GB2543099A

GB2543099A - Road Gully Layer

Info

Publication number: GB2543099A
Application number: GB1517906.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Taylor Christopher
Original assignee: Stanton Bonna Concrete Ltd
Current assignee: Stanton Bonna Concrete Ltd
Priority date: 2015-10-09
Filing date: 2015-10-09
Publication date: 2017-04-12
Also published as: GB201517906D0

Abstract

A gully laying tool 124 comprises first and second overlapping limbs 126, 128 connected at a pivot joint 130 and with mounting points 148, 150 for a lifting chain 164, 166 provided on each limb 126, 128 spaced from the pivot joint 130. The first limb 126 has a first end 156 dimensioned to be received, in use, within the siphon hole 18 of a road gully 2. A blocking member or pin 160 may be proved on the first limb 126 to limit rotation about the pivot joint 130. The gully laying tool 124 has been designed to lift and lay a UK road gully 2 in the upright position using a scissor type expanding action to secure the first limb 126 in the siphon hole 18 and ensure secure location of the tool 124 during use.

Description

Title - Road Gully Laver

The present invention relates to the field of civil engineering or construction, and in particular to the laying of road gullies.

Road gullies are provided at the edges of the roadways and are connected to drainage pipes to collect and disperse surface water runoff from roadway. The accumulation of silt and other debris in drainage pipes can cause blockages, so to avoid this the road gullies are provided with larger diameter pot or sump which traps the material washed into them. The connection to the drainage pipe is located towards an upper end of the road gully so that the water flowing in the pipes is largely free of silt and other materials, which are collected below.

Road gullies are typically provided in 375 or 450mm diameters, and depths of between 750 and 1200mm. The road gully sumps have to be cleared periodically to remove the collected silt etc, and providing a greater size and/or depth can minimise the frequency of the cleaning operation.

Historically, road gullies were formed of inherently fragile clayware. More robust pre-cast concrete units are now preferred, but the additional weight of these concrete gullies compared to clayware or plastic gullies can cause handling problems during installation. The larger 450mm diameter gullies, in particular, weigh far more than a single operative can reasonably be expected to handle, and so they need to be craned into position by an excavator or similar machinery on site.

Plastic gullies address the problems associated with the weight of concrete gullies, but there remains some uncertainty about the strength and robustness of plastic components. As such, while the use of plastic gullies may be suitable in certain applications, concrete gullies remain the preferred option in many situations, particularly for highway use.

The installation operation of road gullies is further complicated by the fact that they are often delivered to an installation site upside down and laid on their sides for storage. They thus need to be turned the correct way up prior to being moved into position.

The weight and irregular shape of road gullies can cause handling problems and result gullies being positioned and seated incorrectly. Adjustments required to correct any errors in the initial positioning of the gully can require significant additional work and cause significant delays during the installation or ‘laying’ of road gullies.

There is a need, therefore, for a tool or device to assist in the operation of laying concrete road gullies to simplify the operation and help to ensure that the gullies are positioned correctly.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a gully laying tool as defined in the appended claim 1. Further advantageous features of the gully layer are recited in the associated dependent claims.

The gully laying tool comprises a first limb having a first end dimensioned to be received, in use, within the siphon hole of a gully, a second limb partially received within the first limb such that a first end of the second limb overlaps with a second end of the first limb, a pivot provided between the first limb and the second limb, and a mounting point for a lifting chain extending from an upper surface of each of the first and second limbs, the mounting points being spaced from the pivot joint. The tool has been specifically designed to lift and lay a UK gully in the upright position using a scissor type action to secure the first limb in the siphon hole, a feature that is common in all UK gullies.

Internal scissor type lifting equipment is known, but generally uses the expanding scissor action to grab a component using just the self-weight of the item to be lifted.

The expanding gully layer of the present invention instead uses the action to keep the tool where it needs to be when lifting, specifically through engagement of the first limb with the siphon hole, providing a more secure attachment and minimising the likelihood of a gully being dropped while being moved into position and laid in place.

The mounting point on the first limb may extend sufficiently from the first limb to form an abutment point to limit the engagement of the first limb with the siphon hole.

The expanding part of the gully lifter is, in use, connected to a two legged set of chains, one of which has a shortening clutch. The shortening clutch enables one of the legs to be adjusted to keep the gully plumb and substantially vertical during use.

The pivot may be provided at a point on the first limb that is spaced from its second end, ie not immediately adjacent the second end of the first limb. A blocking member may then be provided extending across the width of the first limb between the pivot and the second end of the first limb to limit rotation of the second limb about the pivot in a first direction.

The blocking member, for example a steel rod or bar, may extend between protrusions extending from the upper surface of the first limb to prevent upwards rotation of the second limb, and collapse of the gully layer, when lifted from the mounting points. In particular, the blocking member may be located so that the second limb is prevented from rotating past a position where it is substantially parallel and aligned with the first limb.

The pivot may comprise a pin or bolt extending through holes provided in the first limb and the second limb. A plurality of holes may be provided in the first limb and/or in the second limb. The expanding gully lifter can thereby be adjusted in length to accommodate the main sizes of gullies used in the UK. It will also be suitable for use with all the various manufactured heights of gully.

The first limb may comprise a single elongate piece of material provided with a slot for receiving the second limb. Alternatively, the first limb may comprise a pair of spaced apart pieces of material, such as sheet steel, with the spacing providing a slot for receiving the second limb.

The second limb of the gully layer may comprise a piece of sheet steel.

An engaging portion may be provided adjacent its first end of the first limb and having an increased depth, measured from the upper surface to an opposing lower surface, compared to the majority of the first limb and/or the second limb. The weight of the limbs of the gully layer can then be minimised while still providing a suitably large portion for engagement with a siphon hole. The internal dimensions of a siphon hole are typically around 130mm wide by around 110mm high, so the engaging portion of the first limb preferably has similar external dimensions.

The first limb may be shaped during manufacture to provide the engaging portion, and the engaging portion may comprise an angled face between the first end of the first limb and the lower surface to help guide the first limb into the siphon hole of a gully during use.

Alternatively, the engaging portion may comprise an additional piece of material, for example a small steel plate, joined to the lower surface of the first limb to provide the additional depth.

Practicable embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical example road gully;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a road gully similar to that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a gully laying tool in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a gully laying tool in accordance with the present invention; and

Figures 5 to 7 are schematic cross-sectional views of the gully layer of the present invention being installed within a road gully. A typical pre-cast concrete road gully 2 is shown in Figure 1. The gully 2 is illustrated in the orientation in which it will be installed in the ground, with an upper inlet 4 and a pot or sump 6 below to collect debris and silt carried into the inlet 4 of the gully. A circular outlet 8 for connecting the gully 2 to a drainage pipe is shown in a laterally extending spout portion 10 towards the upper end of the gully 2, above the area of the sump where the debris and silt collect. A recess 12 is provided around the outlet 8, as will be illustrated more clearly in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-section of a road gully 2, similar to that shown in Figure 1, taken through the inlet 4 and the outlet 8. The outlet 8 can be adapted to accommodate drainage pipes of various diameters through the inclusion of variously sized sealing rings in the recess 12.

Separate upper and lower ports 16,18 are provided in a sidewall of the hollow interior 14 of the sump 6 adjacent the spout 10. Both the upper port 16 and the lower port 18 connect to channels which meet within the spout 10 before reaching the outlet 8.

The lower port 18 sits below the typical water level, indicated at 22, and acts as a siphon hole, through which any floating debris or oil will typically not flow. It should be appreciated, however, that some debris may pass into a drainage pipe through the siphon hole 18 as the sump 6 fills with water to the level indicated at 22 and/or if there is a significant build-up of silt or debris within the sump, so it is important that access for cleaning the pipe is provided.

The upper port 16 provides a rodding hole for use in clearing blockages in a connected drainage pipe, and is typically blocked off by a stopper or insert 20, or similar, during normal use to prevent oil or floating debris from passing into the drainage pipe through the rodding hole 16.

The arrangement also helps to prevent odours from a drainage pipe passing back into the gully, and out through the inlet 14 of the gully 2.

The rodding hole 16 is typically circular in cross-section, for consistency with the circular outlet port 8. This cross-section also helps to simplify the closing of the rodding hole 16. In contrast, the siphon hole 18 will often be square or rectangular in cross-section for ease of manufacture of the gully 2.

Within the UK and Ireland, concrete road gullies are essentially standardised components conforming to the general arrangement as described above.

The road gully laying tool, or gully layer 24, of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3 in a fully extended configuration. The gully layer 24 may be folded or collapsed from this configuration to reduce the overall length of the gully layer 24 for insertion into a gully pot 2, after which the gully layer 24 can unfold, or expand, in order to lift a UK gully in the upright position using the siphon hole 18.

The gully layer 24 essentially comprises overlapping first and second limbs 26,28 which are joined together a pivot joint 30. In use, a first end 56 of the first limb is engaged with the generally square or rectangular siphon hole 18 of a gully 2. The pivot joint 30 is provided between a point on the first limb 26 that is spaced from its first end 56 and a point on the second limb 28 that is adjacent its first end.

The first limb 26 comprises a pair of similarly shaped elongate sheet steel members 32,34 which are joined together in a spaced parallel relationship. The width of the first limb 26, defined by the outer surfaces of the spaced members 32,34 is around 100mm to closely conform to the size of a siphon hole 18 in a gully 2.

The second limb 28 comprises a single elongate sheet steel member 36, which is received in the space provided between the members 32,34 of the first limb 26 to provide the overlap between the first and second limbs. The pivot 30 comprises a bolt that passes through holes provided in the first and second limbs 26,28, and is secured in place by a nut 38 at the outside of the second limb 26.

The extended length of the gully layer 24 is defined by the length of the first and second limbs 26,28 and the degree of overlap between them. Additional holes 40,42 provided in the first limb 26 allow the degree of overlap between the limbs 26,28 to be varied by moving the location of the pivot 30. As illustrated, the rightmost hole 40 allows for a greater overlap between the limbs 26,28, and therefore a shorter extended length of the gully layer 24. Conversely, the holes 42 to the left of the pivot 30 as illustrated allow for less overlap and a longer extended length.

The gully layer 24 can therefore provide different extended lengths, as may be required for road gullies 2 of different diameters, using the same standard component parts 32,34,36. Typically, the extended length of the gully layer 24 should be approximately 10mm greater than the internal diameter of the gully to be lifted. A bracket 44 extends from the spaced apart members 32,34 making up the first limb 26. As shown, each side of the bracket 44 is integrally formed with one of the members 32,34, but the bracket may, alternatively, be attached to an upstanding part 46 of each member 32,34. The bracket 44 extends away from the first limb 26 at right angles and is provided at its far end with a mounting pin 48 extending across the width of the first limb 26. A shackle 50 is secured through a hole 52 a further upstanding part 54 of the second limb 28 so as to pivot relative thereto.

The mounting pin 48 and the shackle 50 provide securing or mounting points for lifting chains to be attached to the gully layer 24. The mounting points 48,50 are spaced from the limbs 26,28 and pivot 30 so as to reduce the risk of lifting chains tangling or fouling the gully layer 24 during use. A first end 56 of the first limb 26 will engage with a siphon hole 18 of a gully 2 during use. The first end, or engaging portion, 56 is slightly deeper than the remainder of the first limb 26. For example, the majority of the first limb 26 may have a depth (excluding the bracket 44 and any upstanding parts etc) of around 50 to 60mm, and the engaging portion may have a depth of 80 to 100mm. The extra depth of the engaging portion 56 ensures a snug fit in the siphon hole 18 (which is typically around 130mm wide by around 110mm high) during use, without unnecessarily increasing the depth and therefore the weight of the first limb 26 as a whole. The engaging portion 56 is provided with an angled face 58, extending upwards from its lower surface, to provide a ‘lead-in’ feature to the first limb 26 during use of the gully lifer 24.

Finally, a blocking pin 60 is provided across the width of the first limb 26 at its second end, opposite the first end 56. The blocking pin extends between a raised part 62 of each member 32,34 making up the first limb 26, such that the blocking pin 60 is positioned just above the upper surface of the majority of the first limb 26. As a result, the blocking pin 60 allows the second limb 28 to rotate to the position shown in Figure 3, such that the first and second limbs 26,28 are substantially parallel, but does not permit any further upwards rotation of the second limb relative to the first limb. Downwards rotation of the second limb 28, ie rotation away from the blocking pin 60, will also be limited to an extent once a lifting chain is attached to the shackle 50.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of an example of the gully layer 24. The two spaced members 32,34 making up the first limb 26 can be seen, with the single member 36 of the second limb 28 therebetween.

The first and second limbs 26,28 are secured together by a bolt 30 providing a pivot. The bolt 30 is positioned in a hole 42 towards the left hand end of the gully layer 24, so there is relatively little overlap between the first and second limbs 26,28. This configuration would be suitable for use with a relatively large gully, for example a 450mm diameter road gully. If the first and second limbs 26,28 were instead secured together by a bolt 30 passing through the hole 40 located further towards the right hand end of the first limb, then the gully layer would be suitable for use with a smaller gully, for example a 375mm diameter road gully.

Figure 4 also shows a shackle 50 secured to the second limb 28, and a mounting pin 48 and blocking pin 60 extending between the two spaced members 32,34 making up the first limb 26, along with a further strengthening cross member 70 at the right hand end.

Figures 5 to 7 schematically illustrate the fitting of a gully layer 124 that is generally similar to that shown in Figure 3 into a typical road gully 2.

In Figure 5, the gully layer 124 has been folded at the pivot 30 so that the first and second limbs 126,128 are in a ‘V’ shape. The gully layer 124 is thus able to fit into the inlet 4 of the gully 2. A first lifting chain 164 is attached at the mounting pin 148 connected to the first limb 126, and a second lifting chain 166 is attached at a hole 152 in the second limb 128. Although not shown, a shackle 50 will generally be used in attaching one or both chains. A clutch 168 is provided on the first lifting chain 164 so that the length of the first lifting chain 164 can be altered, as will be explained later. It should be understood that the clutch 168 could equally be provided on the second lifting chain 166.

Once the gully layer 124 has been inserted into the gully 2, the first end, or engaging portion, 156 of the first limb 126 is inserted into the siphon hole 18, as illustrated in Figure 6. The bracket 144 attached to the first limb 126 abuts the inner surface of the gully 2 and prevents the first limb 126 from extending too far into the siphon hole 18

As illustrated, the limb 126 has a constant depth, and is provided with a further cross plate 170 at the first end 156 to provide a greater depth for engagement with the siphon hole 18. A small section of the first limb 126 extends beyond the cross plate 170 to provide a smaller cross section to help guide the first limb 126 into the siphon hole 18. It should be understood that the deeper section of the first end/engaging portion 56 and the taper 58 described in relation to Figure 3 serve essentially the same purpose.

The blocking pin 160 at the second end of the first limb 126 helps to prevent the second lifting chain 166 from fouling the gully layer 124 as the first limb 126 is inserted into the siphon hole 18.

From the position shown in Figure 6, with the first limb 126 received in the siphon hole 18 and the second limb 128 hanging below the pivot 130, tension is applied to both lifting chains 166,168, for example by beginning a lifting operation. This has the effect of opening out the gully layer 124 to the configuration shown in Figure 7. In certain circumstances, the blocking pin 160 may also form a guide for the second lifting chain 166 to help open out the second limbs 128 as tension is applied, perhaps in the event of undesirable friction at the pivot 130.

Once opened out, a second end of the second limb 128, opposite the first end, engages with an inner wall of the gully sump 6 on the opposite side of the gully 2 from the siphon hole 18. A slight bend is ideally retained at the pivot 130 to ensure that increased tension on the lifting chains 166,168 serves to try and further open out the gully layer 124, forcing both limbs 126,128 to engage the gully more firmly. However, as previously described, the blocking pin 160 in any case prevents the second limb 128 rotating upwards beyond a position where it is substantially parallel with the first limb 126, which avoids the possibility of the gully layer 124 collapsing in on itself during a lifting and laying operation.

If, once the gully 2 is lifted clear of the ground, it is not hanging substantially vertically, then it can be lowered back to the ground and the clutch 168 adjusted to shorten or lengthen one of the lifting chains as required to balance the lifting force. In extreme cases, the gully layer 124 itself may be adjusted by using a different hole 140 as the pivot 130.

The gully layer 124 engages with the siphon hole 18 of a gully, which ensures reliable and consistent location of the gully layer 124 within a gully 2. This, together with the standard sizes of road gullies 2, means that any adjustment as described above will likely be required only once for any particular size of road gully to be laid.

Another benefit of the invention is that the gulley layer 24,124 allows a gully 2 to be picked up from a laid down position. For stability, this is the most common position for gullies to be stored on site. Installing known expanding devices in laid down gullies 2 is unreliable, because the location of the device cannot be guaranteed. This is problematic because an initially well set device may shift as the gully 2 rotates toward the vertical, or during subsequent lifting, and come loose and move within the gully 2. This can result in damage to the gulley and/or the device due to shock loading and, in a worst case, a gully may fall from a height and endanger workers. The present invention mitigates these risks by ensuring that the expanding gully layer 124 is located in a consistent and secure position within the gully 2.

As explained above, the gully layer 24,124 according to the invention addresses a number of problems that exist in the prior art. In addition, it has minimal moving parts and can be formed solely of standard steel sheet and rods or similar material. It is therefore simple and inexpensive to produce, and robust and largely maintenance free in use. This is especially beneficial considering the conditions in which the gully layer 24,124 will typically be used.

The embodiments described above is provided by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the protection sought. Various modifications could be possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, a blocking member may be provided on the second limb rather than the first limb, to limit rotation of the second limb by engaging with the first limb. Further through holes could also be provided in one or both limbs if desired to account for different diameter gullies. However, there are only a limited number of sizes typically produced, and the embodiment described above is sufficient to accommodate the most commonly used sizes.

Claims

Claims:

1. A gully laying tool comprising: a first limb having a first end dimensioned to be received, in use, within the siphon hole of a gully, a second limb partially received within the first limb such that a first end of the second limb overlaps with a second end of the first limb, a pivot provided between the first limb and the second limb, and a mounting point for a lifting chain extending from an upper surface of each of the first and second limbs, the mounting points being spaced from the pivot joint.

2. A gully laying tool according to claim 1, wherein the pivot is provided at a point on the first limb that is spaced from its second end.

3. A gully laying tool according to claim 2, wherein a blocking member is provided extending across the width of the first limb between the pivot and the second end of the first limb to limit rotation of the second limb about the pivot in a first direction.

4. A gully laying tool according to claim 3, wherein a blocking member extends between protrusions extending from the upper surface of the first limb.

5. A gully laying tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot comprises a pin or bolt extending through holes provided in the first limb and the second limb.

6. A gully laying tool according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of holes are provided in the first limb.

7. A gully laying tool according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of holes are provided in the second limb.

8. A gully laying tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first limb comprises a single elongate piece of material provided with a slot for receiving the second limb.

9. A gully laying tool according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first limb comprises a pair of spaced apart pieces of material providing a slot for receiving the second limb.

10. A gully laying tool according to claim 9, wherein the first limb comprises a pair of spaced apart pieces of sheet steel.

11. A gully laying tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second limb comprises a piece of sheet steel.

12. A gully laying tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an engaging portion of the first limb, adjacent its first end, has an increased depth, measured from the upper surface to an opposing lower surface.

13. A gully laying tool according to claim 12, wherein the first limb is shaped during manufacture to provide the engaging portion.

14. A gully laying tool according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the engaging portion comprises an angled face between the first end of the first limb and the lower surface.

15. A gully laying tool according to claim 12, wherein the engaging portion comprises an additional piece of material joined to the lower surface of the first limb.

16. A road gully laying tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.