Cable Cleats

Cable Cleats.

Ellis Patents Cable Clamps Make The Sorta Connection

January 6th, 2021

Ellis Patents

Cable Clamps

Two-in-One Cable Guide Clamps

Innovative two-in-one cable guide clamps, designed and developed in Yorkshire by Ellis Patents, are being used to guide and secure 4.5km of power cables being installed as part of an enormous infrastructure project in Vestland, Norway.

The Sotra Connection is a new national road being built by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration between Bergen and Øygarden municipality. The N555 project includes the construction of a new road bridge, the demolition of nine high voltage power masts and the re-routing of the related power cables through a series of tunnels and underneath the current Sotra Bridge – an element of the project known as the Stømkabel Sotrasambandet.

Ellis Patents Cable Guide Clamps, which were originally developed to solve a live project installation problem for Siemens, are being used to guide the power cables into place, before securing them and providing protection in the case of a short-circuit.

Kelly Brown, Ellis Patents Head of Sales, said: “This is perhaps the biggest infrastructure project in a generation in Norway; and when complete will provide a modern and fast connection from the Sotra islands to the country’s second biggest city and beyond.”

“The fact that our Cable Guide Clamps were specified is a matter of pride for all at Ellis, and goes to show that our new innovations are every bit as trusted as the likes of our Emperor and Vulcan+ cable cleats, which helped to establish us as the world leader in our field.”

The Stømkabel Sotrasambandet specification was secured through Ellis Patents’ Norwegian distributor, Procab.

Ellis Patents Cable Guide Clamp

Ellis Patents’ innovative Cable Guide Clamp works in two stages.

Firstly, electrical power cables are guided by it into their final location; with trumpeted entry and exit points ensuring the cable is not damaged when fed through particularly sharp angled turns. Once the cable is laid correctly, the top half of the guide is removed, a fixing piece installed directly onto the cable and the top half re-secured, thus turning it into a fully-functioning HV cable clamp.

Thorne & Derrick are Specialist Distributors of the world market-leading range of Ellis Patents cable cleats for the protection, support and short-circuit retention of LV MV HV power, transmission and distribution electricity cables.

Leading Manufacturer of Cable Cleats & Cable Clamps

Thorne & Derrick

T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.

Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

Thorne & Derrick International

The Importance of Cable Cleats within Data Centers

October 13th, 2020

Cable Cleat Examples - Panduit IEC 61914 2015

Panduit Cable Cleats

Cable Cleats in Data Centers

Data Center optimisation requires a reliable infrastructure to address power, cooling, assets, and connectivity challenges. In the below blog Panduit highlight why cable cleats are critical in supporting these vital goals.

In the information age, data centers and their task of continuous, safe storage of data make them critical facilities. If the data center isn’t reliable, productivity decreases immensely. Data centers house the organization’s most vital and proprietary assets. Hence, they are crucial to the continuity of daily business operations and the power required to operate the data racks in the data centers.

A study by Uptime Institute, an advisory organization, focused on improving the performance, efficiency, and reliability of business-critical infrastructures, surveyed 1,600 owners and operators in the data center sector. Ten percent (10%) of all respondents said their most recent significant outage cost more than $1 million.

Also, nearly 34% of all respondents have had a severe outage in the past three years, causing operators’ substantial problems. (1) Hence why Cable Cleats help to provide uninterrupted, safe power in the operations of data centers.

Assurance and Insurance Bundled Together

IEC International Standard defining a Cable Cleat

What is a Cable Cleat? Defined by the IEC International standard, a cable cleat is simply “A device designed to secure cables when installed at intervals along the length of the cables”. (2)

When it comes to a power distribution system, the potential damage from a short circuit fault can be catastrophic ― resulting in an arc flash event at a piece of equipment or power cables whipping about violently. These types of events pose a serious safety hazard to anyone nearby at the time it occurs, either during the initial power-up or afterward.

However, worker safety and equipment damage concerns are minimized by adhering to proven engineering design criteria and meeting documented codes and standards requirements. The best way to protect personnel and equipment near power cables during a short circuit fault is to restrain the cables.

The technology used in the creation of infrastructure projects continues to receive substantial investment. Still, according to a March 2020 survey by Panduit and EC&M, the majority of electrical engineers and electrical contractors are struggling to collectively understand the full benefits of cable management in electrical design—and the risks of ignoring it. Short circuit calculations aren’t being performed, and proper cable management solutions aren’t being specified.

The result is that nearly half of the survey’s engineer respondents (48 percent) indicate that cable cleats currently protect none of the power cable they specify. Only 44 percent of electrical contractor respondents specify cable cleats’ use on their power cable designs and puts the safety, productivity, ROI, and future scalability of entire projects at risk. Seventy-two percent of contractors still depend on plastic zip or cable ties to secure cables, and another 20 percent don’t use any cable fixing system. This leaves infrastructure and workers unprotected from potentially deadly damage. (3)

NEC 392.20(C)

In the U.S., NEC 392.20(C) is the National Electrical Code that governs the safety of the cable installations in cable tray. NEC Article 392.20(C) states: “Parallel connected single conductor cables shall be securely bound in circuit groups to prevent excessive movement due to fault current magnetic forces.” (4). While NEC 392.20(C) includes language for securing cables during a short circuit fault, it does not specify how to design the proper containment system to meet those forces. Often the lack of clear guidelines on short circuit protection in the NEC results in inadequate or no cable containment to protect against short circuit events in tray cable installations.

Europe has been utilizing cable tray systems for several decades and leads the industry in design standards and best practices. As such, the IEC 61914:2015 standard provides the testing methodology and process to ensure the reliability of cable cleats and ultimate protection in the event of a short circuit event. Cable in cable trays is only a safe and viable solution when paired with the right cable cleat solution to protect against short circuit events.

Unfortunately, NEC 392.20(C) does not currently provide adequate guidance on how to securely contain cables in the event of a short circuit when routing cables in a cable tray. To protect electrical infrastructure when using power cables in a tray, installing an IEC 61914:2015-compliant cable cleat is the best option when facing a peak short circuit fault.

Cable Cleat Examples – Panduit IEC 61914 2015

An Undefined Standard

All of Panduit’s electrical cable cleats have been third-party validated to meet IEC 61914:2015.

Because they exceed safety requirements of current U.S. electrical codes, they help future-proof your project against subsequent standards harmonization. Panduit’s cable cleat solutions were designed to withstand the stress of a short circuit event using a state-of-the-art ANSYS simulation software to model the dynamic forces at play.

Also, our design and testing process has led to the development of the Cleat kAlculator™ mobile and desktop app. Many engineers do not specify cable cleats in part due to the necessary, but time-consuming fault calculations required. The Cleat kAlculator™ streamlines the process significantly by allowing engineers, designers, and installers to determine the correct cable cleat simply by inputting the cable layout, cable diameter, and peak short circuit current.

Panduit’s Cleat kAlculator Mobile & Desktop App

Data center optimization requires reliable infrastructure to address power, cooling, assets, and connectivity challenges. Protecting personnel and equipment should be an organization’s number one priority. With proper specification and installation of cable cleats, these solutions will support the critical goals.

Thorne & Derrick International, based in the UK, are Official Distributors for the Panduit range of cable ties and tools for industrial and hazardous area management of data, telecoms, control, instrumentation and power LV MV HV cables in industrial and hazardous area industries including oil/gas, petrochemical, rail, renewable, construction and mining/quarrying industries – this includes stainless steel cable ties used to clamp and cleat cables located in medium/high voltage MV HV onshore and offshore substations.

Panduit

VIDEO How To Verify Total Absence of Voltage By The Push Of a Button

Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage voltage power systems:

Slip-on Cable Terminations
Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
Separable Connectors (Euromold)
Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings

Securing Fire Resistant Sleeves On Critical Hoses & Wires In Jet Engines With BAND-IT JS Clamp

August 18th, 2020

Stainless Steel Clamps

BAND-IT JS clamp

Securing Fire Resistant Sleeves On Critical Hoses & Wires In Jet Engines

Fighter jet engines operate in extremes: high altitude, cold air, and hot engines.

While rare, if a fire was to break out in the engine, fiberglass sleeving protects the critical hose and electrical systems to give the pilot a chance to extinguish the fire, land, or eject.

The BAND-IT JS clamp was selected to secure the sleeving in place because of its proven ability to handle extreme heat, extreme cold, and the vibration of the aircraft. The result is a consistent tension on the hose clamp and a sleeve that doesn’t loosen or slip during flight.

BAND-IT Clamps

The BAND-IT Edge

Minimal expansion/contraction from thermal changes
High strength to weight ratio
Consistent installation tools and smooth edge ensure the sleeve is tightly secured without damaging the sleeving
Available in multiple alloys, including Alloy 625

Stainless Steel Clamp Product Features

Stainless steel clamps have a higher melting temperature and longer life than plastic ties
JS Clamps have a low buckle profile to prevent catching or damage to other components

BAND-IT Cable & Hose Clamps | Stainless Steel

Thorne & Derrick stock, supply and distribute the most extensive range of BAND-IT products to enable clamp, cleat, support, and identify cables, pipes and hoses.

Experts In Equipment for Explosive Atmospheres with ATEX & IECEx Certification

THORNE & DERRICK are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Duct Sealing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – we service UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.

Since 1985, T&D have established an international reputation based on SERVICE | INTEGRITY | TRUST.

Contact us for 3M Electrical, ABB, Alroc, AN Wallis, CATU Electrical, Cembre, Centriforce, CMP, CSD, Elastimold, Ellis Patents, Emtelle, Euromold, Filoform , Furse, Lucy Electric & Zodion, Nexans, Pfisterer, Polypipe, Prysmian, Roxtec, Sicame, WT Henley.

Rewriting The R&D Rulebook With Ellis Patents

August 10th, 2020

Ellis Patent Vulcan+ Cleat

Article Written By Stephen Walton Technical Director At Ellis Patents

Ellis Patent Vulcan+ Cleat

Thorne & Derrick Internatonal, based in the UK, are an Ellis Patents distributor for their market-leading and innovative range of cable cleats manufactured in the UK.

At first glance, the cable cleat may not seem like a product ripe for design and manufacturing innovation.

Its role in securing electrical cables in the event of a short circuit is seemingly straightforward enough to preclude it from such activity but look more closely and you’ll quickly realise you are wrong.

Stephen Walton, Technical Director of Ellis Patents, outlines how the company has evolved from being a manufacturer of traditional, standard cable cleats to solving installation and safety issues for the likes of Siemens, while also embracing new technology to rewrite the R&D rulebook.

For a long time, Ellis banged the drum about the importance of correctly specified cable cleats. The key selling point is the fact that, without correct specification, all a cable cleat would do is add to the potentially life-threatening shrapnel during a short circuit situation.

Ellis’s drumming these days is significantly quieter. The market is now well aware of the need for cleats. As a result, it has become increasingly congested, with more manufacturers than ever making them and, in some cases, producing virtual replicas of the most popular.

Ellis has responded to these changing market conditions by subtly shifting its focus. The company’s latest change has been focused on what and how it sells – a shift of approach that was born out a growing demand for project-specific solutions.

Initially, this was confined to bespoke cable cleats being designed and manufactured to exact client specifications and short-circuit tested to exact project conditions. This now has developed to a stage where Ellis is called in, presented with a problem and asked to solve it.

For example, the company helped Siemens with the installation and subsequent restraint of seven large diameter high voltage (HV) cables on HelWin 2 – a 690MW offshore HVDC platform.

Ellis’s cable guide clamp provided low-loss transmission between the North Sea offshore wind farm, Amrumbank West and Germany’s onshore grid.

Today, Ellis has an in-house R&D facility that enables it to deliver new, production-ready products in a matter of days. It recently developed a twist foot fixing mechanism that reduces installation cost and time for its Emperor and Vulcan+ cable cleats in less than a fortnight.

Utilising its own 3D CAD rapid prototyping facilities, and Stratasys Objet 24 and 30 printers, the development process began with a brainstorm during which possible solutions were suggested and sketched.

The most popular of these were then drawn up in 3D and printed overnight. Samples were cleaned, assembled and function tested the following morning. The promising designs were then refined and reprinted over the following days until a final version was agreed on and a functional prototype printed and passed on to sales and production for feedback.

To take a product from an idea to a fully functional, production ready prototype in less than a fortnight really does rewrite the R&D rulebook.

Traditionally, creating a production-ready prototype would have required the development of injection moulding tools, which involved significant investment in time and resources, and typically took six to eight weeks to manufacture.

Once received, only small changes to the tools were feasible, meaning any major alterations added another 6-8 weeks to the entire process.

However, by harnessing 3D printing technology and bringing as many elements of the design and testing process in-house, Ellis can now work within the tight timeframes of a live project and ensure it doesn’t lose any momentum by delivering bespoke solutions to installation issues in days.

The new product Ellis’s new twist foot cleats, which are supplied pre-fitted on its Emperor and Vulcan+ cleats, are suitable for all installations using cable channel and ladder with inverted rungs. There are singlefooted versions for cables in trefoil up to 58mm and double-footed versions for cables with diameters ranging from 59-128mm.

The single version locks in place with nothing more complex than a 90º turn and the tightening of the integral securing bolt, while the double-footed version is secured with tabs that are simply rotated 90º to engage the channel nut before the securing bolt is tightened.

Stephen Walton is Technical Director of Ellis Patents. A Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over two decades of industry experience, Stephen joined Ellis in 2015 and has since played a key role in the development of a large number of new and improved products, as well as in the positioning of the North Yorkshire company as the first port of call for contractors seeking bespoke solutions to installation headaches, and project-specific cable cleat solutions. He has also been one of the driving forces behind Ellis’s early adoption of new technology, which is helping the company rewrite the R&D rulebook.

Ellis Patents Vulcan, Atlas & Emperor Cable Cleats

Ellis Patents are global leaders in the innovation and manufacture of nylon cable cleats, aluminium cable cleats and stainless steel cable cleats – Ellis satisfy the operational requirements of the construction, oil, gas, rail, utilities, wind energy and power generation industries.

Ellis Patents