This application claims priority to Swedish patent application 0401668-9 filed 24 Jun. 2004 and is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/IB2005/001778 filed 23 Jun. 2005.
The present invention relates to a method for mounting a cable duct on a supporting surface, which cable duct comprises openings for applying attachment means. The present invention further relates to a cable duct mounted on a supporting surface by hitching means. The present invention furthermore relates to a die set means comprising a male part and a female part, the male part and the female part being deigned to operate in opposition to each other. The present invention also relates to the use of a die set means.
Cable duct systems are used for routing and protecting data, fiber-optic, video and/or power cabling as well as hydro, oil and/or gas cabling. Such systems may be provided on supporting surfaces, with attachment means such as screws, rivets, tape or the like. By mounting the ducts with a screw or a rivet, the screw tip or rivet tip penetrating the plating will limit the mounting surface on the plating work piece. The cable ducts often comprise a channel with a u-shaped cross-section and a lid allowing easy access when installation of additional cables, repair and reconfiguration is done. The cable duct usually comprises pre-fabricated openings for penetration of said attachment means. The cable ducts are normally of flexible material such as plastic.
Such a system is described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,733 B1. The described system provides an improved support bracket assembly that can be easy reinstalled and support heavy loads. However the system is complex to install and comprises a large number of components.
The object of the present invention is to fulfil the need for a simpler and more flexible method to assemble a cable duct system and mounting a cable duct on a supporting surface.
This object is achieved by forming parts of said supporting surface into at least three hitching means. The hitching means are placed corresponding to the openings in the cable duct. The hitching means are arranged to co-operate with the openings. The hitching means are used to lock the cable duct in position.
One advantage is that a minimum of components is used. Another advantage is that no tool for loose attachment means is needed; the mounting is thus done quickly and with no former arrangement thereto. Therefore, the method according to the invention also saves production time and material.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention said hitching means comprise a main part that is not in the same plane as the supporting surface.
In another preferred embodiment according to the invention said hitching means comprise a locking surface. The locking surface is positioned with an angle between substantially zero degrees and perpendicular to the supporting surface.
In yet another preferred embodiment according to the invention said hitching means comprise a neck, a heel and a locking surface. The neck is attached perpendicular to the supporting surface. The heel joins the locking surface and the neck perpendicular to each other. This is an advantage as the hitching means catch the cable duct. Further, for the construction it is a space-saving advantage that no attachment means takes up considerable space on the opposite side of the plating behind the cable ducts.
In another preferred embodiment according to the invention said hitching means are formed in the supporting surface with the necks in the same directions and every second supporting surfaces in the opposite directions according to each other.
In another preferred embodiment according to the invention said hitching means are formed on the supporting surface with the main parts directed from the supporting surface and the locking surfaces of two adjacent hitching means directed in the opposite directions in relation to each other.
In another preferred embodiment according to the invention at least some of said hitching means are hook-shaped. This is an advantage as the hook is easily manufactured.
In another preferred embodiment according to the invention at least some of said hitching means is formed as a protrusion of the supporting surface is forming any of a: wave, crease, bulge, step. This is also an advantage as a crease is also easily manufactured.
In another preferred method according to the invention producing said hitching means simultaneously produces corresponding holes in the supporting surface.
In another preferred method according to the invention a cable duct is mounted on a supporting surface by hitching means produced with a method according to the present invention.
In another preferred method according to the invention a die set means comprises a male part and a female part. The male part and the female part are deigned to operate in opposition to each other. Said die set is designed to form parts of a supporting surface into a hitching means. The hitching means is intended for mounting a cable duct on said supporting surface through said hitching means.
Another preferred method according to the invention is the use of a cable duct arranged to carry cables or hoses for any of the list of: power transmission, data transmission, optical signal transmission, hydraulic fluid, cooling fluid, lubricating fluid, gas, compressed air.
The present invention will be described in more detail in connection with the enclosed schematic drawings.
a shows the female part of a die set means according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
b shows the male part of a die set means according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
a shows a side-view of a hitching means according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
b shows a front-view of a hitching means according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
The cable duct is now turned over the following hitching means one by one as shown in
The hitching means are, for instance, fabricated through a stamping process by using a specially adapted tool, a die set means. The die set means is mounted on a die stamping machine. Such a die stamping machine usually comprises a press ram, a press bed, guiding means and a tool comprising an upper part and a lower part, in this case the die set means.
The mounting method is suitable for all plating constructions, where cable ducts are mounted, for instance in control cabinets, wall mounting 40 and/or mounting on any thin surface, for instance on a vehicle.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0401668 | Jun 2004 | SE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB2005/001778 | 6/23/2005 | WO | 00 | 7/8/2008 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2006/000889 | 1/5/2006 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6198043 | Hoffmann | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6412733 | Grzemski | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6489566 | Durin | Dec 2002 | B1 |
20040104322 | Hennequin | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040144898 | Spagnoli | Jul 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
29700613 | Apr 1997 | DE |
1257032 | Nov 2002 | EP |
Entry |
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PCT/ISA/210—International Search Report. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20090001227 A1 | Jan 2009 | US |