EP1793049A2 - Couvercles d'accès au sol - Google Patents

Couvercles d'accès au sol Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1793049A2
EP1793049A2 EP06256123A EP06256123A EP1793049A2 EP 1793049 A2 EP1793049 A2 EP 1793049A2 EP 06256123 A EP06256123 A EP 06256123A EP 06256123 A EP06256123 A EP 06256123A EP 1793049 A2 EP1793049 A2 EP 1793049A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cover
recess
prising
frame
tool
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06256123A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1793049A3 (fr
Inventor
David Henry c/o Atlanta Impex Ltd. Edmonds
Brian c/o Wrekin Welding Fabrication & Eng Mills
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wreckin Welding & Fabrication Engineering Ltd
Wrekin Welding and Fabrication Engineering Ltd
Atlanta Impex Ltd
Original Assignee
Wreckin Welding & Fabrication Engineering Ltd
Wrekin Welding and Fabrication Engineering Ltd
Atlanta Impex Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wreckin Welding & Fabrication Engineering Ltd, Wrekin Welding and Fabrication Engineering Ltd, Atlanta Impex Ltd filed Critical Wreckin Welding & Fabrication Engineering Ltd
Publication of EP1793049A2 publication Critical patent/EP1793049A2/fr
Publication of EP1793049A3 publication Critical patent/EP1793049A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E02D29/1427—Locking devices
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E02D29/1418—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers with implements to assist in lifting, e.g. counterweights, springs
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E02D29/1445—Tools for positioning or removing cover frames
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E02D29/1463—Hinged connection of cover to frame

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a ground surface access cover, particularly but not exclusively a ground surface access cover for mounting to a frame.
  • Ground surface access covers are commonly mounted to frames to form ground surface access assemblies and utilised at the ground surface to provide access to underground services.
  • Conventionally such covers define key holes, and to gain access to the underground services a key is inserted into the key hole and the cover lifted out of the frame.
  • Health and safety legislation has prompted a move towards the use of covers which are hingedly mounted to frames so that an operator does not have to lift the full weight of the cover.
  • a tip of a prising bar is inserted between the cover and the frame and the cover prised upwardly out of the frame, rotating about a hinge mounting. In the initial stages of the opening operation, the prising bar can lever off the frame, but as the cover moves away from the frame the cover must either be supported by the operator or another leverage point found.
  • a recess is provided in the upper surface in use of the cover into which a prising tool can be inserted.
  • the recess can quickly become clogged with debris, in which situation an operator is likely to revert for the sake of speed and convenience to the traditional method of prising and pulling, with the consequent increased risk of injury.
  • a ground surface access cover for mounting to a frame of a ground surface access assembly, the cover defining a prising recess for receiving in use a prising tool, the prising recess being located on an underside in use of the cover, so that in use the prising recess is not accessible to the tool when the cover is in a closed condition on the frame.
  • the cover is hingedly mounted in use to the frame, and preferably is movable between the closed condition and an open condition.
  • the cover includes a hinge mounting part for mounting the cover to the frame.
  • the cover includes a plurality of engagement surfaces, which in use are engaged by the tool to rotate the cover about the hinge mounting part.
  • one of the engagement surfaces faces in a substantially downward direction in use.
  • another of the engagement surfaces faces in a substantially upward direction in use.
  • the first prising surface is located at or towards the rim of the cover, substantially opposite the hinge mounting part.
  • the cover includes a stop end wall, which limits the longitudinal movement of the tool in use into the recess.
  • the cover includes a pair of recess side walls, which limit the lateral movement of the tool in use in the recess.
  • the cover includes a recess base wall which may be formed by a pair of projections, one projection projecting inwardly from each of the recess side walls.
  • a recess base wall which may be formed by a pair of projections, one projection projecting inwardly from each of the recess side walls.
  • the in use upper surfaces of the base wall projections form upwardly facing engagement surfaces.
  • the stop end wall, the side walls and the base wall together define the recess.
  • a pair of inwardly directed retaining projections project from the recess side walls, one retaining projection projecting from each side wall.
  • the retaining projections engage a locking projection projecting from the frame to lock the cover in the closed condition on the frame.
  • the recess side walls are resiliently deformable, and to move the cover from the closed condition to the open condition, the side walls must deform to allow the retaining projections to disengage from the locking projection.
  • a ground surface access assembly including a ground surface access cover as described above in the preceding paragraphs, the ground surface access cover mounted to a frame.
  • a method of lifting a ground surface access cover including a first step of prising the cover upwardly to allow the insertion of a prising tool between the cover and the frame, and a second step of inserting the prising tool into a prising recess defined by the cover, the prising recess being located on an underside in use of the cover.
  • the cover is as described above in the preceding paragraphs.
  • Fig. 1 shows a ground surface access assembly 10 including a ground surface access cover 12 arranged in a closed condition in a frame 14.
  • Fig. 2 shows the frame 14 in more detail, the frame defining an opening 24 and including a side wall part 20 upstanding from a flange part 22.
  • the side wall part 20 extends outwardly away from the opening 24 to define a prising tab receiving compartment 26 and, diametrically opposite to the prising tab receiving compartment 26, a hinge compartment 28.
  • the frame 14 includes a prising tab receiving compartment base wall 30 which extends between the side wall parts 20 defining the prising tab receiving compartment 26.
  • a locking projection support wall 32 extends downwardly from the prising tab receiving compartment base wall 30.
  • a locking projection 34 extends inwardly from the locking projection support wall 32.
  • the locking projection 34 is of a constant cross sectional shape, and includes an upper convex face 36 which extends downwardly to two lower side faces 38 which are mutually downwardly convergent. A widest part 37 is thus defined between the upper convex face 36 and the two lower side faces 38.
  • a cover support part 42 extends inwardly from the side wall part 20 around the opening 24, with a break in the region of the prising tab receiving compartment 26. Gaps 40 are defined between the locking projection 34 and the ends of the cover support part 42.
  • Fig. 3 shows the cover 12 which includes a substantially planar part 50.
  • a rim part 52 extends downwardly around the periphery of the planar part 50.
  • a reinforcement hub part 54 extends downwardly from a central region of the underside of the planar part 50.
  • a prising tab 60 extends outwardly from the rim part 52 and a hinge part 62 extends outwardly from the rim part 52 diametrically opposite to the prising tab 60.
  • a pair of spaced locking fingers 56 extend outwardly from the reinforcement hub part 54, the locking fingers 56 being spaced downwardly from the underside of the planar part 50.
  • the locking fingers 56 are formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as ductile iron.
  • the locking fingers 56 could be formed by casting integrally with the cover 12.
  • Retaining projections 58 extend inwardly towards each other from an end region at the free end of each of the locking fingers 56.
  • a recess base wall projection 72 extends inwardly from each of the locking fingers 56, spaced inwardly from the retaining projections 58. Each of the recess base wall projections 72 extends upwardly to form recess end wall projections 74.
  • Gaps are defined between each of the recess base wall projections 72 and between each of the recess end wall projections 74 to permit the locking fingers 56 to move independently.
  • the hinge part 62 of the cover 12 is located in the hinge compartment 28 of the frame 14, and the cover 12 rotated about the hinge part 62 into the opening 24.
  • the retaining projections 58 locate against the rounded upper convex face 36 of the locking projection 34.
  • a force is then applied to the upper surface of the planar part 50 of the cover 12 to deform the locking fingers 56 away from each other, so that the retaining projections 58 move downwardly along the upper convex face 36 of the locking projection 34, over the widest part 37 and onto the converging lower side faces 38.
  • the prising tab 60 is received within the prising tab receiving compartment 26.
  • the resilient property of the locking fingers 56 holds the retaining projections 58 against the converging lower side faces 38, securing the cover 12 in the closed condition in the frame 14.
  • the force required to deform the locking fingers 56 is determined by the size and material of the locking fingers 56 and the sizes and shapes of the retaining projections 58 and the locking projection 34.
  • the cover 12 could be located in the frame 14 in the closed condition by a force applied by a weight of approximately 70kg, for example, by a man standing or jumping on the upper surface of the planar part 50.
  • the cover 12 can be relatively easily secured in position in the frame 14.
  • a similar and opposite force must be applied to move the cover 12 from the closed condition to an open condition, in which access is permitted through the opening 24.
  • the cover 12 does not define any apertures or passages such as keyways. Such apertures or passages quickly become blocked in use, and can take considerable time on site to unblock and bring into a useable condition.
  • the use of keys within key ways is increasingly seen as a hazard in health and safety terms, since such implements generally require a user to lift a heavy object in an awkward bending position, with a high risk of injury.
  • a gap 88 is defined between the prising tab 60 and the side wall part 20 of the frame 14.
  • a prising tool 80 includes a handle 82, a head 84 extending from the handle 82 at an oblique angle to the handle 82, the head 84 tapering to a tip 86.
  • the tip 86 is inserted into the prising gap 88 and the prising tool 80 pivoted on the frame side wall part 20, the head 84 engaging the underside of the prising tab 60, levering the cover 12 upwards so that it rotates around the hinge part 62.
  • the retaining projections 58 of the locking fingers 56 are forced apart over the widest part 37 of the locking projection 34, allowing upward movement of the cover 12.
  • the user applying the force will feel a change in resistance to the application of the force.
  • the user can cease to apply the force and the cover 12 will rest in a partially open condition as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which the retaining projections 58 rest on the upper convex face 36 of the locking projection 34.
  • the head 84 of the prising tool 80 locates against the recess base wall projections 72 and the tip 86 of the prising tool 80 locates against the recess end wall projections 74, which act as a stop, limiting the longitudinal movement of the prising tool 80 into the prising recess 70.
  • the locking fingers 56 forming the recess side walls limit the lateral movement of the prising tool 80 in the prising recess 70.
  • the recess base wall projections 72, the recess end wall projections 74 and the recess side walls formed by the locking fingers 56 thus give the user confidence that the prising tool 80 is located correctly and securely before applying further force to lift the cover 12.
  • the engagement surfaces 64, 66 lock the prising tool 80 in position relative to the cover 12 so that as the upward force is applied the cover 12 rotates about the hinge part 62 to a fully open condition as shown in Fig. 6 allowing access to the opening 24.
  • the opening of the cover 12 in the frame 14 is thus accomplished in two steps: firstly the insertion of the tip 86 of the prising tool 80 between the cover 12 and the frame 14 to lever the retaining projections 58 of the locking fingers 56 past the widest part 37 of the locking projection 34 and lift the cover 12 to the partially open condition; and secondly the insertion of the prising tool head 84 into the prising recess 70 to secure the prising tool 80 in position relative to the cover 12 and allow further lifting of the cover 12 to the fully open condition.
  • the positioning of the prising tab 60 and prising recess 70 diametrically opposite the hinge part 62 permits the greatest mechanical advantage to be obtained for the lifting operation.
  • the prising tool could be of any suitable design.
  • a prising tool having a longer handle provides a relatively greater mechanical advantage in both the first step of prising the cover from the closed condition to the partially open condition and also in the second step of moving the cover from the partially open condition to the fully open condition.
  • the locking means by which the cover is secured to the frame in this example comprising the locking fingers 56, the retaining projections 58 and the locking projection 34, could be of any suitable design in which a force is applied against the bias of a resilient member.
  • the prising recess could be defined by any suitable arrangement on the underside of the cover 12.
  • a prising recess defined by side walls, an end wall and a base wall could be provided separate to the locking fingers or locking means.
  • the cover could include a plurality of prising tabs and prising recesses, and the frame could include a plurality of prising tab receiving compartments.
  • the cover and frame could be of any suitable size and shape.
  • a ground surface access cover which can be lifted easily from a closed condition to an open condition with the aid of a suitable tool.
  • the invention provides a recess for receiving the tool to hold the tool secure during the lifting operation, giving the user confidence.
  • the recess will not become blocked when the cover is in the closed condition.
  • the hidden recess also aids security as it is not obvious in the closed condition as to how the cover should be opened and lifted.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Paleontology (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Sewage (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
  • Underground Structures, Protecting, Testing And Restoring Foundations (AREA)
EP06256123A 2005-11-30 2006-11-29 Couvercles d'accès au sol Withdrawn EP1793049A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0524361A GB2432868B (en) 2005-11-30 2005-11-30 Ground surface access covers

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1793049A2 true EP1793049A2 (fr) 2007-06-06
EP1793049A3 EP1793049A3 (fr) 2008-05-28

Family

ID=35601485

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06256123A Withdrawn EP1793049A3 (fr) 2005-11-30 2006-11-29 Couvercles d'accès au sol

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1793049A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2432868B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2123830A2 (fr) * 2008-05-21 2009-11-25 C4 Industries Limited Cadre

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2572444B (en) * 2018-03-30 2021-03-24 Wrekin Holdings Ltd A ground surface access assembly reinforced cover

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB380160A (en) * 1931-06-18 1932-09-15 Frederick George Laws Improvements in or connected with street or road manhole covers and frames and gulley grates and frames
JPS6429527A (en) * 1987-07-22 1989-01-31 Hinode Suido Kiki Kk Opening structure of cover for underground structure
JP2001032312A (ja) * 1999-07-23 2001-02-06 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd 地下管路用蓋
JP2004003316A (ja) * 2002-04-15 2004-01-08 Fukunishi Imono Kk 矩形状マンホール用蓋体
JP2004346677A (ja) * 2003-05-26 2004-12-09 Suzuki Chutetsu Kogyo Kk マンホール蓋

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB380160A (en) * 1931-06-18 1932-09-15 Frederick George Laws Improvements in or connected with street or road manhole covers and frames and gulley grates and frames
JPS6429527A (en) * 1987-07-22 1989-01-31 Hinode Suido Kiki Kk Opening structure of cover for underground structure
JP2001032312A (ja) * 1999-07-23 2001-02-06 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd 地下管路用蓋
JP2004003316A (ja) * 2002-04-15 2004-01-08 Fukunishi Imono Kk 矩形状マンホール用蓋体
JP2004346677A (ja) * 2003-05-26 2004-12-09 Suzuki Chutetsu Kogyo Kk マンホール蓋

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2123830A2 (fr) * 2008-05-21 2009-11-25 C4 Industries Limited Cadre
EP2123830A3 (fr) * 2008-05-21 2011-03-02 C4 Industries Limited Cadre

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2432868B (en) 2011-03-09
GB0524361D0 (en) 2006-01-04
GB2432868A (en) 2007-06-06
EP1793049A3 (fr) 2008-05-28

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