EP0506591A1 - Cover for an access or evacuation manhole - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a frame (1) and a removable grating (2) which is hinged along an axis X-X of the frame, which grating consists of a series of bars connected in pairs, by at least one tie and running perpendicularly to the hinge axis X-X of the grating (2). The grating (2) furthermore comprises two intermediate bars (19A, 19B) connected to the other bars of the grating by their ends opposite the hinge axis X-X and the free ends of which interact, by elastic bending of the bars (19A, 19B) in the plane of the grating, with means (13, 14), arranged on the frame (1), for holding the grating (2) in the open and closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for crowning an access or exhaust chimney consisting of a removable tilting grid resting, when the device is in the closed position, in a frame sealed in the ground.

There have been described in French patent application No. 89 12 938 filed on September 29, 1989 by the Applicant, a method and a device for crowning an exhaust chimney consisting of a grid articulated in a frame along an axis of pivoting of the grid corresponding to one side thereof, this grid being provided with bars connected to each other by spacers.

The grid is divided along its pivot axis into a middle part and two lateral parts elastically connected to the middle part, one end of the middle part adjoining the pivot axis being intended to come into abutment against a corresponding surface of the frame by exerting a couple opposing the movement of the grid around its pivot axis.

An arrangement of the type described in the aforementioned patent makes it possible to ensure that the grid remains blocked to avoid accidental opening of the chimney and also to prevent acts of vandalism during which the grid can be deliberately removed from its frame.

Furthermore, it maintains the grid in the open position.

The invention aims to further improve the technique described above by creating a crowning device in which on the one hand any accidental opening of the grid and on the other hand the untimely closing of the latter when it is in position. open are avoided and this thanks to an elastic action of certain elements of the grid.

It therefore relates to a device for crowning an access or exhaust chimney comprising a frame and a removable grid articulated along an axis XX of the frame, consisting of a series of bars connected two by two, by at least a spacer and extending perpendicular to the axis of articulation XX of the grid, characterized in that the grid further comprises at least one intermediate bar connected to the other bars of the grid by its end opposite the axis of hinge XX and the free end of which cooperates by elastic bending of the bar in the plane of the grid with means for holding the grid in the open and closed position, provided on the frame.

• la Fig.1 est une vue en plan d'un dispositif de couronnement de cheminée suivant l'invention;
• la Fig.2 est une coupe suivant la ligne 2-2 de la Fig.1;
• la Fig.3 est une vue de côté du dispositif de couronnement montrant la grille en position ouverte et en position fermée;
• la Fig.4 est une vue en plan de la grille du dispositif de couronnement suivant l'invention;
• la Fig.5 est une vue partielle en perspective du dispositif de couronnement suivant l'invention montrant les moyens de maintien de la grille en position ouverte ou fermée; et
• la Fig.6 est une vue partielle en perspective analogue à la Fig.5 montrant une variante des moyens de maintien de la grille.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Fig.1 is a plan view of a chimney crowning device according to the invention;
• Fig.2 is a section along line 2-2 of Fig.1;
• Fig.3 is a side view of the crowning device showing the grid in the open position and in the closed position;
• Fig.4 is a plan view of the grid of the crowning device according to the invention;
• Fig.5 is a partial perspective view of the crowning device according to the invention showing the means for holding the grid in the open or closed position; and
• Fig.6 is a partial perspective view similar to Fig.5 showing a variant of the grid holding means.

Referring first to Fig. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the crowning device according to the invention comprises a frame 1 intended to be sealed in the ground, for example in a pavement, at the upper end of an evacuation or access chimney (not shown) and of a removable articulated grid 2 forming a cover .

The frame 1 has in plan a generally square or rertangular shape and has a vertical skirt 3, provided at its periphery with a peripheral support sole 4 serving to seal the frame and an internal collar 5 serving as support surface for grid 2.

Two opposite sides 6, 7 of the skirt 3 each have in the immediate vicinity of a side 8 which is perpendicular to them, a cavity 9 of axis X-X parallel to the side 8, the two cavities 9 being coaxial.

The skirt 3 is terminated by a side 10 opposite and parallel to the side 8.

Each cavity 9 is formed in the skirt 3 of the frame 1 above the inner collar 5 approximately halfway between this collar and the top of the skirt 3.

The part of the collar 5 secured to the side 8 of the skirt 3 has, near its ends, two openings 11A, 11B defining between them an intermediate portion 12 each of whose two ends, parallel to the sides 6 and 7 of the skirt, has a chamfered surface 13 directed towards the inside of the frame and moving away from the opposite wall of the corresponding opening 11A, 11B.

Each end of the intermediate portion 12 of the collar delimited by the openings 11A, 11B, further supports a stop 14 projecting upwards from the frame 1 and integral with the side 8 of the skirt 3.

The arrangement of the chamfered surface 13 and the stop 14, is clearly seen in the perspective view of Fig.5.

Each stop 14 has in section the shape of a rectangular trapezoid. It is parallel to the sides 6 and 7 of the frame and therefore to the bars of the grid 2, and has on its side opposite the corresponding opening 11A, 11B, an inclined surface or ramp 15 ending in a horizontal top 16.

The grid 2, of generally rectangular shape, is constituted by a series of parallel bars, each bar being connected to the neighboring bars by at least one spacer.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 4, the grid comprises two external bars 17 each having near one of their ends, a pivot 18 intended to be housed in one of the cavities 9 of the frame 1, both pivots 18 being coaxial, of axis YY.

Two intermediate bars 19A, 19B which are connected by their ends opposite to the axis YY of articulation of the grid, on the one hand to the external bars 17 and on the other hand to bars 20 of a central part of the grid , by single spacers 21A, 21B, each have at its free end close to the axis YY, a vertical projection 22 directed downwards, the most internal longitudinal face, that is to say closest to the middle of the grid 2 has an inclined surface or ramp 23, the inclination of this ramp being identical to that of the ramp 15 corresponding to the associated stop 14. The connecting bars 20 constituting the central part of the grid, complete the constitution thereof.

To mount the grid 2 in its frame 1, the latter being presented perpendicular to the plane of the frame, the grid is pinched at the free ends of the bars 17, this operation being made possible by the natural elasticity of the material constituting the grid 2 which is made for example in spheroidal graphite cast iron. The pivots 18 are thus placed opposite the cavities 9 of the frame 1 into which they penetrate when the clamping force is released.

Starting from the open position of the grid shown in phantom in Fig. 3, to close the grid 2, the latter is pivoted around its axis XX of rotation in the direction of the arrow F and this, until the ramps 23 of the intermediate bars 19A, 19B come into contact with the chamfered surfaces 13 of the intermediate portion 12 of the flange 5.

When the ramps 23 come into contact with the chamfered surfaces 13, it is created between the flange 5 and the bars 19A, 19B, a couple opposing the continued rotation of the grid 2 thus preventing its untimely closing.

To overcome this torque, a downward force is applied to the grid 2, the intensity of which causes the ramps 23 to slide along the chamfered surfaces 13 of the intermediate part 12 of the flange 5. This sliding movement causes the elastic spacing of the bars 19A, 19B relative to their normal position, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1, so that the projection 22 of each of the bars 19A, 19B, can pivot around the axis XX thanks to the presence of the respective openings 11A, 11B formed in the flange 5 of the frame 1 which allow the corresponding projections 22 to pass.

The spacing of the bars 19A, 19B takes place in the plane of the grid 2.

When the grid reaches the closed position, the inclined ramps 23 provided on the projections 22 of the bars 19A, 19B come, due to the elastic reconciliation of the intermediate bars 19A, 19B, in contact with the inclined ramps 15 of the stops 14 carried by the ends of the intermediate portion 12 of the collar 5 and thus create a couple which opposes the accidental opening of the grid 2.

It will be noted that the ends of the bars 17, 20 of the grid, other than the intermediate bars 19A and 19B, which are located near the axis XX of rotation of the grid, do not prevent the rotation of the latter. due to the fact that their end surface adjoining the axis XX has a cylindrical or spherical shape centered on the axis XX, and having a radius such that during the rotation of the grid, these ends never come into contact nor with the skirt 3, nor with the flange 5 of the frame 1.

With regard to the intermediate bars 19A, 19B, the presence of a projection 22 located at a distance from the axis XX greater than its radius, makes it necessary to provide in the flange 5 the openings 11A and 11B which avoid blocking of rotation by contact between the projections 22 and the flange 5 of the frame 1.

To open the grid 2, it is necessary to apply a lifting force of an intensity such that the torque it generates is greater than the resistant torque which results from the contact between the ramps 23 of the projections 22 of the intermediate bars 19A and 19B and ramps 15 of the stops 14 integral with the frame 1.

The lifting movement of the grid 2 causes the inclined surfaces 23 to slide on the ramps 15 of the stops 14 and therefore, an elastic lateral spacing of the bars 19A, 19B relative to their rest position.

To ensure this movement, a lever bar is generally used.

The spacing by elastic deformation of the intermediate bars 19A and 19B is ensured in the plane of the grid 2. Then, during the continuation of the rotation of the grid 2, the bars 19A and 19B see their respective projections 22 engaging in the respective openings 11A and 11B of the flange 5 thereby allowing the rotation of the grid 2 to continue about the axis XX.

When the grid is brought into its open position, the projections 22 coming into contact with the chamfered surfaces 13 of the intermediate part 12, once again allow the bars 19A, 19B to be brought together by elastic return, in their rest position, to so that the grid is again blocked against any untimely closing movement.

The position of the stops 14 of the frame 1 between the intermediate bars 19A, 19B and the respective orientations of the ramps 15 of the stops 14 and 23 of the projections 22, ensure that the elastic bending of the bars is accompanied by a spacing movement of these bars.

One can also consider placing the stops integral with the frame 1 outside the intermediate bars and orienting the ramps of these stops and those of the ends of the intermediate bars so that during the rotation of the grid, the elastic bending of the bars in the plane of the grid is accompanied by a movement of approximation of the bars.

In the embodiment described with reference to Figs 1 to 5, the intermediate bars, which by elastic deformation in the plane of the grid, ensure the immobilization of the grid both in the open position and in the closed position , cooperating on the one hand with the ramps 15 of the stops 14 carried by the flange 5 and on the other hand, with the chamfered surfaces 13 of the intermediate part 12 of the flange, have projections 22 directed downwards which require provide in the collar 5 openings 11A, 11B for the passage of these projections during the rotation of the grid.

One can also imagine an embodiment in which the intermediate bars do not have a projection, but have ends of cylindrical or spherical shape, identical to those of other bars such as the bars 17 and 20 of the grid.

Such a variant is partially shown in Fig. 6. We see in this figure, one of the intermediate bars 29B whose end 30 is of cylindrical shape, of radius R such that when the grid to which the bar 29B belongs is mounted in frame 1, the axis of the surface cylindrical 30 is coincident with the axis XX of rotation of the grid.

Under these conditions, during the movement of the rotating grid, the surface of the end of the bar 29B will never come into contact with either the skirt 3 or the flange 5 of the frame 1.

In this embodiment, it is therefore not useful to provide openings to allow any part of the end of the bar 29B to pass during its rotational movement.

To block the grid in the open position and in the closed position, the frame 1 carries stops 31 which extend over the entire width of the flange 5 parallel to the bars of the grid. Each of these stops 31 comprises a lateral ramp 32 intended to cooperate with an additional ramp 33 provided on each bar 29B in order to ensure its elastic spacing in the plane of the grid during the rotational movement of the latter and a chamfer end 34 allowing, by cooperation with the corresponding bar 29B, to allow the said bar to return to the rest position when the grid is in the open position in order to block it against any untimely closing movement.

In the examples which have just been described with reference to the drawings, the grid of the crowning device comprises two intermediate bars ensuring, in cooperation with means provided on the frame, the maintenance of the grid in the open and closed position.

It will be understood that it is also possible that the grid has only one intermediate bar preferably arranged in the central part of the grid and cooperating with corresponding holding means provided on the frame.

Claims (8)

Crowning device of an access or evacuation chimney comprising a frame (1) and a removable grid (2) articulated along an axis XX of the frame, consisting of a series of bars connected two by two, by at least a spacer and extending perpendicular to the axis of articulation XX of the grid (2), characterized in that the grid (2) further comprises at least one intermediate bar (19A, 19B; 29B) connected to the other bars of the grid by its end opposite the hinge axis XX and the free end of which cooperates by elastic bending of the bar (19A, 19B; 29B) in the plane of the grid with means (13, 14, 15; 31, 32, 34) for holding the grid (2) in the open and closed position, provided on the frame (1). Crowning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grid comprises external bars (17) provided at their free ends with pivots (18) engaged by elastic bending of the external bars (17), in corresponding cavities (9) of the frame (1), two intermediate bars (19A, 19B; 29B) each being connected to an external bar (17) by a single spacer (21A) and to a bar (20) of a central part of the grid by a single spacer (21B). Crowning device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each of the intermediate bars (19A, 19B) of the grid (2) has at its free end close to the axis of articulation of the grid in the frame (1), a vertical projection (22) directed downwards, the inner longitudinal face of which has an inclined surface or ramp (23) cooperating with an inclined surface (15) of a stop (14) projecting upwards. frame (1), fixed thereto and extending parallel to the bars of the grid (2), said stops (14) forming in cooperation with the projections (22) of the intermediate bars, the means for holding the grid (2) in the closed position. Capping device according to claim 3, in which the frame (1) is provided with an internal flange (5) for supporting the grid (2) in the closed position, characterized in that openings (11A, 11B) for the passage of the projections (22) of the intermediate bars (19A, 19B) during the rotation of the grid are formed in the inner flange (5) of the frame (1). Crowning device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for holding the grid (2) in the open position comprise chamfered surfaces (13) directed towards the inside of the frame (1), formed on one walls of the openings (11A, 11B) which delimit an intermediate portion (12) of the collar (5), and deviating respectively from the other of the walls of the corresponding openings. Coronation device according to claim 5, characterized in that the stops (14) cooperating with the projections (22) are located along the walls of the openings (11A, 11B) comprising said chamfered surfaces (13). Capping device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each of the intermediate bars (29B) of the grid (2) has a free end close to the axis of articulation of the grid in the frame (1 ) of a suitable shape to allow it to rotate around the hinge pin without coming into contact with the frame (1) and in that on the frame (1) are provided stops (31) parallel to the bars of the grid , provided with inclined surfaces (32) cooperating with corresponding inclined surfaces (33) of the intermediate bars (29B) and forming said means for holding the grid in the closed position. A crowning device according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the stops (31) forming said means for holding the grid in the closed position comprises a chamfered end surface (34) directed towards the inside of the frame, the surfaces chamfered (34) forming with the ends of the intermediate bars (29B) corresponding said means for holding the grid in the open position.

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