DK180840B1

DK180840B1 - Height-adjustable underground installation system

Info

Publication number: DK180840B1
Application number: DKPA201901346A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Gudbrand Refsahl Johan
Original assignee: Furnes Jernstoperi As
Priority date: 2019-11-18
Filing date: 2019-11-18
Publication date: 2022-05-12
Also published as: NO20201049A1; FI20206024A1; SE543970C2; DK201901346A1; SE2051197A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a height adjustable underground installation system, such as a height adjustable manhole cover system or height adjustable sewer grid system. The system comprises a first part having an upper flange arranged for supporting a grid or cover, and an upper cylindrical part and an intermediate conical part connecting said upper flange and said upper cylindrical part. The system further comprises a second part arranged for interconnecting the first part to a substructure, such as a pipe shroud. The second part comprises a lower cylindrical part arranged to cooperate and interconnect with the upper cylindrical part of the first part, and a lower flange arranged for supporting the first and second parts on said substructure.

Description

DK 180840 B1 1 Height adjustable underground installation system

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates a height adjustable underground installation system.

The height adjustable underground installation system is particularly suitable to be used as a height adjustable manhole cover system or height adjustable sewer grid system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Within the technical field of underground installation systems, such as manhole or sewer grid systems, it is known to arrange an upper part for supporting a cover or grid in a vertical displaceable manner. These systems are used in situations where the height of the ground surface to the substructure, such as a sewer structure, vary from installation to installation. It is thus possible to use the same product in a variety of sit- uations. These systems are typically comprised of an upper part for supporting a cover or grid, and a lover part, which is to be embedded into the ground and being part of the sub- structure. The upper and lower parts comprise mechanical locking means arranged in connection with the two parts and typically involving screws or other mechanical ad- justing means, interconnecting the two parts and being operated with suitable tools. However, these known types of systems are time consuming to install, as they involve the need for an installation worker to use tools. Further, the known systems comprise mechanical locking mechanisms, which tend to deteriorate and rust due to environ- mental influence with the following risk of malfunction. One example of such a prior art system is disclosed in DE 102 61 338 A1, which dis- closes two system parts, each having a number of cooperating adjusting means and interlocking screws. In the prior art, a height adjustable underground installation system comprising the fea- tures described in the preamble of appended claim 1 is known from US 4197031 A. (Itis an object of the present invention to provide a height adjustable underground in- stallation system which is easy to install at several heights without the use of any tools, and without the risk of deterioration eventually resulting in malfunction.

DK 180840 B1 2 The above object and advantages, together with numerous other objects and ad- vantages, which will be evident from the following description of the present invention, are according to a first aspect of the present invention obtained by: A height adjustable underground installation system, such as a height adjustable manhole cover system or height adjustable sewer grid system, the underground instal- lation system comprising: a first part arranged for supporting a grid or cover, the first part comprising an upper flange for supporting the grid or cover, an upper cylindrical part, and an interme- diate conical part connecting the upper flange and the upper cylindrical part; and a second part arranged for interconnecting the first part to a substructure, such as a pipe shroud, the second part comprising a lower cylindrical part arranged to co- operate and interconnect with the upper cylindrical part of the first part, and a lower flange arranged on an outer circumference of the lower cylindrical part, and arranged for supporting the first and second parts on the substructure, the upper cylindrical part having a smaller diameter than the lower cylindrical part, the upper cylindrical part comprising a number of upper locking elements, and the lower cylinder comprising a number of lower locking elements arranged to interconnect with the upper locking elements, the upper locking elements comprising protrusions, and the lower locking ele- ments being arranged as first recesses and arranged extending downwards from a first edge of the lower cylindrical part, the lower flange is arranged a distance from a second edge of the lower cylindri- cal part, and the lower cylindrical part comprises a second number of lower locking el- ements arranged as second recesses extending from said second edge (44), and ex- tending in a direction opposite the first recesses the first and second recesses extend- ing less than the distance between the first and second edges.

Hereby is defined a most basic embodiment of the invention comprising the first and second part. The parts of the height adjustable underground installation system are pref- erably manufactured from cast iron, but may likewise be manufactured from other suit- able materials, such as a other metals, including aluminum or steel, or alternatively from non-metal materials, such as PVC or composites.

DK 180840 B1 3 The second part is suitable for being arranged onto a substructure via the lower flange, which enables the upper part to be arranged at a distance from the substructure in a simple and, installation-wise, cost effective manner compared to the known type of height adjustable installations or installations not having a second part between an up- per part and the substructure. In order to secure the two parts in place in relation to each other, the upper cylindrical part has a smaller diameter than the lower cylindrical part, whereby the first part may be partly arranged within the second part, hereby securing the two parts, and also ar- ranging a water-proof installation in a path of travel from the first part to the second part. The upper locking elements are preferably arranged on an outside of the upper cylin- drical part, such that an interlocking is established between the contact surfaces of the upper and lower cylindrical parts. In a preferred embodiment, the lower flange is arranged between the first and second edges in an offset position, such that the lower flange is closer to the second edge than the first edge, or vice versa. This has the technical effect that the second part has two sets of opposite lower and second lower locking elements to interact with the up- per locking elements, whereby the offset configuration of the flange arranges the first part at different heights to an underground structure. The second part may thus be ar- ranged onto a substructure with either the first edge or the second edge extending into the substructure.

The upper locking means are preferably arranged as protrusions, and the lower lock- ing elements are preferably arranged as recesses, where the upper locking elements are arranged for interconnection with the lower locking elements. Arranging the lower locking elements as recesses, avoids the need for further mechanical locking means arranged in a space between the upper and lower cylindrical parts, which mechanical locking means tends to deteriorate or rust due to environmental influence with the fol- lowing risk of malfunction. The locking elements are thus incorporated into the compo- nent. According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the upper and lower locking elements have a tapered shape.

DK 180840 B1 4 The locking elements, arranged as projections and recesses, preferably have a ta- pered shape, which allows the person installing the system to easier interconnect the two parts. Hereby the risk for misalignment is minimalized, and the two parts are fur- ther, due to the tapered shape, locked firmly together.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the protrusions have a length which is substantially equal to the depth of the recesses.

The protrusions and recesses preferably have substantially the same length and depth. The protrusions may however be longer or shorter. The protrusions are in an alternative embodiment arranged such that they may be shortened, e.g. with a grinder or other suitable tools, whereby the first part may be arranged closer to the second part compared to the starting point.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the lower cylin- drical part, at a first or second edge thereof, comprises a number of depressions, cor- responding to the number of protrusions, the depressions being arranged to intercon- nect with the protrusions, and the depressions having a smaller extent than the re- cesses.

In order to arrange the system with even further height adjustment possibilities, the first and/or the second edge comprises depressions. The depressions have a smaller extent than the recesses, whereby the first part is less embedded into the second part, resulting in a larger distance from the first part to a substructure.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the system fur- ther comprises a pipe shroud arranged to be embedded in a ground, where the pipe shroud is a hollow cylinder having an inner diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the lower cylinder.

In a further preferred embodiment, the system comprises a pipe shroud arranged with dimensions compatible with the dimensions of the second part. Hereby any risk of mal- function due to misalignment is reduced.

DK 180840 B1 According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the system com- prises a grid being hingedly connected to the upper flange or the grid, and the upper flange comprises a snap fit.

5 According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the snap fit com- prises a number of openings arranged on opposing edges of the upper flange, and a number of projections arranged on opposing edges of the grid.

In order to attach the grid to the first part, the upper flange comprises a number of openings, and the grid comprises a number of projections corresponding to the open- ings. The first part may comprise openings on all parts of the upper flange, enabling the grid to be attached in several directions.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the openings comprise a first number of openings arranged at a first vertical level of the upper flange and a second number of openings arranged at a second vertical level, hereby arranging the grid to be attached to the first part at at least two different vertical posi- tions.

Arranging the upper flange with first and second openings arranged at different vertical levels has the technical advantage that the grid itself can be adjusted in a vertical di- rection in relation to the first part.

Further, it is possible to attach a first set of protrusions of the grid to a first number of openings, and a second opposite set of protrusions of the grid to a second number of openings arranged at a different vertical level. Hereby, the grid is arranged with an in- clination in relation to the first part. Thus, there is the possibility of arranging the grid adapted to an inclined ground surface.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the height adjustable underground installation system.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the height adjustable underground installation system in a first configuration.

DK 180840 B1 6 Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view A-A of the height adjustable underground installation system in a first configuration. Fig. 2C is an upper view of the height adjustable underground installation system.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the height adjustable underground installation system in a second configuration. Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view B-B of the height adjustable underground installation system in a second configuration. Fig. 3C is an upper view of the height adjustable underground installation system. Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the height adjustable underground installation system in a third configuration. Fig 4B is a cross-sectional view C-C of the height adjustable underground installation system in a third configuration. Fig. 4C is an upper view of the height adjustable underground installation system. The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will thus not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the height adjustable underground installation system 10. The figure illustrates a basic embodiment of the invention, where the system 10 com- prises a first part 14 and a separate second part 18 arranged to be interconnected with the first part 14. The figure further illustrates a grid 12 arranged to be connected to the

DK 180840 B1 7 first part 14. The system may in an alternative, instead of a grid 12, comprise a cover (not shown). The first part 14 comprises an upper flange 22 arranged to interconnect with the grid 12 or cover.

The upper flange 22 comprises a perimeter being larger than the perimeter of the grid 12, such that the grid 12 is encircled by the upper flange 12. The Grid 12 and the upper flange 22 preferably comprise snap-fit locking means for locking the grid 12 to the first part 14. The grid 12 comprises projections 36, and the upper flange comprises openings 38 arranged to engage with the projections 36. In order to disassemble the two parts, the projections 36 may be depressed out of engagement with the openings 38 by a suitable tool, such as a crowbar.

The connection between the grid 12 and the upper flange 22 may in an alternative embodiment comprise a hinge construction.

The first part 14 further comprises an upper cylindrical part 16 suitable to be arranged between the upper flange 22 and a substructure, such as a sewer system (not shown). The upper cylindrical part 16 is arranged with an opening area being smaller than the opening area defined by de upper flange 22. Therefore, the first part 14 further com- prises a conical section 24 arranged between and interconnecting the upper flange 22 and the upper cylindrical part 16. The upper cylindrical part 16 is illustrated as a square, but may as well be arranged as a polygon or have a rounded shape, such as a circular shape.

The second part 18 comprises a lower cylindrical part 20 having an opening area being larger than the opening area of the upper cylindrical part 16, whereby the lower cylindri- cal part 20 may encircle the upper cylindrical part 16 when the two parts are intercon- nected.

The second part 18 further comprises a lower flange 34 being circumferentially arranged in an outer surface of the lower cylindrical part 20. The flange is illustrated as encircling the entire circumferential surface of the lower cylindrical part 20, but may in an alternative embodiment be arranged as several distanced flange parts distributed in a spaced relationship around the lower cylindrical part 20. The lower flange 34 is ar- ranged on the lower cylindrical part 20, such that when arranging the system onto a substructure, the lower flange abuts the substructure and supports the first and second parts 14,16. The lower flange 34 is in a preferred embodiment arranged between a first and a second edge 42,44 (second edge 44 being shown in e.g. fig 2B) of the lower cylindrical part 20 in an offset position between the two edges 42,44, such that the lower flange 34 is closer to the second edge 44 than the first edge 42 or vice versa.

DK 180840 B1 8 In order to interlock the first part 14 and the second part 16, the upper cylindrical part 16 and the lower cylindrical part 20 comprise a number of locking elements 26,28,30. The upper cylindrical part 16 comprises a number of upper locking means 26, which in the illustrated embodiment is arranged as projections having a generally tapered shape.

The lower cylindrical part 18 comprises a number of lower locking elements 28 arranged as recesses on the first edge 42 of the lower cylindrical part 20, and a number of second locking elements 30 being arranged as second recesses on the second edge 44 of the lower cylindrical part 20, the recesses of the first and second edge 44 being arranged in opposite directions.

The number of first locking elements 26 corresponds to the number of lower locking elements 28 and the number of second lower locking elements 30, re- spectively.

The lower and second lower locking elements 28,30 of the lower cylindrical part 20 are arranged as tapered recesses having substantially the same length as the upper locking elements, and arranged for engagement therewith.

Arranging the locking elements 26,28,30 with a tapered shape has the technical effect that the person installing the system can easily interengage the two parts.

A further technical advantage is that the tapered shape arranges the two cylindrical parts 16,20 in a tight fit, which eliminates any displacement of the two parts 16,20. The locking elements 26,28,30 of the cylindrical parts 16,20 may however in a different embodiment have a shape other than the tapered shape, such as the shape of straight projections/recesses.

The second part 18 further comprises a number of depressions 32 arranged at the first edge 42 of the lower cylindrical part 20. The depressions may in an alternative embodi- ment be arranged on the second edge 44 of the lower cylindrical part 20 or on both edges 42,44. The depth of the depressions 32 is smaller than the depth of the lower and/or second lower locking elements being arranged as recesses.

The number of depressions 32 cor- responds to the number of upper locking elements, and the depressions are arranged on the first edge 42 of the lower cylindrical part 20, such that the upper locking elements 26 may interengage with the depressions 32 in a manner similar to the recesses.

Due to the special arrangement of the lower flange, in an offset distance between the first and second edges 42,44 of the lower cylindrical part 20, it is possible to arranged

DK 180840 B1 9 the upper side of the first part 14 at different heights in relation to the substructure, hereby adapting the installation system 10 to several, different ground heights. The var- ious installation heights are illustrated throughout figs. 2A-4C.

Figs. 2A-2C show a first configuration of the underground installation system. The fig- ures illustrate the first part 14 arranged in connection with the second part 18, which second part 18 is arranged onto a substructure, which in the illustrated embodiment is a pipe sprout 40. The second part 18 is, via the lower flange 34, supported onto an upper rim part of the pipe sprout 40, and the second part 18 is arranged onto the pipe sprout 40, such that the lower cylindrical part 20 and the first edge 42 (see fig. 2B) extend into the pipe sprout, and the second edge 44 is arranged towards the first part 14. | this first configuration, the upper locking elements 26 are arranged in connection with the second lower locking elements 30, which establishes the most lower configuration of the underground installation system 10. This configuration is preferably used in a situation where the ground level is close to the substructure. Figs. 3A-3C show a second configuration of the underground installation system. The second part 18 is in this configuration, via the lower flange 34, supported onto the upper rim part of the pipe sprout 40, and the second part 18 is arranged onto the pipe sprout 40, such that the lower cylindrical part 20 and the second edge 44 (see fig. 2B) extend into the pipe sprout, and the first edge 42 is arranged towards the first part 14. | this second configuration, the upper locking elements 26 are arranged in connection with the lower locking elements 28, which establishes a middle configuration of the un- derground installation system 10. This configuration is preferably used in a situation where the ground level is higher to the substructure compared to the situation of the first configuration.

Figs. 4A-4C show a third configuration of the underground installation system. The sec- ond part 18 is in this configuration, via the lower flange 34, supported onto the upper rim part of the pipe sprout 40, and the second part 18 is arranged onto the pipe sprout 40, such that the lower cylindrical part 20 and the second edge 44 (see fig. 2B) extend into the pipe sprout, and the first edge 42 is arranged towards the first part 14.

DK 180840 B1 10 In this third configuration, the upper locking elements 26 are arranged in connection with the depressions 32, which establishes the highest configuration of the underground in- stallation system 10. This configuration is preferably used in a situation where the ground level is even higher to the substructure compared to the situation of the second configuration.

List of reference numbers 10 Height adjustable underground installation system 12 Grid 14 — First part 16 — Upper cylindrical part 18 Second part Lower cylindrical part 22 Upper flange 24 Conical section 26 Upper locking elements 28 Lower locking elements 20 30 Second lower locking elements 32 Depression 34 Lower flange 36 Projection 38 Opening 40 Pipe shroud 42 First edge 44 Second edge H1 First height H2 Second height H3 Third height

Claims

DK 180840 B1 11 PATENTKRAV

A height-adjustable underground installation system (10), such as a height-adjustable manhole cover system or a height-adjustable manhole cover system, the underground installation system (10) comprising: a first portion (14) arranged to support the grid (12) or cover, which first part (14) comprises an upper flange (22) for supporting the grid (12) or cover, an upper cylindrical part (16) and an intermediate conical part (24) connecting the upper flange (22) and the upper cylindrical part (16), and a second part (18) adapted to connect the first part (14) to a substructure, such as a pipe part (40), which second part (18) comprises a lower cylinder drisk part (20) arranged to co-operate and be coupled to the upper cylindrical part (16) of the first part (14), and a lower flange (34) arranged on an outer circumference of the lower cylindrical part (20) and arranged to support the first and second parts (14, 18) of said substructure n, which upper cylindrical part (16) has a smaller diameter than the lower cylindrical part (20), which upper cylindrical part (16) comprises a number of upper locking elements (26), and the lower cylinder (20) comprises a number of lower locking elements (28) arranged for connection to the upper locking elements (26), which upper locking elements (26) comprise projections, and the lower locking elements (28) are arranged as first recesses and arranged downwards from a first edge (42) of the lower cylindrical part (20), characterized in that the lower flange (34) is arranged at a distance from another edge (44) of the lower cylindrical part (20), and the lower cylindrical part (20) comprises a second number of lower locking elements (30) arranged as second recesses extending from the second edge (44) and extending in a direction opposite to the first recesses, the first and second recesses extending less than the distance between the first and second edge ( 42, 44).

Height-adjustable underground installation system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower locking elements (26, 28) have a tapered shape.

A height-adjustable underground installation system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the projections have a length substantially equal to the depth of the recesses.

A height-adjustable underground installation system (10) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the lower cylindrical part (20) at the first or second edge (42, 44) thereof comprises a number of recesses (32), corresponding to the number of protrusions, where

The recesses (32) are arranged to be connected to the projections, and the recesses (32) have a smaller extent than the recesses.

A height-adjustable underground installation system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (10) further comprises a pipe screen (40) adapted to be embedded in the ground, the pipe part (40) being a hollow cylinder with a inside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the lower cylinder.

A height-adjustable underground installation system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (10) comprises a grid (12) hingedly connected to the upper flange (22) or the grid (12) and the upper flange (22) comprises a snap lock.

The height-adjustable underground installation system (10) of claim 6, wherein the snap lock comprises a plurality of openings (38) disposed on opposite edges of the upper flange (22) and a plurality of projections (36) disposed on opposite edges of the grid (12). .

The height-adjustable underground installation system (10) of claim 7, wherein the openings (38) comprise a first plurality of openings disposed in a first vertical level of the upper flange and a second plurality of openings disposed at a second vertical level, wherein the grid ( 12) arranged for fastening with the first part in at least two different vertical positions.