Fire-Retardant Plastic Cable Tray Knockdown Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cable trays made of metal materials are difficult to install, modify, and transport due to their weight and complexity, and they lack flexibility in color options and environmental adaptability.

Innovation Solution

A knockdown cable tray system made of fire-retardant plastic with a coupling device that allows easy assembly and reconfiguration without nuts and bolts, featuring detachable rung members and side panels that can be adjusted using a T-shaped bolt insertion channel, enabling efficient installation and relocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional cable trays are made of metal material, then strength and fire resistance are improved, but weight and ease of installation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to fire-retardant plastic, achieving a weight reduction of 70-80% while maintaining fire resistance through material property modification rather than structural design changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material technology by incorporating fire-retardant additives into plastic to create a material that combines the low weight of plastic with the fire resistance traditionally associated with metal, resolving the contradiction between weight and fire resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional cable trays use bolts and nuts for coupling, then connection strength is improved, but ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device is segmented into separate components (coupling body, connecting pieces, and engagement features) that can be easily assembled and disassembled through simple insertion and engagement actions, eliminating the need for tools while maintaining connection strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional bolt-nut mechanical fastening system with a snap-fit coupling mechanism that uses elastic deformation and geometric interlocking to achieve both strong connections and easy assembly/disassembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional cable trays are made of metal, then durability is improved, but adaptability and color options deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidcolor options

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which inherently provides greater color versatility through pigmentation during manufacturing while maintaining durability through the selection of fire-retardant plastic formulations that offer corrosion and weather resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If conventional cable trays use separate fixtures for coupling, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidcoupling structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the coupling body and connecting pieces into an integrated coupling device that directly attaches to the cable tray components, eliminating the need for separate fixtures and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining connection reliability through the unified design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Stability of the object's composition

If conventional cable trays are made of metal, then structural stability is improved, but ease of transportation and assembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to fire-retardant plastic, achieving a dramatic weight reduction that improves transportation and assembly ease by over 70% while maintaining structural stability through optimized plastic formulation and structural design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10367340B2Assembly cable tray using retardant plastics and joint device thereof

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 POLISYS

AI summary

A knockdown cable tray made of a fire-retardant plastic and a coupling device therefor are capable of being used to easily and efficiently install an incombustible knockdown cable tray to suspend a plurality of cables from a ceiling. The knockdown cable tray includes: a pair of side panels, each of which includes a frame having a plurality of coupling holes formed in opposite ends thereof in a lengthwise direction and a coupler protruding outwardly from the frame, the side panels being located opposite each other; a plurality of rung members, each of which is detachably coupled to the couplers and firmly supports the side panels; and coupling devices, each of which is detachably coupled to the coupling holes of each frame and firmly couples a plurality of side panels disposed in a lengthwise direction.