EP0220295B1

EP0220295B1 - A plastics gully

Info

Publication number: EP0220295B1
Application number: EP86903262A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vagn S. Poulsen; Willem Elzink; Bernhard Lodder
Original assignee: Wavin BV
Current assignee: Wavin BV
Priority date: 1985-05-02
Filing date: 1986-05-02
Publication date: 1991-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2006-05-02
Also published as: WO1986006429A1; DK199085A; DE3681113D1; DK167626B1; IE57417B1; IE861169L; EP0220295A1; ATE66711T1; DK199085D0

Abstract

A plastics gully for piping systems for collecting water, particularly surface water, comprises a bottom portion (1). This bottom portion is provided with at least one inlet (4) and at least one outlet (5), and a top portion (2) integrally formed with the bottom portion (1) and having an access opening (8). A piping system, of which the gully may be part, may be inspected through said access opening. The bottom portion (1) is provided with stiffening ribs (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10a', 10b', 10c', 10d', 10e', 10f') at at least a part of its surface. As a result a considerably increase of the strength of the bottom portion is obtained in spite on only a small additional consumption of plastics, and the gully can easily be produced by rotary moulding.

Description

A plastic gully for a piping system for collecting water, particularly surface water, comprising a bottom portion provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a top portion integrally formed with said bottom portion and having an access opening through which the system, of which the gully is part may be inspected.
From US-A-3825288 a fitting is known which shows structural resemlance to the gully as indicated above. A fitting is described in said reference which comprises a bottom portion and a top portion whereby the bottom portion is given a rigid character by the presence of ribs which extend there-around. Upon use of a gully having a shape as described in the reference the joint between the bottom portion and the top portion appears to be a weak spot which may cause the gully to collapse or break due to great earth pressure when it is buried in the earth. The present invention has as an object to provide a gully of the type described which does not show above weakness and is to that end characterized in said gully being produced by rotation moulding and at least the bottom portion thereof being rigid which bottom portion is thereto provided with outward facing stiffening ribs whereby one or more of said stiffening ribs of the gully comprise a rectilinear extension over the said top portion and one or more of said ribs, which are farthest from a vertical central plane (A) through the gully extend 360° around the bottom portion whereby one or more of said stiffening ribs extending 360° around the bottom portion are solid and have a substantially smooth inwardly facing surface.
A gully according to the invention is given the necessary rigidity and strength in the joint between the bottom portion and the top portion by a combination of measures.
Rotation moulding allows the ribs of the gully to be substantially solid which is favourably for the rigidity of the bottom portion.
A rectilinear extension to the ribs which extends over the top portion adds to the rigidity of said bottom portion.
Ribs extending 360° around the bottom portion assure sufficient rigidity of the sockets of the gully.
In particular those stiffening ribs adjacent to the vertical plane through the gully comprise a rectilinear extension which causes the strength of the gully as a whole against collapse to be increased.
In relation to the gully according to the invention reference is also made to GB-A-1577986 of Applicant.
In said publication an injection moulded inspection chamber is described which may be provided with a separate extension shaft.
Said extension shaft shows solid transverse ribs which extend around the shaft.
The ribs are provided to add to the rigidity of the shaft. Not is described like in the present application that the bottom portion of said inspection chamber is provided with ribs which have a rectilinear extension which extend over the top portion, i.e. the extension shaft.
The number of stiffening ribs may according to the invention be at least ten, and this number has proved to be particularly advantageous.
Furthermore, according to the invention each stiffening rib may be constituted by a thickening in the bottom portion and may be cogwheel-tooth-shape in cross-section or of a cross-section delimited by a sinusoidal curve. As a result the stiffening rib will achieve an adequate body.
Another embodiment of the inventive gully, in which the axis of an inlet and the axis of an outlet form an angle in the range of 100-170°, for instance 135°, and in which the bottom portion is correspondingly curved, is characterised in that the stiffening ribs are situated in planes with substantially equal solid angles. A particarly good stiffening of the bottom portion is thus obtained.
On the surface part of the bottom portion farthest away from an outer center of curvature of the bottom portion a plurality of auxiliary ribs may according to the invention be provided between the stiffening ribs, said auxiliary ribs being shorter than the stiffening ribs. As a result an additional stiffening of the surface of the bottom portion farthest away from said center of curvature is obtained.
Finally according to the inventin the stiffening ribs may be constituted by a long helix-shaped rib provided with interruptions in certain places. The rigidity of the bottom portion is thus increased further.
The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a gully according to the invention,
Fig. 2 is a top view of the inventive gully,
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the gully along the plane (the line) A of Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the gully, in which the inlet and the outlet form an angle of 135°, and the bottom portion is correspondingly curved, and
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of part of the wall of the bottom portion, in which each stiffening rib is delimited by part of a sinusoidal curve.

The plastics gully illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a bottom portion 1 and a top portion 2 integrally formed with the bottom portion. The bottom portion 1 comprises an inlet 4, an outlet 5 as well as an in- or outlet 6. The top portion 2 comprises an upper access opening 8, through which the cavity 9 of the bottom portion 1 may be inspected. The bottom portion 1 is as shown provided with stiffening ribs 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10a′, 10b′, 10c′, 10d′, 10e′, 10f′, said ribs extending over at least part of the surface, but not necessarily over the entire surface of the bottom portion. In Fig. 1 the ribs are situated on the outer surface of the bottom portion 1. There is, however, nothing to prevent the ribs from being situated on the inner surface or on the inner as well as on the outer surface of the bottom portion 1.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate particularly clearly that the bottom portion may comprise a substantially curved portion 1a, on the outer surface of which the stiffening ribs are located.
Fig. 2 illustrates how the axis 4a of the inlet 4 and the axis 4b of the outlet 5 are situated in the same plane, whereas a second axis 6a of a third inlet or outlet 6 are orthogonal to the congruent axes 4a and 4b. Inter alia in this case one or more stiffening ribs 10f which are farthest from a vertical central plane A through the gully (in Figs. 1 and 2 the plane is orthogonal to the plane of the paper) may as illustrated in Fig. 1 extend 360° around the bottom portion. As it appears, the inlet 4 and outlet 5 are provided in a kind of sleeves on the bottom portion. The pipes to be joined by means of the gully can be inserted into these sleeves, preferably by using one or more sealing rings (not shown).
Fig. 1 illustrates how one or more of the stiffening ribs 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10b′, 10c′, 10d′, 10e′ which are relatively close to the vertical central plane A, may extend along a circular arc smaller than 360°. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the stiffening ribs may be substantially equally spaced; this is, however, no absolute requirement.
Fig. 1 further illustrates how the arc, along which each stiffening rib extends, may increase the farther away the stiffening rib is situated from the vertical central plane A. It is, however, also possible that some of the ribs extend over an arc of the same arc measure, e.g. the stiffening ribs 10d and 10e. This would correspond to the dotted lines (indicating a side view of the stiffening ribs) being of the same height.
One or more of the stiffening ribs, preferably the ribs 10a′ adjacent to said vertical central plane A may as illustrated in Fig. 3 at one end or the other comprise a rectilinear extension 10a $\binom{′}{o}$
more or less extending over the top portion 2. The lower extension part 10a $\binom{˝}{o}$
is as illustrated horizontal, but in connection with the ribs situated somewhat closer to the rib 10f′ each stiffening rib is provided with rectilinear, substantially vertical extension parts. The rib 10f′ comprises, however, usually no extension parts. These extension parts contribute considerably to the stiffening of the bottom portion.
The number of stiffening ribs may be any number, but ten ribs or more are preferred.
As illustrated in Fig. 1 each stiffening rib 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10a′, 10b′, 10c′, 10d′, 10e′, 10f′ may be constituted by a thickening in the wall of the bottom portion 1 and be cogwheel-tooth-shape in cross-section. There is, however, nothing to prevent that each stiffening rib 10 may be of a cross-section delimited by part of a sinusoidal curve 15, cf. Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the inventive gully, in which the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 form an angle v of about 135°, and in which the bottom portion 1 is correspondingly curved. The angle v will normally be in the range of 100-170°. The Figure illustrates, how the stiffening ribs 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20a′, 20b′, 20c′, 20d′ are situated in planes with substantially equal solid angles α. A number of auxiliary ribs 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, 21f, 21h may optionally be provided on the surface part 1f farthest away from the outer center of curvature C of the bottom portion 1. As illustrated these auxiliary ribs are situated approximately in the midst of the stiffening ribs. The length of the auxiliary ribs is somewhat shorter than the length of the stiffening ribs, as little room is provided for them, cf. the fact that the distance between the stiffening ribs 20a, 20b, 20c, etc. on the side of the bottom portion facing the center of curvature C is comparatively small.
Instead of the stiffening ribs 10a-10f, and 10a′- 10f′ being situated in parallel planes as illustrated in Fig. 1 the stiffening ribs may be constituted by one long helix-shaped rib provided with interruptions in certain places. The interruptions are situated where the helix cuts the top portion 2.
The invention may be varied in many ways without thereby deviating from its idea. The function of the inlet 4 and the outlet 5 may thus be changed in such a manner that 4 is an outlet and 5 is an inlet. It is also possible to provide the gully with a sleeve (not shown) at the bottom of Fig. 2, said sleeve serving as inlet or outlet according to requirement.
The inventive gully may be used both in piping systems for collecting rain water (surface water) - in which case the piping system and the associated gully are buried in the earth in a depth of about 1.5 m - and for deeper lying piping systems.
Instead of the parts 4, 5, and 6 being formed as sleeves, in which a spigot end may be inserted, the parts 4, 5, and 6 may be formed as taper pipe pieces insertable in the end sleeves of the pipes to be joined by means of the gully. It is also possible that some of the parts 4, 5, and 6 be constituted by sleeve parts and the rest of the parts by taper pipe pieces. Consequently, when the words "inlet" and "outlet" are used in the claims it involves no limitation of whether it is a question of a sleeve part or a taper piece part.

Claims

1. A plastic gully for a piping system for collecting water, particularly surface water, comprising a bottom portion (1) provided with at least one inlet (4) and at least one outlet (5) and a top portion (2) integrally formed with said bottom portion (1) and having an access opening (8) through which the system, of which the gully is part may be inspected
characterized in
said gully being produced by rotation moulding and at least the bottom portion (1) thereof being rigid which bottom portion (1) is thereto provided with outward facing stiffening ribs (10a-10f; 10a′-10f′) whereby one or more of said stiffening ribs (10a-10f; 10a′-10f′) of the gully comprise a rectilinear extension over the said top portion (2) and one or more (10f) of said ribs, which are farthest from a vertical central plane (A) through the gully extend 360° around the bottom portion (1) whereby one or more of said stiffening ribs (10f) extending 360° around the bottom portion (1) are solid and have a substantially smooth inwardly facing surface.

2. A plastics gully according to claim 1
characterized in that
the stiffening ribs (10a; 10a′) adjacent to the vertical plane (A) through the gully comprise a rectilinear extension (10a_o ^′ ; 10a_o ^˝) over the top portion (2).

3. A gully as claimed in claim 1-2
characterized in that
the axis (14) of an inlet (4) and the axis (25) of an outlet (5) form an angle (v) in the range of 100-170°, for instance of 135°, the bottom portion (1) being correspondingly curved, and that the stiffening ribs (20a-20d, 20a′-20d′) are situated in planes with substantially equal solid angles (α).

4. A gully as claimed in claim 3
characterized in that
on the surface part (1f) of the bottom portion (1) farthest away from an outer center of curvature (C) of said bottom portion (1) a plurality of auxiliary ribs (21a-21h) are provided between the stiffening ribs (20a-20d, 20a′-20d′), said auxiliary ribs being shorter than the stiffening ribs.

5. A gully as claimed in claim 1-4
characterized in that
the stiffening ribs are constituted by one long helical-like rib having interruptions in certain places.