Compact Spillover Fitting for Cable Troughs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spillover fittings for cable management reduce the capacity of lateral troughs, are costly due to size, and pose fire safety risks in high-density applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact spillover fitting with a first curved surface extending over the base of the lateral cable trough, a convex second curved surface, and containment members outside the trough volume, allowing for efficient cable guidance and minimal intrusion into the trough, with alignment tabs and a mounting bracket for secure installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If known spillover fittings extend into the volume of the lateral trough to provide bend radius control, then cable guidance is improved, but the capacity of the lateral trough is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the spillover fitting from an internal trough component to an external mounting on the upstanding side. The curved surfaces extend over the base rather than into the trough volume, utilizing the external dimensional space while maintaining bend radius control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The spillover fitting is extracted from the internal volume of the lateral trough and mounted on the external upstanding side. This separation removes the volume-occupying conflict while preserving the essential cable guidance function through externally positioned curved surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If larger spillover fittings are used to ensure proper cable routing, then cable guidance is improved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the spillover fitting from the trough volume and mounting it externally, the design uses minimal material to achieve the same cable guidance function, directly reducing material cost while maintaining routing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of the spillover fitting from internal to external positioning, allowing the same functional performance with reduced material quantity and lower cost.
3Productivity
If multiple spillover fittings are installed for high-density applications, then cable management is improved, but the amount of smoke generated in case of fire increases
Solution Approach 1:
By mounting spillover fittings externally on upstanding sides rather than inside the trough, each fitting uses less material volume. When multiple fittings are installed for high-density cable management, the cumulative material volume and associated smoke generation are reduced compared to traditional internal fittings.
Solution Approach 2:
The spatial repositioning from internal to external mounting changes the material volume parameter, reducing the total material quantity required for multiple fittings and thereby reducing potential smoke generation in fire scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A spillover fitting is positioned on an upstanding side of a lateral cable trough. The spillover fitting includes a first exit path having a first curved surface that extends at least partially over a base of the lateral cable trough, and a bottom wall having a second curved surface intersecting with the first curved surface. The first surface curves upward relative to the base of the lateral cable trough and defines a top surface of a cable path, and the second surface is convexly curved and defines a bottom surface of the cable path. The radius of curvature of the first curved surface is equal to the radius of curvature of the second curved surface.