U-Shaped Roller Assembly for Cable Tray Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable tray systems face challenges in reducing friction and facilitating the easy installation of cables, particularly in scenarios involving straight sections, curves, corners, and changes in elevation, where traditional rollers may not provide sufficient support or ease of attachment.
Innovation Solution
A roller assembly with a U-shaped attachment portion and rotatable rollers is designed to securely attach to transversely-extending struts within cable trays, reducing friction and allowing for easy installation of cables, and can be stacked to form multi-sided passageways for efficient cable routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cable-engaging rollers are used in cable tray systems, then friction reduction is achieved, but attachment security and adaptability to various tray configurations are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly is divided into separate components: a roller element, a mounting bracket, and attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the roller to be easily attached to and removed from the cable tray, providing both secure attachment and ease of installation/removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The roller assembly is designed with universal attachment capabilities that work with various cable tray configurations including straight sections, curves, corners, and changes in elevation. The mounting bracket and attachment means can be positioned at different locations and orientations to accommodate diverse tray geometries
2Reliability
If roller assemblies are designed for secure attachment to cable trays, then attachment reliability is improved, but ease of attachment and detachment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means incorporates movable or adjustable components that allow the roller assembly to be easily attached and detached. The dynamic design enables quick positioning and securing to the cable tray strut without complex fastening procedures, balancing security with ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is designed to be self-securing through features such as self-tapping screws, snap-fit connections, or gravity-assisted positioning. Once attached, the roller assembly secures itself to the cable tray without requiring additional tools or complex procedures, maintaining both reliability and ease of installation
3Adaptability or versatility
If roller assemblies are designed to accommodate various cable tray configurations including curves and corners, then adaptability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly uses a universal mounting bracket design that can be oriented at different angles and positions to accommodate straight sections, curves, corners, and elevation changes. This single versatile design replaces the need for multiple specialized components for different tray configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment means incorporates adjustable positioning capabilities in multiple dimensions, allowing the roller to be mounted at various orientations. This dimensional flexibility enables the same basic structure to adapt to different tray geometries without increasing inherent structural complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The roller assembly effectively reduces cable drag during installation, accommodates various cable tray configurations, and allows for easy attachment and detachment, making it suitable for straight, curved, and elevated sections, as well as corners, thereby simplifying the cable installation process.
Implementation Method 1
cable-engaging rollers for reducing the amount of friction generated as a cable is pulled, or drawn, into place along the length of the tray
Data Source
AI summary
A roller assembly for facilitating the drawing of a cable along a cable tray having a transversely-extending strut includes one roller having a rotation axis and an elongated attachment portion having a cross-sectional shape which is substantially U-shaped in form. The attachment portion is positionable about the transversely-extending strut of the cable tray by directing the opening of the U of the cross-sectional shape of the attachment portion over the strut. A fastener is used to bind the attachment portion to the strut. A second roller can mounted upon the attachment portion for rotation about an axis which is substantially normal to the rotation axis of the one roller for use at a corner or curve of the tray, and the componentry of the assembly facilitates the construction of a roller-bearing apparatus providing a multi-sided passageway through which a cable can be drawn.