GB2231727A

GB2231727A - Housing pillar for roadside electrical equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2231727A
Application number: GB9000020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Frederick Quinn
Original assignee: Yorkshire Water Services Ltd
Current assignee: Yorkshire Water Services Ltd
Priority date: 1989-02-07
Filing date: 1990-01-02
Publication date: 1990-11-21
Also published as: GB9000020D0; GB8902702D0

Abstract

A housing pillar for roadside electrical equipment comprises a steel body (20) of rectangular cross-section having an opening in one face thereof. A steel cover (27) closes the upper end of the body, and the opening is closed by a movable door (25). All exposed surfaces of the body, cover and door are coated with plastics material bonded to the metal. <IMAGE>

Description

HOUSING PILLAR This invention relates to a housing pillar.

Housing pillars are commonly used in roadside and other locations for housing equipment related to services in that location. For example, a pillar may house electronic data logging means designed to monitor an adjacent water or gas supply line or may house equipment associated with a telephone network. Other uses of housing pillars will be readily apparent.

One widely used type of pillar is formed from cast iron, painted to give a protective finish. Re-painting at regular intervals is necessary in order to keep these pillars in good condition. It is also known to form housing pillars from glass reinforced plastics materials.

However, a need is perceived for a sturdy, relatively low cost pillar that does not require any maintenance over extended periods of time.

According to the invention a housing pillar comprises a steel body of substantially rectangular cross-section having an opening in one face thereof, a steel cover closing and secured to an upper end of the body, and a steel door mounted on the body so as to be movable either to close or to give access to the opening, all exposed surfaces of the body. cover and door being coated with a plastics material bonded to the metal.

The use of a steel body means that the pillar can be fabricated simply and cheaply. Coating all exposed surfaces of the body, cover and door with a plastics material that is bonded to the metal gives the pillar a fully weatherproof finish that can be extremely durable.

In one preferred embodiment the body is formed from a rolled hollow steel section, part of one face of the section being cut out to form the opening.

In a second preferred embodiment the body is a fabrication or pressing formed to have the opening in one wall thereof.

Preferably the opening is rectangular and extends from the upper end of the body, and the remaining material of the face in which the opening is formed is substantially Ushaped and defines a wall extending to a lower end of the body and two flanges at opposite sides of the body extending from the wall to the upper end of the body. The wall may be integral with, or welded to the remainder of the body.

Other forms of opening can be used, but this particular form gives the advantage of ease of access and allows a simple door structure. Desirably the door, when closed, overlies parts of the wall and of each flange.

Desirably an inner surface of the door has a bar extending across the door adjacent to a lower end thereof, the bar being of a width no greater than the width of the wall and supporting the door on the upper edge of the wall.

Preferably a front face of the bar engages the inner surface of the door, a flange is secured to and depends from a rear face of the bar, and the depth of the bar from the front to the rear face thereof is greater than the thickness of the wall. The floor is thus supported adjacent to its lower edge on the upper edge of the wall, and can be opened by tilting forwards from the top and simply lifting clear of the wall.

Preferably a keeper is secured to the underside of the cover immediately behind the door, and the door carries a lock having a locking member engageable behind the keeper.

It will be appreciated that other arrangements may be used for supporting the door and for allowing the door to be locked, but those preferred particularly suit the overall simplicity of the pillar construction.

In order that the invention may be better understood specific embodiments of housing pillars in accordance therewith will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a housing pillar in a location of use; Figure 2 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of pillar with the door removed; Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of figure 2, but with the door in place; Figure 4 is an elevation of an outer surface of the door; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of figure and Figure 6 is a cross-section in the location of the line VI-VI of Figure 2, but showing a second embodiment of pillar according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a housing pillar according to the invention in a roadside location. The pillar 1 houses electrical equipment such as a data logger 2 and a battery 3, the equipment being connected by cables extending through a duct 4 to a meter 5 connected in a water supply pipe. The pipe may be tapped by a pressure line 6 also extending into the pillar and providing a supply to a pressure indicator 7. Other ducts, such as a duct 9, may be connected to the foot of the pillar, for telemetry or other purposes. The pillar is founded within a mass concrete foundation block, with a large part of the pillar being below pavement level. This leads to a cost-effective method of installation.

Referring to figures 2 and 3 the pillar comprises a body 20 of rectangular cross-section, formed from a rolled hollow steel section, desirably of a mild steel such as grade 43C to By4360 and of 8-10 mm thickness. Part of a front face 21 of the body is cut out to form a rectangular opening 22 extending from the upper end of the body to the upper edge 23 of a wall 24 extending to the lower end of the body. That wall forms part of a substantially U-shaped remainder of the front face, the remainder also including two flanges 25, 26 at opposite sides of the body, extending from the wall to the upper end of the body.

A mild steel cover 27 closes the upper end of the body, and is secured to that upper end by a continuous weld 28. The lower end of the body is open, and a mounting flange 30 is welded around the periphery thereof.

Additional openings 31, 32 are cut as required in the lower part of the body to allow entry of required ducts into the body.

The opening 22 is closed by a mild steel door 33 which, when closed, overlies parts of the wall 24 and of each of the flanges 25, 26. A bar 34 extends across the inner surface of the door adjacent to a lower end thereof, the bar being of a width that is slightly less than the width of the opening formed by the upper edge 33 of the wall.

The bar 34 is secured to the door by engaging the front face of the bar with the door and continuously welding above and below the bar as shown. A flange 35 is welded to and depends from a rear face of the bar 34, and the depth of the bar from the front to the rear face thereof is greater than the thickness of the wall, as is clearly shown from figure 3. This allows the door to tilt forward at its upper part, while remaining supported on the upper edge of the wall.

A keeper 41 is secured to the underside of the cover 27 immediately behind the door. The keeper comprises a plate 42 that is welded at 43 to the cover, and that is formed with two tapped bores 44. Bolts 45 pass through a bolt holder 46 and through shims 47 into the tapped bores. The number and thickness of shims are chosen as required to suit a particular door when fitted to the pillar.

A support 48 for a barrel-type lock is welded at 49 to the inner surface of the door and the lock is mounted on a mounting plate 50 that is secured by studs and nuts 51 to the support. A keyhole of the lock is accessible through the front of the door, and operation of the lock causes a locking member 52 to move between positions where it is captive behind the keeper 41 and where it is free of the keeper.

The inner surface of the rear wall 60 of the body has strips 61, 62 welded thereto, each strip having a tapped bore at a central location thereof. A mounting board 63 is secured in position by bolts 64, 65 engaging these tapped bores. The equipment to be housed within the pillar can then be secured to the mounting board.

In order to fabricate the pillar a length of rolled hollow steel section is cut to the length required for the body, the cut-out 22 is made, and any additional cut-outs required (such as 31, 32) are also made. The cover 27 is then welded to the top of the body, the flange 30 is welded to the bottom of the body the two strips 61, 62 are welded to the inner surface of the rear wall 60 of the body, and the plate 42 of the keeper is welded to the lower surface of the cover 27. This structure is then shot blasted and is powder coated using the fluidized bed technique with a thermosstting or thermoplastic polyester resin or any other plastics material of suitable durability. It is presently preferred to use a thermoplastic resin for pillars less than 35cm wide and a thermosetting resin for pillars of greater width, but selection of the material is not critical.

The door 33 is cut from mild steel to the desired size, the bar 34 and flange 35 are welded in position, and the lock support 48 is also welded in position. This structure is shot blasted and powder coated in a manner similar to the fabricated body.

Thereafter, the lock assembly may be fitted, the keeper completed and the mounting board secured in position on the rear wall. The pillar is now ready for use.

Figure 6 is a cross-section through the body of a pillar that is formed from a fabrication or pressing of mild steel. The body has a rear wall 70 and side walls 71, 72 each terminating in an inwardly directed flange 73, 74 respectively to give a substantially rectangular crosssection. An opening 75 is defined between the facing edges of the flanges 73, 74. Below the opening, the front face of the body is closed by a mild steel plate 76, welded at #7, 78 to the flanges 73, 74. The pillar is fitted with a backboard 79, and with a door (not shown) for closing the opening 75 in a manner similar to that already described.

It will be appreciated that the pillar may be made to any required dimensions.

Claims

1. A housing pillar comprising a steel body of substantially rectangular cross-section having an opening in one face thereof, a steel cover closing and secured to an upper end of the body, and a steel door mounted on the body so as to be movable either to close or to give access to the opening, all exposed surfaces of the body, cover and door being coated with a plastics material bonded to the metal.

2. A housing pillar according to claim 1 in which the body is formed from a rolled hollow steel section, part of one face of the section being cut out to form the opening.

3. A housing pillar according to claim 1 in which the body is a fabrication or pressing formed to have the opening in one wall thereof.

4. A housing pillar according to any one of the preceding claims in which the opening is rectangular, and extends from the upper end of the body. the remaining material of the face- in which the opening is formed is substantially Ushaped and defines a wall extending to a lower end of the body and two flanges at opposite sides of the body extending from the wall to the upper end of the body.

5. A housing pillar according to claim 4 in which the door, when closed, overlies part of the wall and of each flange.

6. A housing pillar accpording to claim 5 in which an upper surface of the door has a bar extending across the door adjacent to a lower end thereof, the bar being of a width no greater than the width of the wall and supporting the door on the upper edge of the wall.

7. A housing pillar according to claim 6 in which a front face of the bar is secured to the inner surface of the door. a flange is secured to and depends from a rear face of the bar, and the depth of the bar from the front to the rear face thereof is greater than the thickness of the wall.

8. A housing pillar according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a keeper is secured to the underside of the cover immediately behind the door, and the door carries a lock having a locking member engageable behind the keeper.

9. A housing pillar according to any one of the preceding claims in which a mounting board is secured to the inner surface of that face of the body lying opposite to the cutout.

10. A housing pillar according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lower end of the body is open and a mounting flange extends around the periphery thereof.

11. A housing pillar substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, or to those Figure as identified by Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.