GB2407338A

GB2407338A - Support system for a grille element

Info

Publication number: GB2407338A
Application number: GB0323759A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Charles Anderson
Original assignee: QUATROSERVE Ltd
Current assignee: QUATROSERVE Ltd
Priority date: 2003-10-10
Filing date: 2003-10-10
Publication date: 2005-04-27
Also published as: GB0323759D0

Abstract

The support system, primarily for supporting a safety grille or the like in a manhole shaft, channel etc., comprises an elongate hollow support element 212 comprising a peripheral wall 302 with a predetermined cross-section and a channel that is formed within a wall for receiving the support element, the channel being dimensioned to receive, in use, the support element. The predetermined cross-section is preferably the same as that of the channel. The channel may be arranged, in use, to support the support element in a position having an upward incline and the support element is preferably tubular. A coupling plate 304 is preferably coupled to the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element or instead the coupling plate may be integrally formed with the support element. The channel preferably has a depth sufficient to permit a portion of the support element to extend beyond the channel for coupling with the grille element. Also claimed is a support element and a method for supporting a cover for an aperture of a civil structure.

Description

SUPPORT ELEMENT,SUPPORTSYSTEM,AND METHOD THEREFOR The present invention

relates to a support system of the type used to support a cover, for example, a grille for disposal over an aperture or opening In a civil structure, such as a channel or a well, in order to permit pedestrian passage from one side of the civil structure to another side thereof. The present invention also relates to a support element for supporting the cover, and a method of supporting a cover.

In the field of waste water management, so-called "civil structures", such as wells and channels are provided to contain and channel waste water. These civil structures frequently define an aperture that is sometimes sufficiently wide to prevent an individual, such as a maintenance engineer, from easily and safely stepping over the aperture or channel in order to get from one side of the civil structure to another.

Additionally, it is sometimes necessary for the individual to stand over the well or channel in order to inspect and/or sample the contents of the well, or to inspect the civil structure.

In both new and existing civil structures, walls defining the civil structure are formed from concrete or a similar hard-wearing material. In the case of new civil structures, upper side edges of the walls define a shoulder upon which a cover, such as a flooring grille arrangement is disposed, thereby permitting the individual to stand or walk over the wall or channel. In contrast, in relation to existing civil structures, a retro-fit system has to be employed in order to support the covers, because cutting a portion of the concrete wales labour-intensive and hence costly. Consequently, it is known to bore peripheral holes near the upper side edges of the concrete walls and dispose expanding anchor bolts in each aperture. An angle bracket is connected to each pair of expanding anchor bolts, each angle bracket being coupled to an appropriate peripheral edge of the flooring grille, thereby securing each flooring grille in place.

An anchor bolt, in the present context, typically comprises a longitudinal shaft having a threaded first end and a profiled second end. The profiled second end comprises a flange that meets a portion of reduced radius as compared with the remainder of the longitudinal shaft. A split sleeve, have a central circumferential bulge, surrounds the portion of reduced radius of the longitudinal shaft. The anchor bolt is inserted in a hole so that the first end protrudes from the hole into the well or channel. A washer is usually placed over the first end and followed by an aperture of an angle bracket. A nut is then threaded onto the first end in order to secure the angle bracket to the anchor bolt. Tightening of the nut results in outward movement of the anchor bolt with respect to the hole. Consequently, through contact between the split sleeve and the inner surface of the hole, the split sleeve is urged over the flange of the second end, eventually causing the split sleeve to become trapped between the flange and the inner surface of the hole, thereby preventing further extraction of the anchor bolt from the hole.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere to which the anchor bolts are exposed is usually corrosive and the split sleeve is typically metallic. Consequently, the split sleeves can become corroded causing the anchor bolt to the freed from secure engagement in the hole, resulting in a part, and sometimes eventually all, of the flooring grille to become de- coupled from the walls or structure to which the flooring grille was previously secured.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support system for a grille element, the system comprising: an elongate hollow support element comprising a peripheral wall having a predetermined cross-section; and a channel within a wall for receiving the hollow support element, the channel being dimensioned to receive substantially snugly, when In use, the support element.

Preferably, the predetermined cross-section is substantially the same as a cross- section of the channel.

Preferably, the channel is arranged to support, when in use, the support element in a position having an upward incline.

Preferably, the support element is tubular.

A coupling plate may be coupled to the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element. Alternatively, a coupling plate may be integrally formed with the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element.

Preferably, the channel has a depth sufficient to permit a portion of the support element to extend beyond the channel for coupling to the grille element.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support element comprising: a hollow elongate peripheral wall having a predetermined cross- section; a first end for disposal within a co-operatively shaped aperture in a solid structure; and a second end for bearing at least part of a flooring grille element.

Preferably, the support element is tubular.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supporting a cover for an aperture of a civil structure, the method comprising the steps of: forming a channel within a wall of the civil structure, the channel being dimensioned to receive an elongate hollow support element having a predetermined cross-section; and inserting the support element into the channel.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of: providing a fixing agent for retaining the support element in the aperture.

Preferably, the step of forming the channel comprises forming the channel to a depth sufficient to permit a portion of the support element to extend beyond the channel for coupling to the civil structure.

Preferably, the fixing agent is an adhesive.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a sleeve to supporting a cover piece.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a support system comprising a tube portion disposed, when in use, in a seat having a cross- section corresponding to the tube.

It is thus possible to provide a support system and element, as well as a method therefor, comprising fewer piece-parts and that has improved immunity to corrosion than existing retro-fit solutions. In addition, cutting of concrete or similar material is avoided. Overall, a solution is provided that constitutes improved safety as well as cost- effectiveness.

At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a well comprising a support system constituting an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2is a side elevation of the well of Figure 1 comprising the support system; Figure 3 Is a side elevation of a support element for use with the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4is a plan view of the support element of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is an end elevation of the support element of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a well 100, typically formed from pre-cast concrete nngs, defines an aperture 102. At an upper end of the well 100, a pair of crossed beams 104 is coupled to a side wall 106 of the well 100 for securing flooring grille elements 108 thereto.

The well 100 usually holds waste water 200 (Figure 2). A flooring grille element 202 is supported over the well 100 in the aperture 204 by a support system 206 so that an upper surface 208 of the flooring grille element 202 is substantially level with upper side surfaces 210 of a circumferential wall 212 of the well 100.

The support system 206 comprises a support element 212 and a correspondingly shaped circular channel 214. Turning to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the support element 212 comprises a tube 300 having, in this example, a circumferential peripheral wall 302 of a thickness to provide sufficient strength to the support element 212 when in use. The tube 300 Is formed from a corrosion resistant material such as stainless steel.

An angle bracket 304 is coupled to a first end 306 of the tube 300, for example by welding. The angle bracket 304 comprises a parallel surface 308 and a perpendicular surface 310, the perpendicular surface 310 having a cut-away space (not shown) to snugly receive the peripheral wall 302. In this example, the angle bracket 304 is coupled to the peripheral wall 302 along a line 312 where the cut-away space meets the peripheral wall 302. Both the parallel surface 308 and the perpendicular surface 310 comprise fixing apertures 314 for coupling to a peripheral region 216 (Figure 2) the flooring grille element 208 and an upper region 218 of the circumferential wall 212, respectively.

Fitting of the support element 212 comprises boring a circular channel 214 using, for example, a hole cutter (not shown) drill bit. The thickness of the channel 214 is such that the tube 300 fits snugly into the channel 214 upon insertion.

The depth of the channel 214 is sufficient to ensure at least the first end 306 of the tube 300 extends outwardly from the circumferential wall 212, but not so much as to risk the support element 212 becoming removed from the channel 214 upon exertion of a downward force upon the support element 212.

In some applications, an adhesive can be disposed in the channel 214 prior to insertion of the support element 212 into the channel 214.

In another embodiment, the channel 214 can be angled relative to a horizontal plane so as to provide the support element 212 with an upward incline when seated in the channel 214. In such circumstances, the angle bracket 304 can be suitably modified to provide a substantially parallel surface with the flooring grille element 202 for coupling thereto, or alternatively the angle bracket 304 is not provided at all.

Whilst in the above described examples, the support element 212 comprises the tubes 300, it should be understood that it is not intended that the cross- section of the tube 300 be limited to a circular cross-section, and other cross sectional shapes are envisaged. Also, whilst the flooring grille element 202 has been described in the above examples, it is envisaged that the present invention can be employed to support other planar-like elements, for example covers, such as manhole covers. It is not essential that the planar-like element is reticulated. l

Claims

1. A support system for a grille element, the system comprising: an elongate hollow support element comprising a peripheral wall having a predetermined cross-section; and a channel within a wall for receiving the hollow support element, the channel being dimensioned to receive, when In use, the support element.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the predetermined crosssection is substantially the same as a cross-section of the channel.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the channel is arranged to support, when in use, the support element in a position having an upward incline.

4. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the support element is tubular.

A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a coupling plate is coupled to the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element.

6. A system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein a coupling plate is integrally formed with the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel has a depth sufficient to permit a portion of the support element to extend beyond the channel for coupling to the grille element.

8. A support element comprising: a hollow elongate peripheral wall having a predetermined cross-section; a first end for disposal within a cooperatively shaped aperture in a solid structure; and a second end for bearing at least part of a flooring grille element.

9. An element as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the support element is tubular.

10. An element as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein a coupling plate is coupled to the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element.

11. An element as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein a coupling plate is integrally formed with the support element for providing sites to connect the coupling plate to the grille element.

12. A method of supporting a cover for an aperture of a civil structure, the method comprising the steps of.

forming a channel within a wall of the civil structure, the channel being dimensioned to receive an elongate hollow support element having a predetermined cross-section; and inserting the support element into the channel.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12, further comprising the step of: providing a fixing agent for retaining the support element in the aperture.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the step of forming the channel comprises forming the channel to a depth sufficient to permit a portion of the support element to extend beyond the channel for coupling to the civil structure.

15. A method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the fixing agent is an adhesive.

16. A use of a sleeve to supporting a cover piece.

17. A support system comprising a tube portion disposed, when in use, in a seat having a cross-section corresponding to the tube.

18. A support system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A support element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.