Wire Mesh Cable Tray Snap-Fit Joint With Spacer Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable tray section assemblies face challenges in achieving a secure and efficient snap-fit connection, with potential detachment under stress due to inadequate spacing and movement of extreme weft wires.
Innovation Solution
A cable tray section design with a modified wire splice that includes a spacer attached to the extreme weft wire, allowing for improved spacing and movement, ensuring a robust assembly by maintaining the predetermined gap between weft wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wire splice is used to enable snap-fit assembly of cable tray sections, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential detachment under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The wire splice is divided into distinct functional components: lateral parts with heads and flexible arms for engagement, stop members for positioning, and a spacer for maintaining gap. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the flexible arms provide elastic deformation for easy assembly while the stop members and spacer ensure reliable positioning and prevent detachment under stress
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible arms are designed to undergo elastic deformation during the snap-fit assembly process. They deform elastically upon contact with the similar section and then relax to retain the connection. This dynamic behavior enables easy assembly through simple mutual approaching movement while maintaining reliable connection under load through the elastic recovery force
2Ease of operation
If the splice allows elastic deformation for snap-fit assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to movement of extreme weft wires
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as an intermediary element between the extreme weft wire of the spliced end and the extreme weft wire of the nominal end of the similar section. This spacer maintains a predetermined gap while allowing the flexible arms to deform elastically during assembly. The spacer acts as a mediator that preserves manufacturing precision (spacing) while enabling the dynamic deformation needed for easy operation
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is pre-positioned on the extreme weft wire of the spliced end before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the predetermined gap is already established, preventing any movement or detachment of extreme weft wires during the snap-fit process. The spacing is predetermined and maintained by the spacer rather than relying on the deformation process itself
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 modified splice design enhances the convenience and safety of snap-fit assembly, maintaining stability under load by preventing weft wire detachment, resulting in a robust and secure connection.
Implementation Method 1
the said splice which deforms elastically upon contact with the said similar section and then relaxes to retain the said similar section
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a length of cable run made of metal wire mesh (10) having a nominal end (17) and a fish-plated end (18) equipped with a fish plate made of metal wires which is configured to allow said fish-plated end to be assembled by clip-fastening with the nominal end of a similar length of cable run; lateral parts (21) of the fish plate each comprising a flexible arm (34), a head (33) provided with a ramp (37) and with a clip (38) and connected to said flexible arm by one of its ends (39; 40), and a spacer (41) secured to the end cross wire (16) of said fish-plated end (18) and situated between this end cross wire (16) and the end cross wire of the nominal end of said similar length when said fish-plated end (18) of said length and said nominal end of said similar length are assembled.