NL1026660C2 - Gas meter installation, comprises gas meter casing with natural ventilation system for installing underground - Google Patents

Abstract

The installation (1) comprises a casing (10) for a gas meter (G) which is designed to be installed underground in an accessible area. The casing includes a first lead-through (10A) for connecting the gas meter to an underground gas service pipe (4) and a second lead-through for connecting it to a customer gas pipe (5). The casing also includes a natural ventilation system. The ventilation system comprises two or more openings (6, 7) in communication with the ambient atmosphere.

Description

UNDERGROUND GAS DEVICE

The present invention relates to a gas cabinet for placing a gas meter in the public space.

5 The municipal government offers gas connections at designated locations in the public space, for example at the houseboat quay. According to the current state of the art, an integrated above-ground cupboard has been placed at such a location, which provides connection to various utilities, such as water, gas, electricity and cable. Due to the increasing demand for utility connections in the public space, the number of such boxes increases, which has a negative effect on the street appearance.

The object of the invention is generally to provide an underground cupboard with gas connection which satisfies all safety requirements of the supervisory authority.

To this end the invention relates to a device comprising a housing for receiving a gas meter, which housing is intended for placement underground in the public space, wherein the housing is provided with first connecting means for connecting the gas meter to an underground gas service line and with second connecting means for connecting the gas meter to a user gas line, wherein the housing is further provided with means for natural ventilation.

Due to the underground placement of the gas cabinet according to the invention, it has disappeared from the street scene. The underground gas cabinet is thus also better protected against damage, whether intentional or not, which increases the safety of the public space. The means for natural ventilation are extremely suitable for the safe and necessary ventilation of the gas meter.

In a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for natural ventilation comprise at least two ventilation ducts which connect the housing to the ambient air or outside air. One or both ventilation ducts can be elegantly concealed in existing street furniture, such as traffic bollards and the like.

According to a practical preferred embodiment of the device, the housing is provided on the top with a liquid-tightly finished closing cover. The gas meter is thus effectively protected against the ingress of waste or rain water from the street. According to a further elaboration of this preferred embodiment, the protection is further increased in that the housing is provided with a second liquid-tightly finished sealing lid, which is arranged above the first sealing lid. According to yet a further elaboration of this preferred embodiment, the housing 1026660 '2 is provided with means for draining off liquid. If, despite the above measures, excess waste water seeps into the housing, this will be drained immediately without reaching the gas meter.

In a further preferred embodiment, a lifting mechanism 5 is arranged in the housing for raising the gas meter above ground. The user can now raise the gas meter to such a lifting height that the meter reading can be read at any time. According to a practical preferred embodiment, the lifting mechanism comprises a pull-out frame, which is provided with means for fixing the gas meter.

The invention also relates to an assembly of a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a connecting device comprising a housing for receiving one or more utility connections, which housing is intended for placement underground in the public space in which the housing is provided with first connecting means for connecting the one or more utility connections to an underground utility and with second connecting means for connecting the one or more utility connections to a user utility line.

The invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a gas cabinet according to the invention with ventilation means;

Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a gas cabinet according to the invention with ventilation means;

Figure 3 shows the gas box according to the invention with gas meter and lifting mechanism in an underground position; and

Figure 4 shows the gas cabinet according to the invention with gas meter and lifting mechanism in an above-ground position.

In the figures, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an underground gas cabinet 1 in section.

The gas cabinet 1 has a housing 10 in which a gas meter G (shown diagrammatically) is included. The housing 10 is provided with (preferably watertight) penetrations 10A and 10B through which gas meter G is connected by means of flexible gas hoses, respectively 2 and 3, to underground gas service line 4 and gas line 5 respectively to a user connection, such as a connecting device 31 (see figures) 3 and 4).

The housing is located below street level S in the public space. The housing is liquid-tight. The housing is preferably made of stainless steel or 10266 60 "3 plastic.

The housing is provided with ventilation ducts 6 and 7, which establish a direct connection with the outside air. The protruding parts of these ventilation ducts can be concealed in the street furniture.

The housing 2 is provided on the upper side with a liquid-tight finished primary sealing cover 8. A liquid-tight finished secondary sealing cover 9 is arranged above this. Between the closing covers there is a plate of insulating material 12. It is to be noted that as an alternative to the shown and described double embodiment, a single liquid-tightly finished cover can also be used.

Both sealing covers are finished with a liquid-tight seal. A drainage facility 13 is also provided. Furthermore, there is a pump 14 with a drain line 15 for drainage of liquid. Pump 14 is connected to a supply line 16.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an underground gas box 11 in section. Gas cabinet 11 is identical to gas cabinet 1 on the understanding that ventilation channel 7 has been replaced by ventilation channel 17. Ventilation channel 17 runs completely underground and flows into a grate 18. Grate 12 is concealed in the quay wall K and is thus hidden from view and is thus concealed also not accessible to rainwater. Naturally, the position of the grid must be chosen sufficiently high above the water level to prevent (splash) water from entering the ventilation duct.

Figure 3 shows gas box 1.11 with gas meter in section. A lifting mechanism 20 is provided in the housing 10. Lifting mechanism 20 comprises an extendable frame 21 with mounting means 22 for mounting the gas meter G. Both closing lids are closed, the lifting mechanism is in the retracted position, and the gas meter is underground.

Figure 4 shows gas box 1.11 with folded-off closing covers 8,9 and lifting mechanism 20 in an extended position. The gas meter G is now above ground so that the meter reading can be read by the user and / or the meter reader.

In figures 3 and 4, gas service line 4 is located in a tube 23 which is connected to housing 10 at the location of opening 10A. Also shown is an underground casing pipe 30 for gas line 5, which connects the housing 10 at the location of opening 10B to a connecting device or well box 31. The well box 31 is located underground and has a liquid-tight housing 32. The housing can be made of a material similar to the housing 10. In the well box there is at least one gas connection 33, which is connected by means of user gas line 5 to gas hose 3 of gas meter G .

The well box is connected to a pipe duct 34, which in this example flows into the 1026660 "4 quay wall K. Using pipe duct 34, one or more further user gas pipes (not shown) can be connected to gas meter G via user connection 33.

Optionally, further utility connections (not shown) can be provided in the well box 31 for, for example, water, electricity, telephone and / or cable etc. to which further user utility lines can be connected. The manhole can be made accessible by means of a lid or other suitable means, for example for repairs and / or maintenance.

Finally, the invention is explicitly not limited to the described and shown embodiment, but generally extends to any embodiment that falls within the scope of the appended claims viewed in the light of the foregoing description and drawings.

1026690®

Claims (8)

Device (1; 11) comprising a housing (10) for receiving a gas meter (G), which housing is intended for placement underground in the public space, wherein the housing is provided with first connecting means (10A; 23) for connection of the gas meter to an underground gas service line (4) and of second connecting means (10B; 30) for connection of the gas meter to a user gas line (5), wherein the housing is further provided with means (6, 7; 17) for natural ventilation. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for natural ventilation comprise at least two ventilation ducts (6, 7; 17), which connect the housing to the outside air. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing is provided at the top with a liquid-tightly finished sealing cover (8). Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing is provided with a second liquid-tightly finished closing lid (9), which is arranged above the first closing lid. 5. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the housing is provided with means (13, 14, 15, 16) for draining off liquid. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a lifting mechanism (20) is arranged in the housing for raising the gas meter above ground. 30 Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a extendable frame (21), which is provided with means (22) for mounting the gas meter. 8. An assembly of a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a connecting device (31) comprising a housing (32) for receiving one or more utility connections (33), which housing is intended for placement underground in the public 1026660 public space in which the housing is provided with first connecting means (30) for connecting the one or more utility connections (33) to an underground utility (G) and with second connecting means (34) for connecting the one or more utility connections (33) to a user guide. 5 1026660