EP2616595B1 - Safety arrangement for a manhole - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a manhole cover according to the preamble of claim 1.

Shaft openings, which are typically required for municipal sewage disposal or for the municipal fresh water supply for the attachment or removal of equipment, must be protected against the risk of falling. For this purpose, a railing is provided, which runs around it when working on the opening. Likewise, a protective grid is provided, which covers the opening with not yet set railing so that no one can fall into the opening. However, the protective grid should be so weitmaschig that you can perform a visual inspection of the shaft through the protective grid.

The DE 298 04 025 U1 shows a manhole cover which has a hinged lid and a railing. The stands of the railing are pivotally mounted on the, opposite the lid edge of the shaft opening. Horizontal struts of the railing can be folded out of a position parallel to the vertical struts and releasably connected to the open lid. When the shaft cover is closed, the rail parts are covered by the cover. There is no safety gate provided; in the period between the opening of the lid and the erection of the railing therefore there is a risk that someone falls into the manhole opening.

The US 14107 A shows as early as 1856 a manhole cover according to a similar principle as the DE 298 04 025 U1 , Horizontal struts of the railing are pivotally mounted with one end on the pivotable lid. When the lid is closed, these horizontal bars of the railing hang in the shaft. To open and secure the cover these horizontal struts are suspended with its second end to a railing part, which pivotally attached to that edge portion of the shaft opening is, which is opposite to the lid. The manhole cover has the same disadvantages as the manhole cover according to DE 298 04 025 U1 ,

The GB 2430 690 A shows a manhole cover, which covers cover, railing and protective grid. The gel parts are pivotable and foldable into each other. The railing is in collapsed condition in recesses which extend around the cover. The protective grid is mounted below the multi-part lid; for the removal of the protective grid, it is not necessarily required to set up the railing before.

The US 4 266 380 A and the US 6,640,495 B1 each show a manhole cover, wherein in the closed state pivoting railing side parts are arranged below the lid. With the lid still open, the railing side panels, which are still folded around, form a safety gate. In each case, a railing side panel covers the shaft in half. Danger can exist when folding the railing, as already half of the opening area of the shaft is exposed in not completely installed railing. The fact that the railing is also used as a safety grille, it must be so close meshed that some work is hampered.

The FR 2 639 383 A1 shows a manhole cover, in which also pivotable handrail side panels in the folded state form a safety grid, which can be covered by a lid. Unlike the construction described above, covers each side of the railing in the folded state, the entire manhole opening, including the individual side panels in the folded state not laterally next to each other but vertically stacked. The cover can be opened and closed without any danger of falling. Disadvantages are that the individual railing parts are relatively heavy and that the railing for some work disturbing is closely meshed, since it is also used as a security grid.

The GB 2 353 313 A shows a manhole cover, in which in the closed state cover, folded-over railing parts and a safety plate - which is comparable to a safety grid - lie vertically one above the other. As long as the railing parts are not installed, the safety plate is not removable. The disadvantage is that the security plate of the cover is completely solvable and that the railing can be folded without security plate and the lid is closed without security plate.

The object underlying the invention is to perform a manhole cover consisting of a cover, a railing and a guard such that the guard can only be removed from the protective position when the railing is set up and that the railing can only be folded when the protective grille is in the protective position. The railing should not be made more compact and heavy, as required by the safety requirements for a railing.

To solve the problem is based on a construction of a manhole cover, which has a lid, a guard and a railing as separate components or assemblies. In this case, cover, protective grille and railing are pivotally mounted on a frame surrounding the edge of the shaft opening. When closed, part of the railing is placed over the guard and the lid covers both railings and guards. When folded railing parts of the railing are in the path of movement of the opening pivoting movement of the protective grid. When the protective grille is open, parts of the protective grille are in the path of movement of the terrain parts which they pass through when dismantling the railing.

This ensures that handling of the railing and the guard by the operator only in such Order can be made that there is always a secured against crash state. This safety is achieved with simple and comfortable work opportunity at the shaft opening.

• zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht eine beispielhafte Schachtöffnung in vollständig geöffnetem Zustand.
• zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht die Schachtöffnung von Fig. 1 bei geöffnetem Deckel, aufgestelltem Geländer und geschlossenem Schutzgitter.
• zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht die Schachtöffnung von Fig. 1 bei geöffnetem Deckel, geschlossenem Schutzgitter und eingeklapptem Geländer.

The invention will be illustrated with reference to drawings to an advantageous embodiment:

• shows in perspective view an exemplary manhole opening in the fully open state.
• shows in perspective view the shaft opening of Fig. 1 with the lid open, the railing set up and the guard closed.
• shows in perspective view the shaft opening of Fig. 1 with the lid open, the guard closed and the railing folded.

The shaft is closed in the normal state with a cover 2 and locked by means of padlock. This cover 2 is connected by hinges on one side with the frame 1 and thereby pivotable on this about a horizontal axis of rotation between a closed and an open state. By means of a securing tab 2.1 it is secured in the open position against too wide unfolding and against accidental closing or secure.

For visual checks in the shaft, only the lid 2 is open ( Fig. 3 ). The shaft remains covered by the protective grille 3, through which one can see through. The maximum mesh size of the protective grille 3 is determined by safety regulations; in an exemplary typical embodiment, it may be 10 by 10 cm. Parts 4.1 of the railing 4, lie above the protective grille 3, other parts 4.2 of the railing 4 hang on the protective grille 3 over into the shaft. The railing 4 has only a few spars 4.1, 4.2. By these few spars 4.1, 4.2, the view is not significantly impeded in the shaft.

For necessary further manipulations, such as the insertion or removal of a pump in the slot, the guard 3 must be swung away from the opening. For this purpose, the railing 4 must first be raised, for which purpose the frontal railing part 4.1 is pivoted about the rotation axis 4.1.1 on the frame 1. The longitudinal-side handrails 4.2, which are pivotally mounted on the end-face handrail part 4.1 via swivel axles 4.2.1, are connected to the cover 2 at detachable connection points 4.2.2. These joints 4.2.2 can be designed as a kind of hooking or screwing, so that they can not be accidentally solved by moving the railing spars 4.2.

The shaft is now secured laterally with a railing 4 and acting as a terrain part, open lid 2. During the erection of the railing 4 and the fastening of the ends of the longitudinal railing spars 4.2, the protective grid 3 is still inserted and a crash into the shaft is excluded.

It is not mechanically possible to open the protective grid 3 before setting up the railing 4, ie to fold up its axis of rotation 3.1 on the frame 1, since the frontal railing part 4.1 is above the protective grid 3 and thus blocks the pivoting path of the protective grid 3 during its opening movement. In order that each of the four longitudinal railing spars 4.2 must be used, these are connected in pairs by means of connecting chains.

After complete erection of the railing 4 and the protective grid 3 is pivotable in the open position, since now no part of the railing 4 on the protective grid 3 is on top. Preferably, as shown, the pivot axis 3.1 of the protective grille 3 and the pivot axis 4.1.1 of the frontal railing section 4.1 on the frame 1 parallel to each other and arranged on the frame 1 opposite. In this case, the pivot axis 3.1 of the protective grid 3 is preferably arranged on the same frame side as the pivot axis of the lid 2 This results in a simple construction and a very good blocking of the opening pivoting movement of the protective grid 3 while the frame part 4.1 is still lying.

To open the protective grille 3 this is raised. At the same time, the spring-loaded locking bolts 3.2 are pulled towards each other so that their mutually projecting ends do not collide with the longitudinal railing beams 4.2 while being raised above their height. In order to have any hands free to move the spring-loaded locking bolt 3.2 accordingly, you must first attach the longitudinal railing rails 4.2 on the cover 2. This forces a correct sequence of actions.

The opened protective grid 3 can be locked on the lid 2.

During this and all other activities prevents the raised railing 4 crash into the shaft.

Preferably, the longitudinal railing spars 4.2 with the cover 2 by a movement from top to bottom to anchor the joints 4.2.2 and by a movement from bottom to top - possibly after loosening a screw or a Verhakung - to solve it again. For this purpose, the spring-loaded locking bolts 3.2 are preferably attached to the protective grille 3 in a position such that they rest against the upper side of the longitudinal railing rails 4.2 when the protective grille 3 is in the open position and resting against the cover 2. This is enforced in a simple manner that when closing the cover only the guard 3 must be closed before the railing 4 can be dismantled.

The closing of the shaft from the fully open state away in the reverse sequence as the opening. First, the protective grid 3 is detached from the cover 2 and folded, the railing 4 is completely intact as a fall protection. Then the longitudinal railing rails 4.2 are released from the lid 2 and hang down. Then it will be the frontal railing part 4.1 pivoted about its pivot axis 4.1.1 back into the lying on the frame 1 position. Once railing 4 and the guard 3 are in the closed position, the lid 2 can be pivoted after unlocking the locking tab 2.1 in the closed position and locked if necessary by means of padlock.

Measured by the functions that are met by it, the cover according to the invention can be produced with very little material and manufacturing effort and it can be operated easily and without any effort with the best possible occupational safety.

In no case is it necessary for the operating personnel to work on the unsecured shaft opening, since at the shaft opening, even with the cover 2 always open, the protective grille 3 and / or the railing 4 is arranged in a protective manner. Thus, visual inspections and work on the manhole can be carried out by individuals, even if strict occupational health and safety regulations are applied.

Claims (3)

1. Manhole covering, which

   - has a cover (2), a protective grating (3) and a railing (4),

   - wherein these parts are each fastened pivotably to a frame (1), which surrounds the manhole opening, and can be pivoted to and fro between a laid down, closed position and a put up, open position,

   - wherein, when the railing (4) is in the laid down position, at least a part of the railing (4) is arranged above the laid down protective grating (3) and lies in the movement path of the protective grating (3) from the laid down position to the put up position, and wherein the longitudinal-side railing bars (4.2), that is, the bars, the longitudinal direction of which extends horizontally and normally to the pivot axis (4.1.1) of the railing (4) on the frame (1) when the railing (4) is in the put up position, hang past the laid down protective grating (3) and/or through the latter into the manhole,

   - wherein the laid down protective grating (3) and the laid down railing (4) can be covered by laying down the cover (2), and the protective grating (3) and the railing (4) are realised as parts which are separate from each other and, when put up, at least a part of the protective grating (3) lies in the movement path of a part of the railing when the railing transfers from the put up position to the closed position.
2. Manhole covering according to Claim 1, characterised in that, when the railing (4) is laid down, the end-face railing part (4.1), that is, the railing part which is arranged directly above the rotation axis (4.1.1) of the railing (4) on the frame (1) when the railing (4) is put up, is arranged above the laid down protective grating (3).
3. Manhole covering according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the pivot axis (3.1) of the protective grating (3) is arranged on the same frame side as the pivot axis of the cover (2) and that the pivot axis (4.1.1) of the railing (4) lies on the opposite frame side.

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