Wiring duct

Abstract

To provide a wiring duct which enables easy manufacturing of a duct body and can achieve reduction of costs.SOLUTION: A wiring duct includes: a gutter-shaped duct body 2 into which a wire member W is inserted and which has a predetermined length; and a cover 3 fitted in the duct body 2. The duct body 2 has a structure in which two split ducts 2A, 2A divided in a width direction orthogonal to a length direction and having the same shape are coupled. The split duct 2A includes a first coupling part 24 and a second coupling part 25. The first coupling part 24 and the second coupling part 25 of one of the split ducts 2A are coupled to the first coupling part 25 and the second coupling part 24 of the other split duct 2A to form the duct body 2 with the two split ducts 2A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiring duct for laying wires such as electric wires and cables along a distribution board, wall, or floor. [Background technology]

[0002] A wiring duct is used to lay wires, cables, and other line members along the surface of a switchboard or the like and to protect them from external forces. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a wiring duct consisting of a gutter-shaped duct body of a required length and a cover for closing the opening of the duct body. The duct body is formed in a long gutter shape with a U-shaped cross section, and side wall openings are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction on both side walls. The duct body is fixed to a switchboard or the like by using bottom wall holes provided in the bottom wall of the duct body, and the wire members are inserted into the duct body and a cover is attached to the opening of the duct body to hold the wire members. The inserted wire members can also be pulled out through the side wall openings.

[0003] Such duct bodies are usually manufactured by extrusion molding of resin. For example, resin is extruded into a U-shape to form a U-shaped gutter-shaped body, and the formed U-shaped gutter-shaped body is pressed to open side wall openings and bottom wall holes. However, since it is difficult to open side wall openings on both side walls of a U-shaped gutter-shaped body, the manufacturing cost is high, and it is not preferable in terms of reducing the cost of wiring ducts. In addition, when a large number of U-shaped duct bodies are packed, it is difficult to increase the packing density (ratio of number of packages to packing volume) due to the space present inside, which also causes an increase in transportation costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-172429 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In response to such problems, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique in which the duct body is extruded into a flat plate, side wall openings and bottom wall holes are opened in this flat plate state, and then the duct body is bent to form a U-shaped gutter-like body. The technique of Patent Document 1 can simplify the opening of the side wall and bottom wall holes, but requires a process for bending the flat plate into a U-shape, which increases the manufacturing process by the amount of bending, leaving a problem in reducing the cost of the wiring duct. In addition, the U-shape is likely to change over time after bending, and there is a concern that problems will occur in terms of the quality of the wiring duct. Furthermore, since the duct body is formed into a U-shaped gutter, it is difficult to solve the problem of packing density in packaging as described above.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a wiring duct whose duct body can be manufactured easily and at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The wiring duct of the present invention comprises a gutter-shaped duct body of a required length through which a wire member is inserted, and a cover fitted to close the opening of the duct body. The duct body is configured by joining two divided ducts of the same shape that are divided in the width direction perpendicular to the length direction, and the divided ducts have a first joint portion and a second joint portion, and the first joint portion and the second joint portion of one divided duct are respectively joined to the second joint portion and the first joint portion of the other divided duct to form the duct body.

[0008] In the present invention, the first and second coupling parts are disposed at symmetrical positions in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal center of the split duct. For example, the first coupling part is configured to have an engagement hook piece protruding in the width direction, and the second coupling part is configured to have an engagement hole that engages with the engagement hook piece. The duct body is configured to have a bottom wall part and two side wall parts standing on both sides of the bottom wall part, and the split duct is configured to have a divided bottom wall part obtained by dividing the bottom wall part in the width direction and one of the two side wall parts, and the divided bottom wall part and the side wall part are configured to be integrally formed. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a gutter-shaped duct body can be constructed by joining two identically shaped divided ducts. Therefore, the divided duct can be simplified in structure, and can be easily manufactured at low cost. In addition, since the divided duct is composed of a divided bottom wall and one side wall, it is possible to further simplify manufacturing and reduce costs associated with packaging by increasing the packing density. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B show a wiring duct according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the overall configuration, and FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 4A and 4B show the first and second joints, where FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the state before being joined, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the joined state. [Figure 4] Shows the assembled duct body, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a right side view. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an assembly example of a duct body according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of the overall configuration of the wiring duct of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is an exploded perspective view thereof. The wiring duct 1 includes a duct body 2 having a gutter-like cross section with an upward U-shaped cross section, and a long and thin plate-like cover 3 that is fitted to the upper edge of the duct body 2 so as to close the upper opening of the duct body 2. In the following description, the up-down direction is based on FIG. 1. In this wiring duct 1, the duct body 2 is fixed to a power panel or the like not shown in the figure, and a wire member W such as an electric wire is inserted into the duct body 2 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1(a). Then, the cover 3 is fitted and assembled to the upper edge of the duct body 2, thereby protecting the wire member W inserted into the wiring duct 1. The duct body 2 and the cover 3 are each formed by injection molding of resin using a mold.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1(b), the duct body 2 includes a bottom wall 21 having a substantially flat plate shape of a required length, and a pair of side walls 22, 22 erected on both sides in the width direction of the bottom wall 21. As shown in the exploded perspective view of Fig. 2, the duct body 2 is composed of a pair of divided ducts 2A, 2A, which are joined together to form the duct body 2. The pair of divided ducts 2A, 2A are formed in the same shape divided in two in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the length direction) of the duct body 2, and so are denoted here by the same reference numeral 2A.

[0013] 2, the split duct 2A is formed into a substantially L-shaped cross section by a split bottom wall portion 21a formed in a substantially flat plate shape of a required length, and a side wall portion 22 continuing perpendicularly to one side of the split bottom wall portion 21a. The split bottom wall portion 21a has a width dimension that is half that of the bottom wall portion 21 of the duct main body 2, and has semi-elliptical split fixing holes 23a formed at multiple locations along its length, here two locations near both ends in the length direction, at positions symmetrical in the length direction with respect to the center position in the length direction.

[0014] In addition, two connecting parts 24, 25 are formed at the outer positions in the length direction of the two split fixing holes 23a of the split bottom wall part 21a and at symmetrical positions based on the center position in the length direction. Of the two connecting parts 24, 25, the connecting part on one side in the length direction (the connecting part shown on the right side in FIG. 2) is configured as the first connecting part 24, and the connecting part on the other side in the length direction (the connecting part shown on the left side in FIG. 2) is configured as the second connecting part 25.

[0015] 3(a) is a perspective view of the first coupling portion 24 and the second coupling portion 25 before coupling. The first coupling portion 24 includes an engagement hook piece 241 that protrudes in the width direction from the side wall portion 22 and has an engagement hook 242 formed on the top surface of the tip thereof, and a pair of clamping pieces 243 that protrude parallel to the engagement hook piece 241 at both ends in the length direction of the engagement hook piece 241 and at a height position slightly above the engagement hook piece 241. The second coupling portion 25 includes a guide groove 251 that is a widthwise recessed groove formed on the bottom surface by bending a part of the divided bottom wall portion 21a upward in a stepped shape, and an engagement hole 252 that is opened in a part of the divided bottom wall portion 21a so as to communicate with the guide groove 251, and is formed in a rectangular frame shape in which the engagement hook 242 of the first coupling portion 24 is engaged with the engagement hole 252.

[0016] As shown in the perspective view of the coupled state in FIG. 3(b), when the engaging hook piece 241 of the first coupling part 25 enters the recessed groove 251 of the second coupling part 25 in the width direction, the engaging hook 242 is engaged with the inner edge of the engaging hole 252. At the same time, the pair of clamping pieces 243 of the first coupling part 24 abuts against the upper surface of the divided bottom wall part 21a on both sides of the stepped bent part of the second coupling part 25, and the clamping pieces 252 and the engaging hook piece 241 clamp the divided bottom wall part 21a in the plate thickness direction (up and down direction), so as to maintain the engaged state of the engaging hook 242 and the engaging hole 252. Furthermore, the pair of clamping pieces 243 clamp the bent part of the second coupling part 25 in the length direction, and perform the relative positioning of the first coupling part 24 and the second coupling part 25 in the length direction, i.e., the relative positioning of the pair of divided ducts 2A in the length direction.

[0017] In this way, the first joint portion 24 and the second joint portion 25 are configured to be engaged with each other in the width direction of the split duct 2A and joined together. Also, as described above, the first joint portion 24 and the second joint portion 25 are disposed in symmetrical positions with respect to the center position in the longitudinal direction of the split duct 2A. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, when two split ducts 2A having the same shape are disposed so that their respective split bottom wall portions 21a face each other, the first joint portion 24 of one split duct is positioned opposite the second joint portion 25 of the other split duct. Also, the second joint portion 25 of one split duct is positioned opposite the first joint portion 24 of the other split duct.

[0018] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the side wall portion 22 of the divided duct 2A has a plurality of side wall openings 221 cut out from the upper edge toward the bottom wall at a predetermined interval in the length direction. The side wall portion 22 has a plurality of side wall pieces 222 arranged at a predetermined interval in the length direction by the side wall openings 221. The upper edge of each side wall piece 222 is formed in a crank-shaped shape bent in the thickness direction toward the inside of the duct, and a fitting hook 223 is formed on the upper edge toward the outside. Furthermore, a groove 224 is formed on the inner surface of the side wall portion 22, which extends in the length direction along the base of the plurality of side wall pieces 222, i.e., the lower edge of the plurality of side wall openings 221, and the groove 224 locally reduces the thickness dimension of the side wall portion 22. As a result, the groove 224 is configured as a cut-out groove that can bend the plurality of side wall pieces 222 or forcibly cut off the side wall piece 222 at the groove 224.

[0019] 1, the cover 3 has an upper wall 31 formed in the shape of a long, narrow flat plate having a size equal to the length and width of the duct body 2, and further has fitting walls 32 integrally formed on both side edges of the upper wall 31, each of which protrudes downward by a short distance. A plurality of fitting slits 321 are opened in the fitting wall 32 at required intervals in the length direction. The plurality of fitting slits 321 are formed to have a length equal to the fitting hooks 223 of a plurality of side wall pieces 222 provided on the side wall 22 of the duct body 2, i.e., the side wall 22 of the divided duct 2A.

[0020] In the wiring duct 1 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the divided bottom wall portions 21a of two divided ducts 2A having the same shape are placed opposite each other, and the first joint portion 24 and the second engagement portion 25 of one divided duct 2A are engaged with the second joint portion 25 and the first engagement portion 24 of the other divided duct 2A, respectively, to join the two. Since the two divided ducts 2A have the same shape, the first joint portions 24 of the two divided ducts 2A are arranged opposite to the second joint portions 25 by placing them opposite each other. Then, by combining the two divided ducts 2A in the width direction, the engagement hook piece 241 of the first joint portion 24 enters along the guide groove 251 of the second joint portion 25, and the engagement hook 242 engages with the inner surface of the engagement hole 252. In addition, the pair of clamping pieces 243 of the first joint portion 24 clamp the second joint portion 25, thereby maintaining the joint state and positioning the two divided ducts 2A relative to each other.

[0021] As a result, the two divided ducts 2A are joined and assembled into one U-shaped duct body 2 as shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4(a), (b), and (c) are a plan view, a front view, and a right side view of the assembled duct body 2, and the divided bottom wall portions 21a of the two divided ducts 2A are connected in the width direction to form the bottom wall portion 21 of the duct body 2. In addition, the two semi-elliptical divided fixing holes 23a of each divided bottom wall portion 21a are joined in the width direction, and two elliptical fixing holes 23 are formed in the bottom wall portion 21 of the duct body 2.

[0022] After the duct body 2 is assembled in this manner using the two divided ducts 2A, the cover 3 is attached so as to cover the upper edge portions of a pair of side wall portions 22 erected on both sides of the width of the duct body 2, as shown in Figure 1(a).The engaging hooks 223 of each side wall piece 222 of these side wall portions 22 engage with each engaging slit 321 of the cover 3, and the cover 3 is integrally assembled to the duct body 2, thereby forming the wiring duct 1.

[0023] Although not shown, the duct body 2 assembled from the two divided ducts 2A is fixed to a power panel or the like with screws or the like using the fixing holes 23 formed in the bottom wall portion 21. Alternatively, the bottom wall portion 21 may be attached to the power panel or the like with double-sided tape or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the wire member W to be laid is inserted into the duct body 2, and then the cover 3 is attached to assemble the wiring duct 1. Also, by utilizing the cutout grooves 224 provided in the side wall portions 22 of the duct body 2 to bend and remove any side wall pieces 222, it is possible to pull out part or all of the wire member W from the wiring duct 1 through that portion.

[0024] As described above, in the wiring duct 1 of the embodiment, the two split ducts 2A constituting the duct main body 2 have a cross section that is approximately L-shaped, and the shapes of each part, including the split fixing hole 23a, the first joint part 24, the second joint part 25, and the side wall piece 22 formed in the split duct 2A, are simply L-shaped, so that injection molding of resin using a mold is possible, and manufacturing costs can be reduced. In addition, there is no need to perform bending after molding as in the technology of Patent Document 1, and the manufacturing man-hours can be reduced, and from this point of view, it can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, since the two paired split ducts 2A constituting the duct main body 2 have the same shape, the split ducts 2A can be manufactured as one part, which reduces costs and makes parts management easier.

[0025] Although not shown in the drawings, when packaging and transporting the wiring duct 1, the numerous roughly L-shaped divided ducts 2A can be placed inside the packaging container in a state where they are stacked in the thickness direction in a state of nearly tight contact. Therefore, gaps between the duct bodies can be eliminated or reduced compared to when packaging a duct body with a U-shaped cross section as in Patent Document 1, and the packaging density in the packaging container can be increased, resulting in reduced storage costs and reduced transportation costs.

[0026] 5 is a perspective view of a divided duct 2B for forming a wiring duct according to a modified example of the present invention. The divided duct 2B of this modified example differs from the embodiment described above in terms of the configuration of the joint, but other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0027] In the split duct 2B of the modified example, two first joints 24, 24 and two second joints 25, 25 are arranged in one split duct 2B. Here, the split duct 2B is equally divided into two regions in the length direction, and the first joints 24 and the second joints 25 are arranged in the same order at symmetrical positions based on the center position in the length direction of each region. From a different perspective, it can be said that the two split ducts 2A, 2A of the embodiment are connected in the length direction. The configurations of the first joints 24 and the second joints 25, particularly the configuration in which the engagement hook 242 and the engagement hole 252 engage with each other to perform the connection, are the same as those of the embodiment. In addition, the configurations of the split bottom wall portion 21a and the side wall portion 22 in which the first joints 24 and the second joints 25 are formed are also the same as those of the embodiment.

[0028] In this modification, as shown in FIG. 6, two split ducts 2B of the same shape can be joined to the first joint 24 and the second joint 25 by shifting them by 1 / 2 in the length direction. Therefore, each split duct 2B has a portion on one or the other side in the length direction to which the other split duct 2B is not joined, and this portion can be joined to another split duct 2B (2Bx). In addition, this split duct 2B (2Bx) can be joined to yet another split duct 2B (2By). In this way, a duct body that is not limited in length can be assembled by joining a desired number of split ducts 2B in order in the length direction. The remaining portion can be appropriately cut and removed with a cutter or the like.

[0029] In the present invention described above, the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 provided on the divided ducts 2A, 2B described in the embodiment and the modified example are not limited to the configuration of the embodiment as long as they are configured to be able to engage with each other and connect the two divided ducts in the width direction. For example, one connecting portion may be configured as a convex portion protruding in the plate thickness direction of the bottom wall portion, and the other connecting portion may be a recessed hole with which this convex portion engages.

[0030] In the present invention, the configuration of the duct body, particularly the side wall portion, does not necessarily need to include a plurality of side wall pieces, and may be configured as a simple flat or slightly curved plate-like side wall. The shape of the cover fitted to the duct body and the fitting structure between the duct body and the cover are not limited to the configurations of the embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Wiring duct 2 Duct body 2A, 2B split duct 3 Cover 21 Bottom wall 21a Split bottom wall part 22 Side wall 23 fixing hole 24 1st joint 25 Second joint 221 Side wall opening 222 Side wall piece 223 Mating Hook 224 Cutting groove 241 Engagement hook piece 242 Engagement hook 243 Clamping piece 251 Guide groove 252 Engagement hole 31 Upper wall 32 Fitting wall 321 Fitting slit W Wire components (electric wires, etc.)

Claims

1. A wiring duct comprising a gutter-shaped duct body of a required length through which a wire member is inserted, and a cover that is fitted to cover the opening of the duct body, wherein the duct body is provided with two identically shaped divided ducts divided in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction, the divided ducts having a first joint portion and a second joint portion, and the first joint portion and the second joint portion of one divided duct are respectively joined to the second joint portion and the first joint portion of the other divided duct, thereby joining the two divided ducts to form the duct body.

2. The wiring duct according to claim 1 , wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion are disposed at positions symmetrical in the longitudinal direction with respect to a central position in the longitudinal direction of the divided duct.

3. 2. The wiring duct according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling portion is configured to have an engagement hook piece protruding in a width direction, and the second coupling portion is configured to have an engagement hole that engages with the engagement hook piece.

4. A wiring duct as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the duct body has a bottom wall portion and two side wall portions erected on either side of the bottom wall portion, and the split duct has a split bottom wall portion formed by dividing the bottom wall portion in the width direction and one of the two side wall portions, and the split bottom wall portion and one side wall portion are integrally formed.

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