GB2542850B

GB2542850B - Catch-pit pipe connection

Info

Publication number: GB2542850B
Application number: GB1517430.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Smith Ian
Original assignee: AQUA FABRICATIONS Ltd
Current assignee: AQUA FABRICATIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2015-10-02
Filing date: 2015-10-02
Publication date: 2019-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-02
Also published as: GB201517430D0; GB2542850A

Description

Catch-pit pipe connection

The present invention relates to catch-pits, and in particular to a connection arrangement for connecting a pipe for fluid communication with a catch-pit, and to a sump member for a catch-pit structure employing such a connection arrangement, and to a catch-pit structure employing such a sump and/or connection arrangement.

It is known to provide a catch-pit for a variety of drainage applications and, in particular, as part of a railway drainage scheme. Catch-pit structures for such railway drainage purposes are known from, for example UK patents GB 330366B and GB2362657B. As will be appreciated, it is an essential feature of a catch-pit that means are provided for providing fluid communication between pipes leading to/from the catch-pit, and the internal chamber of the catch-pit.

Commonly, apertures are provided in the wall portions of a catch-pit, and in particular a sump member of a catch-pit structure, to allow for such fluid communication. The apertures can be defined in any appropriate manner, whether by way of openings within a wall portion, or aligned part-openirsgs/recesses, “half rings of U-shape or C-shape within adjacent portions of a modular wall. A variety of such openings can therefore be readily provided at any appropriate location and height within the catch-pit wall so as to achieve the required functionality, for example as provided by the employment of carrier and collection pipes in areas of high water table.

Although the pipes perform an essential purpose in allowing for fluid communication with the inner chamber of the catch-pit, disadvantages are still encountered in view of the manner in which such pipes are received by the catch-pit. Commonly, the pipes are simply inserted into the apertures provided in the wail portions of the catch-pit structure. Such simple connections can prove particularly disadvantageous insofar as they allow for the ingress of foreign matter/material into the catch-pit through gaps that are present between the catch-pit wall and the pipes. Quite often the catch-pit is provided at locations where a large amount of loose backfill and/or ballast material is necessarily located adjacent the catch-pit structure. There is then a large ready supply of foreign matter/material for disadvantageous ingress into the catch pit. Such ingress can lead to clogging-up of the catch pit which can lead to a marked reduction in drainage efficiency and capacity, and which in turn can of course lead to a variety of problems such as localized flooding and all related disruption. Maintenance and renewal expenditure, and downtime, can then prove disadvantageously high.

Yet further, and particularly when such catch-pit structures are employed as part of a railway drainage system, ground movements and vibrations can be particularly prevalent which can lead to a further deterioration in the quality, and mechanical integrity, of connection between the pipe and catch-pit structure. In particularly disadvantageous scenarios, connection between the pipe and catch structure can be lost altogether, with the unintentional separation of the pipe from the catch-pit. Not only is the capacity and drainage efficiency then affected, but also the absolute functionality of the catch-pit structure. A variety of limitations are therefore experienced with current catch-pit structures and related pipe-connection arrangements.

The present invention seeks to provide for a catch-pit pipe connection arrangement, and related catch-pit sump and catch pit structures, having advantages over known such arrangements and related structures.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a catch-pit pipe connection arrangement comprising a catch-pit wall portion arranged to define an aperture for receiving a pipe for fluid communication with the catch-pit, the arrangement further comprising a washer member mounted to the wall portion and with its opening arranged to be aligned with the catch-pit aperture, and the surface of the washer defining its opening being arranged to engage with the pipe when received in the said aperture of the catch-pit wall portion wherein at least in the region of the washer defining its opening, the washer is arranged to flex in first and second opposite directions, wherein the washer exhibits a resistance to flex in the first direction which is greater than that in the second direction and wherein the region of the catch pit wall portion defining the aperture serves to resist flexing of the washer member in the said first direction.

The invention can prove particularly advantageous in providing for a simple but effective means for securing the connection between a pipe and catch-pit structure. The improved security of connection can advantageously serve to prevent, or at least limit, the ingress of foreign matter/materials into the catch-pit, and/or enhance the mechanical integrity of the connection between the pipe and catch-pit. prevent, or at least limit, the ingress of foreign matter/maierlals into the catch-pit, and/or enhance the mechanical integrity of the connection between the pipe and catch-pit,

Advantageously, the washer is flexible at least in the region of its opening so as to assist in achieving the required degree of mechanical integrity. Of course, such flexibility can comprise resilient deformability.

Yet further, the washer can be formed completely of flexible material, and if required, can comprise a resiliently deformable material.

If required, the washer can be releasably secured to the wail portion, and the arrangement can include fixing means serving to mount the washer to the wail portion. Any appropriate fixing means can be provided such as any one or more of bolt means, screw means and/or rivets means.

In one particular advantageous and simple configuration, the washer member can be mounted on an inner surface of the wall portion.

Yet further, and at least in the region of the washer defining its opening, the washer is arranged to flex in first and second opposite directions. In particular, the washer can exhibit a resistance to flex in one direction which is greater than that in the opposite direction. The washer can then be arranged to flex in the said opposite direction during insertion of the catch-pit pipe into the catch-pit aperture.

Advantageously, the region of the catch pit wall portion defining the aperture can serve to resist flexing of the washer member in the said one direction.

As will be appreciated, the washer member can be arranged to enhance sealing of the catch pit pipe within the catch-pit aperture, and can further serve to enhance the mechanical strength of the connection of the catch pit pipe within the catch pit aperture.

Of course, the present invention can also provide for a sump member for a catch-pit structure, and including at least one connection arrangement as outlined above, and can further provide for a catch-pit structure including such a sump member.

Still further, the present invention can provide for a catch pit structure including at least one connection arrangement as outlined above.

As will be appreciated, when deployed as part of a railway drainage scheme, a catch-pit and related pipe connection arrangement can prove particularly advantageous for use in the connection of Permanent-Way drainage pipes.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, 1 shows a catch-pit sump member with which an embodiment of the invention can be deployed;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view in the region of the aperture illustrated in Fig. 1 in the wail of the sump and with an end region of a Permanent Way pipe shown in relation thereto;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2, and with the end region of the Permanent Way pipe inserted into the aperture;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3, but with the end region of the Permanent Way pipe inserted further into the aperture; and

Fig. 5 is an end view of a portion of the inside of the sump wall in the region of the aperture but without the pipe present.

Turning first to Fig. 1, there is provided a perspective view of a catch-pit structure within which an embodiment of the present invention (not visible in Fig. 1) can be employed. It should however be appreciated that the present invention can be employed in relation to any particular catch-pit configuration, irrespective of the number, size and locations of apertures within the walls of the catch-pit structure.

Fig. 1 shows a catch-pit sump member 10 which, in this example, is moulded in one piece from glass-fibre reinforced plastic. The sump member 10 is rectangular in plan and has side and end wails 12, 14 which slope slightly outwardly away from a rectangular floor (not visible) of the sump member 10.

The infernal dimensions at the top of the walls 14, 18 are for example, 1272mm by 740mm. The sump member is 850mm deep but other depths, for example in the range 540mm to 980mm are also possible. The sump member floor can have a number of apertures for ingress of water at locations where the water table is high. The end wall 14 has a pipe-connection aperture 18 and similar apertures can be provided in other walls as required. For particular applications, two apertures, one above the other, can be provided in any one or more of the walls, for example for connection of a carrier and collector pipe in areas of high water table.

For completeness, the catch-pit structure of Fig. 1 is also shown with for conventional concentric rings 18 stacked on the sump member 10 stop the rings 18 are rectangular in plan and are each 1270mm long, 735mm wide and 115mm deep. The rings interfit by way of protruding taps 20 and corresponding notches 22. Each side and end of each ring is itself approximately square in cross section.

As noted, and in the illustrated example of a catch-pit sump member 10 for a catch-pit structure employed as part of a railway drainage system, a Permanent Way drainage pipe (not shown in Fig. 1) is arranged to be received in the aperture 16 for fluid communication with the inner chamber of the sump member 10. The present invention is focused on the manner of connection between the, for example Permanent Way pipe and the sump member 10 and a particular embodiment is now discussed further with reference to Figs. 2--4.

Turning first to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a view of a schematic vertical cross-sectional through the region of the wall 14 containing the aperture 18 and also showing the end region of a Permanent Way pipe 24 approaching the aperture 18 for connection with the sump member 10.

Mounted on inner surface of the wall 14, and in the region of the aperture 18, is an annular rubber washer 28 having an opening 18A. In the illustrated example, the washer 26 is releasably secured to the inner surface of the wail 14 of the sump member 10 by means of fixing bolts 28, although any appropriate fixing means such as pins, screws and rivets can be employed. As will be appreciated, the opening 16A of the washer is aligned coaxially with the aperture 16 in the wail 14.

Of course, it should be appreciated that any appropriate form and configuration of washer can be provided and formed of any appropriate material.

Turning now to Fig. 2, the same arrangement as appearing in Fig. 1 is shown but with the end region of the Permanent Way pipe 24 having now been inserted into the aperture 16 of the sump member 10, and through the opening 16A of the washer 26. The direction of insertion is indicated by arrow A. As illustrated, the diameter of the opening 16A in the washer 26 is determined to be slightly less than the maximum diameter of the Permanent Way pipe 24 so that during the insertion of the Permanent Way pipe 24 into the aperture 16 of the sump member 10, the outer surface of the Permanent Way pipe 24 engages with the region of the washer 26 defining its opening 16A. As further illustrated in Fig. 3, due to the flexibility of the washer 26, the inner parts of its annular form can deflect in the direction of movement of the Permanent Way pipe and in the direction of arrow A so as to allow for ready insertion of the Permanent Way pipe 24 info the sump member 10 via the aperture 16 for fluid communication with the inner chamber of the sump member 10. The degree and/or ease of flexure here can be determined by the size, dimensions, thickness of the washer 26 and by the distance between the opening 16A in the washer and the position of the fixing bolts 28.

Fig. 4 illustrates the final required location of the Permanent Way pipe 24 in this illustrated embodiment wherein a snug fit is achieved between the washer 26 and (corrugated) outer surface of the Permanent Way pipe 24. As will be appreciated, the washer member 26 enhances the sealing of the Permanent Way pipe 24 within the aperture 16 of the sump member 10.

As a further advantage, it will be appreciated that the engagement between the washer member 26 and the outer surface of the Permanent Way pipe 24 can also advantageously serve to enhance the mechanical integrity/strength of the connection between the Permanent Way pipe 24 and the sump member 10. This can advantageously serve to resist relative movement between the Permanent Way pipe 24 and wail 14 of the sump member 10 and so prevent accidental disengagement of the Permanent Way pipe 24 from the sump member 10. To still further enhance the quality of such mechanical connection, the connection arrangement provided by the washer member 26 can offer greater resistance to movement of the Permanent Way pipe 24 in a direction of separation of the Permanent Way pipe 24 and wall 14 of sump member 10 (i.e. opposite to the direction of arrow A), than it does to movement of the Permanent Way pipe 24 into the aperture 16 in the direction of arrow A. As will be appreciated with reference to Fig. 3, the inner region of the washer 26 defining its opening 16A is arranged for ready flexing in the direction of arrow A so as to accommodate ease of insertion of the Permanent Way pipe 24 into the aperture 16. However, the washer member 26 is advantageously arranged such that it cannot so readily flex in a direction opposite to that of arrow A, and as would be required during retraction of the Permanent Way pipe 24 from the aperture 16 (i.e. in a direction opposite to that of arrow A). Such greater resistance to flexing when the Permanent Way pipe 24 seeks to move in a direction opposite to that of arrow A, therefore provides ready means for enhancing the integrity/security of connection between the Permanent Way pipe 24 and the sump member 10. The Permanent Way pipe 24 is then far less likely to accidentally separate from the sump member 10 when experiencing vibrations/movements that can be particularly prevalent in railway environments.

The illustration provided by Fig. 3 shows a particularly simple but effective means for achieving the differential ease of flexing of the washer member 26 (depending upon direction of movement of the Permanent Way pipe 24) by means of its mounting to the inner surface of the wail 14 of the sump member 10. As will be appreciated, there is a degree of contacting overlap between the wall 14 and washer member 26 which only arises on the outer side of the washer 26. This overlap has no effect on the degree of flexing of the washer member 26 as illustrated in Fig. 3 when the Permanent Way pipe 24 moves in the direction of arrow A during insertion. However, it clearly serves to limit the degree of flexing to only the very central portion of the washer 26 bounding its opening 16A, during retraction of the Permanent Way pipe 24 in a direction opposite to that of arrow A. While the degree of flexing can of course be varied according to the material properties and thickness of the washer 26, this characteristic can also be varied in accordance with the relative overlap between the ah 14 of the sump member 10 and the washer 26 and, In particular, the extent to which the inner annular region of the washer 26 extends beyond the edge of the wall 24 defining the aperture 18.

In any case, irrespective of how the restriction on flexing in the “retraction” direction of the Permanent Way pipe 24 is achieved, the increase in the strength of the mechanical connection between the Permanent Way pipe 24 and the sump member 10 proves particularly advantageous when the catch-pit structure is to be provided in environments likely to experience strong vibrations and potential ground heave/movement, such as in railway environments.

For completeness, reference is now made to Fig. 5. which is a plan end view of the region of the wall 14 in which the aperture 18 is located and from within the sump member 10 facing in a direction opposite that of arrow A. Fig. 5 illustrates the annular configuration of the washer 28, the spacing of the bolt means 28 serving to secure the washer 26 to the inside surface of the wall 14 and, in particular, illustrates the coaxial alignment of the washer opening 16A and the aperture 18 in the end wall 14. Such alignment, and relative dimensions, serve to define a dimension (arrows B) by which the inner annular portion of the washer 28 extends beyond the opening 16 in the wail 14 of the sump member 10, and which, in turn, advantageously serve to determIne/limit the degree of flexing of the washer 26 when the Permanent Way pipe 24 is urged to move in a retraction direction opposite to that of arrow A.

As will be appreciated therefore, the connection arrangement of the present invention provides ready use in relation to catch-pit structures that can be provided with both inlet and outlet apertures to accept twin-walled Permanent Way drainage pipes in Permanent Way drainage schemes, and advantageously, to maintain them in the required positions. Potential problems that can arise due to ground movement caused by pressure forces created by passing trains, especially on high-speed rail lines, and relating to undesired movement of the Permanent Way pipe relative to the catch-pit structure can therefore be avoided. Undesired limits in efficiency/reliabiiity of the drainage structure, and indeed accidental outright failure of the drainage system, leading to localised flooding and al! associated problems and disruption to the rail system can thereby be avoided.

The washer member of the present invention can advantageously be factory fitted and, as noted, designed and configured to create enough flex to allow the Permanent Way drainage pipe to be readily inserted into the catch pit, but to offer sufficient resistance to prevent accidental separation of the Permanent Way drainage pipe from the catch-pit due to external forces such as those generated by passing trains, due to ground/settSement movements.

Thus, not only is the mechanical integrity of the pipe/cafch-pit connection maintained, but the further advantageously improved sealing between the Permanent Way pipe and the sump member of the catch-pit structure can be achieved to prevent the ingress of foreign matter/material into the chamber of the sump member.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, the “washer” can be provided in any appropriate form/configuration, and mounted to the wall of the sump member in only appropriate releasable, or fixed, manner. As an alternative to factory fitting, the washer can also be fitted on site, or at least part-fitted on-site, particularly if the opening is to be formed at the juncture of two aligned members of a modular catch-pit structure.

Claims

1. Catch-pit pipe connection arrangement comprising a catch-pit wall portion arranged to define an aperture for receiving a pipe for fluid communication with the catch-pit, the arrangement further comprising a washer member mounted to the wall portion and with its opening arranged to be aligned with the catch-pit aperture, and the surface of the washer defining its opening being arranged to engage with the pipe when received in the said aperture of the catch-pit wall portion wherein at least in the region of the washer defining its opening, the washer is arranged to flex in first and second opposite directions, wherein the washer exhibits a resistance to flex in the first direction which is greater than that in the second direction and wherein the region of the catch pit wall portion defining the aperture serves to resist flexing of the washer member in the said first direction.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the washer is flexible at least in the region of its opening.

3. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of Claims 1-2, wherein the washer member is formed of flexible material.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of Claims 1-3, wherein the washer member is formed of resiliently deformable material.

5. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the washer is resiliently deformable at least in the region of its opening.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the washer member comprises an annular member.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the washer is releasably secured to the wall portion.

8. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, and including fixing means serving to mount the washer to the wall portion.

9. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the fixing means comprises any one or more of bolt means, screw means, pin means, and/or rivets means.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the washer member is mounted on an inner surface of the wall portion.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the washer member comprises a rubber washer member.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any proceeding claim, wherein the washer is arranged to flex in the second direction during insertion of the catch-pit pipe into the catch-pit aperture.

13. An arrangement as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the washer member is arranged to seal the catch pit pipe within the catch-pit aperture.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washer member is arranged to strengthen the connection of the catch pit pipe within the catch pit aperture.

15. A sump member for a catch-pit structure, and including at least one connection arrangement as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims.

16. A catch-pit structure including a sump member as claimed in Claim 15.