Cable tray splice plate assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023291188-A1
Application number	US-202318180699-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2023
Priority date	Mar 9, 2022
Publication date	Sep 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a splice plate including a planar body, first and second pairs of opposing side walls, and a pair of tabs. The first pair of opposing side walls define two parallel slots with one slot engaging a first wire of a first cable tray section and a second slot engaging a first wire of a second cable tray section. The second pair of opposing side walls define at least one slot. A side wall of one of the second pair of opposing side walls engages a second wire of the first cable tray. A side wall of the other of the second pair of opposing side walls engages a second wire of the second cable tray section. One tab of the pair of tabs engages the first wire of the first cable tray section and a second tab engages the second cable tray section’s first wire.

First claim

1 . A splice plate for connecting two adjacent wire basket cable trays, the splice plate comprising:
a planar body; a first pair of opposing side walls and a second pair of opposing side walls, the first and second pairs of opposing side walls extending from the planar body, wherein the first pair of opposing side walls define at least two parallel slots, a first slot of the two parallel slots being configured to engage a first wire of a first cable tray section and a second slot of the two parallel slots being configured to engage a first wire of a second cable tray section parallel to the first wire of a first cable tray, wherein the second pair of opposing side walls define at least one slot, a side wall of one of the second pair of opposing side walls being configured to engage a second wire of the first cable tray section transverse to the first wire of the first cable tray section. and a side wall of the other of the second pair of opposing side walls being configured to engage a second wire of the second cable tray section aligned with the second wire of the first cable tray and transverse to the first wire of the second cable tray section; and a pair of tabs extending toward a central axis of the planar body, one of said pair of the tabs configured to engage the first wire of the first cable tray section, and the other of said pair of tabs configured to engage the first wire of the second cable tray section.

2 . The splice plate of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of opposing side walls extend from the planar body on front and back portions and the second pair of opposing side walls extend from the planar body on left and right portions, wherein the first wires of the first and second cable tray section are longitudinal wires and the second wires of the first and second cable tray section are transverse wires.

3 . The splice plate of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of opposing side walls extend from the planar body on left and right portions and the second pair of opposing side walls extend from the planar body on front and back portions, wherein the first wires of the first and second cable tray section are transverse wires and the second wires of the first and second cable tray section are longitudinal wires.

4 . The splice plate of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of opposing side walls extend generally perpendicular from the planar body and the second pair of opposing side walls extend from the planar body at an angle from about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees.

5 . The splice plate of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of opposing side walls extend generally perpendicular from the planar body.

6 . The splice plate of claim 1 , wherein each side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls comprises at least one locking tab extending inward towards the other of the first pair of opposing side walls.

7 . The splice plate of claim 1 , further comprising locking tabs extending between adjacent side walls of the first and second pairs of opposing side walls.

8 . The splice plate of claim 1 , further comprising at least two arms extending from the planar body at a downward angle relative to a longitudinal plane of the planar body, wherein the at least two tabs extend from respective ones of the at least two arms, and wherein the tabs extend at an upward angle relative to the longitudinal plane of the planar body.

9 . The splice plate of claim 1 , further comprising two arms, extending from the second pair of side walls, wherein a first arm extends from a first of the second pair of opposing side walls, and a second arm extends from a second of the second pair of opposing side walls, wherein the at least two tabs extend from respective ones of the two arms, and wherein the two tabs are inward-extending.

10 . The splice plate of claim 1 , wherein the planar body defines an opening in a central portion of the planar body and comprises ribs extending from an adjacent portion of the planar body to an elevated height.

11 . A splice plate assembly for connecting two adjacent wire basket cable trays, the splice plate assembly comprising:
an inner part comprising:
a planar body;
a side wall extending transversely from the planar body, the side wall terminating in an outwardly extending tab; and
an outer part comprising:
a planar body;
first and second side walls extending downward from the planar body
away from the inner part
at least two slots being defined by the planar body, each of the slots having a wider portion configured to allow insertion of the side wall of the inner part, and a narrower portion configured to lock the inner part into the outer part by preventing passage of the tab of the side wall of the inner part.

12 . The splice plate assembly of claim 11 , wherein first and second side walls of the outer part each have an upward extending protrusion.

13 . The splice plate assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inner part comprises four side walls, wherein adjacent side walls of the four side walls define slots extending through the inner part and configured to receive a wire from the cable tray.

14 . The splice plate of claim 11 , wherein the side wall of the inner part is a first side wall of a pair of first opposing side walls, the inner part comprising and second pair of opposing side walls, the first pair of opposing side walls each terminating in an outwardly extending tab, the second pair of opposing side walls each terminating with a concave end, wherein each concave end is configured to receive a wire of a separate cable tray.

15 . The splice plate of claim 11 , wherein adjacent walls of the first and second pairs of opposing side walls define at least two slots, wherein the first slot extends along a first side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls and is configured to receive a first wire from a first cable tray, wherein the second slot extends along a second side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls and is configured to receive a first wire from a second cable tray.

16 . The splice plate of claim 11 , wherein the inner part and the outer part define a space between the planar bodies of the inner and outer parts configured to receive transverse wires of adjacent cable trays.

17 . The splice plate of claim 11 , wherein the planar body of the inner part defines an opening in a central portion of the planar body of the inner part, the opening being configured to aid in installation and modularity.

18 . The splice plate of claim 17 , wherein the planar body of the outer part defines an opening in a central portion of the planar body of the outer part, wherein the openings in the central portions of the planar bodies align when the inner and outer parts are coupled.

19 . The splice plate of claim 17 , wherein the planar body of the outer part comprises a central protrusion in a central portion of the planar body of the outer part, wherein the central protrusion extends through the opening in the central portion of the planar body of the inner part when the inner and outer parts are coupled.

20 . The splice plate of claim 11 , wherein the narrow portion of the outer body slots has a curved-shape.

21 . A splice plate assembly for connecting two adjacent wire basket cable trays, the splice plate assembly comprising:
a planar body; an inboard wall downwardly extending from the planar body; and an outboard wall downwardly extending from the planar body, wherein the outboard wall comprises two extension tabs and a central tab betwee

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Khalkar Amol
• Shah Nimesh
• Bhalerao Eshant
• Thorat Hemraj Keda
• Birje Ramesh N
• Johnson Jacob Lee
• Witherbee Martin Lee

Classifications

• H02G3/32

  using mounting clamps · CPC title

• H02G3/0437

  Channels · CPC title

• H02G3/0608 Primary

  Joints for connecting non cylindrical conduits, e.g. channels · CPC title

• H02G3/0443

  formed by wire or analogous netting · CPC title

• F16B2/245

  external, i.e. with contracting action · CPC title