GB2349904A

GB2349904A - Drain cover

Info

Publication number: GB2349904A
Application number: GB9910691A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Harvey
Original assignee: SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE WATER PLC
Current assignee: SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE WATER PLC
Priority date: 1999-05-07
Filing date: 1999-05-07
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB2349904A8; GB9910691D0

Abstract

A device for sealing off a slotted drain cover 4 comprises a rectangular stainless steel plate 1 curved to correspond to the drain cover and with a thick foam pad 2 and Neoprene surface skin 3 fixed to the underside of the plate so that, in use, the pad and skin are interposed between the plate and drain cover. Two spaced screw-threaded rods 7 extend down through the plate and are engaged with threaded hand wheels 10. At the lower end of each rod, a locking portion 8 is able to underlie the drain cover and secure the sealing device in position.

Description

2349904 Agent's Ref. P02498GB DRAM COVER From time to time undesired

spillages occur, as for example, when caustic liquid escapes from a tanker when delivering to a site. There is then a risk that this liquid will enter the water system via the drains in gutters, gulleys, culverts and the like. The only ways of addressing this risk seem to be to surround the drain with sandbags or apply a rubber mat. Neither is adequate and sand bags are hard to carry and awkward to place. It is one object of this invention to address this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a sealing device for a slotted drain cover, the device comprising a base portion below which is a resiliently deformable pad, the base and the pad having substantially the same area which is sufficient to overlie the drain cover, at least two locking devices arranged to pass through the slots of the drain and to compress the pad whereby to releasably engage the cover and the drain in sealed manner.

Preferably the base portion and the pad have a curvature corresponding to that of the area surrounding the drain.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of one cover of the invention; 2 Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1 installed over a slotted drain cover against a kerb; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the Figure 1 device and drain cover.

The illustrated device comprises a stainless steel plate 1 generally rectangular as seen in plan and having a shallow concave cylindrical curvature to correspond, at least approximately, to the curved surface of a standard slotted drain cover such as the cover 4. A pad 2 about 10 cms thick is secured to the underside of the plate 1 and beneath that there is a rectangular Neoprene sealing member 3. The pad 2 is made of relatively dense foam material so that it is resiliently deformable and able to take up differences between the shape of the top of the drain cover 4 yet substantially non-absorbent of, and resistant to attack by the kind of liquids that might be spilt in the area of the drain. The plate 1, pad 2 and scaling member 3 have the same area and this is slightly greater than that of the drain cover 4. Two upwardly extending hollow cylindrical members 5, each about five centimetres long, are welded to the plate 1 at spaced positions selected so as to be above an evenly spaced pair of the slots 6 in the drain cover 4. Two rods 7 pass down through the cylinders 5, plate 1, pad 2 and seal 3 and end in respective cross members 8. Each member 8 is dimensioned so that in one direction it is thin enough to be passed down through the respective slot 6 in the drain cover 4 but can be turned so that its ends underlie respective ones of the drain portions each side of the slot. The rods 7 are screw threaded at the upper end portions 9 and each is engaged with a screw-threaded handwheel 10. The handwheels engage the tops of the members 5.

3 A locking catch (not shown) may be fitted in a slot in the side of each cylinder 5 to lock the rod in an assigned position.

At the top of each rod 7 there is a cross-bar 11 which is in alignment with the cross-member 8 at the bottom of the rod.

In use, the scaling device is placed over the drain cover 4 against the kerb 12, for example, when delivering a liquid from a tanker. The rods are rotated so that the cross-members 8 can pass through the slots 6 in the drain cover. The rods are then rotated so that the cross-members are transverse to the slots 6, this situation being confirmed by the similarly transverse alignment of the top cross-bars 11. The hand wheels are then rotated to draw the cross-members 8 up into clamping engagement with the underside of the drain cover. Further rotation of the handwheels locks the sealing device on to the drain cover and, at the same time, compresses the pad 2 and seal 3 to prevent liquid reaching the slots of the drain. The rods 7 are a tight fit in the foam pad 2 to prevent liquid seeping down between each rod and the pad. At the same time, however, the presence of the cylindrical members 5 being a good five centimetres or more tall should prevent any puddles of liquid reaching the rods anyway. The device may be removed and/or replaced at any time by the reverse steps. Of course, the device may be applied when a drain is to be sealed off against ingress of liquid or solid, either as a precaution or in an emergency.

In the illustrated device, the presence of two spaced apart clamping devices formed by the rods 7 and cross-members 8 (as opposed to a single central device) is much preferred because it gives more effective sealing action and because some drain 4 covers have an odd number of slots, i.e. so there would not be a slot below a central device.

The scaling device may be located at an establishment or be carried by a delivery tanker. It may also be used by the emergency services, e.g. fire and health.

Claims

1. A sealing device for a slotted drain cover, the device comprising a base portion below which is a resiliently deformable pad, the base and the pad having substantially the same area which is sufficient to overlie the drain cover, at least two locking devices arranged to pass through the slots of the drain and to compress the pad whereby to releasably engage the cover and the drain in sealed manner.

ECD/VMS/07.05.99. P02498GRdc Amendments to the claims have been riled as follows 1. A sealing device for a slotted drain cover, the device comprising a base portion below which is a resiliently deformable pad, the base and the pad having substantially the same area which is sufficient to overlie the drain cover, at least two locking devices arranged to pass through the slots of the drain and to compress the pad whereby to releasably engage the cover and the drain in sealed manner.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the base portion and pad are curved.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the base portion is a rectangular stainless steel plate.

4. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lower face of the pad is covered by Neoprene sheet material.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each locking device comprises a screw-threaded rod engaged with a hand-wheel having a threaded bore, the hand-wheels being secured against axial movement relative to the base portion but being turnable to raise and lower the rod, each locking device further comprising a laterally extending member connected to the respective rod for engaging the lower surface of a drain cover.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein each rod extends through the base portion and through a hollow member above the base portion, the hollow member having its lower surface sealed to the base portion to prevent liquid in a puddle over the device from seeping down through the base portion where the rod extends through it.

7. A sealing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.