GB2374645A

GB2374645A - Temporary elongate plug for a conduit

Info

Publication number: GB2374645A
Application number: GB0109605A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lionel Guy Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-19
Filing date: 2001-04-19
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Also published as: GB0109605D0

Abstract

The elongate temporary closure member 20 has a cross-section that may be received within the conduit. Preferably the polystyrene foam closure element 20 is cut into a cylindrical or conical shape with a cross-section approximately equal to that of the pipe 10, 12a, 12b in which it is placed. Alternatively the closure 20 can extend between apertures in a chamber 11. Concrete can be poured around the plug, so as to form a benching. It may be used during construction of a drainage system.

Description

Title: Temporary Closure Element Description of Invention This invention relates to a temporary closure element for a conduit, a method of closing a conduit with a temporary closure element, and a method of

forming benching.

During construction of a drainage system, or construction work on a site comprising a drainage system, it is possible for debris from the construction work to enter the drainage system. This is particularly the case where the drainage system comprises a conduit provided with a chamber in the form of a manhole or inspection chamber with pipes leading to or from the inspection chamber. In this case, debris can fall into the chamber and be carried into the pipes. The debris can cause blockages in the pipes which results in expensive and time-consuming clearance work on completion of the work or, after completion, a return visit to the site to remove debris that has caused a blockage An aim of the invention is to overcome or reduce the above problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a temporary closure element for a conduit, the temporary closure element being generally elongate and comprising a cross-section which may be received within the conduit.

The temporary closure element may comprise a lightweight material which is lightweight and/or shape-retaining.

The temporary closure element material may comprise a foamed plastics material and preferably expanded polystyrene.

The temporary closure element may be generally cylindrical.

Alternatively the temporary closure element maybe generally conical.

A cross section of the temporary closure element maybe such that the temporary closure element may extend across substantially the whole of a cross section of the conduit.

The temporary closure element may be adapted to be received in a chamber having a first aperture and a second aperture, the temporary closure element being elongate such that the closure extends from the first aperture to the second aperture.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of temporarily closing a conduit comprising the step of locating a closure element according to the first aspect of the invention in the conduit.

The method may comprise the step, prior to inserting the temporary closure element into the conduit, of shaping the temporary closure element such that a cross section of the temporary closure element will extend substantially across the whole of a cross section of the conduit.

The method may comprise the step of shaping the temporary closure element to a desired length.

The step of shaping the temporary closure element may comprise cutting the temporary closure element to remove excess material.

According to a third aspect of the invention, we provide a method of forming benching comprising disposing a temporary closure element according to the first aspect of the invention in a desired position, and disposing material around said temporary closure element to form benching.

The method may comprise the step of providing a channel section in a desired position, disposing the temporary closure element in the channel section and disposing material around the channel section to form the benching.

The step of disposing material around the channel section may comprise pouring concrete to form the benching.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein ;

Figure 1 is a partially broken away perspective view of part of a conduit provided with a temporary closure element according to a first aspect of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of figure 1.

Referring now to the Figures, a conduit is generally indicated at 10 comprising main pipes 12a, 12b in flow connection with an inspection chamber

I I via apertures 13a 11 via apertures 13a, 13b respectively. The conduit further comprises branches 14a, 14b which are also in flow connection with the chamber 11. In the present example, the chamber 11 comprises brick work walls 15, and is for example a inspection chamber for a drainage system. It will be appreciated however that the chamber 11 may comprise a manhole or inspection chamber of any desired construction, for example of circular concrete sections, and may be accessible by any appropriate manhole or other entrance as desired.

Referring to Figure 2, the floor of the chamber 11 comprises a channel 16 disposed on a base 17. The channel 16 is in flow communication with the

pipes 12a, 12b. Branch bends 16a, 16b extend from the channel 16 to branches 14a, 14b. The channel 16 comprises a part circular channel section 18 and the branch bends 16a, 16b similarly comprises curved channel sections 18a, 18b respectively. The channel section 18 and curved channel sections 18a, 18b are held in place and supported by benching 19 disposed between the channel sections 18, 18a, 18b and the walls 15. The benching 19 is provided with a curved upper surface 20 to direct any liquid which is present on the benching 19 into the channel 16 and/or branch bends 16a, 16b.

When debris lands in the chamber 11, there is a consequent risk of blockage of the pipes 12a, 12b, and branch bends 14a, 14b. In the present example, this problem is solved by providing a temporary closure element 20, 21 as shown in the Figures. The temporary closure element 20 comprises an elongate element, the element having a cross-section which is received in the conduit to form a temporary closure. In the present example, the closure

element 20 comprises an elongate generally cylindrical element, having generally the same radius of curvature as the channel section 18 and generally the same diameter as the pipes 12a, 12b, the cross section or the diameter of the element 20 being such that it is snugly received in the pipes 12a, 12b, such that a cross-section of the closure element 20 extends across substantially the whole cross section of the pipes 12, 12a to provide a temporary closure. In this example, the length of the temporary closure element 20 is such that it extends across the whole length of the chamber 11 and extends a sufficient distance into the pipes 12,13 to be held in place during construction.

Where a straight cylindrical temporary closure element is not appropriate, a temporary closure element may be of any appropriate shape to be received in the appropriate closure. In the present example, the branch bends 16a, 16b, are curved. To overcome this problem, a generally conical temporary closure element 21 is located in each of the branch bends 16a, 16b, and pushed into the branches 14a, 14b, to provide a suitable closure. The shape of the temporary closure elements 21 means that they can be inserted into the branches 14a, 14b until a cross section of each temporary closure element 21 fills substantially the whole of a cross-section of the branches 14a, 14b. Again, debris will be prevented from passing from the inspection chamber 11 into the branches 14a, 14b.

It is desirable that the temporary closure elements 20,21 comprise a light weight, easily transportable and shapable, and inexpensive material. The material should be shape retaining, to resist damage and to retain its shape when wedged or otherwise cut or deformed. In the present example, it is envisaged that the temporary closure elements 20,21 comprise a foamed plastics material, preferably expanded polystyrene, of a sufficient density to resist damage by, for example, material being dropped on it or when handled during construction. Expanded polystyrene is preferred because it is inexpensive, light to handle in transport and can be broken or cut'to the

required length easily. It would be envisaged that a temporary closure element 20 would be provided in a suitable diameter to match the standard diameters of pipes and channels used, for example 100 mm, 150mm, 225mm, 300mm and 450mm diameter. A temporary closure element 20 can be provided at a desired length, to be appropriately received in a chamber 11 as shown in Figure 1, or could be cut or otherwise shaped to the appropriate length. Where a conduit which is desired to be filled or closed is longer than the element 20, a plurality of elements 20 could be provided as desired, in the present example laid endto-end to close off pipes 12a, 12b, and also to ensure that the channel section 16 is filled.

Where a channel is curved, or tapered, a suitable conical closure section such as temporary closure elements 21 might be provided. It will be apparent that a closure element may alternatively be shaped on site to be received into a channel, for example by breaking or cutting the temporary element to shape and/or by forcing the element into the conduit such that the element is deformed and is wedged in place in the conduit. It might be envisaged, for example to provide a closure element which tapers from 100mm in diameter to 150mm in diameter to be received in a range of pipes of different diameters.

A temporary closure element 20 may also be used according to a third aspect of the invention, during formation of the benching 19. It will be apparent, particularly when the benching 19 comprises poured concrete, that it is undesirable for the material of the benching 19 to enter the channel 16, with the resulting likelihood of a blockage. To form benching in an inspection chamber 11, a channel section 18 is first disposed on a desired position on the base 17 of the chamber 11. A temporary closure element 20 is disposed within the channel section 18, with the end parts thereof received in pipes 12a, 12b. The material from the benching 19 may then be located, for example by pouring concrete, either side of the channel section 18, between the channel section 18 and the walls 15 of the chamber 11. The upper surfaces 22-of the

benching 19 may also be formed into a desired shape. During this process, the temporary closure element 20 will prevent the entry of material into the channel 16. Once the benching 19 has been formed, for example when the concrete forming the benching 19 has cured, the temporary closure element 20 may be removed.

Alternatively, it might be envisaged that the temporary closure element 20 may be located in the chamber I I without the provision of a channel section 18. The benching 19 would then be formed around the temporary closure element 20 which would act as a form. Once the benching 19 had been formed, the temporary closure element may be removed. The channel defined by the temporary closure element could then be provided with a lining or a channel section 18, or used as a channel without further modification.

Although the present invention is envisaged to be formed in a material such as polystyrene, it would be appreciated that a temporary closure element may be formed in any other appropriate material as desired, for example latex.

In the present specification"comprise"means"includes or consists of and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A temporary closure element for a conduit, the temporary closure element being generally elongate and comprising a cross-section which may be received within the conduit.
2. A temporary closure element according to claim 1 wherein the element comprises a lightweight material.
3. A temporary closure element according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the element comprises a shape-retaining material.
4. A temporary closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the element comprises a foamed plastics material.
5. A temporary closure element according to claim 4 wherein the material comprises expanded polystyrene.
6. A temporary closure element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the temporaiy closure element is generally cylindrical.
7. A temporary closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the temporary closure element is generally conical.
8. A temporary closure element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cross section of the temporary closure element is such that the temporary closure element extends across substantially the whole of a cross section of the conduit.

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9. A temporary closure element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the temporary closure element is adapted to be received in conduit comprising a chamber having a first aperture and a second aperture, the temporary closure element being elongate such that the closure extends from the first aperture to the second aperture.
10. A temporary closure element substantially as described herein and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A method of temporarily closing a conduit comprising the step of locating a closure element according to any one of the preceding claims in the conduit.
12. A method according to claim ! I comprising, prior to inserting the temporary closure element into the conduit, the step of shaping the temporary closure element such that a cross section of the temporary closure element will extend substantially across the whole of a cross section of the conduit.
13. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12 comprising the step of shaping the temporary closure element to a desired length.
14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the step of shaping the temporary closure element comprises cutting the temporary closure element to remove excess material.
15. A method of temporarily closing a conduit substantially as described herein and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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16. A method of forming benching comprising, disposing a temporary closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in a desired position, and disposing material around said temporary closure element to form benching.
17. A method of forming benching according to claim 16 comprising the steps of providing a channel section in a desired position, disposing the temporary closure element in said channel section and disposing material around said channel section to form the benching.
18. A method of forming benching according to claim 17 wherein the step of disposing material around the channel section comprises pouring concrete to form the benching.
19. A method of forming benching substantially as described herein and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.