GB2489797A

GB2489797A - A Gully Grating and a Method of Providing a Drainage Point

Info

Publication number: GB2489797A
Application number: GB1205777.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Tyrrell; Paul Smith
Original assignee: Peter Savage Ltd
Current assignee: Peter Savage Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-07
Filing date: 2012-03-30
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-30
Also published as: GB2529965B; GB2529965A8; GB2489797B; GB201105903D0; GB201205777D0; GB2529965A; GB201521453D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a gully grating and comprises a grating 14 and a frame 12. A top surface 26 of the frame 12 defines two notional planes (44, 46 figure 2, preferably in a V formation. The grating 14 includes at least one barrier bar (70 figure 2) and a rib (77 figure 2) comprising an elongate raised portion (79 figure 2) which extends in the direction of the length of the barrier bar (70 figure 2) and protrudes above the notional plane (44, 46 figure 2) defined by the portions of the frame 12 which the longitudinal axis of the barrier bar (70 figure 2) extends through such that when water flows in a direction perpendicular to the barrier bar (70 figure 2), the raised portion (70 figure 2) causes deflection of water so that an increased amount of water flows clown through the grating 14 directly before the rib (77 figure 2) in relation to the direction of water flow. Dropped bars (72 figure 4) may also be provided in a later embodiment.

Description

A Gutty Grating and a Method of Providing a Drainage Point The present invention relates to a gully grating and a method of providing a drainage point.

It is known to provide gully gratings above drainage channels, to allow water to drain into the drainage channel, whilst preventing debris which is carried by the water entering the drainage channel. Such a gully grating typically comprises a series of bars which extend between two opposed sides of a frame of a gully grating.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gully grating comprising a grating and a frame, the top surface of the frame defining at least one notional plane, the grating including at least one barrier bar, the or at least one barrier bar including a barrier rib, the barrier rib comprising an elongate raised portion which extends in the direction of the length of the barrier bar, and protrudes above the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of the barrier bar extends through, such that when water flows in a direction substantially perpendicular to the barrier bar, the raised portion causes deflection of water so that an increased amount of water flows down through the grating directly before the rib, in relation to the direction of water flow, than if the rib were not present.

As the amount of water which flows through the grating directly before the rib is increased, the overall flow rate of water through the grating is also increased, thereby decreasing the amount of water which flows over the top of the grating and so does not drain into the drainage point.

The raised portion may protrude at least 2 mm above the notional plane, preferably at least 3 mm above the notional plane, and most preferably at least 5 mm above the notional plane. Such raised portions provide an increased amount of water flow, whilst minimising the protrusion of the bar above the surrounding ground surface, thus minimising the risk of a trip hazard in pedestrianised areas, or other hazards to tyres and motor vehicles on road surfaces.

Preferably, the grating comprises a plurality of barrier bars. This increases the points on the grating at which an increased amount of water will flow down through the grating, thereby further increasing the overall flow of water through the grating.

The grating preferably includes a series of barrier bars arranged such that their longitudinal axes all extend through the same opposed sides of the frame. The barrier bars in the series are preferably parallel to each other. The series of barrier bars can therefore be arranged so that their longitudinal axes are all substantially perpendicular to a direction of water flow over the gully grating.

Preferably the barrier bars are evenly spaced from each other. Preferably the barrier bars are distributed symmetrically across the frame. An even average of flow distribution of water through the grating over its area can therefore be achieved.

The grating may be rectangular. Where the grating is rectangular, the barrier bars in the series are preferably parallel to the opposed sides of the frame which the longitudinal axes of the barrier bars in the series do not extend through. The gully grating can therefore easily be arranged with barrier bars perpendicular to a flow of water across the grating, by arranging the opposed sides of the frame which the longitudinal axes of the bars do not extend through also perpendicular to the direction of water flow.

The grating may include at least one bar which does not include a said raised portion. Preferably, the grating includes two bars which do not include said raised portion. Where the grating includes two bars which do not include said raised portions, the two bars are preferably adjacent opposed sides of the frame. The series of barrier bars may comprise all the bars which extend through the opposed sides of the frame, apart from the outermost two bars. Alternatively, the series of barrier bars may comprise all the bars which extend through opposed sides of the frame.

The barrier rib or barrier ribs may extend along substantially the entire length of the barrier bar. This maximises the length of the barrier bar which has improved barrier properties, and therefore improved water flow.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a drainage point, the method comprising the steps of "arranging a gully grating according to the preceding aspect of the invention so that the or each notional plane is substantially flush with the surrounding ground and that the or each barrier bar is substantially perpendicular to the anticipated direction of water flow.

By arranging the gully grating substantially perpendicular to an anticipated direction of water flow, the effect of the barrier ribs can be maximised.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gully grating, comprising a grating and a frame, the top surface of the frame defining at least one notional plane, the grating comprising at least one dropped bar, at least a portion the upper surface of the or at least one dropped bar being below the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of the bar extends through.

The dropped bar resuhs in an increased flow of water through the grating around the dropped bar, than if the dropped bar were not dropped.

The upper surface of the dropped bar may be at least 2 mm below the notional plane, preferably at least 3 mm below the notional plane, and more preferably at least mm below the notional plane and may be about 10 mm or more below the notional plane.

Preferably the dropped bar is adjacent a side of the frame. Increased water flow is therefore provided as soon as water passes over the edge of the frame.

Preferably the dropped bar is parallel to the side of the frame to which it is adjacent.

Preferably the frame is rectangular in plan, and the grating comprises two dropped bars located adjacent opposite sides of the frame. Increased water flow can therefore be achieved as soon as water passes over the side of the frame in opposed water flow directions.

The grating may comprise dropped bars adjacent each side of the frame.

Preferably substantially the whole of the upper surface of the dropped bar is below the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of the bar extends through. This maximises the length of the dropped bar which is dropped, and therefore leads to greater water flow through the grating.

The grating may also comprise a grating according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Where the grating includes at least one bar which does not include a said raised portion, at least one of the bars which do not include a said raised portion may be a dropped bar. The grating can therefore benefit from both raised bars and dropped bars for increased water flow through the grating.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a drainage point, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a gully grating according to the third aspect of the present invention so that the or each notional plane is substantially flush with the surrounding ground and that the or each dropped bar is substantially perpendicular to an anticipated direction of water flow.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, in which: S Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the grating and frame of the embodiment from above; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the grating and frame of Fig. 1 as marked A-A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the grating and frame of Fig. 1 as marked B-B in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross section of the grating and frame of Fig. 1 as marked C-C in Fig. 1, the cross section having a shallow depth of field, such that only the bar immediately next to the section is visible in the background; Fig. S is a perspective view from above of the grating of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view from above of the frame of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a perspective image of the grating and frame of Fig. 1 from above, with the grating open; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the grating and frame of Fig. 1 as arranged in use in a V-shaped drainage channel.

A gully grating 10 comprises a frame 12 and a grating 14. The frame 12 is square in plan. The grating 14 is also square in plan and dimensioned so that it fits inside the frame 12. The grating 14 is hingedly attached to the frame 12 at one end 16.

The frame 12 comprises four sides 18, 20, 22, 24. The gully grating 10 is a V-shaped gully grating. The upper surface 26 of the frame 12 comprises six upper surface portions 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38. The bottom edge 40 of the sides 18, 20, 22, 24 of the frame 12 describes a single plane. The upper surface portions 28, 34 of the opposed sides 18, 22, respectively, are parallel to the bottom edge 40. On the side 20 the upper surface portions 30, 32 taper downwardly towards the centre 42 of the side 20, to create a V shape. Likewise, on the opposite side 24, the upper surface portions 36, 38 taper downwardly towards the centre 43 of the side 24 to create a V-shape.

The upper surface 26 of the frame 12 thus defines two notional planes 44, 46 as shown by dashed lines in Figs 2, 3 and 4. The first notional plane 44 is defined by upper surface portions 28, 30, 38 and the second notional pane 46 is defined by the upper surface portions 32, 34, 36.

The grating 14 is V-shaped, with a central crease 48 which, when the grating 14 is arranged in the frame 12, is aligned with the centres 42, 43 of the V-shaped sides 20, 24. The grating 14 comprises a first series of bars 50 which are arranged perpendicular to the crease 48 and a second series of bars 52 which are arranged parallel to the crease 48, and, therefore, are perpendicular to the first series of bars 50.

The first series of bars 50, comprises two types of bars, first barrier bars 70 and dropped bars 72. The outermost bars on each side, which lie adjacent to the sides 20, 24, are dropped bars 72, i.e. there are two dropped bars. Three first barrier bars 70 are positioned between the dropped bars 72, parallel to both the dropped bars and the sides 20, 24 of the frame 12.

The second series of bars 52, as well as being parallel to the crease 48, are parallel to the sides 18, 22, and are evenly spaced with respect to one another. The bars 52 are radiused towards their upper surfaces 54. The second series of bars 52 comprises normal height bars 59, 60 and second and third barrier bars 57, 58. By "normal height" it is meant that the upper surface of the bar/section lies in the respective notional planes 44, 46 of the upper surface 30, 32, 36, 38 of the portion of the side 20, 24, which their longitudinal axes extend through. The two outermost bars 59, 60 on each side are normal height bars. The central five bars are second barrier bars 57, and the two bars on each side between the second barrier bars 57 and the outermost bars 59 are third barrier bars 58. The second barrier bars 57 include a central crease bar 56 which extends between the centres 42, 43 of the V-shaped sides 20, 24. The crease bar 56 is wider than the other second barrier bars. The second and third barrier bars 57, 58 are all divided into four longitudinal sections by the first barrier bars 70 of the first series of bars 52. The outermost bars 59, 60 on each side have only three sections, one section being replaced with a locking plate 92, as discussed later. Each of the four sections of the second barrier bars 57 are barrier ribs 77. Only the central two sections 61 of the third barrier bars are barrier ribs 77. The two outermost sections 62 of the third barrier bars are normal height. The outer edge bars 60 are wider than the bars 56, 57, 58, 59 and have radiused edges leading to a flat top surface 64.

In the first series of bars 50, the dropped bars 72 are spaced from the sides 20, 24. Each dropped bar 72 is V-shaped. Each dropped bar 72 has a portion 74 for which the upper surface 76 is 5 mm below the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of that bar extends through. In this embodiment, the dropped portion 74 extends along the entire length of each dropped bar 72.

Each first barrier bar 70 of the first series of bars 50 is V-shaped. Each first barrier bar 70 comprises a barrier rib 78 which extends the majority of the way along the barrier bar 70, until the ends 90 of the barrier bar 70 are radiused to join with the level of the outermost bars 60 of the second series 52.

The upper surfaces 76 of the dropped portion 74 of the bars 72 define notional planes (only notional plane 84 shown) which are parallel with the notional planes 44, 46 and spaced 5 mm below the notional planes 44, 46. In both the first, second and third barrier bars 57, 58, 70, the respective barrier ribs 77, 78 comprise an elongate raised portion 79, the upper surfaces of which are 5 mm above the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame 12 through which the longitudinal axis of the particular barrier bar extends, and define notional planes 85, 86, which are parallel with the notional planes 44, 46.

A locking plate 92 is provided in each corner of the grating at the non-hinged end 94, and replaces whichever portions of bars would otherwise have been there.

Each locking plate 92 defines a lifting key aperture 96, which can be used to help lift the grating.

In use, the gully grating 10 is arranged in a V-shaped drainage channel 98 so that the upper surface 26 of the frame 12 is flush with the surface 100 of the surrounding drainage channel 98. The frame is arranged so that the bars of the first series of bars 50, which include the barrier bars 70 and the dropped bars 72, are perpendicular to the anticipated direction of water flow (indicated by the arrow 102 in Fig. 8) along the drainage channel 98. As water flows into the area of the grating 14, in the direction 102, the dropped bars 72 result in increased water flow through the grating 14 around the dropped bar 72, than if the upper surface 76 of the dropped portion 74 had not been below the respective notional plane 44, 46. Further, the barrier ribs 78 of the barrier bars 70 act to hinder flow of water past them by causing deflection of water so that an increased amount of water flows down through the grating 14 directly before the bar 70 than if there was no barrier rib, i.e. than if none of the bar was positioned above the respective notional plane 44, 46. Further, by arranging the gully grating 10 as in Fig. 8, the second and third barrier bars 57, 58 are perpendicular to the directions of water flow (indicated by the arrows 103 in Fig. 8) into the drainage channel 98. The barrier ribs 77 of the second and third barrier bars 57, 58 act to hinder flow of water past them by causing deflection of water so that an increased amount of water flows down through the grating 14 directly before the bar than if there were no barrier ribs 77. Therefore, overall, the gully grating 10 provides an improved level of water drainage than a gully grating without dropped or raised bars.

In the above embodiment the first series of bars includes barrier bars and dropped bars, and the second series comprises barrier bars and normal height bars.

However, the types of bars and their quantity in each series could be different.

Further, although the above embodiment includes two series of bars perpendicular to each other, the skilled person would appreciate that a single series of bars could also be used.

Dropped bars could be located, alternatively or additionally, so that they are not adjacent sides of the frame.

The frame in the above embodiment, and indeed the entire gully grating, is V-shaped. However, the upper surface of the frame and the gully grating as a whole may be a different shape. For example, the gully grating may have a flat upper surface, so that there is only one notional plane, or it may be shaped so that there are more than two notional planes.

The gully grating of the embodiment is square, but could be any shape.

Ahhough the bars in the above embodiment are parallel to the sides of the frame, this need not be the case, and further, the bars do not need to be straight as in the above embodiment.

The difference between raised/dropped bars and the notional planes is 5 mm, but it will be apparent to the skilled person that the bars could be raised/dropped by different amounts, and even with the amount individual bars are raised/dropped varying between the same type of bar, as long as the resuh is that an increased amount of water flows through the grating. In another variant on the embodiment, the dropped bar is 10 mm below the notional plane.

The above embodiment includes barrier bars which differ in the proportion of the bar which comprises a raised barrier rib. It will be apparent to the skilled man that these proportions can be changed, as long as a barrier rib still results in increased water flow through the grating. Further, the dropped portion extends along the whole of the dropped bars, but it would be apparent to the skilled person that the dropped portion may extend along only part of the dropped bars, or that there may be more than one dropped portion. The portion or portions may be elongate.

Claims

Ctaims 1. A gully grating comprising a grating and a frame, the top surface of the frame defining at least one notional plane, the grating including at least one barrier bar, the or at least one barrier bar including a barrier rib, the barrier rib comprising an elongate raised portion which extends in the direction of the length of the barrier bar, and protrudes above the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of the barrier bar extends through, such that when water flows in a direction substantially perpendicular to the barrier bar, the raised portion causes deflection of water so that an increased amount of water flows down through the grating directly before the rib, in relation to the direction of water flow, than if the rib were not present.
2. A gully grating according to claim 1, wherein the raised portion protrudes at least 2 mm above the notional plane.
3. A gully grating according to claim 1, wherein the raised portion protrudes at least 3 mm above the notional plane.
4. A gully grating according to claim 1, wherein the raised portion protrudes at least 5 mm above the notional plane.
5. A gully grating according to any preceding claim wherein the grating comprises a plurality of barrier bars.
6. A gully grating according to claim 5, wherein the grating includes a series of barrier bars arranged such that their longitudinal axes all extend through the same opposed sides of the frame.
7. A gully grating according to claim 6, wherein the barrier bars in the series are parallel to each other.
8. A gully grating according to claim 7, wherein the barrier bars are evenly spaced from each other.
9. A gully grating according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the barrier bars are distributed symmetrically across the frame.
10. A gully grating according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the grating is rectangular.
11. A gully grating according to claim 10, wherein the barrier bars in the series are parallel to the opposed sides of the frame which the longitudinal axes of the barrier bars in the series do not extend through.
12. A gully grating according to any of claims 5 to 11, wherein the grating includes at least one bar which does not include a said raised portion.
13. A gully grating according to claim 12, wherein the grating includes two bars which do not include said raised portion.
14. A gully grating according to claim 13, wherein the two bars which do not include said raised portion are adjacent opposed sides of the frame.
15. A gully grating according to claim 14, wherein the series of barrier bars comprises all the bars which extend through the opposed sides of the frame, apart from the outermost two bars.
16. A gully grating according to any of claims 6 to 14, wherein the series of barrier bars comprises all the bars which extend through opposed sides of the frame.
17. A gully grating according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the barrier rib or barrier ribs extend along substantially the entire length of the barrier bar.
18. A method of providing a drainage point, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a gully grating according to any preceding claim so that the or each notional plane is substantially flush with the surrounding ground and that the or each barrier bar is substantially perpendicular to an anticipated direction of water flow.
19. A gully grating comprising a grating and a frame, the top surface of the frame defining at least one notional plane, the grating comprising at least one dropped bar, at least a portion the upper surface of the or at least one dropped bar being below the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of the bar extends through.
20. A gully grating according to claim 19, wherein the upper surface of the dropped bar is at least 2 mm below the notional plane.
21. A gully grating according to claim 19, wherein the upper surface of the dropped bar is at least 3 mm below the notional plane.
22. A gully grating according to claim 19, wherein the upper surface of the dropped bar is at least 5 mm below the notional plane.
23. A gully grating according to claim 19, wherein the upper surface of the dropped bar is about 10 mm or more below the notional plane.
24. A gully grating according to any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the dropped bar is adjacent a side of the frame.
25. A gully grating according to any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the dropped bar is parallel to the side of the frame to which it is adjacent.
26. A gully grating according to any of claims 19 to 25, wherein the frame is rectangular in plan, and the grating comprises two dropped bars, located adjacent opposite sides of the frame.
27. A gully grating according to claim 26, wherein the grating comprises dropped bars adjacent each side of the frame.
28. A gully grating according to any of claims 19 to 27, wherein substantially the whole of the upper surface of the dropped bar is below the notional plane defined by the portions of the frame which the longitudinal axis of the bar extends through.
29. A gully grating according to any of claims 19 to 28, wherein the grating is also a grating according to any of claims 1 to 17.
30. A method of providing a drainage point, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a gully grating according to any of claims 18 to 29 so that the or each notional plane is substantially flush with the surrounding ground and that the or each dropped bar is substantially perpendicular to an anticipated direction of water flow.
31. A gully grating substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.