CN110050103B

CN110050103B - Open ditch covering device

Info

Publication number: CN110050103B
Application number: CN201780075611.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·J-M·布利克斯
Original assignee: EJ Emea SAS
Current assignee: EJ Emea SAS
Priority date: 2016-12-06
Filing date: 2017-12-04
Publication date: 2021-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-04
Also published as: CN110050103A; FR3059687A1; EP3551810A1; FR3059687B1; WO2018104637A1

Abstract

The open trench (C) covering device comprises a set of covering pieces (1, 2, 3) which comprise a pin piece at a first end and an opening at a longitudinally opposite second end, a first longitudinal beam (4) and a second longitudinal beam (5). The first longitudinal beam (4) comprises at least one first corner support and at least one second corner support, each corner support being provided with a joint. The pin of the first covering part (1) passes through the knuckle of the first gusset, and the pin of the second covering part (2) passes through the knuckle of the second gusset and beyond the second gusset to be inserted into the opening of the first covering part (1).

Description

Open ditch covering device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a fence for covering an open trench.

The invention particularly relates to an open trench covering device which is particularly suitable for being used on the road surfaces of airports and airports.

Background

Open trenches, i.e. a trench for water or, if necessary, other liquid flows, are present in road surfaces or other road or urban infrastructure constructions. In order to allow vehicles to pass over the open trench, to avoid other objects from blocking the open trench, or to avoid pedestrians from falling into the open trench, it is known to cover the open trench with a series of fences flush with the ground.

The document FR2790520 shows a closure, typically a series of bars for a "U" shaped open trench, and means for connecting the bars to the open trench by means of clamps carried at the connection zone between two consecutive bars.

However, such open trench closures are not suitable for certain use scenarios, such as open trenches arranged around airports and at runways. In this case, it is important that any element does not fall off the open trench cover and become a foreign matter on the airport runway. This is the content specified in FOD, i.e., the acronym for "Foreign Object Debris" or "Foreign Object Damage".

Therefore, the fixing by the clip is not suitable for the fixing of the open trench closing member on the airport. Moreover, in general, the absence of carrying means for fixing the open trench fence is more convenient for the laying and maintenance of the fence of the open trench, in particular because it avoids having to provide elements of small size and number in correspondence with the laying grid of the operating volume.

The document FR2292804 shows a covering, i.e. a set of fences, for covering the open trench of the airport pavement, while reducing the risk of overturning the fence caused by the vehicle driving over the open trench. To this end, the rectangular bars are connected at one end to a set of pins and the shafts or pin holes are passed between the pins to pin the bars together. So that the bars are fixed to each other. However, it is important to be able to operate on a particular fence without disassembling other fences and without disassembling separately attached parts.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device comprising a set of coverings for covering an open trench, such as a fence, and to provide a method of installation which does not add further connecting elements and which allows the coverings to be opened individually without the need to disassemble the detachable parts of the device.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an open trench covering device, the open trench extending in a longitudinal direction, the open trench covering device comprising a set of covers having a first cover and a second cover adjacent to the first cover. The open trench covering device further comprises a first longitudinal beam and a second longitudinal beam, wherein the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam are respectively provided with a first supporting area and a second supporting area which are positioned on two sides of the upper portion of the open trench to be covered. The first stringer comprises at least one first gusset and at least one second gusset, each gusset being provided with a knuckle, each cover of the set of covers being substantially rectangular and comprising a pin at a first end and an opening at a second end longitudinally opposite the first end. The pin of the first covering element passes through the knuckle of the first gusset. The pin of the second cover passes through the knuckle of the second gusset and beyond the second gusset to nest in the opening of the first cover.

The first cover part is thus pivotally articulated relative to the first gusset on the one hand against the first longitudinal beam and on the other hand via the pin of the second cover part.

The connection by the pin of the covering element against the first stringer and by the opening against the adjacent covering element, which is itself connected slightly to the first stringer by its positioning, allows the covering elements to be brought into abutment with one another with respect to the first stringer without the use of additional elements that may be detached from the device. In addition, this is achieved by using cover elements of the same design which are connected to one another. There is no parent or child (one to the other) on the device.

The open trench covering device may comprise a set of more than two covering elements, each of which, apart from the outer covering elements, is pivotally articulated on the one hand against the first longitudinal beam and on the other hand against the adjacent covering element.

For example tens, hundreds or even more cover members may be so connected as to cover the open trench.

The opening of each cover element is advantageously arranged in a spring element which is deformable for disengaging the pin element of the adjacent cover element from said opening. The spring element may be in particular a spring arm which extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the open trench.

The coverings may be hollowed out to form a fence.

Each cladding element further comprises a locking device adapted to cooperate with an element of the second longitudinal beam for locking. The locking means may comprise a resilient lever adapted to cooperate with an element of the second longitudinal beam being a convex joint, the resilient lever being positioned between the joint and a horizontal surface of the second longitudinal beam in the closed position of the cover member, preventing opening of the cover member, said resilient lever being deformable to disengage from the joint so as to enable opening of the cover member.

The first stringer and/or the second stringer may be comprised of a plurality of end-to-end stringers. This can cover open trenches of large length, such as tens, hundreds or thousands of meters.

The first and second stringer sides may have an L-shaped profile.

Each knuckle may have a vertically oriented oblong shape, the opening of each overlay having a substantially vertically oriented oblong shape when the overlay is in an open position in which the overlay is substantially vertical and supported on the first longitudinal beam such that the overlay is rotationally locked in its open position, the rotational unlocking to ensure closing being obtained by lifting the overlay from the first longitudinal beam before turning the overlay over.

Each cover is advantageously a single piece. Each cover may be made of ductile iron. The first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam are made of galvanized steel.

The invention also relates to a kit comprising an open trench and a covering device as described above.

In the kit, the open trench may include a substantially constant cross-section, the first support region and the second support region forming shoulders on both sides of an upper portion of the cross-section of the open trench.

Drawings

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter.

Non-limiting embodiments are illustrated using the accompanying drawings:

figure 1 schematically illustrates the installation of an open trench covering device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention on an open trench;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a top view of a covering element in a possible embodiment of the invention;

figure 3 schematically shows a bottom view of a cover according to a possible embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically shows an open trench for assembling stringers in which the invention may be implemented;

FIG. 5 shows the connection between the cladding element and the stringer in a three-dimensional schematic detail view;

figure 6 shows, in a schematic sectional view, the connection between two adjacent covering elements;

figures 7a and 7b show the removal of the covering of the open trench covering device according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 8a to 8c show the opening of the cover of the open trench covering device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a covering device for an open trench C. The open trench is covered by

covers

1, 2, 3. In fig. 1, the three

covers

1, 2, 3 are aligned one after the other, with the first cover 1 adjacent to the second cover 2, and the second cover 2 adjacent to the first cover 1 on the one hand and the third cover 3 on the other hand.

In the embodiment of this embodiment, the

covers

1, 2, 3 are identical. The first longitudinal beam 4 is installed at the groove of the open trench C. The second longitudinal beam 5 is arranged at the groove at the opposite side of the open ditch C.

The

stringers

4, 5 preferably have an L-shaped (or angular) overall shape, i.e. each stringer assumes the shape of a right-angled profile, the section of which comprises two orthogonal planes. The longitudinal beams are respectively arranged in a first supporting region C1 and a second supporting region C2 of the open trench C, and the first supporting region C1 and the second supporting region C2 are formed by grooves on both sides of the upper portion of the open trench C. The first C1 and second C2 support regions of the open channel C are advantageously used for receiving the

longitudinal beams

4, 5. Thus, the

stringers

4, 5, which have an overall L-shape, are received in one of the first and second support zones C1, C2 comprising horizontal and vertical planes of dimensions corresponding to the respective outer side faces of the stringers. However, the support zones C1 and C2 may be larger in size than the

stringers

4, 5, in order to allow the stringers to be enclosed in said support zones C1, C2, i.e. in the grooves of the open channels C. The open channel C has a substantially rectangular cross section, or at least two vertical walls, and the support zones C1, C2 form shoulders at the upper part of the cross section of the open channel. The open channel may take on other shapes such as semi-circular.

The

longitudinal beams

4, 5 are fixed in the support areas C1, C2, in particular by means of anchoring claws (not shown), in particular of the "carp tail" type, which are a reliable way of anchoring in concrete.

The distance between the longitudinal beams corresponds, in the vicinity of the functional gap, to the width l of the cover. In the closed position, therefore, the covering

elements

1, 2, 3 are supported on the

longitudinal beams

4, 5 housed in the supporting areas C1, C2 of the open channel C. The height between the horizontal support surface provided when the

stringers

4, 5 are positioned in the open trench and the ground level S (or open trench height) corresponds to the thickness e of the covering element so that the upper surface 11 of the covering element is level with the ground level S when the covering element covers the open trench C. The thickness e is determined by the distance between the upper cover surface 11 and the lower support surface 16 supported on the

stringers

4, 5.

Once placed over the open trench, the covers are hinged so that each cover can be independently flipped between a closed position (in which the cover covers the open trench C) and an open position allowing access to the open trench.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the cover may be generally rectangular (i.e., its upper surface 11 is generally rectangular, having a length L and a width L). By way of example, the length L may be about 500mm and the width L may be about 450 mm. The covering member may be hollowed out to form a barrier to provide an open surface for water to drain through the covered open trench. The reinforcement 17, for example a stiffener, ensures a strong stiffness of the cover. The covering elements having the above-mentioned dimensions can in particular be dimensioned to withstand a 90-ton load. This is in accordance with the most desirable specifications for open trench covers fitted to airports.

The cover comprises a pin 12. Thus, the pin is a single piece together with the cover comprising it. The cover is generally rectangular and the pin member 12 is positioned at its longitudinal end at one corner of the cover. The pin 12 extends in the longitudinal direction, in the embodiment parallel to the long sides of the covering element. Obviously, each cover may be substantially square, or oblong, according to other embodiments not shown, with the short sides positioned longitudinally on the open channels and the long sides crossing the open channels.

The cover also comprises an opening 13. The opening 13 is positioned on the end longitudinally opposite the end comprising the pin member 12. The axis a defined between the pin and the opening corresponds to the axis of inversion of the covering between its open and closed positions. The shape and size of the opening 13 allows the insertion of the pin 12 (of another cover).

The openings 13 serve for the connection of the cover parts to one another and to the first longitudinal beam 4. As shown in particular in fig. 4, the first longitudinal beam 4 actually comprises a plurality of gussets, namely at least one first gusset 41 and at least one second gusset 42. Gussets generally refer to gussets used for metal connections. In the figure, the corner supports 41, 42 are arranged transversely on the first longitudinal beam 4. Each gusset includes an aperture and thus forms an articulation piece 43, i.e., a hinge aperture.

The distance between the two gussets corresponds to the cover length L, plus the functional gap. Thus, each cover is positioned between two gussets. In particular, the pin 12 of the covering element enters the knuckle of the gusset. Fig. 5 illustrates this aspect in particular. The pin 12 of the first covering part 1 is shown in the figure entering the knuckle 43 of the first gusset 41 of the first longitudinal beam 4.

For open trenches of large length (which may be several tens or even hundreds of meters long), the first stringer 4 and the second stringer 5 may be implemented by stringer members connected end to end. The stringer members are configured such that the spacing between the last gusset of a stringer member and the first gusset of an end-to-end stringer member is the same as the spacing between two consecutive gussets of the same stringer member.

The cladding elements can be positioned continuously on the open channel C, the pin elements 12 of the cladding element on the one hand and the pin elements 12 of the adjacent cladding element on the other hand ensuring the connection of the cladding element against the first stringer. For example, fig. 6 shows the connection between a first cover 1 and a second cover 2 adjacent thereto in a schematic sectional view. The pin 12 of the second cover part 2 passes through the knuckle of the second gusset 42 of the first stringer 4. The pin 12 of the second cover 2 extends beyond the second gusset 42 and is inserted into the opening 13 of the first cover.

The first cover part is thus connected to the first longitudinal beam 4 on the one hand by the pin 12 which traverses the first gusset 41 and on the other hand by the second cover part pin 12 which is inserted into the opening 13 of the first cover part, the pin 12 of said second cover part itself being connected to the first longitudinal beam 4 by the second gusset 42.

Thus, a pivotal connection is formed between each cover and the first longitudinal beam 4, allowing each cover to be turned between a closed position and an open position and vice versa.

In the embodiment example of the shown cover, the opening 13 is arranged in a resilient arm 14. The resilient arm 14 extends transversely, which provides some longitudinal play to its free end where the opening 13 is arranged.

The longitudinal play of the free end of the resilient arm 14 in the direction of the pin member 12 is for example equal to the length of the pin member 12. This longitudinal play is determined by the spacing between the resilient arms 14 and the rest of the cover in the absence of external forces. The longitudinal play, and therefore the spacing d, is at least equal to the same length g of insertion of the pin 12 in the opening 13 of the adjacent covering element, regardless of the connection clearance and its distribution.

The resilient arms thus allow the positioning and removal of the individual covers of the open trench covering device according to the invention, which comprises a set of covers. As shown in fig. 7a and 7b, in order to remove the covering, its elastic arms are deformed (as by means of everyday tools, not limited to a moil, lever, shovel, as shown in fig. 7 a) so as to reduce or eliminate the spacing d, which allows the pin 12 of the adjacent covering to disengage from the opening 13 of the covering concerned. Once the pin 12 is disengaged from the opening 13, the covering can be lifted (in the position shown in figure 7 b) facing the first longitudinal beam 4 and then moved so as to disengage its pin 12 from the knuckle in which it is inserted.

Thus, the cover(s) can be easily removed, for example from their position, without the need to remove the entire set of covers from the open trench.

The resilient arm 14 may be formed in one piece with the rest of the cover. The covering element is thus made of a material having suitable elasticity. The covering member can be made of GS cast iron (fonte-graphite)

Nodular cast iron).

Each cover is reversible between a closed position in which the cover covers the open trench and an open position in which access to the open trench is possible. In the closed position, a locking device is used to hold the covering element against the second longitudinal beam 5, preventing it from turning over towards the open position.

The locking means comprise in the shown example an elastic rod 15. In particular, each cover comprises an elastic rod 15 on the opposite side to the pin 12 and the opening 13. The elastic rod 15 advantageously extends longitudinally and comprises a free end 151, advantageously located approximately in the middle of the covering element. The second longitudinal beam 15 comprises a joint 51 (when the cover is placed over the open channel C) protruding at the free end 151 of the resilient bar 15 for providing a space between said joint 51 and the (horizontal) support surface of the second longitudinal beam. The free end 151 of the resilient rod may be received in the space so provided. The free end is thus locked under the raised contact, which prevents the cover from being flipped over into its open position.

Fig. 8a to 8c show the opening sequence of the cover. To open the cover, the elastic rod can be deformed, for example by means of a lever, as shown in fig. 8 a. This allows the elastic rod 8a to be disengaged from under the contact even from the other part of the cover approached by the end 151, so that the free end no longer interferes mechanically with the contact 51. As shown in fig. 8b, the deformable resilient rod is thus able to pass over the contacts.

Furthermore, it can be seen from the configuration shown in fig. 8b that the cover can be disassembled as described with reference to fig. 7a and 7 b.

To continue opening the cover, the cover is turned about axis a to the open position shown in fig. 8 c.

In the example of embodiment shown, the configuration of the cover ensures the safety of the open position. In other words, in order to close the covering again, it is necessary to lift it slightly from the first longitudinal beam 4 to allow it to turn towards the closed condition. This effect can be obtained by incorporating an oblong joint element 43, as shown in particular in fig. 5. The knuckle 43 is generally oblong in shape, extending in a vertical direction. Furthermore, the pin 12 is positioned against the side closest to the cover at a distance less than the distance of the pin against the lower support surface 16. Thus, when the cover is open and supported on its sides, the pin 12 descends to the lower part of the gusset where it is inserted. This prevents the cover from suddenly flipping to its closed position. To reclose the cover from this safe position, the cover is lifted to bring the pin to the upper portion of the gusset. The safety function in the open position thus obtained avoids any risk of accidental closure of the cover.

Although the covering elements are identical in the described embodiments of the invention, it should be pointed out that the covering elements used can differ from one another, as long as the linking of the covering elements, i.e. the connection of the covering elements to one another and the connection of the covering elements to the first longitudinal beam, is of identical design. In particular, the covering elements may present different markings. The covering element can be provided with different hollows or different surface states, different stripes or different patterns. The covering elements may also be of different dimensions in the longitudinal direction, although the spacing between the articulations should also differ (i.e. have a distance space adapted to the length of the covering elements before they are fitted between the articulations).

Such an improved open trench covering device in the present invention allows for covering the open trench without applying possible parts separate from the device, while allowing for the unloading and reinstallation of any one of a set of covers comprised by the open trench covering device, and the opening (or closing) of any one of a set of covers.

The improved device is particularly suitable for covering open trenches in airports, in particular without adding parts for closing or hinging the cover, which become potentially dangerous foreign bodies in airports in the event of sudden detachment from the open trench cover.

Claims

1. Open trench (C) covering device, extending in longitudinal direction, comprising a set of covers (1, 2, 3) with a first cover (1) and a second cover (2) adjacent to the first cover (1),

the open trench covering device is characterized by further comprising a first longitudinal beam (4) and a second longitudinal beam (5), wherein the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam are respectively provided with a first supporting area (C1) and a second supporting area (C2) which are positioned at two sides of the upper part of the open trench (C) to be covered;

wherein the first longitudinal beam (4) comprises at least one first corner support (41) and at least one second corner support (42), each corner support of the first corner support (41) and the second corner support (42) is provided with a joint piece (43),

each covering element of said set of covering elements (1, 2, 3) being substantially rectangular and comprising a pin element (12) at a first end and an opening (13) at a second end longitudinally opposite to the first end, the pin element being a single piece with the covering element comprising the pin element,

the pin (12) of the first covering part (1) passes through the joint part (43) of the first gusset (41),

the pin (12) of the second covering part (2) passes through the knuckle (43) of the second gusset (42) and beyond said second gusset (42) to engage in the opening (13) of the first covering part (1),

the opening (13) of each covering element (1, 2, 3) is arranged in a spring arm (14) which is transverse to the longitudinal extension of the open trench and which can be deformed in order to disengage the pin (12) for the adjacent covering element from the opening (13).

2. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a set of more than two covering elements (1, 2, 3), each covering element (1, 2, 3), except for the outer covering element, being pivotally hinged on the one hand against the first longitudinal beam (4) and on the other hand against the adjacent covering element.

3. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that each cover (1, 2, 3) is hollowed out to form a fence.

4. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that each cover element (1, 2, 3) further comprises locking means adapted to cooperate with an element of the second longitudinal beam (5) for locking.

5. Open trench covering device according to claim 4, wherein the locking device comprises a resilient lever (15), the element of the second longitudinal beam with which the resilient lever is adapted to cooperate being a convex joint (51), the resilient lever (15) being positioned between the joint (51) and the horizontal surface of the second longitudinal beam (5) in the closed position of the cover (1, 2, 3) so as to prevent opening of the cover (1, 2, 3), the resilient lever (15) being deformable to disengage from the joint (51) so as to enable opening of the cover (1, 2, 3).

6. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first longitudinal beam (4) and/or the second longitudinal beam (5) consist of a plurality of longitudinal beams connected end to end.

7. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first longitudinal beam (4) and the second longitudinal beam (5) have an L-shaped profile.

8. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, wherein each articulation (43) has a vertically oriented oblong shape, the opening (13) of the respective covering (1, 2, 3) having a substantially vertically oriented oblong shape when the covering (1, 2, 3) is in the open position, in which the covering is substantially vertical and supported on the first longitudinal beam (4), such that the covering (1, 2, 3) is rotationally locked in its open position, in which the covering is substantially vertical and the rotational unlocking to ensure the closing of the covering is obtained by lifting the covering (1, 2, 3) off the first longitudinal beam (4) before turning it over.

9. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that each covering piece (1, 2, 3) is a single piece.

10. Open channel covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that each covering piece (1, 2, 3) is made of nodular cast iron.

11. Open trench covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first longitudinal beam (4) and the second longitudinal beam (5) are made of galvanized steel.

12. A kit comprising an open trench (C) and an open trench covering device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The plant according to claim 12, characterized in that the open trench (C) comprises a substantially constant section, the first support zone (C1) and the second support zone (C2) forming shoulders on both sides of the upper portion of the section of the open trench.