EP1818458B1 - Device used to block a frame, comprising an articulated detachable panel mounted on the frame - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for closing a frame, comprising a panel, such as a buffer or cover, mounted hinged releasably on the frame.

It applies in particular to road equipment allowing access to manholes buried in the ground.

We know by the patent French N ° 2,815,979 and EP-A-1201829 a closure device of the opening of a frame by a hinged panel removable removable on the frame by a tenon secured to the panel and provided with a hinge eye in which is engaged a hinge axis with a flat surface. inclination relative to the upper frame at a right angle so that the panel can be mounted to or removed from the frame only in an upside down position of approximately 110 °.

According to this known device, the tenon comprises at its free end a heel which, in the inverted open position of the panel, falls in abutment along an abrupt flank of an inclined cam of the hinge edge of the frame so as to block the panel in its open position relative to the frame and the axis of articulation by four stop points. This provision has the disadvantage that an operator has some difficulties to release by lifting the panel of these four stop points and allow the tilting of the panel to its closed position of the frame.

The present invention aims to eliminate the above disadvantage of the known device by providing a device allowing the panel to freely switch from its inverted opening position and block automatically the panel to a standing position substantially perpendicular to the frame when the panel is accidentally tilted from its inverted opening position to its closed position of the frame.

For this purpose, according to the invention, the device for closing a frame, comprising a panel, such as a pad or cover, removably mounted on the frame by a tenon secured to the panel and provided with at least one lateral opening internal whose edges are shaped ramps cooperating with a hinge axis integral with a hinge edge of the frame and engaged in the lateral opening of the tenon to control the pivoting of the panel from its open position to its position of closure of the frame in which it fits into a peripheral edge of the frame and is applied to a rabbet of the frame or vice versa, the hinge axis comprising at least one flat having, relative to the frame, an inclination greater than an angle right and the lateral opening of the tenon opening at the end of the tenon through a reduced section guide not allowing the engagement of the hinge pin in the lateral opening of the post by reciprocal reconciliation ue of the panel in the open position of the frame that according to an angle of inclination of the panel relative to the frame determined by the angle of inclination of the flat of the hinge pin so that the panel can not be mounted or disassembled on the or frame only in an inverted position, is characterized in that the pin and the hinge axis allow a free tilting of the panel from its inverted open position to its closed position and the pin comprises at an end portion a heel that can abut against an abrupt flank of the hinge edge of the frame to block the panel to an open standing security position substantially perpendicular to the frame when the panel is accidentally tilted from its inverted open position, the axis of articulation and the ramps of the lateral opening of the tenon cooperating to prevent extraction of the panel occupying its open standing safety position of the frame while allowing the tilting of the panel to its closed position of the frame from its open standing security position.

Preferably, the tenon comprises a second lateral opening separated from the first lateral opening by a web of material of the post and whose edges shaped as ramps cooperate with a second axis of articulation integral with the hinge edge of the frame engaged in the second lateral opening of the tenon to also control the pivoting of the panel from its open position to its closed position of the frame or vice versa, the second axis of articulation comprising at least one flat of the same inclination as the flat of the first axis of articulation and the second lateral opening of the tenon opening at the end of the tenon through a second reduced section guide allowing the engagement of the second axis of articulation in the second lateral opening of the tenon by reciprocal approach of the panel in the inverted open position of the frame that according to the angle of inclination of the panel relative to the frame determined by the year flattening of the flattening of the second axis of articulation and the ramps of the second lateral opening of the tenon also cooperating to prevent extraction relative to the frame of the panel occupying its open standing safety position.

The two axes of articulation are coaxial and each axis of articulation comprises a second flat surface opposite and parallel to the first flat.

The hinge edge of the frame has a lower flat face inclined from top to bottom towards the outside of the frame and ended towards the inside of the frame by the abutment flank of the tenon heel.

In the standing position of safety opening of the panel, the post is supported by its other part adjacent end end not having the heel on the inclined face of the frame and is abutted by the corresponding ramp of each lateral opening against the corresponding hinge axis.

In its inverted opening position, the panel is supported by its other adjacent end portion of the tenon not having the heel on the inclined plane face of the frame and by its outer face on an upper inclined face of the rim of the frame, and is abutted by the corresponding reduced section guide against the associated hinge axis.

The heel of the tenon has a cam shape formed on the lower outer corner of the heel and cooperating with the inclined face of the frame to control the pivoting of the panel during its tilting.

According to one embodiment, the hinge edge of the frame is constituted by an ear projecting from the frame, intended to receive the tongue of the panel and each axis of articulation is disposed transversely in the ear.

The panel may be circular and the stud extends radially from this panel, while the lug is radially integral with the circular frame.

The panel is inclined to its inverted open position at an angle of between about 110 ° and about 120 °.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective partielle d'un équipement de voierie à panneau monté articulé amovible à un cadre ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective agrandie de la partie cerclée en II de la figure 1 sans le panneau ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face suivant la flèche III de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du tenon d'articulation du panneau au cadre de l'équipement de voierie ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe partielle du dispositif de l'invention suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 1, le panneau occupant sa position de fermeture du cadre ;
• la figure 6 est une vue semblable à celle de la figure 5 et représentant le basculement du panneau de sa position de fermeture vers sa position d'ouverture du cadre ;
• la figure 7 représente le panneau à sa position d'ouverture renversée du cadre ;
• la figure 8 montre la possibilité de montage ou démontage du panneau au ou du cadre à la position d'ouverture renversée de ce panneau ;
• la figure 9 montre la position debout de blocage du panneau au cadre suite à un basculement accidentel du panneau à partir de sa position d'ouverture renversée ; et
• la figure 10 montre le déblocage du panneau de sa position debout de la figure 9 sans possibilité d'extraction du panneau de ce cadre.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following explanatory description made with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example illustrating a mode of operation. embodiments of the invention and in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a hinged panel mounted articulated road equipment to a frame;
• the figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the circled portion II of the figure 1 without the panel;
• the figure 3 is a front view along arrow III of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of the articulation pin of the panel to the frame of the road equipment;
• the figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the device of the invention along the line VV of the figure 1 , the panel occupying its closed position of the frame;
• the figure 6 is a view similar to that of the figure 5 and showing the tilting of the panel from its closed position to its open position of the frame;
• the figure 7 represents the panel at its upside-down position of the frame;
• the figure 8 shows the possibility of mounting or dismounting the panel to the frame or to the reverse open position of this panel;
• the figure 9 shows the standing position of blocking the panel to the frame following an accidental tilting of the panel from its inverted opening position; and
• the figure 10 shows the unblocking of the panel from its standing position of the figure 9 without possibility of extraction of the panel of this frame.

The device of the invention will be described in the application to a manhole consisting of a circular frame and a cap element or panel buffer or circular cover for closing the frame, but it is of course it can be applied to a manhole whose frame can be rectangular and closed by at least one rectangular or triangular crown element.

The view of the road represented at Figures 1 to 10 therefore comprises a circular frame 1 and a buffer 2 provided with a radial tenon 3 which is mounted articulated on two coaxial articulation axes 4 arranged transversely in an ear 5 protruding outwardly from the peripheral rim 6 of the frame 1 bordering the opening of this frame and in which the stamp 2 to the closed position of the frame.

The hinge pin 3 and pins 4 of the buffer 2 to the frame 1 allows a rotation of this buffer between a closed position of the frame shown in FIG. figure 5 at an open position of this frame represented in figure 7 and also allows the stamp 2 to be extracted from the frame 1 to its open position as will be seen later.

The two hinge pins 4 are integral with the internal faces of two parallel walls 5a of the lug 5 and each of the hinge pins 4 has in cross-section at least one flattened surface 7, preferably two parallel flat flats, having, for example, relative to frame 1, an inclination A, as represented in figure 5 , greater than a right angle, the tilt angle A value of each flat 7 may be between about 110 ° and about 120 °. Each hinge pin 4 also has two semi-cylindrical lower and upper faces 8.

The tenon 3 of the buffer 2 comprises two internal lateral openings 9 whose edges are in the form of ramps, and which are separated from each other by a web 10 of the tenon 3 disposed substantially in the longitudinal median plane of the post 3 In the assembled position of the tenon 3 in the ear 5, the two hinge pins 4 are respectively engaged in the two lateral openings 9 of this tenon, the ramped edges of the lateral openings 9 being intended to cooperate with the semi-lateral faces. corresponding cylinders 8 of the two hinge pins 4 to control everything or part of the pivoting of the buffer 2 from its open position to its closed position or conversely of the frame 1, the buffer 2, in the closed position of the frame 1, being applied to a rabbet 11 of the frame 1.

Each of the lateral openings 9 of the tenon 3 opens at the end of this tenon through a reduced section guide 12 constituting a groove whose parallel faces vis-à-vis are separated from each other by a distance slightly greater than the distance separating the two flats 7 of the corresponding articulation axis 4.

The reduced section of the guide 12 has the function of not allowing the engagement of the corresponding hinge pin 4 in the associated lateral opening 9 of the pin 3 by reciprocal approach of the buffer 2 in the open position of the frame 1 that following a angle of inclination of this panel relative to the frame 1 determined by the angle of inclination of the flats 7 of the hinge pins 4. In this way, the buffer 2 can not be mounted on the frame 1 or disassembled thereof that in the reverse position of opening of the frame 1 represented in figure 7 and to which the outer face 2a of the buffer 2 bears on a corresponding inclined top face 5c of the end wall 5b of the lug 5. At this reversed opening position of the buffer 2 corresponding to an angle of inclination of it between about 110 ° and about 120 ° relative to the frame 1, the buffer 2 is held in the unlocked position to the frame 1 and the extraction operation or implementation of the buffer is made simpler, so more fast, and less delicate to an operator, as shown by the figure 8 .

The lug 5 comprises at the bottom thereof a face 13 inclined upwardly towards the outside of the frame 1 and ending towards the interior of this frame by an abrupt flank 14 separated from the rabbet 11 by a wall of background 15 of the ear 5 located at a level below the rabbet 11 to define a window 15.

In addition, the post 3 comprises a heel 16 protruding from an end portion of the tenon and being able to abut against the steep sidewall 14 while passing through the window 15 when the buffer 2 is accidentally tilted from its open position. overturned figure 7 towards its closed position, so as to block in the open position of the buffer 2 substantially at 90 ° relative to the frame 1 and, therefore, to prevent for security the tilting of the buffer 2 to its closed position as shown in FIG. figure 9 . In this standing safety position of the buffer 2, the heel 16 is in abutment against the steep sidewall 14, the other adjacent end portion of the post 3 having no heel resting by gravity on the inclined slope forming a ramp 13 and the two lateral openings of the pin 3 being supported by their corresponding ramps respectively on the two hinge pins 4. It is understood that in the reversed open position of the buffer 2 shown in FIG. figure 7 that the end portion of the tenon 3 not including the heel 16 is supported on the inclined face 13 and, through the reduced sections of the guides 12, on the corresponding hinge pins 4 with the outer face 2a of this buffer bears on the inclined face 5c of the lug 5 so that the buffer 2 can freely move from this position to its closed position, either accidentally, in which case the buffer 2 is automatically blocked at its standing position of the figure 9 or to allow an operator to bring it to its closed position of the frame 1.

When an operator is to rotate the stamp 2 to its closed position of the frame 1 from the standing security position of the figure 9 , it raises the buffer 2 relative to the frame 1 in a vertical direction as shown in FIG. figure 10 to unlock the buffer 2 of the frame 1 and the corresponding ramps of the lateral openings 9 of the pin 3 cooperate with the hinge pins 4 so as to prevent the extraction of the buffer 2 from the frame 1, that is to say that the axes of articulation 4 remain in position in their respective lateral openings of the post 3 without being able to escape from them. The operator can then switch the buffer 2 to its horizontal position of closure of the frame 1.

The heel 16 of the pin 3 has a cam shape 16a formed on the lower outer corner of the heel and cooperating with the inclined face 13 of the frame 1 to control the pivoting of the buffer 2 during its tilting.

The end wall 5b of the lug 5 further includes a window 17 dug in the inner face of this wall to allow the passage of the heel 16 of the pin 3 during the rotation of the buffer 2 between its closed position and its position opening.

In the application to a rectangular or triangular crown element, the latter has its tongue that can be mounted articulated to the frame 1 by an ear as described above, this tongue being able to be mounted articulated between two walls or sails bearing the two axes of articulation 4 and perpendicular to the flange 6 and the rabbet 11 of the frame 1 to form an articulation edge of this frame having the same function as that of the ear 5.

To ensure the mounting of the buffer 2 on the frame 1, the outer face 2a of the buffer 2 is placed in abutment on the upper inclined face 5c of the end wall 5b of the ear 5 and the operator, retaining the buffer 2, it slides naturally by gravity along the face 5c until successively engage the hinge pins 4 in the grooves of the reduced sections of the guides 12 and the lateral openings 9 of the pin 3, as is apparent from the figure 8 , and bring the buffer 2 to its overturned position of the figure 7 . From this position, the operator can freely switch the buffer 2 to its closed position by lifting the buffer without risk of jamming the hinge pins 4 with the side openings 9 of the post 3 of the buffer.

Claims (11)

1. A device for sealing a frame (1), comprising a panel (2), such as a plug or a cover, mounted hingedly removably on the frame (1) by a tenon (3) integral with the panel (2) and provided with at least one internal side opening (9), the edges of which are shaped as ramps cooperating with a hinge pin (4) integral with a hinge edge (5) of the frame (1) and engaged with the side opening (9) of the tenon (3) so as to control pivoting of the panel (2) from the opening position thereof to the position thereof for closing frame (1), in which it fits inside a peripheral rim (6) of the frame (1) and is pressed on the rebate (11) of the frame (1) or vice versa, with the hinge pin (4) comprising at least one flat (7), having with respect to the frame (1) an inclination greater than a right angle, and with the side opening (9) of the tenon (3) opening onto the end of the tenon (3) through a guide of reduced cross-section (12) allowing for the hinge pin (4) to be engaged with the side opening (9) of the tenon (3) by mutual approach of the panel (2) in the open position of the frame (1) only according to an inclination angle of the panel (2) with respect to the frame (1), determined by the inclination angle of the flat (7) of the hinge pin (4) so that the panel (2) can only be mounted on or removed from the frame (1) in an inverted position, characterized in that the tenon (3) and the hinge pin (4) allow for free tilting of the panel (2) from the inverted open position thereof to the closing position thereof, and the tenon (3) comprises at one end portion a nose (16) capable of abutting against a steep flank (14) of the hinge edge (5) of the frame (1) so as to lock the panel (2) in an upright open safety position, substantially perpendicular to the frame (1) when the panel (2) is tilted by accident from the inverted open position thereof, with the hinge pin (4) and the ramps of the side opening (9) of the tenon (3) cooperating so as to prevent withdrawal of the panel (2) occupying the open upright position thereof for the safety of frame (1) while allowing the panel (2) to be tilted to the position thereof closing frame (1) from the upright open safety position thereof.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tenon (3) comprises a second side opening (9) separated from the first side opening (9) by a material web (10) of the tenon (3) and the edges of which, shaped as ramps, cooperate with a second hinge pin (4) integral with the hinge edge (5) of the frame (1) engaged in the second side opening (9) of the tenon (3) for also controlling pivoting of panel the (2) from the opening position thereof to the position thereof closing frame (1), or vice versa, with the second hinge pin (4) comprising at least one flat (7) of the same inclination as the flat (7) of the first hinge pin (4), and the second side opening (9) of the tenon (3) opening onto the end of the tenon (3) through a second guide of reduced cross-section (12) allowing for the second hinge pin (4) to be engaged with the second side opening (9) of the tenon (3) by mutual approach of the panel (2) in the inverted open position of frame (1) only according to the angle of inclination of the panel (2) with respect to the frame (1) determined by the angle of inclination of the flat (7) of the second hinge pin (4), the second hinge pin (4) and the ramps of the second side opening (9) of the tenon (3) also cooperating to prevent withdrawal with respect to the frame (1) of the panel (2) occupying the upright open safety position thereof.
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that both hinge pins (4) are coaxial.
4. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each hinge pin (4) comprises a second flat (7) opposite and parallel to the first flat (7).
5. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge edge (5) of the frame (1) comprises a lower planar side (13) inclined from top to bottom outwards of the frame (1) and ending inwards of the frame (1) in the abutment flank (14) of the nose (16) of the tenon (3).
6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that in the upright safety opening position of the panel (2), the tenon (3) is supported by the other adjacent end portion thereof, which does not comprise nose (16), on the inclined side (13) of the frame (1), and is held in abutment by the corresponding ramp of each side opening (9) against the corresponding hinge pin (4).
7. The device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, in the inverted opening position thereof, the panel (2) is supported by the other end portion thereof, adjacent to the tenon (3), which does not comprise nose (16), on the inclined planar side (13) of the frame (1), and by the external side thereof (2a) on an inclined upper side (5c) of the rim (6) of the frame (1), and is held in abutment by the corresponding guide of reduced cross-section (12) against the associated hinge pin (4).
8. The device according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the nose (16) of the tenon (3) has a cam shape (16a) made on the lower outer angle of said nose and cooperating with the inclined side (13) of the frame (1) so as to control pivoting of the panel (2) when it is tilted.
9. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge edge (5) of the frame (1) is composed of a lug projecting outside of frame (1), for receiving the tenon (3) of the panel (2) and each hinge pin (4) of which is arranged transversely in the lug (5).
10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said panel (2) is circular and the tenon (3) extends radially from this panel, while the lug (5) is radially integral with the circular frame (1).
11. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (2) is inclined towards the inverted open position thereof according to an angle comprised between about 110° and about 120°.

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