GB2357127A

GB2357127A - A base for use as an inspection chamber

Info

Publication number: GB2357127A
Application number: GB0024826A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Daniel Frawley; Adrian John Frawley
Original assignee: Floplast Ltd
Current assignee: Floplast Ltd
Priority date: 1999-10-12
Filing date: 2000-10-11
Publication date: 2001-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-11
Also published as: IE20000817A1; GB2357127B; GB0024826D0; GB9924075D0

Abstract

A base 3 for use as an inspection chamber 1 comprises at least two extending connecting means 5 for connecting corresponding pipes (2, fig 3) to the base. At least one of the connection means comprises a swivel joint 10 for accommodating alignment of the connecting means with a corresponding pipe to be connected to the base. Each swivel joint may be provided with two partly spherical sections 12, 14, each being capable of swivelling with respect to the other. The base may be made of a plastics material, and formed by injection moulding. Preferably the base is for underground use, for allowing rodding of the pipes and freeing blockages. The connector of each swivel joint may be blanked off by a blanking plug if not required for use.

Description

2357127 "An inspection chamber base" The present invention relates to an

inspection chamber base for an inspection chamber for facilitating connection of two or more pipes underground, and also for facilitating rodding of the pipes for freeing blockages and the like.

Inspection chambers, which are also referred to as access chambers and access junctions, in general, comprise a base which is located underground and to which the pipes to be joined are connected. Access to the inspection chamber is provided through a top frame which is located adjacent the surface of the ground and to which a cover is releasably secured. In the event that the invert height is greater than the base height and the top frame, one or more intermediate riser sections are positioned between the base and the top frame which with the base define the inspection chamber. At least two connectors extend rigidly from the base for connecting the pipes to the base. These connectors, in general, are formed by relatively short connector pipes which terminate in respective sockets or spigots for sealably engaging the pipes to be connected to the base.

In many cases in civil engineering works, the respective angles at which the pipes approach the base when viewed in plan and indeed, in elevation do not always coincide with the angles at which the connector pipes extend from the base. Thus, at least some of the approaching pipes do not align with the corresponding connector pipes to which they are to be connected. Even where the misalignment is caused by a relatively small difference between the approach angle of a pipe and the angle at which the corresponding connector pipe extends from the base problems arise.

2 Firstly, the making of the connection between the approaching pipe and the connector pipe can be difficult to make, and in many cases requires the provision of an additional bend or elbow disposed between the approaching pipe and the connector pipe, or alternatively, may require forming a bend in the approaching pipe so that the portion of the approaching pipe approaching the connector pipe is correctly aligned with the connector pipe. Secondly, even where the connection can be made without a bend or elbow or without bending a portion of the approaching pipe, it is very often difficult if not impossible to form a completely leak-proof joint between the approaching pipe and the connector pipe.

There is therefore a need for a base for an inspection chamber which overcomes this problem. There is also a need for an inspection chamber which overcomes the problem.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a base for an inspection chamber, and an inspection chamber.

According to the invention there is provided a base for an inspection chamber, the base having at least two connecting means extending therefrom for connecting corresponding pipes to the base, wherein at least one of the connection means comprises a swivel connecting means for accommodating alignment of the connecting means with a corresponding one of the pipes to be connected to the base.

In one embodiment of the invention each swivel connecting means forms a 3 connector for engaging a corresponding one of the pipes to be connected to the base.

In another embodiment of the invention the connector of each swivel connecting means is provided by a connecting socket for receiving the corresponding one of the pipes to be connected to the base.

In a further embodiment of the invention the connector of each swivel connecting means is adapted to receive a blanking means for blanking off the connecting socket.

Preferably, each swivel connecting means is provided in two parts, one of which is swivelable relative to the other. Advantageously, one part of each swivel connecting means is a partly spherical male part, and the other part is a partly spherical female is part for swivelably and sealably co-operating with the male part for facilitating sealable swivelable movement of one of said parts relative to the other. Preferably, the partly spherical male part of each swivel connecting means is connected to the base by the connecting means. Ideally, the partly spherical female part of each swivel connecting means forms the connecting socket.

In one embodiment of the invention the connecting socket of each swivel connecting means is formed by a pipe engaging sleeve extending inwardly into the female part.

Preferably, the pipe engaging sleeve of each swivel connecting means defines with the female part an annular chamber for receiving the male part. Advantageously, a first sealing means is provided between the respective parts of each swivel 4 connecting means for sealably connecting the respective parts together.

Preferably, the first sealing means of each swivel connecting means comprises an 0-ring seal.

In one embodiment of the invention a limit means for limiting angular swivelling of the respective parts of each swivel connecting means is provided. Preferably, the limit means of each swivel connecting means comprises a pair of co- operaUng shoulders formed on the respective parts of the swivel connecting means.

Advantageously, the shoulders of the limit means of each swivel connecting means are formed by respective annular flanges extending from and around the respective parts of the swivel connecting means for co-operating with each other for limiting angular swivelling of the respective parts of the swivel connecting means relative to each other.

is In one embodiment of the invention the limit means of each swivel connecting means limits relative angular swivelling of the respective parts to a cone angle not exceeding 20.

In another embodiment of the invention the respective parts of each swivel connecting means are engageable with each other with a snap-fit action.

In one embodiment of the invention each connecting means comprises a connecting pipe extending from the base.

In another embodiment of the invention the connecting pipe of each connecting means which comprises a swivel connecting means terminates in the swivel connecting means.

In a further embodiment of the invention the base and the connecting pipes of each connecting means are integrally formed together in one piece. Preferably, one of the parts of each swivel connection is also integrally formed in one piece with the base and the connection pipes. Advantageously, the parts of the inspection chamber base which are integrally formed together are integrally moulded together.

In one embodiment of the invention the inspection chamber base is of plastics material.

The invention also provides an inspection chamber comprising an inspection is chamber base according to the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention the inspection chamber comprises a top frame located above the inspection chamber base.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one riser is interposed between the inspection chamber base and the top frame.

In a further embodiment of the invention a closure means is provided for releasably closing the top frame.

6 In a further embodiment of the invention the inspection chamber base, the riser and the top frame are formed integrally in one piece.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof which are given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a base according to the invention for an inspection chamber, also according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a partly transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of a portion of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the portion of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 2 showing a part of the inspection chamber base in a different position to that of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the portion of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 3 of the portion of Fig. 2, but showing a part of the inspection chamber base in a still further different position, Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of a detail of the 7 portion of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 2, Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of an inspection chamber base according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of an inspection chamber base according to a further embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the inspection chamber base of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 8 there is illustrated an inspection chamber base according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for joining two or more pipes 2, in this embodiment of the invention for joining six pipes 2. Only one of the pipes 2 to be connected into the inspection chamber base 1 is illustrated. The inspection chamber base 1 in use acts as a base for an inspection chamber (not shown), however, such inspection chambers Will be well known to those skilled in the art. Typically, such inspection chambers comprise an inspection chamber base, which is located underground for connecting the pipes, and one or more risers (not shown) are placed above the in spection chamber base 8 which with the base form the inspection chamber. A frame (also not shown) is placed on the top riser, level with the ground, and a closure member (also not shown), typically a cover plate, is releasably secured in the frame for facilitating access to the inspection chamber.

In this embodiment of the invention the inspection chamber base 1 is of plastics material, and comprises a base portion 3 and a cylindrical side wall 4 extending upwardly from the base portion 3. Connecting means, in this embodiment of the invention six connectors 5 extend from the side wall 4 for connecting the pipes 2 to the inspection chamber base 1. The connectors 5 are described in detail below, and are arranged so that five of the connectors 5 connect pipes 2 feeding into the inspection chamber base 1, and one of the connectors 5 connects a pipe 2 which acts as an o utfeed pipe from the inspection chamber base 1. The base portion 3 is shaped to form communicating channels 6, one from each connector 5 for communicating the connectors 5. Benching 7 is provided between the channels 6.

Typically, the channels 6 which are to be connected to the infeed pipes 2, in general, extend towards the centre of the base portion 1 in the same general direction, and the channel 6 which is to be connected to the outfeed pipe 2 extends away from the centre in the same general direction as the other five channels 6.

Each connector 5 comprises a relatively short connecting pipe 8 which extends from the side wall 4, and communicates through the side wall 4 with the corresponding channel 6. Each connecting pipe 8 terminates in a swivel connecting means, namely, a swivel connector 10 for aligning the corresponding connecting pipe 8 With a corresponding one of the pipes 2 to be connected to the inspection chamber base 9 1 for facilitating connection of the pipe 2 to the inspection chamber base 1 even if the pipe 2 is out of alignment with the corresponding connecting pipe 8 in either plan or elevation.

Each swivel connector 10 is formed by two co-operating parts, namely, a partly spherical male part 12 extending from the end of the corresponding connecting pipe 8 and a partly spherical female part 14 which is sealably engageable with the male part 12 and swivelable thereon. A first sealing means comprising an 0- ring seal 15 extends around the mate part 12 in a groove 16 for sealably engaging the female part 14 for forming a leak proof seal between the respective parts. A pipe engaging sleeve 18 extends from one end of the female part 14 inwardly into the female part 14 and forms a connecting socket 19 for engaging the pipe 2 to be connected to the inspection chamber base 1. The pipe engaging sleeve 18 forms with the interior of the female part 14 an annular chamber 20 within which the male part 12 is received.

A limit means for limiting the swivelable movement of the female part 14 relative to the male part 12 of each swivel connector 10 comprises a pair of co- operating shoulders 21 and 22, formed respectively on the male part 12 and the female part 14. The co-operating shoulder 21 on the male part 12 is formed by an outwardly extending annular flange 23 which extends around the male part 12 adjacent the groove 16 for the 0-ring seal 15. The shoulder 22 of the female part 14 is formed by an inwardly extending annular flange 24 which extends inwardly around the female part 14 adjacent an open mouth 25 of the female part 14. The open mouth 25 accommodates the male part 12 into the female part 14. In this embodiment of the invention, the spacing between the shoulders 21 and 22 formed by the flanges 23 and 24, respectively, on the male and female parts 12 and 14 is such as to permit swivelling of the female part 14 relative to the male part 12 through a cone angle a of 2T. In other words, the female part 14 is swivelable relative to the male part 12 through an angle 0 of plus or minus 100 about a centre line 26 extending through the geometrical centre of the connecting pipe 8 and the male part 12.

The respective diameters of the male and female parts, 12 and 14, including the respective flanges 23 and 24 and the degree of resilience of the male and female parts 12 and 14 is such as to permit engagement of the male part 12 into the annular chamber 20 of the female part 14 through the open mouth 25 of the female part 14 with a snap-fit action. Prior to assembling the respective male and female parts 12 and 14, the 0-ring seal 15 is located in the groove 16 of the male part 14, and the flange 23 of the male part 12 assists in retaining the 0-ring seal 15 in the groove 16 when the male and female parts 12 and 14 are being urged together.

is A second sealing means provided by an annular seal 27 is secured by a gland ring 28 to the pipe engaging sleeve 18 of each swivel connector 10 for sealably engaging the corresponding one of the pipes 2. The provision of such an annular seal and a corresponding gland ring will be well known to those skilled in the art.

Typically, the inspection chamber base 1 which includes the base portion 3, the side wall 4 and the connecting pipes 8 as well as the male parts 12 of the swivel connectors 10 is integrally moulded of plastics material in one unit by injection moulding. The female parts 14 of the swivel connectors 10 are separately formed, and the 0-ring seals 15 and the female parts 14 are subsequently assembled to the corresponding male parts 12, as are the annular seals 27 and the gland rings 28 subsequently assembled to the female parts 14.

In use, the inspection chamber base 1 is lowered into an appropriately formed opening in the ground and is oriented in the ground with the connectors 5 substantially aligned with the pipes 2 to be connected to the inspection chamber base 1. The final alignment of the connectors 5 with the pipes 2 is made by swivelling the female parts 14 of the swivel connectors 10 so that the connecting sockets 19 are aligned with the corresponding pipes 2, and the pipes 2 are then sealably engaged in the corresponding sockets 19 by the annular seals 27 and the gland rings 28.

One o,r more risers (not shown) of diameter similar to that of the side wall 4 are placed on the side wall 4 to build the inspection chamber up to a level just below ground level. A frame (not shown) is then placed on top of the top most riser and a releasable closure such as a cover plate is releasably secured in the frame.

Earthworks around the inspection chamber and the pipes 2 are then made good.

It is envisaged that blanking means provided by blanking plugs may be provided for sealably engaging the connecting sockets 19 of each connector 10 for facilitating blanking off of any of the connectors of the inspection chamber base which are not in use. For example, if only five pipes were to be connected by the inspection chamber base the connector 5 not in use would be blanked off by the blanking plug.

Referring now to Fig. 9 there is illustrated an inspection chamber base according to another embodiment of the invention which is indicated generally by the reference 12 numeral 30. The inspection chamber base 30 is substantially similar to the inspection chamber base 1 and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The only difference between the inspection chamber base 30 and the inspection chamber base 1 is that the base 30 is provided with five connectors 5 instead of six connectors. Thus, the base 30 is suitable for accommodating four infeed pipes into the inspection chamber base 1, and one outfeed pipe to the inspection chamber base 30. Otherwise, the inspection chamber base 30 is similar to the inspection chamber base 1.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11 there is illustrated an inspection chamber base according to a further embodiment of the invention which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. The inspection chamber base 40 is substantially similar to the inspection chamber 1 and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The inspection chamber base 40 comprises six connectors 5, two of which are at a lower level than the remaining four. The two connectors 5 at the lower level are arranged at 18X around the inspection chamber base 40 relative to each other, and communicate with each other through the inspection chamber base 40 through a main channel 41. The other four connectors 5 are arranged in pairs on respective opposite sides of the main channel 41, and the connectors 5 of each pair are separated from each other by benching, which in this embodiment of the invention is provided by respective partition walls 42 which extend upwardly from the base portion 3, and inwardly from the side wall 4 towards the main channel 41.

The lower portion of the cylindrical side wall 4 is shaped to form four legs 44 which extend downwardly for engaging a plinth or other suitable levelled platform formed in 13 the opening in the ground in which the inspection chamber base 40 is to be located.

The legs 44 are arranged such that when the legs are supporting the inspection chamber base 40 on a level surface the main channel 41 is slightly inclined downwardly from one of the lower connectors 5 to the other for facilitating water run through. In use, the higher of the two lower connectors 5 would act as an infeed, while the other would act as an outfeed from the inspection chamber base 40.

In this embodiment of the invention the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall 4 converges upwardly inwardly from the ground engaging ends of the legs 44 for facilitating nesting of one inspection chamber base 1 into another during storage and transportation.

An advantage of the inspection chamber base 40 is that by providing the benching between the upper pairs of connectors 5 in the form of partition walls, a mould for is injection moulding the inspection chamber base 40 can readily easily be adapted for moulding inspection chamber bases with different numbers of upper connectors 5, by the provision of appropriate blanking pieces and inserts for altering the number of upper connectors 5 and the number of corresponding partition walls 42.

While the inspection chamber bases have been described with each of the connecting pipes of the connectors terminating in a swivel connector, in certain cases, it is envisaged that only some of the connectors may be provided With a swivel connector, and indeed, in certain cases, only one of the connectors may be provided with a swivel connector. Needless to say any number of connectors may be provided from the inspection chamber base. It will of course be appreciated that the 14 inspection chamber base may be of any other suitable material besides plastics material, and may be formed by any other suitable process besides niection moulding. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that inspection chamber bases of shape other than circular shape in plan view may be provided. For example, in certain cases, it is envisaged that the side wall, instead of being cylindrical, may be of square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or of any other polygonal shape.

While the female and male parts of the swivel connectors have been described as being swivelable through a cone angle of 200 relative to each other, it is envisaged that the cone angle may be greater or less than 200.

While the inspection chamber bases have been described as comprising five and six connectors, it will be appreciated that inspection chamber bases having any number of connectors from two up may be provided.

Claims

1. A base for an inspection chamber, the base having at least two connecting means extending therefrom for connecting corresponding pipes to the base, wherein at least one of the connection means comprises a swivel connecting means for accommodating alignment of the connecting means with a corresponding one of the pipes to be connected to the base.

2. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 1 in which each swivel connecting means forms a connector for engaging a corresponding one of the pipes to be connected to the base.

3. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 2 in which the connector of each swivel connecting means is provided by a connecting socket for receiving the corresponding one of the pipes to be connected to the base.

4. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the connector of each swivel connecting means is adapted to receive a blanking means for blanking off the connecting socket.

5. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any preceding claim in which each swivel connecting means is provided in two parts, one of which is swivelable relative to the other.

6. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 5 in which one part of each swivel connecting means is a partly spherical male part, and the other part is a partly 16 spherical female part for swivelably and sealably co-operating with the male part for facilitating sealable swivelable movement of one of said parts relative to the other.

7. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 6 in which the partly spherical male part of each swivel connecting means is connected to the base by the connecting means.

8. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 in which the partly spherical female part of each swivel connecting means forms the connecting socket.

9. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 8 in which the connecting socket of each swivel connecting means is formed by a pipe engaging sleeve extending inwardly into the female part.

10. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 9 in which the pipe engaging sleeve of each swivel connecting means defines with the female part an annular chamber for receiving the male part.

11. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 10 in which a first sealing means is provided between the respective parts of each swivel connecting means for sealably connecting the respective parts together.

12. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 11 in which the first sealing means of each swivel connecting means comprises an 0-ring seal.

17

13. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 12 in which a limit means for limiting angular swivelling of the respective parts of each swivel connecting means is provided.

14. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 13 in which the limit means of each swivel connecting means comprises a pair of co-operating shoulders formed on the respective parts of the swivel connecting means.

15. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 14 in which the shoulders of the limit means of each swivel connecting means are formed by respective annular flanges extending from and around the respective parts of the swivel connecting means for co-operating with each other for limiting angular swivelling of the respective parts of the swivel connecting means relative to each other.

is

16. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 15 in which the limit means of each swivel connecting means limits relative angular swivelling of the respective parts to a cone angle not exceeding 2T.

17. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 16 in which the respective parts of each swivel connecting means are engageable with each other with a snap-fit action.

18. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any preceding claim in which each connecting means comprises a connecting pipe extending from the base.

18

19. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 18 in which the connecting pipe of each connecting means which comprises a swivel connecting means terminates in the swivel connecting means.

20. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 18 or 19 in which the base and the connecting pipes of each connecting means are integrally formed together in one piece.

21. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 20 in which one of the parts of each swivel connection is also integrally formed in one piece with the base and the connection pipes.

22. An inspection chamber base as claimed in Claim 20 or 21 in which the parts of the inspection chamber base which are integrally formed together are integrally moulded together.

23. An inspection chamber base as claimed in any preceding claim in which the inspection chamber base is of plastics material.

24. An inspection chamber base substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

25. An inspection chamber comprising an inspection chamber base as claimed in any preceding claim.

19

26. An inspection chamber as claimed in Claim 25 in which the inspection chamber comprises a top frame located above the inspection chamber base.

27. An inspection chamber as claimed in Claim 26 in which at least one riser is interposed between the inspection chamber base and the top frame.

28. An inspection chamber as claimed in Claim 26 or 27 in which a closure means is provided for releasably closing the top frame.

29. An inspection chamber as claimed in any of Claims 25 to 27 in which the inspection chamber base, the riser and the top frame are formed integrally in one piece.