EP2543800B1 - Device for locking and unlocking at least one covering element on a frame for supporting said element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a frame, a cover element and a device for locking and unlocking at least one cover element on a support frame of this element.

It applies in particular, but in a non-limiting manner, to the closing devices of inspection chimneys of an underground network, such as manholes.

Numerous mechanical devices are known for tamper-proofly locking a covering element, such as a stamp, on a support frame of this element.

Some of these known mechanical devices are of the lock type comprising a bolt mounted movably sliding guided under the cover member and cooperable with a striker of the support frame to lock the covering element to the support frame and a key d actuation of the bolt that can be introduced through an opening of the cover element in order to actuate the bolt from a locking position to an unlocking position, such as for example the device in the document US7216459 .

These known devices have the major disadvantage of using a specific key which, once introduced through the opening of the cover member, requires to be rotated to move in translation the bolt to its unlocking position by through a relatively complex mechanism.

The object of the invention is to overcome a disadvantage by proposing a frame, a covering element and a device making it possible to easily and safely maneuver at its unlocking position a latch bolt of the covering element on the support frame of the device. this element, while being of an extremely simple structure.

For this purpose, according to the invention, the frame, the covering element and the locking and unlocking device of at least one covering element on a support frame of this element, comprising a bolt mounted movable with guided sliding under the covering element and able to cooperate with a striker of the support frame for locking the cover member to the support frame and a bolt actuation key that can be inserted through an opening of the cover member to actuate the bolt from a position of locking at an unlocking position, is characterized in that the opening of the covering element is shaped to allow the key to actuate the bolt by pivoting itself in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the element recovery. In addition, according to the invention the bolt comprises a through hole in which can be introduced an end of the actuating key when the latter is introduced into the opening of the covering element.

Advantageously, the opening of the covering element is also shaped to guide the passage of the actuating key through this element and, according to the invention, the introduction of the end of the actuating key into the bolt hole before actuation of the bolt by pivoting the actuating key.

According to the invention, the opening of the covering element comprises two parallel ramps for guiding a transverse bar of the actuating key located near the end of the latter and a light perpendicular to one of the two ramps for guided pivoting of the actuating key to its unlocking position of the bolt at which the actuating key bar is located under the cover element to allow the lifting of the latter relative to the support frame by traction exerted on the actuating key.

Advantageously, the hole of the bolt comprises a central bore delimited between two circular chamfers of angle of inclination substantially equal to the angle of inclination of the two guide ramps of the actuating key.

The bolt is returned to its locking position by a helical compression spring mounted prestressed between the bolt and an internal reinforcing rib of the covering element.

The bolt has a rod-shaped portion passing through the internal reinforcing rib and a flat locking portion passing through a wall of the cover member, the return spring being coaxially mounted on the rod-shaped portion of the bolt between the rib. reinforcement and the flat locking part of the bolt.

The bolt is held axially in the cover member at its locking position by a ring secured to the end of the rod-shaped portion of the bolt and bearing by the restoring force of the spring on one side of the rib reinforcement opposite to that on which is supported an end turn of this spring.

The strike consists of an orifice formed in a wall of the support frame.

The actuating key comprises a cylindrical rod and a bar forming an operating handle extending perpendicularly to the rod and located substantially in the same plane as that containing the bar of the operating key.

The actuation key further comprises locking means thereof relative to the covering element at a position substantially perpendicular to this element corresponding to the unlocking position of the bolt and which comprise a sheath maneuverable manually by being mounted to sliding guided along the actuating key and a key secured to the sleeve and adapted to engage with the sleeve in the opening of the cover element to lock the actuating key to its locking position relative to the covering element.

Preferably, the covering element is a buffer or cover of a manhole.

• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe dans un plan horizontal de l'ensemble de la figure 1 et passant par un pêne de verrouillage du tampon au cadre de support ;
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle en coupe suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 1 et montrant l'insertion d'une clef au travers du tampon pour actionner le pêne à sa position de déverrouillage ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective et en coupe suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1 et représentant la clef à sa position prête à déplacer le pêne à sa position de déverrouillage ;
• les figures 5 à 9 sont des vues en coupe semblables à celle de la figure 4 et représentant le pivotement de la clef relativement au tampon jusqu'à sa position de déverrouillage du pêne ; et
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective et en coupe semblable à celle de la figure 4 et représentant la clef à sa position sensiblement perpendiculaire au tampon pour permettre le soulèvement de ce dernier relativement au cadre de support.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the explanatory description which will follow with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example illustrating an embodiment. of the invention and in which: figure 1 is a top view of a support frame assembly and shutter pad of the frame locked the latter according to the invention;

• the figure 2 is a sectional view in a horizontal plane of the whole of the figure 1 and passing through a locking bolt of the buffer to the support frame;
• the figure 3 is a partial sectional view along line III-III of the figure 1 and showing the insertion of a key through the pad to actuate the bolt to its unlocking position;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view in section along line IV-IV of the figure 1 and representing the key in its position ready to move the bolt to its unlocking position;
• the Figures 5 to 9 are sectional views similar to that of the figure 4 and representing the pivoting of the key relative to the buffer to its latch unlocking position; and
• the figure 10 is a perspective and sectional view similar to that of the figure 4 and representing the key at its position substantially perpendicular to the pad to allow the lifting of the latter relative to the support frame.

Referring to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a roadway device forming a manhole made preferably of cast iron and comprising a support frame 2 and at least one crown or closure element 3, such as a buffer or cover, closing the opening delimited by the support frame 2.

Such a look can be arranged on the public road to access including a tunnel underground tunnel.

The figures show that the road device comprises a single crown element 3 consisting of a generally rectangular shaped buffer and able to register in thickness by its four peripheral walls 4 projecting below the upper plane web 3a of the buffer 3 in the four peripheral walls 5 of the frame 2 to close the opening of this frame delimited by the four walls 5.

The buffer 3 can be disengaged from the frame 2 by lifting as will be seen later.

The walls 4 of the buffer 3 have their external faces inclined so as to engage respectively with the respective inclined inner faces of the walls 5 of the frame 2 when the buffer 3 occupies its closed position of this frame. To disengage the buffer 3 from the frame 2, it suffices to exert on the pad 3 a traction force lifting it and causing the sliding of the outer faces of the walls 4 of the pad 3 relative to the corresponding inner faces of the walls 5 of the frame 2.

The four side walls 5 of the frame 2 are assembled to each other by a set of flanges 6 and fixing bolts B to form this frame. However, the four side walls 5 of the frame 2 can be made in one piece in the foundry.

The buffer 3 is equipped with a device for locking the buffer 3 in the support frame 2 at its closed position of the latter.

This locking device comprises a bolt 7 mounted movably sliding guided under the buffer 3 and can cooperate with a keeper 8 of the frame 2 to lock the buffer 3 in this frame.

The striker 8 may consist of a recess formed in one of the walls 5 of the frame 2 so as to receive the free end of the locking bolt 7.

As shown in particular in figure 2 , the bolt 7 is movably mounted in a direction perpendicular to one of the longitudinal walls 4 of the buffer 3 so that its free end can engage in the keeper 8 made in the longitudinal wall facing the frame 5 2. However, the bolt 7 may be mounted to move in a direction perpendicular to the other longitudinal wall 4 of the buffer 3 or to one or the other of the transverse walls 4 of this buffer so that the free end of the bolt 7 can engage in a keeper 8 formed in the other longitudinal wall 5 of the frame 2 or one or the other of the two transverse walls 5 of this frame.

The plane web 3a of the buffer 3 has a through opening 10 passing through the thickness of this web and allowing the key 9 to access the locking bolt 7.

According to the invention, the opening 10 of the buffer 3 is shaped to allow the key 9 to actuate the bolt 7 by pivoting itself in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the web 3a of the buffer 3.

The operating key 9 comprises a cylindrical rod of relatively large length 11 provided at one of its ends with an operating handle 12 constituted by a bar extending perpendicularly to the rod 11.

The actuating key 9 further comprises, in the vicinity of the free end 13 of the rod 11 opposite to the operating handle 12, a bar 14 integral perpendicularly with the rod 11 on either side thereof, which bar 14 is located in the same plane as that containing the operating handle 12.

The actuating key 9 also comprises means for blocking the latter at a position substantially perpendicular to the plane web 3a of the buffer 3 once the bolt 7 occupies its fully unlocked position.

These locking means comprise a sleeve 15 slidably mounted with a small clearance along the shaft 11 of the key 9 and a key 16 integral with the sleeve 15 along a portion of the latter projecting beyond the lower edge of the sheath 15 located on the side of the bar 14. Thus, the key 16 extends parallel to the rod 11 of the actuating key 9. The sleeve 15 is provided with an operating handle 17 secured to this sheath and constituted by a bar extending perpendicularly from the sheath to one side thereof. The handle 17 makes it possible to manually move the sheath 15 and the key 16 along the rod 11 to the locking position of the operating key 9 as will be seen later.

The locking bolt 7 comprises a cylindrical rod 18 traversing with sliding guided a bore 19 made through a wall or reinforcing rib 20 secured to the plane web 3a of the pad 3 below it in a direction perpendicular to this veil .

The bolt 7 further comprises, integral with the rod 18 and in extension thereof, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shaped portion 21 whose free beveled end can engage in the recess forming latch 8 of the wall corresponding 5 of the frame 2, recess then having the shape of a rectangular window.

The bolt 7 is returned to its locking position in the striker 8 by a helical compression spring 22 mounted prestressed between the flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 and the corresponding flat face of the reinforcing rib 20 being disposed coaxially around the rod. 18 of the bolt 7. The flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 has a width greater than the diameter of the rod 18 to define a shoulder on which is supported an extreme turn of the spring 22.

The bolt 7 is retained axially under the buffer 3 to prevent the bolt 7 from escaping from this buffer once the latter disengaged from the frame 2 by an outer ring 23 mounted coaxially on the free end portion of the rod 18 protruding reinforcement rib 20 opposite the spring 22 and which is locked in translation by a pin 24. In this way, when the pad 3 is completely disengaged from the support frame 2 and in the absence of the key 9 a once removed from the buffer, the force exerted by the spring 22 on the flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 abuts the ring 23 on the corresponding flat face of the reinforcing rib 20 opposite to that on which the corresponding extreme turn is supported. of the spring 22.

The flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 passes through a rectangular opening 4a of the corresponding lateral wall 4 of the buffer 3 so as to also ensure the translational guidance of the bolt 7 under the buffer 3.

The flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 comprises a through hole 25 consisting of a central bore 26 and two circular or frustoconical bevels 27 located on either side of the central bore 26. The orifice 25 is intended to receive the end free 13 of the rod 11 of the operating key 9 when the latter is introduced through the opening 10 of the buffer 3.

The opening 10 of the buffer 3 is further shaped to guide the passage of the actuating key 9 through the buffer 3 and the introduction of the free end 13 of this key into the hole 25 of the bolt 7 before actuate the latter by pivoting the key 9 in the opening 10.

Preferably, the opening 10 of the buffer 3 has a generally rectangular shape seen from above the buffer 3 and whose two longitudinal upper edges located at the upper face of the plane web 3a of the buffer 3 extend parallel to the plane of the reinforcing rib 20 or the wall 4 of the buffer 3 through which the bolt 7 passes.

The opening 10 comprises two parallel ramps 28 respectively starting from the two upper edges of this opening through the thickness of the plane web 3a of the buffer 3 opening under it above the bolt 7. The two ramps 28 provide guidance 14 of the transverse bar 14 and the introduction of the free end 13 of the actuating key 9 in the hole 25 of the bolt 7 when the key 9 is introduced through the opening 10 of the buffer 3 occupying its position d 2. The thickness of the bar 14 is slightly less than the distance separating the two ramps 28 and the length of this bar is slightly less than the length of these ramps.

Preferably, the angle of inclination α of each ramp 28 is substantially equal to the angle of inclination β of the chamfers 27 of the orifice 25 of the bolt 7. For example, the angles of inclination α and β may be about 50 °.

The opening 10 of the buffer 3 further comprises a slot or groove 29 opening into the thickness of the plane web 3a of the buffer 3, perpendicular to the ramps 28 and extending from the upper longitudinal side of one of these ramps. More specifically, the light 29 extends from the ramp 28 of the opening 10 located closest to the side wall 4 of the buffer 3 through which is slidably guided the bolt 7. The light 29 opens well heard in the space defined between the two ramps 28 of the opening 10 allowing the guided passage of the bar 14 of the actuating key 9. The role of the light 29 is to allow the rod 11 of the actuating key 9, once introduced through the opening 10, to pivot itself in a plane perpendicular to the plane web 3a of the buffer 3.

Unlocking the bolt 7 from its locking position of the buffer 3 in the frame 2 and the extraction of the buffer 3 of this frame are as follows.

First, as represented in figure 3 , an operator grasps the actuating key 9 to successively introduce the end portion 13 and the bar 14 of the key 9 through the two ramps 28 of the opening 10 which guide the bar 14 before the introduction of the end 13 in the hole 25 of the bolt 7.

The figure 4 shows in part using the figure 3 that the end 13 of the key 9 is then introduced into the orifice 25 having been guided also by a portion of the circular upper chamfer 27 and then by a portion of the lower chamfer 27 of the orifice 25 and that the bar 14 is located below the planar web 3a of the buffer 3 while bearing on the flat part 21 of the bolt 7, the rod 11 of the key 9 being then inclined at an angle substantially equal to the angle of inclination α or β of the ramps 28 or the upper circular chamfer 27 of the orifice 25.

The figures 5 and 6 then show that the actuating key 9 is pivoted by the operator in a plane perpendicular to the plane web 3a of the buffer 3 in the clockwise direction relative to these figures to allow the free end 13 of the key 9 to drive in translation the bolt 7 against the return force of the spring 22 to disengage the flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 of the keeper 8 of the frame 2 as shown in FIG. figure 7 . This pivoting is authorized by the light 29 in which the corresponding part of the rod 11 of the operating key 9 can move.

In the unlocked position of the bolt 7 of its latch 8 of the figure 7 , the operator grasps the handle 17 to slide down the sleeve 15 and the key 16 to introduce a portion of the sleeve 15 and the key 16 into the defined opening between the ramp 28 located next to the reinforcing rib 20 and the end of the light 29 opposite this ramp as shown in FIG. figure 8 .

The figure 9 shows that the sleeve assembly 15 and key 16 is located at its lowest position relative to the rod 11 of the actuating key 9 and at which the lower end of the key 16 bears on the flat portion 21 of the bolt 7.

In this way, the sleeve assembly 15 and key 16 securely locks the operating key 9 at its position substantially perpendicular to the plane web 3a of the buffer 3 with, of course, the bar 14 of the key 9 located under the plane sail 3a of this buffer. From this locking position of the key 9 relative to the pad 3, the operator can then exert traction on the actuating key 9 via the operating handle 12 to lift the pad 3 and disengage it completely. of its support frame 2.

Once the buffer 3 is completely extracted from the support frame 2, the operating key 9 can remain locked relative to the buffer 3 at its position shown in FIGS. figures 9 and 10 to which the bolt 9 is held in its unlocking position. Under these conditions, when the operator wishes to reposition the buffer to its closed position in the support frame 2, he then grasps the actuating key 9 to lift the buffer and arrange it above the frame 2. Then, he releases the actuating key 9 so that the buffer 3 fits by gravity in the walls 5 of the frame 2 to close the opening of the latter. The operator then grasps the handle 17 by exerting on it an upward pull to slide the sleeve 15 along the shank 18 of the key 9 and disengage the sheath and the key 16 from the orifice 10 and the light 29 at the position shown in figure 7 , thus unlocking the key 9 relative to the buffer 3. The operator then rotates the operating key 9 counterclockwise in relation to the figures 6 and 5 to bring the key 9 to its position represented in figure 3 to which the key can be removed from the pad 3 by guided sliding of the end 13 and the bar 14 by the circular chamfers 27 of the orifice 25 and the ramps 28 of the pad 3, thereby allowing the bolt 7, under the action of the spring 22, to return to its locking position in the keeper 8 of the frame 2 to lock the buffer 3 in this frame.

Another possibility for repositioning the buffer 3 in its closed position in its support frame 2 is to first unlock the operating key 9 of the buffer 3 by acting on the handle 17 to remove the sleeve 15 and the key 16 of the opening 10 and its light 29 and then pivoting the actuating key 9 in its plane perpendicular to the web 3a of the buffer 3 to its position to which the key 9 can be completely removed from the buffer 3 as explained above. Then, the operator can enter the pad 3 if necessary using at least one suitable tool engaged in a corresponding bore 30 of the pad 3 to lift the latter and place it above the support frame 2. By releasing the buffer 3, the latter falls by gravity in the frame 2 and during this fall, the corresponding side wall 5 of the frame 2 exerts on the free end of the flat portion 21 of the bolt 7 a force pushing the latter against the restoring force of the spring 22 until this free end is opposite the striker 8 in which this end is introduced to the final position of closure of the buffer 3 in the frame 2. The buffer 3 is then locked by the bolt 7 relative to frame 2.

The locking and unlocking device described above can be applied not only to a rectangular shaped pad, but also to a triangular or circular pad.

The above described device of the invention is not only of an extremely simple structure but allows an operator by a simple pivoting of the actuating key in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the buffer to easily operate the unlocking of the bolt solidarisant the buffer in its support frame. In addition, the operating key can be securely locked relative to the pad 3 at a position holding the bolt in its unlocked position.

Claims (8)

1. An assembly comprising a frame (2), a covering element (3), and a device for locking and unlocking at least one covering element (3) on the frame (2) for supporting the element, said device comprising a bolt (7) mounted in guiding sliding movement below the covering element (3) and able to cooperate with a strike (8) of the support frame (2) to lock the covering element (3) to the support frame (2) and a key (9) for actuating the bolt (7) that can be inserted through an opening (10) of the covering element (3) in order to actuate the bolt (7) from a locked position, in which the bolt (7) is maintained by a helical compression spring (22) mounted pre-stressed between the bolt (7) and an inner reinforcing rib (20) of the covering element (3), to an unlocked position against the return force of the helical compression spring (22), the opening (10) of the covering element (3) being configured to allow the key (9) to actuate the bolt (7) by itself pivoting in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the covering element (3), and the bolt (7) comprising a through orifice (25) into which one end (13) of the actuating key (9) can be inserted when the latter is inserted into the opening (10) of the covering element (3), that opening (10) of the covering element (3) including two parallel ramps (28) for guiding a transverse bar (14) of the actuating key (9) situated near the end (13) of the latter and inserting the end (13) of the actuating key (9) into the through orifice (25) of the bolt (7) before actuating the bolt (7) by pivoting the actuating key (9) and an aperture (29) perpendicular to one of the two ramps (28) allowing the guided pivoting of the actuating key (9) to its unlocked position of the bolt (7), in which the bar (14) of the actuating key (9) is situated below the covering element (3) to allow the latter to be lifted relative to the support frame (2) by traction exerted on the actuating key (9).
2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifice (25) of the bolt (7) includes a central through piercing (26) delimited between two circular bevels (27) with an incline angle substantially equal to the incline angle of the two guide ramps (28) of the actuating key (9) in order also to guide the insertion of the end (13) of the actuating key (9) through the piercing (26).
3. The assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bolt (7) includes a stem-forming part (18) passing through the inner reinforcing rib (20) and a flat locking part (21) crossing through a wall (4) of the covering element (3), the return spring (22) being mounted coaxially on the stem-forming part (18) of the bolt (7) between the reinforcing rib (20) and the flat locking part (21) of the bolt (7).
4. The assembly according to claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the bolt (7) is axially maintained in the covering element (3) in its locked position by a ring (23) secured to the end of the stem-forming part (18) of the bolt (7) and bearing, by the return force from the spring (22), on a face of the reinforcing rib (20) opposite that on which an end turn of that spring bears.
5. The assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strike (8) is made up of an orifice formed in a wall (5) of the support frame (2).
6. The assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuating key (9) includes a cylindrical stem (11) and a strip (12) forming a maneuvering handle extending perpendicular to the stem (11) and situated substantially in the same plane as that containing the bar (14) of the actuating key (9).
7. The assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating key (9) comprises means for locking the latter relative to the covering element (3) in a position substantially perpendicular to the element corresponding to the unlocked position of the bolt (7) and which include a sheath (15) that can be maneuvered manually while being mounted sliding along the actuating key (9) and a pin (16) secured to the sheath (15) and capable of engaging with the sheath (15) in the opening (10) of the covering element (3) to lock the actuating key (9) in its locked position relative to the covering element (3).
8. The assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering element (3) is a lid or a cover for a manhole.

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