Cable Tray Coupling With Integrated Push-In Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable tray assembly methods require additional connecting elements and tools, leading to complex and time-consuming installations, especially in hard-to-reach places, and often result in instability and deformation under heavy loads, causing detachment of cable trays.

Innovation Solution

A cable tray design featuring elongate push-in members and corner cut-outs that allow for vertical assembly without tools, providing a form-locking connection that prevents detachment even under high loads, with connecting elements formed by punching sheet metal to ensure a smooth inner surface and prevent cable damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If additional connecting elements and tools are used to assemble cable trays, then the connection strength and stability are improved, but the assembly time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the connecting elements directly into the cable tray structure itself. The lateral sides include integrated push-in members and receiving elements that form the connection mechanism as part of the tray, eliminating the need for separate connecting components and tools while maintaining connection strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable tray is designed to be self-assembling through its integrated connecting elements. The push-in members and receiving elements work automatically when trays are joined, requiring no external tools or additional fastening operations, thus reducing assembly time while ensuring reliable connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If cable trays are assembled with additional connecting elements, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting elements are merged into the cable tray structure, with push-in members and receiving elements formed as integral parts of the lateral sides. This integration reduces the number of discrete components and simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining reliable connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the connecting function from separate components and embeds it directly into the cable tray structure. The lateral sides themselves serve as the connection mechanism through integrated push-in members and receiving elements, eliminating the need for external connecting hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cable trays are made larger to accommodate more cables, then the cable guiding capacity is improved, but the load-bearing capacity decreases due to bending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable guiding capacityVSAvoidload-bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the lateral sides of the cable tray into multiple sections with integrated connecting elements. This segmentation allows larger trays to be divided into manageable sections that can be assembled together, with each section maintaining adequate stiffness and load-bearing capacity while the overall structure achieves the required cable guiding capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the load-bearing issue by adding vertical connecting elements (push-in members and receiving elements) that provide structural support in the vertical dimension. This dimensional addition reinforces larger trays against bending while maintaining the horizontal cable guiding capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Volume of moving object

If vertical insertion is used to assemble cable trays, then the space requirement in longitudinal direction is reduced, but the assembly precision and clearance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace requirementVSAvoidclearance precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different types of connecting elements at different locations on the lateral sides. Push-in members are positioned to engage with corresponding receiving elements at specific heights, creating localized connection points that guide the vertical insertion process and reduce the need for precise overall alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4113763A1Cable tray coupling

Publication Date: 2023.01.04 HERMI D O O

Figure 1

AI summary

A cable tray formed in a U-shape having a base side and two lateral sides, comprises a first connecting end and a second connecting end, wherein the second connecting end on a respective lateral side comprises an elongate lateral push-in member extending parallel to the edge of a respective lateral side and being complementary to an elongate lateral cut-out arranged on a respective lateral side of a first connecting end and parallel to an end edge of a respective lateral side; a second elongate lateral push-in member extending perpendicularly to the elongate lateral push-in member and to the edge of a respective lateral side and being complementary to a corner cut-out arranged in the area where the base side and a respective lateral side of the first connecting end bend, the height H of the corner cut-out on the lateral side being substantially identical to a distance h of the upper edge of the second elongate lateral push-in member from the fold.