GB2502949A - Drain cover and frame assembly - Google Patents

Drain cover and frame assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2502949A
GB2502949A GB201207081A GB201207081A GB2502949A GB 2502949 A GB2502949 A GB 2502949A GB 201207081 A GB201207081 A GB 201207081A GB 201207081 A GB201207081 A GB 201207081A GB 2502949 A GB2502949 A GB 2502949A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sealing member
assembly according
frame
cover
side wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB201207081A
Other versions
GB201207081D0 (en
Inventor
David Henry Edmonds
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wrekin Holdings Ltd
Original Assignee
Wrekin Holdings Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wrekin Holdings Ltd filed Critical Wrekin Holdings Ltd
Priority to GB201207081A priority Critical patent/GB2502949A/en
Publication of GB201207081D0 publication Critical patent/GB201207081D0/en
Publication of GB2502949A publication Critical patent/GB2502949A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
    • E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
    • E02D29/149—Annular gaskets

Abstract

The invention relates to a ground surface access assembly 10 and comprises a frame 14 and a cover 18. The frame 14 defines an opening 16 in or over which the cover 18 is positionable to close the opening 16. The frame 14 further defines a channel 20 which, in an assembled condition receives a part of the cover 18. The frame 14 includes a retaining formation 22 which, in the assembled condition retains a sealing member 22 in the channel 20 to seal between the cover 18 and the frame 14. The assembly may comprise a second seal 36 in the channel 20.

Description

Ground Surface Access Assemblies The present invention relates to ground surface access assemblies.
Conventionally, a ground surface access assembly such as a manhole cover includes a frame defining an opening which supports a cover, which in a normal use condition closes the opening. In some applications, it is desirable to seal the cover to the frame to prevent the egress of gases and vapours. A typical sealing arrangement employs an 0 ring or gasket which locates between the cover and frame. However, removal of the cover often results in the 0-ring or gasket being damaged or lost.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ground surface access assembly, the assembly including a frame, the frame defining an opening in or over which a cover is positionable to close the opening, the frame defining a channel which, in an assembled condition receives a part of the cover, the frame including a retaining formation which, in the assembled condition, retains a sealing member in the channel to seal between the cover and the frame.
Possibly, the frame includes a base wall, an inner side wall adjacent the opening which extends upwardly in use from the base wall and an outer side wall extending substantially parallel with the inner side wall which also extends upwardly in use from the base wall, the base wall, the inner side wall and the outer side wall together defining the channel.
Possibly, the retaining formation extends from the inner side wall towards the outer side wall partially across the channel. Possibly, the retaining formation comprises a lip.
Possibly, the retaining formation extends from an in use uppermost end of the inner side wall. Possibly, a mouth of the channel is defined between the end of the retaining formation and the outer side wall.
Possibly, the outer side wall extends upwardly further than the inner side wall. Possibly, the base wall extends outwardly beyond the outer side wall to form a flange part.
Possibly, the cross-sectional shape of the frame is substantially constant.
In another embodiment, the retaining formation may be provided intermittently along the inner side wall.
Possibly, the assembly includes the sealing member, which in the assembled condition may locate in the channel below the retaining formation, and may locate against the inner side wall. Possibly, the cross sectional shape of the sealing member is substantially constant, and may be substantially circular. The sealing member may be endless.
Possibly, the assembly includes a second sealing member, which in the assembled condition seals between the cover and the frame, and may locate in the channel below the retaining formation, and may locate against the base wall. Possibly the cross sectional shape of the second sealing member is substantially constant, and may be substantially rectangular. The second sealing member may be endless.
Possibly the ground surface access assembly includes the cover, which may include a substantially planar surface part, and may include side walls, which may, in use, extend downwardly from edges of the surface part.
Possibly, in the assembled condition, the cover side walls are at least partially located within the channel, and may locate against the sealing member, and may locate against the second sealing member.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing between a cover and a frame, the method including providing a ground surface access assembly, the assembly including a frame, the frame defining an opening in or over which a cover is receivable to close the opening, the frame defining a channel which, in an in use assembled condition receives a part of the cover, the frame including a retaining formation which, in use in the assembled condition retains a sealing member in the channel to seal between the cover and the frame.
Possibly, the ground surface access assembly includes any of the features described in any of the preceding statements.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a side cross sectional view of part of a ground surface access assembly in an in use assembled condition without a sealing member; Fig. 2 is a side cross sectional view of part of a ground surface access assembly in an in use assembled condition with a sealing member; and Fig. 3 is a side cross sectional view of part of a ground surface access assembly in an in use assembled condition with a sealing member and a second sealing member.
Figs 1 to 3 show a ground surface access assembly 10, the assembly including a frame 14 and a cover 18. The frame 14 defines an opening 16 in or over which the cover 18 is positionable to close the opening 16. The frame 14 further defines a channel 20 which, in an assembled condition receives a part of the cover 18. The frame 14 includes a retaining formation 22 which, in the assembled condition retains a sealing member 22 in the channel 20 to seal between the cover 18 and the frame 14.
The frame 14 includes a base wall 26, an inner side wall 28 adjacent the opening 16 which extends upwardly in use from the base wall 26 and an outer side wall 30 extending substantially parallel with the inner side wall 28 which also extends upwardly in use from the base wall 26, the base wall 26, the inner side wall 28 and the outer side wall 30 together defining the channel 20.
The frame 14 could be formed of galvanised mild steel, and could be formed by pressing. The frame 14 could be formed in one piece.
The retaining formation 22 comprises a lip 32, which extends from the inner side wall 28 towards the outer side wall 30 partially across the channel 20. The lip 32 extends from an in use uppermost end of the inner side wall 28.
A mouth 34 of the channel 20 is defined between the end of the lip 32 and the outer side wall 30.
The base wall 26 extends outwardly beyond the outer side wall 30 to form a flange part 38.
The cross-sectional shape of the frame 14 is substantially constant.
In one example, the frame 14 is rectangular in plan, but other shapes are possible. For example, the frame 14 could be circular or square.
The cover 18 includes a substantially planar surface part 40 and cover side walls 42, which, in use, extend downwardly from edges of the surface part 40.
Fig 1 shows the ground surface access assembly 10 in a first assembled condition. In this condition, the assembly 10 is used without a sealing member, and the cover side walls 42 locate through the mouth 34 in the channel 20 directly onto the base wall 26.
The outer side wall 30 extends upwardly further than the inner side wall 28, so that, in the assembled condition the in-use uppermost end of the outer side wall 30 is substantially level with an uppermost surface of the cover 18.
Fig 2 shows the assembly 10 in a second assembled condition. In this condition, the assembly 10 includes the sealing member 24. The sealing member 24 is formed of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or a plastics material. The sealing member 24 locates in the channel 20 below the lip 32, and locates against the inner side wall 28. The cover side walls 42 locate through the mouth 34 in the channel 20 directly onto the base wall 26 and against the sealing member 24. The cover side walls 42 locate against the sealing member 24 so as to deform the sealing member 24 to effect a seal.
When the cover 18 is removed from the frame 14, the lip 22 prevents the sealing member 24 moving upwardly out of the channel 20 and being damaged or lost.
The invention thus overcomes a common particular problem which can be exacerbated by a number of factors. For example, the sealing member 24 could be put under tension when located around the inner side wall 28.
Removal of the cover 18 tends to roll the sealing member 24 upwardly, and in the absence of the retaining formation 22, the sealing member 24 springs inwardly under the cover 18 and drops into the opening 16. Given the service requirement and usual nature of the material in the hole beneath the opening 16, the user is often reluctant to retrieve the seal member 24, and such action could be hazardous. Sometimes the inner side wall 24 tapers inwardly and upwardly, which again increases the propensity of the sealing member 24 to roll upwardly, sometimes when newly fitted. One alternative option is to glue the sealing member in position, but it can be difficult to control the gluing operation with sufficient precision on site. The present invention overcomes these problems simply and effectively.
Fig 3 shows the assembly 10 in a third assembled condition. In this condition, the assembly 10 includes the sealing member 24 and a second sealing member 36, which in the assembled condition seals between the cover 18 and the frame 14. The second sealing member 36 is formed of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or a plastics material. The cross sectional shape of the second sealing member 36 is substantially constant, and substantially rectangular. The second sealing member 36 is endless.
The sealing member 24 locates in the channel 20 below the lip 32, and locates against the base wall 26. The cover side walls 42 locate through the mouth 34 in the channel 20 onto the second sealing member 36 on the base wall 26 and against the sealing member 24.
In this condition, two sealing members 24, 36 are provided between the cover 18 and the frame 14. As the cover 18 could be formed of pressed steel and thus could be relatively light, for the second sealing member 36 to be effective, the cover 18 could be bolted or screwed down on to the frame 14.
Again, when the cover 18 is removed from the frame 14, the lip 22 prevents the sealing member 24 moving upwardly out of the channel 20 and being damaged or lost.
Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The assembly 10, the frame 14, the cover 18, the sealing member 24 and the second sealing member 36 could be of any suitable size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material, and could be formed in any suitable way.
The retaining formation 22 could be a different shape, and could be located in a different place, for example, below the top edge of the inner side wall 28.
In another example, the retaining formation 22 need not be continuous along the inner side wall 28, but could be provided intermittently along the inner side wall 28.
The ground surface access assembly 10 could include any combination of the sealing member 24 and the second sealing member 36.
Any of the features or steps of any of the embodiments shown or described could be combined in any suitable way, within the scope of the
overall disclosure of this document.
There is thus provided a ground surface access assembly which retains the sealing member in place when the cover is removed, reducing the risk of loss or damage to the sealing member.

Claims (9)

  1. CLAIMS1. A ground surface access assembly, the assembly including a frame, the frame defining an opening in or over which a cover is positionable to close the opening, the frame defining a channel which, in an assembled condition receives a part of the cover, the frame including a retaining formation which, in the assembled condition, retains a sealing member in the channel to seal between the cover and the frame.
  2. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the frame includes a base wall, an inner side wall adjacent the opening which extends upwardly in use from the base wall and an outer side wall extending substantially parallel with the inner side wall which also extends upwardly in use from the base (V) wall, the base wall, the inner side wall and the outer side wall together i-15 defining the channel.
    0
  3. 3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the retaining formation extends C) from the inner side wall towards the outer side wall partially across the c'.J channel.
  4. 4. An assembly according to claim 3, in which the retaining formation comprises a lip.
  5. 5. An assembly according to claims 3 or 4, in which the retaining formation extends from an in use uppermost end of the inner side wall.
  6. 6. An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which a mouth of the channel is defined between the end of the retaining formation and the outer side wall.
  7. 7. An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 6, in which the outer side wall extends upwardly further than the inner side wall.
  8. 8. An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 7, in which the base wall extends outwardly beyond the outer side wall to form a flange part.
  9. 9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross-sectional shape of the frame is substantially constant.lOAn assembly according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the retaining formation is provided intermittently along the inner side wall.hAn assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes the sealing member.(V) 12.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which, in the i-15 assembled condition, the sealing member locates in the channel below the retaining formation.C') 13.An assembly according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, in C\I which, in the assembled condition, the sealing member locates against the inner side wall.14.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross sectional shape of the sealing member is substantially constant.15.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross sectional shape of the sealing member is substantially circular.16.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the sealing member is endless.17.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes a second sealing member, which, in the assembled condition, seals between the cover and the frame.18.An assembly according to claim 17, in which, in the assembled condition, the second sealing member locates in the channel below the retaining formation.19.An assembly according to claims 17 or 18 when dependent on claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, in which, in the assembled condition, the second sealing member locates against the base wall.20.An assembly according to any of claims 17 to 19, in which the cross sectional shape of the second sealing member is substantially constant.21.An assembly according to any of claims 17 to 20, in which the cross sectional shape of the second sealing member is substantially rectangular.22.An assembly according to any of claims 17 to 21, in which the second sealing member is endless.23.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the (\J ground surface access assembly includes the cover, which includes a substantially planar surface part, and includes side walls, which, in use, extend downwardly from edges of the surface part, and, in which, in the assembled condition, the cover side walls are at least partially located within the channel, and locate against the sealing member.24.An assembly according to claim 23 when dependent on claim 17 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the cover side walls locate against the second sealing member.25.A method of sealing between a cover and a frame, the method including providing a ground surface access assembly, the assembly including a frame, the frame defining an opening in or over which a cover is receivable to close the opening, the frame defining a channel which, in an in use assembled condition receives a part of the cover, the frame including a retaining formation which, in use in the assembled condition retains a sealing member in the channel to seal between the cover and the frame.26.A method according to claim 25, in which the ground surface access assembly includes any of the features defined in any of claims 1 to 24.27.A ground surface access assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.28.A method of sealing between a cover and a frame substantially as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to any of the accompanying drawings. r
GB201207081A 2012-04-23 2012-04-23 Drain cover and frame assembly Withdrawn GB2502949A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201207081A GB2502949A (en) 2012-04-23 2012-04-23 Drain cover and frame assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201207081A GB2502949A (en) 2012-04-23 2012-04-23 Drain cover and frame assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201207081D0 GB201207081D0 (en) 2012-06-06
GB2502949A true GB2502949A (en) 2013-12-18

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB201207081A Withdrawn GB2502949A (en) 2012-04-23 2012-04-23 Drain cover and frame assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2502949A (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0200008A1 (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-11-05 Pont-A-Mousson S.A. Locked and sealed manhole cover
EP0633362A1 (en) * 1993-06-30 1995-01-11 Christina Kruyfhooft Manhole cover with seal
FR2837851A1 (en) * 2002-03-27 2003-10-03 Rene Girard Inspection chamber for underground pipe, especially a drain, has cover supported by raised ring with seal of variable thickness
CN201874012U (en) * 2010-11-17 2011-06-22 威海高斯美广告标识有限公司 Compound anti-lifting well cover

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0200008A1 (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-11-05 Pont-A-Mousson S.A. Locked and sealed manhole cover
EP0633362A1 (en) * 1993-06-30 1995-01-11 Christina Kruyfhooft Manhole cover with seal
FR2837851A1 (en) * 2002-03-27 2003-10-03 Rene Girard Inspection chamber for underground pipe, especially a drain, has cover supported by raised ring with seal of variable thickness
CN201874012U (en) * 2010-11-17 2011-06-22 威海高斯美广告标识有限公司 Compound anti-lifting well cover

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201207081D0 (en) 2012-06-06

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)