Cable tray hold-down

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11638985-B2
Application number	US-202017093109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2020
Priority date	Nov 7, 2019
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to a hold-down for a cable tray. The hold-down may be configured for high-wind situations. The hold-down includes a support clamp for clamping onto a support, and a hold-down arm for holding the cable tray on the support.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hold-down for securing a cable tray to a support, the hold-down comprising:
a hold-down arm configured to retain a flange of a rail of the cable tray on the support without penetrating the flange or the support;
a support clamp configured to clamp onto the support, wherein the hold-down arm is coupled to the support clamp, wherein the support clamp includes a clamp body defining at least one slot configured to receive a flange of the support and includes a set screw bar coupled to the clamp body, wherein at least one set screw is threadably coupled to the set screw bar, wherein the at least one slot defines an axis along which the flange is slidably received in the at least one slot, and wherein an axis of the at least one set screw extends at an acute angle relative to the axis of the at least one slot;
wherein the hold-down is capable of retaining the cable tray on the support during application of a force over 3,000 lbf. when the force is applied in one or more of the following directions:
i) transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cable tray away from the support and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the support away from the support; or
ii) ii) transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cable tray and along the longitudinal axis of the support.

2. The hold-down set forth in claim 1 , wherein the set screw bar has opposite end portions disposed outside the body, each of the opposite end portions of the set screw bar defining a threaded opening extending through the set screw bar configured to receive respective set screws of the at least one set screw.

3. The hold-down set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamp body includes a back wall and opposing left and right side walls extending forward from the back wall, wherein the at least one slot includes slots defined by the left and right side walls.

4. The hold-down set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamp body is substantially channel-shaped having open upper and lower ends and an open front side.

5. The hold-down set forth in claim 4 , wherein upper ends of the left and right side walls are chamfered downward toward the front side of the body, wherein the hold-down arm sits on the chamfered upper ends.

6. The hold-down set forth in claim 1 , wherein the hold-down includes a first wing and a second wing, the first wing extending a length to clamp a lower flange of a rail of the cable tray, the second wing extending a shorter length than the length of the first wing to act as a guide over the lower flange of the rail of the cable tray.

7. The hold-down set forth in claim 6 , wherein axes of the first and second wings extend at acute angles relative to the axis of the at least one slot.

8. The hold-down set forth in claim 7 , wherein ends of the first and second wings are tapered.

9. A hold-down for securing a cable tray to a support comprising:
a support clamp including a clamp body defining at least one slot configured to receive a flange of the support, and a set screw bar coupled to the clamp body;
a hold-down arm coupled to the support clamp and comprising a first wing and a second wing, the first wing extending a length to clamp a lower flange of a rail of the cable tray, the second wing extending a shorter length than the length of the first wing to act as a guide over the lower flange of the rail of the cable tray; and
at least one set screw threadably coupled to the set screw bar and configured to engage a flange of the support,
wherein the clamp body includes a back wall and opposing left and right side walls extending forward from the back wall, wherein the at least one slot includes slots defined by the left and right side walls, and wherein upper ends of the left and right side walls are chamfered downward toward a front side of the body, wherein the hold-down arm sits on the chamfered upper ends.

10. The hold-down set forth in claim 9 , wherein the set screw bar has opposite end portions disposed outside the clamp body, each of the opposite end portions of the set screw bar defining a threaded opening extending through the set screw bar configured to receive respective set screws.

11. A hold-down for securing a cable tray to a support, the hold-down comprising:
a hold-down arm configured to retain a flange of a rail of the cable tray on the support without penetrating the flange or the support;
a support clamp configured to clamp onto the support, wherein the hold-down arm is coupled to the support clamp, wherein the support clamp includes a clamp body defining at least one slot configured to receive a flange of the support, a set screw bar coupled to the clamp body, and at least one set screw threadably coupled to the set screw bar, wherein the clamp body is substantially channel-shaped having open upper and lower ends and an open front side, and wherein upper ends of the left and right side walls are chamfered downward toward the front side of the body, wherein the hold-down arm sits on the chamfered upper ends;
wherein the hold-down is capable of retaining the cable tray on the support during application of a force over 3,000 lbf. when the force is applied in one or more of the following directions:
i) transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cable tray away from the support and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the support away from the support; or
ii) transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cable tray and along the longitudinal axis of the support.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Brooks David Charles
• Combes Matthew Thomas
• Johnson Jacob Lee
• Petry Jr David Henry

Classifications

• H02G3/32

  using mounting clamps · CPC title

• B25B5/10 Primary

  using screws · CPC title

• H02G3/0418

  Covers or lids; Their fastenings · CPC title

• F16B7/0493 Primary

  forming a crossed-over connection · CPC title

• H02G3/0456 Primary

  Ladders or other supports · CPC title