GB2540249A

GB2540249A - Ground surface access assembly covers

Info

Publication number: GB2540249A
Application number: GB1608109.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Turner Barry
Original assignee: Wrekin Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Wrekin Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2015-05-07
Filing date: 2016-05-09
Publication date: 2017-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-09
Also published as: GB201507852D0; GB2540249B; GB201608109D0

Abstract

A ground surface access assembly cover defines an aperture 20 for a key. The cover includes a keyway enclosure 34 defining a pocket 36 located in use beneath and communicating with the aperture. The cover includes a pocket preserving device 38 located in the pocket. The device may comprise a surface which is movable between a position relatively close to the keyway aperture and a position relatively further away from the keyway aperture. In the relatively closed position, the device surface may restrict or substantially prevent the entry of unwanted material into the pocket, may abut the keyway aperture and may provide a seal between the aperture and the pocket. The surface may be moved from the closed to the further away position by the insertion of a part of a key through the keyway aperture into the pocket, the part of the key acting on the surface to move the surface during insertion. The cover may include a biasing means, which biases the surface to the closed position. The device may be formed of a resiliently deformable material, which comprises the biasing means.

Description

Ground Surface Access Assembly Covers

The present invention relates to ground surface access assembly covers.

Conventionally, ground surface access assemblies comprise a frame defining an opening and one or more covers which locate onto the frame in or above the opening. The or one or each cover is openable or removable to permit access to underground services via the opening.

The or each cover conventionally defines a keyway aperture through which a lifting key can be inserted to lift the cover. To enable sealing of the access assembly, the cover includes a keyway enclosure which defines a pocket beneath the opening. In use over time, however, the pocket can fill with material such as silt, dirt and debris from the roadway which can eventually prevent operation of the lifting key. This then requires an awkward and time consuming cleaning operation, or use of an alternative lifting method, which may be ad-hoc and unsafe.

In this specification, the terms inner, outer, inwardly and outwardly, when used in relation to the frame or cover, are used with respect to the opening, which is inward of the frame, and the terms upward and downward are used in relation to the in use orientation of a ground surface access assembly, in which downward means down into the ground.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ground surface access assembly cover, the cover defining a keyway aperture, the cover including a keyway enclosure defining a pocket located in use beneath and communicating with the aperture, the cover including a pocket preserving device which is located in the pocket.

Possibly, the cover includes an in-use upper surface, in which the keyway aperture may be defined.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device comprises a surface which is movable between a condition in which the surface is relatively close to the keyway aperture and a condition in which the pocket preserving device surface is relatively further away from the keyway aperture.

Possibly, in the relatively close condition, the pocket preserving device surface restricts or substantially prevents the entry of unwanted material such as silt, dirt or debris into the pocket.

Possibly, in the close condition, the surface substantially abuts the keyway aperture and may substantially provide a seal between the aperture and the pocket.

Possibly, the surface is moved from the close condition to the further away condition by the insertion of a part of a key through the keyway aperture into the pocket, the part of the key acting on the surface to move the surface during insertion.

Possibly, the cover includes biasing means which bias the pocket preserving device surface to the close condition.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device is formed of pocket preserving device material, which may comprise a resiliently deformable material, which comprises the biasing means. Possibly, the resiliently deformable material is a plastics material.

Possibly, in the close condition, the pocket preserving device material is in a relatively larger condition in which the material may be relatively expanded or relatively relaxed. Possibly, in the relatively larger condition, the pocket preserving device substantially fills the pocket and may substantially seal the pocket from the aperture.

Possibly, in the further away condition, the pocket preserving device material is in a relatively smaller condition in which the pocket preserving device material may be relatively compressed.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device material comprises a plurality of materials, at least one of which may comprise the resiliently deformable material, and which may be formed in layers.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device is pre-formed before location into the pocket. Possibly, the pocket preserving device is pre-formed of a resiliently compressible material, which must be compressed to pass through the keyway aperture.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device is pre-formed of an expandable material which passes through the keyway aperture in a non-expanded condition and in the pocket moves or is moved to the relatively larger condition in which the pocket preserving device can no longer pass through the aperture without damage or being compressed.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device is formed by location of the pocket preserving device material through the keyway aperture into the pocket. Possibly, the pocket preserving device material comprises a settable material and the pocket preserving device may be formed by locating liquid pocket preserving device material into the pocket and then causing or allowing the pocket preserving device material to set to a solid material.

Possibly, the pocket preserving device does not substantially protrude from the pocket into the keyway aperture.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preserving a pocket defined by a keyway enclosure of a ground surface access assembly, the method including providing an access assembly cover, the cover defining a keyway aperture, the cover including a keyway enclosure defining a pocket located in use beneath the aperture, the cover including a pocket preserving device which is located in the pocket.

Possibly, the cover includes any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description. Possibly, the method includes any of the steps described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

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 perspective view of an assembly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lifting key not according to the invention;

Figs. 3A and 3B are a side cross sectional view of a keyway enclosure and a plan view of a keyway aperture respectively of a ground surface access assembly cover not according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a side cross sectional view of part of a ground surface access assembly cover according to the invention comprising the keyway enclosure with a pocket preserving device located therein;

Figs. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views of the part of the cover of Fig. 4 showing steps in the insertion of the lifting key into the keyway enclosure;

Figs. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views of the part of the cover of Figs. 4 and 5 in use being trafficked by a vehicle wheel;

Fig. 7 is a side cross sectional view of part of a second ground surface access assembly cover according to the invention comprising the keyway enclosure with a second pocket preserving device located therein; and

Fig. 8 is a side cross sectional view of part of a third ground surface access assembly cover according to the invention comprising the keyway enclosure with a third pocket preserving device located therein.

Fig. 1 shows a ground surface access assembly 10, the assembly 10 including a frame 12 defining an opening (not shown) and a pair of covers 14 which locate onto the frame 12 in or above the opening. Each cover 14 is removable to permit access to underground services via the opening.

Each cover 14 comprises a substantially planar cover member 16 which includes an in-use upper surface 18, in which a keyway aperture 20 is defined. As shown in plan view in Fig. 3B, in this example the keyway aperture 20 could comprise a circular hole 22 combined with a slot 24 which extends laterally outwardly on two opposed sides of the hole 22.

Fig. 2 shows a lifting key 26 comprising a shank 28 which is circular in cross section with a head 30 at a head end 31, the head 30 in this example being in the form of a cross bar, and a pair of feet 32 at a foot end 33, the feet 32 being in the form of oppositely and transversely extending lugs. The lifting key 26 is sized so that the foot end 33 with the feet 32 can pass through the keyway aperture 20 in one orientation. The lifting key 26 is then turned substantially through 90° to a second orientation in which the feet 32 locate under the cover member 16 out of alignment with the slot 24 to permit lifting of the cover 14.

Referring to Fig. 3A, the cover 14 includes a keyway enclosure 34 defining a pocket 36 located in use beneath and communicating with the aperture 20.

Referring to Fig. 4, the cover 14 includes a pocket preserving device 38 which is located in the pocket 36.

The pocket preserving device 38 comprises a surface 40 which is movable between a condition in which the surface 40 is relatively close to the keyway aperture 20 and a condition in which the pocket preserving device surface 40 is relatively further away from the keyway aperture 20.

In the relatively close condition, the pocket preserving device surface 40 restricts or substantially prevents the entry of unwanted material such as silt, dirt or debris into the pocket 36.

The surface 40 is moved from the close condition to the further away condition by the insertion of a part of the key 26 (ie the foot end 33 of the shank 28 with the feet 32) through the keyway aperture 20 into the pocket 36. During the insertion, the foot end 33 and the feet 32 act on the surface 40 to move the surface 40 to the relatively further away condition.

The pocket preserving device 38 includes biasing means 44 which bias the pocket preserving device surface 40 to the close condition.

The pocket preserving device 38 is formed of pocket preserving device material 46, which comprises a resiliently deformable material, which comprises the biasing means 44. In one example, the resiliently deformable material is a plastics material.

In the close condition, the pocket preserving device material 46 is in a relatively larger condition in which the material 46 is relatively expanded or relatively relaxed. In the relatively larger condition, the pocket preserving device 38 substantially fills the pocket 36 and substantially seals the pocket 36 from the aperture 20.

In the further away condition, the pocket preserving device material 46 is in a relatively smaller condition in which the pocket preserving device material 46 is relatively compressed by the action of the key 26.

In one example, the pocket preserving device 38 could be pre-formed before location into the pocket 36. The pocket preserving device material 46 could be a resiliently compressible material, which must be compressed to pass through the keyway aperture 20.

In another example, the pocket preserving device 38 could be preformed and the pocket preserving device material 46 could be an expandable material which passes through the keyway aperture 20 in a non-expanded condition and in the pocket 36 moves or is moved to the relatively larger condition in which the pocket preserving device 38 can no longer pass through the aperture without damage or being compressed.

In still another example, the pocket preserving device 38 could be formed in situ by location of the pocket preserving device material 46 through the keyway aperture 20 into the pocket 36. The pocket preserving device material 46 could comprise a settable material, which changes (sets) from a liquid to a solid, and the pocket preserving device 38 is formed by locating liquid pocket preserving device material 46 into the pocket 36 and then causing or allowing the pocket preserving device material 46 to set to a solid material.

Examples of possible pocket preserving device materials 46 could include foam materials, expanding foam materials, closed cell foam materials, cellular elastomers, cellular plastics (for example, low and high density polyurethane), cellular plastics with elastomeric properties, other cellular or solid materials having elastomeric properties, cellular nitrile, cellular neoprene, and cellular ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).

Suitable materials could be injected or sprayed as curable foam. Materials will be selected in accordance with expected contaminants, elastic properties and tear resistance.

The pocket preserving device materials 46 could be substantially weather resistant and rot resistant.

In the example shown in Fig. 4, in the close condition, the pocket preserving device 38 substantially fills the pocket 36, abutting the keyway aperture 20, substantially sealing the pocket 36 from the aperture 20 and preventing passage of material from the aperture 20 into the pocket 36.

It will be noted that in the example shown, the pocket preserving device 38 does not substantially protrude from the pocket 36 into the keyway aperture 20. Although it could do so, and this has the advantage of preventing build-up of silt, dirt and debris in the aperture 20, in practice the applicant has found that this makes the insertion of the key 26 and compression of the pocket preserving device 38 significantly more difficult.

Referring to Figs. 5A to 5C, in use, to lift a cover 14, for example to permit access to the opening, the foot end 33 of the key 26 is located through the aperture 20 and pressed down upon the pocket preserving device surface 40, moving the pocket preserving device surface 40 from the close condition to the further away condition, and compressing the pocket preserving device 38 from the relatively larger condition to the relatively smaller condition, permitting the key 26 to be rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation in which the cover 14 can be lifted.

After the lifting operation has been completed, the key 26 is rotated back from the second orientation to the first orientation and then withdrawn from the pocket 36 and the aperture 20. As the pressure of the key 26 is removed from the pocket preserving device surface 40, the resiliently deformable pocket preserving device material 46 automatically expands back, moving the pocket preserving device surface 40 from the further away condition to the close condition, and the pocket preserving device 38 from the relatively smaller condition to the relatively larger condition, so that the pocket 36 is again substantially sealed from the keyway aperture 20.

Advantageously, the pocket preserving device 34 requires no additional actions on the part of the user to that normally required in conventional arrangements to insert and rotate the key 26 and then remove the key 26.

Advantageously, no design change is required to the cover 14.

Figs. 6A to 6C show the keyway aperture 20 in use being trafficked by a vehicle wheel 48. In the example shown, a build-up of sedimentary material 50 has occurred on top of the pocket preserving device surface 40 in the keyway aperture 20 and has substantially filled the keyway aperture 20. As the wheel 48 passes over the keyway aperture 20, the sedimentary material 50 is pressed down into the pocket preserving device surface 40 which resiliently flexes and then rebounds, loosening and even possibly ejecting the sedimentary material 50 so that the keyway aperture 20 can be easily cleared of the sedimentary material 50 if it is desired to use the key 26 to lift the cover 14.

There is thus provided a ground surface access assembly cover 14 including a pocket preserving device 38 which prevents a build-up of unwanted material in the pocket 38 of the keyway enclosure 30 but permits operation of the key 26 in the pocket 36. The unwanted material is prevented from hardening and solidifying in the keyway aperture 20. Thus, the pocket preserving device 38 preserves the functionality of the pocket 36. The covers 14 of the invention allow use of lifting keys even when the covers have been installed for many years. This helps to ensure that safe operating practices are followed. The pocket preserving device is simple and economical to provide and does not require maintenance. The pocket preserving device can be retrofitted to existing cover designs and to in-situ covers.

Figs 7 and 8 show other embodiments of the invention, many features of which are similar to those already described in relation to the embodiment of Figs 1 and 3 to 6. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments will only be described in so far as they differ from the embodiment already described. Where features are the same or similar, the same reference numerals have been used and the features will not be described again.

Fig. 7 shows a second ground surface access assembly cover 214 comprising a pocket preserving device 238 located in the pocket 36. In this embodiment, the pocket preserving device material 46 comprises a plurality of materials, at least one of which comprises a resiliently deformable material, and which could be formed in a plurality of layers 52.

In one example, the pocket preserving device 238 could comprise a lower layer 52A and an upper layer 52B.

The layers 52 could be formed of different materials. For example, the lower layer 52A could be formed of a loose fill material and the upper layer 52B could be formed of a solid material. In another example, the lower layer 52A could be formed of a cheaper material and the upper layer 52B could be formed of a more costly material.

The layers 52 could be cut from sheet material.

Fig. 8 shows a third ground surface access assembly cover 314 comprising a pocket preserving device 338 located in the pocket 36. In this embodiment, the pocket preserving device 338 is a loose fit within the pocket 36 and does not fully seal the pocket 36 from the aperture 20. Flence, sedimentary material 50 will, over time, fill gaps 54 between the pocket preserving device 338 and the walls of the enclosure 34. As long as the pocket preserving device 338 can deform sufficiently to permit the foot end 33 to enter and turn within the pocket 36, then the functionality of the invention is not impaired.

When the key 26 is rotated, the pocket preserving device 338 could also rotate, although this is not necessary - cf the previous embodiments.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The ground surface access assembly and the various components thereof including the pocket preserving device could be of any suitable size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material (within the scope of the specific definitions herein).

In particular, the pocket preserving device need not have a plan shape which corresponds with that of the pocket.

The pocket preserving device could be formed of a hollow section. The pocket preserving device could be inflatable. The biasing means could be different. In one example, the biasing means could comprise a spring. In one example the pocket preserving device could comprise a membrane.

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 cover with a number of advantages over conventional arrangements.

Claims

1. A ground surface access assembly cover, the cover defining a keyway aperture, the cover including a keyway enclosure defining a pocket located in use beneath and communicating with the aperture, the cover including a pocket preserving device which is located in the pocket.

2. A cover according to claim 1, in which the cover includes an in-use upper surface, in which the keyway aperture is defined.

3. A cover according to claims 1 or 2, in which the pocket preserving device comprises a surface which is movable between a condition in which the surface is relatively close to the keyway aperture and a condition in which the pocket preserving device surface is relatively further away from the keyway aperture.

4. A cover according to claim 3, in which, in the relatively close condition, the pocket preserving device surface restricts or substantially prevents the entry of unwanted material such as silt, dirt or debris into the pocket.

5. A cover according to claims 3 or 4, in which, in the close condition, the surface substantially abuts the keyway aperture.

6. A cover according to claim 5, in which, in the close condition, the surface substantially provides a seal between the aperture and the pocket.

7. A cover according to any of claims 3 to 6, in which the surface is moved from the close condition to the further away condition by the insertion of a part of a key through the keyway aperture into the pocket, the part of the key acting on the surface to move the surface during insertion.

8. A cover according to any of claims 3 to 7, in which the cover includes biasing means which bias the pocket preserving device surface to the close condition.

9. A cover according to claim 8, in which the pocket preserving device is formed of pocket preserving device material, which comprises a resiliently deformable material, which comprises the biasing means.

10. A cover according to claim 9, in which the resiliently deformable material is a plastics material.

11. A cover according to claims 9 or 10, in which, in the close condition, the pocket preserving device material is in a relatively larger condition, in which the material is relatively expanded or relatively relaxed.

12. A cover according to claim 11, in which, in the relatively larger condition, the pocket preserving device substantially fills the pocket.

13. A cover according to claims 11 or 12, in which, in the relatively larger condition, the pocket preserving device substantially seals the pocket from the aperture.

14. A cover according to any of claims 9 to 13, in which, in the further away condition, the pocket preserving device material is in a relatively smaller condition, in which the pocket preserving device material is relatively compressed.

15. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pocket preserving device material comprises a plurality of materials.

16. A cover according to claim 15 when dependent on claim 9 or any claim dependent thereon, in which at least one of materials comprises the resiliently deformable material.

17. A cover according to claims 15 or 16, in which the materials are formed in layers.

18. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pocket preserving device is pre-formed before location into the pocket.

19. A cover according to claim 18, in which the pocket preserving device is pre-formed of a resiliently compressible material, which must be compressed to pass through the keyway aperture.

20. A cover according to claim 18 when dependent on claim 11 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the pocket preserving device is pre-formed of an expandable material which passes through the keyway aperture in a non-expanded condition and in the pocket moves or is moved to the relatively larger condition in which the pocket preserving device can no longer pass through the aperture without damage or being compressed.

21 .A cover according to claim 9 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the pocket preserving device is formed by location of the pocket preserving device material through the keyway aperture into the pocket.

22. A cover according to claim 21, in which the pocket preserving device material comprises a settable material and the pocket preserving device is formed by locating liquid pocket preserving device material into the pocket and then causing or allowing the pocket preserving device material to set to a solid material.

23. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pocket preserving device does not substantially protrude from the pocket into the keyway aperture.

24. A method of preserving a pocket defined by a keyway enclosure of a ground surface access assembly cover, the method including providing an access assembly cover, the cover defining a keyway aperture, the cover including a keyway enclosure defining a pocket located in use beneath the aperture, the cover including a pocket preserving device which is located in the pocket.

25. A method according to claim 24, in which the cover includes any of the features defined in any claims 1 to 23.

26. A ground surface access assembly cover substantially as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

27. A method of preserving a pocket defined by a keyway enclosure of a ground surface access assembly cover substantially as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.