NL1036953C2

NL1036953C2 - Mounting assembly with supporting bracket for mounting a water treatment unit in a water reservoir.

Info

Publication number: NL1036953C2
Application number: NL1036953A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Marcel Roelfsema
Original assignee: Wavin Bv
Priority date: 2009-04-17
Filing date: 2009-04-17
Publication date: 2010-10-19

Description

Title: Mounting assembly with supporting bracket for mounting a water treatment unit in a water reservoir

Background of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of water management and more particularly to draining water, in particular rain water, away in a controlled manner. In this context, the present invention 5 provides a mounting assembly for mounting a water treatment unit such as a flow control means or a filter within a water reservoir such as a manhole, inspection chamber, infiltration unit or the like.

Prior art 10 GB 2 334 791A discloses a mounting assembly for mounting a water treatment unit, in particular a vortex valve unit in position in a water reservoir, in particular a drainage gully. This known mounting assembly comprises a first element securable to an end wall of the vortex valve unit, and a second element mountable adjacent an outlet opening of the drainage gully. 15 The first element may define a wedge-shaped slot capable of receiving and locating a corresponding head portion of the second element. During installation, the unit is lowered onto said head portion, e.g. using a handle, so that the head portion engages and is located in the slot. This process may prove difficult, especially when the drainage gully is tall.

20

Summary of the invention

The object underlying the present invention is to provide a mounting assembly for holding a water treatment unit in position in a water reservoir, so that its outlet communicates with an outlet from the reservoir, which 1 0 3 6 9 5 3 2 mounting assembly is so constructed that the water treatment unit may be more easily installed into the water reservoir.

This object is solved by means of a mounting assembly according to claim 1. The mounting assembly comprises a mounting device that is 5 mountable at an outlet of the water reservoir and that comprises a supporting bracket with a supporting portion that is shaped to support the water treatment unit from below. In other words, the bottom of the water treatment unit is supported by means of the supporting bracket.

Thanks to such supporting portion, the supporting bracket extends 10 underneath the water treatment unit to support it and to protect it. As the water treatment unit can be simply lowered onto the supporting portion of the supporting bracket, the installation of the water treatment unit is greatly facilitated.

Furthermore, supporting the water treatment unit from below may 15 contribute to a more favourable load distribution on said unit, as compared to prior art brackets which support the water treatment unit by engaging a side wall thereof, and hence subject the unit to a torque (generated by the unit’s own weight).

20 Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect, the mounting device may have a hollow spigot end to be fit into the outlet of the water reservoir. This provides for a simple way to secure the mounting device into the water reservoir. No need for additional fastening means such as screws or the like and no need to make any 25 changes to the reservoir or to impair its structural integrity otherwise.

According to a further aspect, the supporting portion preferably forms the bottom of a recess in which the water treatment unit can be 3 accommodated. Thanks to such recess, installation of the water treatment unit may be further facilitated, as the recess may act as a catch, helping to guide the unit in place. The recess may furthermore provide lateral support, thus forming a stable and protective environment for the water treatment unit.

5 According to a further aspect, the mounting device may comprise self centring means. These means may co-operate with the general shape of the water treatment unit, so as to guide the unit to a predetermined position in the supporting bracket. The self centring means may facilitate installation and render it fool proof. It is not necessary to accurately manoeuvre the unit when 10 lowering it into the mounting device. The water treatment unit will always achieve a correct position, wherein the outlet thereof is aligned with the outlet opening from the water reservoir.

According to a further aspect, the mounting assembly may comprise a mounting tool for mounting and demounting the water treatment unit from a 15 position outside the water reservoir. Thanks to such tool, there is no need for an installer to descend into the water reservoir, which saves time and effort.

The mounting tool may have an adjustable length. This renders the tool universally applicable, i.e. with water reservoirs of differing heights. The length of the mounting tool can readily be adjusted, in situ, according to the 20 installation depth of the water treatment unit.

According to a further aspect, the mounting assembly may comprise locking means, operable for locking the water treatment unit in place in at least one direction. Preferably the locking means are arranged to lock the unit in vertical direction. Thus, the unit can be kept in place, against any upward 25 pressure that may be exerted on the unit by water collected in the reservoir.

According to an advantageous aspect, the locking means may be operable by the mounting tool, e.g. by rotating the mounting tool, e.g. around 4 its longitudinal axis. In other embodiments, the locking means may be activated through a different movement, e.g. a rotation of the mounting tool around a different axis or an upward pull or downward push.

The locking means may be part of the mounting tool or can be formed as 5 separate parts. In the latter case, the mounting tool may be removed from the reservoir after installation of the water treatment unit.

According to a further aspect, the mounting assembly may comprise means for pulling the water treatment unit towards the outlet opening of the water reservoir upon operating the locking means. This may reduce leakage 10 between the water treatment unit and the mounting device.

Alternatively or in addition, the mounting assembly may comprise means for lifting the water treatment unit from the mounting device, upon unlocking the locking means. This may be advantageous because during use, the water treatment unit may be pressed or sucked against an outlet of the 15 water reservoir due to the surrounding water and/or a pressure fall between the outlet of the water treatment unit and said outlet of the reservoir. As a result, demounting of the unit may require a rather large initial force. The lift function may assist in generating said force.

A contact area of the supporting bracket which, in use, abuts a rear side 20 of the water treatment unit facing away from the outlet, may be slanted. This will allow the outlet of the water treatment unit to be moved way from the outlet of the water reservoir during demounting of the water treatment unit.

The mounting assembly may further comprise a collar provided on the water treatment unit around the outlet thereof. In this case, sealing means 25 between the outlet of the water treatment unit and the supporting bracket can be dispensed with, which reduces the number of parts and also facilitates the mounting of the water treatment unit within the water reservoir.

5

It is noted that the mounting device and the mounting tool are independent aspects. It would be possible to use the mounting device described above with a mounting tool other than the one described above, or without any mounting tool at all. Also, the above described mounting tool could be used in 5 order to mount a water treatment unit by means of a mounting device other than the one described above.

Brief description of the drawings FIGs. 1 and 2 show two exploded views of a water treatment unit and a 10 mounting assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 3 shows the water treatment unit and the mounting assembly of Figures 1 and 2 installed within a water reservoir; and FIGs. 4-6 show modified embodiments of a mounting assembly according to the invention.

15

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred mounting assemblies for mounting a water treatment unit within a water reservoir in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20 In this description, a water treatment unit 3,103, 203, 303 is understood to be a unit with an inlet 31, an outlet 32 and water treatment means (not shown) arranged between said inlet 31,331 and said outlet 32 for ‘treatment’ of water entering the unit. Such ‘treatment’ may for instance include filtering and/or control of a flow rate. The water treatment unit 3,103, 25 203,303 may for instance comprise a vortex unit, designed to generate a vortex between the inlet 31, 331 and the outlet 32 so as to cause an outlet flow of the unit to have a substantially constant flow rate. In an alternative 6 embodiment, the water treatment unit 3,103,203,303 may for instance comprise a filter, a valve, an orifice, etc.. The shape of the water treatment unit may vary accordingly. It may for instance be substantially drum shaped, as shown in Figures 1-5, or cone shaped, as shown in Figure 6. Of course, other 5 shapes are possible.

In each case, the water treatment unit 3,103, 203, 303 is to be mounted in a water reservoir 4 so that its outlet 32 can communicate with an outlet 5 of said water reservoir 4. The water reservoir 4 can for instance be an inspection chamber or manhole (as shown in Figure 3), a water tank, an infiltration unit, 10 or the like. The reservoir outlet 5 may take the form of an opening in a side wall of the water reservoir 4 and may in turn communicate with another component, for instance a drainage pipe extending away from the water reservoir 4.

Referring now to Figures 1-3 showing a first embodiment of a mounting 15 assembly 1 according to the invention for mounting a water treatment unit 3 in a water reservoir 4. The mounting assembly 1 comprises a mounting device 10, a mounting tool 20 and locking means 25. The mounting device 10 can be secured in the water reservoir 4 prior to installation of the water treatment unit 3. The mounting tool 20 can be used for installing the water treatment 20 unit 3 in the mounting device 10. The locking means 25 can be used to lock the water treatment unit 3 in place, in at least one direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking means 25 are operable by the mounting tool 20 from a position outside the reservoir 4.

The mounting device 10 comprises a supporting bracket 11 for 25 supporting the treatment unit 3, and a spigot end 12 for securing the supporting bracket 11 in an outlet 5 of the water reservoir 4 (as shown in Figure 3). The supporting bracket 11 has a supporting portion 15 arranged to 7 support the water treatment unit 3 from beneath, and two upstanding legs 13, 14 arranged to support the unit 3 sideways, i.e. laterally. More particular, the supporting bracket 11 comprises a front leg 14 that abuts a front side of the water treatment unit 3, i.e. the side featuring the outlet 32, and a rear leg 13 5 that abuts a rear side. The supporting portion 15, the front leg 14, and the rear leg 13 together define a recess 16, designed to receive and support the water treatment unit 3 in at least three directions.

The mounting device 10 may further comprise self centring means to guide the water treatment unit 3 towards a predetermined position within the 10 supporting bracket 11, i.e. a position wherein the outlet 32 of the unit 3 is aligned with the spigot end 12 and ultimately with the outlet 5 of the reservoir 4. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the self centring means comprise two guiding profiles 18 which are provided on the rear leg 13 of the supporting bracket 11. The guiding profiles 18 can co-operate with a 15 substantially V-shaped rim 34 on the rear side of the water treatment unit 3. The design is such that the water treatment unit 3, during insertion, will slide towards the aligned position under influence of gravity. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the self centring means may be provided on a different portion of the mounting device 10, for instance on the front leg 14, or 20 on opposite sides of the supporting portion 15 between the front and the rear leg. Also, the self centring means may be shaped differently. For instance, the V-shaped rim 34 on the unit 3 may be reversed, having its apex pointing upward. In such case, the guiding profiles 18 may be designed to be received between the slanted portions of said rim 34.

25 The water treatment unit 3 may be provided with a collar 35 around its outlet 32. In mounted condition, this collar 35 may lie contiguous with the spigot end 12 of the mounting device 10. Applicant has found that thanks to 8 such collar 35, no sealing means are needed between the unit 3 and the supporting bracket 11, which may facilitate installation and allows the unit 3 to be lowered into the bracket 11 from a remote location (i.e. outside the reservoir 4). The collar 35 may not completely prevent leakage, but does help 5 to reduce leakage and moreover shifts the location of the leakage away from the outlet 32 of the unit 3. Applicant has found that this may have a positive effect on the water treatment unit’s performance, especially where said unit comprises a vortex unit. Furthermore, note that the collar 35 does not need to be inserted in the outlet opening 5 of the water reservoir 4. This too facilitates 10 installation of the water treatment unit 3 and allows it to be lowered into place from a position outside the water reservoir 4.

The mounting tool 20 comprises an elongated member that enables the water treatment unit 3 to be installed and removed from a remote location. According to an advantageous embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the 15 length of the mounting tool 20 can be adjustable. To that end, the tool 20 comprises a first tubular member 21 and a second tubular member 22, which is slidably received in the first member 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the length can be adjusted stepwise by means of a latching pin 23 and matching holes 24 provided in the respective members 21,22. In other embodiments, the 20 length adjustment may be continuous, e.g. by replacing the pin-hole arrangement by another locking arrangement, which may for instance be based on frictional and/or clamping force. In any event, the adjustable length is advantageous because in practice the height of the water reservoir 4, e.g. a manhole, may be varied depending on its installation depth. To that end, a 25 manhole 4 may typically be assembled from modular parts, i.e. a base 6, a shaft 7 and a cone 8 (as shown in Figure 3), wherein the shaft 7 may come in different lengths or be cut to length, in situ.

9

The mounting tool 20 and water treatment unit 3 further comprises cooperating coupling means 33. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the coupling means 33 are designed to allow rotation of the mounting tool 20 around its longitudinal axis, for reasons that will become clear below. The 5 coupling means 33 may be releasable or not.

The locking means 25, in the illustrated embodiment, comprise a locking pin 26 provided on the mounting tool 20, and a locking slot 27, provided in the mounting device 10. After positioning the water treatment unit 3 in the supporting bracket 11, the mounting tool 20 can be rotated around its 10 longitudinal axis, thereby causing the locking pin 26 to enter the locking slot 27. This in turn will lock the water treatment unit 3 in place, in vertical direction, against the upward pressure of the water.

Of course, the locking means 25 may be provided on other components of the mounting assembly 1. For instance, the locking pin 26 could be formed as a 15 separate part, detached from the mounting tool 20. Such locking pin 26 could for instance be mounted on the mounting device 10, in a rotatable or slidable manner, so as to be operable by the mounting tool 20 between a locking and an unlocking position. Such an embodiment provided the advantage that the mounting tool 20 can be removed after installation and locking of the unit 3.

20 Fig. 4 shows a slightly modified embodiment wherein the locking means 125 include a pull function causing the water treatment unit 3 to be pulled towards the outlet 5 of the water reservoir 4 during locking of the locking means 125. Components corresponding to the previous embodiment have been denoted with corresponding reference numerals, increased by 100. The locking 25 pin 126 is provided with a transverse head 128 and the locking slot 127 is bordered by wedge shaped edges 129. When the locking means 125 are operated by rotating the mounting tool 120 about its longitudinal axis, the 10 head 128 of the locking pin 126 will be guided along the wedge shaped edges 129 of the locking slot 127, causing the water treatment unit 3 to be urged towards the front leg 114 of the supporting bracket 111 and, therefore, towards the spigot end 112 and outlet 5 of the water reservoir 4.

5 The advantage of such a pull function is that leakage between the water treatment unit 103 and the water reservoir 104 can be reduced.

Fig. 5 shows another modified embodiment of a mounting assembly 201 in accordance with the present invention. Like components are denoted with like reference numerals, increased by 200. In this modified embodiment, the 10 locking means 225 include a lift function. To this end the locking slot 227 has an arched or inclined shape which will cause the locking pin 226 and consequently the water treatment unit 203 to be moved upward upon unlocking the locking means 225.

This is advantageous because during use, the water treatment unit 3 15 may become pressed or sucked against the spigot end 212 of the mounting device 201 due to the surrounding water pressure and/or a pressure fall that may exist over the unit’s outlet 235 and the spigot end 212. As a result, during demounting of the water treatment unit 3, a rather large initial force may be needed to separate the unit from the mounting device 210. This can be 20 facilitated by the above lift function.

To this same effect, a contact surface of the rear leg 13,113, 213 of the supporting bracket 11, 111, 211 that abuts the rear side of the water treatment unit 3 may have a somewhat slanted orientation. This will allow the outlet 32 of the water treatment unit 3 to be moved away from the spigot end 12,112, 25 212 and outlet 5 of the water reservoir 4 during demounting of the water treatment unit 3.

11

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a mounting assembly 301 according to the invention, wherein corresponding components have been denoted with corresponding reference numerals, increased by 300. In this embodiment, the locking means 325 are based on resilient snap action. To that 5 end, the locking slot 327 is, near its closed end, provided with two resilient tongues 329 (alternatively, it could have been provided with one tongue).

These tongues 329 allow the locking pin 326 to be inserted in the slot 327 with relative ease, but resist removal there from, up to a certain threshold value. To release the pin 326 from the slot 327, a force exceeding said threshold value 10 must be applied on the pin 326.

Of course, other snap-like locking means are possible. The locking means may for instance comprise one or more resilient tongues or fingers provided on the water treatment unit, and mating ridges or recesses provided on or in the supporting bracket, or vice versa. When the unit is lowered into 15 the bracket, these tongues or fingers will snap behind the ridges or recesses and thus lock the unit into place.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, the locking slot 327 has a substantially vertical orientation. The locking pin 326 has been formed by bending an end portion of the mounting tool 320 over an angle of about 90 degrees. Thanks to 20 these modifications, the locking means 325 can be operated by a translational instead of a rotational movement of the mounting tool 320. This may contribute to fool proof installation, since there is no need for an installer to rotate the mounting tool to lock, respectively unlock the locking means 325. Locking and unlocking will ‘automatically’ take place during translational 25 operation of the mounting tool 320.

12

Of course, the locking means may have many other configurations that may be operable through other movements of the mounting tool, e.g. a rotation around a horizontal axis, or a combination of a translation and rotation.

Also, from the illustrated embodiments it will be clear that the locking 5 means can be provided on various parts of the mounting assembly, e.g. on the mounting tool, on the supporting bracket, on some other part of the mounting device, and/or on the water treatment unit.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, the water treatment unit 303 has a substantial conical shape. The supporting bracket 311 has a supporting 10 portion 315 and two upstanding legs 313, 314 designed to support the unit 303 from beneath and sideways respectively.

The invention is not in any way limited to the exemplary embodiments presented in the description and drawing. All combinations (of parts) of the embodiments shown and described are explicitly understood to be incorporated 15 within this description and are explicitly understood to fall within the scope of the invention. For instance, the modifications according to Figs. 4 and 5 could be combined in order to provide both the pulling function upon locking the locking means and the lifting function upon unlocking the locking means.

These and many comparable variations are understood to fall within the 20 scope of the invention as outlined by the claims.

1036953

Claims

A mounting assembly (1,101, 201,301) for mounting a water treatment unit (3, 103, 203, 303) in a water reservoir (4) such that an outlet (32) of the water treatment unit is in communication with an outlet (5) of the water reservoir (4), wherein the mounting assembly 5 comprises a mounting device (10,110, 210, 310), which comprises a support bracket (11, 111,211,311) and mounting means for mounting the support bracket in the water reservoir (4), the support bracket (11,111,211) , 311) includes a support portion (15,115,215,315) configured to support the water treatment unit (3,103, 203, 303) from below.

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201,301) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means of the mounting device (10,110, 210,310) comprises a hollow insert end (12,112, 212, 312), dimensioned to enter the outlet (5) of the water reservoir ( 4) to fit.

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support portion (15,115,215,315) forms the bottom of a recess (16) formed in the support bracket, the recess (16) being dimensioned around the water treatment unit ( 3,103, 203,303) to be laterally supported in at least two directions.

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting device (10,110,210,310) comprises centering means (18) for guiding the water treatment unit (3,103, 203, 303) towards a position in which its outlet (32) is in line with the outlet (5) of the water reservoir (4). 1036953

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an elongated mounting tool (20,120,220,320) for installing the water treatment unit (3,103, 203, 303) in the mounting device (10,110, 210, 310) from a location outside the water reservoir (4).

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201,301) of claim 5, wherein the mounting tool (20,120, 220,320) has an adjustable length.

7. The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising locking means (25,125, 225, 325) operable to lock the water treatment unit (3,103, 203,303) in position in at least one direction.

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201,301) according to claim 7 and claim 5 or 6, wherein the mounting tool (20,120, 220, 320) is adapted to operate the locking means (25,125, 225,325).

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201) according to claim 8, wherein the locking means (25, 125, 225) are operable by rotation of the mounting tool (20, 120, 220).

10. The mounting assembly (301) according to claim 8, wherein the locking means (325) are operable by a translation of the mounting tool (320).

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201,301) according to any of claims 7-10, wherein the locking means (25,125, 225, 325) include a locking slot (27,127, 227,327) formed in the mounting device (10,110,210,310) and a locking slot (27,127, 227,327) cooperating locking pin (26, 126, 226, 326) for locking the water treatment unit in position in the at least one direction.

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to claim 11 and claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking pin (26,126,226,326) is provided on the mounting tool (20,120,220, 320).

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to any of claims 7-12, comprising means for pulling the water treatment unit (3,103, 203,303) towards the outlet (5) of the water reservoir (4) when locking the locking means (25,125,225, 325).

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to any of claims 7-13, comprising means for lifting the water treatment unit (3,103, 203,303) upon unlocking the locking means (25,125, 225,325).

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a contact surface of the support bracket (11,111, 211, 311) which in use abuts against a side of the water treatment unit (3,103,203,303) facing away from the outlet (32) ) has a sloping gradient.

The mounting assembly (1,101, 201,301) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a collar (35) provided on the water treatment unit (3,103, 203, 303) around its outlet (32). 1036953