Cable Raceway Sideways Deviation via Slit Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing raceways for electrical cables require vertical deviation of cables to pass through cut-outs, leading to stress and potential damage due to contact with the lower end of the cut-out, making sideways deviation difficult and risky.
Innovation Solution
The raceway design includes slits between the bottom wall and cut-outs, allowing vertical flanges to be removed, creating an opening flush with the bottom wall for sideways cable deviation without vertical displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cut-outs are separate from the bottom wall forming a longitudinal border, then the bottom wall protects electrical cables, but cables must be deviated vertically to pass through cut-outs causing stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is segmented by introducing slits that divide it into vertical flanges, which can be selectively removed to create openings. This segmentation allows the bottom wall to remain intact for cable protection while providing easy access points for cable deviation without vertical stress.
Solution Approach 2:
Vertical flanges are extracted from the side wall structure by removing them along the slits. This extraction creates openings that allow cables to pass through horizontally at the same level as the bottom wall, eliminating the need for vertical cable deviation and the associated stress on cables.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cut-outs are positioned away from the bottom wall, then cable protection is maintained, but cable deviation becomes difficult and risky due to vertical stress
Solution Approach 1:
Slits are pre-formed in the side wall during manufacturing, creating predetermined weakening lines that facilitate easy removal of vertical flanges. This preliminary action enables users to quickly create cable access openings without complex tools or procedures, while ensuring openings are positioned at the correct level to avoid cable stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The slit acts as an intermediary element between the intact side wall and the desired opening. By introducing this intermediate feature, the side wall can be easily modified to create cable access points that are flush with the bottom wall, eliminating the need for cables to bridge vertical gaps and reducing stress on the cables.
3Ease of operation
If vertical flanges are completely removed to create flush openings, then cable deviation is easier and more robust, but the side wall structure is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is divided into removable vertical flanges and remaining structural portions by slits. This segmentation allows selective removal of only the portions needed for cable access while preserving the integrity of the remaining side wall structure, maintaining both ease of operation and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall has different properties in different locations: areas with slits allow for easy flange removal to create cable access openings, while areas without slits maintain full structural integrity. This local differentiation enables cable deviation where needed while preserving overall side wall strength.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
Raceway for electrical cables of the type comprising a channel-shaped base element (1) made up of a flat bottom wall (3) and two side walls (2) which form with flat bottom wall (3) respective blunt edges and which have a plurality of narrow cut-outs (9) that are parallel and extend perpendicular to flat bottom wall (3) and a series of slits (16) arranged between flat bottom wall (3) and narrow cut-outs (9). Each slit (16) extends as far as flat bottom wall (3), completely sectioning the blunt edge that it forms with side wall (2). Flat bottom wall (3) is provided with a weakening line extending parallel to the blunt edge. The raceway allows a cable to be deviated through one of side walls (2) without having to deviate the cable vertically, by breaking away one of vertical flanges (20) defined between two narrow cut-outs (9).