IE903498A1

IE903498A1 - Locked hinged road manhole

Info

Publication number: IE903498A1
Application number: IE349890A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Francis Berthon; Jean-Claude Hauer
Original assignee: Pont A Mousson
Priority date: 1989-09-29
Filing date: 1990-09-28
Publication date: 1991-04-10
Also published as: DK0420777T3; DE69002297D1; GR3008586T3; ES2038113T3; NO178635B; NO178635C; ATE91739T1; PT8468U; EP0420777B1; ES2038113T1; NO904181L; IE64122B1; FR2652598A1; NO904181D0; EP0420777A1; DE69002297T2; FR2652598B1; PT8468T

Abstract

Locking device for a manhole, equipped with a hinge device (3) removably connecting a cover (2), equipped with at least one projecting pivot (8), to a frame (1), the skirt (4) of which is provided with at least one receptacle (7) cooperating with the projecting pivot (8), in which an elastic member (13), for example a spring or a piece of elastomer, which has to be compressed and then released in order to lock the cover, is fastened in each receptacle (7) and exerts a resistance to the unlocking of the cover. <IMAGE>

Description

- 1 The subject of the present invention is a road manhole equipped with a hinge device removably connecting the cover to the frame and allowing the cover to be lifted relative to the frame as a result of a pivoting about the hinge device, more particularly a road manhole of the abovementioned type having a device for locking the cover to the frame.

There are known tilting-cover road manholes which are mounted on at least one hinge and the cover of which possesses, for this purpose, at least one projecting pivot interacting with a receptacle with which the frame is equipped.

Such manholes must be locked perfectly in order to prevent the cover from being lifted accidentally by suction during the passage of a vehicle, especially during the passage of a heavy-goods vehicle, and in order to prevent acts of vandalism, during which the covers can be opened, representing a danger to users, or even removed.

In order to lock a cover to its frame, it is known, for example, to use a device, such as that described in the document FR 1,426,805, namely a locking lug connected to a rod capable of rotating by means of a thread, in such a way that, after pivoting, it can be brought into its locking position under the rim of the frame and then locks the cover by clamping.

In this device, the cover is indeed locked to its frame, but it has disadvantages of two kinds.

First of all, it requires the use of attached components, namely the lug and the actuating rod, thereby, on the one hand, giving rise to an appreciable extra cost, and, on the other hand, entailing the risk of seizure, making them difficult to operate, and even of jamming, thus making it impossible to unlock.

In the second place, the road manholes equipped with such a device risk being unlocked by themselves under the effect of the vibrations generated by the passage of vehicles. These vibrations, since they are not absorbed, risk loosening the actuating screw which would no longer press the lug up against the rim of the frame. This, being thus free to rotate, can pivot and assume its unlocking position.

The object of the present invention is, there15 fore, to do away with these disadvantages.

The subject of the present invention is, more particularly, a locking device for a road manhole equipped with a hinge device removably connecting a cover equipped with at least one projecting pivot to a frame, the skirt of which is equipped with at least one receptacle interacting with the projecting pivot, in which locking device an elastic member, which must be compressed and then released in order to lock the cover, is fastened in each receptacle and exerts resistance to the unlocking of the cover.

The cover is equipped with at least one locking lug interacting with at least one cavity of the frame.

The characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a road manhole equipped with the locking device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view according to 2-2 of Fig. 1? Fig. 3 shows a top view of another exemplary embodiment of a road manhole equipped with the locking device according to the invention? Fig. 4 is a partially cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of the hinge device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention consists of a frame 1 bedded in the ground at the upper end of an inspection shaft, for example of a water supply system, and of a cover 2 connected to the frame 1 by means of at least one hinge device 3.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the frame 1 and the cover 2 have a general circular shape, as seen in a plan view.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the frame 1 and the cover 2 have a general rectangular shape, as seen in a plan view.

The frame 1 possesses, in a known way, a skirt 4, cylindrical in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and rectangular in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig 3. It is equipped, on its outer periphery, with a flange 5 allowing it to be bedded in the ground, and, on its inner periphery, with a rim 6 serving as a bearing surface for the cover 2 when the latter is in the closed position.

The hinge device 3 consists, in a known way, of 5 at least one receptacle 7 formed on the periphery of the frame and of at least one projecting pivot 8 formed on the periphery of the cover 2.

An elastic member 13, for example a spring or a piece of elastomer, is fastened in each receptacle 7.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the frame 1 is equipped with a receptacle 7 and the cover 2 is equipped with a projecting pivot 8, and in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the frame is equipped with two receptacles 7 formed in one of its faces in the vicinity of each of its ends and the cover is equipped with two projecting pivots 8.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, each projecting pivot 8 has the general form of a T and possesses a connecting part 81 extending radially and connected to the cover, corresponding to the leg of the T of transverse dimension 1, and a pivot-shaft part 82 corresponding to the crossbar of the T. The pivot-shaft part 82, of a length d, has a general substantially cylindrical shape, as seen in radial section. It posses25 ses a flat 83 formed longitudinally over its entire length and extending parallel to the main faces of the cover.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, each receptacle 7 has the general form of a T, as seen from above. One part 71 of the said receptacle, located towards the inside and of a transverse dimension L larger than 1, forming the leg of the T, has a smaller depth than a second part 72, of a length D, forming the crossbar of the T.

The part 72 has a substantially circular contour, as seen in radial section.

The part 72 consists of two portions: a first portion 721, of a length dl slightly larger than the length d of the pivot-shaft part 82 of the projecting pivot 8 of the frame and overhung by a lip 73 partially closing off the said portion; a portion 722 extending the portion 721, of a length d2 and overhung by a lip 74 closing off the said portion completely.

The elastic member 13 is fastened or simply arranged in the portion 722.

Formed in the skirt 4 of the frame 1 is at least one cavity 9 intended for interacting with at least one locking finger 10 with which the cover 2 is equipped.

Each cavity 9 has an upwardly open part 11 and a completely closed part 12.

In order to lock the cover to the frame, it is sufficient to position the locking finger above the part 11, to lower it into the cavity 9 and to move the cover either by pivoting or by a translational motion so as to cause it to enter the part 12 in which it is retained.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the frame is equipped with one cavity 9 and the cover with one locking finger 10, and in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the frame is equipped with two cavities 9 and the cover with two locking fingers 10.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, each 5 cavity 9 is formed in the skirt 4 of the frame 1 and each locking finger 10 projects on the periphery of the cover 2.

The dimensions L and D of each receptacle 7 of the frame are such that they allow the cover to move in order to make it possible for each locking finger 10 to pass from the part 11 to the part 12 of the cavities 9.

Another exemplary embodiment, not shown, involves forming at least one locking finger in the extension of the lower face of the cover and making at least one slot in the skirt of the frame. Thus, in order to lock the cover, it is necessary to position the cover together with the locking lugs opposite the slots, lower it and move the cover so that the catching lugs pass under the skirt of the frame.

The cover is locked by executing a rotation of the cover in order to bring the locking fingers 10 opposite the parts 11 of the cavities 9, the elastic member thus being compressed, then by lowering the cover in order to cause the fingers 10 to enter the cavities 9, and finally by releasing the cover so that the elastic member 13 exerts a restoring force which returns the cover into such a position that the locking fingers are retained in the parts 12 of the cavities 9.

The mounting and locking of the cover 2 on the frame 1 is described more specifically below, taking as an example the road manhole illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The projecting pivot 8 of the cover is introduced into the receptacle 7 of the frame.

To carry out this operation, the cover is in an intermediate position between the horizontal position corresponding to its closed position and the vertical position.

Once the cover is in position, it is rotated 10 about the axis X-X of the hinge device, until the locking finger 10 is opposite the part 12 of the cavity 9 of the frame.

During this operation, the projecting pivot 8 penetrates into the bottom of the receptacle 7 of the frame under the lip 73 which prevents it from executing any vertical movement.

A rotation of the cover is then carried out in order to bring the locking finger opposite the part 11.

During this operation, the elastic member 13 is 20 compressed in the receptacle 7 of the frame.

When the locking finger is opposite the part 11 of the cavity 9 of the frame, the elastic member being compressed to a maximum, it descends into the said cavity and the cover rests completely on the rim 6.

When the cover is released, the restoring force exerted as a result of the compression of the elastic member 13 returns the cover into its position of equilibrium and, at the same time, puts the locking finger 10 into the part 12 of the cavity 9, in which it is retained, thus locking the cover.

To open the cover, it is necessary, before lifting it, to execute a rotational movement in order to bring the locking finger from the part 12 of the cavity 9 to the part 11, this movement requiring a relatively high force to compress the elastic member 13 which it is impossible to exert without a lever or jumper bar.

This prevents, on the one hand, acts of vandalism and, on the other hand, an unlocking of the cover at10 tributable to the vibrations generated by the passage of vehicles.

In fact, the vibrations generated by the passage of vehicles are absorbed by the elastic member 13, it also affording the advantage of damping the noises attributable to the phenomenon of wobbling which could occur during the passage of vehicles.

Claims

1.CLAIMS 1. Locking device for a road manhole, equipped with a hinge device (3) removably connecting a cover (2) equipped with at least one projecting pivot (8) to a frame (1), the skirt (4) of which is equipped with at least one receptacle (7) interacting with the projecting pivot (8), characterized in that an elastic member (13), which must be compressed and then released in order to lock the cover, is fastened in each receptacle (7) and exerts resistance to the unlocking of the cover.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elastic member (13) is a spring.

3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elastic member (13) is a piece of elastomer.

4. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one cavity (9) is formed in the skirt (4) of the frame (1) and interacts with at least one locking finger (10) with which the cover (2) is equipped.

5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that each cavity (9) has an upwardly open part (11) and a completely closed part (12).

6. Device according to Claims 1, 4 and 5, characterized in that the cover is locked by executing a rotation of the cover in order to bring the locking fingers (10) opposite the parts (11) of the cavities (9), the elastic member (13) thus being compressed, then by lowering the cover to cause the fingers (10) to enter the cavities (9), and finally by releasing the cover, so that the elastic member (13) exerts a restoring force which returns the cover into such a position that the locking fingers are retained in the parts (12) of the cavities Device according to Claims 1, 4 and 5, characterized in that the cover is locked by executing a translational movement of the cover in order to bring the locking fingers (10) opposite the parts (11) of the cavities (9), the elastic member (13) thus being compressed, then by lowering the cover in order to cause the fingers (10) to enter the cavities (9), and finally by releasing the cover, so that the elastic member (13) exerts a restoring force which returns the cover into such a position that the locking fingers are retained in the parts (12) of the cavities (9). 8. A device according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this the 28th day of September, 1990