GB2097030A - Trapped gullies - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of manufacturing a roadway gully trap of high density polyethylene (a) a tapered-wall open- topped vessel 1 is blow-moulded integrally with an outlet pouch 4, and (b) a rectangular baffle wall 515 secured by ultrasonic welding to the face of a shoulder 6 in the blow moulding. The wall 5 has a lower through-flow aperture 12 and an upper plug 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of manufacturing gullies The present invention relates to trapped gullies for use in rainwater systems, for example in roadways, and in particular to a method of manufacture of a plastics gully of the type constructed from separate parts and comprising an open topped vessel having a first section defining an inlet portion, and a second section defining an outlet portion, with a baffle wall located between the inlet and outlet portions.

Such a gully is hereinafter referred to as a gully of the type aforesaid.

In a known gully of the type aforesaid the vessel was manufactured with an aperture on the side wall and an outlet pouch portion or proboscis providing said outlet portion and in unit with the baffle wall was subsequently placed against the vessel at the aperture and adhesively bonded to the vessel. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a gully of the type aforesaid.

According to the present invention in a method of constructing a gully of the type aforesaid separate parts of the gully are joined together by an ultrasonic welding operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the vessel includes a proboscis part and the vessel and proboscis part are formed as an integral unit by a moulding operation, and the baffle wall is subsequently fitted in position within the vessel and secured thereto by ultrasonic welding. The moulding operation preferably comprises a blow moulding.

Preferably there is formed during the moulding operation, a shoulder portion at the inlet to the proboscis part into which portion is fitted the baffle wall.

The above method according to the present invention considerably simplifies the method steps in the manufacture of the gully and it is found that the ultrasonic welding avoids or reduces the emission of unacceptable smell in the gully.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the plan, sectional elevation, and sectional end view of a trapped plastics gully. The plastics gully comprises an open topped annular vessel 1 having a tapering side wall 2 and a flat bottom 3, a laterally projecting proboscis or pouch part 4 and a baffle wall 5 within the vessel at the entry to the part 4.

The vessel 1 and part 4 are formed as an integral unit by blowing moulding and the arrangement is such that a shoulder portion 6 is formed at the inlet to the part 4 and serves to receive the wall 5, and additionally an annular flange 7 facilitates the fitting of a cover to the open mouth 8 of the vessel 1. The baffle wall 5 is secured to the vessel by ultrasonic welding. The shoulder portion 6 of the vessel is of rectangular configuration as seen in end view (Fig. 3) and the baffle wall 5 is bonded to bearing surface 6A for example by spot welds as shown in Fig. 3. The vessel 1 defines a gully inlet part 9 while the pouch part 4 provides an outlet part 10. The baffle wall 5 includes a plug 11 and a lower inlet aperture 12, and pipework drains can be fitted to the outlet mouth 13 of part 4 by means of a suitable coupling.

The method of manufacturing facilitates the construction of the gully in a strong hard wearing plastics material such as high density polyethylene. The gully can therefore be strongly resistant to breakage, and the use of ultrasonic welding avoids the emission of unacceptable smell.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a plastics gully of the type constructed from separate parts and comprising an open topped vessel having a first section defining an inlet portion and a second section defining an outlet portion; with a baffle wall located between the inlet and outlet portions, the method comprising the step of joining together separate parts of the gully by means of an ultrasonic welding operation.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the vessel includes a proboscis part and the vessel and proboscis part are formed as an integral unit by a moulding operation, and the baffle wall is subsequently fitted in position within the vessel and secured thereto by ultrasonic welding.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the moulding operation comprises a blow moulding.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein there is formed during the moulding operation, a shoulder portion at the inlet to the proboscis part into which portion is fitted the baffle wall.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the parts of the gully are made from a high density polyethylene.

6. A method of manufacturing a gully substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of manufacturing gullies The present invention relates to trapped gullies for use in rainwater systems, for example in roadways, and in particular to a method of manufacture of a plastics gully of the type constructed from separate parts and comprising an open topped vessel having a first section defining an inlet portion, and a second section defining an outlet portion, with a baffle wall located between the inlet and outlet portions. Such a gully is hereinafter referred to as a gully of the type aforesaid. In a known gully of the type aforesaid the vessel was manufactured with an aperture on the side wall and an outlet pouch portion or proboscis providing said outlet portion and in unit with the baffle wall was subsequently placed against the vessel at the aperture and adhesively bonded to the vessel. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a gully of the type aforesaid. According to the present invention in a method of constructing a gully of the type aforesaid separate parts of the gully are joined together by an ultrasonic welding operation. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel includes a proboscis part and the vessel and proboscis part are formed as an integral unit by a moulding operation, and the baffle wall is subsequently fitted in position within the vessel and secured thereto by ultrasonic welding. The moulding operation preferably comprises a blow moulding. Preferably there is formed during the moulding operation, a shoulder portion at the inlet to the proboscis part into which portion is fitted the baffle wall. The above method according to the present invention considerably simplifies the method steps in the manufacture of the gully and it is found that the ultrasonic welding avoids or reduces the emission of unacceptable smell in the gully. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the plan, sectional elevation, and sectional end view of a trapped plastics gully. The plastics gully comprises an open topped annular vessel 1 having a tapering side wall 2 and a flat bottom 3, a laterally projecting proboscis or pouch part 4 and a baffle wall 5 within the vessel at the entry to the part 4. The vessel 1 and part 4 are formed as an integral unit by blowing moulding and the arrangement is such that a shoulder portion 6 is formed at the inlet to the part 4 and serves to receive the wall 5, and additionally an annular flange 7 facilitates the fitting of a cover to the open mouth 8 of the vessel 1. The baffle wall 5 is secured to the vessel by ultrasonic welding. The shoulder portion 6 of the vessel is of rectangular configuration as seen in end view (Fig. 3) and the baffle wall 5 is bonded to bearing surface 6A for example by spot welds as shown in Fig. 3. The vessel 1 defines a gully inlet part 9 while the pouch part 4 provides an outlet part 10. The baffle wall 5 includes a plug 11 and a lower inlet aperture 12, and pipework drains can be fitted to the outlet mouth 13 of part 4 by means of a suitable coupling. The method of manufacturing facilitates the construction of the gully in a strong hard wearing plastics material such as high density polyethylene. The gully can therefore be strongly resistant to breakage, and the use of ultrasonic welding avoids the emission of unacceptable smell. Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a plastics gully of the type constructed from separate parts and comprising an open topped vessel having a first section defining an inlet portion and a second section defining an outlet portion; with a baffle wall located between the inlet and outlet portions, the method comprising the step of joining together separate parts of the gully by means of an ultrasonic welding operation.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the vessel includes a proboscis part and the vessel and proboscis part are formed as an integral unit by a moulding operation, and the baffle wall is subsequently fitted in position within the vessel and secured thereto by ultrasonic welding.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the moulding operation comprises a blow moulding.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein there is formed during the moulding operation, a shoulder portion at the inlet to the proboscis part into which portion is fitted the baffle wall.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the parts of the gully are made from a high density polyethylene.

6. A method of manufacturing a gully substantially as hereinbefore described.