EP0153545A1 - Ground socket - Google Patents

Abstract

The new ground socket for the stand, mast or post of a road signal, barrier or the like is a prefabricated concrete element (1) and is let in approximately flush with the ground surface; slight bevels (2) to all sides prevent the formation of puddles. The signal stand or the like is inserted into a longitudinal recess (3), which extends through the entire depth of the ground socket and is secured by means of a clamping screw (8) seated in an eye (7) with internal thread and is accessible by virtue of a trough (4) having a drainage channel (5). The longitudinal recess (3) may be clad with a pipe (6); the eye (7) is fixed on the latter or else on a sunk-in anchor. Furthermore, means for covering the trough (4) and the longitudinal recess (3) are provided for the occasional non-use of the ground socket. For saving on costs brought about by transporting over large distances, it is possible for only the head part of the new ground socket to be delivered, which can then be readily supplemented by the user to form the complete ground socket. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a ground sleeve with a locking device for a stand, mast or post of a road signal, sign, railing, sports equipment or a barrier, flag or the like, which can be inserted and held therein, for insertion into the floor in such a way that the upper stir area of the ground sleeve is at least approximately bündio with the floor surface.

By far the most common and most important application of ground sockets is to hold traffic signs. It is not expedient to concrete the mast firmly, because in the event of damage, but also if a new or different sign is attached, expensive demolition, excavation and restoration work will be necessary. Occasionally the traffic sign arrangement is changed here or there, or in places with too many traffic signs an attempt is made to temporarily remove some of them temporarily - changes that could not have been foreseen when the traffic signs were set up and which would prevent them from being embedded in concrete. This would be even more out of place for traffic signs that are only occasionally set up for certain situations or occasions, and the same applies to most of them Applications in other areas.

So ground sleeves have been in use for some time, into which the respective stand, mast or post can be inserted so that it remains easily removable and replaceable.

In some known designs of this type, a tubular sleeve protrudes from the ground in one piece; the respective stand, mast or post is inserted into the tubular sleeve, which in turn is concreted in the floor or provided with a foot to be embedded in the floor, and usually means are provided to clamp the stand, mast or post in the tubular sleeve. Among the disadvantages of these statements, it should be mentioned above all that when they are occasionally not used, the tubular sleeve protrudes from the ground as a dangerous obstacle, and that if damaged, e.g. if someone drives against it - not only the stand, mast or post, but also the pipe sleeve is bent or kinked and thus becomes unusable, so that expensive demolition and excavation work is required, just like with the stand, mast or post fixed in concrete, to a new pipe sleeve to know, which in turn causes costs.

Further development has therefore led to floor necks, the upper end face of which is at least approximately flush with the floor surface; the tubular sleeve is also present here, but it is concreted in such that it does not protrude or does not protrude essentially from the surface of the floor. From the fact that this has so far not been satisfactory: it can be concluded that the main problem here is to fasten the stand, mast or post in a suitable manner in the tubular sleeve which is siked in the floor or concrete foundation; in most applications, it must not only be fixed in terms of height, but must also be very well secured against twisting. So this has lead to complicated mechanisms from many parts, which apart from the costs is hardly suitable, because water and dirt have access and the many parts, even if they are galvanized, will soon corrode to such an extent that the mechanism is no longer common and can be loosened must be destroyed. At some versions, the locking device is no longer accessible after installation, or is missing entirely, protrudes from the floor or is insufficiently stable; In some cases, the assembly of a stand, mast or post is extremely tedious, or there are gaps or cavities from which the water cannot run out, which in addition to corrosion can lead to frost damage.

• a] Die Bodenhülse besteht aus einem Betonelement mit einer Längsausnehmung zur Aufnahme des Ständers, Mastes oder Pfostens;
• b] ein Metallteil ist in das Setonelement eingelassen, der im oberen Bereich der Bodenhülse außerhalb der Längsausnehmung ein Muttergewinde aufweist, dessen Achse quer zu derjenigen der Längsausnehmung verläuft;
• c] darin ist eine Klemmschraube zum Feststellen des eingesetzten Ständers, Mastes oder Pfostens vorgesehen;
• d] eine Maßnahme ist getroffen, welche die Zugänglichkeit der Klemmschraube von einem außerhalb des Bodens befindlichen Ort her sicherstellt.

The aim of the invention, which is characterized by the following features, is to remedy this as far as possible, but also economically and thus with simple means:

• a] The ground sleeve consists of a concrete element with a longitudinal recess for receiving the stand, mast or post;
• b] a metal part is embedded in the set-up element, which has a nut thread in the upper region of the ground sleeve outside the longitudinal recess, the axis of which extends transversely to that of the longitudinal recess;
• c] a clamping screw is provided for fixing the stand, mast or post used;
• d] a measure has been taken to ensure the accessibility of the clamping screw from a location outside the ground.

Fastening by means of a clamping screw is common in some areas of technology, and it is surprising that the experts have not previously considered it for the tube sleeves which are already known and are completely submerged in the ground; Probably out of the prejudice that one need not think about it because the clamping screw - under the ground surface - would still be accessible for earthworms at all, and the experts in question may not have known how solid and stable a clamping screw attachment can be, although it is so simple. For this, not even a clamping screw with a tip at the end is the best, as can be found especially in precision engineering; a neatly shaped flat or slightly curved end of the clamp screw makes them pack much more firmly, especially when shaking, and superior in this regard is a clamping screw with a ring point at the end.

Characteristic d] above, which has the character of a task, says that this prejudice should be set aside or not be relegated to it and only thought a little; then it will be easy to find a concrete solution without having to be inventive. A simple and expedient solution, which ensures the accessibility of the clamping screw, is that the concrete element has a trough on its upper end face in front of the nut thread, which is designed so that the clamping screw can be screwed into the nut thread by a person on the floor and is solvable. It is then important that the trough has a drain. Of course, this is not the only way to solve the problem according to feature d]; e.g. you could let the clamping screw protrude to the outer circumference of the concrete element and provide a somehow lined, reaching to the floor surface and possibly covered with a cover.

If you provide the trough, you can guide its drain to the outer circumference of the ground sleeve. Apart from the trough, the concrete element can be curved on its upper end face or bevelled on all sides; then it is ensured that this does not form a puddle during and after rainfall, and this may facilitate the transition to a tar gravel surface or the like: thanks to the inclination of the upper end face of the ground sleeve, there is no step at the transition, even if the ground warps somewhat or lowers.

The metal part according to feature b] above can consist in a tube which completely or partially lines the longitudinal recess and which has an eye with the nut thread on the outside near its upper end. On the other hand, it is according to the inventions dun ^g uhbedingt not nütig that the longitudinal recess is lined with a pipe, the strength of concrete is sufficient for most applications, too, and is superior in corrosion resistance concrete; but then must for the metal part with the nut thread for the clamping screw can be found another solution. This is particularly simple and advantageous if an anchor is embedded as the metal part, which itself or in an eye attached to it has the nut thread. The anchor can be embedded in the concrete element, for example, between its longitudinal recess and outer circumference and pass into an eye with the nut thread at its upper end; but it can also annularly enclose the longitudinal recess and bear the eye at its periphery, whereby it serves as Betonarmierun ^g. Anchor and eye can be welded together or made in one piece, for example by casting or injection molding.

The longitudinal recess should have a drain, because even if it is sealed at the top, the possibility of damage to the seal, but also occasional condensation, must be expected. It is easiest if the longitudinal recess extends for this purpose over the entire depth of the ground sleeve and is open at the bottom. Arranging a gravel pack under the ground sleeve is then advisable so that water that gets there can drain off quickly and seep away.

As mentioned, it can happen with traffic signs that they are temporarily removed, but also with barriers, etc., so that the ground sleeve remains in the ground for some time. It is therefore expedient if a cover is provided as a closure in the event of its temporary non-use, which covers at least the upper opening of the longitudinal recess and engages in it so far that it can be locked with the aid of the clamping screw.

A penetration of dirt into the gap between the stand, mast or post and the longitudinal recess of the ground sleeve can be prevented by providing a sealing sleeve which can be pushed onto the stand, mast or post and which can be pushed tightly thereon and which, after it has been inserted and locked in place pushed down to the upper face of the ground sleeve, the gap between it and the longitudinal recess mung covered. This is a very simple measure, and it even largely prevents water from entering. Although the sealing sleeve is only scraped down onto the upper end face of the ground sleeve and is not pressed against it - which would require an effort that is hardly disputable with this object and would lead to additional corrosion problems - but in the extremely thin gaps between the sealing sleeve and the end face, the may remain in places due to its surface tension, water that penetrates when it rains without being able to flow through it. This is a surprising result.

If you want to achieve an absolutely secure seal there, which also resists access by unauthorized persons who could be tempted to push up the seal sleeve, you can use a so-called liquid seal or the like. glue on the face. Although you have to destroy the sealing collar when the stand, mast or post is later removed, this is not a disadvantage, because it is not durable for any length of time in the open air, so that it will always be renewed with such an expansion, especially since it is is very cheap item. Remnants of the sealant on the face of the ground sleeve can be easily burned with a blowtorch and then brushed off.

Instead, the base sleeve can also be designed in such a way that its longitudinal recess opens into a recess in the upper end face of the base sleeve, the recess being dimensioned so that the sealing sleeve fits snugly into it, thus sealing against the base sleeve on its outer circumference. It must therefore be pressed into the recess, and because it is readily flexible in the radial direction, this is easy to do and adapts to any unevenness in the concrete surface. Since they do not protrude and can not be lifted without e-tool ^g, it is largely safe from unauthorized access. In this case it is of course also possible to use an additional liquid seal or an adhesive. It should also be mentioned that the sealing sleeve or a Similar, for example flatter, can also be inserted under the lid described above.

The trough, which allows access to the clamping screw, should only possibly interfere if the ground sleeve is in the middle of a walkway and occasionally remains unused. The trough can be filled with gravel or, in this case, a cap can be attached to the upper end face, which covers the trough. One can, the cap also designed so that they _s e partly or entirely, but at least the trough and the region covering the upper end face of the Bodenhül the upper opening of the longitudinal recess without these itself, as well as a surrounding this annular seal, which is so dimensioned that it seals the stand, mast or post to be inserted. Space for the ring seal can be gained by expanding the longitudinal recess at its upper end. Just like the stand, mast or post, you can also use the one mentioned earlier instead. Insert the lid, which, thanks to its equally large diameter, is also sealed when the ring seal is present. If the stand, mast or post is temporarily removed, the cap can also be exchanged for another one without the opening for it, which therefore also covers the longitudinal recess and thus makes the previously described cover superfluous; if the ring seal is present, it also seals the longitudinal recess in this case. The latter cap, which is used when there is no stand, mast or post in the ground sleeve, can be grooved on the top so that nobody slides on it.

The cap has the advantage, among other things, that it prevents dirt from accumulating in the trough, which would have to be removed later before the clamping screw can be loosened. If the cap only covers the trough, a single screw, suitably countersunk, and a corresponding dowel in the concrete element are sufficient for fastening it. If you also want to keep water away from the trough and thus also from the clamping screw, you can insert a seal under the cap and take this into account when designing the upper end face of the concrete element or when installing it sight. Since concrete usually does not have a very even surface, a particularly soft seal is expedient in this case, for example made of polyurethane foam with a closed surface. Even if the trough is covered by a cap with a seal, a drain on the trough is advisable, because occasional condensation can always be expected. If a cap is provided, the clamping screw can also be arranged deeper and the trough made correspondingly deeper without disadvantage.

If the trough is not covered by a cap with a seal, the clamping screw, in particular its thread, can be protected from the ingress of water in a simple manner by inserting a rubber hood enclosing the head of the clamping screw on the eye with the nut thread. In order to protect them from solar radiation, which led to the rapid aging of rubber, but also most of the plastics, and also to hide the rubber hood from playing children who could otherwise discover and pull it off, it is then advisable to use the trough with gravel to fill. Removing this if necessary is, of course, a minor matter for road construction workers.

The accessibility of the clamping screw in the trough, e.g. B. with an open-end wrench, ring spanner or insert socket wrench is perfect. It is not only for this reason that it would be a strange idea to arrange the clamping screw in a clean manner, for example in order to be able to use a long socket wrench, because then it would twist the replaced traffic sign when tightened. To remedy this, then using a steel screw with a tip would be an unsuitable measure: The surface pressure under the tip would be extremely high, the wind shakes the traffic sign used, which means that a lot more surface pressure and further deformation with respect to the tip will suddenly occur, and so on the road sign would soon be shaky. For the clamping screw, which is to be arranged horizontally for good reasons, it is not necessary to choose one with an annular cutting edge at the end, because it has been shown that that a screw with the usual flat or crowned end meets all requirements.

Should an inserted traffic sign or the like. removed or replaced after years, it may happen that the clamping screw is rusty. The outdoor corrosion stress is significant and experience has shown that galvanized, e.g. galvanized screws, even if they are bichromated, have not been able to cope with them over a longer period of time, while the usual greasing certainly does not offer permanent corrosion protection, because gaseous substances such as water vapor and sulfur dioxide or sulfurous acid quickly penetrate the grease. Corrosion is considerably delayed by the aforementioned cap with a seal or rubber hood, but the effect is limited by the formation of condensation which cannot be prevented thereby, and by the fact that no seal is always absolutely tight; plastics in particular are not diffusion-tight, and certain circumstances such as damage, etc. cannot usually be ruled out completely. Clamping screws made of stainless steel are the perfect remedy for the undesirable appearance of rusting, whether alone or in combination with a cap with a seal or a rubber hood. It is surprising that this has not been generally known for a long time.

The new ground sleeve solves the task in a well thought-out and particularly simple way, and as an advantage it should be emphasized that it can be manufactured completely as a finished part and in quantities, so that the manufacturing costs are low and concreting work in the area is unnecessary ; Any expansion or relocation to another location is correspondingly cost-saving.

However, due to its weight and dimensions, the ground socket, like any other, causes long-distance shipping costs, which are not insignificant in view of its inexpensive manufacture. However, the invention also precedes this problem partial solution, namely in the form of the possibility of producing and supplying only the new ground sleeve including the eye with the nut thread for the clamping screw; in the head part, the remaining part of the concrete element can then also be replaced by a cap-like cast part made of metal or cast resin. For the latter, an epoxy resin, for example bisphenol-A-epichlorohydrin, with a tertiary amine as hardener and with a filler such as quartz sand can be used; Cast resin parts made from it are perfectly resistant to open air, and also very good in mechanical strength. So it is up to the user to complete the head part delivered to him to the complete floor sleeve, simply by forming the longitudinal recess by inserting a tube, the outer boundary of the remaining concrete element with a formwork and pouring the space with a suitable concrete mixture. It is then expedient to provide a recess or a short, tubular extension on the head part, where the pipe end can be inserted and is centered.

Of course, the user also incurs certain costs in principle through this additional work, which, however, can be far lower than the long-distance transport costs and, moreover, very often will not be significant: road construction administrations usually maintain a work team for concreting work and the like, which, however is not equally busy and can do such work at times when he would have nothing else to do. Finally, it should be mentioned that only storing head parts in stock can save considerable storage costs if larger quantities are involved.

• Fig.1 zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht, Fig.2 im Schnitt ein Betonelement 1 mit einer von oben bis unten durchgehenden Längsausnehmung 3, die mit einem Rohr 6 ausgekleidet ist, auf dem ein Auge 7 befestigt, z.B. angeschweißt ist, das ein Muttergewinde für eine Klemmschraube 8 aufweist. Die Klemmschraube 8 ist als Sechskantschraube gezeichnet, es kann aber auch eine Schraube mit Innensechskant oder eine Stiftschraube sein. Die Klemmschraube 8 ist dank einer Mulde 4 zugänglich, die einen Ablauf 5 besitzt. Die obere Stirnfläche des Betonelements 1 besitzt allseitig Abschrägungen 2; mit B ist die EodenoberFläche angedeutet. Fig.2 zeigt zusätzlich einen in die Längsausnehmung 3 eingesteckten, mit der Klemmschraube 8 festgehaltenen Ständer, Mast oder Pfosten S, auf den eine darauf stramm und somit abdichtend sitzende Dichtungsmanchette 9 aufgeschoben ist.
• Fig.3 zeigt eine andere AusFührungsForm der neuen Bodenhülse, bei welcher die Längsausnehmung 3 des Betonelements 1 nicht mit einem Rohr ausgekleidet ist; das Auge 7 mit dem Muttergewinde für die Klemmschraube 8 wird statt dessen von einem ins Betonelement 1 eingelassenen Anker 13 getragen. Eine auf das Auge 7 aufgesteckte Gummikappe 19 schützt die Klemmschraube B, insbesondere ihr Gewinde, vor dem Zutritt von Wasser. Anstelle eines Ständers, Mastes oder Pfostens ist in Fig.3 ein Deckel 12 in die Längsausnehmung eingesteckt und mit der Klemmschraube B festgeklemmt, wie es dem Zustand vorübergehender Nichtbenutzung der Bodenhülse entspricht. Damit der Deckel 12 nicht herausragt, ist hier eine flachere Dichtungsmanchette 11 als in Fig.2 vorgesehen, die zudem mit Übermaß in einer Ausnehmung 1D in der oberen Stirnfläche eingepreßt ist, so daß sie auch an ihrem Außenumfang zuverlässig abdichtet. Dies gilt dann auch für die Dichtungsmanchette 9 (Fig.2] zur Verwendung mit einem Ständer, Mast oder Pfosten 3 in der Bodenhülse gemäß Fig.3.
• Fig.4 zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht, wie man die Mulde 4 von Fig.3 mit einer Kappe 14 abdecken kann, die wenig mehr als die Mulde überdeckt und mit Schrauben 15 befestigt ist. Ordnet man unter der Kappe 14 eine Dichtung an [nicht gezeichnete, so kann man damit ein Eindringen von Wasser in die Mulde ausschließen; im Hinblick auf gelegentliche Konderswasserbildung oder Beschädigung der Dichtung ist aber auch dann der Ablauf 5 zweckmäßig.
• In Fig.5 überdeckt eine Kappe 16 außer der Mulde auch die Umgebung der oberen Öffnung der Län^gsausnehmung ringsum, in der sich ein Ständer, Mast oder Pfosten S befindet, sowie eine Ringdichtung 17, welcne ein Eindringen von Wasser in der Spalt zwischen dem Ständer, Mast oder PFosten S und der Längsausnehmung verhindert. Gelegentlich könnte anstelle von S auch der Deckel 12 von Fig.3 eingesetzt werden; er wäre dann ebenso durch die Ringdichtung 17 abgedichtet.

The accompanying drawings show some embodiments of the new ground sleeve.

• 1 shows a perspective view, FIG. 2 shows a section of a concrete element 1 with a longitudinal recess 3 running from top to bottom, which is lined with a tube 6 on which an eye 7 is fastened, for example welded, which has a nut thread for one Has clamping screw 8. The clamping screw 8 is drawn as a hexagon screw, but it can also be a screw with a hexagon socket or a stud screw. The clamping screw 8 is accessible thanks to a trough 4 which has an outlet 5. The upper end face of the concrete element 1 has bevels 2 on all sides; B indicates the surface of the Eoden. FIG. 2 additionally shows a stand, mast or post S inserted into the longitudinal recess 3 and held in place by the clamping screw 8, onto which a sealing sleeve 9 seated tightly and thus sealingly is pushed.
• 3 shows another embodiment of the new ground sleeve, in which the longitudinal recess 3 of the concrete element 1 is not lined with a pipe; the eye 7 with the nut thread for the clamping screw 8 is instead carried by an anchor 13 embedded in the concrete element 1. A rubber cap 19 placed on the eye 7 protects the clamping screw B, in particular its thread, from the ingress of water. Instead of a stand, mast or post, a cover 12 is inserted into the longitudinal recess in FIG. 3 and clamped with the clamping screw B, as corresponds to the state of the temporary non-use of the ground sleeve. So that the cover 12 does not protrude, a flatter sealing sleeve 11 is provided here than in FIG. 2, which is also excessively pressed into a recess 1D in the upper end face, so that it also seals reliably on its outer circumference. This then also applies to the sealing collar 9 (FIG. 2) for use with a stand, mast or post 3 in the ground sleeve according to FIG. 3.
• Fig.4 shows a perspective view of how to Can cover 4 of Figure 3 with a cap 14 which covers little more than the trough and is fastened with screws 15. If a seal is placed under the cap 14 [not shown, it can be used to rule out the ingress of water into the trough; with regard to occasional condensation or damage to the seal, the drain 5 is also expedient.
• In Fig.5 16 covers a cap other than the trough and the vicinity of the upper opening of the County ^g sausnehmung all around, in which a stand mast or pole S is located, and an annular seal 17, welcne a penetration of water into the gap between the Stand, mast or post S and the longitudinal recess prevented. Occasionally, the cover 12 from FIG. 3 could also be used instead of S. it would then also be sealed by the ring seal 17.

Instead of using the cover 12 when the base sleeve is not used occasionally, the cap 16 can also be exchanged for a cap 18 which also covers the longitudinal recess 3, see FIG. 6; the ring seal 17 remains effective unchanged. The remaining parts in Fig.5 and 6 correspond to those of Fig.3.

The previously generally described embodiment with restriction of the new ground sleeve to its head part, to be supplemented by the user, and the possibility of replacing the remaining part of the concrete element 1 by a cap-like cast part made of metal or cast resin is not particularly drawn, because the person skilled in the art this can be readily developed in detail using the teaching given above.

Claims (12)

1. Ground sleeve with locking device for a stand, mast or post of a street signal, sign, railing, sports equipment or a barrier, flag or the like, which can be inserted and held therein, for insertion into the ground in such a way that the upper end face of the ground sleeve is at least approximately flush with the floor surface is
characterized, that the ground sleeve consists of a concrete element [1] with a longitudinal recess [3] for receiving the stand, mast or post [S], that a metal part is let into the concrete element [1], which has a nut thread in the upper region of the ground sleeve outside the longitudinal recess (3), the axis of which extends transversely to that of the longitudinal recess, that a clamping screw [8] is provided for fixing the used stand, mast or post [S], and that a measure is taken to ensure the accessibility of the clamping screw [8] from a location outside the ground. 2. Ground sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessibility of the clamping screw [8] is ensured in that the concrete element [1] has a trough [4] on its upper end face in front of the nut thread, which is so is designed so that the clamping screw [8] can be screwed and loosened into the nut thread by a person on the floor, and that the trough [4] has a drain (5). 3. Ground sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the eton element [1] is curved on its upper end face or is chamfered on all sides. 4. Bow sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal part in a the longitudinal recess [3] completely or partially lining pipe [6], which near its upper end has an eye [7] with the female thread, or that as a metal part an anchor [13] is embedded, which itself or in an eye [7] attached to it has the nut thread. 5. ground socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal recess [3] extends over the entire depth of the ground socket and is also open at the bottom. 6. Ground sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that a cover [12] is provided as a closure in the event of its temporary non-use, which covers at least the upper opening of the Längssusnelnmung [3] and engages so far that it with the help of the clamping screw [8] can be determined. 7. ground sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing sleeve (9, 11) which can be pushed onto the stand, mast or post [S] and is tightly fitted thereon, which, after it has been inserted and secured, pushed down to the upper end face of the ground sleeve, the gap between it and the longitudinal recess [3] covered. 8. ground sleeve according to claim 7, characterized in that the longitudinal recess [3] opens into a recess [10] in the upper end face of the ground sleeve, and that the recess is dimensioned so that the sealing sleeve [9, 11] fits tightly. 9. ground sleeve according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that a mountable on its upper end face (14, 16) is provided, which either covers the trough [4] or the trough and at least the vicinity of the upper opening of the longitudinal recess [3 ], but not this itself, and a surrounding ring seal [17], which is dimensioned such that it seals the stand, mast or post [S] to be inserted. 10. Ground sleeve according to claim 9, characterized in that the cap [14, 16] can be exchanged for another [18], which also covers the upper opening of the longitudinal recess [3]. 11. Ground sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that it is initially only limited to its head part including the nut thread for the clamping screw [8], such that it is possible for the user to easily add the head part to the complete ground sleeve. 12. Ground sleeve according to claim 11, characterized in that the remaining part of the concrete element [1] is replaced by a kaopen-like cast part made of metal or cast resin.

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