GB2243177A

GB2243177A - Support for an access cover

Info

Publication number: GB2243177A
Application number: GB9008567A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Richard Jones
Original assignee: FREDERICK JONES AND SON
Current assignee: FREDERICK JONES AND SON
Priority date: 1990-04-17
Filing date: 1990-04-17
Publication date: 1991-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-17
Also published as: GB2243177B; GB9008567D0

Abstract

An access cover comprises a tray 17 containing a billing material 18. The tray 17 is supported in a rectangular frame 22, 23, 24 of right-angled cross section. A support beam 13 extends between opposite sides of the frame 22, 23, 24 and comprises a rectangular box-section part 15 having projections 28 for engagement with upper surfaces of a horizontal part 24 of the frame 22, 23, 24. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT FRAME FOR ACCESS COVERS Access openings for underground installations, for example telephone lines, require to be provided with removable covers. It is frequently required that those covers should be in keeping with a surrounding surface.

Where that surface comprises paving the covers are heavy, and where the access opening is relatively large it must be provided with a plurality of separately removable rectangular covers. In order that such covers shall be supported along all four of their edges it is necessary that one or more support beams shall extend between opposite sides of the opening. Such beams require considerable rigidity, to support not only the weights of the covers, but also to support loads applied to the covers without deflection, to eliminate breaking or loosening of any infill to the covers. It is also desirable that the support beams shall readily be removable to allow unimpeded access from above to the whole of the access opening. The frame and its support beams must also be such as to resist lateral movement of the supported covers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a support frame for an access cover in which the above requirements are met.

According to the invention a support for an access cover includes a rectangular frame of generally right-angled metal section and a support beam extending between two opposed sides of said frame, said beam comprising a part of rectangular box cross-section having projections at opposite ends for engagement with upper surfaces of horizontal parts of respective ones of said opposed sides, and a wall extending perpendicularly from an outer surface of said part over substantially the whole of the length thereof.

A particular embodiment includes a plurality of said support beams.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a plurality of access covers and their support, Figure 2 is a plan view of a beam forming part of the support of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on line 3-3 in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section, to the scale of Figure 3, on line 4-4 in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a plan view, corresponding to Figure 1, of an arrangement having a larger number of access covers.

Figure 1 shows two access covers 10, 11 and their support. The support comprises a rectangular frame 12 and a support beam 13 extending between, and carried by, two opposed sides of the frame 12. Figure 2 shows as plan view of the beam 13, indicating its width and showing two lugs 14 secured to its sides to enable it to be lifted clear of the frame 12. The beam 13 is fabricated from steel and as shown in Figure 3 comprises a box-section part 15 to the upper face of is welded a vertical wall 16 which extends over the whole length of the beam 13. The height of the wall 16 is such that when in position its upper edge lies flush with the upper surfaces of the covers 10, 11. In the present example each of the covers comprises a steel tray 17 in which paving bricks 18 are set.It will be understood that the covers 10, 11 could be of any alternative construction which will withstand an anticipated load. The side walls 19 of the tray 17 are upwardly divergent so as closely to engage the frame 12 and the wall 16 without hindering easy removal. Each of the covers includes steel plates 20 (Figure 1) which are provided with means for lifting the covers.

The frame 12 is fabricated from steel and as shown in Figure 4 is of right-angled section, including an Lsection part 21 whose vertical limb 22 has a height equal to that of the tray 17. The tray 17 rests on a horizontal limb 23 of the part 21, to which a horizontal flange 24 is welded. The flange 24 extends outwardly of the frame 12 and is provided with holes 25 to assist in keying to the top of a structure 26 forming the access opening.

Both ends of the box-section part 15 of the beam 13 are chamfered as shown in Figure 5. Cover plates 27 are welded over the chamfered ends, and each plate 27 has a projecting portion 28. The horizontal limb 23 of the frame part 21 is reduced in width at this location, to permit the portion 28 to engage the flange 24, and the upper surface of the part 15 is thus flush with the upper surface of the limb 23. A load carried by the beam 13 is thereby transmitted downwards to the structure 26.

Figure 6 shows covers and their support frame, for a longer access opening, requiring two of the beams 13. It will be apparent that the frame described may be used for an access opening of any length, since all four edges of each cover are supported and the load on each beam will not be increased.

Claims

1. A support for an access cover, including a rectangular frame (12) of generally right-angled section elements (21), and a support beam (13) extending between two opposed sides of said frame (12), said beam (13) comprising a part (15) of rectangular box cross-section having projections (28) at opposite ends for engagement with upper surfaces of horizontal parts (24) of respective ones of said opposed sides.

2. A support as claimed in Claim 1 in which each said horizontal part comprises a flange (24) secured to a horizontal limb (23) of an element (21) of said frame (12).

3. A support as claimed in Claim 2 in which each said flange (24) extends inwardly of an area defined within said elements (21).

4. A support as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which said horizontal limb (23) is reduced in width at locations engaged, in use, by said projections (28) on said beam (13), whereby said beam (13) directly engages said flange (24).

5. A support as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which said flange (24) extends outwardly of said area.

6. A support as claimed in any preceding claim in which said beam (13) includes a wall (16) extending perpendicularly from an outer surface of said box part (15).

7. A support as claimed in Claim 6 in which the height of said wall (16) is substantially equal to the height of the vertical limbs (22) of said right-angled elements (21).

8. A support for an access cover, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.