GB2129027A

GB2129027A - Roadside drain inlets

Info

Publication number: GB2129027A
Application number: GB08326865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wan Ming Liao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-26
Filing date: 1983-10-07
Publication date: 1984-05-10
Also published as: GB8326865D0

Abstract

A roadside drain inlet grating 21 seated in a support frame (not shown) has four depending walls forming an inlet duct 11 whose lower edge is sealed against odours by a counterweighted pivotal valve plate 3 opened by incoming water, the counterweight and pivot lying outside the inlet duct 11. The counterweight comprises an open box receiving removable weights. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic gutter gate This invention is related to an improvement in or relating to an automatic gutter gate for instance an automatic cover for rain, snow or sewer drains such as those provided on city streets and generally along gutters.

In the Applicant's prior U.K. patent Application No. 8230590, filed on October 26, 1982, an automatic gutter gate or door was described having a frame member, a top cover and a gate plate which has a counter-weight at one side and is mounted on a pivot support disposed on the inner surface of the frame. However, the device suffers from the drawback that waste materials from waste disposal apparatus and the like will inevitably accumulate on or above the counterweight and gate plate thus not only changing the weight of counter-weight but also causing an unhealthy environment.

This invention is an improvement in or relating to the above-mentioned device.

The present invention provides an automatic gutter gate, comprising a top cover, an intake frame depending from the top cover, a gate plate normally sealing the intake frame but pivotable to open the bottom of the intake frame, and a counter-weight outside the intake frame and connected to the gate plate to bias the gate plate to the normal sealing position, the arrangement being such that when a predetermined amount of water flows into the intake frame, the biassing force of the counter-weight is overcome and the gate plate is caused to open to allow passage of water.

Preferably, the gutter gate further comprises a top frame through which the intake frame passes and upon which the top cover is supported.

Preferably, there are a pair of gate plate support members extending from the intake frame upon which the gate plate is pivotably supported.

Preferably, the gate plate bears a pair of opposed upstanding ears and the intake frame a pair of lugs, each ear being pivotably mounted on a respective lug.

Preferably, the gate plate seals against the bottom of the intake frame.

Preferably, the top cover extends beyond the periphery of the intake frame to form a circumambient mounting flange.

Preferably, the counter-weight lies directly beneath a portion of said flange.

Preferably, the top cover has slotted openings therein for water flow.

Preferably, the intake frame deepens progressively away from the counter-weight.

Preferably, the counter-weight comprises a box containing one ore more removable weights.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the automatic gutter gate in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top frame used for the automatic gutter gate of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gate plate of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in which the gate plate is in open position; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 4 on the line A-A.

The gutter gate 1 comprises an intake frame 11 and top cover 21 and they may be preformed as an integral assembly or may be demountable. Top cover 21 is substantially a flat plate member having slotted openings 22 through which water can pass into the intake to a sewer or drain. Intake frame 11 is rectangular in shape with four walls 12,13,14, 14. Wall 12 is slightly greater than wall 13 in its height and walls 14, 14, one in the front, another in the back, both have the same size, each being higher at the end adjacent to wall 12 than at the end adjacent to wall 1 3. Also walls 14, 1 4 extend in their lengthwise direction over wall 13 to form a pair of lugs and there is an opening 34 on each wall in the extended portion.

A gate or door plate 3 substantially a rectangular member made of plastic or metal plate is provided with vertical ears. 32, 32, as shown in Fig. 3, on the two long sides adjacent to an end. A counter-weight box 31 is provided at one side of the plate 3, which is adapted to receive the appropriate weights. An opening 33 is provided in each vertical ear 33 and when the gate 3 is placed under the intake frame of the gutter gate 1, it is coaxial with opening 34 and forms a hinged connection therewith by proper means, such as a pin.Thus the coaxial points will serve as pivot points for gate 3 relative to intake frame 1 The space on or above the vertical ears 33, 33 and counter-weight 31 of the gate plate 3 in its assembly state is outside the intake frame 11 and covered by one end of the top cover 21 which overlaps the intake frame forming a circumambient flange.

A top frame 4 as shown in Figure 2 is of inverted T-shape in section, and is adapted to receive the gutter gate 1 and subsequently to be set into the road or street. The surface of the top cover and top frame is substantially level with the road or streets.

The operation of the invention will now be explained: The weight of the counter-weight is such as to apply a small counter-clockwise force to thWgate.

Accordingly the gate is in close contact with the bottom of the intake frame, in the closed position as shown in Figure 1.

When rain or snow occurs, water flows into the intake frame through the cover 21, the weight of the water over the right side of pivot points will overcome the weight of counter-weight 31 and the plate 3 will pivot clockwise to allow water to flow through the gutter gate into the drain or gutter. After the water has been drained off the top of plate 3, the counter-weight 31 will return the gate to the closed position.

Since the space above counter-weight 31 and vertical ears 32, 32 is covered by the left side of top cover 21, waste disposal material and the like will not accumulate there, the device then can be free from the drawbacks discussed above.

Whilst in the illustrated embodiment, a rectangular top cover intake frame and gate plate are provided, it is to be understood that other proper shapes, such as a round shape, are also possible. The top cover and intake frame can also be separate members.

In another aspect the invention relates to an automatic gutter-gate having a drain channel closed by a hinged closure held normally in a closed position by a counter-weight and adapted to be opened by weight of water in the channel wherein the counter-weight is provided as a box e.g. an open box receiving one or more removable weights.

Claims

1. An automatic gutter gate, comprising a top cover, an intake frame depending from the top cover, a gate plate normally sealing the intake frame but pivotable to open the bottom of the intake frame, and a counter-weight outside the intake frame and connected to the gate plate to bias the gate plate to the normal sealing position, the arrangement being such that when a predetermined amount of water flows into the intake frame, the biassing force of the counterweight is overcome and the gate plate is caused to open to allow passage of water

2. A gutter gate as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a top frame through which the intake frame passes and upon which the top cover is supported.

3. A gutter gate as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2 wherein there are a pair of gate plate support members extending from the intake frame upon which the gate plate is pivotably supported.

4. A gutter gate as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the gate plate bears a pair of opposed upstanding ears and the intake frame a pair of lugs, each ear being pivotably mounted on a respective lug.

5. A guttter gate as claimed in any respective claim wherein the gate plate seals against the bottom of the intake frame.

6. A gutter gate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the top cover extends beyond the periphery of the intake frame to form a circumambient mounting flange.

7. A gutter gate as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the counter-weight lies directly beneath a portion of said flange.

8. A gutter gate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the top cover has slotted openings therein for water flow.

9. A gutter gate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the intake frame deepens progressively away from the counter-weight.

10. A gutter gate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the counter-weight comprises a box containing one or more removable weights.

1 An automatic gutter gate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. An automatic gutter gate, comprising an intake frame, a gate plate, a top frame and a top cover adapted to be supported by an upper end of the frame, means in the intake frame for supporting the gate plate therein in sealing relation with the bottom of the intake frame, whilst allowing for pivotal movement thereof with respect to the intake frame to open the gate, counter-weight on the gate to bias the gate to a normally closed position, the arrangement being such that when a predetermined amount of water flows through the top cover and onto the gate plate, the force due to the counter-weight is overcome and the gate plate is caused to open to allow passage of the water.

13. An automatic gutter gate comprising a top cover, an intake frame member, a top frame and a gate plate, characterized in that the top cover having slotted openings and is disposed on the top of the intake frame, the gate plate having a counter-weight at one end and pivot openings on the two opposite sides, the plate being sealed tightly against the bottom surface of the intake frame, whereby when the water flows into the frame through the slotted top cover, the gate plate will swing to an open position and let water flow down through the opening and will return to the closed position when the weight of water is less than the counter-weight.