WO2004046469A1 - Access covers - Google Patents
Access covers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2004046469A1 WO2004046469A1 PCT/GB2002/005406 GB0205406W WO2004046469A1 WO 2004046469 A1 WO2004046469 A1 WO 2004046469A1 GB 0205406 W GB0205406 W GB 0205406W WO 2004046469 A1 WO2004046469 A1 WO 2004046469A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- hole
- wall
- hinge mechanism
- facing
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
- E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
- E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
- E02D29/1463—Hinged connection of cover to frame
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
- E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
- E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
- E02D29/1427—Locking devices
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
- E02D29/12—Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor
- E02D29/14—Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers
- E02D29/149—Annular gaskets
Definitions
- This invention relates to access covers and, in particular, access covers which are used to provide access to an underground utility, such as a sewer, cabling or the like.
- an underground utility such as a sewer, cabling or the like.
- Such a cover is set in a floor, level with the surrounding floor.
- Access covers are usually made from metal, or from concrete, or a mixture of the two and are consequently heavy.
- a typical cover can weight 150 kg or more. Accordingly, when it is desired to gain access via such a cover, several operatives are required to lift the heavier covers or the use of hydraulic lifting machines are required. Besides the obvious advantage of not having to lift the cover this unique combination eliminates the damage lift out covers do to the surrounding floor covering when they are dragged across the floor.
- Access covers are found in many locations, such as in supermarkets, airports, hospitals, swimming pools and the like where there is pedestrian or vehicular traffic. It is important that the access cover is flush to the surrounding floor, thereby not providing an obstacle, such as a "trip-hazard". In addition it is important to avoid shapes which can trap and retain dust and dirt or allow the downward passage of water or upward passage of gases.
- proposals to address this objective see e.g. GB 1124717, GB 1164727 and GB 227198, but as far as I am aware none has been accepted commercially.
- the invention provides an access cover in a hole in substrate, the cover being connected at one side by a hinge mechanism to a wall of the hole, the cover being level with the surrounding substrate when the cover is in a lowered condition, characterised in that the wall of the hole and the facing hinge mechanism are shaped relative to each other so that the hinge mechanism is not obstructed when the cover is moved between the lowered condition and a raised condition.
- the wall of the hole and the facing wall of the hinge mechanism are relieved, preferably in corresponding fashion.
- the hinge mechanism is located in an infill member between the wall of the hole and the facing wall of the cover.
- the infill preferably includes a hinge rod present in aligned length portions of a member between the facing sides of the hole and the cover.
- the hole wall and the cover each have frame members and the length portions are located between the facing frame members.
- the frame members are extruded lengths of aluminium or the like.
- the cover includes a compartment to receive a body of set material, typically concrete.
- the frame comprises one or more seal members which preferably extend around the entire periphery of the frame. The cover member may engage the seal members to ensure that the passage of fluids such as liquids and/or gases is prevented.
- the cover is preferably pivotable between a closed, substantially horizontal position, whereby access to the utility is denied and a open, more upright position, whereby access to the utility is afforded to an operative.
- the hinge mechanism may be arranged to hold the cover in an intermediate position.
- the cover will have a locking mechanism, usually opposite the hinge mechanism.
- the cover may be raised in any way when the lock is released, either by hand or power assisted.
- Such an opening means may comprise one of a pneumatic cylinder, such as an air spring, a winch mechanism, a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor.
- the opening means is a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, say an air spring, biased to urge the cover open, i.e. from the horizontal toward the vertical.
- the hinge rod is resting in an infill which is there to ensure that there is no discontinuity between the wall of the hole of the facing edge of the cover which would allow the ingress of dirt and water from above and the escape of gas from below the floor.
- the infill is shaped to coordinate with the adjacent half of the hole to allow the cover to be raised in a pivotal movement which would not allow ingress of undesirable matter.
- the infill is generally box-like in section, but the wall of the box and the facing wall of the hole have corresponding arcuate raised surfaces designed so that the hinge action can take place conveniently.
- Figure 1 is a sectional view of an access cover of the invention in raised condition taken from one side;
- Figure 2 is the same as Figure 1 in the lowered condition
- Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical view of the hinge mechanism, but from the other side to that of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the region A on Figure 2.
- the device shown in Figures 1 to 4 includes an outer frame 1 which engages the sides of a hole 2 in a floor F.
- the floor is typically above a utility passage or the like and is covered by tiles or the like.
- the hole is generally square and the frame has the same shape.
- the walls of the frame are lengths of extruded aluminum joined at the corners of the frame.
- the frame houses an access cover C which also has four frame walls 10 defining its perimeter.
- the walls provide a compartment 11 to receive set material, e.g. concrete to a level flush with the upper edge of the cover frame walls.
- the outer frame has an outer vertical wall and a ledge 3,4 is present on at least two opposite sides for the cover C to rest on when in a closed condition.
- a hinge mechanism H made up of a hinge rod 12 located with an elongate extruded box like body 13.
- the body has a flat top 14 so that it is flush with the floor F and the cover C.
- One vertical wall 15 has external lugs 16 for engagement in the vertical wall of the frame 1 so locking the body 13 to the frame.
- the facing wall 17 is short and has an arcuate outside face 18.
- the facing wall 19 of the cover C is also correspondingly arcuate, and while at the top 20 it is level with the top 14 of the body 13, it is concavely relieved at 21 and dimensioned so that when the cover C is raised it will. easily ride up and over the flat top 14. In the fully raised condition it reaches the far cover of the body 13.
- the body 13 is in length portions 13A, 13B some of which lack the vertical wall extension 15.
- the apparatus shown provides an access cover which can be inserted into the floor flush with the floor and able to withstand or prevent increase of dirt and dust from above and the escape of gases from below. Despite its weight the cover can be unlocked and raised by one operator.
- the cover may be filled with any material and the shape may be varied. The cover will reduce installation and maintain costs.
- the relieved portion is in the wall of the hole and the wall of the hinge socket is curved; these arrangements may be reversed.
- the curved surfaces may have different inclinations from that shown.
- the infill need not be of metal.
- the hinge rod need not go the full extent of the adjacent cover wall.
- the frame may be in one piece.
- the inside surface of the walls of the cover may have ledges to guide filling the compartment to different levels.
- this access cover has the hinge facility and that is not visible from the outside of the access cover which would otherwise mar the overall appearance of the floor.
- the cover will satisfy the British Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Paleontology (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Hinges (AREA)
- Underground Structures, Protecting, Testing And Restoring Foundations (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2002350896A AU2002350896A1 (en) | 2002-11-18 | 2002-11-28 | Access covers |
EP02785609A EP1565624A1 (en) | 2002-11-18 | 2002-11-28 | Access covers |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0226901.7 | 2002-11-18 | ||
GB0226901A GB2395217A (en) | 2002-11-18 | 2002-11-18 | Access cover |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2004046469A1 true WO2004046469A1 (en) | 2004-06-03 |
Family
ID=9948066
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2002/005406 WO2004046469A1 (en) | 2002-11-18 | 2002-11-28 | Access covers |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1565624A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002350896A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2395217A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004046469A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2006125435A1 (en) * | 2005-05-26 | 2006-11-30 | Gerhardt Christensen A/S | Method and mechanism for opening and closing of manhole covers |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2872182B1 (en) * | 2004-06-24 | 2007-11-23 | Saint Gobain Pam Sa | BUFFER FOR ROAD DEVICE AND CORRESPONDING ROAD DEVICE |
FR2933993B1 (en) * | 2008-07-18 | 2013-08-16 | Cahors App Elec | BOX FORMING A LOOK OF PROTECTION OF AN APPARATUS |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE9207542U1 (en) * | 1992-06-04 | 1992-09-03 | Passavant-Werke AG, 6209 Aarbergen | Manhole cover with hinged manhole cover |
GB2265402A (en) * | 1992-02-18 | 1993-09-29 | John Terence Thelwell | Manhole or inspection cover having sealable opening |
US5507590A (en) * | 1994-08-04 | 1996-04-16 | Argandona; Toby | Cover assembly for manholes and the like |
US6021606A (en) * | 1998-10-01 | 2000-02-08 | The Bilco Company | Lifting mechanism for horizontal hinged doors |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3130651A (en) * | 1960-08-23 | 1964-04-28 | Neenah Foundry Company | Mounting for hinged covers |
FR2716473B1 (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1996-05-15 | Barat Sa | Pivoting hatch for civil engineering works. |
GB2299357B (en) * | 1995-03-27 | 1998-04-08 | Rainer Clover | Access frames |
-
2002
- 2002-11-18 GB GB0226901A patent/GB2395217A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-11-28 AU AU2002350896A patent/AU2002350896A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-11-28 WO PCT/GB2002/005406 patent/WO2004046469A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-11-28 EP EP02785609A patent/EP1565624A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2265402A (en) * | 1992-02-18 | 1993-09-29 | John Terence Thelwell | Manhole or inspection cover having sealable opening |
DE9207542U1 (en) * | 1992-06-04 | 1992-09-03 | Passavant-Werke AG, 6209 Aarbergen | Manhole cover with hinged manhole cover |
US5507590A (en) * | 1994-08-04 | 1996-04-16 | Argandona; Toby | Cover assembly for manholes and the like |
US6021606A (en) * | 1998-10-01 | 2000-02-08 | The Bilco Company | Lifting mechanism for horizontal hinged doors |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2006125435A1 (en) * | 2005-05-26 | 2006-11-30 | Gerhardt Christensen A/S | Method and mechanism for opening and closing of manhole covers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2002350896A1 (en) | 2004-06-15 |
GB2395217A (en) | 2004-05-19 |
EP1565624A1 (en) | 2005-08-24 |
GB0226901D0 (en) | 2002-12-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7475515B2 (en) | Flush to grade utilities vault | |
US6772566B1 (en) | Below grade utilities vault | |
US7341398B2 (en) | Lift-assisted manhole cover | |
US5529431A (en) | Temporary manhole cover and method | |
EP3702573B1 (en) | Flood protection for underground air vents | |
US5953866A (en) | Storm shelter | |
US4226062A (en) | Molded storage receptable | |
US4615158A (en) | Mobile home tornado shelter | |
EP1936041A2 (en) | Operator access door for underground buildings | |
JP5746948B2 (en) | Evacuation building | |
EP1565624A1 (en) | Access covers | |
NO156445B (en) | Loading and unloading device. | |
KR102362221B1 (en) | Ventilation combined use emergency exit for utility pipe conduit with upward opening and closing doors | |
US10435907B2 (en) | Flood protection for underground air vents | |
EP1619323B1 (en) | Underground transformer substation with baffle-barrier device | |
KR20190116770A (en) | Pool structure | |
EP0665338B1 (en) | Cover for drainage pits and the like | |
JP3322524B2 (en) | Lid for underground structures | |
KR102684794B1 (en) | opening and closing device for manhole cover | |
KR100473047B1 (en) | Cam mounting manhole cover locking device and its manufacturing method. | |
EP1500757B1 (en) | Prefabricated construction with passable cover for industrial applications | |
US3408915A (en) | Cowling device for underground vent stack | |
JP2883913B2 (en) | Rectangular manhole and method for opening the manhole | |
CN210658467U (en) | Two-layer well cover with recess degree in mathematical relation with outer cover | |
JPH0348275Y2 (en) |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ OM PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2002785609 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 2002785609 Country of ref document: EP |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: JP |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Country of ref document: JP |