FR2943359A1 - SAFETY DEVICE FOR AT LEAST ONE BUFFER, IN PARTICULAR A PAVEMENT LOOK - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety device for at least one buffer, especially the manhole. The device is characterized in that the connecting axis (18) of the self-locking arm (16) to the buffer (2) comprises two adjacent cylindrical portions (22, 23) of smaller diameter and greater diameter respectively and is axially movable. relative to the buffer (2) under the action of an elastic member (27) urging the smaller diameter portion (22) of the shaft (18) in sliding engagement in the lumen (19) of the arm (16) when the tilting of the tampon (2) between its open and closed positions and the larger diameter portion (23) in engagement locked in an orifice (19a) of the arm (16) when the tampon (2) is in its position d 'opening. The invention finds application in the field of roads.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety device for at least one buffer mounted pivotably hinged to a support frame by at least one hinge hinge.

It applies in particular but in a non-limiting way to manholes. In such an application, the frame is durably sealed in the ground and one or more pads articulated with respect to the frame can occupy a closed position in which the buffers seal the opening formed in this frame or an open position in which the pads are erected approximately vertically to clear the opening of the frame. Generally, each ground manhole plug is very heavy because it is made of a material based on cast iron, in particular spheroidal material. Thus, such buffers are difficult to maneuver when tilting between the closed and open positions of the frame and, moreover, when they occupy their open position, they can accidentally switch to their closed position of the frame . The document FR-A-2 674 879 describes a safety device for at least one articulated ground-manhole buffer which comprises, for each eye buffer, a lever whose lower end is articulated on the frame of the manhole and the upper end is provided with an oblong longitudinal slot in which slides an extension of the axis of articulation of a rod of an assistance cylinder to the opening of the buffer. This lever is provided at its upper free end with a hook articulated on the lever and which hangs under a finger of the axis of articulation of the rod of the assistance cylinder at the end of the opening movement of the buffer. Such a locking hook lever makes it possible to wedge the buffer to its upright open position without the risk of accidental tilting of the buffer towards its closed position.

However, this known safety device has the disadvantage of requiring the various elements constituting it to be precisely mounted to the frame and the buffer of the gaze so that during the pivoting of the buffer to its open position, the free end of the lever provided with the hook can secanter the rotational trajectory of the finger of the axis of articulation of the rod of the assistance cylinder, otherwise the hook will not be able to burrow under this finger. In addition, to close the opening of the frame by the buffer, it is necessary to manually rotate the hook to its unlocked position about its hinge axis at the free end of the lever, which requires above all to the part of the operator a relatively large effort to tilt slightly back the buffer. The present invention aims to overcome the above disadvantages of known safety devices. For this purpose, according to the invention, the safety device for at least one buffer hingedly hinged at the side of a support frame by at least one articulation hinge between a position of closure of the support frame and a position opening of this frame and, for each buffer, a self-locking arm whose one end is pivotally mounted to the side of the frame about a pivot axis and the other end is connected to the buffer by an axis integral with the buffer and slidably mounted in an oblong longitudinal slot of the self-locking arm so as to allow the rotation of this arm about its pivot axis when the pad is tilted between its open and closed positions and to automatically lock the pad to its open position, is characterized in that the connecting axis of the self-locking arm buffer comprises two adjacent cylindrical portions respectively smaller diameter and more g rand diameter and is axially movable relative to the buffer under the action of an elastic member which urges the smaller diameter portion of the connecting pin in sliding engagement in the oblong slot of the self-locking arm during the tilting of the buffer between its two opening and closing positions and the larger diameter portion of the connecting pin in engagement locked in a circular hole of the end of the self-locking arm in extension of the oblong slot of the arm when the buffer is brought to its opening position. In the position of blocking the buffer in its open position, the larger diameter part of the connecting pin can be released from the circular hole of the self-locking arm by manual traction exerted on the connecting pin against the restoring force exerted by the elastic member on the connecting axis to dispose the smaller diameter portion opposite the oblong slot of the self-locking arm and allow the tilting of the buffer to its closed position.

The cylindrical portions of smaller diameter and larger diameter of the connecting pin are connected to one another by a shoulder held in abutment on a corresponding face of the self-locking arm by the elastic member when the cylindrical portion of smaller diameter is engaged in the oblong slot of the self-locking arm and the connecting pin has a flange adjacent to the cylindrical portion of larger diameter opposite the cylindrical portion of smaller diameter and which is held in abutment by the elastic member on the corresponding end face of the self-locking arm having the circular orifice when the buffer is in its locked open position. The connecting pin is axially slidably supported by a yoke of the stamp and an end portion projecting from one side of the yoke comprises the two adjacent cylindrical portions of different diameters.

The connecting pin is mounted axially sliding in a sheath integral with the buffer yoke and an end portion projecting from the yoke on the same side as the two adjacent cylindrical portions is adapted to receive the cylindrical portion of smaller diameter. of the link axis when its larger diameter portion is engaged in the circular hole of the self-locking arm with the connecting shoulder between these two cylindrical portions abutting on the free end of the projecting end portion of the sheath under the action of the elastic member. The self-locking arm moves in rotation about its pivot axis between the connecting shoulder and the free end of the end portion projecting from the sleeve. The sleeve is fixed to the yoke by a nut engaged on a threaded portion externally of the projecting end portion of the sleeve and a head secured to the opposite end of the sleeve and bearing on the corresponding branch of the yoke. Preferably, the elastic member is a helical compression spring mounted coaxially around an end portion of the connecting pin projecting from the yoke opposite the end portion of this axis comprising the two cylindrical parts of different diameters and which is prestressed between the sleeve and a nut fixed to the free end of the corresponding end portion of the connecting pin. The device advantageously comprises a gripping handle secured to the end of the connecting pin and making it possible to exert traction on this axis to release the larger diameter portion of the circular orifice of the self-locking arm. The connecting axis is parallel to the pivot axis of the self-locking arm at the side of the frame and the pivot axis of this arm is disposed below the articulation hinge of the buffer frame.

The device further comprises at least one assistance cylinder opening the buffer and pivotally mounted firstly to the side of the frame on the same pivot axis of the self-locking arm and secondly to the buffer on a coaxial axis to the link axis. The assistance cylinder is pivotally mounted around the sheath between the two branches of the yoke. Alternatively, the device comprises means integral with the buffer and adapted to maintain laterally the self-locking arm when the larger diameter portion of the connecting pin is released from the circular orifice of the arm. The safety device of the invention is advantageously part of a manhole.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the explanatory description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example illustrating a method of Embodiment of the invention and in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety device of the invention for two pavement look buffers occupying their open position; - Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1 and showing the safety device of a buffer moving to its closed position of the frame of the manhole; - Figure 3 is a side view along the arrow III of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a bottom view of the two buffers of the manhole occupying their closed position of the frame; - Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 4 and wherein the safety device occupies the position allowing a tilting of the corresponding buffer between its open and closed positions; - Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 5 and showing the safety device in its locking position of the buffer at its open position; FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the circled portion VII of FIG. 1; Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the circled portion VIII of Figure 4; and - Figure 9 is an enlarged view similar to that of Figure 7 and showing an alternative embodiment of the invention. The safety device which will be described below applies to at least one buffer for manhole, but it is understood that it can be applied to any buffer or leaf other than that of a gaze. floor. Referring to the figures, the manhole 20 comprises a frame 1 and two buffers 2 each having the general shape of a right triangle, mounted articulated on two opposite sides 3 of the frame 1 by means of articulation hinges 4 two hinge hinges on one side of the frame 1 being provided for each buffer 2. As is known per se, each hinge hinge 4 comprises a horizontal axis 5 carried by a yoke 6 secured to a side 3 of the frame 1 in the upper part of this side. Thus, each pad 2 can swing around its two hinge hinges 4 relative to the frame 1 between a closed position of the opening of the frame 1 and an open position of this frame. In the closed position of the frame 1, the two triangulated buffers 2 are adjacent by their hypotenuses.

Each buffer 2 is associated with at least one cylinder 7 to assist in the opening of the buffer and, in the embodiment shown, two parallel cylinders 7 for assistance in opening the buffer are provided.

Advantageously, each assistance cylinder 7 may be of the gas type. The rod 8 of each cylinder 7 is pivotally mounted on an axis 9 fixed to a yoke 10 secured to the corresponding inner face 3a of the side 3 of the frame 1, the axis 9 being located below the two hinge hinges 4 of the buffer 2 to the frame 1. Of course, the axis 9 of pivoting of each rod 8 of the cylinder 7 is parallel to the axes 5 of the articulation hinges 4. As is clear from Figure 8, the two ends 8a of the two rods cylinder 7 are pivotally mounted coaxially around the axis 9 between the two branches 10a of the yoke 10 with interposition between the two ends 8a of a central spacer 11. The pivot axis 9 protrudes on both sides of the two branches 10a of the yoke 10 and these two protruding end portions are externally threaded to allow the screwing of two opposite nuts 12 for fixing the axis 9 to the yoke 10. The body 13 of each cylinder 7 is connected to the corresponding buffer 2 and pivoted by its end 13a about an axis XX 'attached to a support yoke 14 secured to the inner face of the corresponding buffer 2. The two ends 13a of the cylinder body 7 are pivotally mounted between the two branches 14a of the yoke 14 and are axially separated from each other by a central spacer 15. The pivot axis XX 'of the bodies 13 of cylinders 7 is parallel to the pivot axis 9 of the rods 8 of these cylinders 7 which thus extend in the same plane passing through these two axes.

Of course, each cylinder 7 can be mounted in the opposite direction between the frame 1 and the associated buffer 2 thus having its body 13 pivotally mounted to the axis 9 and its rod 8 pivotally mounted to the axis X-X '. Each buffer 2 is further associated with an arm 16 for automatically blocking the buffer 2 at the end of the opening movement. The self-locking arm 16 has one of its ends which is pivotally mounted to the corresponding side 3 of the frame 1 about the pivot axis 9 of the two ends 8a of the rods 8 of the cylinders 7. For this purpose, the end of the arm 10 is self-locking 16 is pivotally attached to the axis 9 by a screw head 17 fixed in a threaded blind hole of the axis 9 so that the end of the arm 16 is disposed between the screw head 17a and the nut corresponding block 12 of the axis 9 to the clevis 10. 15 The opposite end of the self-locking arm 16 is connected to the corresponding pad 2 by an axis 18 secured to the pad 2 as will be seen later and which is slidably mounted in a light longitudinally oblong 19 of the self-locking arm 16 so as to allow the rotation of this arm about its pivot axis 9 to the side of the frame 1 when the buffer 2 tilts between its open and closed positions and automatically block the tamp on 2 at its approximately vertical opening position. According to the invention, the connecting pin 18 of the self-locking arm 16 to the buffer 2 is mounted axially movable along the axis XX 'between the two branches 14a of the yoke 14 in a fixed sleeve 20 arranged concentrically around the axis The sleeve 20 passes axially through the holes of the two branches 14a of the yoke 14 projecting from both sides thereof. The sleeve 20 is fixed to the branches 14a of the yoke 14 on the one hand by a nut 21 screwed onto an externally threaded end portion 20a of the sleeve 20 projecting from one of the 14a of the branches of the yoke 14 on the side of the yoke 14. the corresponding end of the self-locking arm 16 and secondly by a head portion 20b of the sleeve 20 projecting from the other branch 14a of the yoke 14 opposite thereof. The sleeve 20 may be fixed to the yoke 14 by the nut 21 and the head portion 20b of the sleeve in a slight axial play as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but it may be fixed without play so that the nut 21 and the head portion 20b bear on the outer faces respectively of the two branches 14a of the yoke 14.

The two ends 13a of the bodies 13 of jacks 7 and the spacer 15 are arranged concentrically around the sleeve 20. The connecting pin 18 has a portion projecting from the end portion 20a of the sleeve 20 having two adjacent cylindrical portions 22 23, respectively of smaller diameter and larger diameter and a flange portion 24 adjacent to the larger diameter portion 23 opposite the smaller diameter portion 22.

The axis 18 extends beyond the flange portion 24 by a threaded end 25 which is secured by screwing a gripping handle 26 for example in the form of bakelite sphere. The connecting pin 18 also protrudes from the sheath 20 opposite the cylindrical portions of smaller diameter and larger diameter 22, 23 and a helical compression spring 27 is mounted coaxially around this projecting portion of the pin 18 being prestressed between the head portion 20b of the sleeve 20 and a washer 28 mounted coaxially on this projecting portion being retained axially by a nut 30, for example of the Nylstop type, screwed onto an externally threaded end portion end of the connecting pin 18. Thus, the spring 27 tends to recall or axially bias the connecting pin 18 to the left with respect to Figures 5 and 6, that is to say in a direction tending to recall the parts of different diameter 22, 23 to the locking nut 21. The smaller diameter portion 22 of the connecting pin 18 has a diameter slightly less than the width of the oblong slot 19 of the self-locking arm 16 and the part of larger diameter 23 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a circular orifice 19a made at the end of the self-locking arm 16 in extension of the light 19.

The smaller diameter portion 22 is connected to the larger diameter portion 23 by a beveled shoulder 29. The rigid self-locking arm 16 may be constituted by a flat bar having an elongate portion 16 from its end having the circular orifice 19a and extended by a bent portion 16b pivotally connected to the pivot axis 9. In any case, the self-locking arm 16 extends parallel to each of the two assistance cylinders 7.

When each pad 2 occupies its closed position of the frame 1, the self-locking arm 16 and the two cylinders 7 extend approximately in the same plane below the upper opening of the frame 1. When each pad 2 is brought into position d opening by pivoting in the direction of the arrow F1 in Figure 3, it carries with it the two cylinders 7 which it causes the extension to assist the opening of the buffer 2 and, during this pivoting, the self-locking arm 16 is driven into rotation about the pivot axis 9 with the smaller diameter portion 22 engaged in the oblong slot 19 under the bias of the spring 27 so that this portion of smaller diameter of the connecting pin 18 can slide in the light 19. Thus, the self-locking arm 16 moves during the pivoting of the buffer 2 between the free end of the projecting end portion 20a of the sleeve 20 and the stop 29 connecting the parts of smaller and of larger diameter 22, 23 as shown in Figure 5. This figure also shows that the spring 27 constantly urges the stop 29 bearing on the outer face of the self-locking arm 16 whose inner face is supported on the free end of the sleeve 20. When the buffer 2 is at the end of the opening movement to an approximately vertical position, the larger diameter portion 23, under the bias of the spring 27, automatically engages in the circular orifice 19a of the light 19 of the self-locking arm 16 and is retained in this hole by the spring 27 as shown in Figure 6 which shows that the flange portion 24 bears on the outer face of the end of the self-locking arm 16 whose inner face is supported on the free end of the projecting portion 20a of the sheath 20. This figure also shows that the smaller diameter portion 22 is housed in the sheath 20, this portion of smaller diameter may correspond to substantially in the nominal diameter of the connecting pin 18. In this way, the lever 16 blocks the buffer 2 to its open position and prevents accidental tilting of the buffer to its closed position of the frame 1. When the user wishes to switch the buffer 2 to its closed position from its open position, it is sufficient to pull, using the handle 26, on the connecting pin 18 to move axially in the sheath 20 by compressing the return spring 27 so as to release the larger diameter portion 23 of the orifice 19a of the arm 16 to arrange the smaller diameter portion 22 in the orifice 19a opposite the light 19 and, by slightly pressing the pad 2 in the direction of its swing towards the frame 1, the smaller diameter portion 22 engages in the slot 19 of the arm 16 allowing the pad 2 to tilt to its closed position under the assistance of the cylinders 7 with r annotation of the arm 16 around the pivot axis 9 and displacement of the smaller diameter portion 22 by sliding in the slot 19. The spring 27 urges the stop 29 bearing on the outer face of the arm 16 to constantly maintain the portion of smaller diameter 22 in the lumen 19 during the tilting of the tampon 2. FIG. 9 represents an alternative embodiment of the invention according to which means are provided for maintaining the self-locking arm 16 at its position in a vertical plane when the handle gripper 26 is manipulated to exert traction on the connecting pin 18 in the open position of the buffer 2 to bring it to its closed position. These holding means comprise a rigid flat tab 40 having at its upper end, considering FIG. 9, a bore, not shown, traversed by the connecting pin 18 so that the latter can slide through the tab 40. upper end portion of the tab 40 is locked by clasping between the nut 21 and the corresponding branch 14a of the yoke 14. At the lower end portion of the lug 40 is fixed a cylindrical axis 41 perpendicular to the tab 40 and passing through the light 19 of the self-locking arm 16.

The shaft 41 comprises a portion of larger diameter 42 integral with the tab 40 and of a diameter greater than the width of the slot 19 but less than the width of the self-locking arm 16 so that the axis portion 42 is in position. With regard to the corresponding face of the self-locking arm 16. The cylindrical axis 42 comprises a part of smaller threaded diameter 43 passing through the slot 19 of the self-locking arm 16 and at the free end of which is screwed a nut 44, for example of the type Nylstop, with interposition between the nut 44 and the self-locking arm 16 of a washer 45. The nut 43 is axially locked on the threaded shaft 43 to a position such that there remains a small axial clearance between the self-locking arm 16 , the larger diameter axis 42 and the washer 45 to allow the threaded shaft 43 to slide in the lumen 19 during the displacement of the buffer 2 between its closed and open positions of the frame 1. Thus, by arranging on both sides of the arm self-locking 16 on the one hand the assembly with nut 44 and washer 45 and secondly the axis of larger diameter 42, the self-locking arm 16 can not be moved laterally in the open position of the buffer 2 when the part of larger diameter 23 is released from the hole 19a of the self-locking arm 16 in the open position of the buffer 2 to allow the tilting of the buffer to its closed position. The buffers 2 are made of cast iron, in particular spheroidal, but they can be made of any other material. In addition, each stamp may have a shape other than a right triangle, for example rectangular or circular. The device of the invention not only improves the safety of the personnel by opposing any accidental folding of each pad 2 on the frame 1, but is easy to handle especially during the unlocking operation of the self-locking arm 16 to the vertical position of the pad without risk of injury to the fingers of a hand of the user. In addition, the device of the invention is of a simple and inexpensive structure.

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. Safety device for at least one buffer (2) pivotably mounted to the side (3) of a support frame (1) by at least one articulation hinge (4) between a position of closure of the support frame ( 1) and an open position of this frame and, for each buffer (2), a self-locking arm (16) whose one end is pivotally mounted to the side (3) of the frame (1) about an axis of pivoting (9) and the other end is connected to the pad (2) by a pin (18) integral with the pad (2) and slidably mounted in a longitudinal oblong slot (19) of the self-locking arm (16) so as to allow the rotation of this arm around its pivot axis (9) during the tilting of the buffer (2) between its open and closed positions and automatically block the buffer (2) to its open position, characterized in that the connecting pin (18) of the self-locking arm (16) to the pad (2) comprises two adjacent cylindrical portions respectively of smaller diameter (22) and larger diameter (23) and is axially movable relative to the buffer (2) under the action of an elastic member (27) which urges the smaller diameter portion (22) of the connecting pin (18) slidably engages in the oblong slot (19) of the self-locking arm (16) when the pad (2) swings between its two open and closed positions and the larger diameter portion ( 23) of the connecting pin (18) in engagement locked in a circular hole (19a) of the end of the self-locking arm (16) in extension of the oblong slot (19) of this arm when the buffer (2) is brought to its open position. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in blocking position of the buffer (2) in its open position, the larger diameter portion (23) of the connecting pin (18) can be released of the circular opening (19a) of the self-locking arm (16) by manual traction exerted on the connecting pin (18) against the restoring force exerted by the elastic member (27) on the connecting pin (18) to arrange the smaller diameter portion (22) opposite the oblong slot (19) of the self-locking arm (16) and allow the tilting of the pad (2) to its closed position. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cylindrical portions of smaller diameter (22) and larger diameter (23) of the connecting pin (18) are connected to each other by a shoulder (29) held in abutment on a corresponding face of the self-locking arm (16) by the elastic member (27) when the cylindrical portion of smaller diameter (22) is engaged in the oblong slot (19) of the self-locking arm (16) and that the connecting pin (18) has a flange (24) adjacent to the larger diameter cylindrical portion (23) opposite the smaller diameter cylindrical portion (22) and which is held in abutment by the elastic member (27) on the corresponding end face of the self-locking arm (16) having the circular orifice (19a) when the buffer (2) is in its locked open position. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting pin (18) is supported axially sliding by a yoke (14) of the buffer (2) and an end portion projecting from one side of the clevis (14) has the two adjacent cylindrical portions of different diameters (22,23). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting pin (18) is mounted axially sliding in a sleeve (20) integral with the yoke (14) of the buffer (2) and an end portion ( 20a) protruding from the yoke (14) on the same side as the two adjacent cylindrical portions (22, 23) is adapted to receive the cylindrical portion of smaller diameter (22) of the connecting pin (18) when its portion of larger diameter (23) is engaged in the circular hole (19a) of the self-locking arm (16) with the connecting shoulder (29) between these two cylindrical portions (22,23) abutting the free end of the end portion (20a) projecting from the sheath (20) under the action of the elastic member (27). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the self-locking arm (16) moves in rotation about its pivot axis (9) between the shoulder (29) and the free end of the end portion. protrusion (20a) of the sheath (20). 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the sleeve (20) is fixed to the yoke (14) by a nut (21) engaged on a threaded portion externally of the projecting end portion (20a). the sleeve (20) and a head (20b) integral with the opposite end of the sleeve (20) and bearing on the corresponding branch (14a) of the yoke (14). 8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the elastic member (27) is a helical compression spring mounted coaxially around an end portion of the connecting pin (18) in projection of the yoke (14) opposite the end portion of this axis having the two cylindrical portions of different diameters (22,23) and which is prestressed between the sleeve (20) and a nut (30) fixed at the free end of the corresponding end portion of the connecting pin (18). 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a gripping handle (26) integral with the end of the connecting pin (18) and for exerting traction on this axis for releasing the larger diameter portion (23) from the circular hole (19a) of the self-locking arm (16). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting pin (18) is parallel to the pivot axis (9) of the self-locking arm (16) to the side (3) of the frame (1). and the pivot axis (18) of this arm is disposed below the hinge hinge (4) of the buffer (2) to the frame (1). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one cylinder (7) for assistance in opening the buffer (2) and pivotally mounted to the side (3) of the frame (1) on the same axis (9) of pivoting of the self-locking arm (16) and secondly to the buffer (2) on an axis coaxial with the connecting axis (18). 12. Device according to claim 11 when considered in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the assistance cylinder (7) is pivotally mounted around the sleeve (20) between the two legs (14a) of the yoke (14) . 13. Device according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means (40, 42, 43, 44, 45) integral with the buffer (2) and adapted to maintain laterally the self-locking arm (16). when the larger diameter portion (23) of the connecting pin (18) and released from the circular hole (19a) of the arm (16). 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is part of a manhole.