Joint Strip With Angled Flanges For Cable Tray Gap Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint strips for cable trays are difficult to install between already assembled sections, requiring disconnection and manual labor, and do not effectively prevent cable damage from sharp sheet metal edges.
Innovation Solution
A joint strip design with flanges and protrusions that allows for easy insertion between cable tray sections without disassembly, featuring a center trunk with angled flanges and a flexion point for easy installation and removal, and can be made from materials like plastic, aluminum, or steel to provide a soft surface for cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional H-shaped joint strip is used to bridge the gap between cable tray sections, then cable protection from sharp edges is improved, but installation difficulty increases significantly when the cable tray is already assembled
Solution Approach 1:
The joint strip is divided into multiple flanges (first flange, second flange, third flange, fourth flange) that can be independently positioned and attached to different surfaces of the cable tray sections. This segmentation allows the joint strip to be installed piece by piece rather than requiring complete disassembly of the cable tray sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint strip extends in multiple dimensions with flanges projecting in different directions (first flange in first direction, second flange in second direction, third flange in third direction, fourth flange in fourth direction). This multi-dimensional configuration allows the joint strip to bridge the gap between sections while accommodating the already-assembled state of the cable tray by attaching to various surfaces including top, bottom, and side surfaces.
2Ease of operation
If cable tray sections are disconnected to install the joint strip, then installation accessibility is improved, but labor time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The joint strip is designed with pre-configured flanges that are positioned and oriented before installation. The flanges are arranged to engage with specific surfaces of the cable tray sections (top surface, bottom surface, side surfaces) in advance, allowing the installer to simply attach the joint strip without needing to disconnect or reposition the cable tray sections during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint strip serves multiple functions simultaneously: it bridges the gap between sections, protects cables from sharp edges, and provides attachment points on multiple surfaces. The multi-flange design allows a single component to perform what would otherwise require multiple separate operations or components, reducing overall installation time and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint strip including a center trunk, at least one recess formed by at least one upper flange and at least one lower flange for use in bridging a gap in sheet metal, such as in cable trays, cable tray covers, or two pieces of sheet metal. The joint strip may include more than one recess. The one or more recesses are configured to accept, for example, a cable tray surface located at a gap between two cable trays. The joint strip can be inserted between cable trays, for example, without disconnecting the trays from each other or removed in existing cable trays without separating adjacent sections of cable tray or cable tray covers.