GB2476099A

GB2476099A - Inflatable manhole protection device

Info

Publication number: GB2476099A
Application number: GB0921725A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luke Wilkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-11
Filing date: 2009-12-11
Publication date: 2011-06-15
Also published as: GB0921725D0

Abstract

The device 10 comprises an elongate inflatable body 12, characterised by substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and side walls 16 and gripping components 14 located on the side walls 16 of the inflatable body. Preferably, the device further comprises a top component (20, Fig 2) located above the top surface of the inflatable body. The top component may comprise a cushioning material and may be releasably connected to the inflatable body. The top component is of a circumferential size greater than the circumferential size of the inflatable body. A handle (22, Fig 3) may be fixed to the top surface of the inflatable body. Preferably, the device may also comprise an inflatable annular component (24, Fig 4) arranged to fit around the inflatable body.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. .... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GB092 1725.8 RTM Date:12 April 2010 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

VELCRO

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

DESCRIPTION

INFLATABLE MANHOLE

PROTECTION PLATFORM

This invention relates to a device for inserting into an inspection chamber.

An inspection chamber, also known as a manhole, is an opening to an io underground tunnel used to house an access point for making connections or performing maintenance on underground and buried public utility and other services including sewers, telephone, electricity and gas supplies. It is protected by a manhole cover, which is designed to prevent accidental or unauthorized access to the inspection chamber. Such chambers are commonly located close to roads and to the houses that they serve. It is very common to have an inspection chamber placed in the driveway of house, and this can create difficulties for the homeowner. For example, when a driveway of a house is being resurfaced, for example with new brickwork, then usually the manhole cover must be removed from the inspection chamber while this work is being carried out. This causes two problems, firstly that there is danger of accidental entry into the inspection chamber, and there is secondly the risk of materials and debris falling into the inspection chamber, which can block the tunnel below the inspection chamber and/or damage the tunnel or the utility being carried in the tunnel.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for inserting into an inspection chamber comprising an elongate inflatable body, the inflatable body comprising substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and side walls, and gripping components located on the side walls of the inflatable body.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide an inflatable manhole protection platform. Preferably, the unit is oblong shaped object, which is inserted into an inspection chamber (manhole), and inflated to create a platform, which will leave a live manhole to run free and keep any workers away from the contents of the underground tunnel, such as sewage. This allows the workers to work on the manhole without any debris falling in and causing blockages.

The invention has four main benefits. The device stops any debris potentially falling down causing blockages. The device removes the need to clean out the drain with the debris which could be mixed with sewage. It is quicker to install the device than have to clean out the drain after working on it, and it is quicker than having to be extra careful working on the drain. The device also has a safety feature because it is possible to leave a manhole cover off and the device will potentially stop somebody falling down.

is Since inspection chambers vary in size the inflatable device is highly useful because the device can fit to many different shapes and sizes of inspection chamber. The unit can come in a 3-piece pack. The main unit will be designed to fit standard size holes, 600mm by 450mm this will also fit the 600mm by 600mm round hole. There will be a smaller unit for small inspection chambers with a size of about 300mm by 300mm square and round. There will also be an additional unit, which will fin onto the main unit with a Velcro ring around the circumference; this is for the more commercial drains approx 1300mm round. The device will inflate to high pressure and this is what stops the device from moving, along with the grips which will be on the sides of the device and can be made of hard rubber. These will also help with protection of the unit.

The unit will be made of a hard rubberized material similar to that of a bouncy castle. Preferably, on top of the unit there will be a removable cushioned top which will Velcro into place. This will add cushioning when debris is falling and allow the user to remove the top which is holding all the loose debris this allows the user to easily remove the main unit without anything dropping down. The cushioned top will be bigger than the main unit, this will allow the top to lap the sides of the chamber and stop debris falling onto the main unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a device for inserting into an inspection chamber, Figure 2 is cross-sectional side view of the device of Figure 1 inside an inspection chamber, io Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of a second embodiment of the device, and Figure 4 is a plan view from above of a third embodiment of the device.

Figure 1 shows the device 10. The device 10 is for inserting into an is inspection chamber and comprises an elongate inflatable body 12 and gripping components 14. The inflatable body 12 comprises substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and side walls 16. The gripping components 14 are located on the side walls 16 of the inflatable body 14. The unit 10 is to be inflated to fit tightly inside an inspection chamber. This prevents any debris from accidently falling into the inspection chamber. The gripping components 14 are hard rubber side grips 14 that have the dual purpose of protecting the inflatable body 12 of the device 10 and of engaging with the side walls of the inspection chamber in which the device 10 is fitted.

The gripping components 14 are located on all of the side walls 16 of the device 10. In the embodiment of the device 10 shown in Figure 1, the top surface of the inflatable body 12 is of a substantially rectilinear formation and the inflatable body 12 comprises four side walls. The device 10 therefore comprises at least four gripping components 14, at least one gripping component 14 located on each side wall 16. In addition to the device 10 stopping any debris potentially falling down the inspection chamber causing blockages, the device 10 also removes the need to clean out the drain to remove any debris. This allows a user to work in the vicinity of an inspection chamber with the cover removed, without having to be concerned about material entering the inspection chamber.

Figure 2 shows the device 10 inflated and in position. The device 10 has been placed into an inspection chamber 18 and inflated such that the gripping components 14 on the side walls 16 engage the side of the inspection chamber 18. The device 10, once inflated, will firmly contact the walls of the inspection chamber 18 and will prevent debris from entering the inspection chamber 18 from above. Anything that does enter the chamber 18 will remain on top of the device 10 and can be easily removed by someone working in the io surrounding area. The device 10 will also provide some measure of protection against a worker falling into the inspection chamber 18, which improves the health and safety of users.

The device 10 further comprises a top component 20, which is located above the top surface of the inflatable body 12. The top component 20 is comprises a cushioning material such as a suitable foam construction and the top component 20 is releasably connected to the inflatable body 12. The top component 20 is of a circumferential size greater than the circumferential size of the inflatable body 12. The cushioned top 20 is Velcroed into place and is slightly bigger and sits against the edge of the inspection chamber 18 to keep any debris on top of the device 10. Once work is completed, then the top component 20 can be released from the device 10 and used to remove any debris that has fallen into the chamber 18.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the inflatable platform. In this version of the platform, the device 10 further comprises a handle 22, which is fixed to the top surface of the inflatable body 12. The device 10 has a handle 22 in the centre of the main body 12. Preferably, the handle 22 is a piece of material of the same type as the body 12, which allows the worker to hold the device 10 in place during inflation. The handle 22 can be, for example a rectangular piece of material 40mm by 300mm fixed at either end to allow the worker to hold the device 10.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 4, the device 10 can further comprise an additional annular component arranged to fit around the body 12.

The annular component comprising an annular inflatable body 24, the inflatable body comprising substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and side walls, and further gripping components 14 located on the side walls of the annular inflatable body 24. For the dimensions of the extendable piece for the larger chambers, the size should ideally be 1200 mm total size, so the annular inflatable body 24 of a hoop shape, attaching to the main body 12, will each side be 300mm.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A device for inserting into an inspection chamber comprising o an elongate inflatable body, the inflatable body comprising substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and side walls, and o gripping components located on the side walls of the inflatable body.
2. A device according to claim 1, and further comprising a top io component located above the top surface of the inflatable body.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the top component comprises a cushioning material.
4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the top component is releasably connected to the inflatable body.
5. A device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the top component is of a circumferential size greater than the circumferential size of the inflatable body.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the top surface of the inflatable body is of a substantially rectilinear formation and the inflatable body comprises four side walls.
7. A device according to claim 6, and comprising at least four gripping components, at least one gripping component located on each side wall.
8. A device according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a handle fixed to the top surface of the inflatable body.
9. A device according to any preceding claim, and further comprising an additional annular component arranged to fit around the inflatable body, the annular component comprising an annular inflatable body, the inflatable body comprising substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and side walls, and further gripping components located on the side walls of the annular inflatable body.
10. A device substantiality as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.