PT698692E - ALCAPAO NOMINALLY FOR TECHNICAL OPENING OF FIRE MOUTH AND ITS ELEMENTS CONSTITUINTES - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover (6) is surrounded by a supporting frame (4) with guide rails (8) along two opposite side walls. The cover has upper (58) and lower (56) lugs on each side to engage with the guide rails, mounted on supporting legs (52) extending from the cover's lower surface and perpendicular to it. Each leg has a flat section (59) which prevents any pivoting of the cover as it is raised or closed. Each guide rail has a rear section (28C) which frees the cover, while each of the frame's opposite side walls has a locking rib (36) which is situated at least partially above the upper lug forming a chicane for the lugs to pass through.

Description

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ

The present invention relates to a trap, in particular for the opening of a fire hydrant, of the type including a support ring, which delimits a passageway, and a removable shutter cap.

It is often necessary to have access to technical openings on the surface of the ground eg on the surface of a sidewalk.

These technical openings may be constituted, for example, by drains or wells for access to the sewers, or boxes arranged in the ground and adapted to receive valves or outlets for firefighters or for cleaning gutters.

Such trap doors generally include a rim, the walls of which border a passage, these walls being provided at their top with a peripheral support rib on which the lid edges rest in the obturating position. Usually a hole is provided in the cap for the introduction of a gripping member in order to remove the cap.

Once this organ is introduced, the cap can be withdrawn by lifting and possibly sliding it along the peripheral rib in order to deposit it lying on the ground at the side of the rim. It is also known from GB-A-318 012 that a trap is provided which includes a support ring and a removable closure cap. The rim is provided with a guide rail on each of two side walls of the rim and the cover is provided, laterally on each side, with a follow-up skid of the guide rail, sliding this skid over the upper face of the rail, during the sliding movement forwards and sliding closure back.

Such devices have certain disadvantages. 84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 2

In effect, the cap may be misplaced after its withdrawal or may be removed from the ring improperly.

Further, if the support ring does not have a symmetrical contour, it is difficult to determine the proper positioning of the cap thereon upon its reposition in place.

In other cases, the marking of the cap on the rim may be made obligatory due to the presence within the trapdoor of elements arranged in any way and which may interfere with the cap if it is improperly mounted. The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks, by providing a trapdoor whose lid opening is possible, this cover being removable, although in operation is secured to the support ring.

To this end, the invention relates to a trap of the aforementioned type, which rim includes a guide rail on each of two parallel side walls of the rim, and the cover includes laterally on each side two followers of the rail of of which an upper skid slides over the upper face of the rail during the forward sliding and backward sliding movements of the cover, and a lower skid adapted to abut the lower face of the rail in in the case of lifting the cap in the at least partial opening position thereof, said guide rail terminating at a rear releasing end of the cap and each side wall including at the rear a locking rib, delimiting said releasing end and the locking groove, a passage baffle for the skids of the cover, to enable complete removal of the cover.

According to the particular embodiments, the invention may have one or more of the following features: - the locking rib is arranged at least partially above the upper skate when it is beyond the releasing end of the cap; the locking rib has an elongate shape and is inclined downwardly and forwardly towards the releasing end;

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 3 - the skates are arranged on support feet, which extend below the lower phase of the cap and perpendicularly thereto, laterally on each side; the support feet include, in front of the guide rails, a flat longitudinally extending portion in order to prevent any rotation of the lid; the cover includes, at its front, a lock for closing the cover relative to the rim in the obturating position, which catch is adapted to cooperate with a retaining surface, disposed on a wall of the rim; - each guide rail includes a straight rectilinear portion parallel to the plane of the cap in the obturating position, and a rear portion inclined downwardly and rearwardly, from the rectilinear portion to the releasing end of the cap; the skates are at least partially beyond the releasing end of the cap when the cap is in the obturating position; - each guide rail includes a lid support surface, when it is in the obturating position; the cover includes, on each side edge of its underside, a sloping support surface adapted to cooperate with the upper face of the inclined portion of the guide rail forming the support surface; - each upper skid is positioned a distance from the top face of the cover, which is less than the sum of the maximum thickness of the cover and the distance between the upper face of the front of the guide rail and the ground surface, which surrounds the hoop and the bottom skid is positioned a distance from the top face of the cover, which is greater than the sum of the maximum thickness of the cover and the distance between the underside of the front of the guide rail and said surface of the floor, so that the lid can rest on said surface in its position of maximum opening; - the cover includes, at the front of its lower face, arcuate disengaging surfaces; \

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 4 - the skates are arranged proximate the rear end of the closure according to the opening direction of the latter; - the cover and support ring are both made in one piece by a casting process. The invention will be better understood by reading the following description given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of a trapdoor according to the invention , the cover having been shown half in the obturating position and half in the opening position; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 1, the cap being in the obturating position; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 1, the cover being in the open position. The trapdoor 2 shown in the drawings is an access box for a fire valve. It includes a support ring 4 and a closure cap 6. The support ring 4, made in one piece by a casting process, has two side walls 8, 10, which are almost vertical and parallel, extending from one side and a second one of a median longitudinal plane P. These side walls 8, 10 are connected to one another by two walls 12, 14 which extend almost vertically parallel to each other and orthogonally to the plane P to delimit a passage 16. The walls 12 and 14 are, respectively, the front and rear walls, considering the opening direction F1 indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The height of the walls 8 to 14 is defined as a function of the use of the trap door and these walls can be dimensioned so as to house a mechanical organ,

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ for example, a valve having the reference K as schematically shown in Fig.

As can also be seen in Figs. 2 to 4, the walls 8 to 14 extend in their lower part by an outwardly directed peripheral flap 18. This peripheral flap 18 includes oblong-shaped sealing holes 20 distributed throughout the periphery of the collar.

The reinforcing brackets 22 connect the upper surface of the flap 18 to the side walls 8 to 14.

The inner faces of the walls 12, 14 within the passageway 16 have, at their upper parts, support ribs 24, 26, respectively, of the same material and extending along the length of each wall. The front rib 24 extends over the walls 8 and 10 by identical guide rails indicated by reference 28. The rib 24 also has two identical notches 24A at each of its ends extended by the guide rails 28.

These guide rails 28 have the same thickness as the rib 24. They include from the rib 24 a first rectilinear leading portion 28A which extends parallel to the plane of the cap when it is in the obturation position, extended by a portion 28B, inclined rearwardly and downwardly. These inclined portions 28B end through a release end referenced by 28C, far from the wall 14.

Likewise, the rear rib 26 extends through each of the sidewalls 8 and 10 by short sections of identical ribs 32, extended by two identical locking ribs 36, inclined downwardly and forwardly towards the release ends 28C, but ending at a small distance from the latter.

In addition, the back rib 26 has two identical notches 26A at each of its extended ends by the rib portions 32. These notches 26A lie in front of the notches 24A of the front rib 24.

The lid 6 shown in each of the figures is made in one piece by a casting process and has an outer contour which fits with a small peripheral clearance in the passage 16. It has a face upper surface 40, on which non-slip relief patterns 42 are arranged, as well as markings 44 which may indicate, for example, the nature of the elements under the trapdoor, etc.

Following the edges of its underside, the lid 6 has a peripheral bearing surface 46, which extends parallel to the top face 40.

On its side edges, which extend from one side and the other of the plane P, the lid 6 has, near its rear end, inclined bearing surfaces 48, supported by triangular ribs 50, which extend perpendicular to the plane of the lid These inclined bearing surfaces 48 have a slope equal to that of the inclined portions 28B of the guide rails.

Beyond the triangular ribs 50, rearwardly extending support feet 52, which are parallel to the plane P on each side and below the cover 6, are disposed at the rear of the cover along the support surface peripheral surface 46. These support feet 52 have, on their inner face, reinforcing brackets 54, connected to the underside of the lid.

On its outer face, the support feet 52 each have at their lower end a lower holding shoe 56 as well as an upper sliding shoe 58, disposed above the holding shoe 56 and spaced apart therefrom. Between these two skids an elongated flat portion 59 is disposed longitudinally, the height of which is greater than the thickness of the guide rails and the longitudinal dimension is about four times greater than this height and is sufficient to oppose withdrawal of the cover by rotation of the latter when it is in the position of at least partially open.

Two series of reinforcing ribs having the general reference 60 protrude orthogonally from each other on the underside of the cap 60. Some of the longitudinal ribs have at their front end arcuate disengaging surfaces 62 which have a curved profile, more or less in a quarter circle, with an important radius of curvature.

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ

A lid holding hole 64 is disposed in this same front part of the lid.

In Fig. 2 the cap was shown in its obturation position.

In this position, the abutment surfaces 46 of the cap rest on the upper faces of the support ribs 24 and 26, as well as on the upper faces of the rectilinear portions 28A of the guide rails, which thus form the support surfaces. Similarly, the inclined bearing surfaces 48 rest on the upper faces of the inclined portions 28B of the guide rails which constitute the support surface.

Thus, in the obturation position, the cap 6 is adapted to withstand important stresses due, for example, to the passage of heavy vehicles.

In the obturation position, in side view (Fig. 2), the support feet 52 overlap the release ends 28C of the guide rails 28 and the locking ribs 36. In particular, on each side, the sliding skate 58 is partially beneath the lower end of the locking rib 36 and partly over the release end 28C, while the catching skate 56 is partially beneath each of these elements. In order to open the lid, an operator inserts into the gripping hole 64 an appropriate tool, which enables it to release the end of the cap 6, provided with this hole of the support ring 4, until the reinforcing ribs 60, which surround the protruding parts of the valve K lie above it. This disengagement of the front end of the cap 6 causes the holding pads 56 to engage under the guide rails 28, while the skids 58 engage above the top face of the guide rails.

After this disengagement, the traction of the cap 6 in the direction of the arrow F1, shown in Fig. 2, corresponding to the direction of the aperture, allows the cap 6 to slide relative to the support ring 4. The skids 58 then settle on the faces of the inclined portions 28B of the guide rails, which leads to a progressive lifting of the cover 6 in

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 8 relating to the support ring 4. When the sliding skids rectilinear portions 28A of the guide rails, these skates continue to slide on the upper faces of these rectilinear portions until the cover 6 is in position of the maximum aperture, shown in Fig. 4. In this position of maximum aperture, the leading end of the support feet 52 are provided in the notches 24A arranged in the rib 24, allowing an important opening of the cap.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the distance between the lower part of the sliding skate 58 and the upper face 40 of the cap 6 is less than the sum of the maximum thickness of the cap and the distance between the upper face of the front of the guide rail and surface of a sidewalk S, which surrounds the support ring, which surface surfaces to the upper surface of the collar. Furthermore, the distance between the upper part of the stand-off pads 56 and the upper face of the cover is greater than the sum of the maximum thickness of the cover and the distance between the lower surface of the front of the guide rail and the surface of the sidewalk S, which surrounds the support frame.

Thus, the cap can be deposited lying on the surface of the sidewalk S, as shown in Fig.

It should be noted that as long as the holding pads 56 are engaged under the guide rails 28, 30, it is impossible to remove the closure cap 6 from the support ring 4. In effect, in the event that an attempt is made to erect the lid 6 for withdrawing, the lower standpipe 56 abuts the underside of the guide rails preventing withdrawal. In addition, in the event that it is attempted to rotate the cap 6 about a vertical axis to disengage the skids from the rails, the elongate flat portions 59 of the support feet 52 come into contact with the inner edges of the rails, preventing any rotation and therefore opposing removal of the cap.

Thus, from the beginning of the opening of the trapdoor, it is impossible to remove and therefore lose or steal the shutter cover.

To close the closure cap again, simply push it in the direction opposite the arrow F1, for example by means of a thrust parallel to the surface of the sidewalk by the foot of an operator. 84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 9

Thanks to this thrust, the slide shoes 58 follow the upper faces of the guide rails 28 until the cover is in the obturating position, as shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of the support feet 52 is then partly in the notches 26A of the ribs 26.

During this closing phase, the disengaging surfaces 62, which have a substantial radius of curvature, ensure non-deterioration of the sidewalk, during sliding of the cover on the surface thereof and an easy replacement of the cover in place by means of a easy passage of the disengaging surfaces 62 over the rim edge and the support rib 24. They also ensure, at the end of the closure, a tilted position of the cap sufficient to prevent contact between the ribs 60 and the upper parts of the valve K. Dismantling the removable cover 6 becomes difficult for an inexperienced and unfitted person, thanks to the locking groove 36. In fact, in the event that an attempt is made to raise the cover upwards, when it is in the obturation position , the upper sliding skids 58 hit the lower end of the inclined locking ribs 36, which form, with the release ends 28 of the guide rails, a baffle p for the shoes 56 and 58.

In order to remove the cover 6 it is necessary to raise the cover 6 by inserting a suitable tool into the gripping hole, then slightly releasing the cover in the direction of the arrow F1 and then inserting a suitable second gripping tool, for example a screwdriver, for below the rear backing surface 46, located on the opposite side of this gripping hole. This second gripping tool allows to raise up the part of the cap 6 close to the skates. It is then possible, while simultaneously raising up both ends of the cover, to disengage the skids 58 from the upper faces of the inclined portions 28B of the guide rails 28, then by moving the cover in the direction opposite the arrow F1, sliding 58 over the locking ribs 36.

C J

84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 10

Continuing to lift the cap 6 and again to move the cap in the direction of the arrow F1, it is then possible to disengage the holding shoe 56 over the inclined portions 28B of the guide rails. It is then possible to completely withdraw the cover 6 from the support ring 4.

It is understood that removal of the cover from the support ring is relatively difficult, since it requires the use of two tools and a sequence of steps which require a good knowledge of the device.

In order to replace the cover 6 on the support ring 4, it is sufficient to place the cover in its open position, by seating the lower parts of the lower shoes 56 on the upper face of the guide rails 28 and then pushing in the reverse direction of the arrow F1, until the cover occupies its obturation position, the skates 56 and 58 passing successively by the release ends 28C, guided by the inclined portions 28B.

It should be noted that the distance between the release end 28C and the lower end of the locking rib 36 is adjusted to allow successive passes of the slides 56 and 58 with a very small clearance, following a determined almost rectilinear trajectory. Moreover, due to the orientation of the locking ribs 36 and the inclined portions 28B, it is practically impossible to remove the cap by attempting to move the skates following this same trajectory but in a pointed sense. In effect, the weight of the cap and the lack of visibility make the operation very delicate.

In order to remove the cover, it is therefore necessary to follow the procedure explained above, which consists of making a reciprocating movement by lifting the cover.

According to an embodiment not shown in the figures, it is possible to attach under the gripping hole 64 a catch lock whose tongue is adapted to cooperate with the inner face of the support rib 24, which forms a retaining surface. 11 84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ

Such a lock makes it possible to close the cover 6 on the support ring 4, thereby making it impossible to open and remove the cover when the lock is closed.

Lisbon,

< 2000

By PONT-A-MOUSSON S.A. - THE OFFICIAL AGENT -

ANTÓNIO JOÃO IA CUNHA FERREIRA Ag. Of. Pr. Ind. Laa d. Flores, 74 - 4. ' ie @ o LISBOA

Claims (14)

A trap, in particular for technical opening of a fire hydrant, of the type including a support ring (4), defining a passage (16), and a cover (6). ), said ring being provided with a guide rail (28) on each of two parallel side walls (8, 10), characterized in that the lid (6) laterally comprises two skids (56) , 58), of which an upper skid (58) slides on the upper face of the rail, during the opening movements, by sliding forward and closing by sliding backward of the guide rail (6) and a lower shoe (56) adapted to abut against the lower face of the rail in case of lifting the cap (6) in the at least partial opening position of the latter, said guide rail terminating ( 28) at a rear end (28C) for releasing the cap (6) and each side wall (8, 10) at the rear of a locking groove (36), this release end and the locking groove defining a passage baffle for the skids (56, 58) of the cap, to enable complete removal of the cap. A trapdoor according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking groove (36) is at least partly arranged above the upper skid (58) when it lies beyond the releasing end (28C) of the cover . The trapdoor of claim 2, characterized in that the locking rib (36) is elongate in shape and is inclined downwardly and forwardly towards the release end (28C). Hatches according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shoes (56, 58) are arranged on support feet (52) extending below the lower face of the cap (6) and perpendicularly thereto, laterally each side. A trapdoor according to claim 4, characterized in that the support feet (52) have a longitudinally extending flat portion (59) in front of the guide rails (28) in order to prevent any rotation of the cover ( 6). W 84 525 ΕΡ Ο 698 692 / ΡΤ 2/3 Hatch in accordance with the foregoing claims, characterized in that the cover (6) has, at its front, a lock for closing the cover (6) with respect to the collar (4) in the obturation position, the pawl of which is adapted to cooperating with a retaining surface (24) disposed on a wall of the rim (4). A trapdoor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each guide rail (28) has a straight front portion (28A) parallel to the plane of the cover (6) in the obturating position, and a rearwardly inclined portion ( 28B) downwardly and rearwardly from the rectilinear portion (28A) to the release end of the cap (28C). A trapdoor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the skids (56, 58) are at least partly in addition to the releasing end (28C) of the cap, when the cap is in the closed position . Hatch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each guide rail (28) has a lid supporting surface (6) when it is in the obturating position. Hatch in accordance with claims 7 and 9 taken together, characterized in that the cover (6) has, on each side edge of its underside, a sloping bearing surface (48), adapted to cooperate with the upper face of the (28B) of the guide rail forming a support surface. Hatch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each upper shoe (58) is positioned at a distance from the upper face of the cap, which is less than the sum of the maximum thickness of the cap and the distance between the upper face of the cap the front of the guide rail and the surface of the ground surrounding the support ring (4) and in that the lower shoe (56) is positioned a distance from the upper face of the cap (6), which is greater than the sum of the thickness of the cover rail and the distance between the underside of the front of the guide rail (28) and said surface to the ground, so that the lid can rest on said surface in its maximum opening position. Hatch according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (6) has, at the front of its lower face, arcuate disengaging surfaces (62). Hatch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skids (56, 58) are arranged near the rear end of the cover (6), according to the opening direction of the latter. Hatch according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (6) and the support ring (4) are both made in one piece by a casting process. Lisbon, 22. m c By PONT-A-MOUSSON S.A. - THE OFFICIAL AGENT -