AU2017101118A4

AU2017101118A4 - Floodwater Manhole Cover

Info

Publication number: AU2017101118A4
Application number: AU2017101118A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Harazim
Original assignee: Hp Agency Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Hp Agency Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-16
Filing date: 2017-08-16
Publication date: 2018-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-16

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a secondary cover, particularly for use during floods or excessive rain causing overflow of stormwater from drains and the like. BOLT (4) OF TYPE - COUNTER CONCRETE UNDER OR THROUGH EXISTING MAHOLE FRAMING LOCKING MECHANISM (3) INSERTED INTO HOLE (5) IN SIDE WALL OF STORM WATER DRAIN SECURED BY BOLT (4)

Description

Title of the Invention Floodwater manhole cover Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a secondary manhole cover or grate, particularly for use during floods or excessive rain causing overflow of stormwater from drains and the like.

Background of the Invention

Manholes are openings which connect the trunk mains to the ground surface for underground sewer flow and other purposes. Manhole covers are plates which are seated in manhole openings at the ground surface to close the manholes. The manhole covers can be selectively unseated from the manhole openings to provide access to the underlying subterranean sewer structure for cleaning, maintenance or repair.

During excessive rainfall or floods stormwater may force its way into the sewerage system resulting in manholes being dislodged causing sewage to flow into people’s properties.

Consequently, a property or dwelling can become a pool of floodwater and raw sewage when a manhole cover bursts. The sewage contains harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites causing health risks to people. The area should be sanitised to reduce the health risk to residents and the public. US8851791 describes a manhole cover venting and rain guarding device for a manhole cover having an exterior manhole cover surface and an interior manhole cover surface includes a device housing adapted for attachment to the manhole cover. The device housing includes manhole cover venting and precipitation guarding device includes a device housing adapted for attachment to the manhole cover, the device housing including a head portion having a head portion surface adapted to protrude beyond an entire plane of the exterior manhole cover surface and a device bore extending through the head portion and adapted to communicate with the interior manhole cover surface of the manhole cover.

Such devices are undesirable as these require modification of the existing manhole covers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a temporary or semi permanent manhole cover which remains secure during floods.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a device for preventing overflow water from rising from a sewer system through a manhole member and thereby causing flooding or contaminating the ground or roadway surface comprising: a cover located below the manhole member; and a locking mechanism pin located under the rim of each cover.

Preferably, the pin is attached under the rim and secured by drilling a hole in concrete of the side of the sewer system.

Preferably, the locking mechanism pin is a connector means comprising a counter sunk bolt integrally formed with the pin.

Preferably, the sewer cover contains load bars.

Preferably, the cover contains slots which are specifically designed to lessen uplift of the cover due to water surgence.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of preventing overflow water from rising from a sewer system through a manhole member comprising using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Brief Description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows the top view of the Flood Series Cover as an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 2 shows the side view of the Flood Series Cover as an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 3 shows the underside view of the Flood Series Cover as an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 4 shows the isomeric view of the Flood Series Cover as an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 5 shows the locking mechanism of the Flood Series Cover as an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the invention

The present invention provides a device, particularly a cover which prevents overflow water from rising from a sewer system, for example, through the manhole cover and thereby causing flooding or contaminating the ground or roadway surface.

The covers currently in use often become dislodged from uplift flooding due to heavy rain and sewer blockages.

The floods series device according to the present invention are easily removable, permanent fixture and specifically designed to withstand uplift flooding. Furthermore, the device eliminates the potential fall from heights issue because the device remains intact.

Figure 1 shows the top view of the Flood Series Cover (1) as an embodiment of the present invention comprising slots (2) which are specifically designed to lessen uplift of the cover due to water surgence.

Figure 2 shows the side view of the Flood Series Cover as an embodiment of the present invention.

The unique pin (3) design allows for easy installation and removal of the safety device.

This locking mechanism pin (3) is located under the rim of each cover.

The pin (3) is secured by drilling a hole in concrete under the iron rim and fastening the pin by means of a bolt (4), for example. Optionally, the hole (5) is drilled in concrete under or through existing manhole framing as shown in Figure 4.

The bolt (4) when engaged with the pin enables penetration of the pin at right angles to the plane of the bolt. In one embodiment, the bolt (4) is a counter sunk type. A counter sink hole (6) is machined at the end of a slot to retain the bolt (4) as shown in Figure 5.

In one embodiment the cover is configured to fit into a stormwater access way with a substantially round opening. Optionally, the opening may be square, rectangular, oval shaped etc.

In one embodiment, the bolts (4) are equipositioned along the perimeter of the cover. The sewer cover optionally contains load bars.

The flood series device according to the present invention is designed to prevent falls from heights when a cast iron stormwater or sewer cover dislodges due to flooding.

Furthermore, the cover has been developed as a safety device to prevent accidental entry to a manhole. Even if the top manhole cover is completely removed, the flood cover has been designed to remain secured and is not dislodged by excessive rain or flooding.

This device is manufactured from pitting and crevice corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel. It is a semi-permanent fixture that fits neatly underneath the sewer/stormwater manhole cover but can be removed if necessary.

Product information:

Flood cover device suits standard sewer and storm water man holes (565mm & 625mm) • 316 stainless steel • 4 pin locking system • Quick release for removal • Engineered to allow for upwards and downwards force. . SWL 150kg • Self-ventilating • Allows fluid to pass through • 15min install time • Engineered to Australian standards

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening of the stormwater portion is sealed by a manhole member. In a preferred embodiment the manhole member substantially seals all of the opening. In a preferred embodiment the manhole member is configured to substantially seal the opening of the stormwater such that in the event that the pressure within the stormwater system significantly increases then the manhole member will be forced upwards and dislodged, thereby exposing the opening.

The manhole member is configured to be mounted at a point above the cover and to be used in conjunction with a slots mounted at the same time.

The pins and the attachment means must be sufficiently secure such that in the event that pressure increases sufficiently to blow the manhole member of the opening of the stormwater, the cover remains securely mounted in the stormwater opening.

The mounts and the attachments means must also be sufficiently strong to support the weight of at least one person that is supported by the cover.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or mixtures or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure, as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

The devices, systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. In addition, components of each device, system and each method can be practiced independently and separately from other components and methods described herein. Each component and method can be used in combination with other components and other methods.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific features of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

Claims

Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A device for preventing overflow water from rising from a sewer system through a manhole member and thereby causing flooding or contaminating the ground or roadway surface comprising: a cover located below the manhole member; and a locking mechanism pin located under the rim of each cover.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pin is attached under the rim and secured by drilling a hole in concrete of the side of the sewer system.
3. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the locking mechanism pin is a connector means comprising a counter sunk bolt integrally formed with the pin.
4. The device according to any one of claims 1 or 3 wherein the sewer cover contains load bars.
5. The device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cover contains slots which are specifically designed to lessen uplift of the cover due to water surgence.
6. A method of preventing overflow water from rising from a sewer system through a manhole member comprising using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.