GB2623791A

GB2623791A - Cable protection

Info

Publication number: GB2623791A
Application number: GB2215906.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Clark Ronald
Original assignee: CLARKSTEEL HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: CLARKSTEEL HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 2022-10-27
Filing date: 2022-10-27
Publication date: 2024-05-01
Also published as: GB202215906D0

Abstract

A ground channel suitable for conveying a cable, such as a charging cable suitable for an electric vehicle. The ground channel comprises an elongate enclosure 101 containing a gully 102. The gully 102 comprises an opening 103 facing in an upward direction, and the gully 102 is configured to receive the cable. The channel further comprises a lid 105, and a pivoting arrangement 106 connecting the enclosure 101 with the lid 105. The pivoting arrangement 106 is configured to move the lid 105 between a closed position in which the lid 105 covers a majority of the gully opening 103 and an open position in which the gully opening 103 is substantially exposed. The pivoting arrangement 106 is configured to allow lifting of the lid 105 upward from the gully 102 during a first stage of opening and is also configured to allow rotating of the lid 105 away from the gully 102 during a second stage of opening.

Description

Cable Protection

Field of invention

The invention relates to cable protection, particularly cable protection for cables used to charge electric vehicles

Background

In order to charge electric vehicles that are parked on a street, it is sometimes necessary to run a cable across a public footpath thereby causing a tripping hazard to pedestrians and risk of damage to the cable. For reducing these risks, a ramped pedestrian cable cover within which the cable sits may be placed atop the public footpath. Unfortunately, such ramped cable covers still provide some level of obstacle to pedestrians, particularly those using wheeled objects such as pushchairs and wheelchairs. Furthermore, it is time consuming and laborious for a user to set up the ramped cable cover for use and the cable itself is not secure and could be disturbed or vandalised. Alternatively, the cable may be placed in a tunnel below ground which is a time-consuming process.

The present invention seeks to provide improved cable protection for cables crossing a public footpath such as between a building providing a mains electricity supply and an electric vehicle that is parked on the street.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a ground channel for conveying a cable. The ground channel comprises an elongate enclosure containing a gully. The gully has an opening facing in an upward direction. The gully is configured to receive the cable. The ground channel further comprises a lid and a pivoting arrangement connecting the enclosure with the lid. The pivoting arrangement is configured to move the lid between a closed position in which the lid covers a majority of the gully opening and an open position in which the gully opening is substantially exposed. The pivoting arrangement is configured to allow lifting of the lid upward from the gully during a first stage of opening and to allow rotating of the lid away from the gully during a second stage of opening.

Optionally, the lid is configured to be lifted by a lifting distance during the first stage, the lifting distance being sufficient to lift the lid from the closed position to an intermediate position that is upward or partially upward of a top surface of the elongate enclosure.

Optionally, the lid is configured to be rotated during the second stage by 90 to 180 degrees.

Optionally, the pivoting arrangement comprises an arm being connected via a fixed pivot to an interior surface of the enclosure; and a moving pivot connecting the lid to the arm, and optionally wherein the fixed pivot is at an internal pivot point that is upward of the gully.

Optionally, the lid is configured to be lifted during the first stage by pivoting of the arm about the fixed pivot and pivoting of the lid about the moving pivot such that the lid is translated upwards.

Optionally, the lid is configured to be rotated during the second stage by additional pivoting of the arm about the fixed pivot.

Optionally, the lid is configured to be further rotated during the second stage by additional pivoting of the lid about the moving pivot.

Optionally, the arm comprises a cam surface configured to engage with a surface of the lid after the first stage of opening to prevent the lid from rotating downwards.

Optionally, the arm comprises a curved member configured to extend through the opening when the lid is in the open position.

Optionally, the arm is a pair of arms separated from one another along the axis of rotation of the fixed and/or the moving pivot, and the fixed pivot and/or the moving pivot comprises an axle extending between and contacting the pair of arms, the axle being parallel to the axis of rotation of the respective fixed and/or moving pivot.

Optionally, the lid has a total length being a length dimension of the lid that is parallel to the axis of rotation, and the lid comprises an aperture for receiving a lifting key, the aperture being located along a length of the lid that is between 40% and 60% of the total length of the lid, or preferably between 45% and 55% of the total length of the lid, or more preferably at the midpoint of the length of the lid.

Optionally, the gully has a length of from 0.1 to 2 meters.

Optionally, the lid comprises a cut-out or hole configured to be an inlet or outlet for the cable into the gully.

Optionally, the elongate enclosure is configured to be embedded within a ground surface such that a top surface of the lid is substantially level with the ground surface when in the closed position.

Optionally the gully comprises a removable cable tray.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a ground channel system comprising a ground channel as discussed above and a kerb outlet configured to be placed at one end of the gully, the kerb outlet configured to conform to the one end of the gully to provide an outlet from the gully for the cable, the kerb outlet further comprising an outer surface configured to conform with a kerb.

Optionally, the ground channel system comprises a plurality of ground channels according to claims 1 to 16, each of the ground channels configured to be placed longitudinally adjacent to one another in order that the gullies of the respective ground channels conform to one another to form one continuous gully, and wherein the lids of adjoining ground channels each comprise an edge conforming to the edge of the adjacent ground channel.

The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature described in relation to any one of the aspects, examples or embodiments described herein may be applied to any other aspect, example, embodiment or feature. Further, the description of any aspect, example or feature may form part of or the entirety of an embodiment of the invention as defined by the claims. Any of the examples described herein may be an example which embodies the invention defined by the claims and thus an embodiment of the invention.

Brief Overview of Figures The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la and lb show an isometric view of a ground channel.

Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d show a cross-sectional view of the ground channel of Figs. la, lb during different stages of an opening procedure.

Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e show a cross-sectional view of the ground channel of Figs. la, lb during different stages of an opening procedure being undertaken by a lifting key.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the ground channel of Figs. la, lb embedded in a ground surface.

Figure 5a shows an isometric view of a kerb outlet for use with the ground channel of Figures la and lb. Figure 5b shows an isometric view of a kerb outlet being used with the ground channel of Figures la and lb.

Detailed description

Running cables such as electric vehicle charging cables across public footpaths presents problems such as lack of security for the cable and obstruction or trip-hazards to pedestrians. A mere space or gap in the footpath through which a cable can run does not solve the problem and may become filled with debris or leaves that renders the space unusable. Furthermore, the cable is left open to being tampered with. Any covered mechanism for integrating cables into pavements needs to be easy to use by people such as electric vehicle owners who do not ordinarily interact with typical covered openings in pavements such as manhole covers and the like. This disclosure seeks to provide product for easily covering and protecting a cable such as an electric vehicle charging cable so that there is no obstruction for pedestrians and the cable is secure from tampering.

With reference to Figs. 1a and lb, there is a ground channel for conveying a cable (the cable itself is not shown). Products of this disclosure may or may not include the cable. The ground channel comprises an elongate enclosure 101 that is typically suitable for being embedded in a ground surface. The ground channel may comprise fins 109 for improving the ease of fixing the ground channel within a ground surface such as wet concrete. The elongate enclosure 101 contains a gully 102 having an opening 103 facing in an upward direction. As used herein, the term "upward" typically refers to the direction generally shown by arrow 104 in Fig. la being upward of the ground surface within which the ground channel may be embedded. The gully 102 is configured to receive the cable. Typically, the cable is suitable for conducting sufficient current to charge an electric vehicle and may have an external diameter of up to 26 mm or between 15 to 26 mm. The ground channel further comprises a lid 105. The lid 105 may be upward of the gully 102. A pivoting arrangement 106 connects the enclosure 101 with the lid 105. With particular reference to Fig. la, the lid 105 is in a closed position and therefore covers the majority of the gully opening 103. The gully opening 103 may or may not be fully sealed when the lid 105 is in the closed position. When the lid 105 is in the closed position, the interior of the gully 102 is sufficiently covered by the lid 105 and so as to be not accessible from the upwards direction i.e. it is not possible to retrieve a cable out of the gully 102 when the lid 105 is in the closed position. The lid 105 may not necessarily directly cover the gully 102 when in the closed position, for example there may be a gap between the gully opening 103 and the lid 105 within the enclosure 101. For example, the lid 105 may rest above the gully 102 when in the closed position and substantially conform with the elongate enclosure 101. The lid 105 may rest at least partially within the gully when the lid 105 is in the closed position. Pedestrians may walk across the top of the lid 105, being the upward surface of lid 105 visible in Fig. la, without being impeded by any obstruction. With particular reference to Fig. lb, the lid 105 is in an open position in which the gully opening 103 is substantially exposed. In this condition, a user is able to sufficiently access the interior of the gully 102 in order to place a cable lengthwise within the gully. The ends of the cable may protrude outside one or both longitudinal ends (i.e. ends in the long direction of) of the gully 102. An end of the cable may protrude upwardly through a hole or cut-out of the lid 106 (not shown). The pivoting arrangement 106 may be configured to move the lid 105 between the closed position shown in Fig. la and the open position shown in Fig. lb. The pivoting arrangement 106 is configured to allow the lid to be both lifted and rotated. In particular, the pivoting arrangement provides for the lid to be lifted upwards from the gully during a first stage of opening, and to allow rotating of the lid away from the gully during a second stage of opening. A lifting key 301 (see particularly Fig. la) may be provided for facilitating opening of the lid 105 by a user. Motion of the lid 105 during the first stage of opening may comprise both lifting and tilting/rotating. As used herein, the term "lift" refers to a translation of the lid 105 in the upwards direction described above and generally shown by arrow 104. It can be observed in Fig. lb that the lid 105 has been lifted and rotated from the position shown in Fig. la and therefore the gully 102 is accessible. Returning to Fig. la, it can be observed that any cable within the gully 102 is hidden and protected. A pedestrian can safely pass over lid 102 without experiencing a tripping hazard. A user can quickly and easily open and close the lid 105 for removing and replacing the charging cable.

With reference to Figs. 2a-2e there is a cross-sectional view of the ground channel of Fig. 1 with each figure showing the state of the ground channel during a different consecutive points in time of moving the lid 105 from a closed position (Fig. 2a) to an open position (Fig. 2d). Starting with Fig. 2a, the elongate enclosure 101 comprises a top surface 202 upward of the gully 102. The elongate enclosure further comprises an elongate opening 208 in the top surface 202. Typically, the elongate opening 208 is directly upward of the gully opening 103. In the closed position, the lid 105 is typically configured to rest within the opening e.g. by sitting on one or more internal shoulders within the elongate enclosure 101, and covers the gully opening 103. The lid 105 may substantially conform with the gully opening 103 or be larger than the gully opening 103 as shown in Fig. 2a. The lid 105 typically covers the gully opening 103 sufficiently such that any cable within the gully 102 is inaccessible through the closed elongate opening 208. When in the closed position, the lid 105 preferably sits so that a top surface of the lid 203 is flush with a top surface 202 of the enclosure 101 to ensure there is minimal or no obstruction for pedestrians walking cross the top surface 202 and lid 105. In use, preferably both of the top surface of the lid 203 and the top surface 202 of the enclosure sit roughly flush with a ground plane 207 in order to provide a flat surface that is free of trip hazards. The top surface 202 of the enclosure and/or the top surface of the lid 203 may be substantially level and/or sit a few mm above or below the level of the ground plane 207. The ground plane 207 shown in Figs. 2a-2e is for representing a surrounding ground surface within which the ground channel may be integrated and is not necessarily a component part of the ground channel. The pivoting arrangement 106 may comprise an arm 201 connected via a fixed pivot 205 to an interior surface of the enclosure 101. The arm 201 may further be connected to the lid 105 via a moving pivot 206. The fixed pivot 205 may be connected at an internal pivot point 204 that is upward of the gully 102 or even upward of the gully opening 103. The fixed and moving pivot points may be such that a chord between the pivots between 0 degrees and 45 degrees with respect to the ground plane 207 when the lid 105 is in the closed position. Therefore, the arm 106 can effectively act as a linkage for allowing lifting of the lid 105 as will be discussed with respect to Figure 2b. The arm 105 may comprise a cam surface 209 for engaging with the lid 105 after lifting of the lid 105 as discussed with respect to Fig. 2b.

Turning to Fig. 2b, the lid 105 has been lifted by a lifting distance during the first stage due to the pivoting of the arm 201 about the fixed pivot 205 and pivoting of the lid 105 about the moving pivot 206 with respect to the arm 201. The position of the lid 105 in Fig. 2b may be referred to as intermediate position between the first and second opening stages. In the intermediate position, the lid 105 is upward or partially upward of the top surface of the enclosure 202. Typically, the intermediate position corresponds to the lid 105 being upward are partially upward of the ground plane 207. In the intermediate position, the lid 105 is able to be pivoted away from the opening 208 without interacting with the sides of the opening 208. The pivoting of the lid 105 about the moving pivot 206 ensures that the lid 105 does not significantly tilt during the lifting caused by pivoting of the arm 201 and the lid 105 can therefore be lifted without being restricted or interacting with the sides of the opening 208. There is a gap between the lid and the sides of the opening 208 that is sufficient to allow for some rotational play and sideways movement of the lid 105 caused by pivoting of the arm 201 about the fixed pivot 205. The gap is small enough to prevent access to the gully 103 when the lid is in the closed position, and there is a minimal or no trip hazard to pedestrians walking on the top surface 203 of the lid. During the first stage, the lid 105 engages with the cam surface 209 of the arm 201. Typically, the cam surface 209 engages with a bottom surface of the lid 105 which opposes the top surface of the lid 105. The engagement between the cam surface 209 and the lid 105 prevents the lid from rotating downwards (clockwise as per Fig. 2b) into the elongate enclosure 101 and/or the gully 103 thereby improving the ease of manipulation of the lid 105 by the user during any opening and closing procedure.

With reference to Fig. 2c, the lid 105 has been rotated by additional pivoting of the arm 201 about the fixed pivot point 205 during the second stage of opening. In the particular example of the figures, the rotation is in the anti-clockwise direction. Typically, the additional pivoting of the arm 201 about the fixed pivot point 205 provides for rotation of the lid 105 up to at least 90 degrees with respect to the ground plane 207. Preferably, the additional pivoting provides sufficient rotation that a centre of gravity of the combined lid 105 and pivoting arrangement 106 reaches a location directly above the fixed pivot 205 such that continued additional pivoting in the anticlockwise direction can be actuated merely by downwards gravitational force. It would be appreciated that the rotation about the pivots during opening could be in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction depending on the configuration of the ground channel.

Preferably, the arm 201 comprises a curved member in order to facilitate the pivoting of the arm in Fig. 2c about the fixed pivot point 205, particularly where the fixed pivot point 205 is located underneath the top surface 202 of the elongate enclosure 101 being lateral (i.e. the same level away from any ground surface) to the opening 208. The curved member provides for the arm 201 to extend through the opening 208 during the second stage of opening.

With reference to Fig. 2d, the lid 105 has been yet further rotated by both pivoting of the arm 201 about the fixed pivot point 205 and pivoting of the lid 105 about the moving pivot point 206 to reach the open position. The term "open position" may refer to any position of the lid 105 where the gully 102 is accessible such as even without the further rotation described with respect to Fig. 2d. Wien in the open position shown in Fig. 2d, the lid 105 can advantageously be rested on the ground surface corresponding to the ground plane 207 and/or the top surface of the elongate enclosure 101. The gully 102 may comprise a removable cable tray 209 that can be lifted out of the elongate enclosure 101 when the lid 105 is in the open position for ease of cleaning.

It would be appreciated that the mechanism of opening the ground channel as discussed above with respect to Figs. 2a-2d can be reversed for moving the lid 105 from the open position to the closed position.

In total, the lid 105 may be rotated between 90 and 180 degrees between the closed and open positions. Rotation of the lid is provided by pivoting of the arm 201 about the fixed pivot 205 and optionally by rotation of the lid about the moving pivot 206.

With respect to Figs. 3a to 3e, a lifting key 301 may be provided for moving the lid 105 between the closed an open positions. The procedure of opening the lid 105 using the lifting key 301 will now be described and it would be appreciated that the described motions can be undertaken in reverse for closing the lid 105 using the lifting key.

In Fig. 3a, the lid 105 is in the closed position. The lid 105 may comprise an aperture 303 for receiving a lifting key (also visible in Fig. lb). The lid 105 may have a length being a length dimension that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the lid 105. The aperture 303 may be located along a length of the lid that is between 40% and 60% of the total length of the lid, or preferably between 45% and 55% of the total length of the lid, or more preferably at the midpoint of the length of the lid. The lifting key 301 may have a hooked end 302 configured for insertion into the aperture 303. For opening the lid 105 from the closed position, the hooked end 302 of the lifting key 301 is inserted into the aperture 303 and engaged with the lid 105 such as by being hooked under the lid 105 ready for an upwards pull on the key 301. During the first stage of opening as shown in Fig. 3b, the lid 105 is lifted upwards due to pivoting of the pivoting arrangement about the fixed and moving pivots as discussed above. For lifting the lid 105, the user may tilt the engaged key 301 e.g. in a clockwise direction in the example of Fig. 3b thereby causing the cam surface 209 (visible in Figs. 2a-2d) on the arm 105 to engage with the lid 105 thereby preventing the lid 105 from tilting further clockwise. Thereafter, the lid 105 is lifted upwards by pulling the engaged key 301 until the lid 105 has cleared the elongate enclosure 101. At this point, the second stage of opening commences as shown in Fig. 3c. The arm 201 is pivoted about the fixed pivot for rotating the lid 105 away from the gully opening 103. As the lid 105 rotates, the hook end 303 of the lifting key 301 begins to disengage with the aperture 302. Once the lid 105 becomes vertical (90 degrees with respect to the ground surface) as shown in Fig. 3d, the lifting key 301 can disengage from the aperture 303. The lid 105 can continue to rotate away from the gully opening 103 via pivoting of one or both of the fixed and moving pivots by the force of gravity until the lid 105 comes to a rest at 180 degrees from the lid's original starting place as illustrated in Fig. 3e. In order to return the lid to the closed position, the above procedure can be undertaken in reverse.

Now returning to Fig. lb, the ground channel may comprise one or more pivoting arrangements 106. In the particular example of Fig. lb there are two pivoting arrangements 106 each located at a different lengthwise direction along the elongate enclosure 101. Preferably each pivoting arrangement is located at the same distance from a lengthwise mid-point of the lid 105, the length dimension being parallel to the axis of rotation of the lid 105. Each of the pivoting arrangements 106 comprise a pair of arms 107a, 107b separated and preferably parallel to one another along the axis of rotation of the moving pivot. The moving pivot comprises an axle 108 extending between and contacting the pair of arms 107a, 107b. The axle is parallel to the axis of rotation of the fixed pivot. In embodiments, the fixed pivot may alternatively or additionally comprise an axle extending between the pair of arms parallel to the axis of rotation of the fixed pivot. This pivoting arrangement of means that it is only possible to lift the lid 105 during the first stage by applying a force that is balanced along one or more axles of the pivoting arrangement(s). Typically, the force must therefore be balanced lengthwise along the lid 105 where the one or more pivoting arrangements 106 are symmetrical about a lengthwise midpoint of the lid 105. For example, it is possible to lift the lid 105 via engagement of the lifting key 301 at the aperture 303 being roughly central in the lengthwise direction of the lid 105. If it was attempted to lift the lid 105 at e.g. one endpoint, then the pivoting arrangements 106 would jam due to an imbalanced upwards force across the axles of the pivoting arrangements. There would be a pivoting force about an axis that conforms with the plane of the lid 105 whilst being perpendicular with the axis of rotation of the fixed pivot (i.e. crossing between the sidewalls of the gully) that is opposed by the axle 108 thereby preventing the lid 105 from being lifted. Therefore, if one end in the lengthwise direction of the lid is accessible e.g. for providing an inlet/outlet for a cable, it is still not possible to lift the lid 105 without use of the key 301. Therefore, the lid 105 is secure and cannot be opened and tampered whilst one end of the lid is accessible.

The ground channel of this disclosure may have a length conforming to the length of the gully 102 being from 0.1 to 2 meters or 0.1 to 0.9 meters. In this context, the term "length" refers to the lengthwise distance between two open ends of the gully 102.

In some examples (not shown in the figures) the lid 105 may comprise one or more holes or cut-outs configured to be an inlet and/or outlet for running a cable into and/or out of the gully 102.

With reference to Fig. 4, the ground channel may be configured to be embedded within a ground 403. It is preferable for the top surface 203 of the lid 105 to be substantially level with the surface of the ground 403. The top surface 203 of the lid is not necessarily at the exact same level as the surface of the ground 403, but is of a sufficiently similar level that a pedestrian would not notice any significant obstacle when crossing the top surface 203 of the lid. The ground channel may be configured to be embedded in the ground 403 via a cement mortar surround/bedding 401.

This disclosure further provides for a modular ground channel system comprising one or more ground channels as described above. Where the ground channel system comprises two or more ground channels, the ground channels may be configured to be placed longitudinally adjacent to one another in order that the gullies of the respective ground channels conform to one another to form one continuous gully in a longitudinal direction. The lids of adjoining ground channels may each comprise an edge conforming to the edge of the adjacent ground channel. In this manner, it is not possible to access an underside of a single lid in the system from both edges of the lid whilst all the lids are in the closed position. Therefore, it is not possible to apply a longitudinally balanced force to any single lid by attempting to apply pressure at both edges of a single lid at the same time. Preferably, each lid comprises a longitudinally central aperture for receiving a key that can apply a longitudinally balanced force for opening the respective lid in the manner discussed above.

With reference to Figs 5a and 5b, the ground channel system may comprise a kerb outlet 501 for conforming to one end of a gully of a ground channel 502 for providing an outlet from the gully for the cable. The kerb outlet 501 may further comprise an outer surface configured to conform with a kerb 503.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A ground channel for conveying a cable, the ground channel comprising: an elongate enclosure containing a gully, the gully having an opening facing in an upward direction, the gully being configured to receive the cable; a lid; a pivoting arrangement connecting the enclosure with the lid; wherein the pivoting arrangement is configured to move the lid between a closed position in which the lid covers a majority of the gully opening and an open position in which the gully opening is substantially exposed, and wherein the pivoting arrangement is configured to allow lifting of the lid upward from the gully during a first stage of opening and to allow rotating of the lid away from the gully during a second stage of opening.
2. A ground channel according to claim 1 wherein the lid is configured to be lifted by a lifting distance during the first stage, the lifting distance being sufficient to lift the lid from the closed position to an intermediate position that is upward or partially upward of a top surface of the elongate enclosure.
3. A ground channel according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lid is configured to be rotated during the second stage by 90 to 180 degrees.
4. A ground channel according to any preceding claim wherein the pivoting arrangement comprises an arm being connected via a fixed pivot to an interior surface of the enclosure; and a moving pivot connecting the lid to the arm, and optionally wherein the fixed pivot is at an internal pivot point that is upward of the gully.
5. A ground channel according to claim 4 wherein the lid is configured to be lifted during the first stage by pivoting of the arm about the fixed pivot and pivoting of the lid about the moving pivot such that the lid is translated upwards.
6. A ground channel according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the lid is configured to be rotated during the second stage by additional pivoting of the arm about the fixed pivot.
7. A ground channel according to any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the lid is configured to be further rotated during the second stage by additional pivoting of the lid about the moving pivot.
8. A ground channel according to any of claims 4 to 7 wherein the arm comprises a cam surface configured to engage with a surface of the lid after the first stage of opening to prevent the lid from rotating downwards.
9. A ground channel according to any of claims 4 to 8 wherein the arm comprises a curved member configured to extend through the opening when the lid is in the open position.
10. A ground channel according to any of claims 4 to 9 wherein the arm is a pair of arms separated from one another along the axis of rotation of the fixed and/or the moving pivot, and the fixed pivot and/or the moving pivot comprises an axle extending between and contacting the pair of arms, the axle being parallel to the axis of rotation of the respective fixed and/or moving pivot.
11. A ground channel according to any preceding claim wherein the lid has a total length being a length dimension of the lid that is parallel to the axis of rotation, and the lid comprises an aperture for receiving a lifting key, the aperture being located along a length of the lid that is between 40% and 60% of the total length of the lid, or preferably between 45% and 55% of the total length of the lid, or more preferably at the midpoint of the length of the lid.
12. A ground channel according to any preceding claim wherein the gully has a length of from 0.1 to 2 meters.
13. A ground channel according to any preceding claim wherein the lid comprises a cut-out or hole configured to be an inlet or outlet for the cable into the gully.
14. A ground channel according to any preceding claim wherein the elongate enclosure is configured to be embedded within a ground surface such that a top surface of the lid is substantially level with the ground surface when in the closed position
15. A ground channel according to any preceding claim wherein the gully comprises a removable cable tray.
16. A ground channel system comprising a ground channel according to claims 1 to and a kerb outlet configured to be placed at one end of the gully, the kerb outlet configured to conform to the one end of the gully to provide an outlet from the gully for the cable, the kerb outlet further comprising an outer surface configured to conform with a kerb.
17. A ground channel system comprising a plurality of ground channels according to claims 1 to 16, each of the ground channels configured to be placed longitudinally adjacent to one another in order that the gullies of the respective ground channels conform to one another to form one continuous gully, and wherein the lids of adjoining ground channels each comprise an edge conforming to the edge of the adjacent ground channel.