Cable Tray Bracket With Fold-Axis Retainers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable tray mounting systems lack efficient and flexible solutions for securely attaching electrical devices without the need for fasteners, particularly on wire-form cable trays, which can lead to instability and difficulty in accessing the interior of the tray.
Innovation Solution
A bracket design featuring a receiving area with apertures and planar-formed retainers that can be bent to conform to the cable tray, using reliefs to define fold axes for secure attachment without fasteners, and incorporating fastener apertures for optional securement with threaded fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fasteners are used to attach the bracket to the cable tray, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for fastening and unfastening operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastening system (screws, bolts, clips) with a friction-based retention system. The retainer arms engage with the cable tray wires through friction and geometric interlocking, eliminating the need for separate fasteners while maintaining secure attachment. This substitution achieves both strong attachment and ease of operation through simple snap-in and snap-out movements.
2Ease of operation
If the bracket design is simplified to eliminate fasteners, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating retention forces at specific engagement points between the retainer arms and cable tray wires. The retainers are designed with specific geometries (curved surfaces, engagement tabs) that localize friction and mechanical interlocking at critical contact zones, ensuring stable attachment without requiring fasteners across the entire bracket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer arms incorporate curved surfaces and arcs that conform to the cylindrical shape of cable tray wires. This curvature enables continuous contact and friction-based retention along the arc of engagement, providing reliable holding force while allowing simple rotational or flexing movements for installation and removal.
3Ease of operation
If the bracket is designed to be accessible from the exterior of the cable tray, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates due to limited mounting options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional side-mounted or top-mounted bracket configurations to a bottom-mounted configuration where the bracket attaches to the underside of the cable tray. This dimensional change allows exterior accessibility while maintaining structural integrity by utilizing the cable tray's wire framework as a mounting surface from below, with retainers engaging upwardly from the tray interior.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bracket provides a stable and flexible solution for mounting electrical devices on cable trays, allowing for secure attachment without fasteners and enabling easy access to the tray's interior, while maintaining structural integrity and adaptability to various cable tray configurations.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of retainers is formed with a relief of locally thickness-reduced sheet material along a line to define at least one fold axis for conforming the retainer to a portion of the cable tray
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket for supporting an electrical device on a cable tray. A receiving area includes an aperture for fastening the electrical device. A plurality of retainers flanks the receiving area. The retainers are planar-formed of an integral, uniform-thickness sheet with the receiving area. The retainers extend away from each other on opposite sides of the receiving area, each formed with a relief of locally thickness-reduced sheet material along a line to define at least one fold axis for conforming the retainer to a portion of the cable tray to retain the bracket with respect to the cable tray, with the plurality of retainers extending directly over top outer edges of the cable tray. One or more of the retainers are provided along a first edge of the bracket for engaging a first edge of the cable tray, the first edge devoid of any fasteners and devoid of any fastener apertures.