Cable Tray Splice Plate Guard and Alignment Tab Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable tray assembly connections lack effective protection against user injury from protruding flanges and efficient alignment mechanisms, leading to potential misalignment and instability during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A fitting splice plate with a planar body, featuring a first longitudinal portion for connecting to a cable tray section and a second longitudinal portion for connecting to a cable tray fitting, along with outboard guards and alignment tabs, which secure and align the components while shielding protruding flanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional splice plates without guards are used to connect cable tray sections and fittings, then the assembly process is simpler, but users are exposed to injury risks from protruding flanges and alignment is less precise
Solution Approach 1:
The splice plate is divided into multiple functional segments: a main body portion for connection, and separate guard portions extending from the body. This segmentation allows the guards to be positioned to shield protruding flanges without requiring complete redesign of the entire splice plate structure, thus reducing injury risk while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard portions act as intermediary protective elements between the protruding flanges (harmful element) and users. These guards extend outward from the splice plate body to physically block access to the dangerous flange areas, eliminating direct contact risk without interfering with the primary connection function.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional splice plates without alignment features are used, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but assembly alignment is less precise and more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment tabs are pre-formed as integral features of the splice plate during manufacturing. These tabs extend from the body and are designed to fit into corresponding recesses on the cable tray components, establishing precise alignment before final fastening. This preliminary alignment action eliminates the need for complex adjustment procedures during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment tabs and corresponding recesses create a self-aligning mechanism where the geometry of the components guides them into proper position during assembly. The interlocking shapes automatically correct minor positioning errors, allowing the assembly process to self-correct without requiring external alignment tools or complex procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If guards are added to the splice plate to shield protruding flanges, then user safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guard portions are merged with the splice plate body as a single integrated component rather than separate attachments. This combining of protective function with the structural element eliminates the need for additional fasteners or assembly steps, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the safety benefit of shielded flanges.
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting splice plate connects a cable tray fitting to a cable tray section. The fitting splice plate includes a guard extending in an outboard direction from a second longitudinal portion of a plate body adjacent a first longitudinal portion of the plate body. The guard is adjacent one of an upper side and a lower side of the second longitudinal portion. The fitting splice plate may include both upper and lower guards.