable tray (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the central body (2) is self-supporting.

3. An interconnecting cable tray (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the rigid attachment ends (3) are secured by clipping to the interconnecting ends (4c).

4. Interconnection cable tray (1) according to claim 3, in which the clipping is carried out at 3 locking points of the interconnection ends (4c).

5. An interconnecting cable tray (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the central body (2) comprises a reinforcing frame of plastic material molded into the bottom (2a) and the walls (2b).

6. An interconnecting cable tray (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the central body (2) comprises an articulated structure.

7. An interconnecting cable tray (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the bottom (2a) and the walls (2b) comprise a honeycomb structure.

8. An interconnecting cable tray (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the central body (2) comprises at least one rigid intermediate section.

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