Tapered transition ramp for cable protector
View Patent ↗An exemplary ramp structure capable of being positioned over at least a portion of a cable protection system comprises a center portion, a first side ramp portion adjacent a side of the center portion, and a first tapered portion adjacent an end of the first side ramp portion. The first tapered portion may be tapered in both a first direction and a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The first tapered portion may be integrally formed with the first side ramp portion and the first side ramp portion may be integrally formed with the center portion. An exemplary cable protection system is also disclosed comprising a first cable protector structured to receive one or more cables, a first side ramp adjacent a side of the first cable protector, and a first tapered structure pivotally attachable to an end of the first side ramp.
1. A ramp structure of a cable protection system, the ramp structure comprising:
a center portion having a first side, a second side, and opposing ends;
a side ramp portion adjacent the first side of the center portion, the side ramp portion comprising a first end and a second end;
a tapered portion extending from the first end of the side ramp portion, the tapered portion configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp portion that is spaced from the first end of the side ramp portion.
2. The ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered portion being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
3. The ramp structure of claim 2 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.
4. The ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the tapered portion is substantially planar.
5. The ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion is integrally formed with the side ramp portion.
6. The ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion is configured to overlap a tapered portion of the adjacent side ramp portion that has a greater slope than a slope of the side ramp portion.
7. The ramp structure of claim 6 , wherein the first tapered portion provides a gradual transition between:
the first end of the side ramp portion and a surface beneath the ramp structure; and
the tapered portion of the adjacent side ramp portion and the surface beneath the cable protection system.
8. The ramp structure of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a first portion that is parallel with a surface beneath the ramp structure, and a second portion that is tapered at an angle relative to the first portion.
9. The ramp structure of claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the bottom surface has a taper that substantially matches a slope of a top surface of the portion of the adjacent side ramp portion that is overlapped by the tapered portion.
10. A cable protection system, comprising:
a cable protector comprising a first side, a second side, opposing ends, and at least one channel extending between the opposing ends, the at least one channel being structured to receive at least one cable;
a side ramp adjacent the first side of the cable protector, the side ramp comprising a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end;
a tapered structure attachable to and extending from the first end of the side ramp, the tapered structure being configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp that is spaced from the first end of the side ramp.
11. The cable protection system of claim 10 , wherein the tapered structure comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered structure being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
12. The cable protection system of claim 10 , wherein the tapered structure includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a first portion that is parallel with a bottom surface of side ramp, and a second portion that is tapered at an angle relative to the first portion.
13. A side ramp assembly configured to be removably attachable to a side of a cable protector, the side ramp assembly comprising:
a side ramp having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end;
a tapered structure pivotally attachable to and extending from the first end of the side ramp, the tapered structure being configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp that is spaced from the first end of the side ramp.
14. The side ramp assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tapered structure comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered structure being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
15. The side ramp assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tapered structure includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including first and second portions that are arranged at an angle relative to each other.
16. The side ramp assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the bottom surface is arranged parallel with a surface beneath the ramp structure, and the second portion of the bottom surface is tapered at an angle that substantially matches a slope of a top surface of the portion of the adjacent side ramp.
17. A ramp structure of a cable protection system, the ramp structure comprising:
a center portion having a first side, a second side, and opposing ends;
a side ramp portion adjacent the first side of the center portion, the side ramp portion comprising a first end and a second end;
a tapered portion adjacent the first end of the first side ramp portion, the tapered portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a first portion that is parallel with a bottom surface of the ramp structure, and a second portion that is arranged at an angle relative to the first portion.
18. The ramp structure of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of bottom surface overlaps an adjacent side ramp portion and the first portion of the bottom surface does not overlap the adjacent side ramp portion.
19. The ramp structure of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the bottom surface has a taper angle that substantially matches a slope of a top surface of an adjacent side ramp portion that is overlapped by the first tapered portion.
20. The ramp structure of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the bottom surface has a taper angle that is greater than a slope of a top surface of the first side ramp portion.
21. A ramp structure of a cable protection system, the ramp structure comprising:
a center portion having a first side, a second side, and opposing ends;
a side ramp portion adjacent the first side of the center portion, the side ramp portion comprising a first end and a second end;
a tapered portion adjacent the first end of the side ramp portion, the tapered portion configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp portion;
wherein the tapered portion is configured to overlap a tapered portion of the adjacent side ramp portion that has a greater slope than a slope of the side ramp portion.
22. The ramp structure of claim 21 , wherein the tapered portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered portion being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
23. The ramp structure of claim 22 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.
24. The ramp structure of claim 21 , wherein a top surface of the tapered portion is substantially planar.
25. The ramp structure of claim 21 , wherein the tapered portion is integrally formed with the side ramp portion.
26. The ramp structure of claim 21 , wherein the first tapered portion provides a gradual transition between:
the first end of the side ramp portion and a surface beneath the ramp structure; and
the tapered portion of the adjacent side ramp portion and the surface beneath the cable protection system.
27. A ramp structure of a cable protection system, the ramp structure comprising:
a center portion having a first side, a second side, and opposing ends;
a side ramp portion adjacent the first side of the center portion, the side ramp portion comprising a first end and a second end;
a tapered portion adjacent the first end of the side ramp portion, the tapered portion configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp portion;
wherein the tapered portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a first portion that is parallel with a surface beneath the ramp structure, and a second portion that is tapered at an angle relative to the first portion.
28. The ramp structure of claim 27 , wherein the tapered portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered portion being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
29. The ramp structure of claim 28 , wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.
30. The ramp structure of claim 27 , wherein a top surface of the tapered portion is substantially planar.
31. The ramp structure of claim 27 , wherein the tapered portion is integrally formed with the side ramp portion.
32. The ramp structure of claim 27 , wherein the second portion of the bottom surface has a taper that substantially matches a slope of a top surface of the portion of the adjacent side ramp portion that is overlapped by the tapered portion.
33. A cable protection system, comprising:
a cable protector comprising a first side, a second side, opposing ends, and at least one channel extending between the opposing ends, the at least one channel being structured to receive at least one cable;
a side ramp adjacent the first side of the cable protector, the side ramp comprising a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end;
a tapered structure attachable to the first end of the side ramp, the tapered structure being configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp;
wherein the tapered structure includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a first portion that is parallel with a bottom surface of side ramp, and a second portion that is tapered at an angle relative to the first portion.
34. The cable protection system of claim 33 , wherein the tapered structure comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered structure being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
35. A side ramp assembly configured to be removably attachable to a side of a cable protector, the side ramp assembly comprising:
a side ramp having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end;
a tapered structure pivotally attachable to the first end of the side ramp, the tapered structure being configured to overlap a portion of an adjacent side ramp;
wherein the tapered structure includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including first and second portions that are arranged at an angle relative to each other.
36. The side ramp assembly of claim 35 , wherein the tapered structure comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the tapered structure being tapered in both a first direction and a second direction.
37. The side ramp assembly of claim 35 , wherein the first portion of the bottom surface is arranged parallel with a surface beneath the ramp structure, and the second portion of the bottom surface is tapered at an angle that substantially matches a slope of a top surface of the portion of the adjacent side ramp.