GB2594431A

GB2594431A - Manhole apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2594431A
Application number: GB1903436.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Tonks Raymond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-13
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2021-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-13
Also published as: GB2594431B; GB201903436D0

Abstract

A manhole frame assembly comprising a frame housing 2 , an upper frame 32 and a lower frame 54, where the upper frame supports a cover 6 and the lower frame is secured to the frame housing and can be secured to the surrounding structure, such as a roadway. The upper and lower frames have perimetric flanges 8, 76 extending inwards, capable of being connected by means of vertical, threaded members 7 with nuts 71, 72. Preferably the nuts comprise a top free-rotating nut (69, fig 3), a middle nut 71 welded to the upper frame’s lower flange 8 and a lower nut 72 welded to a vertical threaded member such that when the vertical threaded member twists, the upper frame will move vertically. The vertical threaded member may have articulated upper frame engagement means, such as a socket.

Description

MANHOLE APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to manhole apparatus, in particular apparatus for providing a manhole cover; more particularly but not exclusively apparatus adjustable in more than one plane.

Backaround

Increasing numbers of utilities and works and traffic leads to greater variation in roadway surface quality.

Many services are buried under roadway surfacing.

In particular many times a roadway surface will be taken up and put down repeatedly. This can lead to manholes and service access points becoming at the incorrect level for the roadway surface, in more than one plane. Prior

EP 3 047 072 (BISSCHOP et al) discloses an installation means for installing a cover holder so as to be adjustable in height and in inclination in order to keep a carriageway cover on top of an inspection shaft of an inspection manhole, comprising at least three threaded rods for adjusting the height and the inclination of the cover holder with respect to the inspection shaft, wherein the installation means are adapted to arrange the threaded rods so as to be adjustable in height with respect to the inspection shaft and fixed in height under the cover holder, in order to allow the cover holder to rest on top of a first end of the threaded rods, wherein said installation means comprise a nut for each threaded rod which is rotatably fittable on the corresponding threaded rod, and comprise at least one slide-blocking element for each threaded rod in order to prevent the nut from sliding with respect to the threaded rod, said installation means being characterized by further comprising at least one rotation-blocking element for each threaded rod to prevent the threaded rod from rotating.

GB 2 175 334 (WRIGHT) discloses a height adjustable manhole frame comprises a sub-frame, which is fixed in a position below the ground or road surface, and a moveable frame, supporting the lid. The movable frame is arranged telescopically inside the frame and is supported on threaded rods fixed to the underside of frame by means of locking nuts.

DE 3 441 786 (WIEDENMANN) discloses a manhole cover that uses a seat part for a lid. The seat part contains a metal seat ring which forms a stepped inner wall of the seat part and is provided with a concrete casing. Lugs with tapped through-holes for threaded bolts are formed on the bottom margin of the seat ring. Hollow spaces are left open in the casing for the threaded bolts. Commercially available screws with spherical heads are provided as threaded bolts.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing 15 devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a manhole apparatus comprising a frame assembly comprising a frame housing, a lower frame and an upper frame, wherein the upper frame supports a cover and the lower frame is secured to the frame housing and is arranged to be secured in a surrounding structure such as a roadway; wherein the upper and lower frames comprise perimetric flanges extending radially laterally inwards wherein such flanges are connected by a plurality of vertical threaded members with nuts associated with the flanges in use.

The frame assembly may generally include an upper frame and a lower frame, and is adapted to support a manhole cover.

The lower frame may be envisaged to be secured to a concrete base and the upper frame may be envisaged to be connected to the lower frame. It may be envisaged that the upper frame is connected to the external face of the lower frame.

The upper frame may be allowed to float with respect to the lower frame, enabling 35 the upper frame to move during installation, or as the surrounding structure moves, or both, wherein being capable of movement, the upper frame may be envisaged to provide a better transition between the frame assembly and surfaces of the surrounding structure.

The flange and plural nuts allows the upper frame to shake in use and move with 5 respect to the lower frame.

The manhole cover may be installed at a preferred height or location so that a surface position is conformed to the road surface. Adjustment is achieved using the vertical position of the nuts with respect to the flanges, so adjusting is made simple and safe. Each member having one or more nuts threaded thereon which act(s) against a bottom face of a flange and each said member having a lower end portion engaging with the lower frame at a lower engagement means on the lower frame for support thereby, and each member having an upper engagement means on the upper frame for support of the upper frame.

The upper engagement means may be fixed, or permanent. The lower engagement means may be multipartite and/or reversible. For example the lower engagement means may be formed of flanges and nuts where one nut is above and another nut is below a flange, trapping and engaging the frames together.

It may be envisaged that one or both of the engagement means comprises an articulated or articulatable engagement means, so as to allow for variation in angle. Or more particularly variation in engagement, whereby it may be envisaged that the member is vertical and the upper surface is not desired to be horizontal, and/or the member is not vertical and the upper surface is orthogonal the member(s).

For example the engagement means may comprise a ball and socket engagement.

It may be envisaged that the members are arranged to pass through holes on or in 30 the flanges and such holes may allow for movement of the member.

The frame assembly may comprise a floating upper frame capable of withstanding industry standard weight loads. In this way the lower frame may be fixedly secured to the housing and the upper frame may be secured to the lower frame, in a manner enabling vertical movement. The upper and lower frames may be secured internally and the upper frame may be only connected with the housing via the lower frame, such that the upper frame is floating a distance from the housing enabling the cover movement.

For example the upper frame may be connected to the lower frame by a plurality of 5 members, nuts and flanges, so as to maintain significant resilience to weight.

In this way the apparatus of the present invention has the ability to be raised and lowered to match the changing contours of our roads and walkways.

The space left between the upper frame and the housing may be provided with a gasket closure, so as to prevent ingress of dirt particles. The upper frame may be perforated to allow passage of fluid.

The device of the present invention may thereby provide a manhole cover flush with 15 the road which can be higher or lower to any contour or camber of the road or pavements. This aims to ease congestion on the roads and when resurfacing roads the cover can be lowered rather than taking it out.

The device of the present invention thereby provides a manhole cover frame 20 assembly which allows the cover to be raised, lowered and tilted so that the manhole cover matches the height of the road using a number of threaded members on the inside which the frame would move on, it would then lock in place.

The device may be adjusted from the inside by a skilled operative with specific tools 25 adjusting the height of the nuts and the arrangement of the engagement means, and have the ability to withstand D400 manhole weight bearing regulations.

Advantageously the device of the present invention is Simple to operate & adjust when necessary.

Able to be raised or lowered to match the plane of the road.

Able to be lowered when the road needs resurfacing, avoiding the need to use current methods.

Ideally have an air tight seal, subject to health and safety.

This advantageously leads to safer and smoother roads which would result in; Less damage to cars and other vehicles.

Less danger to cyclists and pedestrians.

Less time consumed repairing roads, therefore time, labour and material costs saved for various parties.

Less repairs equating to less road closures, saving the public time sat in traffic and 5 reducing emissions The manhole cover frame assembly may have locating cut outs which will correspond to raised areas on the manhole cover to make sure it sits in the correct position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; And Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device generally comprising manhole apparatus 99 comprising a frame assembly comprising a frame housing 2, a lower frame 54 and an upper frame 32, wherein the upper frame 32 supports a cover 6 and the lower frame 54 is secured to the frame housing 2 and is arranged to be secured in a surrounding structure such as a roadway (not shown); wherein the upper 32 and lower frames 54 comprise perimetric flanges 76, 8 extending radially laterally inwards wherein such flanges 76,8 are connected by a plurality of vertical threaded members 7 with nuts 69,71,72 associated with the flanges 76,8 in use.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a substantially square housing 2 and cover 6.

The system is a manhole cover system which can be adjusted to match the altering 10 contours of our roads and walkways.

In embodiments of the system the manhole cover will sit on a floating sub-frame 32 which can be moved up or down depending on the levels of the road or if the road surface needs to be taken up.

The pictured embodiment comprises the following parts: Manhole Cover 6 with standard removal holes 4 Upper Manhole Frame 32 Manhole Frame Housing 2 M20 Threaded Bar Members 7 Upper Frame Top Flange 8 Upper Frame Lower Flange 77 Lower Frame Top Flange 76 Lower Manhole Frame 54 Concrete Base (not shown) Gaskets 76, 75 Captive or Free Nuts 69,71,72 A top nut 69 above the upper frame's upper flange 8 provides a locking nut, whereby the upper frame is unable to move from a position on the lower frame unless the locking nut is displaced to allow space for movement.

This top nut 69 is also used to lock the manhole frame assembly in position. When 35 changes are needed it is loosened off to allow the member to move up or down, and accordingly upper frame and cover.

A bottom nut 72 is welded to the threaded member 7 below the lower frame top flange 76 so that when twisted, it twists the whole member 7 thereby moving the upper frame 32 up or down.

A middle nut 71 is welded to the upper frame's lower flange 76, in the pictured embodiment below the flange 71.

The lower frame 54 has a lower flange with a circular hole 45 for the manhole exit.

The lower flange 45 is attached to the housing, permanently and the housing is bolted to a concrete pad (not shown) at side extending tabs 3.

The middle nut 71 is welded to the upper frame's lower flange 8 such that when the 15 threaded member twists the upper frame will move up or down.

Made from high grade stainless steel an M20 bar member may be envisaged to have sufficient strength and stress properties to withstand 400kN.

The upper floating frame thereby sits on welded nuts 72 which hold it onto the M20 threaded member.

In use: To adjust the height the locking nut 69 is loosened, the bottom nut 72 which is 25 welded to the bar is then twisted to raise or lower the frame.

To fix in place simply tighten the locking nut 71 firmly against the lower frame.

Repeat on each member where necessary.

Once adjusted to the desired position simply re-tighten the locking nuts 69 against the lower subframe to hold it position.

By having this adjustability, it will reduce the amount of potholes and general damage to our roads, meaning reductions in the need for road repairs, less damage to vehicles and safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists.

The system can be adjusted using a single tool advantageously but the weight is located onto fixed and non-adjustable points, i.e. the welded middle nuts 71.

The Manhole Friendly system would able to be made to industry standard manhole sizes including; 600x600mm, 450x450mm and 600x450mm.

To aid positioning the manhole cover in the correct position, the embodiment uses a location system comprising small projecting lips 67 in the underside of the cover and grooves 667 at the top of the housing.

The members comprise M20 threaded bar made from high grade stainless steel 10 envisaged to have capabilities to withstand D400 standards.

The housing and embodiment are secured to the concrete base via large concrete fastening bolts 78.

To keep foreign from entering the system rubber gaskets 76,75 are included, so as to in particular provide a seal in the floating upper frame's movement space 29. The topmost of these gaskets 28 is located diagonally in the space 29.

To allow the assembly to be changed in multiple axes, the upper engagement means 20 11 comprises ball joints 21 engaging in sockets 12 which ball joints 21 are positioned on the top of the threaded members 7 to allow the cover to be matched to the contour of the road.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 25 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A manhole apparatus comprising a frame assembly comprising a frame housing, a lower frame and an upper frame, wherein the upper frame supports a cover and the lower frame is secured to the frame housing and is arranged to be secured in a surrounding structure such as a roadway; wherein the upper and lower frames comprise perimetric flanges extending radially laterally inwards and such flanges are connected by a plurality of vertical threaded members with nuts associated with the flanges in use.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a floating upper frame, internally connected to the lower frame.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the lower frame is connected to the housing.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the nuts comprise a top free nut, a middle welded to a flange and a lower nut welded to the member.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the member comprises an articulated upper frame engagement means
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the upper engagement means comprises a socket.