Cable tray

Abstract

A cable tray constructed of U-shaped transverse members made from geometrically shaped raw material that reduces the contact point load between the plurality of the U-shaped members and an electrical conductor that is placed within the cable tray.

1 . A cable tray comprising:
 a plurality of U-shaped transverse members connected to a plurality of longitudinal members to be in the general shape of a channel capable of supporting a plurality of electrical system conductors within an inside the channel, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped transverse members is not in the shape of a substantially sharp cornered square, a substantially sharp cornered rectangle, a substantially sharp cornered triangle, or a circle.   
   
   
       2 . The cable tray of  claim 1  wherein the cable tray is assembled such that the plurality of U-shaped members is disposed within the inside of the channel. 
   
   
       3 . The cable tray of  claim 2  wherein the cable tray is assembled such that the plurality of longitudinal members is disposed on the outside of the channel. 
   
   
       4 . The cable tray of  claim 3  wherein each one longitudinal member is connected to the top of each end of the U-shaped transverse member. 
   
   
       5 . The cable tray of  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of longitudinal members is substantially circular in shape. 
   
   
       6 . The cable tray of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped transverse members is substantially obround in shape. 
   
   
       7 . The cable tray of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped transverse members is substantially elliptical in shape. 
   
   
       8 . The cable tray of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped transverse members is substantially square in shape with substantially rounded corners. 
   
   
       9 . The cable tray of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped transverse members is substantially in shape of an extreme elliptical. 
   
   
       10 . The cable tray of  claim 5  wherein the contact point load between an electrical conductor placed within the cable tray and the surface of the U-shaped transverse members that contacts the electrical conductor placed within the cable tray is less than the contact point load of a cable tray having U-shaped members that are in the shape of one of either a sharp substantially cornered square, a substantially sharp cornered rectangle, a substantially sharp cornered triangle, or a circle. 
   
   
       11 . A cable tray comprising:
 a plurality of U-shaped transverse members connected to a plurality of longitudinal members to be in the general shape of a channel capable of supporting a plurality of electrical system conductors within an inside the channel, wherein each of the plurality of u-shaped transverse members further comprises means for generating a contact point load between an electrical conductor placed within the cable tray and the surface of the U-shaped transverse members that contacts the electrical conductor placed within the cable tray that is less than the contact point load of a cable tray having U-shaped members that are made of a material in one of either a sharp substantially cornered square shape, a substantially sharp cornered rectangle shape, a substantially sharp cornered triangle shape, or a circular shape.   
   
   
       12 . A cable tray comprising:
 a plurality of U-shaped transverse members made from a material having the substantial shape of an ellipse are connected to a plurality of longitudinal members to generate an assembly generally in the shape of a channel, wherein the major diameter axis of the elliptic shape of each of the U-shaped transverse members is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of the longitudinal members, such that when a set of electrical system conductors is placed within the cable tray, the exterior surfaces of at least one of the set of electrical system conductors rests upon an arcuate surface of the U-shaped transverse members that is generally parallel with the major diameter axis of the elliptic shape of the U-shaped transverse members.