Hinged Cable Tray Assembly for Bend Radius Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable raceway systems fail to effectively minimize the bend radius of cables, leading to sagging and adverse effects on data transmission rates, especially in high-category telecommunications cables.
Innovation Solution
A cable support assembly with hinged arms that can be pivoted downward for easy inspection and installation, featuring L-shaped and T-shaped brackets and couplers for secure attachment to vertical surfaces, ensuring cables are supported by trays rather than hangers, and including 90-degree bends for enhanced flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cables are supported by hangers, then cable routing is simplified, but cable sagging occurs which deteriorates data transmission rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cable trays as an intermediary support structure between the hangers and the cables. The trays are suspended from hangers and provide a continuous support surface for cables, eliminating direct contact between cables and hangers. This intermediary structure prevents cable sagging while maintaining the simplicity of hanger-based installation.
2Reliability
If cable trays are securely mounted to prevent sagging, then data transmission is improved, but maintenance and inspection become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable hangers with movable components that allow the cable tray system to be easily raised and lowered. The hangers include adjustable arms and locking mechanisms that enable maintenance personnel to access cables by lowering the trays, then securely remount them to prevent sagging when not in use. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction between secure mounting and maintenance accessibility.
3Reliability
If rigid support structures are used to eliminate cable bending, then cable performance is maintained, but installation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible cable trays with curved or contoured surfaces that can accommodate various cable routing paths. These trays maintain a rigid enough structure to support cables without sagging, yet possess sufficient flexibility to be installed around obstacles and configured in different layouts. The flexible tray designs include bendable sections and adjustable mounting points that enable easy installation while preventing cable damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable support assembly for routing electrical, communication, or data cables throughout a building. The cable support assembly includes cable trays and brackets for securing the cable trays to a vertical surface. Tray couplers are provided for coupling trays together. The brackets include an L-shaped support member and a hinge arm pivotally attached to the support member. The hinge arm portion of the bracket may be rotated downwards for loading of a cable tray therein and then rotated upwards and latched to the base members to lock the cable tray in place. Ninety-degree bend and T-shaped cable tray sections are also provided. Adjacent cable tray sections may be joined with couplers to create a cable raceway or support assembly in which the cable tray provides support for any electrical, communication, or data cables installed therein.