EP3312354A1

EP3312354A1 - An insert for a gulley

Info

Publication number: EP3312354A1
Application number: EP17164086.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Hamish Harding
Original assignee: Milford I/S
Current assignee: Milford I/S
Priority date: 2017-03-31
Filing date: 2017-03-31
Publication date: 2018-04-25

Abstract

The present invention provides an insert for a gulley. The insert comprises a dividing element (7) configured to separate a lower duct portion from an upper duct portion of such gulley. The dividing element (7) is changeable between a first configuration where water is retainable in the upper duct portion and a second configuration where water is not retainable in the upper duct portion.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an insert for a gulley, the gulley forming a duct extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising an inlet, an upper outlet in an upper duct portion and a lower outlet in a lower duct portion.

Background of the invention

Traditionally, rain water and water from flooding are lead to the sewer system via road gullies. Alternatively, rain water is lead to recipient or the sewer plant in a separate rain water piping.

Description of the invention

It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide an insert for a gulley.
It is a further object of embodiments of the invention to provide an insert which allows a variable flow of water to a sewer system.
According to a first aspect, the invention provides an insert for a gulley, the gulley forming a duct extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising an inlet, an upper outlet in an upper duct portion and a lower outlet in a lower duct portion, wherein the insert comprises a dividing element configured to separate the lower duct portion from the upper duct portion and is changeable between a first configuration where water is retainable in the upper duct portion and a second configuration where water is not retainable in the upper duct portion.
Thus, an insert which is configured to be inserted into a gulley is provided. The gulley may as an example be closed at an upper end by a grating which allows water to get into the gulley and which keep larger elements, such as stones, branches, animals, and others out of the gulley.
The gulley forms a duct extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising an inlet, an upper outlet in an upper duct portion and a lower outlet in a lower duct portion.
The gulley may in a preferred embodiment be arranged so that the longitudinal direction extends substantially vertically. It should however be understood, that the gulley may also be arranged so that the longitudinal direction extends in a direction at an angle relative to vertically, such as at an angle of 5 degrees, 10 degrees, or 20 degrees.
The inlet may be arranged at an upper end of the gulley, such as at an end face terminating the gulley at an upper end. It should however be understood, that the inlet may alternatively be arranged at a side portion of the duct formed by the gulley. Furthermore, it should be understood be understood, that the gulley may comprise a plurality of inlets which may allow water to flow to the gulley from different directions, such as both from an upper end face and from different directions via openings in side portion of the duct.
In one embodiment, the gulley may be used as a road gulley where water, such as rain water, may flow to the gulley through an opening terminating the duct at an upper end face which may be arranged substantially in the same level as the road.
In embodiments comprising a plurality of inlets, the inlets may be identical or alternatively of different shape and/or size. Inlets arranged at a side portion may be arranged at different angles to the duct and/or at different heights.
The gulley further comprises an upper outlet in an upper duct portion and a lower outlet in a lower duct portion. It should be understood, that the upper and lower duct portion may be formed in one piece, or may be formed of a plurality of pieces. Furthermore, the upper and lower duct portions may be arranged in communication with each other forming an uninterrupted duct where the upper duct portion is positioned above the lower duct portion.
At least one upper outlet is formed in the upper duct portion to allow water to flow from the upper duct portion out of the gulley. Additionally, at least one lower outlet is formed in the lower duct portion to allow water to flow from the lower duct portion out of the gulley.
The inlet, the upper outlet, and the lower outlet may each be arranged in communication with a pipe through which water may flow to and from the duct. Alternatively, at least one of the inlet, the upper outlet(s), and the lower outlet(s) may be an opening through which water may flow without being in communication with a pipe.
The insert comprises a dividing element configured to separate the lower duct portion from the upper duct portion when inserted into the duct. Thus, before insertion the duct may form an uninterrupted duct which may be separated into two duct portions when the insert is arranged in the duct.
As an example, the insert may be arranged in the duct via an opening in an end face terminating the duct at an upper end. It should be understood, that this opening may be identical to the inlet.
The insert is changeable between a first configuration where water is retainable in the upper duct portion and a second configuration where water is not retainable in the upper duct portion. Thus, in the first configuration, the insert may ensure that at least a part of the water flowing to the gulley via the inlet is retained in the upper duct portion, whereas in the second configuration the insert does not lead to retention of water in the upper duct portion.
When water is retained in the upper duct portion, at least a part of the water may leave the duct via the upper outlet. It should however be understood, that at least some of the water may leave the duct via the lower outlet, as not all the water may be retained in the upper duct portion. When water is not retained in the upper duct portion substantially all the water may leave the duct via the lower outlet.
Thus, by providing an insert comprising a dividing element which is changeable between the above described first and second configuration, it is possible to vary the flow of water out of the duct between the upper outlet(s) and the lower outlet(s).
In one embodiment, the upper outlet may be in communication with a green infrastructure or a storage for water for irrigation use or similar use, whereas the lower outlet may be in communication with a sewer plant.
In the context of the present invention, the term "green infrastructure" should be understood as vegetation, soils, and other elements to which water may be lead as an alternative to leading water to the sewer system.
A change between the first and second configuration may e.g. be carried out in dependency of change of season. As an example, the dividing element may be in the first configuration during spring, summer, and at least a part of the autumn, whereby at least a part of the water is retained in the upper duct portion during these seasons. The water may subsequently leave the gulley through the upper outlet.
Before winter the dividing element may be changed to the second configuration whereby water is not retained in the upper duct portion when entering the duct. Consequently, the incoming water may leave the duct via the lower outlet(s) in the lower duct portion.
This may especially be an advantage in order to prevent water polluted with de-icing salts being lead to green infrastructure or a water storage, as water comprising de-icing salts is not suited for irrigation as these salts may ruin plants, trees, etc. Instead the incoming water may be directed to an alternative location, such as to a sewer plant.
The dividing element may be substantially plate-shaped; i.e. having a shape being substantially larger in two dimensions than in the third dimension. In one embodiment, the height of the dividing element may be the smallest dimension, where the height of the dividing element is the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the duct. Consequently, the dividing element does not take up too much space in the duct while at the same time being able to separate the upper duct portion from the lower duct portion.
To be able to retain at least a part of the water in the upper duct portion, the dividing element may have a circumferential shape which corresponds to an inner shape of the duct. Typically, the duct may have a cross-section being substantially circular, whereby the dividing element may also have a circumferential shape being circular. It should however be understood, that the duct may have any arbitrary cross-sectional shape, such as a square shape, an oval shape, or any other shape.
To facilitate changing between the first and second configuration, the dividing element may form an opening to allow water flowing from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion. When the dividing element is in the first configuration, the opening may be closed, whereas the opening may open in the second configuration so that water can flow from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion.
The insert may further comprise a fixture and an elongated element forming a conduit. The fixture may be configured to hold the elongated element in a first position in which the conduit is in communication with the opening and in a second position in which the conduit is not in communication with the opening.
The elongated element forming a conduit may have any arbitrary cross-sectional shape, e.g. a cross-sectional shape being circular, oval, square-shaped, or any other shape. The cross-section shape and size may be uniform along the length of the elongated element. However, in one embodiment the shape and/or size may vary along the length.
The conduit formed by the elongated element may form a flow path for water, whereby an upper end face of the elongated element may form an inlet for water, whereas a lower end face of the elongated element may form an outlet for water.
As the fixture may be configured to hold the elongated element in a first position in which the conduit is in communication with the opening and in a second position in which the conduit is not in communication with the opening, the fixture may comprise two fixing elements. In one embodiment, each of the two fixing elements may be an element with a through hole through which the elongated element may be inserted and thus kept in place.
It should be understood, that the two fixing element may be formed in one piece, whereby the fixture may be an element comprising two through holes through which the elongated element may be inserted. When inserted in one of the through holes, the elongated element may be fixed in a first position and when inserted in the other one of the through holes, the elongated element may be fixed in a second position.
It should further be understood, that the fixing element may additionally comprise at least one locking member to ensure that the elongated element cannot easily be removed from the first and/or second position. The locking member may as an example comprise a snap-fit lock, a matching structure on the elongated element and the fixture, such as a track, or another suitable structure.
The elongated element may form an end face which, in the first position, seals the opening. As an example, the end face may be the lower end face which may have a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the opening, whereby the opening may be sealed when the lower end face is arranged at the dividing element in communication with the opening.
The opening may be un-sealed by the end face of the elongated element in the second position, i.e. in the second position the elongated element may be arranged so that the end face is not in communication with the opening, whereby water may flow through the opening.
When the elongated element is in the first position, it may seal the opening. Thereby it may be achieved that water can be retained in the upper duct portion, whereby water may leave the duct via the upper outlet.
As the elongated element may form a conduit, water may however still flow from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion via the elongated element. When the retained water raises above the upper end face of the elongated element, a portion of the retained water may flow from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion, while another portion of the retained water may leave the upper duct portion via the upper outlet.
In one embodiment, a length of the elongated element may be variable. This may be achieved by providing the elongated element as a telescopic tube or by use of a flex hose. By providing the elongated element with a variable length, it may be possible to vary the amount of water retained in the upper duct portion. If the elongated element is extended, the opening at the upper end will be raised, whereby the amount of water in the upper duct portion may increase, as more water can be retained before overflow to the lower duct portion via the conduit may occur.
The insert may further comprise a support being expandable into contact with an inner surface of the duct and forming a suspension for at least one of the dividing element and the elongated element. Thus, the support may be fixed to the inner surface by at least one expandable element whereby at least one of the dividing element and the elongated element may be kept in place in the duct. The expandable element may comprise spring element which may bias at least a part of the support to the inner surface.
Alternatively, the support may comprise at least one bolt and nut being expandable into contact with the inner surface of the duct. When the nut it unscrewed, an end face of the bolt may be moved toward the inner surface until it contacts the inner surface and thus fixed the support.
The inner surface of the duct may be substantially smooth. Alternatively, the duct may comprise a corrugated inner surface. In the latter embodiment, the support may contact the inner surface in one of the indentations/troughs thereby facilitating attachment of the insert member in the gulley.
It should be understood, that the support forming a suspension and the fixture for holding the elongated element may be a single element forming a combined suspension and fixture for the elongated element.
The dividing element may comprise separate dividing parts joined by a hinge structure whereby the separate dividing parts are movable relative to each other between a folded configuration allowing insertion of the insert into the duct and an unfolded configuration facilitating engagement between the dividing element and the duct.
In the folded configuration, the insert with the dividing element may as an example be inserted into a gulley via an upper opening which may also be the inlet to the gulley. Consequently, the insert may be inserted into existing gullies e.g. in connection with maintenance, repair, etc.
After insertion of the insert, the dividing element may be unfolded thereby providing engagement between an inner surface of the duct and the dividing element, such as an outer circumference of the dividing element, thereby providing separation of the duct into an upper duct portion and a lower duct portion.
To facilitate that the dividing element is kept in place in the duct, a peripheral edge part of the dividing element may comprise a frictional increasing material, such as neoprene. By increasing friction between the duct and the dividing element, the joint between the inner surface of the duct and the dividing element may additionally be sealed.
The insert may further comprise a by-pass for passage of water from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion. This may e.g. be achieved by providing a second opening in a side portion of the elongated element whereby water may enter the conduit not only from an upper opening in an upper end face but also via the second opening in the side portion. By arranging the second opening at a lower position than the upper opening water may flow from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion before the upper water level reaches the upper opening of the elongated element.
Additionally, the insert may comprise control means for varying a flow resistance in the by-pass. The control means may as an example comprise a closing element which may be movably arranged in front of the second opening. By sliding the closing element back and forth in front of the second opening, the size of the second opening may be varied, thereby varying the flow resistance. It should be understood, that the closing element may close the second opening completely thereby turning off the by-pass.
In one embodiment, the control means for varying the flow resistance is controlled manually, e.g. by maintenance personnel. In an alternative embodiment, the control means is automatically controlled e.g. in dependency of the amount of water entering the duct via the inlet.
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method for redirecting a flow of water in a gulley, the method comprising the steps of;

providing a dividing element with an opening,
providing an elongated element forming a conduit;
arranging the dividing element between an upper outlet and a lower outlet in the gulley;
arranging the elongated element in one of a first and a second position, where in a first position the conduit is in communication with the opening and where in a second position the conduit is not in communication with the opening.

It should be understood, that a skilled person would readily recognise that any feature described in combination with the first aspect of the invention could also be combined with the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.
The insert according to the first aspect of the invention is very suitable for performing the method steps according to the second aspect of the invention. The remarks set forth above in relation to the insert are therefore equally applicable in relation to the method.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a gulley comprising an insert where the dividing element is in the first configuration,
Fig. 2 illustrates a gulley comprising an insert where the dividing element is in the second configuration,
Fig. 3 illustrate an embodiment of an insert,
Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an insert seen from below, and
Fig. 5 illustrates an exploited view of an embodiment of an insert.

Detailed description of the drawings

It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate parts of a gulley 1 comprising an insert 2. The gulley 1 forms a duct 3A, 3B extending in a longitudinal direction as indicated by the arrow A. The gulley 1 comprises an inlet 4, an upper outlet 5 in an upper duct portion 3A, and a lower outlet 6 in a lower duct portion 3B.
The insert 2 comprises a dividing element 7 configured to separate the lower duct portion 3B from the upper duct portion 3A. The dividing element 7 is changeable between a first configuration (see Fig. 1) where water is retainable in the upper duct portion 3A and a second configuration (see Fig. 2) where water is not retainable in the upper duct portion 3A.
By providing the insert 2 with a dividing element 7 which is changeable between the above described first and second configuration, it is possible to vary the flow of water out of the duct 3A, 3B between the upper outlet 5 and the lower outlet 6.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper outlet 5 is in communication with a green infrastructure or a storage for water for irrigation use, whereas the lower outlet 6 is in communication with a sewer plant.
The inlet 4 at the upper end face of the duct 3A, 3B may be closed by a grating (not shown) allowing water to get into the gulley 1 but keeping larger elements, such as branches out of the gulley 1.
The dividing element 7 forms an opening 8 (see Fig. 2) to allow water flowing from the upper duct portion 3A to the lower duct portion 3B. When the dividing element 7 is in the first configuration, the opening 8 is closed, whereas the opening 8 is open in the second configuration so that water can flow from the upper duct portion 3A to the lower duct portion 3B. The first configuration is illustrated in Fig. 1, whereas the second configuration is illustrated in Fig. 2.
The insert 2 further comprises a fixture 9 and an elongated element 10 forming a conduit from an upper opening 11A to a lower opening 11B (see Fig. 4) to form a flow path for water. The fixture 9 is configured to fix the elongated element 10 in a first position in which the conduit is in communication with the opening 8 and in a second position in which the conduit is not in communication with the opening 8. The first position is illustrated in Fig. 1, whereas the second position is illustrated in Fig. 2.
The fixture 9 comprises two fixing elements each in the form of a through hole 12A, 12B through which the elongated element 10 can be inserted and thus kept in place.
The lower end face of the elongated element 10 seals the opening 8 in the first configuration as illustrated in Fig. 1. In the second configuration the opening 8 is un-sealed, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby water may flow through the opening 8.
When the elongated element 10 is in the first position as illustrated in Fig. 1, it seals the opening 8, whereby water can be retained in the upper duct portion 3A. When the upper water level reached the upper outlet 5, water will flow out of the upper duct portion 3A via the upper outlet 5. In case the flow of water to the gulley 1 via the inlet 4 exceeds the maximum flow possible out of the upper outlet 5, the upper water level will increase further and water will flow from the upper duct portion 3A to the lower duct portion 3B via the conduit formed by the elongated element 10.
The insert 2 further comprises a support 13 being expandable into contact with an inner surface of the duct 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the support 13 forms a suspension for the dividing element 7 and the elongated element 10. The support 13 comprises three expansion sets 14, each comprising a bolt and a nut.
The duct 3A, 3B comprises a corrugated inner surface. The support 13 contacts the inner surface in one of the indentations/troughs of the corrugated surface thereby facilitating attachment of the insert member 2 in the gulley 1.
In the illustrated embodiment, the support 13 forming a suspension for the dividing element 7 and the elongated element 10, and the fixture 9 for fixing the elongated element 10 is a combined unit.
Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an insert 2. The insert 2 comprises a dividing element 7 configured to separate a lower duct portion 3B from an upper duct portion 3A.
The insert 2 further comprises a fixture 9 and an elongated element 10 forming a conduit from an upper opening 11 to a lower opening (not shown) to form a flow path for water.
Additionally, the insert 2 comprises a support 13 being expandable into contact with an inner surface of a duct.
Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an insert 2 where the dividing element 7 is seen from below. The dividing element 7 comprises separate dividing parts 7A joined by a hinge structure comprising a plurality of hinges 15 (see Fig. 5) whereby the separate dividing parts 7A are movable relative to each other between a folded configuration allowing insertion of the insert 2 into a duct and an unfolded configuration facilitating engagement between the dividing element 7 and an inner surface of a duct.
After insertion of the insert 2, the dividing element 7 can be unfolded thereby providing engagement between an inner surface of the duct and the dividing element 7, and thus providing separation of the duct into an upper duct portion and a lower duct portion.
Fig. 5 illustrates an exploited view of an embodiment of an insert 2. The insert 2 is equal to the insert 2 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Claims

An insert for a gulley, the gulley forming a duct extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising an inlet, an upper outlet in an upper duct portion and a lower outlet in a lower duct portion, wherein the insert comprises a dividing element configured to separate the lower duct portion from the upper duct portion and is changeable between a first configuration where water is retainable in the upper duct portion and a second configuration where water is not retainable in the upper duct portion.
An insert according to claim 1, wherein the dividing element forms an opening to allow water flowing from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion.
An insert according to claim 2, further comprising a fixture and an elongated element forming a conduit, wherein the fixture is configured to hold the elongated element in a first position in which the conduit is in communication with the opening and in a second position in which the conduit is not in communication with the opening.
An insert according to claim 3, wherein the elongated element forms an end face which, in the first position, seals the opening.
An insert according to claim 4, wherein the opening is un-sealed by the end face in the second position.
An insert according to any of claims 3-5, wherein a length of the elongated element is variable.
An insert according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a support being expandable into contact with an inner surface of the duct and forming a suspension for at least one of the dividing element and the elongated element.
An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dividing element comprises separate dividing parts joined by a hinge structure whereby the separate dividing parts are movable relative to each other between a folded configuration allowing insertion of the insert into the duct and an unfolded configuration facilitating engagement between the dividing element and the duct.
An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a peripheral edge part of the dividing element comprises a frictional increasing material.
An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dividing element is plate-shaped.
An insert according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a by-pass for passage of water from the upper duct portion to the lower duct portion.
An insert according to claim 11, further comprising control means for varying a flow resistance in the by-pass.
A method for redirecting a flow of water in a gulley, the method comprising the steps of;
- providing a dividing element with an opening,

- providing an elongated element forming a conduit;

- arranging the dividing element between an upper outlet and a lower outlet in the gulley;

- arranging the elongated element in one of a first and a second position, where in a first position the conduit is in communication with the opening and where in a second position the conduit is not in communication with the opening.